Storage Wars

Is it pretty? No. But it holds hella shoes and you can't see it when the closet door is closed

 Our condo is literally one of my favorite places in this world. While I love it with all my heart, it's a bit challenging to fit everything we need within its walls. We do have a decent amount of square feet but 1 bedroom and no major closet or cabinet space leaves me always looking for a way to house more with less. If there is a space that I can fill with storage without the rest of the world knowing about it, I will. Here are some of the accessories that have added a teeny bit of extra space to our home.

This cheap addition makes a shelf where there isn't one

The Spice Stack! I love this thing! 

Frees up shelf space, makes locating which knife I need quicker, and great self defense if I encounter a murderer

Gettin' Girly

Parker Sequin Jacket that I scored for 90 bucks

It has been almost 3 and a half years since I first moved in with my husband (then boyfriend). After all this time I still have to stop myself from buying overly feminine things for our house. Occasionally though he agrees on a girly home accent, and when he doesn't I can always slip them into my jewelry box or closet. Here are my latest purchases that say sugar and spice.

Spike the Punch Necklace

Aperitif Glasses from Pottery Barn

One of my favorite little vases and vintage shelf

It's Business...Cards

Above I present to you my new blogger business card that I am oh so happy with. Next time I am asked the name of my blog I can pass this along instead of just saying it aloud and hoping the person remembers. I ordered these at pinhole press where they are marketed as calling cards for children's play dates. Maybe I will also end up using them to schedule the adult version of the play date- happy hour.

Little Things

Sparkling water in champagne flutes makes me feel fancy-even in sweats

 Friday night to Sunday afternoon the hubs and I were certifiable hermits. The only time I left our apartment during that period was to take out the trash and do a load of laundry. Even though we didn't see the light of day there was plenty in our home to keep up busy and happy. We rented Win Win, which we both really liked (that doesn't happen often so I recommend it wholeheartedly), ordered in delicious Thai, and I got a package from Amazon to keep me entertained...not to mention our whole house is spotless (another Win Win-ha!). Here are a few more things that kept our recluse weekend bright.

$4 of TJs gladiolas brighten the entry way        

my new kitschy camera case

Can't wait to read this cover to cover

Assembling my shopping list now

        

Shopboping Spree

This week I went a little nuts on Shopbop, my favorite virtual shopping destination. I have been waiting months and months for this sexy back number to go on sale. I had just bought my camera when it went to 30% off and told myself that if they still had my size when it went to 50% I was allowed to purchase (which it did today). I had no reason or excuse for the blue dress but it arrived yesterday and I loved it so much that I scooped up the short black one too, which happened to be on sale. I'm already excitedly planning how I'm going to dress these simple beauties up and down.

 Shopbop offers free shipping and returns, even internationally (hear that Jenn and Adge), and they don't charge you tax-all that and the fact that they have the most amazing and broad  selection is why I have been called out at work more than once for being on this website:)

Love for Keep Calm Gallery

Want

I first came across the Keep Calm Gallery when I bought this tote from their sister site a few years ago. I was very happy with my "G" bag but love their prints and tea towels even more.  After much back and forth and getting opinions, I purchased the If You Can't Stand the Heat print for our kitchen (get it, cause it's in the kitchen, HA! And the finger actually points to our door, Double HA!).  Honestly most of the feedback I got was to not get this  because it was too cheesy but I am  cheesy and I adore it for that very reason. I would love to get the print above for our bedroom but I think one cheeky art piece might be all our house can handle.  If you are looking for some love for your walls they have lots of great prints with awesome sayings, great graphics, typography and reasonable prices-especially considering the exchange rate. For something less committal and costly, get yourself a tea towel and spice up your abode that way (I  purchased the towel on the bottom right).  These all come shipped via Royal Mail from the UK so arrival can be slow but it's well worth the wait.

This Ish Works- Benefit They're Real Mascara

Image via Benefit

I have two shots of praise for Benefit. A few weeks ago I needed my brows shaped. Typically I would call my brow specialist girl and wait a week or more for an appointment and then spend $45 and 45 minutes to get my brows done. I had enough of that spendy waiting game and decided to try the brow bar at Benefit. I called to make an appointment and got one within the hour and for only $20 bucks! My brows looked great and when they are done with your waxing they will do your makeup for free- which is the real reason I'm doing this post. When the makeup artist swiped They're Real mascara on my lashes I was immediately happy with the outcome so I added it to my tab (which was still cheaper than my old place-yes!), but for me the real test with mascara is seeing how long it lasts. Typically by 2:00pm I look like I've been socked in the face due to the dark mascara marks under my eyes, but guess what, with this stuff it all stayed on my lashes. If  you need a truly long wearing mascara  I highly suggest getting yourself to Benefit and pick up a tube of this goodness, and treat your brows while you're at it. 

New and Improved

My new camera!

I'm so excited! After 3 years with my old, basic camera I'm finally getting an upgrade. I didn't want to go the dSLR route bc my purse is full enough as is and I like to bring my camera with me everywhere so I went for the next best thing. The Canon S95 is supposed to be the best point and shoot on the market. I will find out if that is true in 7-10 business days when it arrives at my door.  So expect prettier blog pictures in that same amount of time. For now, hope you all have a fabulous weekend filled with plenty of beautiful and fun things to take pictures of. 

Fresh Flower Power

Entry way flora (and my new vase!)

With the exception of a party, nothing adds more life to a home than fresh flowers.  Every week,  in lieu of a happy hour, I spend $10 on blooms from Trader Joes. I buy them on my lunch break and constantly have coworkers comment on the fact that I am buying myself flowers again. Some may see it as a waste, or that you should wait for someone to buy you flowers, but that mini splurge is one that I never regret. I love walking in my door and seeing a beautiful bouquet, so much so that I have a mini vase in almost every room of the house. Here is what is currently making my home happy and alive.

Mini carnations in my Jonathan Adler Vase

Hydrangeas from my parents' front yard in our living room

Fragrant lavender* in the bathroom

*Fun Fact-After cutting and arranging the lavender,  I made a salad in the same spot and I accidentally ate some...it tastes exactly as it smells

Flea Market Fix

On a sunny Sunday afternoon I made my first visit to the Alemany Flea Market. After 20 minutes of looking for parking I was able to navigate the tail end of the sale. I was amazed at all the pretty junk. Someone more patient  than I could furnish a very stylish home with the hidden treasures everywhere. I stuck to the things that were front and center. I got the above haul for a total of $20. I can't wait to fill the globe vase with dahlias and use the parrot tray to hold champagne flutes the next time I have guests over. Sadly I was not able to get one of the ladies to lower the price on a Princess Di and Prince Charles wedding plate (to add to my collection of Charles and Camilla shot glass, and William and Kate mug), if I was able to score that it would have been a perfect day. 

Those would be the best memories

Getting to work

Last weekend I needed a picture of my husband by himself, when I went to my photo album to find one I realized that I hadn't printed any photos since July of 2009.  In college my photo album was never more than a month behind, so this is totally unacceptable. While I have taken my fair share of photos since then and have access to them on my computer, its not the same as cozying up on the couch with a photo album to reminisce and point and laugh. So when snapfish was offering up a sale I jumped on it to get my pictures updated to at least this decade. My photos arrived yesterday and I will be spending the afternoon with good music, and a nice glass of wine, getting myself back on track and remembering all I loved about 2009. 

Dear Diary



My bedside, where the book lives

 I have always been better about capturing my memories in photos rather than words, but keeping a journal  has always been something I have at least attempted to keep up with. The last "diary" I bought was purchased at the long defunct Clothestime when I was 14 years old. It was bright pink, decorated with glittery butterfly stickers, and starts with me complaining about my acne and never being kissed... it ends with the news that I will be leaving my first solo apartment to move in with my boyfriend of a year (who is now my husband). It took me 11 years to fill that book and it certainly covers a lot of ground, but my newest attempt, should take exactly 5 years to fill. I purchased this book on my 28th birthday and have diligently filled out one line a day. Some days it doesn't say more than what TV show I watched (Shout out to The Bachelorette) or that I didn't want to go to work (surprise, surprise), other days it states a new revelation or big plan for the future (start my own organization business, babies!). No matter what the day says, 4 months in I'm already enjoying looking back on where I was weeks ago; I can only imagine how much value it will hold for me 5 years from now. Here's hoping this diary contains as much growth as my last, without all the teenage angst.

This Ish Works- Bar Keepers Friend

I have come to accept the fact that I am indeed a clean freak, but really it goes beyond that. Cleaning and organizing are truly two of my biggest passions. I will dust and vacuum until the cows come home and enjoy every minute of it, but when it comes to washing pots I'd rather be a cow coming home (does that joke even make sense? No? Okay forget it.). My disdain for scrubbing pans leads to my love of Bar Keepers Friend. It has been around forever but I only recently got introduced to it by the lovely sales people at Williams-Sonoma. This is the stuff to gently clean your fancy, dirty, food encrusted pans with the absolute greatest of ease; no arm work out required! Just mix a little of the powder and some water onto your sponge and buff away that burned on food that has been soiling your pans for months and months. And as the package so proudly proclaims, it removes rust! So next time you are at Safeway, spend the few bucks and add this to your cart. Your shiny pots will thank you.