Mama and Mini Style {casual greens}

{me: shirt - consigned Anthropologie, pants - Old Navy, tennies - H&M

S: dress - thrifted, leggings - Gymboree, boots - H&M}

I had this post all ready to go for Tuesday, St Patrick's Day (and more importantly, cousin Adorlee's birthday!), but the week ran away from me very quickly and so here I am, on Friday! But we wore a little green this week to play along and even managed some pictures.

Hope you've all having a fantastic week, friends. Mine has been busy but so incredible, with one of the most beautiful and enchanting photo opportunities I've ever been a part of now under my belt. I feel completely energized creatively again, after that long, dull winter which absolutely took a toll on my creative side. But wow, this week was so good. This morning I'm off soon to have a hair pampering, cause it's looking pretty sad at the moment. As usual, I'm ready to spice it up a bit, make a little change. But you'll likely see me back here soon and not be able to tell any difference with the locks.

Have the best weekend all! Oh yes, and take a look at this spring wreath roundup, featured at Real Simple Magazine's website. We are lucky to be a part of it and they have some wonderful DIY ideas for your front door, if you're in the mood to get crafty. 

Our Home Featured! {plus a few extra shots}

{getting some energy out jumping on the couch after his first day back to school} 

Woo hoo! We are honored to have our home featured on 2 blogs today. Little Gatherer said some really sweet words about Scarlet's room and they've included an interview with pictures. And Holly Marie Designs did a little interview with me a few weeks ago and Holly is also sharing a few of her favorite pics of our home. Thank you ladies for the wonderful features! When I stare at my yucky couch and think of how much I'd like to throw it in a garbage dump, features like these make me feel much, much better. At least there are lots of other great spots. 

I thought I'd add a couple of pictures here that were not included in these features. :) 

This particular shot of the living room (below) is one that I have never shared before because of the mess involved against this wall. A TV usually seems to be so ugly though doesn't it? It's a mixed up puzzle of cords, at least ours is, and there are many! My husband is a gadget guy and he loves his electronics. So we have EVERYTHING. Good for the guys, not so great for me. As you can see much of the mess is obscured with quilts and afghans, and thank goodness for those. Come winter they are a very real presence in our home - ha! They are constantly moving about as the bodies roam the halls. All this to say, I was inspired by the TV gallery walls I've been seeing a few brave souls creating and pinning (here and here). So I gave it a go with that map of Paris and a couple of vintage prints I painted over. Looking better already I think ... 

Full disclosure: I'm ready for a new house. I LOVE my house, I really do, but I get restless in the same place for such a long time. It's been 8 years you guys. Crazy! But no, we're not going to move ... I just love to dream and dream about the next place. Eventually we will move somewhere else but for now I'm just going to play with what I have. I'm a wanderer when it comes to homes (and my rooms tend to have furniture in a constant stage of motion and change as well). But just as they say Not all who wander are lost. Cheesy! And so true (serious face).

Our Home on Design Mom

So happy to share that our home and especially, Scarlet's bedroom, are over at Design Mom today along with an interview I did with Gabrielle. Would love for you to take a look! Will be sharing a more extensive (updated) home tour in the next couple of weeks. Such an honor to be featured there among the beautiful homes of moms the world over. You must take a look at the home tours. They're soooo cool.

Over the Weekend

This happened!

And a little earlier last week, Scarlet's nursery was featured at 100 Layer Cakelet, one of my favorites sites for inspiration in all things baby and kids. They feature stunning birthday parties, gorgeous maternity photo shoots and dreamy nurseries. You must take a look. 

The hair won't stay that way forever. It's an in and out in one wash sort of thing and I did it for a fashion photo shoot over the weekend. Having pink hair was incredibly fun (and sort of other-worldly, dreams of being a real life fairy coming true :) for a few days. More photos to come … 

Also, I do need to write again and explain a little about what's going on in my life. I'm really not very good at sharing anything too personal, not something I've very comfortable doing in general never mind on this sort of platform. But I know I left you all hanging a bit a while ago and I hope to write something soon. It will just take some time and thought to put it down here. But the pink hair is a bit of a big hurrah before I get these long locks cut off into a chic little bob. I thought I'd go out with a bang! 

Till tomorrow (I hope)!

Lovelies Feature!

So excited to be featured at Design Mom today! Take a moment to check it out here. Thanks so, so much Gabrielle!

Your Vacation Wardrobe

Hello friends!

I've recently started writing for a local women's magazine called YOU and the March travel issue came out yesterday, so I thought I'd share it here too as many of you, dear readers, are from far, far away (in Neverland?). So enjoy!

Cheer up sun lovers, it’s vacation time! 

Many of you are preparing to jet-set to a “fun in the sun” getaway (while the rest of us are dreaming about it). Perhaps you hope to be whisked away for a little lazy beach lounging or maybe your dream destination boasts some big city cruising. Whatever the case may be, you’ll want to look and feel fabulous without too much hassle. I’m here to make some suggestions to help you pack for your spring adventures, providing you with a foolproof wardrobe that will keep you stylish on whichever coast you roam. Well, let’s get to it!

The resort collections that walked the runway for 2012‘s getaway season provide so much inspiration for vacation wear. A few of my personal favorites seen floating down the catwalk included tropical floral prints (Jill Stuart), romantic white lace (Valentino), 70‘s inspired denim (Louis Vuitton), playful citron yellow (Stella McCartney), and nautical sailor stripes (Salvatore Ferragamo). Best of all, bright colors were embraced! If you’re not quite ready to don saturated hues from head to toe, try adding a pop of color to your look - a bright bauble around your neck or take it a step further with a neon skirt mixed into an otherwise neutral ensemble. Basically, if we draw one inspiration from the resort trends, let’s focus on adding some bold color to our suitcases for our spring 2012 getaways. 

So, my friends, after taking a cue from the professionals, I have come up with a list of my personal favorite picks for spring break, pieces I’ll be bringing along. 

* Basic t’s and tanks in black, white and nautical stripes (the base to so many great outfits and easy to accessorize)

* Favorite denim cut offs (for long walks on the beach)

* A sun dress (or three!) in a pretty spring floral or a vibrant red (a floor sweeping maxi dress is also gorgeous with it’s flatteringly feminine silhouette)

* A linen blazer for chilly evenings 

* A bohemian cross body bag (perfect for flea market hopping) 

* A cute straw hat (double duty - style and shade!)

* Flats or heels with pretty cut out detailing 

* Simple gold bangles (for layering)

* Coral lipstick (Maybelline’s Coral Crush)

* Finally, that dreaded bikini!

"Runway to Everyday" inspiration provided by Jill Stuart Resort 2012

 {My outfit: shrug - Anthropologie, dress & flats - Gap, belt - Target, bangles - heirloom}

{My outfit: hat - moms from H&M, vest - Aerie, dress - South Africa, heels - Dillards}

{runway photos from style.com}

Wearing Your Summer Wardrobe Into Fall

 I spent some time working on another article for a family mag we have here in the Green Bay (and surrounding cities) called Apples Families. While the first article focused on transitioning an outfit from day to night with a few simple additions, this one similarly takes your summer wardrobe into fall with a few added layers to keep it cozy. 

While I adore fall fashion and always feel the most exhilarated at the prospect of reinventing my look and my wardrobe for a new season with all of those endless and gorgeous new possibilities in stores (and runway), I'm still a little sad to say goodbye to my favorite shorts and summer dresses (and for almost 8 months!). But one of the most enticing things about dressing for cooler weather, for me at least, is the chance to layer my clothing. It certainly makes things more interesting and you can take a stand out piece  and make it look different every time you wear it, depending on how you layer. 

So this time I took my cut offs, something I've lived in this summer and then one of my favorite summer dresses (will post that one tomorrow), and I added a few layers to make them wearable when the chills come our way. Well, at least for a little while. :)

* I love layering with both vests and scarves cause they look great over a t-shirt or a nicer blouse

* adding a pair of textured tights under your (nicer) shorts is a chic, alternative way to warm those legs

* switch out your sandals for comfy booties (for the mamma that prefers comfort over height) 

* and remember, fall is the perfect time to try richer jewel tones when you layer and accessorize

And for back to school? My little guys aren't too eager to switch to pants either, so I don't fight them too hard on that one. Instead ...

* layer them on top with long sleeve t's and light weight sweaters

* little rockstars are all about cute hats - so have at it!

Basically, the same rules apply! 

{On me: shirt - Fossil, vest - Aerie, scarf & booties - Target, cut offs - T J Maxx

On P: hat & cut offs - Sweet Peas (GB), sweater & sneakers - Zara kids

On M: shirt & Converse - Gap kids, shorts - Sweet Peas (GB)}

Fancy Feature - The Galleria

Afternoon friends! Today I'm sharing a very sweet "interior inspiration" store with you, one nestled into the amazing backdrop of a beautiful old school house, the perfect place to have such a boutique. The owner is a friend of mine and I recently visited the Galleria to see what sorts of little things I might find. I was completely delighted by what I found as there were many odds and ends that I would have been happy to bring home with me, ranging from antique furniture to handmade leather bags, vintage purses and even a handmade spoon bracelet. The Galleria has that feeling you get when you're in Door County, the same quaint and charming ambiance but without the drive! You're sure to find inspiration for your own home and there's even a spot to relax with friends over a cup of coffee. 

Let's have a little look, shall we?

 Christie, the owner, made this impressive tree from curly willow branches, a dramatic in-store nod to the tree featured in their logo.

I asked Christie a few questions so that we could get to know her a bit better.

1. How did the Galleria come to be/get started?

After more than 15 years of being an interior decorator and working with my clients to re-design their homes with all their own furniture, artwork and accessories, the vision grew to opening a business that would accommodate the needs for changing the look and feel of our homes. Out of the desire to change homes came the vision to change hearts and relationships as well.  The hunt began to find a location to accommodate a place for decor consignment, a place to gather with friends and loved ones and a place to offer classes and events to assist us on learning how to achieve change in our personal lives and homes. With prayer and seeking I was directed to the school house at Olde School Square in DePere, Wisconsin.  A 102 year old school house filled with all the character and charm of days gone by.  The uniqueness of this building allowed me to have the space to showcase all the beautiful decor and artisans works that are showcased at the Galleria, as well as a space to invite one to come and sit a spell and catch up with friends in the school house loft. As a bonus, the Fieldstone room in the lower level of the school house is where events and classes are held, allowing a separate space from the retail and gathering place in our loft.  We offer a multi-functional place to come and visit and you should do so often because transformation happens daily at the Galleria!
  
2. What inspires you when you're decorating?

The two elements that inspire and create the greatest impact in decorationg are color and texture.  Color creates emotion and will set the pace for the look and, most of all, the feel of a room.  One of the best ways to determine what color to choose is to first ask if you are drawn to a warm or cool pallet.  Once this is determined choose the color(s) that inspire you.  It could be from a piece of artwork or fabric on furniture.  If it's a warm pallet choose colors that have a yellow tone.  If it's a cool pallet choose colors with a blue tone.  It will all begin to balance out and set the emotional connection in your room.  When adding texture to a room this is the bonus that often times is forgotten or missed.  Texture embraces the personality of the homeowner that will complete the signature look of who you are in your home.

 3. Which home goods store is your personal favorite?

I don't even have to think about this one . . . TJ Maxx, yup I'm hooked for fashion as well as home decor. And I personally love the journey and venture of second hand and always look forward to the treasure hunt.

Thanks so much Christie!

Here are a few of my favorites finds.

 These stained glass windows are just so beautiful but that one below is especially impressive as it's the frame to a mirror sitting grandly above a multifunctional table/dresser. Wow!

And these vintage clutches are to die for.

The whimsical spoon bracelet I mentioned earlier, followed by stunning jewelry, pretty tea time accessories, and a nostalgic suitcase.

I adore their hand made leather bags and that wicker head board.

 If you're in the GB/De Pere area (or coming this way for a visit), take a moment to stop by and explore the Galleria's nooks and crannies (and grab an ice cream at The Gem on George :). You're sure to find something that pulls at your heart strings. 

Till tomorrow!

The Galleria

Olde School Square  

2200 Dickinson Road  DePere  

920-339-9133  

 http://www.galleriainspirations.com}

My Extraordinary Day

It started out like any other ... kid's waking up noisily, coffee brewing heady through the house, and me grinding my teeth as I begrudgingly peeked the after effects of yet another infuriating snow storm (don't remember a winter quite like this). But the weather outside soon became meaningless as I clicked open my gmail, something I'd forgotten to check in over a week, and I scrolled across an email that left me quite dumb founded. It was from an associate producer at The Nate Berkus Show. What? To me? Is someone playing a wildly fantastic joke on me? Hours later, after a whirlwind day, I was back where I started and completely spent from the sheer excitement, the shaky stress, and the questions endlessly rolling through my mind. Here's what happened (well, in a nutshell). 

They saw our home on Apartment Therapy and they thought it was beautiful. Yes, that's what she said! They were interested in hearing more about my life and my house, but most specifically, about my thrift and vintage finds. It was for a segment called "House Proud", one where they would focus on bargain thrifting and flea market finds. 4 emails and 2 phone calls later, I'm on the phone with the producer and she's asking me a ton of questions I never thought I'd have to answer or explain to anyone (I felt somewhat ill-prepared, my mind searching for "clever" anecdotes about my life and decorating style, hearing myself answering her questions and giggling nervously. Be cool girl!). The craziest part? If our home was picked for this segment, a crew would be sent out to GB for a house tour (MTV cribs is what first rolled through my head and I thought, how could I be cool enough to do something like that?) and then ... get this, they would fly me to New York on Monday, THIS MONDAY, and I'd literally be on the show which tapes on Tuesday. Me, sitting next to Nate Berkus on a daytime talk show. What is going on here? 

So that's how my evening ends. I have no idea if I'm "in" or not, but I'm completely honored for this unbelievable attention. There may be 10 other options for them. Who knows. It's just been such a crazy and surreal experience and I'm so amazed that this blog has in fact done something so unexpected and incredible for me. I think it ended there, as I'm sure that plans would have had to be made already if all of this were to be accomplished by Tuesday. Yesterday seems ages ago already and I'm wondering if perhaps it was just a dream I had last night. A very wonderful dream! 

This is what I wore on my extraordinary day. 

{hat - Target, vest - Azure (GB), dress - T J Maxx, jeggings - New York and Co, boots - Dr Martens from Free People}

Welcome to all the new readers that are coming this way! I'm so happy to have you here and I hope you love what you see enough to stick around. Green Bay's "You" magazine is now out on news stands and my "article" is in it, or so I've heard. I've not seen it yet! Don't forget to enter the Starbucks giveaway as today is your last day to do so! Have a beautiful day, everyone. 

Apartment Therapy - House Tour

Just wanted to make a quick mention that our home has been featured again at Apartment Therapy as a home tour. Very exciting! A huge thanks to Jason who made me seem to be the coolest person ever. You didn't have to do that ;). Check it out here.

My {Quirky} Home Featured!

Yahoo! I guess Apartment Therapy liked what they saw. We're there and you can check it out here. Thank you AP!

{weheartit}

Elliot featured at "Little Lovely"!

Yay! Check out Elliot's "little style" at Little Lovely. He's the bees knees, that's for sure. Thanks for the wonderful post Khali!

We've Been Featured!

Exciting news! You can see my fancy little wish list at the South African blog Lanalou Style today. Thanks for sharing it Lana!



Hope your day is filled with loveliness.