Gargyle

Today I'm wishing I could go on a shopping spree at Gargyle, a NYC boutique (on the lower east side) that carries brands such as Rachel Comey, Acne and Vena Cava, to name a few.  They also have their own collection, showcased in the last image, with tops, sweaters and rain jackets to boot(s)...get it?  While I'm not able to spend $650 for a dress that is not my wedding dress, I am coveting the looks from afar and thought you guys might, too.  So anyone who wants to get me those Rachel Comey booties or oxfords, PLEASE, feel free!

Wild About Wildflowers

This image from Etsy shop Laneybugphotos pretty much captures my new surroundings.  When I go for jogs/walks, this is what I see.  I couldn't be any happier about it!  If I look out my kitchen window (or any window along the back of the house) I see a meadow full of purple wildflowers.  Some times a big black lab runs wild back there (lucky dog!) and some times deer make their way into our yard through that meadow.  It's full of beauty, and I'm incredibly thankful for it each and every day.  Some day, I promise, there will be pictures.

In the meantime, a lovely fall palette inspired by the fields of summer ::

Weekend Recap

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I'm in denial that today is Monday, because I do NOT want the weekend to be over.  I do not want this evening to come and I would really prefer to just skip right over Tuesday and Wednesday.  The mister a.k.a. the handybadge is leaving for another business trip - right in the midst of some serious home improvement.  You see, we spent all weekend doing that kind of stuff and it was awesome.  We had fun, we're giddy with the results and now we can't wait for next weekend so we can do some more!  Some highlights include ::

• Don't Be Afraid of the Dark - The movie was good, but I'm not gonna lie - it was not nearly as scary as I thought it would be.  I had only seen one preview so I didn't really know what to expect, which usually works in my favor.  But I expected to be scared a LOT and I was only scared a little.  Plus, I'm not so much a Katie Holmes fan...but I'd recommend seeing it at some point
• Saturday morning homemade brunch - featuring mimosas, french toast with real maple syrup and fresh blueberries
• Lowes - we found a new location with copious amounts of plants and garden/outdoor awesomeness, resulting in ideas out the wazoo!
• Laying stone and rocks as an entrance to our backyard - before, the backyard was bordered by a bunch of holly bushes which left no easy entrance. We would have to drag the mower kind of far just to get to the grass so we ended up removing two holly bushes (I mean seriously, there are at least 15) and clearing out a nice section to lay stone.  We bought stone for 71 cents a piece along with marble rock for filler and got to work.  It looks lovely and has the potential for being bigger and better after we build a fence.
• The Adjustment Bureau - after all that hard work we settled in for another movie.  This wasn't my favorite by any means but it was pretty perfect for the mood I was in.  Have you seen it?
• Coffee table - we ventured to hang out with family and use their power tools so the handybadge could get to work on our coffee table.  I'm proud to say it's put together and looks beautiful! It's only missing the cosmetic touches but it's pretty much everything I have wanted for SO LONG! And, it was super cheap.  Yay!

See? A great, productive weekend.  We've hit our stride with the projects that need done and it feels good.  If only he didn't have to leave town...

How were your weekends?  I'm so happy Irene wasn't as severe as predicted but so many still felt her wrath.  I hope wherever you are/were you stayed safe and she didn't unleash on you.  

Friday's Fancies + Have a playful weekend

Friday's Fancies by meaganpie featuring clutch hand bags

D G flower print dress, $619
Christian Louboutin suede platform shoes, $539
Kate Spade clutch hand bag, $227
18k jewelry, $3,040
Alexis Bittar 80s jewelry, $153
Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture - 1: Le Rouge, $30
Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour 481 Fantastic: Beauty, $65


Happy Friday, lovelies!  Today's Friday's Fancies is focused on what I would wear if a) money were no object (the main point of FF!) and b) if I were attending a wedding - which I am not.  Surprisingly few weddings took place this year amongst people I know, only one in fact!  I had a lot of fun putting this dream outfit together.  What would you dream up?

I chose a floral Dolce & Gabbana floral print dress for many reasons - and since this is Friday's Fancies and I can dream big, I'm also dreaming that I would look good in this dress too.  I love the colors in the pattern and I love how easy it was to accessorize.  I know it would look amazing paired with sexy red lipstick and the Chanel nail polish really played off the shades of red and pinks in the dress.  I can't resist a turquoise Louboutin, so naturally I had to wear those pumps.  Throw in an Alexis Bittar cocktail ring, some Tiffany diamond studs and a Kate Spade clutch and voila :: a beautiful wedding guest look.  Be stil my heart!

So what's everyone getting up to this weekend?  Tonight I'm going to see this scary movie with my SIL and MIL and I can't wait.  I love scary movies but have yet to watch one since we moved into this big, old house.  Have I mentioned that our house is 98 years old?  We're also spending some time with the FIL on Sunday to get to work on that coffee table we're making and I'm sure there will be other activities involved.  Whatever you get up to this weekend, I hope it's a good one!  And for those of you on the east coast - please stay safe!  What a week it's been for you - earthquakes and hurricanes.

'Til Monday!

Thursday's Randoms

I kind of can't get over this hanging aquarium from Opulent Items, an online retailer with unusual albeit awesome items for the home and office.  Can you tell I have a thing for goldfish?

This antique brass wheat necklace from Etsy shop Stavri has my Kansas heart.  Since I'm from the land of wheat and sunflowers, pretty much everything related makes my heart swell.

I absolutely love the look and feel of this photo - the lucky guests at this wedding had better know how amazing and lucky they were to sit around this beautifully decorated table and space!  The entire wedding was absolutely incredible.

I know this manicure has already made its way around the blog world, but I can't get enough of it! I love how colorful and playful it is, yet it still remains rather refined.  Has anyone tried anything like this before?

I could really stand to have this sweater for the fall.  It's geeky but beautiful and I want it.

Last, I am leaving you with this mouth-watering dessert, of which I have not a clue what it is or how to make it.  But my oh my, does it look good!

How are your Thursdays going so far, friends? Sorry for the late posting - I've been a busy Mo this a.m.  Hope your days are going swell!

Teepee, Teepee

I couldn't resist sharing these stunning teepee's with all of you today.  Not only are they incredibly aesthetically pleasing, but they're incredibly functional!  And just look at all the creative ways they've been made, used and styled!

My favorite one is the cat one, because I dream of having toys for Gus that aren't huge eyesores.  For instance, I'm staring at his collapsable "sport dome" thing, covered in hair and looking rather worse for wear.  It's ugly, but he really loves it.  I just know that if I were to get him this teepee, it would only be for me (kind of like that cat bed that's so cute and the chicken hat he's worn for 5 minutes total in the 3 years we've had it) but maybe that would be okay because friends, I love it.

I want to build a teepee in our backyard and lay in it and read good books.  With twinkly lights and some wine.

I want to go back in time and have a teepee in my house growing up, so my brother and I could crawl in there and live in it, as opposed to our furniture and sheet forts.  Kids these days, so lucky.  Oh and hey, did you see the red and blue-gray?!  Yeah? Yeah??

Would you have a teepee in your house or yard?

* Images 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Color Inspiration :: Red + Gray-Blue

Last week, we painted our smallest bathroom a color called "cold steel".  In the store, it was gray as gray gets.  It was perfect under the incandescent/fluorescent/daylight lights they have in-store and we were sold on it.  When we started painting, I couldn't get over how blue it was turning out.  It's so odd because even in our living room, the color is still very gray and not blue at all.  But in the bathroom...let's just say, lesson learned.  Always bring the paint sample home first before you give in to impulse.  Don't get me wrong, I really do adore the color and the bathroom needed something to both lighten and spruce it up a bit.  I'm just left a little perplexed for color schemes and disappointed I don't get to have my gray and yellow bathroom.  Alas...

But thanks to Pinterest, inspiration is endless.  Case in point ::

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In the room, we have a yellow shower curtain (hence my gray + yellow aspirations) and there is beautiful white trim.  So to really give it a punch of color, I think accessorizing with red is a perfect fit.

Now I just need to purchase something vibrant to hang on the walls in there.  Because we own practically zero red things to accessorize with!  

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And for some extra oomph, not necessarily in the bathroom but just around the house ::

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And just because, here is an outfit in this palette that has my heart ::

Color Inspiration :: Gray-blue + red by meaganpie featuring a pinstripe dress

I'm feeling inspired...are you?  Are you a fan of this palette?

Weekend Recap

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This weekend was full of relaxation and the usual...good food, good booze and good people.  While we didn't really do much as far as exciting things go, we still had a productive weekend and threw some fun in there.  Some highlights include ::

• Exploring our neighborhood
• Honking at deer to get out of the street (it really cracked me up because the deer did exactly what our cat does when he has to get out of the way - panic - and don't worry, they eventually ran off into the meadow out of harm's way)
• Eating ice cream in the park while listening to the vet's party hard several blocks away
• Hanging strings of lights in our screened-in porch - our porch isn't anywhere near being finished (I have big dreams for it) but it is so enjoyable to sit out there at night with those lights up.  I hope to eventually have it look at least half as cool as the image above
• Scrabble on the porch
• Successful thrift store shopping - we came home with a majority of what we were after! Hooray! And earlier this morning we went back to get an awesome mid-century media cabinet/chest to fix up because Monday's are 25% off everything! Double hooray!
• Outdoor patio boozin', AmVet pizza (it's so good)

What did all of you get up to this weekend?  I hope awesome things.  Here's to a great week ahead!

Friday's Fancies + Have an awesome weekend!

Friday's Fancies :: Back to School by meaganpie featuring a white shirt

1. Flower stud earrings - I couldn't resist throwing these in the mix, they're so lovely!
2. Mulberry white shirt, $620 - I would give so much to have this shirt
3. The Container Store > Bright Stockholm Pencil Cup, $4.99 - simple + awesome

4. Madewell leather belt, $48 - again, simple + awesome

5. 3.1 Phillip Lim clear sunglasses, $225 - Geek + chic all in one
6. Deux Lux canvas backpack, $69 - I want this and I'm not even in school
7. Write into the Sunset Notebook, $17 - I also want this, for no reason
8. Madewell high heels, $350 - These boots had me at hello, I need them in my life!
9. Madewell flare jeans, $110 - And these jeans, too, pleaaaase

I have heard the phrase, "back to school" so many times this week that it's almost making me wish I was going back to school.  The thought of new teachers, new peers, new clothes and that smell of school - it all makes me feel a little nostalgic.  I spoke with my 11-year-old niece after her first day of middle school and boy did she have a lot to report.  She already has 4 new friends!  Also, she learned her lesson early on for which side of the hall to walk on...oh 8th graders, must you be so strict with the 6th graders?  


This week's Friday's Fancies is all about back-to-school fashion.  I couldn't help myself with this one...seriously, getting new clothes for school was so exhilarating for me.  New notebooks and other supplies? Sign me up!  What can I say, I'm still a nerd at heart.  


What's everyone up to this weekend?  We don't have much in store and that's fine with me.  Maybe we'll even tackle some projects...

Be sure to head over to {long distance loving} for other back-to-school fashion and to 'like' my round-up.  Have a great weekend!

Thursday's Randoms

I'm definitely a big fan of these mint porcelain bowls by artist Kim Westad.  She has amazing stuff in her shop, seriously.

I'm head-over-heels in love with these doors and the rug, especially paired together.  Why can't Gus let us own a rug? Why does he have to run to it whenever he gets a hairball?  Le sigh...

Seeing tops like this has me totally ready for fall (at least fashion-wise).  Such beautiful fall colors!

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Tonight I am going to the Kentucky State Fair! I haven't been to a fair in ages, probably since high school.  I'm pretty excited to eat some fried stuff, barf it all up on some rides and listen to this band.  

The other night, we bought a firepit for our yard (yay for sales!) and it is going to be awesome.  Aside from a fence and a dog (and flowers and a gnome), our yard is really only missing one other thing - a hammock.  Wouldn't this netted cocoon hammock be pretty awesome? Especially out here, in mosquito heaven.  I want one, that's for sure.

Lastly, I couldn't resist leaving you with this incredible set of Mr. Fox espresso cups.  They would make my mornings pretty wonderful (at least at first, right?!)

***UPDATE***  I found MISS BADGER cups! Woo!

Happy Thursday!

Around the World

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Now that we're mostly unpacked*, we're diving head first into the decorating process.  For me, it's not quite as fun as it might be for the rest of you, but that's because I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself to make this house look as best as it can.  But I digress.

One of my favorite things we bought for our walls when we moved into our last apartment was a $10 map of the USA which hung up on a wall in the hallway (that you could see when you came in the front door).  So many people would stare at that map - there are so many awesome things you can discover!  For my birthday, one of my presents from the mister was a world map! We've yet to hang it, but I can't wait to reawaken my geographical knowledge of the world and stare at it for hours upon hours.

Maps have always held a special place in my heart - as I'm sure they do for many of you.  My stepdad is a geologist and he's always had maps up everywhere.  His office is wallpapered in them and it is purely awesome.  I worked for him one summer, and spent a lot of time mapping things out for him.  It was honestly one of the most enjoyable summers of my life.  My stepdad is a pretty awesome guy, in case you wondered.  And I know you did.

If we could, we might decorate our entire house in maps - especially maps as pretty as the ones above.  I love cartography and am endlessly fascinated with it, as you might be able to tell....

* I say mostly, because, while there are still boxes, there is mainly a bunch of stuff scattered about with no home...so that doesn't really count as unpacked, does it?