Missoni at TARGET?!

No typo about it, the Italian lable Missoni will be at sold at Target for a limited time, September 13th to October 22nd (or while supplies last). The pricey zigzag prints will be sold at the retail giant for a low price and includes not just apparel but housewares with the same unique mod prints, 400 pieces in total.

The ads are everywhere and the internet and magazines are all over it... here are the ads:

Some of the items I really liked from the collection are:

Love the sweater and the hat!

This mod print jacket is to die for!

This tote is adorable, I want!

You can find the entire lookbook online at Target's facebook page. Target states that all stores will carry the line and merchandise can vary from store to store.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.261915133821363.73304.195794080433469

Jar Head

For our wedding center pieces, I used large gallon size Mason Jars instead of vases and there were smaller half pint size jars on the tables that held caramel cream candies. We told our DJ to give away the center pieces, however we were still left with a good amount of jars. The Ball brand jars are made of a very thick glass and are made right here in the US in Indiana. Although their intended purpose is canning and preserving of jams, fruits, veggies, etc, they can be used in a wide array in home decor.

Here are some ideas I found for using the left over jars....

Outdoor Lighting

Easily done by placing wire around the top and simply inserting a candle.

Same thing, just hung from hooks- jar latern concept

Still you would use the wire, but white Christmas lights are used for illumination.

Table Center Pieces/Vases

These are sold at Pottery barn, but look adorable filled with sand and glass votive inside. They look lovely just sitting on a table not hung up anywhere.

This is so simple, yet so elegant. The various heights of the jars brings together the entire table.

I love this idea, glass flat marbles, water, floating candles and some ribbon. The bunch of three looks refined and full.

This is the popular blue glass. I have 2 jars myself I have in a cabinet in my sitting room. They look lovely empty but they look great here with this wheat. Simple, easy, and oh so affordable.

The "hanging vase"

Storage

I'm pretty sure I love this because of the wainscoting on the walls.

Kitchen Storage

Simply done by using spray paint Chalkboard paint and masking tape. Good idea for kitchen storage and also can be done just on the lids.

Planters

Here the jars have been painted (easily done by spray paint) and used as planters. I love the different colors and sizes. I think I may do this for an herb garden.

Glassware

"we drank beer out of the mason jar" Kenny Chesney- Keg in the Closet
Well this isn't beer, but a classy way to utilize the jars for drinking.

Indoor Lighting

Okay this would be way more time consuming then the others but looks well worth the time.
I found a video blog from 2009 on how to do this.
DIY pendant lights


AND LASTLY..... my favorite- this mantle display!

Last of the Mohicans

Samantha: Frankly, I think it's sad, the way she's using a child to validate her existence.
Carrie: Exactly. Why can't she just use sex and a nice cocktail like the rest of us?

-Sex in the City-



While sitting at a bar after work Friday night with some friends, the bartender and I somehow got on the subject of children. She told me she has two kids with the same guy (who she likes to refer to as her, “babies’ daddy”) and she has no desire to marry him. She told me she was too young for marriage (but not for two children). Got a good picture of her yet? Okay, then she said:

 “I feel sorry for people who don’t have kids”

I took another sip of my orange crush and just nodded as I thought, “not as sorry as I feel sorry for your tip”.

Truth is, I will eventually have kids...but whoooo says that?!

Colorful Closet

I am in LOVE with color these days and my last few purchases have really reflected that! I had got both a great deep purple dress and coral dress for my honeymoon (see older post here at Domesticated Officer)

I have been looking for a few particular items lately: a kelly green dress, a royal blue dress, and a lovely vibrant orange dress.

Here is what I got:

For the ORANGE I picked up this BCBG grecian style dress, great for summer with a cute pair of sandals or heels and will be nice for the fall with a cute jacket and boots.

For the GREEN I found this mod style at Forever 21.

I can't wait to pair this with some of my chunky gold vintage jewelery!

And for the BLUE:

Well I haven't found the right dress yet....

I did find this Rebecca Taylor dress, but don't like the price tag of $325 plus tax & shipping :(

Made by Emma

When it came to shopping for wedding decor, I totally turned to Esty and Ebay for ideas. One thing I found and just had to have were these great personalized champagne flutes!

They are made to order by Made by Emma....

Her full website:

http://www.madebyemma.co.uk/

Here you can order your own personalized items, from these flutes to coffee mugs.

She also has a  Facebook page where she offers discounts and people showcase their own glasses!  https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Made-By-Emma/131166876929834 

She sells all of her stuff on ebay (which is where I found her) at this link: http://shop.ebay.com/madebyemmacrafts/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

Her style is adorable, unique and definitely not stuffy. She is a please to deal with and is willing to accommodate any order. Although she lives on the "other side of the pond" her orders arrive undamaged and in a fair amount of time!

White Chocolate Grapes

I saw this recipe on local food show that airs in DC. I decided to try to make it at home and it turned out great. Very easy and only 3 ingredients!

You will need:

1. White grapes (seedless)
2. White Chocolate
3. Confectioners (powder) sugar

Directions:

1. Wash grapes in cold water and place in large mixing bowl. Make sure all the grapes are dry.
2. Place white chocolate into microwave safe bowl and melt- takes about 1 to 1 1/2 minute to melt.
3. Mix chocolate to well mixed.
4. Pour melted chocolate over grapes and coat all grapes using a spatula, careful not to crush grapes.
5. Lastly coat grapes with power sugar by sprinkling over bowl and over the grapes. Using your wrist,shake the bowl and then with your hand roll the grapes around the bowl until they are all covered with the sugar.

Very easy and very tasty. The sweet and dryness of the sugar with the cool grapes- makes this a great snack :)

Enjoy!

Talking about a bunch of shift work......

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."

-Confucius

Awesome, now I just have to find someone to pay me to shop, decorate, exercise, and bake.....

 

Not your grandma's jewelery- okay well maybe

A few years back I took interest in vintage jewelery. The style is unique, classic, sparkly, and did I mention, oh so affordable? What's not to love?!

My great grandmother many many years ago, gave me a box of her old costume jewelery. My parents told me to hold on to it and no to "play" with it. I thought it was dumb anyway and never paid it any mind. It wasn't until I was moving into my new home, I found the box and opened it. I just love the old screw back earrings and large rhinestone encrusted pieces! What is so cool about the styles- they are timeless. Many of these vintage necklaces are similar to the bib style or statement necklaces that are popular today.

Most pieces are "signed" meaning they bear the name of the company they who designed and manufactured them. This is done by being stamped with either a design or a logo. Some companies used different markings over the years, which helps collectors date the piece and also tell if it is authentic.

I started researching online of the various brands of jewelery from days past and looked up the brands of the pieces that own. Here is some of what I found on a few of the different companies:

• Listner- founded in 1904, this company reached popularity during  the 1930's. This brand was inexpensive at the time of sale and considered by many as junk jewelery. The jewelery from the 1950's and 1960's was the most popular, timeless in look and design. Most pieces incorporated designs from nature- including leaves, fruits, and flowers. Looks that are both clean and not over done, this brand is very popular with collectors.

• Pell- this New York based company was started by 4 brothers in 1941. The majority of their designs feature pave rhinestones. The brand has made tiara's for The Miss America Pageants and has also worked with jewelery company Coro.

• Coro-  based out of Rhode Island, this company was founded around 1900 and stayed in business until 1979. One of the more well known names in vintage jewelery, the designs feature rhinestones and cut glass.

• Weiss- started by Albert Weiss in 1942, this Fifth Ave, NY based business was smaller then the companies listed above and was only in business to 1971. The relatively short period of designs, make Weiss more valuable to collectors. Weiss had worked as a designer for Coro and his styles were classy and loaded with rhinestones and sparkle. Many of the designs are more glamorous, reminiscent of old Hollywood.

Below are  just a few of the great pieces I am lucky enough to own. I showed two pictures of each, one a close up and the other further away. Pictures just do not do the pieces justice in regards to their shine and sparkle.

Pell Earrings- leaf design in silver tone with clear rhinestones

Coro aqua stone earrings with gold tone screw back

Lisner Necklace- Sapphire blue and light blue stones (aurora borealis tones) on silver tone back and S link chain.

Coro Necklace- Gold tone with deep purple and red (aurora borealis) stones.

Coro- bracelet with safe chain. Gold tone with deep purple and amethyst colored stones in flower shapes.

unsigned- gold bracelet, cuff style

Coro- this is a 12kt gold dog tag, called a Sweetheart Tag. It was designed for soldiers going off to war to give their loved one while they were gone.

I plan to keep collecting, stopping by thrift stores, antique stores, and of course online :)

Eyebrow to EyeWOW!

from this....

to this!

If you are wondering why I was walking around like an ungroomed caterpillar for a month or so...it was because I had someone telling me she was going to make my eyebrows amazing. That person was brow artist Angie Hunt at All About Me Spa in Towson Maryland and she made them more than amazing!

Let me backtrack....

When I moved to Baltimore, I was in need of an eyebrow wax desperately and went to a local spa, all American. I say that because I refuse to go to an "Asian" nail salon for a wax, eww. So, I went to this local (and quite pricey) spa and had my eyebrows practically removed completely. They were made pencil thin, they were uneven and down right terrible. After discussing my dilemma to my good friend Natalie, she told me about the wonders Angie works on brows at her salon. I took her word for it and made the trip to see her ad have my brow consultation.

Upon meeting Angie, she broke the bad news to me....I was going to have to let them grow and not touch them for a month or two. I did take her advice and let them grow and looked like Joe Flacco's sister- no bueno.

I visited Angie religiously once a month, every month and the results were better then expected! My brows look healthy, fit my face, and best of all are even!!

An appointment with Angie will last about 30 to 45 minutes. She uses stencils and rulers marking out the exact dead even brows that you see on celebrities- and now me :)

She is the nicest lady, always has good stories to tell, and best of all you leave her chair without the "bright red look at me I just got waxed" look.

Take my word for it- it's worth the time!

For more about Angie and All About Me:

visit them online at http://www.allaboutmedayspa.com/

or on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/All-About-Me-Salon-Day-Spa/58849016530?ref=ts

or in person @ 27 West Chesapeake Avenue, Towson, MD 21204

Dangerously Awesome

This contraption now resides at our house. It came to us off of our wedding registry and was put on there by Jas of course! It is a great product, seriously. It crushes ice with ease and drinks come out just as they do an your favorite pool bar. The problem is.....the calories. An average homemade margarita consists of 250-350 calories- which comes mainly from the mix. When I was shopping the other day, I read the nutrition info on some labels and was amazed to find that many mixes had 120 calories per serving and the typical drink requires two servings.

I know Real House Wife Bethenny Frankel created Skinny Girl Drinks, but the problem is these are already mixed and taste like, well crap. The solution that I stumbled upon is a no sugar mix, that only contains 10 calories per serving!!

So we will continue to drink on, now guilt free :)

Summer Soundtrack

I love music in the car, at home, and especially on my ipod when I run. Here are some of my favorites right now:

LMFAO, Party Rock Anthem

I have been a fan of this duo for a few years now and this song brings the same high energy you come to expect from them. This was our wedding party entrance to our reception. This video is hilarious! I love the dance!!

Jason Aldean, Dirt Road Anthem

Another "anthem" this one a country one with a "rap" flare. Great song, love it!

Rihanna, Cheers

I'm not a huge Avril fan, but this song is catchy and I love the lyrics and Rihanna of course!

Dierks Bently, Am I the Only One

Jason calls this the "Tiff theme song" since I am ready to party on my days off, which have been Tuesday and Wednesday for quite some time. Too funny!

Pitbull ft. Marc Anthony, Rain Over Me

I love Pitbull! This song is great!

Cobra Starship, You Make Me Feel

Just heard this recently and went home and downloaded it! Very catchy.

Enrique Inlesias ft. Usher & Lil Wayne, Dirty Dancer

Makes you dance!!


and last but not least for the summer soundtrack,

Lil Rick, Go Dung

St. Lucia anthem!!