Cindy Crawford brings it home

Who knew JC Penney and Cindy Crawford were a couple? Well not really but I just came across her line of home products over on the JCP website and some pieces look interesting and even better, at a great price! Below are a few pieces that stood out.

plant stand $119

Nailhead trunk $199

telephone/accent table $179




trellis foot stool $119.99

Have you shopped at JCP lately? Is it a place you would purchase furniture?

(all images from JC Penney)

Monday Morning Happy

Morning everyone! How was your weekends? This is a reflective Monday Morning Happy. This was the view on my deck in Boston this Saturday, the entire day was constant rain and wind, in some ways it was quite nice. In this area of the country the weather seemed to reflect the feelings of the last few days.




Last week our beloved Senator Kennedy lost his battle with cancer. For 4 days there was an outpouring of love and thanks. It was amazing, people lined the streets in the middle of the day to watch the casket pass by and stood in the rain to pay their respects as the funeral procession proceeded by. He was a great man that did so much for our state and our country. This is just a few pictures that I enjoyed seeing over the weekend. It amazes me how people give their lives to fight for those less fortunate and wonder if Thank You ever seems like enough?





(images from Time and Boston.com)

Up Up and away!

This is what I call an attic hideaway! I came across these photos over at This Old House and immediately thought what a great use of space. We all know the blows this crazy economy has handed us and even though some of us might need to expand our homes with our growing family, adding on might not be the answer. I have a few friends who are in this predicament at the moment. Looking up (if possible) to the attic is a great solution. This space was broken up by walls into a few smaller rooms. Eliminating the walls and getting creative with storage spaces has resulted in a comfortable bedroom suite. I love the bookcases which surround the staircase and the built in dressers make the space feel even larger. The soft palette and dark floors add to the airy feeling. Escaping to the attic might just be the best retreat of all!










(images from This Old House)

What is a CreateGirl?

Something very simple but very cool happened to me today and I would love to share. The best place for me to take time out, real time out is at the beach. It is the perfect escape from my blackberry, computer and emails. I even go as far as to only bring magazines that are not related to decor. At times its hard to shut "it" off but if I really focus I achieve that slice of bliss where all you hear is the soft breeze and waves crashing.



As I was sitting on the beach, the sand so smooth beckoned to be written in so of course I thought of CreateGirl (so much for turning it off!). After drawing the perfect set of words I sit back in my chair when 2 young girls, maybe about 6 and 9 stop in front of the words and just stare. I could hear them whispering something and I asked if they knew what it meant. They both looked at me with the sweetest expression, eager to learn. I explained it was 2 words which to me, meant the ability to be whatever you wanted to. To Create the Girl you have imagined, that anything is possible once you believe in yourself. Of course I explain this with lots of hand gestures...arms out wide to make my point. I say if they want to be a doctor, baseball player, actress you can create the life you want!! They were so excited to learn what they perceived to be a secret and went on their way. Soon they were dragging their mom's over to check out what the "cool writing in the sand" meant. It was just the loveliest conversation and my hope is that in some way they will remember what I already know.....anything is possible with hard work, passion and courage. CreateGirl and Jace Interiors are both proof of this!! If only these young girls with the world before them knew how they just reminded me of what I already knew....life is ahead of me and anything is possible!

If you are reading, thanks for a lovely conversation, you made my day that much more blissful!


To all my fabulous readers, what type of CreateGirl are you? Please share!

(image from Jace Interiors)

Quick Share - Spotlight Photo Wall

I am going to let you in on a secret this is one of my absolute favorite pieces to spec for a client! These pictures do not do it justice so skip over to Red Envelope and see for yourself. Everyone has photos they like to show off and my job is to make them look nice and pulled together. Sometimes it is great to have a gallery wall with individual frames (as seen in this "How To Thursday" post) but at times we need something a wee bit more structured. This fits the bill perfectly and looks fantastic at the same time. All frames are black and hang off hooks by a brass rod. The price is great and even better since they are on sale right now. This CreateGirl is a happy one, could it be time I purchase a set for myself?! Perfect for a collection of vintage postcards, maybe in the bathroom?!






(images from Red Envelope)

Scouting Ceiling Fixtures

Some ceilings are just too low for a grand chandelier or pendant so I went in search for a few ceiling fixtures which created some interest but did not draw too much attention to the ceiling height. I know they have always been known as the chandeliers ugly step-sister but honestly I like some of these options! The School House version would look great in a bathroom or kids room and I really love the woven one, though apologize since I can't remember where I found it!
What are your thoughts on these lights?















Chase Ceiling Light - Ballard Designs
Jonathan Adler Parker - Lamps Plus

Embarcadero Flushmount Forecast - Lumens
School House Electric

Monday Morning Happy

Morning! How's everyone today? Ready for a new week? Well I guess I should prepare you, I am going through a sad time....it seems like the end of summer is coming at a faster pace that I would like. I have some great "back to school" posts ready but can't bring myself to unveil them until after Sept 1. With that said, this week I will be throwing in some dreamy end of summer photos. Do you feel the same way or are you ready for fall to arrive?



Hope it's warm and sunny for your new week!
jul

(image from Elle Decor)

Escaping through Skippy Designs

Skippy Designs, the name just makes me happy! I discovered Mandy Lynne's photography while clicking around flickr a few months back. Immediately I fell in love, each photo captured a story, a vintage innocence type of scene. With a few more clicks I made my way to her beautiful website and continued to smile with each passing image. She has now opened an Etsy shop which makes me delighted as now we can all enjoy her amazing "stories" in our own homes. Most photos are 8 x 8 and are the perfect size to be perched on a desk or on the kitchen window sill. Can't you just see it.....the day is getting to you so you grab a cup of tea and daydream of.......

....walking down lovers lane with a special someone, or....

....going for a free ride with an adorable best friend, or.......

....escaping with a book and enjoying the journey, or.......

....going for a walk on the sweet side or.....

...having some fun at the fair!!

Mandy Lynne describes her photography as a "desire to capture the essence of childhood, the magic of special moments, & the beauty of relationships through timeless imagery."
Please visit her shop, I promise you will fall in love with her art!

(images from Skippy Designs)

A soothing white getaway by the bay

This home in Chesapeake Bay Maryland is perfectly fitted for a weekend of relaxation. The white walls and furniture play off the dark wood floors in a way that creates a calm atmosphere with just a flair of sophistication. The open kitchen and living areas beg to be entertained in with their easy flow into one another. By the end of the day there would be no better place to relax than under the pergola on the deck. Drinks, please!

great computer nook in the kitchen, not to mention an adorable pupper too!

(images from traditional home)

Quick Share Hip to be Square

Serena and Lily plays up the fun again with these brightly colored square chairs! They are the perfect accent for a tv room or play area. Available in 4 colorways and only 14" x 14" they are a great size for little ones to pick up and move around. Who doesn't want to have their own seat?! I think they would look adorable set around a low square play table, one in each color, at $45ea ($27 for the grass/melon) that is affordable!


(images from Serena and Lily)

Monday Morning Happy!

Morning, how was your weekend? New England had the absolute perfect weather for a fun August weekend. It was the type of weather I wait all year for, 90 and pure sunshine with a little breeze at night. Most of the weekend was spent at the beach, catching up with great friends and playing in the sand with the kids. Which is as close to bliss as I can get!
Hope this is a great week for you and thanks again for popping over to CreateGirl, I am so grateful for everyone who stops by!
jul

(image from interrupt on etsy)

Living with John Mayer

Do you swoon when you hear a John Mayer song? Well why not just invite yourself over to his house? Or at the very least join Elle decor as they take you for a tour here!


(image from Elle Decor)

A notNeutral table

A simple table can turn fantastic with just a few unique pieces. Now if the sun would just come out for my dinner party tonight, that would really be fantastic! At least we can shop online while we wait! Here are a few fun finds from notNeutral!


I love this carafe! The tall design and ribbon etching is perfect to blend with any table. Wine, sangria, or lemon water any of these options would be perfect! Did I say it is $32? Great hostess gift as well!
The Flora Placemat set is made of a thin piece of birch veneer. Wood? What a great gift for a designer who loves her placemats!! Available in 3 designs flora, letters and seasons and are sold in a pack of 4, $32.

Cocktail napkins, in my opinion you can never have too many of these! It's better than having to buy paper multiple times and it can even make take out feel fancy! Above is the taupe version with a great accent of orange. $24 for a set of four.




This might just be my purchase. These metal lanterns are available in small, med and large. Look how beautiful they look lit! They could be used on the deck in the summer and would be perfect along a walk way for a winter dinner party as well. Imagine the light dancing off the snow, lovely!


Here's a little secret if you are a Daily Candy subscriber you can take 25% off your order by entering DCNN at checkout. Now I need to run, I have some last minute shopping to do!!

Blog Love - A Creative Mint

Today I am going to start a new series named "Blog Love"! It's true, I love to give encouragement and show my support. Whenever I come across a new blog that I feel captures my attention I immediately add it to my tool bar and than send a quick note with the subject "blog love" to the author. I guess in some ways it is kind of silly but it's just my way of saying hello and introducing myself to a new "friend" Afterall this blogging world can feel kind of lonely when you are writing into space everyday. In this new series I will share with you a few of my "blog loves" and hope you will pop on over to them and say hello!



My first blog love is someone I met this spring in Decor8's Blogging Your Way class. Immediately I was drawn to Leslie and at the time her very new blog. Even though she had only a few posts I knew this lady was on to something. Her photography captured my attention unlike any other. Whenever I am feeling overstimulated I pop on over to "A Creative Mint", take a deep breath and look around. Many times I revisit some of my favorite posts, just letting myself get swept away by her images!

Her photography comes with a strong sense of color but with a gentle touch. A wonderful combination in my opinion and so very sweet! Now for some very exciting news. Twice a month you can now find Leslie guest blogging over at Decor8 with her Color Me Pretty posts!

Hope you will enjoy this new series and please share your blog loves with me...a girl can never have too many "friends"!
jul

(images from A Creative Mint)

Dreaming Up Anthropologie Stories

Over the weekend I caught up on all the mail catalogs I received throughout the week. Most of them were full of fall fashion and decor but to be honest I can't write about it just yet! This chilly girl needs to extend summer for as long as possible....i.e. expect more summer home postings!


Though sometimes I see a beautifully styled photo and instantly a story is created as it was with this one.

While flipping through Anthropologie I came across this picture which spoke to me in a cozy way. It looks like this could be in a studio, a decorating dilemma you find often in the city. I love how they have nestled the bed into the corner by the window. With the end table defining the space and what looks to be like a dresser edged out, it creates a comfortable area. The fabric Ikat headboard brings warmth to an area with a high ceiling. The light streaming in and the full comforter askew creates a look as if someone spent the better part of the day lounging in bed, possibly reading! Ah sounds like a little slice of relaxation to me!


I wonder what the story of this photo would be....I imagine it might have something to do with a Sunday morning. I adore the Terai Folding Chairs and in such fun fabrics!

(images from Anthropologie)