As promised, here is a little collection of FUN ways to rock some colored legs...




 

I recognize that I broke like 17 different vlogging rules by making this video 4 plus minutes long, rambling on...and on, and having to do about 4 takes before I didn't sound like a broken record.  But, it's rare that a pretty design book actually keeps me up at night. And then wakes me up in the morning.

Like many of you I'm guessing, I am a girl who loves to peruse Pinterest, with mouth ajar, saliva nearly showering my laptop as I covet beautifully designed spaces, ladened with simple elegance and divine style.  And while this practice can be ultra inspiring, it can also be ultra overwhelming.

 I click away wondering how on EARTH am I to live so beautifully and elegantly while co-habitating with boys who use the floor as a drawer, ONLY forget to take their shoes off when entering the house on the muddiest of days, and who look at my colection of all white vases and structural objects, and see the perfect targets for their Nerf darts.  I mean.

But Nate's philosophy is here to set us FREE.  Free from jumping on the latest trend bandwagons every other minute, free from trying to re-produce the rooms we see in Elle Decor and those over-styled Pottery Barn catalogs, FREE from other people's perfection.  And back to ourselves.  And our own things that matter.

Through the stories of the people in his book, we see how folks with impeccable style create spaces that tell their own stories. With the "things" that are unique to their individual histories, present passions, and hopes for the future.

And it encourages us to do the same.  

Nate's new book is the one you'll want to snuggle up with after the kids are in bed...preferably beside a fire, wrapped in your favorite throw, with a glass of wine on the side table.  You'll want to sip it slowly.

And then you'll want to go and fill your home with all the things that matter...to you.



As promised here are a few of the "things" I found in my own home that help to tell my story.  Hadn't really "seen" them in a while.



 This is the stool I used to sit on at my Grandma's house when I was a little girl.  It was in her kitchen and I remember many evenings watching her cook and the smell of pork chops and mashed potatoes.  She passed away this year, and this stool is the only thing I wanted.  It now sits in the corner of my kitchen.  And I LOVE that it's orange.



My "pretty room", and the one couch my boys just aren't allowed to sit on unless they have JUST showered...twice.  This is the painting I saw from across an art fair and HAD TO HAVE. I have a thing for trees and circles.  I'm sure that means something profound.  Or crazy.

 


The first thing I bought for my new 4th bedroom turned office space.  I built the whole room around this painting I scored at a vintage shop.  It was all dusty and tucked behind the ugliest painting I'd ever seen. I know it was hiding til I came along.

 


The top of my bookshelf in my office.  I realized today that is says a lot about who I am and some of the things I love. 




The GOLD powder room I've been designing for the last too-many months. I'm Filling it with gold frames housing art that I love including a lithograph of my favorite fountain in NYC, that I bought on the street with Jonny one summer.  And my favorite piece of art by Truman, so far. it says "Shaboom!" Truman mimicked it after Lichtenstein...the exhibit I took him to this summer at the Art Institute.  It reminds me that the stuff I take them to really does sink in. 

If you missed the Prime Time Emmy Awards last night, you missed a very funny Jimmy Kimmel, A sweet tribute to Andy Griffith by Ron Howard, loads of awards for a cable movie about Sarah Palin, and the color of the evening....BRIGHT awesome YELLOW.


I have a feeling the 4 women who chose this striking happy hue were unaware that they would see their sunny selves coming and going so much down the red carpet. Stylists clearly don't communicate with one another.  But honestly, it never got old.  One by one these actresses glowed like the midday sun walking across that stage.

And now, gosh darn it, I want to bust out the yellow too.  It made me wonder why I always reserve this color for the summer. Granted these awards take place in Hollywood, land of the perpetual 80 degree mark, but maybe, just maybe we can keep it around a bit here in the midwest as well.  One just couldn't be all grumpy wearing chartreuse, or citron, or taxi cab YELLOW, now could one?




   

 

 Stunning indeed.  So in that vain, & feeling all sun inspired this crisp Monday morning, I have curated a little YELLOW just right for fall...for y'all.  (I love to rhyme).

Sing along now, peeps!..."Here comes the SUN....doot n' doo doo. Here comes the sun, and I say..it's alright". 



 

A LOT of swag comes in and out of my house.  I love trying new products and deciding which ones I think you'll LOVE too.

These new flats are by far the most comfy shoes I've worn in a very long time.  Tieks aren't only super lovely on the feet, but have the added bonus of looking great too.  Seriously...what til you SEE the colors and patterns they have.  They are proof that flats can be just as chic as heels.  And WAY better for your tootsies.





You can see the whole amazing batch right HERE!

Enjoy them and Happy Happy Weekend,
M 

Hello friends!

I have been holed-up in our cottage in the woods for the past month, void of make-up and mirrors, nail color, chic outfits and hair styling of any kind.

But I'm BACK and getting ready for a weekend in NYC!  Can I get an Amen? AMEN!

While I find true bliss being all "natural-like", I also love to get dressed up and try fun make-up and play with my hair.  Unfortunately I would have flunked out of cosmotology school the minute they asked me to do any kind of up-do.  I make a mean ponytail and have earned maybe a low b in side-braids, but that's all I got.

SO, as I was poking around Pinterest, I came across this lovely little braided bun tutorial and thought maybe, just maybe my fumbling fingers might be able to make that happen.  I'm going to go down trying at the very least.

I thought I'd share it on Wed. to give us all a few days to perfect it in case we want to rock it this weekend.

Good luck and may the force be with you!

M


(disclaimer: she makes this look really easy, and she's probably like, 14, but a middle aged mom can dream.  I will also not be including the giant bow.  I did that in the 80's). 
 




If you have a SUPER easy and fun up-do you love and can actually do...PLEASE, for the love of pretty locks, share it with us!  

Down below is just a taste of the amazing deals you can find right now over at Gilt Baby and Kid's Stroll in Style sale.
If you are looking for some amazing baby gear at slashed prices, you really must go virtual window shopping.  Like NOW.

And as promised, use THIS LINK to get an additional 10% off!!  When you're buying baby gear, it can really add up.  

Now GO...have fun!




Phil and Ted's Side by Side.  Makes hauling multiple kids WAY more fun.


Baby Bijorn Original Retroi Baby Carrier.  I had one like this and LOVED it.  Except it was a simple navy blue, not nearly this cool.






Bugaboo Cameleon Tailored Fabric Set.  Again...things are WAY more fun these days when it comes to baby gear!




7AM Enfant Barcelona Bag.  OKay, I would have LOVED this diaper bag.   Dang things are so much cooler now.