Could this really be someone's home? It looks straight out of the new "Smurf" movie

Who's going to be the lucky person to get a gift wrapped up like this from me?  ;)

Source: None via Sara on Pinterest

A rainy day at the beach never looked so good

Stephanie Johnson Travel Pouches

Have you guys ever seen this line of travel pouches and cases from Stephanie Johnson? LOVE!
And  Swirl by Daily Candy is currently having a sale on the pouches (ends 6/23/11).  I think I might have to have one............. or two.

I want to scoop these guys up and take them all home with me!

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I don't really get this.... but I love it

(continuing the Chandelier theme...)

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bathrooms and chandeliers

It's the end to another lovely weekend at the beach.... where I have no internet access. It's probably a good thing, because then I don't have the distractions, and therefore probably am more active and social. I mean, what's the point of going to the shore and staying indoors on the computer anyway? But there is a big down side to this.....That being it's midnight on Sunday now and here I am feverishly typing away at my computer feeling like I have to post SOMETHING before the week starts! So here's something...

As I waste my life away in a small studio apartment in NYC, I dream of what I will do when I get a bigger place to call home. But I don't just dream of upgrading to a one bedroom New York apartment. That would be the logical next step, but no.... not in my head. I dream of living in a big house with lots of rooms, airy windows, a kitchen with some actual counter space and cabinets, a fenced in yard for Griffin, huge walk in closets, and of course, a big master bathroom.
It's a dream! So just go with it, okay? :) In that bathroom, I dream of having a sparkly chandelier dangling from the middle of the ceiling. I've mentioned this to people before and they usually cock their heads a little bit and repeat "in the BATHROOM?!" But for any doubters, check out these gorgeous examples. These may change your mind....  and have you tearing down that chandelier from the dining room for a relocation.

Could I hate my own bathroom any more right now???

Just love...

Here's some dreamy pictures to start your week off right....

Puppy painting

We spent this past weekend at my parents' beach house (where we spend most of our summer weekends). But the weather wasn't that great for sitting on the beach. So I should have used my time indoors to make lots of pretty blog entries, right? Well, if only the 3G on my iPad was working.... but it wasn't. Instead, I got creative and did some painting.
I picked a really cute table out of the trash a couple of weeks ago (I know, it sounds gross but it was in really good shape and clean other than sticky soda spills!) and finally got around to spray painting it white. I also painted this picture of my dog, Griffin. I wonder if he would be flattered or insulted by this representation of him?  :)

I was inspired by this painting of 2 dogs by Marissa of Creative Thursday. She commissions paintings of people's pets and we emailed about her doing one of Griffin. But I recently spent a good chunk of change on painting supplies and figured maybe I should give it a shot with my own paintbrush first. And I think I'm happy with the result! What do you think?

Awesome stairs

Living in a small, rented apartment building in NYC, I'm not going to be able to put any of these ideas to use any time soon.  Nonetheless, I LOVE the double use for stairs below. The photo quality of these pictures aren't great, but you get the idea...

Stairs that double as bookshelves

Stairs that double as drawers for your shoes... Genius! :)

Stairs with a slide?! I mean, come on! You don't have to be five years old to love this.

What I'm Loving Right Now

I'm seriously digging this Union Jack Rug from Z Gallerie! Lonny Mag even used it in their newly decorated NYC office.

I live in a small studio apartment and have absolutely no space for this. As it is, I keep buying home design items that I have no room for and putting them in my parents' basement with the promise that "I will upgrade apartments soon and take everything back, Mom!" :) (Believe it or not, I already bought a rug months ago that is sitting rolled up and collecting dust in a corner of their basement!)
So can someone pleeeease buy this rug and invite me over so I can swoon over it????
I'll bring the wine (and I promise not to spill on your new carpet)!

Dear 16 Year Old Me

I spent every summer of my life until I was 22 years old at the Jersey Shore, which meant some serious sun exposure from June through August.  All the way from playing with my bucket and shovel in the sand to sunbathing with my girlfriends in our bikinis and tanning oil. Yeah, I caught some serious rays. Especially in my teens. My mom pleaded with me every day to put sunblock on. But let's face it.... when you're a teenager , it's just not cool.
It was probably only a few years ago when I started taking sun protection seriously. Probably because that's when I started to become hyper aware of my crow's feet, which I'd like to think are because I smile a lot. But deep down I know they're probably from too much sun exposure. And I don't even want to THINK about all of the sunburns that I've had! And we all know what can result from that....
I've already had two pre-cancerous moles removed and yesterday my Opthomologist told me that I have a condition in my left eye called Pinguecula, which is also a likely result of the sun (it's not as serious as it sounds though and is benign!). But if that's the worst of it, then I guess I should consider myself lucky!
Still...if only I could go back and tell my 16 year old me to lather the sunblock on...
Please watch this video! It's really powerful (you may even shed a tear). Put your sunblock on... and pass this along to any 16 year olds you may know, or anyone else for that matter!  :)