Lucky Lady

I am one lucky lady.

Thanks to all for your kind comments, emails, texts and phone calls of love and support. Writing last Friday's blog post felt really cathartic and freeing for me, and all the hugs and good wishes that came with it felt like an amazing bonus.

xoxo

The Goody Bag

Today I'm over at Coco + Kelley sharing my lessons learned from the LCDQ event. Hop on over and enjoy!

Extra Credit

Need a little extra blog reading today? Hop on over to Coco & Kelley to see my post on the Ralph Lauren fete I attended. Some gorgeous fabrics to share...

Blog Botox

Giving my little blog a little spring botox - I've had the amazingly talented Kathryn Murray of Kathryn Murray Calligraphy work up a pretty "The GOODS design" for me in my new banner!

LOVE her and all the gorgeous things she makes...

A thank you note available for sale at her Etsy shop.

A custom monogram stamp, also available through Etsy.

A few months ago I posted this beauty - I had her calligraphy some song lyrics for my husband's birthday - we are putting them up on the wall as soon as our custom Carter Kustera silhouettes arrive!

Thanks a million Kathryn!

It's No Mix-Up

Check out this article on The Inside Source {called "It's No Mix Up" about mixing patterns and prints - one of my favorite things to do.} It includes a project that I did and my take on mixing it up.

Honeymoon Magic

I had a magically honeymoon - three weeks in Italy of newly-married-bliss. We ate, we shopped, we ate, we went sightseeing, we ate, we went to the beach. Five years later, it still holds up as the greatest trip ever. They posted some of the pics today at the Dwell Studio blog for their Destination:Inspiration column. So make your way on over there and enjoy a virtual jaunt to Positano!

The Goody Bag/Coco + Kelley

I have a guest post up today on Coco + Kelley about all the Westweek fiestas I attended on Wednesday {and yes, my feet are still sore}. Enjoy!

Blog and Ye Shall Receive!

This weekend my husband and I ventured out to the mall to pick out our Valentine's Day gifts... Valentine's Day also marks the 8 year anniversary of our first "date" (he and I worked together and both secretly had crushes on each other. I threw a Valentine's Day party for all the singles at my office, and luckily he showed up. Long story short, he asked me to go on a date two nights later and the rest is history!)

He knew he wanted to get me a fun cocktail ring, so at Nordstrom (where we encountered THE most annoying sales lady ever), I found this Kate Spade ring...
I had blogged about the cuff version for my holiday gift guide!I'll post photos when I'm wearing it next!

We then popped into Williams-Sonoma to get his gift - a Soda Stream Penguin water carbonator (that boy drinks Pelligrino like there's no tomorrow!)Can't wait to make homemade fizzy lemonades!

The kicker to the Valentine's Day gifting was that this morning, on our dog walk, he said "I got you something else, it's on its way." I pried the info out of him, because I hate suspense...

Husband: What do you like to wear?
Me: Scarves?
Husband: No, think clothes/bottoms.
Me: PJs?
Husband: Yes, and...?
Me: Jeans?
*Pause*
Me: OMG YOU GOT ME PAJAMA JEANS?!?!

I don't know if they play this in the rest of the world, but in LA we have the CHEESIEST commercial for Pajama jeans - Blue Jeans that feel like pajamas. They look fashionably hideous, but I am super excited for my silly jeans, even if I never wear them, but just giggle every time I see them in my closet... (you can see the commercial {here} at the website if you want to get matching pants with me.)

I really am the luckiest girl on Earth.

In Good Company

I have been asked in the past to contribute to The Inside Source (a fabulous website for fashion, home & garden and other trends.) So when I was asked to send in my ideas for the biggest interior design trends of 2010, I was excited to participate. When I returned home from my amazing trip to Costa Rica the other day (more about that to come), I was happy to see that the piece was online and thrilled to be in the company of such talented designers!

The Well Traveled Room by Katie Leede

Totally Teal by Toby Fairley

And Pattern Party by Me!

What a fabulous way to kick off 2011! Thanks to The Inside Source! Check out the rest of the article HERE for more trends of 2010 and how to get them in your own home.

Follow Friday - Blog Edition

I love that twitter has Follow Friday - a day when people tweet a shout out to their favorite tweeters. So on my blog version of Follow Friday, I'm giving a shout out to some of my favorite local Southern California design bloggers!

Ashlina, from The Decorista, always blows me away with her amazing inspiration images. This pink living room had me at hello!
image from The Decorista


Hallie, from the Glam Lamb, puts together great posts that often end up getting saved into my inspiration files. I would never leave this bedroom she posted. She and I have crossed paths before - we found out via twitter that we were at the same Jonathan Adler booksigning, but didn't realize it until after. We'll have to have a real meet-up one of these days!

image from Glam Lamb



Rebecca June and I met up a few months ago for a day of home decor shopping. We both were slightly concerned that the other would end up being a serial killer (it was a blind blogger date - we both checked in with our husbands to let them know we were alive!) It's been great meeting her through the blogging community.

Her blog is gorgeous - I love that she shares personal tidbits too - especially about her puppy!
image from Rebecca June


I met Jessica of Life's Little Jems at my first job after design school. She is one of the most talented women I know, so when she told me she was starting a blog, I knew I'd be blown away. Her round ups of gorgeous goodies always amaze me. Love these two she did below - first one was called "Emerald City" and the second was called "Work It!"

images from Life's Little Jems

There's tons of talent here in sunny So Cal!
Happy Weekend everyone!

Friday Night Makeover!

It's Friday Night.

My husband is working late.

My sister canceled our dinner plans (which I totally understand as I too want to be in my pajamas at 6:00 pm.)

What to do?

Re-design the blog!

Thoughts on my new look?

Fabulous Friday Recap!

I know it's Tuesday, so talking about Friday is almost cruel, but I have to share the fabulous Friday I had last week. I met up with one of my favorite interior designer/bloggers, Rebecca June, to shop, eat and talk. We both had hilarious anxieties about meeting someone from the Internet (she thought I might end up being a man, I gave her contact info to my husband in case she decided to kidnap me) but in the end, I think a fabulous day was had by all.

She took me to some of her favorite Orange County design spots (only 45 minutes south of LA). I am in LOVE with Gardenology and got lots of fabulous inspiration.

I want to collapse into this bed.


I want to work at this desk.

I want to dine in this chair.


Lots of gorgeous goodies...





I could move in here!


After shopping, we stopped by Javier's, an OC favorite spot for Mexican food. My old design firm designed it! I got to visit my leather curtains - I project I worked on as an intern. I helped get these laser cut leather curtains made - my first little design project turned into a reality!



I left my fabulous Friday with a party favor - I finally bought a book I had been wanting forever - Suzanne Kasler's Inspired Interiors. An added bonus - I found the inspiration image that's helped my buy the wall decor for my den. Fabulous Friday indeed.

Eco-Chic-o Friday

One of my favorite bloggers, Leigha from Elle Oh, asked me to participate in her column for EcoSalon, in which designers/bloggers share their favorite eco item. I was thrilled to be asked and super thrilled to share my favorite item from a fabulous showroom in LA - Pouf 43 ottoman from Cisco Brothers furniture.

For some good pre-Labor Day reading, check out Elle Oh and EcoSalon. Happy LONG Weekend!

New Fab Blog

Check out this new blog - my friend Jessica is an amazingly talented designer with an incredible eye for architecture, design, fashion... pretty much all things style. It's called Life's Little Jems and it's definitely getting added to my daily read list. Enjoy!

Shout out to the Ladies

I didn't get around to posting fresh goods today, but I thought I'd give a shout out to two bloggers who have been so kind and supportive to me -

Rebecca June - a stylish Southern California blogger who gave me a great shout out last Thursday. I LOVE her blog - it's some daily sunshine!



Another fabulous blogger, elle oh, who sent me the KINDEST email last week, and who's blog I adore.
Thank you both for being such wonderful supporters of my blog - I love the friendships and camaraderie I've found through writing the Goods. It's been a big week for me, and your kindness is so very appreciated.

I Wanna Soak up the Sun...

Trina Turk is one of my FAVORITE designers -- whether it's her home goods or clothing designs, her vibe transports me away and makes me feel like I'm on vacation.

Fellow blogger Julie, of the great blog Belle Maison, has opened up an online shop (Modern Chic Home) and is carrying some of Turk's newest goodies. All I can say is STUNNING.

These pillows are such great pops of color:






These little 3' x 5' rugs would be PERFECT at an entry:






The great zig zag print also comes in needlepoint pillows.These goodies totally make me want to pack up my station wagon and lounge poolside in Palm Springs, STAT!

Jan Jan Jan!

Everyone loves getting positive feedback, even bloggers :), so I was tickled pink when Jan Showers emailed me this morning in response to my blog on her gorgeous furnishing! Excited to hear that she will be at the David Sutherland Showroom at the Pacific Design Center as a part of WestWeek! Looking forward to meeting her!

In Good Company

I am thrilled to have been a part of this - I was included in an article about High Vs. Low (when to save and when to splurge on interior design goodies). The article is part of the online magazine The Inside Source presented by eBay - a great source for articles/inspiration in home & garden, fashion, entertainment, etc...

Check it out to see my high and low eBay finds (I'm tempted to buy both, but am going to show some restraint.) Also featured are some of my favorite bloggers - Heather Clawson, Habitually Chic; Erin Gates, Elements of Style; Kim Johnson, Desire to Inspire; Julie Carlson, Francesca Connolly, Sarah Lonsdale, Janet Hall, Remodelista. Article by Marni Elyse Katz of Style Carrot.

Blog Award!

Thanks so much to one of my favorite blogs - Chic Coles - for the fabulous Sugar Doll blogger award!

I am supposed to say 10 things about myself and pass it on to a few other blogs! Here goes:

1. I LOVE to cook. Tonight's plan - chocolate chip bread pudding using left over French bread from last night's fondue dinner.
2. I LOVE to ski. This year - Deer Valley! I cannot wait.
3. My job as an interior designer is honestly my dream job. However, today it is raining and I would prefer to be cuddling in bed with my dog and some hot cocoa.
4. The movie I most recently saw was New Moon. Eh.
5. I used to be afraid of flying, but am doing a good job overcoming it.
6. Top 5 places I'd like to visit: Morocco, Tahiti, Australia, Japan, Maldives
7. I love wallpaper. I'd wallpaper every surface in my home if I could. If I could have every Osborne and Little wallpaper, I'd be happy.
8. The next movie I'd like to see? Up in the Air.
9. My dog is currently sleeping on my lap. Love him.
10. My top piece of advice for people who cannot afford an interior designer? Inspiration images. Look through design magazines, blogs, catalogs and have an aesthetic and overall vibe you are going for before hitting the furniture stores.

Passing the love along to:
Sharon Taftian
The World According to Jessica Claire
Rebecca June
Little Green Notebook

Thanks again to Chic Coles!