Moving...maybe.

We're moving! Not far, just upstairs. Another studio opened up (supposedly) that is a teeny bit bigger and has a sink in the kitchen (pure luxury). I say supposedly because we found this out a month ago but have still yet to move. We are just waiting for the go ahead from our property management company. There happens to be lots of beautiful windows with ocean views. So I've been dreaming of a few upgrades and redecorating. Nothing major, just "getting ideas." ;-)

Sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Manic Monday

Just discovered this site, Five Words Tell A Story. Amazing and inspiring. This is what gave me some confidence on this Manic Monday.

A Mod Christmas

My tastes have morphed over the years from traditional contemporary to a hybrid of modern/vintage/mid-century. I'm ready for a Christmas decor makeover and Pinterest is full of inspiration. Here are a few of the latest illuminations. You can follow me on Pinterest here!

Photo Credit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Design Challenged

So I picked out a Christmas card design for Bobby and I back in October. Early I know, but I didn't want to be stressed come the holidays. When I went to order and pay for them, I realized I was spending almost $100 on Christmas cards! That is NOT in the Klein budget. So I went on the hunt for cheaper Christmas cards with great design. I scoured Walmart, Target, Vistaprint, & Shutterfly. Each has some great designs for a photo card but none that I love and are in the price range. In a perfect world I would order our cards from Tiny Prints, they have the coolest designs, but sadly I cannot spend the big bucks. So all of this is to say I am attempting to make/design our own Christmas card this year. I may still end up ordering from Walmart, but it is worth a try in the search for great design. Here are a few of my inspirations:

 

Inspiration: Breakfast at Tiffany's

Photo Credit

My sister and I have a shared love of all things Audrey Hepburn. We loved her movies growing up: Sabrina, My Fair Lady, Roman Holiday, but the clear favorite was always Breakfast at Tiffany's. Well, joy of joys it is finally on Netflix!! I spent most of yesterday enjoying this fine film and was so inspired. You can turn to Miss Holly Golightly for everything!

Interior? Keep it simple with a pop of color.

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Sunday outfit? Keep is casual and add a scarf.

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Party time? Good friends, music, and a classic bar cart! (Check out Society Social for the bar cart perfected.)

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More outfit inspiration? The classic trench. I love Target's version, chic and cheap.

Photo Credit

Also, head over to The Silver Screen Affair and meet Emily. She has the most darling and inspiring blog where I found most of these photos.

A Week of Instagram

I have fallen in LOVE with the Instagram app on my iPhone. So many infinite options and I feel like a better photographer than I really am. My brain is always processing how I can document daily life with this wonderful little app. I thought I would share a weeks worth of Instagram images. Enjoy!

To Grandmother's House I Went

Have you guys ever heard that song? "Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go!" My dear Momma used to sing that to me. It has always remained in my memory. Last week some of my cousins came to California for a visit and we met at my grandparents house. I love going to their house. I have so many happy memories of summers spent in their garden. Grandma always gives me some of her flowers from her garden when they are in bloom. I came home with a car full of sweat peas and lilacs. They make our little studio smell so good and look beautiful.

On The Hunt April 2011

With renewed purpose and a lot more time I have returned to blogging. In addition I have decided to add a "feature" I guess you would call it, On The Hunt. My goal is to do it at least monthly and eventually a weekly feature. It will include anything and everything that I'm on the hunt for. Here it goes...

I have been lusting over organization and office supplies lately. In a small space it is a necessity to be extremely organized. When I received my April issue of Dwell, I flipped for the organizational wall unit on the front. After perusing the magazine and some internet research I discovered Uten.Silo by Vitra. It could be mine for a bargain basement price of $350. Dang. I was already dreaming of everything that I could organize in those cute little cubbies. So I'm on the hunt for some sort of alternative, whatever that might be. 

Photo from the Vitra Site

 Next item I think I'm hunting for is a vintage dress form. The reason I'm not sure is it all depends if I can find a suitable alternative to the above organizer. But I think the dress form would add a nice vintagey touch to the studio. I would store all my Relics jewelry on it...and dream of owning more Relics. All I need for this hunting item is $495! Check out this bit of perfection from Etsy.

Photo and Dress from plainandelegant on Etsy

I may be a bit late on the oxford trend, but I am still on the hunt for a grey pair at a reasonable price. I might be persuaded to purchase brown, but not black. I think they would look so darling with some of my girly dresses and skirts. This pair by Frye is nearly perfect except for the price tag, although not outrageous for a pair of shoes, definitely out of my price range for now.

Photo from Frye

Now that I no longer work at Rebel (details on my new position and employer to come!) it is a lot more difficult to increase my modest collection of Vince. I will now need to hunt for a more budget friendly versions of the following. (From Shopbop.com)

Final hunting item is a clear plastic bag. What!?!? Yes its true. I need one for work. We are only allowed to bring in clear bags for security reasons. Not safety security but theft security, which is pretty SOP at most stores. Anyways...most of the bags look like little old lady bags. The type where the little old lady thought, "How cute and funny if everyone could see the weird stuff I carry around in my purse!" In an effort to avoid those kinds I discovered this beauty via this blog. Now I am praying for a ebay knockoff because there is no way for me to justify a $135 plastic bag to my husband.

Photo from HERE

A Work in Progress

So, I love that the Seal Beach Studio feels slightly unfinished and is always a work in progress. Honestly I could redecorate on a regular basis but a lack of funds keep the changes small. There are just somethings that I am always on the hunt for. One in particular has been a white deer head. These tend to come in the large size which the studio cannot accommodate. You can imagine my elation when I discovered a small ceramic one on Modcloth! All I had to decide was where to put him. Next item I've have been hunting for (get ready for the irony) is a cowhide rug as seen in this post here. Of course my Momma, the ultimate hunter, found the perfect one that is ideal for our little dining nook. Finally I scored some LED candles with a remote. They are sit nicely on the our shelf and I never have to worry about getting out of bed to blow them out.

An Addendum

"A thing to be added; an addition." Welcome to my addendum to the Seal Beach Studio!! I think it might always be a work in progress, constantly adding and subtracting. But I have some funsie additions to show you all! The best one is yet to come, unfortunately it is stuck somewhere between eBay and UPS. :-( But let's not dwell on the negative. Check it.

I first discovered this via 9 By Design, a design show on Bravo. They added it to an office. I was freaking out and my Momma informed me that it is vodka by Dan Aykroyd. Although I am not a big vodka drinker, I love the size and funky cork of this crystal bottle.

It is such a nice addition to my shelf. I am trying to restrain myself and not put TONS of knick knacks up there, but there are so many things I love to show off!

He is right above the entrance to the galley kitchen, very Pirates of the Caribbean. Enter if you dare!

Please ignore that little plaster chip by his right ear. A little DIY disaster and part of living with these odd cardboard tiles for walls. This beauty was given to me by my Momma for Christmas. She said she almost didn't give it to me because of what happened to my Turner Baby . But I'm glad she did, he gives me a smile every time I see this bottle opener.

This little cubby area is quickly becoming a mini bar. I just need to find a new place for my pink mixer. Decisions, decisions!

OK, 2 things in this pic. To the left, my pretty french tile hook. It was given to me by Sandy Maxwell (Hi Sandy!) at my bridal shower. It was actually a set of 3 but I have no where to put the other 2, so I picked my favorite one to put up with my apron. To the left is a metal wine bottle that houses corks. It was a Christmas gift from my Sissy (Hi Kimmy!) and her hubs, Zac. I LOVE it and as soon as I move that mixer it is taking its rightful place in the mini bar!

So with wainscoting it is difficult to have a headboard. We actually don't have a proper bed, just risers under the box spring, but it works. I have felt for a while that the bed looked a little bare. I didn't want to go the frou frou pillow route, so Momma suggested white European shams. PRESTO! Clean, simple and easy to make the bed.

I saved the best for last. EAMES HANG IT ALL COAT RACK!!! The holy grail of MCM coat racks! But you are not using it for coats you say! I wanted to show off its colorful brilliance, so I decided to use it for my jewelry. Although I like having my jewelry easily accessible and enjoying the modern colorfulness of the rack, I think it might be too busy. Thoughts?

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

 Changes have been made to the Seal Beach Studio! I thought I would share them with you all, specifically Aunt Kandee! Hi Aunt Kandee! ;-) I have added some more storage, a couple little decorator items, and added more to the bathroom. We finally have some storage in there. Hubs and I are really starting to enjoy our little studio. Life is simple and clean up is easy, what more could you ask for? Although I still have had trouble fitting my clothes into the miniature wardrobe. Enjoy the before and afters!

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