Craving Anthropologie....

Orissa Coasters.........

Well-thumbed book Boxes...........

Relaxing.........

A little night time reading....of my favorite blogs and mags!

A Gray Monday...

It was Lunchtime, I sat on a bench and gazed out at the the NY City skyline, just catching a break and breath from the busy-ness of work. I love it....even gray and gloomy it's still a beautiful sight to me.

Here's what I was reading while I was there. ; )

Happy Weekend

These two images below were in my 'Inspiration folder' on my laptop. I usually keep the source(except now), so if you know please comment so I can give due credit.
In this first image there are so many things I enjoy...I really like the black and white contrast, the moroccan lantern is gorgeous, the shape of the coffee table is so great, the arched entryway with the beautiful twisted pillars are perfect, and finally the large piece of artwork and mural on the other wall are so eye catching.

This 2nd image really drew me in with all its beautiful LIGHT!!! I am a sucker for bright rooms. I really like the neutrals paired with whites, I find it very calming. It's something I would love to recreate.

So this weekend I am catching up on some of my DVR'd Nate Shows since my hubby threatened to delete them. I do admit they are taking up alot of memory!

This lil' pic above shows snippets of my living room. I know I haven't shown many updates.... If you are like me you hate posting pics of your unfinished space. I could use your help so I really need to get over that. I still need an area rug...coffee table...accent chair.......curtains.......and maybe some bookshelves. I will get around to sharing soon!

Sunday's happenings.......

So I go back to work and totally neglect my blog! No fair, I know. It's an adjustment for everyone, I'll get back into the groove again. It's my only creative outlet at this point so I need to get back to blogging.

We are making cookies now. It's freezing out! We went to the park for about 10 minutes and we were out of there real quick, such wimps. I finally found out how to get the photos off my android..yay!!!!

Like this pic of one of my fav mirrors...................

Thinking about the holidays coming up.....trying to remember where I spent last Thanksgiving...my family or my husbands. This is a big debate EVERY year! Most of the time we have to look at pictures to know for sure.

Sad that this weekend we roll the clocks back...... hate when it get's darker earlier. Really hate it.

Time to eat some fresh hot cookies...see you later!!!!

DIY Porcupine Quill Mirror.....

Well I can finally share my first Do-it-yourself attempt at the Porcupine Quill Mirror!!

Of course we should take one more look at the inspiration...remember it......*swoon* ...

INSPIRATION

I really fell in love with this mirror when I saw it. But I also knew at that price ($699.00) it would never be mine. The more I looked at it my brain started thinking...hey those quills sort of look like painted bamboo sticks...and so I got started.
Your supplies should include:

• 149 bamboo sticks (usually 2 packs)
• a round foam disc , 15/16 x 7 7/8
• 10" mirror
• black paint , Paint brush
• glue gun
• felt for backing (not a necessity, just hides the ugly foam)
• leather strip for edging of mirror or ribbon
• twine for hanging
  
  The most expensive part of this project is YOUR LABOR!!! The longest part of the project is the first part, painting your bamboo sticks. I must admit I totally messed up the first pack. I originally spray painted all the sticks a creamy white and was going to paint the stripes over it. BUT I didn't realize the white paint I had was waterproof and therefore the stripes would not adhere.... Oopsy.

1. Painting the bamboo sticks----Starting again...I just painted the black stripes on without using the creamy white base. This is just my impatience...I think the first step gives it more of a finished look. But from a distance you can't tell.
Yes YOU WILL be hand-painting the black stripes on. Place them sort of randomly...with the largest amount of black towards the bottom of the stick. You don't want them to match up exactly. I originally only used 100 sticks but today I added 45 more in and I think , 145 should be your minimum amount for this size.
Let them dry a couple hours.

2. Bamboo placement---Next I start to insert the bamboo into the foam. I suggest you make your hole by inserting the stick where you want it..then remove it and using your glue gun, apply glue to the bottom inch and re-insert to the hole you just made. You need the glue to keep the sticks from falling out. Insert, remove and glue each stick one at a time as you go.

I started first with the back layer, closest to the wall. I inserted those pretty straight like a sunburst. Then there's room for 2 more layers to the front. Those I started to angle forward only slightly. Be random and just use your eye to fill in the space.

3. Mirror- Then Glue the mirror on the front of the foam. I also glued a felt circle on the back to just cover the foam.

4. Hanging- I admit, thinking about hanging this puppy was an afterthought. I used twine around the circumference of the foam, inbetween the sticks. It's pretty rough looking...

5. Edging----Lastly, I used a strip of leather to place around the edges of the mirror. You can use ribbon or anything else you like. I think I would like a thicker piece of leather next time.

That's it!!! Not bad for under $15.00, I say! The finished mirror measures about 30 inches in diameter.

Warning........This project was not injury free. Getting bamboo under your fingernails and a sliver of glass in your hand......hurts like a mother.... But hey we are imitating porcupines after all!!!!!

But I will tell you this mirror should hang in an area that people will not bump into this!!!!

 If you are going to try it, send me your links I would love to see it! And post them. If you are not the DIY type but want one, email me : )

Post edit:  Here's how this mirror ended up- layered on top of another square mirror in the entry way.  This made for an ever greater visual impact.  Love it this way!

Weekend update..........

Not as much celebrating this weekend... since I have a sick little girl. We are going to the doc tomorrow.....hoping her fever will break.
Since I was housebound, I was able to work on a project I mentioned to you...remember the Porcupine mirror, well I finally worked on my DIY version. I'll share with you tomorrow when I can take pictures in daylight!!!!! I do love it.... it's not perfect, but it's perfect for me!

See you then!
J

Working Girl!!!!

Well it's official, I'm a working girl again!!! (or will be next week)I'm so thrilled to have a job again in these times, really... I feel lucky and thankful.

So...I will be working for a Brokerage firm again, (yes, my creative soul aches) in my ole' hometown of Jersey City. I'm so thrilled about that part. I love that area on the waterfront. Of course I don't live in town anymore or that would of been an awesome commute.

But I do get to look at the amazing NY City Skyline everyday!!!!!

Lots to do...getting ready. Need to get back in that whole groove again. But first some celebrating this weekend!!!!

Lucky ....

Do you love Horseshoes like I do? There's just something about the shape and maybe their association with luck that I love.

Last night I wanted to make some fabric ones....so here's what I whipped up as I was watching the miners rescue on TV...(which was so inspiring to see, everytime they brought another miner up I was a little teary eyed)

Oh and how about this great little bar stool that I am currently using as a side table. I adore this metal and reclaimed wood look. It's my favorite recent purchase from Home goods.

October happenings.............

The 'little girl' wanted to make a haunted house. So one morning this weekend, we grabbed an empty tissue box, construction paper, glue and got started.

She drew and cut out all the bats, cats, pumkins, and ghosts. So very cute! I helped make the door, and the roof out of cardboard.

I love the end result. I think we might need a few more!!!

Love this look......

Ann Taylor

This outfit is %100 me. I love everything about this look, from the classic black jacket, that beautiful full gauzy scarf, the jeans tucked into leather boots, except my heels would be way lower!!!

still interviewing.......

Hey..Happy Monday!!! So I had one of my interviews this morning that had been cancelled a couple times for many reasons, not on my part. I'm relieved, but still stressed just wanting to know the results. You know? It's such a long process, I first begun speaking with this company months ago. So I'm ready! Now the waiting part. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

(Some cute outfit combo's from Kate Spade)

Enjoy your weekend!!!!

I love Fridays!!! Although I'm in the process of interviewing for a couple positions so this one was equally exciting and stressful for me. I'm going to read my October issue of House Beautiful and kick off the weekend, ordering in!
Enjoy!

making a life...

I was strolling though a store today and noticed a wood plaque with this saying on it. It really stuck in my mind throughout the day. Very true.

Today's THRIFTY finds...

flying the friendly skies........

I snapped these photos while on our way to the Domincan Republic back in July.

I love being in the clouds! Let's just say I have more pictures of the clouds than my actual vacation.... how wrong is that!

Goodbye summer days!!!!!

DIY plans...

Well here's a Mirror that I really love, but would never pay so much for. Have you seen it?

It's the Porcupine Quill mirror from Horchow.

Well I'm going to attempt my own DO-IT-YOURSELF version and see what happens! I have a plan...let's see if it works. Wish me luck!

the NATE BERKUS show!!!

(waiting in line....LAST!)

So my sister and I went to a taping of the Nate show a couple weeks ago! It was sooo much fun, of course I didn't get around to blogging about it (aka...lazy blogger).

Well the show premieres today at 3pm...but the one we went to is on Wednesday. It's the one that Dolly Parton is in. And they show the preview videos on his site right now...

Before you go clicking on his site...let me just grab this screen shot for you........of Nate, Dolly and ME (on the left in green)!!!!!

I had to do it, forgive me!

I'll share more later!!!! We were sitting so close we could reach out and grab him.

The only bad part is because we were front row..we couldn't sneak pictures because it wasn't allowed and would of been extremely obvious!

(my only cell phone shot after the show)

Zara's Fall looks for your lil girl

Well it's back to school time and I am happy to see it come! I guess that's why I'm also looking at all these cute kids clothes. These are from Zara's lookbook and I just adore this little girl and every outfit she has on!

Inspiration: Do what you love!!!!

Krista Vernoff "Commit to Thrive" from Omega Institute on Vimeo.

Thank you Marisa for sharing this on your blog! It's a video by Krista Vernoff who is the executive producer and main writer for one of my favorite shows..Grey's Anatomy.
Just watch!