Organize!

It's all about the organization in my house! Any tools that aid in keeping lists, making sure tasks are completed, and keeping papers off my counters are key! There is nothing worse than clutter! Even if your house is clean, it still looks unkept with loose papers and keys on the counter. Here are some inspirational photos! Put a cork board in a great spot and change the theme...get creative! Try recipes, fabric swatches for redecorating, lists for children, family reminders, a theme of the week idea, a menu board or whatever fits your life! I just added small dry erase board to the inside of one of my cabinets to jot down grocery lists. On a weekly basis I bring the erase board to my laptop and order peapod! Wha la...groceries to the front door the next day! Anything to make life easier and organized.

 Do you have recipes torn out that you've been waiting to try? Rip off the cover for some added interest! Hang them..they look super put together and so Martha!

A great way to organize mail and to do lists in a nontraditional way.

 A PB mudroom/entry way that helps keep the family organized.

I love this office space. Funny though because if you read this weekly calendar, it seems silly to have one. If only my calendar looked so leisurely!

The latest creation...an entryway cork board for my toddler who wakes up every morning and asks me, "what's today momma?". So I made a tool for organizing her activities and helping her learn the days of the week! I am also introducing the idea of chores and rewards! Saw the idea in a PB catalog and made it my own. I still need to buy a few more rulers to divide Friday/Sat/Sun.

A family menu chalkboard made for my kitchen and used for luncheons/dinner parties.

Just love this one!

Happy organizing! Spring is on it's way! What ideas do you use to keep your family organized?

“Your dance identifies who you are.”Author Unknown

I have to give credit to Rachel Ashwell for inspiring me to lust worn ballet shoes. In the down stairs of her new Soho store, I immediately spotted a random basket of worn ballet shoes worn by her daughters...they were beautiful... distressed delicate pink and ivory satin, tangled wrinkly silk ties, and worn during hours of discipline. This is an ironic display of the delicate art of ballet and hours of physical dedication. It's a combination of imperfection and perfection, so close to her deep rooted style.
During a recent "junking" adventure I stumbled upon two pairs of fabulously vintage pairs. Right away I knew they belonged in my daughter's room hanging from her distressed mirror. Like my daughter, an "outside of the box" kind of gal, these shoes have a lot of "soul".

To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful. This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking.
-Agnes De Mille-

Dumb Blonde?

Was not just a dumb blond...

She was smart enough to become the most famous Dumb Blonde in history.

xoxo

The latest

...my buying trip to NYC was nothing short of fabulous. I got to experience all of the latest home trends with some of the best ladies I know. Many laughs, great food and restaurants, non stop chatting, new people. Andrea got to meet her favorite designers, who was more than happy for a "modeling opportunity" and posed for the camera. But yes...it definitely was work. One probably cannot imagine the amount of stimulation at the show, lights, people, and visuals make it a bit of a mind overload. I am confident that the Grace girls found some great and exciting new things for our fans!
That being said, I thought I would share some of the latest and greatest trends that I noticed, both in home and fashion.


Something old, something new. Something borrowed, something blue. While typically the refrain for most brides, this adage holds equally true for the top home decorating trends for the coming year. 

What's old is new again ...

Whether they're genuine period pieces being repurposed or home furnishings reproduced from popular items from the '50s, '60s or '70s, vintage is everywhere. Examples include chair frames redone in new upholstery, traditional lighting fixtures in newer brass or pewter finishes, wire racks, or products imported from Russia, Poland and the Czech Republic. French decor prevails and was shown in chairs and pillows done in old grain sacks or old carts from factories used for end tables or coffee tables.

 Union Jack decor. Pillows, ottomans, printed.

Fashion: Knee socks poking out of boots were everywhere. I saw this with riding boots as well as for the spring fashions with open toed shoes! I love this! 

Industrial Chic: everywhere! 

The green movement in recent years has created such interest in reclaimed, vintage and industrial furnishings that the design elements of the industrial-chic look are beginning to inform other styles of design.  The new version of Shabby Chic, or Shabby Nouveau, incorporates the soft, comfortable linen-covered furnishings we know well.  But now we have the addition of new industrial metal finishes and aged, limed oak finishes (instead of whitewashed Victorian castoffs).  Upholstered and slipcovered pieces are often seen in hemp and oatmeal colors, or even reclaimed burlap sack fabrics, as the look is influenced by the current interest in reclaimed interior design. 

Fashion: Goyard bags! While Goyard bags have been enjoying a certain fashion heat since the turn of the century, their distinctive totes featuring the signature, interlocking chevrons have been the choice of tastemakers and celebrities for over 150 years. Of course, in the 1800’s, European royalty (the stars of that era) weren’t snapped carrying Goyard handbags by the paparazzi, they simply ordered the luxury luggage from the company.