design blab: Pal + Smith

I recently had the pleasure of attending a holiday party at the Pal + Smith showroom and was simply in awe of their incredible, eclectic style. My boyfriend and I probably looked like fools wandering around their space with our mouths wide open in awe, but we could not resist! What was the item we coveted most, you ask?

THIS DINING ROOM TABLE

Images found here

me blab: Chance

A quick blurb all about my most recent obsession... Chanel Chance Eau Tandre eau de tiolette . This image pretty much sums up my feelings toward the scent.

Image found here
I purchased here

me blab: Hello, again.

I admit it. I have been unwillingly neglecting The Blabbery this past month thanks to a busy schedule and one stressful day after the next. Tis' the season to be busy, right? Right!

While shopping tends to be my chosen method for de-stressing, I have recently found alternatives that my bank account is thanking me for. Crafts! A few good girlfriends and I recently dedicated an entire day to ringing in the season and decking the halls will boughs of glitter ... and plaid, of course. 

me blab: where did the weekend go?

A few of my favorite things from this past weekend... 

fashion blab: layered bracelets

Although my obsession with jewelry has been lifelong, or at least since I can remember, I do not believe that I have always exhibited it in my day to day. I, unfortunately, went through a serious "casual" phase during my blurry college years. A time that myself and a best friend of mine have been trying to not only forget, but to remove from our memories entirely. At the time, we believed ourselves to be "casual chic", when in fact we were light-years from that. Minimal jewelry, if any, old jeans and unflattering flowy tops were daily staples in our fashion diets. The worst version of ourselves yet, as we like to refer to it.

However, with graduation, first jobs out of college and a bit more money we managed to overcome this scary stage we found ourselves in. Today, that phase is a distant memory. One which I tend not to reminisce on. Therefore, my wardrobe has been recovering ever since the demise of that phase and I work diligently to repair and enhance it every day. One item that has been slower to recover than I had hoped is my jewelry collection. Although some may disagree, jewelry is an integral part of my style and needs a bit of loving at this point. While I do have many items that I love and wear constantly, I believe a few, or a hundred, more "staple" pieces would work wonders for my wardrobe recovery efforts. My goal is to be able to step into my closet every morning and have a plethora of bracelets to layer, necklaces to match almost everything and rings galore. My first step to this goal is to slowly but surely acquire lots and lots of layering bracelets. Here are some that I have on my list so far ....

Arches Bangle by Giles & Brother, Parker Leather Wrap by Gorjana, Titan Bracelet by Vita fede (all on ShopBop.com)

Cleopatra Bracelet by Sequin (here) Tanner Charm Bracelet by Gorjana (here), Chunk of Chain Bracelet by Kenneth Jay Layne (here)

Sune Brass cuff by Dream Collective, Turquoise Wrap cuff by Melissa Joe Manning, Etched Mohawk Bangle by House of Harlow 1960 (all on ShopBop.com)

Saba Bangle Set by Antik Batik, Serpentine Bracelet by Felix Rey, Turnlock Katie Bracelet in RoseGold by Marc by Marc Jacobs (all on ShopBop.com)

fashion blab: Nouvea Cowgirl

While browsing the Spring 2012 Balmain RTW Collection, I could not help but experience strange feelings of fondness and, oddly enough, comfort in the underlying theme of, simply said, good ol' Western Wear. With a serious twist of style, of course. These odd feelings likely derive from the serious, and almost decade long, Western/Arizona/Native stage my parents went through a while back. Long enough ago to where their current style only exhibits whispers of the stage, however not long enough ago for us to forget. Arrowhead, Indians, bronze cowboy sculptures and, much to my mother's disdain, John Wayne books graced the tops of the coffee tables and hallway walls. While somehow fabulous that style was, at the time, Balmain seems to capture the essence of the Hollywood Cowboy spirit with structured shapes, intricate patterns and insane embellishments, all while incorporating the cowboy staple, denim.

Images from Style.com

me blab: where did the weekend go?

Spent this past weekend with friends in LA and returned with new favorite items from two of my favorite stores in Abbot Kinney... 

Off to the SC game I went... 

Purse: Urban Outfitters. Scarf: USC Bookstore. Sweater: Unknown

Vest: Audrey 3+1 from Principessa

Unique Matchboxes from Bountiful

Sheer Black Button Up: Lush from Principessa

fashion blab: MFW Roberto Cavalli

Roberto Cavalli's RTW Spring 2012 collection is giving me some serious heart palpitations and I am positive that it has only strengthened my serious affinity for Gold and Black. It is all in the details for this collection, from the intricately fun necklines, to the jackets touched with gold, to the freakishly memorizing fabrics and handwork. With that said, I believe I may just have to start selling items around my house in order to purchase this collection. Any takers?

Images from Style.com

me blab: where did the weekend go?

- Celebrating Friday at Crow Burger Kitchen - 

- Always love a little H&M - 

- Breakfast at The Porch - 

- Sweet & Spicy. Sam Edleman: Beatrix Flat - 

 - A little fall inspiration - 

fashion blab: to splurge, or not to splurge

I hate to admit it, but I tend to splurge more times than not while shopping for, well, everything. However, as of lately, I have been finding some awesome pieces for prices that make me gasp they are so cheap. I have always been a believer in only buying the things you love, despite the excessively large or small price tag. Simply because I know that if I love it, I will wear it, over and over and over. Although lately, I have found myself hunting around town looking for not only what I love, but also for prices that I am happy to share with my own mother! Here are some of favorite steals...

Clutch: Big Buddah, Dress: H&M. Belt: H&M. Necklace: Brass Plum, Nordstrom. Pink Ring: H&M. Shoes: Vince Camuto. Bracelets: Boutique in Abbot Kinney.

Photos by: Scott Davis

me blab: bedside table

Just as I was about to reach over to switch off the rickety lamp on my bedside table, I had an epiphany. If a stranger were to come in and check out my bedside, they would probably know more about me than they would after a first date! What I am reading. My hobbies. My addictions (chapstick and h2o). My favorite accessory. Who would have thunk that a bedside table could be such a tell all?

What does your bedside table say about you?

design blab: DIY California

While contemplating my agenda for this past Sunday afternoon, I realized that I have really been holding out on myself lately. While shopping, dining, and boozing are some of my favorite pastimes, I swear there is much more to me. "When is the last time I had a creative project to work on," I asked myself. It must have been months! So I felt it was due time to pay some respects to the creative side I inherited from the generations before me. Thus, behold "California."

The Process:

Materials:

• 1 large plank of wood
• Sand paper
• Decorative paper (I picked mine up at Papersource, because I am obsessed)
• Mod Podge
• Paint
• Large paint brush
• Foam paint brush

How to:

• Sand the wood on the side you will be using and on all 4 edges.
• Paint the wood and allow to dry.
• Rip up your decorative paper into pieces. The sizes are your prerogative.
• Once dry, trace your design onto the wood.
• Using your foam brush, "paint" the back of your ripped pieces of paper with Mod Podge and apply to your drawing. Depending on the shape of your design, you may need to use scissors for precision.
• Continue placing ripped paper within your design, until complete.

Hang, set somewhere, stare at for a few hours. Do what you may, but be sure to enjoy.

fashion blab: Alice + Olivia

Something about Alice + Olivia's Spring 2012 collection makes me desire one fab beehive and an ice cold Manhattan, stat!

Images from Style.com

Speaking, of Manhattans, this book is great for mustering up a little vintage inspiration ...

Vintage Cocktails by Assouline

fashion blab: NYFW. From the comfort of my own home, unfortunately.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend New York Fashion Week 2011, as I believe my invitation got lost in the mail. Or that is, at least, what I keep telling myself. However, with great gratitude to technology, I have been able to keep up to the minute with all the happenings, behind scenes, and most importantly, the shows! Here are some of my most favorite looks so far ...

Bill Blass

Helmut Lang

Nanette Lepore

Naeem Kahn

Christian Siriano

All images found on NYMag.com

design blab: white canvas

While recently indulgently perusing the September/October 2011 issue of Lonny Mag I could not prevent myself from envisioning my next home and how I would prefer for it to look completely different from the one I currently reside in. Describing myself as 1 part human and 3 parts OCD would more than suffice. Therefore, I yearn for utterly clean, open and simple surroundings with strategically placed pops of color and fun. Imagine a white room filled with tiny fireworks of color, and that is exactly what I dream about calling my own. Well, during the summer time at least. I tend to turn to the dark side during the fall and winter, but that is a whole different post. Here are a few of my favorite items I spotted in this issue of Lonny Mag ...

Susan Fellman: Deer Skull with Crystal Antlers

Oly: Oliver Mirror

Jonathan Adler: Bargello Worth Avenue Pillow

Oly: Oliver Ottoman