May must haves

My May must-haves are a few things I won't let myself purchase, but I stalk them nonetheless.

- While a lot of girls fawn over the color pink, I'd love to add this Cuisinart mixer in baby blue, available at Lowe's, to my kitchen.
- These Zara-style GoMax shoes, which I found on ideeli (I really should just send my paycheck directly to ideeli these days) and these Zara studded sandals that I just cannot get over
- Frette sheets are too expensive for me now, but someday they will be mine. (If you've never slept in them, get to a hotel that has them, and then tell me you aren't stalking them too.)
- A dress with a bow would be sweet for the summertime
- A rose gold ring, something like this, or these mixed-metal rings

designing a sitting room

One of the items on my to do list is to redo one of the bedrooms in our house, which is going to become a sitting room/2nd living room. It's currently T's office and has nothing but a desk and ginormous book shelf in it.

My must haves for the room: 

- It has to be comfortable.

- It has to be functional as a TV room/sitting room/living room.

- It needs to be bright. The walls are a light teal color, which we won't be painting over (for now, anyway).

baby fox prints // blue lamp // boxwood topiary

loveseat // ottoman // pillow // mirror

The ottoman serves as a coffee table (with a simple tray on top), as well as storage (hooray for storage ottomans!). I love the baby animal prints, but if we decide against those it would be in favor of photos of Sprout, whose face kills me with cuteness.

I mean, look at this face- can you even?

Anyway, designing a sitting room... Have you put a lot of thought into designing any rooms in your home lately?

Tuesday Shoesday

I actually audibly gasped when I saw that ideeli still had my size in these BCBG Max Azria stunners, and T thought something was wrong - and then he reminded me that we're budgeting for a million different things, and so I had to pass them up. This time. Seriously. How gorgeous are these cut outs!

January covet list

My January covet list includes mixed metal baubles, girly touches for the home, and a hint of gold. 

a reminder for life - image via Pinterest // name-inscribed pencils // BaubleBar tassel necklace // chain wrapped earrings from Max and Chloe (only $40!) // mixed metal bracelet via ShopBop // Zara Home paradise tumblers // makeup table image via Glitter Guide

wishing for a bar cart

For the longest time, I have been on the hunt for an affordable but fabulous bar cart. I first saw this bar cart from Society Social and fell in love with the idea of having such a gorgeous piece in my home.

image via

Along the way, I've discovered other great carts, like this one from Wayfair (but at $1,476 it is out of my price range).

And I've seen images, like this one, on other blogs and on Pinterest, which make me want to immediately throw a cocktail party.

image via

I've heard of people getting amazing vintage carts from Craigslist, even if they have had to redo them somewhat, but somehow I have only managed to find a) bar carts that look like they are from the Stone Age and b) kitchen carts with marble tops that people are referring to as bar carts. And so, the hunt continues.

Target/Neiman Marcus + my wish list

After all of the Christmas shopping I did this past week (online shopping... so easy and so dangerous!), I'm telling myself there is no budget left for the Target/Neiman Marcus collaboration launched yesterday. But if there was, these would be first in my shopping cart.

Marc Jacobs rose gold pouch ($69.99)

Eddie Borgo accent box ($49.99)

Brian Atwood leather gloves ($49.99)

Altuzarra Double Old Fashioned Glasses - Set of 4 ($49.99)

Altuzarra Shaker ($49.99)

Altuzarra Tray ($79.99) love this set!

if furniture came from movies

images via here and here

Yesterday Joss & Main had this amazing table for sale (with matching chairs). It reminded me of this little guy from Beauty and the Beast.

I'm often reminded at home that not everything comes from a Disney movie. But let's be honest, when the neighborhood dogs start barking at the same time, some little piece of you reaches back to the "Twilight Bark" (I promise I had to look that up) and Scotland Yard, thanks to 101 Dalmatians.

image via

...or maybe I watched way too much Disney as a kid. Either way, that table is fabulous.

arm safari

I've always been a big fan of anything animal-print-related, so I'm excited this Fall that there are so many animal-inspired arm goodies available! There are tons of choices, but here are some of my picks for the season.

Where to find them:
1- urban outfitters hawk cuff

2- j.crew peacock bangle

3- baublebar cheetah cuff

4- j.crew cheetah bangle

5- loren hope fox door knocker bracelet

6- baublebar zebra bangle

7- loren hope lion head door knocker bracelet

8- j.crew elephant bracelet

store spotlight: zara home

There are some stores that put out images I'd love to just crawl into. Zara Home does this to me often with its luscious Parisian style. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough suitcase space to bring stuff back when I went to Paris earlier this year, but working at a company that has EU offices is definitely a plus - might have to have some things brought back for me next time someone takes a trip!

bedroom by Zara Home

glassware 1, 2, 3

a wish list Tête-à-Tête from One Kings Lane

When I was gallivanting through Paris and London, I saw an amazing Tête-à-Tête in Napoleon's rooms at the Louvre and said that if I ever found one just like it, I would totally be all over that (because I have 2 sisters and then we could all sit and chat on the same awesome chair, obviously). 

One Kings Lane, you're killing me. Look at what showed up today:

images via One Kings Lane

No, I'm not buying it now. But if I ever have the room for it, and the disposable income that allows for $2,000 fun pieces, it will be mine.

a bargain hunter's woes

If you're a bargain hunter like I am, you probably also get about 15 emails every morning at 11am from flash sale sites, offering colorful, fun items that you can't help but add to your shopping cart. This morning was one of those when I opened HauteLook's email, thought, "Okay, handbags- I'll check it out" - and immediately fell in love with one by designer Erica Anenberg. But, of course, what did I see? ....

Sigh. Guess I'll have to wait to get my hands on a blue satchel.

P.S. HauteLook "On Hold" button, my bank account thanks you.

August covet list

Continuing my obsession of Fall apparel and accessories, here are some things I'm loving right now. The covet list:

sassy heels: heels found on Pinterest but brand unknown - similar by Nine West, black heels by Lanvin
something leather: Warehouse leather dress, Cacharel leather skirt, Foley & Corinna blue leather bag
monogram necklace from BaubleBar, plates on sale at West Elm

fall fringe

I know I already mentioned that I can't wait to get into Fall fashion - and it seems like fringe is positioned perfectly to take us from the summer into the fall months. #4 below was today's featured shoe on my "shoe a day" calendar, and I googled it quickly to find that the Jerome Rousseau beauties recently were on GILT. Just my luck! But that must mean that it is fate that the Bisou and I should be together... or at least that it should be in my closet.

(1) Fun fringe earrings from GUESS (2) L.A.M.B. "Hortensia" shoes (3) Kenneth Jay Lane fringe earrings (4) Jerome Rousseau "Bisou Fringe" pumps (5) Betsey Johnson "Ziah" wedge booties (6) Michael Stars T-strap sandal (7) Sam Edelman "Louie" booties

coral and mint rehearsal wear

Because a) it's summer and b) T's sister is getting married this weekend, I've got weddings on the brain. Here are my picks for semi-casual rehearsal dinner wear, if I didn't already have an outfit picked out.

one- Urban Outfitters has this fun deep-V-back lace dress in three colors
two- ModCloth always has fun jewelry, like these bow earrings
three- absolutely loving the new clutches k.slademade has on her site! This mint version reminds me of ice cream and all things summer and wonderful. I have a few of her items on my wish list for my upcoming birthday (hello, October).
four and five are budget-friendly options from Old Navy for a scarf in case it gets cool (I live in New England - you never know what the weather will be like!) and comfy ballet flats that won't set you back. I tend to ruin my flats pretty fast, so when I can snag a pair under $20 like these, I'm all over it.

While some people are strict about keeping silver with silver and gold with gold, I'm all about silver and gold together and also mixing brown and black, navy blue and brown, etc. Why not? You only live once!

something blue for the table

This April, I found the absolute most gorgeous glasses ever - of course, at the Hyatt Paris. I've been hunting for similar glasses, but I haven't been able to find them - until today! A little different, and they're champagne flutes, but I'll take it for now. Still looking for those glasses on the left, though - if you know what they are, please share!

(Please excuse the water droplets in the photo)

left photo mine, right Artland glasses via

sitting room wish list

If my budget was unlimited (and maybe if I had a separate sitting room), this is what I would put in my house right now.

1 - a blue velvet loveseat from Barclay Butera via One Kings Lane

2 - a 4-light chandelier with pink and citron accents

3 - a Bassett Mirror Co. console table with mirrored doors

4 - a zebra-striped Barclay Butera chair via One Kings Lane

Oh, and I'd also get a sheepskin rug for the bedroom, which I'd lay over the high-pile white rug we have in there now. I'm putting this on my "maybe" list, as I'm redoing our master bedroom soon.