want it, need it, have to have it!!!!

Part of the fun of blogging is just writting about whatever the heck I want to. Today, since the as yet un-named foot injury is beggggging me to sit down and shut up, I am doing a little armchair shoppin'. Window shoppin' that is.
I really want a big orange handbag. Not just because of Mike's beloved Illini either. Orange is the new neutral, I've heard, and I'm starting to believe it. Everything looked great on the walls in my orange laundry room. Now that I've painted it 'camelback', which is a fancy word for 'beige'....everything looks pretty much 'meh'.... I swear, I am going to need therapy soon, having a hard time dealing with all the newly neutral walls in my getting- ready- to- be- sold house.
These 3 selections on these 3 celebrities probably cost more than I make in a month, so ima have to wait until 'orange is the new neutral handbag' comes to Target. (via Instyle.com)

I am CRAZY about these gift stickers from theplaidpen.com. Since I try to keep a few rolls of black and white polka dot wrapping paper around at all times, these would be absolutely perfect. I wonder if it would be too vague to have this printed "Especially for your from a VanHoutan " since it's a revolving door of birthday parties around here. One of my best childhood friends is the creator of The Plaid Pen....do be a dear and check out the site. It's loaded with adorable personalized paper goods.
Okay. I think we have a winner! This chevron rug is from rugsusa.com and right now they are offering 20 % off and no shipping! Sweet!!!! In my dreams I would get a Madeleine Weinrib wool dhurrie, but in my reality I have 4 kids and 3 dogs, one of which is a yorkie, so ....yeah. Polypropylene.
Damn you La Mer and your addictive FREE SAMPLES!!!!!!! A few weeks ago, my bestie Sherry and I went to St. Louis for the day and spent at least an hour at the La Mer counter in Nieman's where Sherry managed to get a whole bunch of free stuff for the both of us. (She has mad skills!). One of those free samples was for La Mer Moisturizing cream. In the space of the last couple weeks, I have turned back into a baby zygote. Upon further investigation, I cannot afford to buy an actual jar of this.
Jonathan Adler. Potter. Genius. Must. Have. 39.99 at the Welldressedhome-store.com


Spring is coming, followed by the best time of year, Summer!!!! In the fall and winter, I am the queen of the statement necklace, but warmer temperatures call for something lighter, that I can just put on and leave on until Labor Day. Ever since I saw a Roberto Coin tiny tiny tiny cross on a friend at a party, I have been trying to find one tiny enough to appease me. This one, at etsy, has THREE tiny crosses! I wonder if I could get her to make me one with FOUR tiny crosses? allisonwindsor1@ etsy.com


Now that I am staring 'sensible shoes' at eye level, I am reconsidering a collection of flats. Being a shortie, I do so love a heel. My darling boyfriend informed me last weekend that he doesn't even care if the heel is high enough to make me taller than him!!! My God, could you have sent anyone more perfect???? I think not. But I've also been sent a foot injury, so..... Anyway....this snazzy little collection here is exactly what I'm after. I feel like I've been looking for a yellow shoe for 2 years. I have a pair of yellow gladiator sandals, that I love love love, but I need a dressy flat to mix with dark denim. The sparkley silver in the middle would be so fun for date night and the print would be great to mix with other prints, like a polka dot skirt or cardigan.
via Instyle.com

Another great thing about blogging, now that I've found all these great things and included them in a blog post, I kind of feel like they're mine!

best.collaboration.EVER!!!!!!!

In the way way back of Target past the shapeless sacks and sweatsuits, is a section I call 'Nirvana'.
It's the 75 % off rack and I've found some pretty sweet deals there. Like the Tucker butterfly dress for six bucks and the Jean Paul Gaultier tulle miniskirt (never worn, but who cares!) Every so often I will spy something so fantastic that I wonder how it could have been passed over and declare myself the ULTIMATE VICTOR....and then I see the tag. Liz Lange maternity...
This. Happens. A lot.
I am a woman who was pregnant for the better part of six years.
In the last 3 years I have lost 30 lbs by walking a bazillion miles and doing a gazillion barbell squats.
I'm a person whose mantra is 'style is where you find it'.....so this is a MAJOR QUANDRY for me! A sharpie or a seam ripper is not going to remedy the fact that it is, underneath it all, still maternity!!!!

Why can't Liz Lange do a non maternity line for Target? It seems she has enough style moxie in her pinkie toe to cover the entire ladies' fashion department of Target.

In what is going to seem like totally unrelated news....a few months ago I finally purchased Jonathan Adler's On Happy Chic Colors book. The cover of said book completely epitomizes my personal aesthetic. (well, what it would be if I didn't have a house full of kids and dogs and a super tight budget) I have drooled over every page in this book (except the 'chambeige' chapter). I look to JA for tips on accessorizing (perfectly edited,with a sense of humor) and his use of color. I love his needlepoint pillows (even this one) and the funky pottery that first made him famous. I only recently figured out that the cover room is in Liz Lange's house.

That had to be the best collaboration ever. As it turns out, Liz and Jon went to Brown together and were best friends in college--so that's why it worked out so well! He really knew his client! (Liz Lange, Jonathan Adler and the fabulous Simon Doonan, who is Jonathan's luvah...so I'm sure he had some input as well.)
via newyorksocialdiary

Here's what J. Ad. had to say about his approach to designing this house (via House Beautiful)

"I think a room should be 95 percent chic. There needs to be a solid foundation of good design, functionality, and harmony. Then you have the remaining 5 percent to layer on a playful vibe. If a room is merely playful it's usually wildly unchic. Conversely, if it's too chic it's dry and off-putting. I try to strike the perfect balance of chic and cheeky — an inclusive, unsnobby sort of buoyant spirit."

I can't find a definitive date for when this collaboration took place, but it wasn't yesterday. Photos of this house have been all over the net, but I just had to write about it, because it's going to go down in history as one of those magnificent projects that will stand the test of time.photos via housebeautiful.com , photographer Ngoc Minh Ngo


via domino magazine


More recently, Jon and Liz worked together to create a child's room in a showhouse in New York called American Fashion: Designers at the Aldyn. It's adorable.
Take a look!



I love the foil wallpaper, it gives me some ideas for some faux work. (as a photo bonus of faux painting ideas, look at this setting in Kate Spade , Dallas.) White and silver foil stripes? Yeah baby!!!! via diaryofakatespadeaddict.com