A Winter's Morn

It's snowing here in Virgina. I do hate shoveling,
but it sure is pretty, isn't it?

Hope you are all enjoying your Saturday.

The Home Office... Friend or Foe

I'm fortunate enough to work from home. However there's a chance I'll be going back to life in a cubicle with an upcoming job change. It got me thinking about my home office. I've tried to add some style to it over the past couple of years. However, even with the trendy wall color and all my cute little accessories like fancy file folders and paper clips, it tends to end up a mess. Stacks of papers and mail (and coffee cups I'm ashamed to admit, never make it back down to the kitchen). Yes, the room becomes my catch all for bills and such, not to mention my work files and post-its everywhere. Working from home can be such a blessing, but also a curse unless you can really shut the door and focus, and on the flipside, when 5 o'clock hits, walk away. I'm very bad for creeping back in to check my email later at night.

Anyway, I decided to look for a bit of inspiration for some stylish and well organized workspaces. Check these out...

One of my all time favorite Sarah Richardson rooms. So simple, but so cute...



And I adore Kate over at Centsational Girl's recent office update...




I think if I entertained clients in my home,
this might be a look I would go for. Classy and opulent.
Love it...



And this room actual looks a little like my current office's
color scheme. I have a similar paint on the walls which
I love, and I have white furniture. Thinking I would love
to move my desk so it's away from the wall and more in
the middle of the room like here...



So how about you, does your home office become a catch all, or are you able to keep it pretty as a picture?

Happy Thursday!

Who is this Lisa Stickley?

I was recently introduced to Laura Stickley products when I picked up an issue of Ideal Home. I fell in LOVE with these mugs that were featured. I Googled, and found her website. So many beautiful things. She is based in the UK, and I so want to take a chance and order some of these mugs, but I know it's a risky proposition ordering such fragile items online. I fear I'll receive a box of fine china in lots of little pieces. So I think there is really only one choice here, I must pop over to London for a long weekend of shopping. Seems logical, no? Here is my Lisa Stickley shopping list:

The block dot mushroom mug...



The hankie flower charcoal mug...





The hankie flower pillow...



And last but certainly not least, the doris tote in old blue marigold....


Don't you just love the names!

I'm off to pack my umbrella, heavy coat and wellies.

Cheers!

Jack Bauer - Good Husband or Bad?

I was perusing Shine on Yahoo this morning and ran across this little article.
10 Reasons Jack Bauer would be a Great and Terrible Husband.
Being a big '24' fan, I thought it was pretty funny and wanted to share.

Great Husband

1. Jack Bauer gets results. First and foremost, JB gets things done. If the contractor working on your home tries to pull the wool over your eyes, then may God have mercy on his soul.

2. Jack Bauer cleans up real nice. Most guys will piss and moan if you ask them to take you dancing after a 10-hour work day. Jack Bauer just showers, shaves and grabs a snack after a 20-month bid in a Chinese prison camp and is ready to rock n' roll and possibly kill terrorists.

3. Jack Bauer rarely puts things off. Jack Bauer lives by the motto "Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today." While Jack Bauer's priorities may not be the same as your own, he will rarely let something fall between the cracks. Also, it appears he carries lots and lots of batteries for his phone, so you can almost always check in.

4. Jack Bauer is willing to apologize. Over the years, Jack Bauer has broken a lot of eggs creating the omelette that is justice and safety, and he is a big enough man to sincerely apologize to the people he's hurt. Whether they're his estranged daughter or a friend whose wife he had to torture, he'll say sorry and mean it when he steps out of line. Read: CBS Sit-Coms And The Art Of The Apology

5. Jack Bauer can turn the other cheek. Jack Bauer has taken copious amounts of torture from world-class scumbags. So if you're a little moody or hormone-y, he can take it. You don't want to push Jack Bauer too far, though. He's from a town called Trigger Happy and periodically gets homesick.

Terrible Husband

1. Jack Bauer holds a grudge. It's said that men forget but never forgive and women forgive but never forget; Jack Bauer neither forgets nor forgives. And that is a tough man to live with.

2. Jack Bauer is ALWAYS right. Sure, he's always right in his own mind, but he's also actually always right. Hearing a dozen implied or actual I-told-you-so's every day is not endearing. That is a tough man to live with. Read: Foolproof Way to Resolve Every Argument

3. Jack Bauer takes everything very seriously. Sure, he smiles and will occasionally say something clever, but Jack Bauer has a lot on his mind. The man has so much blood on his hands; how can he sit back and enjoy How I Met Your Mother? That is a tough man to live with.

4. Jack Bauer is always on the job. Even when he's retired, informants with bloody gun wounds call him about plots to kill foreign leaders. You never know if Jack Bauer will come home at night. That is a tough man to live with.

5. Jack Bauer is always in such a rush. It takes a gal a little while to put herself together—you know, put on her face, get put together and put her best foot forward. Having a guy say, "We don't have enough time, we have to save the president!" over and over doesn't make you go faster. That is a tough man to live with.

Let us consider this final thought though. Jack's original wife, poor Terri Bauer, was killed at the end of the very first season, by the evil mole Nina (and Jack's mistress!). His only other significant relationship after that, was the ill-fated Audrey Raines, who was tortured by the Chinese when she went in search of Jack. She ended up, if I remember correctly, in a drug induced coma compliments of her father to save her from Jack and herself. So, although there's nobody else I'd want to save the free world day in and day out, not sure Jack is such a great choice in the relationship dept.

Happy Tuesday!

I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it!

I have a few guilty pleasures. Don't we all? There's Gossip Girl, the occasional full fat Cafe Mocha at Starbucks, and romance novels. Yes, I admit it, I do love a good romantic read. I know, many people wouldn't consider romance novels reading, but I beg to differ. For me, anything that can transport you into the lives of these other people and provide distraction, inspiration or just plain old entertainment, can't be all bad.

I bring all this up because I just received an email from Amazon saying my pre-order of the latest books from three of my favorite authors has shipped two weeks early! {Insert happy dance here} Some days it's just those little things that get you through.

If you too enjoy a nice little romance novel every now and then, I encourage you to check out these three authors. Jennifer Crusie, Victoria Dahl and Kristan Higgins.

Enjoy!

Bag Envy

Have I mentioned I LOVE bags. Handbags, tote bags, heck I'd have 6 sets of luggage if it wasn't so impractical, oh and if I had more closet space. I'm always on the lookout for the perfect purse. I get tired of carrying the same bag day in and day out, so I do like to change frequently. I have a decent little collection. I added to it this weekend when I ran across this gem. Basic black, but I think I prefer classic. It's a no-name really, but it was a steal at only $14.99 at TJ Maxx!




I've also had my eye on this bag from Target of all places for months now. One of these days my willpower will fail and I'll likely have to order it as well.




When I was perusing the Pigtown Design blog this weekend, Meg turned me on to Harris Tweed and Knitwear out of the UK. Oh my they had some beautiful bags. These are a couple of my favorites...





And a few others I've run across recently on Overstock.
I'm usually not much on designer
brands, I can take them or leave them, but these
Burberry and Prada bags, swoon.....



The gailforce winds that blew through Northern Virginia at around 4AM this morning have finally subsided, and it looks like the sun is trying to peak out. Hope you are all having a lovely Monday.

TGIF

Yes, I'm very glad it's Friday. It's been a long week. My phone has been ringing off the hook this week. Everyone wanting to sell you something. Or a computerized voice saying they are looking for someone else, but if that's not you, please call and let them know. Hey, why should I waste my time calling when you are the ones who got it wrong and are harrassing me. Sorry, it's a sore subject. Works plucked my last nerve this week as well. My company is being acquired by another, and we've been waiting since September to find out our fate. It's funny, me and my co-workers knew there was a deadline happening this month, and we were excited that there could finally be some light at the end of this tunnel of limbo we've been stuck in. But now that we will finally be hearing, I've moved from excitement to anxiety. So I think I need to surround myself with images of comfort and beauty.

Pretty.....



Hot chocolate...
Need I say more.



Beautiful...








I wish you all a Happy Weekend.

Pocket Door Envy

I would LOVE to have the door to my master bath replaced with a pocket door. There is really not enough space for the traditional door, and I can't even imagine how fabulous, and more practical a pocket door would be. Isn't this a pretty little bath with a pocket door. Great storage.

Trends 2010

Well, I guess I'm fitting right in with some of the top trends according to HGTV. I just received their newsletter, and on the list are some of my favorite things.

1. Mercury Glass.
How can you not love Mercury Glass. It's just so beautiful. That weathered surface combined with that sparkle, it's vintage bling baby! For me, I think it brings back memories of my favorite old Christmas ornaments. I picked these candle holders up over the holidays.

I also ran across this DIY project over on Ruffledblog.com via The Everyday Bride, using a Krylon spray paint called Looking Glass. I might just have to give this a try.




2. Fireplaces
There are so many great gel fuel fireplaces out there right now.
Such a cool idea for adding some drama to just about any room. I've had my eye on this fireplace on Overstock for ages. I just wasn't sure where to put it. But with a recent brainstorm, I think I've found the perfect spot. So on my wishlist it goes.

3. Headboards
Well, after much thought, I pulled the trigger and purchased an upholstered headboard for my master suite remodel. I opted for this one. I just purchased the headboard vs. the entire bed. I got a great deal from Target. 10% off and free shipping! It's a creamy faux shantung, which I have to confess looks amazing, but I am worried about it keeping it clean. Ahh, the things we do for the sake of design and a beautiful (I hope) room.

Deal(s) of the Day

Look at the soaring ceilings in this place. Wow!

I'm still working on my master suite makeover. Found a fabulous deal on fabric today that I think will work perfectly for a bedskirt and some pillows. $1 a yard!

And found the perfect rug on sale at Target. $59 for a 4'x6' this week only.


Why is it that we love things even more when we get them for a great price.

Jack is back!

That's right, tonight, the clock starts again on a new day for "24". I have to admit, "24" is one of my favorite shows on TV. I know, I know, how many times can one man get sucked into so many seemingly impossible situations. But if you can suspend your grip on reality for an hour a week, they really do deliver a shout-out-loud, heart stopping thrill ride. Although there were a couple of lackluster seasons over the years, the vast majority of their 7 seasons on the air have been some of the most entertaining TV out there (in my opinion). Sometimes it's just nice to escape into this other world for a bit. So I for one will be fastening my seat belt, and parking myself in front of the TV tonight to see Jack have another bad day. Will you be watching?

Suite Envy

Master suite envy that is. I've decided I want a master bedroom redo. I was in love with the blue and brown color combo for so long, but I think a change is in order. I'm thinking neutral, maybe a gray, black and white palette. Loving these rooms below. I like the look of hotel chic, but then again, maybe something a little warmer, cozier. Curling up in a corner chair with a cup of tea and a good book. That sounds perfect! Stay tuned to see what I come up with.









Images: 1. House and Home 2. Casa Forma from Glamorous Interiors blog 3. Erik Johnson from Brabourne Farm blog 4. Decor Pad from Brabourne Farm

And so it begins...

On my 2010 To-Do list is to be more active in my creative pursuits. After reading all the fabulous blogs out there I thought, what the heck, why not start one of my own. So if you enjoy reading about decor and design inspiration, crafting, and perhaps some fashion and entertainment tidbits thrown in, I hope you'll stop by. So here we go. Welcome to Suite Envy.