San Diego!

I'm heading to San Diego for an extended weekend!  So excited to see friends and family.  The weather is supposed to be classic Southern California--high 70s during the day and low 60s at night with clear and sunny skies! After the thunderstorm I drove through last night I can't wait for this:

Image via Pinterest

I just have to finish packing first!

King Bed & Skyline Furniture

The king bed I ordered from Joss & Main arrived, and I have been meaning to show it to you.  Unfortunately, I can't find my camera charger (I know it's around here somewhere), so I only have a cell phone picture to share.  I am loving the new bed:

I was concerned about the quality and look for the price, but it had gotten rave reviews when I looked at it online, and it didn't disappoint in person.

The bed is Skyline.  I had been admiring these headboards before, but it took the online sample sale to get me to actually go ahead and make the purchase.  Currently, this company has quite a few upholstered options on CSN Home that look great for extremely reasonable prices:

This simple tufted headboard is a classic option:

This one with nailheads makes a bigger statement but is still quite simple and refined:

Another classic tufted headboard with a small arch at the top:

This wingback headboard is the one we ordered, and it is true to color.  It is a velvet white, and not off white, which I was concerned about prior to seeing it in person:

This one looks strikingly similar to the Crate & Barrel Colette Bed but at a fraction of the price!:

"Shocking" Pink

This DVF dress was love at first sight.  The bright colors paired with neutral hued accessories just might make the perfect dress for a special event I'm attending this weekend.  Details to come...

1.  Michael Kors Belt Bangle
2.  DVF Edna Dress
3.  Kendra Scott Trista Chandelier Earrings
4.  Nars Nail Polish Adelita
5.  Mark & James by Badgley Mischka Flirty

Belize Bound!

Next month I will be here:

Thanks for helping us choose--Belize for our vacation spot!!

Images via Pinterest

At the beginning of this year, I made a travel wish list, and it looks like we are going to be making it to two locations on that list this year!  I would say 2011 has been good to us!

Monday Escapes

I am taking you on a sunrise journey this week...

Hop in a boat and paddle along...

This is not just any River...

it is considered holy, a place to purify oneself...

Along its banks...

Images via Travelmoon

It's the River Ganges in Varanasi, India!

Have a great week!

HAIR

Earlier this week, we got to see the Broadway production of HAIR that is currently in Dallas.  I had the CD growing up but had never actually seen the musical.  We ended up being in the front row, and the energy was electric--we even got to dance on stage with the actors at the end of the show!

The costumes in the production inspired me to make a style board of late 60's inspired clothing, which is decidedly as in fashion now as it seemed to be at the end of that decade:

1. Asos High Waist Flare Jeans 

2. H&M Fur Vest 

3. Free People Sheer Shoulder Buttondown with Ruffle Sleeves

4. Free People Arrow Feather Hair Clip 

5. Free People Shoreline Binneti Bag 

6. Dogeared Peace Friendship Bracelet 

7. Sam Edelman Kellan Wedge 

You've Got Mail

I got something very exciting in the mail today!  The eagerly anticipated wedding invitation to one of my best friend's weddings that I am in next month.  This is the most elaborate and gorgeous invite I have ever received, and I have her blessing to share it:

The wedding is going to be one amazing affair!

Succulents!

I have been wanting a beautiful arrangement of succulents for a long time--they are low maintenance and add some much needed live plants to our home.  With the demise of my orchid, gifted from my realtor (found out I was over-watering-although I followed instructions!), I replaced the flower with succulents from the same floral shop.  I love how it adds life and greenery to the room, not to mention enhances our home's feng shui:

Here's hoping they last much longer than my poor orchid!

Birthday Celebration

Our Friday night dinner party celebration was a great time, and it was the first time I actually used our wedding china.  It has only been almost 3 and a half years, but better late than never!  Since, I have had another small get-together with friends, and have started breaking in our house as far as entertaining.  It's been busy but a lot of fun, I could get used to this:

Monday Escapes

Today we are going on a safari in a place far far away from here:

After seeing animals roam wild, it is hard to really enjoy a zoo again:

Because certainly it doesn't compare to the vast plains of the Serengeti:

You may also run into a Maasai or two while out on your safari who walk amongst the animals:

Images via Travelmoon

In Kenya and Tanzania!

Have a great week!

Birthday Bar Display

Today is my husband's birthday (Happy Birthday!) so I am throwing a small dinner party in his honor.  It was also the perfect opportunity to stock our bar/butler's pantry.

I had initially been inspired by this display at the Ralph Lauren Store that I snapped:

And then garnered even more inspiration when the Society Social Magalog came out with pages of bar set-up inspiration:

Images via The Manifesto Magalog

Here is our new display complete with my new Missoni martini glasses, shaker, and shot glasses:

Cheers!

Lonny's Yellow Door

With the very busy week I have been having, reading the new issue of Lonny has been on the back burner.  I finally got a chance to look at it in depth last night.  This is my favorite shot in the magazine:

It got me thinking...where can I paint a yellow door in my house?!

Missoni Madness

I had some requests to recount how I fared at the Missoni for Target sale.  I have to say this is one of the few times I have been excited enough to get up early to brave a sale.  Usually I get really excited when the design collaboration is announced and realize I missed the sale the day after it happens.  I guess the allure of Missoni kept this sale on my radar.

As many of you know, the website was down for many hours, with only periodic openings of being able to get on the site even as of this writing.  After not being able to get on the site in the morning, I hopped in my car and made it to Target a few minutes before it opened.  Dallas is a shopping town, so I expected throngs of people.  Thousands of people arrived even going so far as spending the night at the mall waiting for the opening of Dallas's first H&M a few weeks ago.  This baffled me, but Missoni is a one shot deal so I thought it would be even more of a mob scene.

To my surprise, there were only about 35 people waiting at the door.  My aunt later relayed that there were 170 people at the Palm Beach Target where all the Palm Beach ladies stormed a Target in a less affluent neighborhood and went wild trading items from cart to cart.  However, this crowd while small were focused.  They pretty much snatched up all the inventory within 15 minutes.  When I went at the end of the day to return a few items so I could look at my receipt without cringing, everything was gone, replaced by the usual Target items, like it was all a figment of my imagination.

My favorite scores: infinity scarf, shaker with martini glasses, and towels.

My misses: the flats.  After hitting Home and Clothes the flats were sold out in smaller sizes at 8:07 am.

I am not keeping all of this!  Have to sort through my favorites!

Anyone else want to share their Missoni for Target experience?  I would love to hear about it, this whole phenomenon fascinates me.

Missoni for Target is Here!

Today is the day!  Missoni for Target debuts.  I can't remember being this excited about a design collaboration with a mass retailer in well...EVER!  I am hoping to score everything from barware, to paper goods, to shoes, and clothes by shopping online.  I have never tried this before with Target's design collabarations, but I have limited time to go in the morning, and I am hoping that I will actually have a better chance of items being in stock if I can start shopping once it goes live.  The items are already being sold for many times their original Target price on Ebay from those lucky enough to have early access.  If anyone goes to Target today, I would love to hear your reaction to the collection!

Monday Escapes

When I anticipate a hectic week ahead, I can always dream myself to this scenic look-out: 

In Fiji!

I am in the midst of receiving 15 boxes that contain all of my childhood memories (old schoolwork, mementos, pictures, and who knows what else) courtesy of my parents, as they clean out my room.  Despite having to unpack again, I am excited that all of my photo albums of past travels will be arriving so I will have more Monday Escapes destinations to share!

Have a great week!

House Tour: Master Bathroom

You have seen it in progress but here it is--our Master Bathroom:

I have been enjoying the luxury that is our walk in shower:

And here you can see our bathtub with the finished mosaic tile piece that we had bullnosed to complete the look:

We also added hardware to the cabinets:

Images via Travelmoon

Summer Arboretum

One of my best friends came to visit me (and Dallas) for the first time over Labor Day weekend.  We decided to venture to the Arboretum.  Previously, I had only been in Spring (see here) but was pleasantly surprised to see that there were still flowers that weathered the intense summer heat.  Our favorite sight: the flowering canopy of trees that only displayed green leaves in the Spring:

Design Star

HGTV informed me that Design Star is holding auditions in Austin September 9 for their next season.  While this is not my cup of tea, I prefer to watch reality shows instead of participate in them and in this case, have proclaimed my trepidation with DIY projects-- I would love to see some more talent next season.  Maybe the limitations in how challenges can be executed contribute to this lackluster season and don't allow the contestants to shine, but it didn't seem to be the case last season, which I enjoyed so much better.  Maybe all of you Texans in the area can show them something better during these try-outs!

Working Girl

After a hiatus, I am back to work today starting a new job.  It's time to bring out the work clothes and of course that means my signature DVF wrap dress!

House of Harlow Starburst Earrings | Tory Burch Suede Satchel | Steve Madden Koool Flat | DVF Jeanne Wrap Dress

*Image via Pinterest

Monday Escape

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Belize v Iceland destination poll on last Monday Escapes.

The winner by a landslide was:

Image via Pinterest

BELIZE!

I will be sure to let you know when we finally decide!

Have a great week!