French Envelope Trays

Jayson Home and Garden has some great home accessories. I love these French Envelope Trays, a perfect catch all for your trinkets. They look much more expensive than their $16 price tag. Stock up on a few and you have a perfect last minute Christmas or hostess gift!

Navy Thanksgiving

"Where's my turkey?"

Navy and I want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! We're hanging out with the fam for the rest of the week so we'll be back on Monday. Hope you have a wonderful weekend filled family, friends and food!

The Stylist behind Anthropologie

The other day Mrs. Limestone clued me into a brand new show on the Sundance Channel called Man Shops Globe. From what I gather, this show follows Keith Johnson, Buyer-at-Large for Anthropologie, all over the globe where he buys antiques to showcase in their stores. I haven't watched yet, but I'm programing it on my DVR as I type!


This also reminded me of a fabulous article in House and Garden (March 2006) on Keith and his partner Glen Senk, CEO of Urban Outfitters and former President of Anthropologie. It gives an insightful glimpse into their lives and pied-a-terre in New York City. What a glamourous lifestyle they lead!



(click on images to enlarge)

Scenes from NYC

I had a wonderful couple of days in NYC last weekend. I checked out Park Slope (a possible location for our future home), went to Yoga to the People, hung out with my fabulously funny girlfriends, shopped and people watched, and had an amazing brunch with old college friends at DBGB. Couldn't have asked for a better visit!

Park Slope brownstones.

I found the cutest stationery shop in Park Slope called Paper Love. I want a store exactly like this one day!

Feather in glass bubble ornaments at Kate's Paperie

Paper dresses at Kate's Paperie. I always visit Kate's for papery inspiration.

On Bowery. Love that Patricia Field kept the old restaurant equipment sign from the previous tenant.

A real restaurant supply store. If you've never visited one, you absolutely must go. They're fascinating places containing anything you could possibly need for your kitchen. Also waaay cheaper than Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Stacks of colanders.

A view of our hotel room. I highly recommend it!

Pumpkin Spice Whoopies

My girlfriend made these cookies last week and I can't stop thinking about them. They were amazing!! So amazing that I'm going to bake them for Thanksgiving with my family. Let the food marathon begin.

Photo by Stephanie Nielson

Navy Friday

Catchin' some rays...and zzz's.

Happy Friday everyone! See you Monday!

Thanksgiving Centerpieces

Here are some quick and easy centerpieces that I created for an upcoming Thanksgiving event. I found these wonderful red and yellow mums at my local grocery store. I spruced them up with brown tissue paper and yellow and red ribbon. To contrast with the flowers I decided to do bowls of lemons and red delicious apples. For some added texture I sugared some of the fruit by dipping them in a mixture of meringue powder and water and then sprinkled them regular table sugar. Once the fruit dries, it creates a hard crust of sugar. Little flags in matching colors finish them off! Super easy and took me less than 2 hours to assemble!

Free Printable Downloads

It's my favorite time of the year, when stationery abundantly blooms. There's new 2010 calendars to mark, holiday cards to address, presents to wrap and party invitations to send. Luckily your to-do lists just got a lot shorter because you can print all of these items off with the click of a button. And best of all? They're free! Some of my favorite resources for free downloads are:

Love.Obsess.Inspire.

IS.LY

Erin Vale Design

How About Orange

Design credits from top to bottom:
1. Sunny July
2. IS.LY
3. Domestifluff
4. Gleaux

Greenwich Letterpress

Mike and I recently found out that we'll be moving back to New York City next fall! While this is quite unexpected, we're excited to be reunited with old friends and our favorite city spots. I think I've already found the perfect stationery by Greenwich Letterpress for casual notes and I'm even contemplating getting them customized as moving announcements. And for all my fellow readers already living in NYC, check out all their lovely city holiday cards. I can't wait till I can send them out myself next Christmas!






All photos by Greenwich Letterpress

Navy Friday

Happy Friday everyone! See you on Monday!

NieNie

A friend introduced me to NieNie Dialogues, a blog about NieNie (Stephanie Nielson) a mother of four and wife of Mr. Nielson, living in Utah. NieNie and her husband were in a near fatal plane crash. This is her story about human strength and courage and is a much needed reminder that life is precious. Read her blog, it is truely life changing.

J.R. Watkins

I was shopping this morning at Target and discovered these J.R. Watkins all purpose wipes. As you know, I'm a sucker for packaging so I was immediately drawn to this gorgeously designed label.


In fact, it's so pretty that it looks great on the counter top. No need to peel off those old Clorox Wipes labels... this stands by itself!

Gorgeousness

I know this has been posted about numerous times over in bloggerland but I just can't help it... I love Ivanka Trump's wedding dress! I actually wish she got married 2 years earlier so there would be more wedding dresses with sleeves that I could have tried on for my wedding. Not that I didn't love my Pronovias gown but I really think that she has influence over the bridal fashion industry. Goodbye strapless and hello classy lace short sleeve numbers!

Boulder, CO Living Room

I was watching HGTV's Biggest Bang for your Buck this weekend and I fell in love with this living room in Boulder, CO. The show actually focused on the master suite but they showed a two second clip of the couple's living room room and I had to pause the tv and snap a picture. (Thank goodness for DVR!)

I love this room because:

1. I have a similar looking sofa and I wasn't sure how I would incorporate it in a living room when we actually have a house and more space. I like this layout with a chaise, chairs and ottomans that surround the coffee table instead of getting a "sofa set."

2. The upholstery nail head details dress up the sofa and make it a little more formal. I'm absolutely going to do this to ours when we move.

3. There is good lighting. I cannot stress how important good lighting is to create a comfortable and cozy environment. Recessed lighting is like a good makeup foundation. It hides the blemishes and highlights your features.

4. Love the combination of soft creams and dark woods. There is so much texture and richness in the room.

5. Wing chairs make everything better. Don't you just adore the seating area in the background? 4 wing chairs around an oval ottoman... I can't thing of a better set up for good conversation.

6. The floor to ceiling windows with dark chocolate wood frames. Need I say more?


Now I just need a house with 6,000 square feet so I can start decorating!!

Sorry for the lack of posts. I've decided to take a little blogging hiatus just for this week. I'll be back on Monday!

Love,
Janis