Hello, Beautiful

Waaaaaay back in October, I posted about the most beautiful bed you ever did see - the Brompton tufted upholstered bed in navy blue velvet from my mecca, Target. I originally found the bed through an Emily Henderson bedroom makeover post, and I have been pretty much obsessed with it ever since. Now that we have our snazzy new house with a bedroom that is so big I'm not entirely sure what to do with it (not complaining), I figured it was about time we got ourselves a grown-up bed and I began campaigning to the hubs about how it was an absolutely necessary purchase. To say that I have checked in on the bed compulsively for the last few months would be an understatement, but my patience has paid off and I finally hit "COMPLETE YOUR ORDER" on my shopping cart the other night and purchased the bed - on sale, of course.

Isn't it lovely?

Target's current furniture sale offers 20% off purchases over $175, there was an additional $15 off coupon code, I found another $5 off code (hey, every little bit helps!), I saved 5% by using my Target card, and we had a $100 gift card from Christmas that I've been hoarding waiting for this purchase. With the "oversized handling fee" that I cursed a few times and tax, I got the pricing down enough that I didn't have a complete panic attack when it was all said and done. Hey-o!

Unfortunately, this beauty isn't scheduled to deliver for a MONTH - womp womp. But, that gives me time to find a great deal on a king size comforter and new pillows, so I'll take it. 

And so begins the master bedroom makeover… 

Target Strikes Again

Our house has been on the market for a whopping 10 days, and we've had a bunch of activity, an open house, and even a second showing for a potential buyer! Needless to say, I'm a bit stressed about it all - mostly because the thought of packing up EVERYTHING we own is incredibly daunting. Just the thought of wrapping every. single. dish. and every. single. glass. makes me anxious. But, the excitement over what's to come combats any other feeling, and I truly can't wait to see what's next for Dan and I (and the Buddy Louie!)

When I need to just zone out and focus on something besides the house being on the market, I let myself daydream about what our new house might be like... and of course, how I might like to decorate it. I absolutely love how versatile and classic Target's home decor line has become, and one of my favorite things is to go through and see how different pieces might mix together to create a room. Here's some recent favorites that would pair well with our existing couch for a living room or family room setting!

library style storage  //  lamp  //  frame

rug  //  bench  //  mirror  //  pillow 1 & 2

Links

Pave link bracelets have been taking my precious blogosphere by storm in the last year or so, and surprise, surprise, I really wanted to get my hands on one. But, uh, I didn't really have $72 for a bracelet. I've seen knockoffs for less, but still at $50 or more, which is still way out of the budget.

And then the ever-awesome Target struck again, coming out with a perfect knockoff of the knockoffs for a measly $20, and I was sold.

So let's play a little game, shall we? It's called Find the Knockoff! For real though, can you tell which one is from Target?

Yeah. Me either!

Spoiler alert - it's #3, and you can buy it online or find it in store right HERE. I snagged mine yesterday at the location by work and am extra excited to wear it to a good friend's wedding tomorrow night.

Happy Friday! May your weekend be as unforgettable as I'm planning on mine being.

Tufted and Navy and Beautiful, oh my

Emily Henderson's ridiculous, amazing, incredible sense of design just slays me. Every. Single. Time. I adore her. And she recently posted a master bedroom makeover that literally had me drooling when I laid eyes on it. Major MAJOR inspiration for my next bedroom here folks. And by "inspiration" I obviously mean "totally knocking this off as closely as possible the second I have a new bedroom".

I have to have that bed. I mean, I HAVE to. I have daydreams about a curling up in a beautiful tufted kingsize bed on a regular basis, and the fact that this one is a stunning navy AND HAILS FROM TARGET is seriously just absolute perfection. And can't you just picture my awesome new faux fur throw at the foot of the bed? I can't get over it. And the campaign nightstands with those gold geometric lamps?? I'm obsessed. 

In other news, as long as I can work out the timing, I will soon be the proud owner of this adorable little settee for a whopping $20 -

Tell me that wouldn't look stunning reupholstered in a funky pattern or a gray linen for a sweet little sitting area in that dream master bedroom?!? It's meant to be.

Anyone want to buy a charming little 3 bedroom house in a fantastic location?? I'm ready for a blank slate.

If I had a Million Dollars: Fall Wish List

My mom reminded me the other day that she checks in on my blog regularly, and *ahem*, it's been a little sporadic lately. I can tell you about how I was sick for the last 2 weeks, about how the hubs and I are kicking around the idea of selling our house sometime soon-ish (I KNOW, crazy!!!), about how I'm designing a handful of last minute projects for 2 upcoming weddings, about how I'm working on a super secret project with the bestie that I can't share just yet, and about a million other things that I'm sure you don't really want to hear about... but all of that factors in to why this blog has unfortunately moved to the bottom of my priority list lately. Instead, I figured I'd try to make up for the lack of content with some pretty pictures, because regardless of how old I am, I (usually) still listen to my mother. So in an effort to get a little somethin' somethin' up on the blog... behold, a sampling of my fall wish list!

purse  |  watch  |  pillow cover

phone case  |  toms  |  carafe

candelabra  |  hamper 

I need another purse like I need a hole in my head, and the price on this makes me want to cry a little... but it's a wish list, and this purse is perfection, so deal with it. I made up for it with a super affordable must-have watch and a sort of matching phone case for my brand spanking new iPhone 5S (thanks to a gift card - let's not go thinking I suddenly have money or something). The hamper is so amazing I think I might require that it fit in the bathroom of my next home, and the candelabra is my favorite item in the latest round of Nate Berkus for Target goodies. So. Darned. Pretty. 

Happy Monday!

Wish List: Drink Service

Confession time: I go on craigslist at least twice a day just to do a search for "bar cart" and see what pops up. I've wanted a brass or gold bar cart for AGES, and I used to just search for one randomly online or if I was at a flea market, but then my dream cart popped up on craigslist and I missed out... hence the overly cautious several times a day checks now.

While I love the idea of a vintage cart, there's just not a whole lot out there in a price range I'm willing to go for. Often times, the carts people are selling on craigslist hit well over $300, and given that we aren't REALLY big drinkers at all and this is solely a pretty and stylish purchase and not a necessary one, I'm just not going to spend that kind of money on it.

And then I saw a new pin from my mecca, and I just might be over wanting a real vintage piece, because this baby is pretty well near perfect if you ask me.

Ooooh. Ahhhhh.

At $129, Target's version of the classic (brass!) bar cart is a steal compared to others. I'd probably swap the wood panels out for glass or mirror, and throw a few bright accessories on there to style it. But see those gold confetti decanters on the bottom shelf that are totally reminiscent of something from Kate Spade? Yeah, I want those too. And given that they're crazy affordable and I don't actually own a decanter, I'm thinking I'll go ahead and order one just as soon as I can! 

What do you think of the new Target entertaining collection? Clearly, I'm a fan!

I'm Back

Well I'm no healthier than I was earlier in the week (womp womp), and was so exhausted yesterday that the hubs and I spent the majority of the day laying around at home. We ventured out to the golf club with FIL for a couple of hours, but after lunch and a little sun we called it a day and headed home long before seeing any fireworks. While the 4th of July isn't my all-time favorite holiday or anything, I think I was pretty much born to hang out on the grass listening to music and eating BBQ, so I was a little bummed at our decision to stay in most of the day, regardless of the fact that it was probably the best thing either of us could have decided to do for our health. But missing the fireworks was kind of the final straw for me, and after spending the last several days moping around about being sick I figure its about time I snap myself out of it and just accept that I'll get better when my body is ready to. What better way to start feeling a little more peppy than to do a bunch of virtual wish-listing? ;) As usual, the collection of things I'm lusting over is across the board - ranging from a cheeky sweatshirt to kitchen stools from my mecca (Target, duh) that I have absolutely no use for but feel like I should buy for a future house because they are that perfect (and that affordable). Here's a roundup of fun little things I've got my eye on.

wifey sweatshirt  //  abstract pillow  //  zebra pillow

skin shammy  //  bracelet  //  keychain

wedge sandal  //  tic-tac-toe  //  industrial stool

If I had a Million Dollars: Front Porch Dreaming

We have a really great enclosed front porch at our house that's flooded with natural light thanks to walls full of windows. I literally have dreams about having friends over to play a board game with snacks and drinks out on the porch, but I've never managed to get the space set up properly for that. This is largely due to the fact that since it's not an all-season space and we really haven't used it much in the years we've been there, we haven't wanted to put any real money into furnishing it. It's been a hodge-podge of garage sale and craigslist finds for years, and currently even houses a tufted leather couch that I dragged home from the alley down the block (I assure you Dan was super thrilled with that adventure). Well, the couch really does belong in the alley, there's too many random end tables and ottomans out there, and our pile of board games doesn't have a real home. I'm determined to get the room in a better place this spring... likely again without spending much money at all. BUT! If money were no object, I'd snatch up this whole little getup in a split second and make the space all homey and amazing. Behold, my cozy dream front porch, all from my heaven on earth happy place - Target.

lamp  |  mirror  |  settee  |  pillow  |  curtains  |  vase  |  gold elephant  |  end table

With nearly every single one of these pieces on sale, this whole makeover really wouldn't be all that bad. That being said, while I may pick up a couple of the small decorative accents, I likely won't splurge on any of the bigger items (truth be told, there's not even electricity on the porch for a lamp anyways, but I can dream). I'll be sure to post photos as I transform the space over the coming months!

If I had a Million Dollars: Target + Neiman Marcus

Sometimes, I feel like Target just knows me. Given some of the marketing research I've seen, they sort of actually do in a weird way, but I'm talking about personal stuff here. Like I feel like Target is a real life friend that's there when I need them and knows exactly how to make me feel better. And don't bother pointing out that this is somewhat pitiful, I am fully aware, and not ashamed in the slightest.

Last night, I was wandering through my favorite Target location when I spotted a really sadly stocked endcap of Nate Berkus goods. Mind you, the Nate Berkus line isn't supposed to debut until Sunday morning, and I have been hyping this day up in my mind for MONTHS, so having it suddenly in front of me four days early was about as sad as a deflated balloon. What's worse, the endcap looked terrible and the packaging on everything was a disaster. I'm holding out hope that the items I saw were damaged in transit and that's why they put them out early, but that seems like backwards marketing, and either way, I was bummed.

So, I was pretty angry with my favorite store.

Then this afternoon, right as I actually felt like I could take 10 minutes to tool around online after a morning of meetings and craziness at work, I get an email from the beloved retailer announcing the first looks at their upcoming Neiman Marcus holiday collection partnership with some MAJOR big name designers (half of whom I've never heard of, let's be honest).

And there it was. More than 50 insanely gorgeous holiday gifts for me to peruse and pin and swoon over. My love for Target was immediately reignited. See what I mean about them just knowing? It's like they sensed that I was seriously mad, and figured they'd better do something big to make it better.

Obviously plenty of items in the collection would make perfect gifts, but I figured it was more fun initially to put together my personal favorites for the first installment of my newest blog feature - If I had a Million Dollars. You know, to buy whatever I want.

Clockwise from top left:

Proenza Schouler Sweatshirt ($29.99) - Nothing screams my name like a "nice" looking sweatshirt.

Marc Jacobs Pouch ($69.99) - Let's be real for a second here. I LOVE Marc Jacobs stuff. Every time I walk past a store without going in my heart hurts a little. But it's one of those brands I'm just not quite ready or able to invest in just yet because, well, I'm a major cheapskate. And these pouches aren't cheap either, but I can already imagine how pretty and soft they're going to be!

Band of Outsiders Best Friends Hats ($29.99 for two) - Bridget and I are going to be the coolest kids on the block with these. If I were you, I'd be a teensy bit jealous. ;)

Band of Outsiders Cookie Cutters ($29.99) - A slightly obnoxious price for 5 cookie cutters, but I imagine if I were to show up at my sister's door with a box of bow tie cookies she'd never stop telling me I'm the best sister in the world, and the wayfarer style glasses are bananas amazing.

Tory Burch Lunchbox ($19.99) and Thermos ($24.99) - What professional adult woman wouldn't want a trendy lunchbox? Nobody? Just me? Well whatever. I think it's awesome.

Is anyone else looking forward to this collection? See any items you want to get your hands on?

Nate Berkus for Target

The announcement hit Twitter last night that the one and only Nate Berkus will be the next designer collaboration at Target, with a line of more than 150 products hitting stores October 21. Considering Target is my heaven on earth and Nate Berkus is my celebrity crush, this news had me literally squealing and running around the house in excitement. I jokingly said I was going to start a savings account so I can splurge on the collection, and now that I'm finding sneak peeks of some of the pieces I'm thinking I just may have to start stockpiling away a little cash for what I'm sure will be a shopping extravaganza come October.

Here's a few images of collection pieces I found on a Target press release.

Gorgeous gold hammered bowls

Herringbone bedding and neutral pillows

Pillows with pops of gold

A textured washed oak box with nailhead detail

Needless to say, this little Target (and Nate Berkus) addict will be counting down the days until October 21!

Finally

I am so relieved that it's Friday. It's been a long week, and it's going to be a long weekend, but there's lots of fun to be had so I'm not complaining - I'm just exhausted. I'm looking forward to Sunday evening when Dan and I have big plans to lay on the couch watching TV and just spending some quiet time together.

Bridget and I went to Target last night in search of the infamous Domino Quick Fixes magazine that I have otherwise not been able to find anywhere, and I think I actually squealed when I spotted it on the shelf. I absolutely cannot wait to curl up somewhere cozy with a snack and this magazine.

Thanks to needing a bunch of skincare stuff, Dan requesting a big bottle of wine, buying a new organizing tray for my makeup and deciding to splurge on this new brush that swears it will help my hair dry up to 30% faster, I managed to spend WAY more money at Target than I set out too. Who's surprised? Oops.

via

Happy Weekend!

My Heaven on Earth

I've mentioned it here enough for everyone to already know that Target is what I consider my heaven on earth. Call me crazy, but the idea of being able to walk into ONE store and walk out with groceries, a new pair of flats, toothpaste, a skirt for an upcoming party, a light for my kindle AND a new throw pillow - all for about $60 total - really just amazes me. Sadly, my favorite Target buddy, Bridget, gave it up for Lent (it was getting bad), so while I have been in a couple of times for actual necessities, there hasn't been a whole lot of fun trolling around the store finding deals on the clearance endcaps in awhile. I genuinely wouldn't be surprised if some junior level data guy has been tasked with finding out why sales have dropped so drastically in the last few weeks thanks to Bridget and I not hitting up our favorite place every 72 hours or so.

I like to think that Target was thinking of Bridget and I when they came up with this FABULOUS commercial, which I have watched no less than 10 times since I saw it yesterday.

So, while both of us need to chill out on the spending overall and not just for 40 days, I'm counting down the days til Easter. I think Target will be happy to have us back.

Beginnings

The first piece I worked on for The Everygirl is posted today! It's a "blogwatch" on Siubhan of Simple Village Girl, a site I found my very favorite way - just clicking around from one blog to another and seeing what other girls are reading. Although I didn't have to do a whole lot of actual writing for the blogwatch, I'm excited that something I worked on is live on the site and looks amazing (thanks to Siubhan's gorgeous photography). So, head on over and check it out!

The Everygirl Blogwatch: Simple Village Girl

In other news, I bought these adorable super-cheap leopard print flats at Target last night, and I am in love. Look at me go, being all girly and buying cute shoes.

I also bought a 2-pack of wooden Dwell Studio place mats for $3 on clearance that I promptly dropped directly on my foot leaving an instant bruise. Good thing I now have fun new patterned flats to distract from the black and blue mark I'll likely be sporting for a solid week or so.