homegoods finds

so in full disclosure i actually made this trip to homegoods about a month ago...but i'm just blogging about it now as my "welcome back to bloggerhood" post! i figure it's as good as any to get back on the wagon, especially because i am 100% obsessed with that yellow chair and it is the peeeeerfect piece for the guest room (yes, i moved out my DIY chair that i made the chevron pillows for to make room for this new gem...i'll find somewhere good for the old one, don't worry). what an amazing find, no? i need to get a new job stat just so i can get back to shopping so i have some more great things to share with you guys.

below: yellow patterned chair, $129 - totally reminds me of a thomas paul print; and the nailhead? lurv.

below: shell, $19.99

below: black and white bird plate, $8; to be hung in the red, black and white guest bathroom one of these days

below: cynthia rowley bowl, $19.99

monthly mood board: may

this month i'm loving all things nautical. i think it's because i'm in the mood for a vacation that involves an old school beach house...and we just booked a trip to go to my parent's condo on the beach in charleston! btw my favorite thing in this entire collage is the anchor bag made by recycling an old sail. so cute.

clockwise from top left:

• striped shark bite tank, $34.50, express
• authentic original boat shoe in navy/platinum, $85, sperry
• large anchor bag, $145, seabags
• nautical shorts, $34.50, lands end canvas
• striped burnout oversize wide tee, $49.50 (buy one get one free), express
• sailor knot bracelet, $18, thevamoose etsy shop
• anchor pillow, thomas paul
• sailor buckle belt, $39.50, lands end canvas
• striped sailor pants, $128, anthropologie

drooling over thomas paul textiles

i've been a fan of thomas paul for years and i love going back to the site now and again to drool. he's been slowly but surely expanding beyond his original pillow line and i love love love it all. his textile design pretty much sums up how i'd want to execute a collection of my own...or maybe i'll just do up my entire home with his fabrics. "yes please" to all of the below, in no particular order.

below: anchor pillow

below: garth 21" brown flock lamp

below: fabrics - LOVE!

below: flourish coasters

below: matryoshka bright print, $81 - $411

monthly mood board: november

remember this from october 1st? i had given myself an assignment for the blog...on the first of every month i post a mood board with what inspires me this month. for the month of november i am loving all things in deep reds and purples - picture a big bowl of cranberries.

clockwise from top left:

• periay ruffled red wine fingerless mittens, $30
• hawks by geren ford pocket poof skirt in plum, $68
• marc jacobs quilted shoulder bag, $550
• topshop premium ruched sleeve blazer, $110
• ethan allen inspired by rainforest, collection
• flutter by jill golden gracia amethyst necklace, $400
• thomas paul linen pillow in robin, price unlisted
• christian dior's the little dictionary of fashion, $13.57
• cranberries
  
• hunter boots in merlot, $115
• opi all a-bordeaux the sled!, $8.49
• john derian ampersand 5 3/4" round, $44
  

one kings lane = home decor for a princess

my friend natalie recently sent me an invitation to join onekingslane.com. it very, very quickly became one of my favorite shopping websites for home decor and accessories. with a sale format somewhat similar to gilt groupe and hautelook, one kings lane gives you access to the best designer home decor products and accessories for up to 70% off retail. last month's kate spade, calvin klein and julie knight sales were bananas and i'm personally pretty psyched for the thomas paul sale that starts today.

i'm consistently impressed with the selection of really gorgeous items - it's almost as if they hand pick the perfect things to make any home comfortable and super chic. nick would absolutely kill me if i purchased everything that i've had in my shopping cart at one time or another...but our apartment would look awesome!

not yet a member? just click here and enter my email (anniedoyle14@gmail.com) when they ask how you heard about one kings lane.

p.s. the dog photo from their home page is the cat's meow. makes me smile every time i log in.

images from one kings lane.

"i carried a watermelon" - inspired by the farmer's market

tuesday's post about flowers reminded me that i haven't been to the union square greenmarket in about a month. shame on me since i vowed this past winter to try to eat more local and sustainable foods. the greenmarket gets a bad reputation for being pricier than a regular old grocery store and i used to think the exact same thing. that is, until i learned more about the benefits of eating local, seasonal and sustainable food last year when my chef friend andrea launched the good knife and i read michael pollan's the omnivore's dilemma. now that i understand "the true cost of food," i'll happily spend my money at the greenmarket for so many reasons (i'll save you the diatribe...read the book to learn what they are).

food philosophy aside, i'm going to head up to the greenmarket during lunch today with a $20 bill and the goal of getting as many of the in-season, local ingredients for a watermelon and feta salad as possible (and maybe some fresh cookies for dessert). the balance of sweet and savory flavors is so refreshing - and it's easy to make. perfect for the trip to the beach that nick and i are planning for saturday!

• 6 cups watermelon, cut into bite-sized pieces
• half of a small red onion, sliced into thin half-moons and soaked in ice water for 15 minutes to tone down the bite
  
• 1/4 cup chopped black olives
• bunch of chopped mint leaves (enough to fill one hand)
  
• 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
• 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

p.s. i'm bringing my thomas paul tote bag to the market so i don't have to pull a dirty dancing ("i carried a watermelon").

thomas paul knows how to spice up a pillow

i've been a big fan of thomas paul since i purchased my first pillow a few years ago. i can't get enough of the graphic fabrics and color choices. how excited was i when i went onto gilt this morning and saw a thomas paul sale!? between the pillows ($28 from $55), tote bags ($46 from $95) and plates ($35 from $70 for a set of 8), i didn't know what to look at first. the green pillow above is just like the one i bought a few years ago and its the perfect punch of color for my overly tan and white living room (which i blame in part on a husband who won't let me paint our rented apartment...even though i know he's right).

the sale on gilt ends friday at midnight! email me for an invitation.