fabulous pouf, part 2

i don't know if you remember this fabulous pouf i blogged about a while ago....well thanks to the calypso st. barth collection at target you and i might be able to score perfect poufs in silver and gold. the calypso collection hit stores yesterday and has some things worth checking out. aside from these poufs which are a no-brainer, i also love this pillow, this clutch, these pouches, this elephant teapot, and this bracelet. a bunch of the pieces are unavailable online, so going to the store is probably your best bet.

image, image

tiny treasures...toasty fingers

okay, this tiny treasure is too good to pass up. two pairs of gloves for $1.50. COME ON. seriously? YES. target is selling two-packs of gloves for $1.50 - black/black, cream/tan, hot pink/hot pink stitched, cream/tan stitched...you get the idea. STOCK UP. stash a pair in the car, a pair in your desk, one in your bag and another in the hall closet - and you'll STILL have only spent $3. tiny treasure indeed.

for you, for your holiday recipients, for your mailman - whatever!

for more little luxuries under $5, discover more tiny treasures here.

tiny treasures...baby it's cold outside

i had a really hard time deciding on just one tiny treasure this week, because i have a few that i want to share. so i chose two since they could also come in handy as stocking stuffers and yankee swaps, and i'll save the rest for next week. gotta ration, you know?

the first is a blanket-soft scarf from old navy. given my obsession with yellow this year, i got it in the punchy yellow which doesn't seem to be online but was in abundance in-store. warm but not too warm, long but not bulky, i think it's the perfect foil for a black or brown coat, especially in the solid colors it comes in.

and then...lots of people i know grew up on carmex, but i wasn't one of them. for those people, "carmex" is like the generic term for lip balm, like pampers for diapers or kleenex for tissues. now i get why. i bought this three-pack and stashed one in my makeup bag, one on my nightstand and one on the ottoman in my living room, so i'm never far from chap relief. in this season, it's crucial. the unexpected bonus is that the sheer shine looks really pretty, and of course natural.

bundle up and soothe your lips girlies...it's cold!

images: top, scarf, carmex

spare pair

these last few rainy days in new york have illuminated how great the "spare pair" is that i picked up at target a few weeks ago (not to be compared with this spare pair, also interesting).

they're a foldable pair of flats that come with their very own carrying case - how cute! thrown in your bag, they're a quick change agent for heels, rain boots, sneakers or flip flops and perfect for traveling, commuting, or just as a fallback for ambitious shoe-wearers. they're like the popples of shoes. hear me when i tell you they look just as nice as their more rigid flat brethren when worn. unfortunately, they're not available online so you have to make the trek. or...

similarly, the gap has city flats in several colors and textures, including my two favorites, the velvet flat in phantom purple and the leather flat in perfectly on-trend camel. also see them in the punchy, rich lasalle red.
i love the range of colors available in the city flats, and if you want even more options, you have to check out the collection at yosi samra. they even make bridal ones!
to me, this concept is pure genius. women have been carrying spare pairs since the dawn of time...(okay, maybe not the dawn of time, but you get what i mean), it's just never been this easy or cute!

all images from linked sites

if you knew suzani

for whatever combination of reasons, i've found myself gravitating towards suzani and ikat prints in a way i never was before (more on ikat later this week, and here. and here.) suzani means needlework, and are defined as "decorative tribal textiles made in tajikistan, uzbekistan, kazakhstan and other central asian countries." and i love them. a lot.

generally, suzanis carry meaning in regards to fertility, household stability, protection and health, so they make a perfect decor item in any home. i love the idea of mixing these patterns in with other patterns and pieces of furniture and art that don't directly correlate.

to me, textiles like these add such warmth and grounding to a space, and contribute to the feeling of a home that has come together over time. of course, there is a great appeal to the real deal, visiting these countries themselves and sourcing your one perfect piece from a local market, but there is also a wealth of access out there to collections of these pieces, including great sources on ebay. here are some of the pieces i love that i found there:






how gorgeous are these? and what's really lovely is that most of the sellers of pieces like these know a great deal about each one, so you have a sense of the provenance of what you're buying, which is so authentic, and really a nice connection to the craftsmanship and culture of the suzani.

a large piece like these is perfect as a wall hanging, a bed cover (on top of a comforter) or a topper over a tablecloth. they even look amazing just draped casually over a great chair or ottoman. wisteria sells some pretty ones which are "inspired" by vintage suzani fabrics, shown here.


for other real-deal suzani pieces, i love jayson home and garden (let's be serious, love them for everything) and i particularly adore these pillows:


and etsy shop material recovery is a mind-blowing sea of vibrant colors and textiles. it's a project put together to "unite antique embroidered textiles.....with furniture salvaged from second hand stores." YES PLEASE. look at this bench and chair:


I DIE. sort of reminds me of this anthro chair i was coveting. and then the pillows:



for some other beautiful "suzani-inspired" pieces, wisteria has a few pillows i love, and an ottoman that's pretty close to perfect. i love the image of it in front of a broken-in leather couch and an oriental rug underneath.



etsy seller eleganttouch makes pillow covers inspired by suzani designs which are a less expensive (around $50 each) step into the suzani world. these are my favorites - i love how they're sort of washed out looking, and think they'd look great in a more subdued, spa-like space, even though they are still vibrant.





even dwell by target has taken on suzani, though i would stick with the throw pillow since it has an embroidered texture which the comforter and shams do not -- so much of the look is about the embroidery, and i'd hate to have it all flattened out and mass-produced looking.



to me, even buying the reproduction versions of suanis supports the tradition of the embroidered art and keeps the place of the important heritage in today's design.

top two images from elle decor and soul pretty; all other images from linked sites

another face of target

as most of us would agree, target (the best of the big box stores in a major way) has, in the last couple years, become synonymous with bringing high-style to the masses through their designer collaborations, and god bless them.

the newest of these collections is with isabel toledo, the harlem designer michelle obama loves, and the collection premiered a few days early, as i learned from SHEfinds yesterday. i particularly love the faces she creates - on the towel above (could i love it anymore?) and the t-shirt below. they're so artful, don't you think?

i love the idea of having really gorgeous beach and bathroom towels - why not have artwork in the most mundane of places?

who wants to go to target? let me rephrase...who doesn't want to go to target?

stars and stripes forever

do you have anything patriotic planned for the weekend? i know sometimes it can seem like a chore, but i've come across some truly easy ideas to celebrate our nation's independence with what you serve and how you decorate. and i really do mean easy.

sometmes, it's just about going simple instead of fussy, and choosing certain colors for things you already plan to use or serve to create an americana vibe and it adds so much to the visual experience, which i always think translates to the emotional experience. if possible, use white servewear and dishes so that you can punctuate with patriotic colors elsewhere and they're not competing with a busy mish-mosh of patterns and colors. if you're in the market for a basic white set, see this post for some ideas of where to buy.

and if red, white and blue feels too kitschy for your taste, go red and white or blue and white - they're both appealling and cheerful summer color stories and allow so much room for personal touches everywhere. to me, the trick is to limit the bold patterns to one or two items and go monochromatic (in your color scheme for the rest).

here are some thoughts.

one of my favorite bloggers jackie fo posted this stars and stripes cake among other great ideas here, and although above is a betty crocker recipe, it could be easily accomplished with a store-bought sheet cake and some berries. doesn't it pack a lot of visual punch considering how easy it is?

and there isn't much simpler than this berry and yogurt parfait (i think i'd sub in fat free whipped cream for the yogurt) - totally communicates a love of america sweetly, doesn't it?

this recipe for icebox cheesecake looks a little more...involved than i'd be game for, but i love the idea of topping a pre-made cheesecake with abundant red and blue berries. so pretty!

and the simplest of all summer desserts is the idea of basic angel food cake (either slices or individual shells)topped with berries and whipped cream.

the variation below looks more involved than it is...just cut an angel food cake into squares and toss in a clear bowl with berries and whipped cream. so easy!

for more crafty and delicious ideas, check out jackie's post - seriously, you'll thank me. she's awesome. now back to me...

i'm not normally a fan of bright red solo cups because i think you can do so much better for the same price with clear or craft colored paper goods, but for a festive 4th, or really any patriotic barbecue-type vibe, i'm a fan. and a red and white checked tablecloth, either a fabric one like the one below or a disposable one, can communicate lots of relaxed summer feeling in one punch.

if you're out and about, look for these good buys, or similar items at your local drugstores, big box stores, etc.

from pier 1, i think these rattan stars are really nice, and even when you're not going red and white blue, you can use each color separately to add interest to many tablescapes or room decors.


and i love these little pinwheel picks - perfect for appetizers and other finger foods, while their larger counterparts are perfect for sticking in the grass or arranging in a vase for a festive and different centerpiece. by choosing the red and blue versions, you automatically get some 4th of july patriotism into your decor.

if you'll be passing by crate and barrel, consider their sparkle picks and star plates and napkins.




if you'll be in the vicinity of target, their metal oval beverage tubs are on sale for $9 each and come in red, white and blue, among other colors.

and i adore these very classic, very americana velvet bows. don't they evoke such a feeling? place one on your front door, or one on each corner of a buffet table for maximum impact.


but of course, nothing evokes more of an americana, classic vibe than laughter and time well spent with people you love. have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend and i'll see you back here on tuesday.

top image from country living, all other images from linked sites