Waiting for Spring to Come!

I'm getting my own place in March or April and I've been collecting decorating ideas for awhile now. I've always loved mixing and matching styles and I am so excited to have a place all my own to play in. I'm making a scrapblog with all of my ideas, but I though I'd share some of them here too. I read so many blogs and see so many things that inspire me, so I don't have all of the sources. (sorry, friends!) I will try and keep better track of where I am finding these things.

#1 This white dresser makes me smile because of the way it's paired with the lamp, bird figurine and *of course* the vase of daffodils. I have a vase that looks just like this lamp base, which I adore. I wonder if I could turn it into a lamp?

#2 This picture is from Better Homes and Gardens. And believe it or not, there is a small tv behind the curtains on this shelving unit. It used to be one of those ugly particle board entertainment units, and now it's an adoreable piece of furniture! I just need to find an ugly entertainment center at a thrift store or a garage sale...



#3 This picture is from Better Homes and Gardens, in a slideshow on bhg.com called "hand me down living room." What I love about it is how bright and homey it feels. I'm planning on buying a long couch and I think I'm going to look for one this color. I'm really drawn to Creams, Browns and Tans in the living room. It makes it really easy to throw in bright spots of color and to change them often. My bedroom furniture is black and white, so it would be nice to have browns in another room.



#4 I have a few empty picture frames, so I'm on my way to getting this layered look. The middle one in this picture is really pretty. Mine are painted black and brown right now, but I'm thinking I might like to paint them white. White, bright and cheerful is the look I want. This picture is from the blog, fairehoure.

TULLE is having a BLACK FRIDAY SALE!!

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee...

My favorite scene in this YouTube video is of Rory right after Logan told her he loved her and she is crying hysterically and saying, "But I love coffee!" haha, I don't remember why she said that, but it makes me laugh every time. Of course, Lorelei's famous quote: "Coffee, coffee, coffee is a saying, like an exaggeration. It's a funny, desperate cry for caffeine. It's just my thing cause everybody knows I drink a lot of coffee, so the day can't start until I've had my morning jolt. It's a bit, my bit." showed up as well. I think that's from season 5 when she was fighting with Luke and she was forced to go to Weston's.

I guess if you don't know me very well, you wouldn't know that I am a huge Gilmore Girls fan. Coffee is a recurring theme in the series and it seemed like the perfect way to start this confession... I mean post. :)

I never thought it would come to this, but I now need a cup of coffee every morning. Recently I started craving coffee in the morning and goodness knows I am not going to drink the coffee at work. (it is stored in carafes older than I am, and who knows how often it is freshly made) So I make my own at home in a tiny coffee press. It's really, really tiny. If I am going to make coffee for a friend or a second cup, I have to literally start over because it is that small. But it works perfectly for my new morning coffee ritual. Being on a budget, I think I found some economical choices for my coffee grinder, coffee press and tea kettle:


Mr. Coffee Grinder $15.19
Bodum Brazil 3 cup Coffee Press $14.99
Copco Tucker Teakettle $12.49

I bought them at Target, easy as pie. I wasn't going to wait for them to come if I bought them online, so I took the easy road. I really like the grinder. It may or may not wake my roommate up in the morning- I haven't asked and she hasn't complained! :) The teakettle is pretty spartan. If I keep it clean an dry it will probably last forever, but I can't help but wish for a shiny colorful one someday.

Call me a snob, but I love the taste of Starbucks coffee. Some people say it tastes burnt, but I guess it's what I was raised on. My parents are not coffee drinkers, and Starbucks was where my friends would congregate every Wednesday night throughout high school and during the summers in college. So anyways, my coffee bean of choice is:




Starbucks Caffè Verona

Ruche Giveaway!

Today is all about giveaways I guess! A retailer I am planning on telling you guys about later is the amazingly vintage Ruche. I am in love with about 50 things on their site right now. For example:

This sweater:


this bag:



and this ring:



BiJo's Freshpicks is hosting this giveaway, and you can enter here!

Gussy Giveaway!

Who has seen such a cute idea? Ruffles are everywhere right now, but these ruffles are something unique. Gussy sews bags, wallets and pouches with attached ruffles in contrasting colors. One of these is definitely going on my wish list!

My favorite is the

Gus For Work - Sea Blue with Yellow Ruffle Work/LapTop bag

The Vintage Pearl Blog is hosting a giveaway for a $35 giftcard to Gussy's shop. Enter here!

Sale at Tulle4us.com!!

Mixed Cable Cardigan in Teal, $6.99

Wide Wale Corduroy Dress in Ink, $8.99

Crepe Long Sleeve Blouse in Graphite, $5.99

Baby Quilted Skirt in black, $6.99


Angora Wide Collar Sweater in Royal Blue, $6.99

I can't resist a good sale at Tulle! I bought 7 things, a few of them I didn't post because they may end up being Christmas presents for friends or family. I think I'm most excited to see the corduroy dress! I have a jacket that might match the skirt too. I've loved everything I've ever ordered from Tulle, so I'm sure these will be beautiful. Can't wait!

Medical Alert Bracelet Search

The last couple of years have been full of surprises in my health. The most recent is that I have developed Addison's Disease. Addison's is a form of Adrenal Deficiency. Your adrenal glands are located near the top of each kidney and they regulate small things like, oh, your heart rate, potassium and sodium levels and the hormones that give you the ability to deal with stress.


Now that my adrenal glands have gone ca put, I have to take a new round of medicines and I have a great new Dr. telling me what I need to know. Other than that, I really don't like to do a lot of research- my mind wanders to all of the horrible possibilities if I know what COULD happen.


My Mom has also been the sweetest, strongest ally in all of this. She does the research for me, and talks me off of the cliff when I start to freak out. She also is there to give me advice. Her latest piece of advice is that I need a medical alert bracelet to tell people in emergencies about my condition. So to the Internet I go. If I have to wear one, it is going to be pretty!


Here are the ones I'm trying to decide between:



This is the Harper Medical ID Bracelet

This is the Lucy Medical ID Bracelet


This is the Finnigan + London Leather Medical ID Bracelet

(It comes with two interchangeable bracelets.)

I like them all, but I think the Lucy bracelet would be the most comfortable. Plus, I think once I get the nice silver bracelet I can make a beaded bracelet on my own. All I need to do is attach two lobster claw clasps on each end.

All three bracelets are from http://www.fiddledeeids.com/

What do you think?

Boots, boots, boots!

I bought them... I shelled out the money... And I love them!


Miz Mooz Kent

I tried on a few pairs of boots in stores and the calf circumference was always too big, but these are perfect. The lining is a fake fur, but it's not bulky. I'm wearing them today, and it's 70 degrees out and I'm comfortable. (but I'm almost always cold)

Which One Should I Pick?

Yesterday I received my order from Tulle, and it is all so much better than I expected! The dress goes to my knees and is a soft by substantial material. The graphite blazer is a bit big, but I'm sure it will shrink in the wash. The blue jacket is my favorite, it reminds me of something Jackie Kennedy would have worn. It is lined in red satin and because I have long arms, the sleeves are more like 3/4 than full length. I love the pencil skirt, and now I need some great boots to wear with it!

I've been looking around, and I've narrowed it down to three pairs.

They had to be:
-leather
-knee length
-low heel
-brown
-under $150

DSW: Nicole Winchester Leather Riding Boot, $99.95.

• 15" Shaft height, inside zipper
• 14 ½" Calf circumference
• 2" heel height
  
• reviewers say mostly positive things
  

Amazon: ALDO Orvillea, $115.98 in Cognac

• no measurements given
• no reviews available

Amazon: Miz Mooz Kent, $184.95

• Shaft measures approximately 15 3/4 from arch
• Heel measures approximately 1 1/4"
• Platform measures approximately 1/2
• Boot opening measures approximately 15 around
• reviewers say they are as comfy as slippers and love the texture of the leather
  

If I go with the cheepest pair, from DSW, the heel will be a little bit higher. The ALDO boots are more "polished" boots- more similar to English riding boots. I'm not sure if that's the look I want all of the time. So the third option might be the best, although over my $150 price limit.

I love this pair at Land's End, but there is no way I can afford them!

Sale!

Tulle was having a sale I couldn't resist. Here's what I bought!
Brown Corduroy Pencil Skirt, $6.99
Quilted Jacket, $8.99
Corduroy Blazer, $8.99 (in Graphite)
Twig Print Dress, $4.99