Holiday Cheer

It's that time of year again!

Time to dazzle, sparkle and shine. Posted are a few pics courtesy of Rue Magazine to spread a little holiday cheer. After all, December starts tomorrow!!!

So shake those sequins off and get to wrappin'!

Is It Too Early...

To buy myself a Christmas gift?? I tried and tried to wait until the 25th to get my cowhide rug, but my favorite local home accessories and furniture store Hewitt had a huge sale. I just couldn't resist! What if this fabulous living room piece had gotten away from me? Or what if I would have paid- gasp!- full price?!

So the rug is now officially mine and here is how my living room is shaping up...

I think the next step will be to swap out the green chair for a coral upholstered armchair currently located in my bedroom and potentially recover the blue chair (a pair) with this cute leopard print chenille that I LOVE.

Slowly but surely, the room is getting streamlined and less schizophrenic. The clean lines and neutral color palette are much more soothing than my old bright and crazy room. Don't get me wrong- I LOVE color. I just love it so much that I can't stick to any one color palette very well. So hopefully the living room will be completed this time next year. Ha! Then I'll be ready to do it all over again...for next Christmas.

A Tory T-Giving

Tory Burch

I couldn't sign off for a holiday weekend without sharing one of my favorite holiday looks. Maybe Thanksgiving at your house doesn't call for an outfit as dressy as this one, but surely we can find a way to wear this top and necklace at some event during the holiday season...

Oh Santa baby!

But before I get ahead of myself, Happy Thanksgiving!

Bird-Worthy

Apartment Therapy

As a vegetarian, I look forward to turkey and gravy at Thanksgiving much, much less than I look forward to time outside with the family and a bit of carb overload. But, this year, I'm really anxious to create a beautiful and organic table setting worthy of a special Thanksgiving meal.

Adding white pumpkins, spriggy branches and feathers is a quick and easy way to dress up your dressing. Beyond that, napkins in autumnal hues and patterned plates are another opportunity to add to the festive appeal. Your Uncle Joe may make fun of your pheasant feathers, but at least they'll be great conversation pieces!

If your family is like mine and doesn't sit still long enough to appreciate a table setting, think about transferring your decor over to the buffet table where they can appreciate your hard work while loading up on stuffing and sweet potatoes.

Take a look at these pictures below for a little inspiration...

Kids table from unknown

Martha Stewart

Dwell

Country Living

Better Homes & Gardens

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! Make it a safe (and stylish!) holiday!!

I Think Ikat

Times Picayune

Patterned pillows have to be one of the easiest and most versatile home accessories. Perhaps that's why I tend to buy up fun pillows like they're going out of style! More than sleek lamps, wooly rugs or geometric wallpapers, pillows are what really punctuate the mood of a room. And, to that end, colorful ikat pillows currently play the leading lady in my decorating world.

It's interesting to see the many different ways designers and decorators integrate ikat pillows into the overall decor of a room. Some rooms are already modern or playful while others are very traditional and stark. Yet tossing an geometrically patterned ikat pillow into any of these rooms automatically gives any visitor an interesting and inviting focal point.

Fabricadabra pillows in Martha Stewart

Southern Accents

House & Home

Most often, ikats are associated with Uzbekistan but can also be found in Central and South America. It's a weaving process that dates back centuries ago, although today, textile designer Madeline Weinrib is most often associated with the fabric among high-end clientele. Luckily, for those of us who love Weinrib's look but live on a more restricted budget, there are some great new resources for ikat pillows, including Fabricadabra, The Conran Shop and various vendors on Etsy. High style on a budget- always in fashion!

Lonny Magazine

Lonny Magazine

Lonny Magazine

Lonny Magazine

It's nice to know that you can really pack a punch in a room with such a small investment. There are so many different approaches to using ikat pillows- mixing patterns, adding a splash of color, letting a bold print pop against stark solids- that it's almost foolproof. Give yourself a shot and see what you think! If you don't like your pillow, let me know and I'll gladly take it off your hands...

As Precious As 1-2-3

Okay, I don't have children- unless you count dogs- but if I did, they would totally be rocking the latest and greatest in kid's apparel, Fleming Clothing! Launched by Fleming and Kirk Samuels (my sister's sister-in-law and her hubby), Fleming Clothing offers customized designs and fabrics milled and sewn right here in North Carolina.

And let me be the first to tell you, these clothing patterns and colorful prints are absolutely adorable!!

Ruth Dress

Hallock Pants

With more than 40 different fabrics to mix and match, the possibilities of clothing (almost) as precious as your child are endless. Fleming Clothing offers patterns for leggings, dresses, tops, pants, bloomers and overalls. Once you select a pattern, you then choose your outer fabric and your inner fabric...did I mention each piece is reversible??

Millie Dress Pattern

Millie Dress in Blue Whales

Millie Dress Reversed in Black Cord

After you've found a sweet little dress for your sweet little angel, you can keep combing through the website for coordinating accessories, such as tees and bloomers!

Annie Fleming Bloomers in Orange Flannel

As I mentioned, I don't have any little ones to dress but I had a ball mixing and matching prints and patterns on the Fleming Clothing website. We can all be designers in our own right thanks to Fleming and her creative vision!

To learn more about Fleming Clothing, check out the website- www.flemingclothing.com.

Thankful

In the spirit of Thanksgiving and mindless holiday eating, let's eat this delectable dessert, set our tables with these gorgeously gilded plates and then cuddle up to a classic first edition novel in yet another fabulous Aerin Lauder office...this time in the Hamptons...

Elle Decor

Elle Decor

Dogroll

John Caviness home and dog in Elle Decor

As I perused the Elle Decor website yesterday, I found myself so amused by the slideshow of sweet pets in their stylish interiors. Even animals seem to understand the sense of glamour and luxury in these amazing rooms. They lounge on chaises, guard cowhide rugs and reflect a personal touch that even the most skilled designers and decorators could never add.

Home and pet of Michael S. Smith in Elle Decor

Home and pets of Michael DePerno on Elle Decor

Lori Goldstein's dogs and bedroom in Elle Decor

Oddly enough, I saw this photo of two precious pups just before I signed on to write this post! I just had to include it!

Pets of H & H Home

So I just couldn't resist adding a few of my own...

Grace, left, and Penny, right, at my/their house

Penny in her master bedroom

As much as we might complain about shedding dog hair and barking out the windows, we can't replace the love of a dog with faux fur throws...I'll take a dog hair-covered couch over an impersonal interior any day.

Breath of Fresh flAir

First of all, I just have to proclaim that Kate Middleton is adorable. Let's face it- the girl has style, grace, charm, a killer smile, confidence and is now officially to become a princess and possibly the Queen of England.

All of the media attention on her in the last 24 hours prompted me to dig for a few style photos. Kate always looks so chic. She is a true, classic beauty.

And as much as anyone may try, no one can rock a fabulous hat like Kate!

A sincere congratulations to Kate Middleton and Prince William of Wales. I can't wait to see how their royal wedding plans unfold in the next few months!

Style Crush: Taylor Tomasi Hill

The Sartorialist

Yesterday's post revolved around recreating the stylish yet functional look of one Taylor Tomasi Hill. But upon further review of her famed looks, I just had to dedicate an entire post to her many takes on fashion.

As I researched Hill's images online, I realized that I had already drawn inspiration from one of her looks almost a year ago. Last Christmas, I received the Sartorialist book, which I quickly filled with Post-Its stuck to looks I loved. One of my first swoon-worthy Post-Its awarded itself to the picture featured above. Hill's simple tank and plain black pencil skirt are quickly elevated (literally and figuratively) by her strappy cone heels and stackable bangles. Yet, she still manages to look so cool and carefree. Her style without attitude makes her look seem so attainable.

Here are some more of my favorite shots...

Cafe-Mode

Style Sightings

Citizen Couture

Morgan Parfrey

Refinery 29

Tory Burch blog

Hill's style seems to evolve around experimentation as well as a love for the classics. Motorcycle boots with tweed jackets? Check. Tee shirts and statement jewelry? Check. Signature red hair next to cat-eye sunglasses? Check, check, CHECK! And don't forget the necessary nonchalance!

It's fun to see simple clothing get a boost by accessories with personality. This winter is a great time to invest in classics such as tweed blazers and trench coats and then amp them up with faux leather leggings or faux fur. You'll find that great staple items are always a smart buy. But remember to have fun with the extras, a la Taylor!