glad I bought this....

As I've mentioned in the past, a simple throw pillow can give your room the face lift it needs. When placed correctly, pillows of different shapes and textures add a lot of elegance and character to your bed, couch, chairs, etc.




I purchased a couple of these Remy Shag Pillows from Crate and Barrel (crateandbarrel.com) on sale for about $30 each. Placed in front of a traditional bright throw (knit by my Grandmother!)

A closeup of the beauty!!

I love the contrast. When looking for new accessories, I tend to search for items that I could easily place in just about every room in my house - which makes it easy to switch things up when I'm getting bored with a look.

sunblock = sunsuit

Yay and thank you to all the wonderful stores out there who are actually catering to something a little more important than a cute lil bikini, tankini, and bathing suit this season!

This past year, non-beach specialty stores carried a few bathing suits for your little one that covered thighs, neck, and shoulders. I happen to love a cute ruffle-y bikini on my peanut, but her sensitive baby skin is so much more important. I snatched a great one from the Gap with UPF protection that still happens to fit her this year. Check out these adorable ones!

Throw this adorable surfer top over your toddler - retails for $16.50. UPF 50+.

While I prefer as much skin covered as possible, this adorable tankini from Gap is so cute and still protects with UPF 50+ (just make sure to slather on lots of sunblock!) Striped Tankini on sale now for about $15, gap.com

have a fun and skin-healthy summer!

pretty accessories

I'm a big fan of putting fresh flowers all over the house - but flowers can get a lil pricey and the upkeep can be a lil annoying - For a while I was putting fresh lemons and limes in a bowl, but for some reason they were rotting faster than I could use them all (I'm no Giada, okay?) here's a no- fuss way to add a little personality to your table, console, nightstand.....

In the fall and winter seasons I like pine cones. I found mine at my local Shop Rite, but you can always grab a few from your backyard (just make sure to clean them well before putting them in your home.) They look so pretty and fresh in just about any kind of bowl and add so much warmth (mine were scented, which I wasn't such a fan of).

Check out vandykestaxidermy.com for a package of six pine cones for three bucks!

In the spring and summer seasons, I recommend saying g'bye to the pine cones (until next time) and switching it up a little.

I have to hand it to bedbathandbeyond.com for having the greatest selection of table accessories. Amongst my favorites are these;



Mosaic Glass Balls are so pretty and rich looking! Two color choices, sold as a set of three, and retail for about $25 (be sure to bring your million coupons they send in the mail!). They look so much more $$$. I happen to be a big fan of the chocolate colored ones.



Check out these rustic, contemporary Batok Balls. About $15 for three. I love the idea of buying quite a few of these and placing them in unequal amounts in a couple rooms in the house - it creates a cohesiveness throughout the home.

Here's the best part yet: when you're sick of looking at them, carefully store them away - when you're ready to take them out again, you'll feel like you've just bought yourself a pretty bouquet of flowers!

enjoy!

personalized gifts

here's a way to give a gift with a little more thought....personalize it! Check out these great soaps at potterybarn.com:

On sale now for $29 with free shipping. So pretty!

Adorable online store worth checking out: threehipchicks.com! Check out their Personalized Wooden Oval Pendant and Necklace. So great for summer. Retails for $45.50. Choose from nice variety of shapes, fonts and necklace colors - you can also purchase just the pendant.

Love the Monogrammed Large Oval Shell Pendant too! Retails for $21 - check out their gorgeous silk string too!

shoes for thought

I spotted my extremely stylin friend gracefully stepping out with the most beautiful pieces of artwork on her feet. I explained to her that the second I laid eyes on that sugary sparkle mix of pinks and creams, it was as though I was stepping into a whole new world of glittery-goodness (well, I didn't explain it exactly like that, but pretty close!)




Almost too pretty to wear, Miu Miu Perla Sequin Platform Pumps are show stoppers (my friend's pumps were platformless and equally gorgeous). These shoes truly are a piece of art - and a design inspiration as well.


For those who love the eclectic look in their home - a bit of this, a touch of that - a glittery Hollywood glam piece could really do a room justice. Throw pillows are a great way to update a room without breaking the bank. I found this one today at overstock.com. The Carol Basket Weave Pillow retails for about $66. Woven in Metallic leather - I love that it's not too over the top, yet still very elegant.


I also love Jane Seymour's Mirrored Gemstone Pillow. Retails for $50. Very elegant and I love the texture! overstock.com



Check out the Sheesha Pillow (a la Olivia Palermo) at Jayson Home and Garden. Retails from $205-$345. Very clean lines and modern with a touch of glam - very pretty (and pricey!) jaysonhomeandgarden.com

gotta love these chairs!

Some moms prefer flowers or perfume or some expensive jewelry for mother's day.... but how about a chair or two?


I happen to love the look of acrylic furniture when paired correctly with traditional, rustic, and even some contemporary pieces. Use the Acrylic Folding Chair as your kitchen chairs around a square or rectangular table (something with corners), or fold em, stack em, or store em when you have guests! They are fabulous either way. They are a bit pricey for a folding chair - $125 for a set of two (+ Overstock's $2.95 shipping), but after reading tons of reviews they seem well worth it. This particular chair was found on numerous sites but overstock.com seemed to have them the cheapest, and their customer service is superb!

update your lighting

If you're looking for a chic (I'm getting kinda tired of using this word over and over again so let me start over). If you're looking for a chic (writers block) way to update your dining room without breaking the bank, a new, trendy chandelier might just be what the doctor ordered!

When it comes to lighting, as long as you (or your trustworthy handyman) are familiar with wires, fire hazards, and the general safety of your family and house, the sky really is the limit. Street fairs, antique shops, thrift stores, garage sales and hardware stores are just a few of the places to explore (ummm, remember my 75 cent lamp? exactly!)

I happen to love lampsplus.com. They are located on the west coast. A born and raised west coaster myself, I've visited a few of them and am so impressed with their customer service and products. They carry a huge assortment. Being NY-bound now, I take advantage of their great website with fantastic sales and clearances. Check out this great fixture:



Originally retailing for $150, the White Flower Pendant Chandelier is on sale now for $85! I love it. Imagine two of these crisp white chandeliers hanging over your dining table. Remove a couple traditional items, add a few white accessories.....voila! an updated dining room.

I also love the look of a white spray painted chandelier! Take any brass chandelier. You definitely don't have to be in love with it, just appreciate the overall shape. I found this one (and there were plenty of cheaper ones there too) at The Home Depot (homedepot.com).


Monticello Collection Williamsburg Style 6 Light Chandelier retails for about $63 and would work great for spray painting. I especially liked this one because of the shape and the numerous lights. A 3 light chandelier would work especially well in an entry way or little kids room. The look of a modern matte white color on a traditionally shaped chandelier creates a real eclectic feel to the room or entryway. And it works in a completely white room for an elegant 'museum' feel, or in a brightly colored space for a fresh clean accent piece.

Want to get even more inspired? Check out these white AND colored spray painted chandeliers and tell me what you think. I love the blue one:

www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/hot-or-not/hot-or-not-spray-painted-chandelierswashington-dc-054910

And promise me that you'll email me your finish product!