Anthropologie Calls for Help

When Justin and I were in Starbucks several weeks ago, I was perusing the flyers on the community bulletin board and came across this little number.

The poster is from Anthropologie and basically says that if you are interested in learning how they create their amazing window displays, you can attend a workshop creating their displays for the upcoming holiday season. I worked in retail for several years through high school and college and my first thought when I read this was "ha! they are trying to get free labor by calling their set-change a workshop, what a scam!" and then, as I sipped my venti nonfat chai latte, I thought "who cares if it's free labor! It'll be awesome—I want to go!" Unfortunately, the day I saw the poster was the day the workshop was being held and Justin and I already had plans, so it was a no-go this time. However, I will be frequenting that Starbucks again and I will definitely keep my eyes peeled for another session.

A few days later, my curiosity got the best of me and when I was in the area, I swung by the shop to check out the display. This time, the window seemed quite simple compared to what I've seen in the past, but it still looks like it would have been super fun to help set up.

What do you think? Would you be down for attending a display-making workshop even if it ultimately meant you were providing the retailer free labor?

Pink is Powerful

If you have stepped outside your home this month, you probably have seen a lot more pink around than any other time of year. Well, welcome to October, also known as Breast Cancer awareness month. Not only will you see more people wearing the self-proclaimed color of support in various shades from mauve to bubblegum, you will notice store shelves flooded with pink items that when bought, send part of their profit to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. However, in lieu of buying a new pink spatula or umbrella adorned with a giant pink ribbon, some vendors on the awesomely homemade site, Etsy, are selling "Breast Cancer Awareness Month" goods and also donating some (or all) of their profits to the Foundation as well. Here are some of my favs.

Little Vintage Hearts by sarahandbendrix

Pink Glory Ring by thepinklocket

Keep Calm and Carry On Poster by posterpop

Pink Peruvian Opal Earrings by maribellecampa

Think Pink Cookies by chrisgalli

Pink Cloche with Fat Flower by niseylee

Pretty in Pink Headband by daintybutton

Glass Pearl Earrings by larababot

Pink Ribbon Long Strand of Pearls by larababot

Ballet Slipper Glass Crystal Necklace by brideblu

Whether you are looking to give to the foundation through some personal retail relief, or looking for a gift for a fabulous female who is/has endured breast cancer, turn to the not-so-typical Etsy shop and do a little monetary damage in support of breast cancer research.

Shop Flight 001

In preparation for a quickly approaching trip abroad, I visited a little shop called Flight 001 last week in search of some items that might make my trip more comfortable and efficient.

I was looking for disposable pillow cases and collapsible, flexible water bottles, which they were sold out of (go figure!), but as I was perusing, saw some other nicely designed items that would be helpful traveling and could be cool gifts.

The first product that caught my eye was this Pantone swatch wallet. My photo makes it look huge, but in actuality it is a normal size for a men's wallet.

Then I saw these nylon bags that supposedly you buy many of and use them to organize the items in your suitcase. Although I love the colors and the design, I don't see how these would be any better than reusing plastic shopping bags.

These navy and cream striped cases, most likely for makeup or other small toiletries, had a sailor-ish feel but also reminded me of something Kate Spade might have in store.

Of course this shop had plenty of makeup and suitcases of which I also liked these that had vintage international graphics.

The one item that had me reconsider leaving the store empty-handed was this Grid-it Organizer, which I call a gadget and cord wrangler. This thing might actually be a functioning product, but for $22 I decided to pass it up.

I was surprised to see the shop selling flasks, but I guess it is a travel shop and you can put more than just liquor in a flask...right? Anyways, I couldn't help but like this flask in particular.

So, although Flight 001 did not have the items which drove me to visit the store, I still got to look at some good eye candy and will probably check out more of their inventory in their online shop. Cheers! (Yes, that is a hint at where I'm traveling to!)

Banana Republic Fall Jewelry Displays

During one of my recent lunch stops at the gigantic, 4-floor Banana Republic store on Michigan Avenue, I couldn't help but notice the new fall jewelry displays because they reference two of my loves: home DIY (paint roller covers) and reading (books).  And the jewelry isn't bad either!

If someone is looking for an excellent way to organize bracelets or necklaces, this is the way to do it. Do I see an inventive necklace tree or jewelry stand in the future?

I also loved the way they used stacks of old books and papers, compressed together to post brooches and pins in. This is a great sculptural alternative for a cork board.

Or you could just lay your baubles across a blank or monochromatic book cover.

I think these are very fitting for the fall season, especially with schools welcoming back students and a new wave of fall DIY projects. What do you think?

Shop Anthropologie

It's been over 6 months since I posted some sweet finds from one of my favorite shops, Anthropologie. I'm not sure how y'all feel about virtually shopping with me, but I enjoy sharing the items that catch my eye when I'm wandering about, so here we go again!

Although I love the clothing Anthropologie sells, I can't help but be drawn to the home goods as well. There is something to love about a charming birdhouse, no?

These Hobnail tumblers have a depression glass feel but in chic colors (green-pictured, clear, and blue), would look great paired with your modern dinnerware.

Even though Anthropologie has stocked these Ikat bowls for some time, I can't help but see them filled with big mounds of rainbow sherbet, which almost makes me buy them.

Looking through the door knobs, cabinet pulls, and other hardware accessories is a must-do. Last time, I shared some of my handle favs, but this time, this large key with individual modified S-hooks grabbed my eye. Maybe its because Justin and I are trying to keep our keys in one location but haven't quite mastered it, or maybe it's because this thing is functionally awesome.

When you visit an Anthropologie store, you are essentially walking into a masterpiece of staging. The displays are amazing and the styling of the items for sale is ingenious. However, don't be surprised if you find something you can't live without and it happens to be a prop and not for sale, such as these potted plants. At first glance I thought "super cool pots—how much?" and then I examined closer and saw that what I thought was a green plant pot, was actually green burlap wrapped around the pot. Add that to my project to-do list!

And speaking of projects to-do, these patchwork, upholstered folding chairs were added as well. Imagine how whimsical these would look circled around a cute little patio table, adorable!

Another fabulous find includes any fanciful apron from their massive selection. (PS: This is only half of the display.)

Apparently I have developed an affinity for anything wrapped with natural fibers because I felt I had to include this pretty lamp. The great part about this lamp is that it would work well with any shade since it is a neutral color and the woven base would add tremendous texture to any space.

Finally, I couldn't help but snap a shot of this chair (on clearance!), which semi-reminded me of my Easter chair.

There you have it, a quick round-up of recent finds at my local Anthropologie store. I'm sure I have left some other sweet stuff out, so drop me a note or comment and tell me what you're digging right now.

(To see my last Anthropologie shop post, click here.)

A new kind of paneling

To finish off my recent redecorating binge of our master bedroom, I pulled another curtain change-up. However, this time, I didn't swap the panels with another room's; rather, I tackled another sewing project and let me tell you, this takes paneling to a whole new level.

But before I get ahead of myself, this upgrade was not sparked by my brilliance alone, as Justin and I were making a Saturday morning stop at good 'ol HD (Home Depot), I spotted these roman bamboo blinds on mega-clearance. ($12 a piece! How lucky could we get?)

After discussing where we might hang these beauts (and consulting the notebook that I carry everywhere with dimensions of practically everything in our house—no joke), we decided they would look perfect in our master bedroom. We both loved the way our living room window turned out with the dark cocoa colored bamboo blinds and light, airy silk curtains, so after work one day, I trudged back to the Discount Fabric Outlet in Chicago and bought 12 more yards of the antique silk fabric ($3 per yard!) to make four more panels.

Before you scroll down any further, let me remind you of the old window treatments. They weren't terrible (heck, we lived with them for almost 3 years), but there was a bit too much dark chocolate brown going on for my taste.

This is how our room looks now and I'm so much happier. The bamboo blinds are a tad lighter than our furniture and have a slight reddish hue, which complements our paint color wonderfully. They also add another textural element, which elevates the rooms aesthetics. The light colored curtains frame the blinds serenely and pull the color from our bedding to create a more cohesive palette.

For what it cost to make these updates, I think we gained more than we spent (about $70). And it reminded us that our tastes are ever changing, so don't be afraid to make some simple changes. It might be worth more than you think!

The Sweetness

I finally caved last weekend and bought CB2's 10 degree coat tree, which I have been eying for at least the past year. I figured once I got home I would put it together immediately, but instead it has been sitting in its box sprawled across the middle of our family room. When I headed upstairs to bed last night, I nonchalantly called over my should to Justin, "if you get bored, you could always put the coat tree together!" and to my surprise, when I went downstairs this morning, not only was it assembled expertly, there was a really sweet note attached to it.

The funny part is that I know he had no idea what he was putting together until looking at the instructions (if he did that), so his comment about the "cool looking tree thingy" cracks me up. Isn't my husband the greatest?

Back to Bed(ding)

Ever since moving in and painting our master bedroom sea-foam-blue-green, I have been unable to find bedding that I have been completely happy with. I have tried comforters, duvets, quilts, blankets, and everything else under the sun but nothing truly satisfied my aesthetic appetite. As a result, we now have a closet full of cast-off bedding (anyone looking for a comforter for their king size bed?).

Because of my discontent, I have been swapping out our bedding about every three months, but there is one set that I consistently go back to, this comforter from Linen's 'N Things.

What I love about it are the rich colors and how it contrasts with our wall color, Laurel Mist by Behr. However, when the weather starts creeping above 50 degrees, it gets a bit hot under the thick comforter.

Also, the dark moody red and burgundy feel a bit heavy in the spring so I've always kept my eye out for something more fitting for the summer months.

Then one day, while I was doing my usual loop through Target's clearance home decor, I crossed paths with this beaut by Thomas O'Brien. Thanks to my ziploc bag of our home's paint and fabric swatches, which I always carry in my purse, I held up our wall paint color and instantly knew it was perfect.

(Look at those thin, skinny stripes of blues, greens, and creams!)

Into my basket it went and I turned down the next aisle, coming face-to-face with clearance pillows. Uh. Oh. In about .2 seconds, these three babies were tucked under my arm, guarding them from the other nonexistent shoppers about to snag them for their own—grrr.

Now that everyone is home safe and sound, I can't believe how great it all looks together: the wall color, furniture wood tone, two sets of slightly different colored sheets, new blanket, and throw pillows.

I can't even remember how I slept in such a dark space. The new bedding brightens and provides visual air to our room. I think it is safe to say it exudes a sense of beachy-ness, but what do you think? Do you like what we had before or the new bedding? Does anyone else swap out their bedding when the seasons change?