sparklythings

The love-hate relationship continues with Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie (::spit::) Popped into both stores tonight in a fit of masochism, then continued the self-loathing online. Here’s what i found:

Not sure how I missed it, but there is a whole line of Alexander Girard housewares here. Hel-lo! There were actually a few other items in the store, but then some of the pieces online are on sale while everything in the store was full-price. A conundrum, for certain.

I have to pause and share this picture of Alexander and Susan Girard, which i found in this amazing post by The Invisible Agent. Lots of eye candy at the end of that link, y’all. Isn’t this shot faboo?

Back to the show. Just when we’d settled on an IKEA couch (for reals, we’re working out logistics now!) for a variety of practical reasons, I come across these beauties. The one on the right is even on clearance, which usually seals the deal for me. However, the reviews for each couch all say that they’re hard and uncomfortable and that just won’t do. I’ll stick with IKEA for now and admire the lines on these from afar.

Onto Anthropologie (::spit::) Can I just say that this store smells? It’s completely overpowering and will knock you over even if you’re out on the street. But i blame all the candles – because in the back I found numerous perfumes that I really, really liked. I didn’t catch the names on any of them them because a. they were written in hipster doofus frenchy fonts and b. I was moving fast, didn’t want to be spotted inside. But next time I am in the market for a new scent (sometimes Gwen needs a break) I will don my secret identity and go back. I also got a weird craving to buy a bottle of this:

I had a bottle a long time ago, but i can’t seem to find it anymore. It’s yummy!

The other thing that got under my skin and into my brain was this completely charming butter dish. It was so cute I could almost justify the inflated price on it – crazy, huh? I need an app that will monitor items and alert me when they go on clearance.

Also, dear misguided Anthropologie shoppers…you can get almost the exact same trees for $.75 each at Wal-Mart. You’re welcome.

**UPDATE** How about 16 trees for $6? Try Big Lots – add in a can of fake snow and brown paint if you want to be super technical, and you’re still out the door for less than $10. Rustle up some cute packaging for gifts and still keep a few for yourself. Easy!

Also dropped in on Pier 1 because I figured I’d get them all out of the way tonight. Opening complaint: most annoying employees ever. That’s at every Pier 1 location I’ve been in. I’m not sure what they’re teaching these girls at corporate HQ but if they keep following me around and shoving baskets into my hand somebody’s going to get hurt.

Secondary complaint – and this is not just limited to Pier 1 – this Christmas glitter fad needs to end immediately. Everything everywhere is covered in glue and rolled all around in glitter. It’s messy and none of it is going to hold up – and if you ask me, there’s nothing sadder than something glittery with bald spots. In ten years I predict we’re going to look back at all this glittery crap and cringe ala big 80’s hair.

Anyway – the only thing worth mentioning at Pier 1 were these large stand-up thingies. They serve no purpose at all, but I couldn’t help but stand there and stare. Much more striking in person (yes, there was SOME glitter) I almost want to say they’ve got a touch of Mary Blair/Small World to ‘em. Not enough to get me back into Pier 1 for another six months, but still.

I just can’t resist the lure of all the retail Christmas displays – even though we’re still weeks away from Thanksgiving – and I’ve hit almost all my usual haunts already. Nothing is really jumping out at me this year, though – nothing is making me “oooh” and “ahhh” and wish wish wish that I could get it. I guess i’m content with what I have, which is a nice feeling. I’m looking forward to getting it all out and putting it up soon!

Four years ago, if i could have had any wedding dress in the entire world, I would have picked the Casablanca 1800 from the Fall 2005 collection. (Scary how I still remember that like an old car make and model.) It was one of the few dresses I could find with fitted 3/4 sleeves in a sea of strapless – the thinking at the time was that strapless flatters everybody, and me and my big arms can safely say it does not. But as much as I loved the sleeves and that colored sash that was just beginning to be popular (but which ultimately would also not have been flattering) I was not going to pay $700 – and close to $1000 after alterations, undergarments, etc – for a dress for one day. Never not ever.

Here it is knocked-off for 200 bucks. They didn’t even bother to take their own picture, they just stole the Casablanca one and slapped a logo on it.  Would this be too much to wear to the grocery store?

Good tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimes!!!

Things are looking different around here; I’ve had some technical difficulties with the ol’ blog and I get to update my look now. I haven’t settled on a design yet so you can enjoy the mysterious Esther for a while.

However, I have settled on a landscape plan for our yard. You can see the progress here:

I’ve also settled on some colors for our living room. In my daily journeys through interior design blogs, I’d realized i’d been saving pictures of the same color scheme over and over again:

so no point in fighting it. The blues range from a sky blue to a full-on turquoise, and the yellows can get a little green in spots…but i think i’m preferring the lighter versions of both for a nice, open look. Paired with grey they remind me of muted jaguar colors, so that should keep the hubby happy as well. This is my absolute-without-a-doubt favorite example:

every single thing about this is perfect, including the style of the furniture and the textures of the fabrics. I’ve been thrifting twice since I made this grand decision (lol!) and am already finding fun stuff. That post will have to come later…I’ve got a lot of work to do on this site!

Martha Stewart Closes ‘Blueprint’ Magazine

Well, this *is* a suprise. I was about to get a subscription for myself for Christmas just yesterday! Of course I think Martha Stewart is an evil genius, but I really really loved Blueprint. The Christmas issue is full of gorgeousness and honestly, they have the best fonts I’ve EVER seen in a magazine. I’m so disappointed by this news. I guess they’ll still be on the web but there’s something nice and tangible about having a paper copy.