Spring Bag

It seems that every year, about this time, I start itching to get a new bag for Spring.  I got a new bag last November that I still like, but I love seeing the new Spring styles.  If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you probably know I have a thing for Michael Kors.  His Santorini natural tote is a current fave.

  

Kate Spade’s straw bag with “petuna” ribbon is also pretty cute!

This yellow and white stripe leather one is fun too, but I think I need a bag with shoulder straps.

 

And I’ve also love Tory Burch totes.

Trina Turk’s canvas tote with pink and green and shiny patent bottom also caught my eye.

Ahh, so fun to see all the new Spring stuff!  It’s a good thing I’ve been staying out of the stores lately!

*********

P.S.  Today is the last day to enter the $200 e-spree giveaway to Joss & Main.

Mama’s Got a Brand New Bag

The tote bag I’ve been carrying for months is so cute, but too impractical for my current lifestyle- that being a mommy lifestyle.  Since I don’t use a diaper bag anymore, my everyday bag has to double as purse + diaper bag.  The previous tote I was using was too heavy and didn’t have any dividing compartments inside, so the contents kept getting all scrambled and I’d lose my keys, phone, etc.  Not good when you’re juggling holding a baby and all . . .

They had different color combinations that I debated for way too long over, and I almost ended up with the brown bag and red strap, but the gold won out.  They also had brown with an orange strap that was cute, and then black bag and strap.

But aside from being super cute, the functionality is what I was after.  Let’s take a closer look!

These days, my purse definitely has to serve more functions than just looking nice.  This one seems to be working well so far. 

*And can you believe Thanksgiving is NEXT THURSDAY??  To kick of your weekend, head to A Thoughtful Place for a chance to win a $30 gift card to Target!

Our Breakfast Room

When designing our home, I dreamed of a little breakfast room with a window where we could enjoy our weekend mornings, lingering over the table with a cup of coffee and the paper or a magazine.  The room would also double as a place for casual dinners and easy get-togethers with friends. 

The logical location for our breakfast room was just off the kitchen, adjacent to the living room.  We ended up with two windows, plus the glass door, so lots of natural light. 

  

After moving in, the breakfast room sat empty while I struggled to find the perfect table for the space.  Because our kitchen counters are marble and we have to be careful with them, and our formal dining room table, is, well more formal, I wanted a kitchen table that was a little rustic and did not feel precious.  With a baby, and lots of family and friends hanging out (especially now with football season) I didn’t want to have to worry about the table getting damaged or have our guests feeling like they had to be uptight about setting a drink down.

Initially, I thought a round table would work best in this small, rectangular space and considered these options:

Pottery Barn- Montego Pedestal Dining Table.  Image via Pottery Barn.

Restoration Hardware- Camden Round Extension Table.  Image via Restoration Hardware.

Crate & Barrel- Orion Table.  Image via Crate & Barrel

The Pottery Barn table, while pretty, was dismissed as too formal; the Restoration Hardware is the same as what we have in the formal dining room (but rectangular); and my husband thought the Crate & Barrel was too modern.  We ultimately decided on the Benchwright table and benches from Pottery Barn. 

Benches and distressed wood conveyed the casual feeling I was going for and I love the look of the metal support brackets and oversized bolts.    

The rectangular table actually ended up fitting the room perfectly.  I added the same rug (Crate & Barrel- Island Honey Chevron) that we have in the living room in an effort to unify the spaces.

So far, we’re loving this little area and table.  I agonize forever before buying furniture and am so happy when I’m ultimately pleased with the purchase! 

Light and Bright

Hi all!  I hope your week is off to a great start.  Busy here, I’ve got a couple of different projects going on and making my way through accomplishing them while the baby sleeps.  I am excited to show you our improved bedroom.  As you know, since we moved into our house in July, the windows in our master bedroom and bathroom looked like this

Last Thursday morning the shutters were finally installed and I couldn’t be happier with the results.  I was getting nervous as the shutters were being brought inside because they looked huge, but once they were installed, it made sense.

 

And did you notice in the photos above the new bedding?  I was at Target over the weekend just minding my own business when this fabulous Thomas O’Brien bedding jumped into my basket.  Don’t you hate it when that happens?! ;)

 

After living in the dark for so long, I am amazed at how light and bright our room is when the sun shines in!  See?! 

The Shutters are Coming, The Shutters are Coming!

Ordering blinds and shutters for our home was one of the last things we did before moving in.  I had only a short time to decide what we were going to do with our windows in terms of blinds/shutters and probably made some mistakes.  I love the look of bamboo shades and wonder (secretly, so the hubby doesn’t freak out) if we should’ve gotten those instead.  They just warm up a space so well.  Anyhow . . .

We opted for blinds on all the windows downstairs, leaving the two rear glass doors uncovered.  Upstairs, we also have blinds in all the bedrooms, except for our master bedroom and bath, where we decided on shutters.   If I recall, we had to go with shutters here because the way the window handles are, they would have interfered with the blinds.   Those details are a little foggy now.  But, apparently, shutters take 8 weeks to manufacture.   So, for the last 2 1/2 months, our bedroom windows have looked like this:

 

. . .  and the bathroom window

The shutters are scheduled to be installed Thursday morning.  I’m so excited but I actually don’t even remember anymore what they are supposed to look like.   I’ll be sure to share the results with you! 

Are you a blinds, shutter, or bamboo shades kind of gal?  We are on blinds overload downstairs but it's kinda too late to change it now since we just got them.  I’m hoping that adding drapes will help. 

Banquette

Something about banquette seating just says relaxed and comfortable to me.  I love it paired with unique chairs and patterned cushions.  I originally wanted this in our home, but didn’t end up going that route because we didn’t want to interfere with the flow from the open living room to the breakfast room.  Maybe we’ll change our minds in the future.  For now, I can just enjoy these images.

 

*via Diane Bergeron

 

 

*Designer Annsley McAleer's Boston home. Photo by Justin Bernhaut, Domino, April 2007.

 

*Photo by Eric Piasecki

Images below from BHG.com

Do you like banquette seating or do you prefer a table and chairs?

Style Saturday

After James was born and I began to venture out of the house again (albeit in short trips) with him in tow, I quickly realized how much stuff you need to take with you when you leave the house with a baby.  Hauling around the stroller and my big diaper bag meant that I had really no room for my purse.  Cross-body bag to the rescue- it works wonders because it's so easy to just sling across your body.  Look ma, no hands!  It's small- so it really just holds my keys, phone, small wallet with cash and debit card, a couple lip glosses and a few pens.  Now, I love carrying wearing this bag even when I'm not with the little guy.

This one is the one I ordered (but mine is tan python print):

Michael Kors- $129.00



Here are some other cute options in varying price ranges:

Carlos Santana $29.99

Style and Co. $29.99

Style and Co. $29.99

Nine West $40.00

Fossil $40.99

Vera Bradley $44.00

Steve Maddon $48.00

Betseyville $57.60

Fossil $59.00

Tignanello $64.00

Jessica Simpson $68.00

Kate Spade $178.50

Burberry $450