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Sparkle Comes Early This Year

We went to Chicago this past weekend for my guy's birthday.  We haven't been there in several years, and it is the city we fell in love in.  It was a fast paced 48hr trip and I was so exhausted I couldn't muster a post yesterday.

I was sad to see that Garrett's Popcorn was no longer on Michigan Avenue. I usually finish a king sized bag of caramel corn before we make it home.  Giordano's Pizza is still there, and just as gooey cheesy delicious as before.  We strolled along the Navy Pier, watched the White Sox get a step closer to the World Series, and managed to do some retail damage. Well the boy did, in the short 4 hours we had on Saturday.

 

I went to all my favorite stores, but nothing begged to be purchased.  One of the first places I went into was F21 on Michigan Ave and I spotted a sheer net tank top dotted with sequins.  There was a whole rack, so I decided to hold off and see what else was out there.  

I dreamed about that top that night and I went right when they opened on Sunday to pick it up.  They were all gone!  I ran upstairs and combed the "put back" racks(like 12 of them, I feel so much for those salesgirls), and nothing.  I took a chance and asked a girl at the dressing room if someone may have tried one on the night before and it still be back there.  There was!

On the left is a chunky rose metal & rhinestone necklace that I love love love. I've been stalking it at Macy's for months and they finally clearanced it out.

Detail Shots:

 

 

The tank has a twisted racerback style.  I also picked up a French Connection tank top on a clearance rack at Macy's that will work perfectly under it. 

I miss the newsstands in NY, LA, and Chicago:

Look of the Day: Louise Ebel of Pandora

      

I just recently found Louise Ebel of Pandora and these images have increased my want for lace tights this fall.

 

Images by Garance Dore, another great blog

Where have I seen this box?

     

I first spotted this box in a picture several weeks ago.  It was an interior shot of a home and I thought it was some mod little table. It features female silhouettes, so of course I thought it was adorable. I thought for sure I had saved the picture to my computer, but I can't find it anywhere.  Anyone else have any clue to where I may have seen it?

Well anyways, fast forward to a recent thrifting excursion and there it sat on a shelf.  It is a vintage wig box that still had a head form inside. 

 

I can't get a really good shot of this bag but I thought I would include it since I'm talking about silhouettes.  I found it at a fantastic estate sale. The previous owner had been an interior designer in the 60's and 70's, and I wanted to buy everything.  I noticed in their trash pile they had tossed this little bag.  Apparently there had been some sewing supplies inside, and what was garbage to them was cool little artwork to me. 

 

I found this vintage wool blanket while thrifting last week for $3.  The thermal weave reminds me of something Marc Jacobs would be inspired by, but would reproduce in a cashmere knit.

Vintage Locker Baskets and How Shopping is Pain

 

I came across a stack of old school locker baskets at an antique mall a couple of weeks ago.  In a rush of excitement I crossed the room to grab them and slammed right into an all glass table that I didn't see in my shopping delirium.  I cut open my leg and it hurt so bad I thought I was going to pass out. 

I had one of their cs reps carry them up to the counter for me while I cleaned and bandaged my leg.  When I finally hobbled my way to the front I see a salesgirl pulling my baskets off a hold shelf and handing them to a women who appeared to be buying the whole store.  

I'm horrible at confrontations, I'll run away at any chance.  But I'm embarrassed to admit that I have a quick temper, though it doesn't stay for long, but once that fire is lit I have no problem speaking.

Me to the salesgirl: I'm sorry, I believe those are my baskets.  The salesgirl ignores me. Which along with the bleeding pain in my knee pisses me off and triggers the quick temper.

Me in a much louder voice: Excuse me, those are my baskets. The salesgirl continues to ignore me, maybe much like my shopping delirium, she is in a "I"m getting a huge commission" delirium and can't hear me.  But everyone else in the store and behind the counter has and now all attention is focused on us.

Saleswomen 2: Where did you get those baskets? to Saleswomen 1, but they continue to not address me.  

Me: I just watched you take those baskets from the shelf that also has the other item I had brought up here.  I can tell you the numbers on every one of those baskets. (yes, I am weird like that.  I went through the entire stack and pulled the four that had numbers that I liked)

Customer buying the entire store says haughtily: I.had.four.baskets!

me: You mean the other ones sitting there on the floor behind the counter?

It really was that stupid.  The saleswomen 1 never does say she is sorry or acknowledges me and I would like to say I stormed out without purchasing while yelling I will never shop here again but damn I wanted those baskets and the vintage coverlet I had up there too.

 

Vintage bedspread/coverlet, maybe from the 30's/40's? For $12 I don't care, I love the pattern and the silky purple fringe.  Like a big beautiful shawl for your bed.

Domino October 2008 Review Part I: Ruthie Sommers's Nursery

   

All images photographed from the magazine by Moodboard-if you would like to use them please credit my blog.

I was so thankful that October magazine issues hit last week.  They helped me get through the day as tried to fit all of my reading in before the house started getting dark at 7:30.

I almost had a heart attack when I saw Kelly Wearstler on the cover of Domino.  And they feature more of Rita Konig's house? BLISS.

Even though we are not even close to being with child here at Moodboard, there are several nieces and nephews who allow me to peruse all things baby.  I'm always watching for adorable baby rooms and my heart leaped a bit when I turned the page and saw the above mural in Ruthie Sommers's nursery wall.

My question is why this didn't get the larger picture? I guess I'm a bit confused by the rest of her baby room, or maybe it simply isn't my taste.  It almost feels as if they started out with one theme, found out there was going to be a photo shoot and ran out of time decorating the rest of the room.

 

click to enlarge

The lamp to me doesn't go at all, as it seems very contemporary modern, more like something you might find in the Target Dorm room area. Then she has a bamboo regency style chest of drawers, but she has painted the fronts a pale banana yellow with modern animal drawer pulls. Throw in some astro turf style carpet, a shabby chic style rose chandelier, and a cat and dog that I'm going to omit opinion of since the baby likes to pat the cat.

 

I did love this window treatment and felt it went with the far way land feel of the mural. Again this is just my taste when it comes to observing this room.  I'm a big fan of the eclectic look, but it almost seems as if the pieces in the room are aloof to each other. 

Look of the Day: Leighton Meester at Phillip Lim

 

After spotting this photo of Leighton Meester, I wanted to recreate her cheek makeup immediately. According to the Nars makeup artist he used a combination of NARS The Multiple Bronzer in Tuomota, The Multiple in Maldive, topped off with the new Nars Super Orgasm. 

Coincidentally I had just noticed the Nars Super Orgasm in a catalog and this picture pushed it into the must have list. It was sold out online so I phoned our local Sephora and they were literally just pulling it out of the box and putting it on a display.  Since we had nothing else to do but sit in a dark house lit with 50 million left over wedding candles, we sped down to the lighted and air conditioned mall.

I haven't tried layering it over any Multiples yet, but I love it just on its own.  I wore the regular Nars Orgasm on my wedding day, but this is an amped up version. I'm not really sure if they used Nars Super Orgasm on Leighton's cheeks, or if they were just trying to push a new product because my cheeks don't come off that gold and they are way more flushed pink.

Instead the color reminds me of an old Chanel blush that Sarah Jessica Parker wore in Allure Magazine, and her cheeks looked like she had just came down a cold ski slope. I can't recall the name though, maybe something with the word fire in it?  Well anyway, that is my long winded review.

Power on, Power off

 

Finally, we are back! They turned our power off to work on another damaged grid for what we thought would just be a couple of hours.  Instead it stretched into a week which meant no tv, light at night, ac, and most of all the internet.  So I'm trying to catch up on all of my favorite blogs but we are still without cable. So I'm missing all of my junky tv shows, Gossip Girl, The Hills, Rachel Zoe, Project Runway, Top Design and the not so junky Mad Men, ack!

Sadly there are still thousands without power in our area, and some don't even have the luxury of a hot shower, which we did thanks to having a gas heater.

So I'll have several posts coming up, and I'm sure some of the subjects have been discussed already in the blogs, but some things have me so excited I want to join the chat too!

Hoo do I love?

 

I know, enough of animals plastered over everything.  I've kept the wallpaper on the left saved on my desktop for so long that now I can't remember who makes it! I love that it looks sketched and it has that mustard yellow color. The Daysleeper Mini from Anthropologie keeps catching my eye but I'm trying to be strong.  My closet is busting at the seams with whimsical clothing.

But I wanted to give one last owl hurrah because I'm trying to find the perfect place for this vintage sculpture I inherited.  My uncle carved this from a tree stump for my grandmother in 1974.  When she moved in with my aunt last year it was given to me.

New Orleans French Style

Sorry posting so late, but we were hit by hurricane winds that knocked down power lines.  I'm finally able to logon to my home computer and wanted to post some pictures I came across via Apartment Therapy.

 

This home is featured in the October issue of House Beautiful, and I'm just drinking it in.  I've been in love with all shades of apple green to chartreuse for the past year.  The decorator and client call it the swamp. 

 

I just want to reach out and touch the drapes.  Maybe even wear them.

   

Such intoxicating palettes from room to room. Is that a velvet sofa I spot?

 

Detail shot of the dining room chairs featured in the first photo.  I love them! I've realized that I'm not so much a purist about people changing vintage items.  I just cringe when the mixing of modern & vintage is done without any respect to the furniture's original design.

More images found at House Beautiful.com.  Photographer John Kernick

New York Fashion Week: Spring 09 Sartorialist

Some of my favorite Sartoriaslist candids from spring 09 fashion week.

         

Will the real Carine please stand up?  Strappy black heels dominated outside of the tents.  The white feather outfit on the left is pretty terrific.

   

Short and sexy. I love the middle girl's outfit from her glasses to her patent brown heels.

Statement Pieces.

 

How to to look chic and casual.

 

Accessorize-great bag, great necklace, great scarf.

 

Cute preggie, cute outfit, cute couple.