BREAKING DOWN THE BIG, BEIGE BOX

Bachelor Pad Inspiration

2012-01-25T19:24:00.000-05:00

Soak all the moody gooness in; it needs no explanation...

Source: outandaboutafrica.blogspot.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Source: elizamagazine.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Source: lonnymag.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Source: roost-home.blogspot.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Source: littlebluedeer.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Planning and the Design Process

2012-01-24T12:24:00.000-05:00

phils by courtchase on polyvore.com

The design process is often daunting and challenging for the every day person who's not as decor-crazy as the rest of us. Conceptualizing the layout of the space, its theme, and then sourcing furniture is often where people get stuck. A common question I get after I've worked with someone and we've identified furniture that they like is, "Well, is it going to look good in the room?"The answer's always yes, but a quick mock up does wonders in putting it all together.

For those of us who can't draw well, there's always programs like Polyvore. I've done many mock ups in the past on this site and find it easy to use and quick enough to throw something polished together to show a client.

Above is the mock-up of the bedroom I designed for my boyfriend's new apartment. He wanted to know if the furniture I picked out would work with his existing pieces, as well as with the paint color we picked out. A quick trip to Polyvore pulled it all together and gave me the OK to move forward with the design. It's the best "try it before you buy it" you can get and helps eliminate mistakes.

Have you used Polyfore to plan spaces? What has your experience been?

Stay tuned in the next few weeks as we start pulling this room together!

Notes on Painting a Room

2012-01-23T08:04:00.003-05:00

This weekend, I was finally able to get some work done on 11th Ave Bachelor Pad project. The "client," aka my boyfriend, and I finally got a plan in place, so Saturday was spent buying furniture, lighting, paint, and supplies.

Martha Stewart's Wrought Iron

We painted an accent wall (yes, don't gag. I've done two of these and they've made a great impact) in an hour and here are some of my tips:

Take paint chips to the furniture store to reference while you shop. Camera phone photos are unreliable.
If you're going to tape off the edges of the area you're painting, buy GOOD tape. The blue 3M tape sucks. Get Frog Tape. It does't bleed.
Be generous with the amount of paint you put on your roller. If you're hearing a peeling noise when you are painting, the roller is too dry and you're making bubbles. In addition to making bubbles, you will spatter paint everywhere!
Beware that taping off your edges will not necessarily give you perfect edges. You will need to cut in regardless to refine any ragged edges that result in pulling up the tape.
Buy a good, quality beveled brush to cut in. I prefer a 2" brush.
Cut off the bottom of an empty water bottle or a cup to use as a paint holder for your edge work. You'll only need an inch of paint in it at a time. The amount of paint you need to touch up is going to be minimal
Watch this video here on how to cut in. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_uEi8ww4ZA(skip to 4:09, turn sound off)

Stay tuned in a few weeks as this project unfolds. Do you have any painting tips, trials, or tribulations?

Happy Sunday

2012-01-22T08:37:00.002-05:00

I just took this during my walk this morning. If you live in NYC, there are times you pick your head up and stop dead in your tracks-this city is gorgeous when you stop and look.

Spent all day yesterday outfitting a room for the "11th Ave Bachelor Pad" and will be painting in a few hours. Made some major progress on furniture, lighting and bedding. I went to the NYC Home Depot in Chelsea yesterday for the first time. It's amazing; they sunk a Home Depot in the middle of a city block and it's bright, spacious (for the city), and organized. I was in heaven!

I will be posting pics of the project throughout the day (except when the Patriots are on!). You can follow me here on instagram: http://followgram.me/bigbeigebox

Camps Bay Beach SA

2012-01-19T12:23:00.002-05:00

photo: b. wallace

Apt #13 Bed Situation

2012-01-18T09:15:00.000-05:00

A lot of people come to the Apt #13 link on the header of my blog and ask, "Where's the bed?"

To be honest, I've been notoriously bad with bedding and I always get stuck when designing this area, so I never show it. I know as a blogger, I feel pressured to show only my best work and fear the scrutiny of other bloggers. But hey, we're not all perfect and I wanted to keep it real and show you something that's an evolving work in progress.

Right when I moved in. Yep, that's an air mattress.

Here's the bed with a duvet I sewed from two sheets. The quality was horrible, it wrinkled and pilled. I ended up throwing it out.

The duvet hid this satin mess.

So, I flipped it over to the matte, cotton side. It was an OK fix, but it looked cheap.

The original comforter was part of a bed in a bag set I bought on a whim (and a gift card) at Target. In FL it was fine because the weight of the blanket was just enough. It's COLD here in NYC and my windows are really drafty so this comforter wasn't keeping me warm. I finally realized that you really can't skimp on bedding.

So, I went on Amazon and bought a synthetic down comforter. It is awesome. And I only paid $70! After sleeping one night with this, I can say that it is a definite value; generously filled and has a high thread count.

My bed with the new duvet. Look closely in the hallway and you'll see Higgins.

Here it is with my faux fur throw at the end of the bed. The throw definitely looks better crumpled up, as you can't see how cheesy the pattern is printed on there. However, I need to stretch it to protect the bed from Mr. Higgins' fur.

How do people with pets do it? I love an all white bed, but his black fur is everywhere! Plus, since he's also white, there's white hair on dark fabrics. I love the little guy but it's NOT cute.

Bedroom Ruminations for Apt #13

2012-01-17T10:16:00.001-05:00

Source: theaestate.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

I need to complete my room so I can photograph it and show it to you as well as feel officially 'moved in.' Since my lease is up in June, I'm vowing to keep it simple and work what I already have. One of those things is my faux fur blanket. Here's what's been inspiring me lately-the coziness of the fur blanket, coupled with the simple linens.

I've got a new duvet comforter coming in this afternoon (I love Amazon!) and I plan to get a really simple, maybe white, cover for it so the fur throw can take center stage. What do you think?

Source: theaestate.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Source: fashionsquad.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Source: shelterinteriordesign.blogspot.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Source: theaestate.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

BBB NYC: Sunday Stroll

2012-01-15T20:33:00.001-05:00

Braved temps in the 30s to walk to the Pier 84 dog park today for Higgies.

BBB Travel: Mountains, Sea, and Sky in South Africa

2012-01-13T09:47:00.000-05:00

Source: dumirocks.wordpress.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Cape Town has SO much to offer between its gorgeous mountains, beautiful beaches, and attractions. Here is a summary of the rest of the activities on my trip.

Skydiving (Sorry, Dad!)

Given the recent news of a bungee jump gone awry in South Africa, it's a good thing we didn't go the Bloukrans Bridge jump. Instead, five of us woke up early to skydive with Skydive Capetown. This company provides excellent tandem jumps and provided a very laid-back atmosphere for my very first jump. I'm officially addicted!

Hike Lion's Head at Sunset

Lion's Head peak (far right of the top pic) is part of Table Mountain and is situated between Clifton Beach and Bantry Bay. The hike is moderately challenging and can be a great workout if you hustle up there (we got there in 29 mins). There is ample parking at the base of the hill and people hike up night and day. My recommendation is to go there for sunrise or sunset to watch Table Mountain and the beaches below light up picture perfectly.

Wine Country with African Blue Tours

Our group hired owner, David Smith, to bring us through the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek regions. The itinerary was based from info I gleaned from the Lanalou Style blog's recommendations for the area. This activity was, surprisingly, a big highlight for the group. We had a party of 11 (only 3 ladies) and the guys really loved the tour. I cannot say enough about how great David was in accompanying our group. Check out our review of his services here on Trip Advisior.

Now, onto the wine.

Anthonij Rupert Winery
Highlights: Terra Del Campo Arne

The Rupert estate is the home of the L'Ormains range. The winery is situated on 100 hectares and additionally boasts a horse farm and classic car museum with over 100 cars. The highlight wine was the Terra Del Campo Arne, which is named in homage to Diana Ross' deceased husband who was an avid mountain climber. He passed away as a result of an climbing accident on the estate and the wine is in dedication to his memory.

Thelema Mountain Vineyard
Highlights: Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Riesling 2010, Merlot Reserve 2010

Thelema was the group favorite. It had a more modern, casual feel and the white wines were absolute stunning. The main tasting building had a Dwell-esque feel and was bright and airy. We bought several bottles of the Merlot Reserve 2010. Even if you hate Merlot, buy this!

Tokara Vineyard
Highlights: Tokara Restaurant & Reserve Collection Noble Late Harvest 2009

Tokara was our stop for lunch and our last wine tasting. The Deli (highly recommended by Lanalou Style) was closed that Friday, so we booked lunch in the Tokara Restaurant. It. Was. Stunning. The entire grounds and building are a visual feast for the designophile. You will swoon from the dining room, to the vistas, to the art, and food.

photo c/o Tokara Restaurant website

Abseil Table Mountain

We booked a guided hike and abseil (aka rappelling) with Abseil Africa another morning to get the adrenaline pumping again following the wine tour. The 1.5 hr guided hike was followed by a 100 meter (300ft) abseil down from the top of Table Mountain. The descent was like nothing I've ever done and I highly recommend this for the daredevil who loves a good view. After the abseil, you have to hike back to the top in order to take the cable car back down the mountain.

That's my 12 day Cape Town excursion in a nut shell! Please feel free to comment with any questions. I had so much fun and would love to share any tips I can.

All photos by Courtney of the BBB otherwise noted.

BBB Travel: Surfing South Africa With Stoked School of Surf

2012-01-11T08:00:00.005-05:00

Cape Town is an adventurer's dream- its gorgeous terrain and infallible weather lend to the most picturesque vistas that serve as the back drop of some amazing activities. My friends were of the daredevil variety so most of my trip consisted of climbing mountains, surfing, and jumping off very high places.

Surfing:

My #1 recommendation of things to do in Cape Town is to book a surf lesson with Stoked School of Surf.

Stoked is a mobile surf school and surf tour operator owned by local Michelle Davy. She and sister, Sarah-Jayne, provide top-notch equipment and quality instruction that enables all levels to enjoy a successful day of surfing.

Sarah-Jayne leads our group in Lesson #1 at Big Bay. Table Mountain is in the background.
Photo c/o Stoked's Facebook Page

Lessons with Stoked are meticulously informative and thorough. The first 20 minutes of your lesson comprises of a break down on the mechanics of surfing, emphasizing balance, control, and form. The instructors then join you in the water for hands-on instruction, tips, and to take pictures of you ripping it up. I grew up surfing and still learned things in one lesson that I never gleaned in a lifetime of surfing.

Me, riding the "foamies" after a 5 yr surf hiatus.
c/o Stoked

Lessons start at R280 (approx. $35US) for a 2 hour lesson if you have your own transportation (there is also an option for the girls to pick you up). You will not get a better deal anywhere else in the world for this level of instruction and the quality of their boards and wetsuits.

My friends and I booked three lessons throughout our trip, which I highly recommend. Stoked has plenty of equipment and was able to accomodate our group of 11 people plus a few more! Book your first lessons for the morning, when the surf is the cleanest. Windy conditions make surf choppy and rough. After you've got a few AM sessions under your belt, be sure to book at least one sunset surf in your subsequent lessons. There is nothing more peaceful and inspiring to catch a wave as the sun sets on this amazing city!

The boys heading back out for one last wave on our last lesson in Big Bay.
c/o Stoked

I've had girlfriends in the past say that they'd never try surfing because it's too hard or that they're not strong enough. I will tell you that women (and smaller people in general) are at an advantage in a sport like surfing. You have a lower center of gravity, float easily, and usually have better balance. Michelle and Sarah-Jayne WILL get you on your first wave-I promise!

Excited yet? This was just a warm-up! Stop by tomorrow where I'll be highlighting our death-defying feats of skydiving, shark cage diving, and abseiling off Table Mountain!

BBB Travel: Packing for a 2 wk trip in a carry-on

2012-01-10T10:30:00.002-05:00

Packing for a vacation can be stressful because it's hard to pack ahead of time accounting for the weather and the various places your plans may take you. I wanted to share what I packed for my 12 day trip over the Christmas and New Year's holidays to Cape Town, South Africa. Because I CARRIED ON my luggage. You can do this, and I can help.

Let's start by outlining your supplies.

BBB Packing Essentials by courtchase featuring tote handbags

1. I am a huge fan of Hideo Wakamatsu's Feather 20" carry on. I bought this for my boyfriend last Christmas and he uses it at least 1-2 times per month for business. Its frame-less, soft bag body allows you to stuff this to the max and still pass as a carry-on. It has compression straps on the side to keep its shape and prevent your things from shifting in the bag. I've been stealing this bag for my trips but since we were traveling together, I bought one for myself. Trust me, if a 6'3" man can put two week's worth of clothes and shoes in this bag any lady will find that this provides enough room for a lot of clothes.

2. You will need another bag for your toiletries and other items you need in-flight. I recommend a backpack. Yes, I said it. It's not glamorous but necessary when traveling across the planet with multiple stops. I brought a messenger bag and I HATED it. I overstuffed the bag and the strap (which was so long it had to be knotted to prevent the bag from hitting me behind the knees) put so much stress on my neck and back. Do yourself a favor and get a good backpack. You will need it for your trips into town or for any hiking you do.

3. Also, pack a canvas tote. I folded mine up and packed it in my suitcase. It was my go-to bag for our trips into town, to the beach, or the grocery store. They charge you a nominal fee in Cape Town for using plastic bags so we often used my tote to go green and also avoid fees.

4. In-flight entertainment is essential on a 16 hour flight from JFK to Johannesburg. I made the mistake of taking multiple magazines and books on the flight, adding more weight to my miserable messenger bag. Do yourself a favor and download books, mags, and movies to your ipad. They hold a 10hr+ charge and will get you through your flight. Sometimes the in-flight entertainment goes on the fritz and you're going to want your ipad if the tv in front of your seat goes out (about 30% of passengers on my flight had this problem).

Now, your packing strategy.

BBB Travel: Packing for 12 Day Trip by courtchase featuring checkered shoes

1. 1 Black Blazer: Wear this at night to shelter you from the high nightly winds in Cape Town. Layering this over a maxi takes you from the beach to the restaurant at night and also serves as a smart topper to your cocktail dress on New Year's Eve. You can also use this to dress up your day ensemble of jeans and a tank for casual dining.

2. 3 Dresses: 1 colorful Maxi, 1 beige cocktail, 1 black mini.

A maxi is the chameleon of dresses. You can wear it to and from the beach, out to dinner, or on the down and you will look sexy, down to earth, and put together....all at the same time. Top the maxi with a blazer for dinners out, or pair it with the circle scarf when it gets chilly at a late afternoon braai (barbecue).

The nude/beige cocktail dress fits any occasion. Dress it down with sandals for day shopping and vamp it up at night with bright heels and accessories.

The black mini racerback dress takes you from the beach (just pop it over your head and pair with a statement necklace) or a night with killer heels and a blazer. Instant, effortless sexy.

3. 1 white jean: This is your chance, ladies, to whip out your white jeans in the dead of winter. Pair with simple tanks and tees during the day (Cape Town is breezy enough that you're not sweating bullets in jeans during the day). Top with blazer and statement necklace (don't forget the heels!!) at night.

4. 2 bikinis: 1 sexy, 1 practical (not pictured). We spent a lot of time surfing and went shark cage diving this trip so I relied heavily on my old standby sporty brazilian bikini. Reef and O'Neal make excellent ones. Also, check out Mikoh for amazingly hot bikinis. They're made with flat seams so there's never a pinch, bulge, or muffin top. And while I'm at it, buy a brazilian bikini. Let it all hang out, ladies, a cheeky bottom never hurt anyone.

5. 1 men's chambray: wear with shorts and flats for day trips or as a beach cover up.

6. 4 pairs of shoes: Yup, I said it. The only shoes not pictured were my running shoes that I wore on the plane. You CAN do this! Flats, sandals/flops, killer bright heels. There's not need for anything else. Get creative.

7. Accessories: This is the lifeblood of your wardrobe. Bring in color and interest with scarves (double as blankets on the plane), statement necklaces (brings those beach coverups straight into the club or dinner), and bracelets. Make sure you wear a watch so you can program it to local time. We had no cell phones so in order to know what day and time it was, I relied on my watch.

8. 3 Tanks, 3 Tees: Pack white, black, grey. Your jewelry will be your color and interest so it's best to rely on these basics as your base layer for all outfits.

9. Not pictured: work out clothes, sweatshirt. You will see in the next week that my trip to Cape Town was very athletically driven. I LIVED in a bikini or work out clothes during the day. Pack 2 sports bras, 3 pairs of socks, and 1 capri tight. The sweatshirt is a must, as the temps cool even during the day when you're mountain climbing. I took a crappy one and regretted it. Bring something functional AND stylish like this one from Lululemon. That way you can be warm on the mountain and look good when you hike down to lunch.

So that's it. I PROMISE you, there will be enough clothes for your entire trip. We had access to laundry and did the wash twice to get the essentials (tees, tanks, socks) clean. I'd highly advise doing laundry if you can, or send it out at your hotel. We opted to NOT check bags (BTW, bags are free on South African Airways) because they would not transfer them from our first leg to Johannesburg to our Cape Town flight 12 hours later. We killed time during the layover at the hotel spa at the airport so it was essential to have access to fresh clothes and toiletries (highly recommended!).

Stay tuned tomorrow where I recap our surfing lessons with Stoked School of Surf!

A Huge THANK YOU to Get It Girl Style!

2012-01-09T08:53:00.001-05:00

Over my December Holiday, I was lucky enough to be the "Featured Blogger" on the Get It Girl Style blog. Tam has been so supportive of my efforts on the BBB and exemplifies what it means to build a community online.

Please stop by and give Tam a shout. She's got some great, new projects showcased that will inspire you!

I'm back from SA!

2012-01-05T16:30:00.000-05:00

Eat your heart out, Christian Chaize.....here's a sneak peek of the view of Clifton 1 from my (former) vacation apartment.

I'm finally back in NYC, downloading and editing all of the pics and film from my 12-day adventure of a lifetime. Please bear with me-I'll be posting for probably the next two weeks on the finer details of the trip.

Hope your Holiday and New Year breaks were fantastic. xo c

BBB on Hiatus for South African Holiday

2011-12-21T14:31:00.003-05:00

The time has finally come for my two-week holiday in South Africa and I can hardly contain my excitement. Thanks to the power of the internet and the amazing global community of bloggers, I've been able to make some really great, informed decisions on how to structure my itinerary while in Cape Town. I'd like to personally thank blogger, Kirstey, (and the friend who referred her to my blog) for reaching out with suggested sites to plan my trip.

http://southofthesahara.blogspot.com/

Kirstey's site, South of the Sahara, is a celebration of her home country. She recently moved to Boston (ironically, my adopted home town!) and frequently posts on SA as well as her new life in the Hub of the Universe (seriously, look it up).

Her "Tour South Africa" series beautifully encompasses the finer things that SA has to offer...and from a local's perspective to boot! I found this extremely important while looking for info for my trip. Never again will I consult a travel site when I've got blogs! Here's some of my favorite posts.

We have a 12 hr layover in Jozie (yes, already embracing the local lingo) so this was extremely helpful:

http://southofthesahara.blogspot.com/2011/12/tour-south-africa-johannesburg.html

My bff's gf is from Durban and I'd LOVE to follow this guide but we won't have any time:

http://southofthesahara.blogspot.com/2011/12/tour-south-africa-durban.html

Kirstey also referred me to this amazing blog below that has THE most amazing photography of local SA sights, stores, and restaurants.

http://lanaloustyle.blogspot.com/

Lana's "Stellenbosch Uncovered" series was the backbone of my planning for our vineyard trip through the region. Here, she calls on Locals to name their favorite spots to dine and shop.

Should you find yourself planning a Stellenbosch wine tour in the future, check out Lana's extensive reviews of the wine estates in that region: http://lanaloustyle.blogspot.com/p/western-cape.html

Her breath-taking photography of the deli at the Tokara Wine Estate sealed the deal for me, and we've booked lunch there next week!

Source: lanaloustyle.blogspot.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Another site that Kirstey suggested was, iwantthat. This site locked down ALL of the shopping I want to check out in Cape Town.

http://www.iwantthat.co.za/

Iwantthat is the blog of freelance journalist Vicki Sleet, who has her finger on the pulse of the next big thing to eat/drink/see/do/buy in the Cape Town area. When I convince my bf to take a trip into town to shop, we're coincidentally going by this shop:

Source: iwantthat.co.za via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

I'll be back in a few weeks, meanwhile, please show your support of these three blogs and check them out! Tell these amazing ladies that I sent you...

AND please have a safe and happy Holiday/New Year! Being a welcome part of this blog community means so much to me and your comments/support are the icing on the cake!

BBB Gets Inside: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo for H&M

2011-12-16T18:18:00.001-05:00

Source: mydaily.co.uk via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

After completing Steig Larsson's "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" trilogy early November, I caught wind that Trish Summerville was doing a line inspired by the US movie for H&M. I marked it on the calendar and then braced myself early for the shopping mayhem to come.

Except it didn't.

A friend told me about a pop up shop for the collection held in the Meatpacking District (72 Gansevoort St) on Monday, and we attempted to check it out last night. Problem was, we arrived at 10:01pm. The shop closed at 10:00pm. No kissy faces to the security guards or pleas on our knees was making that door budge open.

I went to check it out today during normal hours (12pm-10pm from now, extended through the weekend) and was amazed with the space and merchandising.

First, you are greeted with Lisbeth's motocycle outside before you enter the space.

Hints of Lisbeth's background as a computer hacker greet you at the door, as mannequin faces are replaced with computer tablets (not ipads, noticeably).

Lisbeth-inspired combat boots and her signature bag where she stashes her laptop, guns, and mace (2nd and 3rd books-I'm geeking out over here) greet you at the door.

The space is ware-house like, littered with rope, chains, and wood palettes and reminded me of the warehouse scene in the 3rd book (The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest) where Lisbeth must fight for her life to escape her monstrous half-brother.

The space is small, but brilliantly features each piece in a little vignette. Each piece of clothing was easy to find and so far, sizes are pretty abundant.

I snagged two of these belts ($12 each) to wear together. I wanted the pleather moto pants, but unfortunately neither colorway (black or burgundy) were in my size. If you are a size 6-10, please get down to the store and snag these up.

The view of the store from the cafe. Coffee plays a big role in Larsson's trilogy, and the space designers aptly put an interesting cafe adjacent to the shop where free coffee and internet were offered.

The attention to detail was amazing here. From someone who has read the trilogy, it was nice to see little touches like the movie poster on the cafe's bulletin board.

So what did I get? I walked out with an amazing leather jacket in black. I had to be honest with myself and not get caught up in the excitement of owning almost all of the collection. Since Lisbeth's style is very much my own, I already had the staples like combat boots, leggings, cargos, and hooded sweatshirts. The jacket is the deal here, at $199 for full leather.

Since you'll probably ask, here are some shots I took in the dressing room. The clothes fit well and had a subdued color palette of black, charcoal, taupe, olive, and burgundy. My goal was to find that WOW piece so I was ruthless with editing down my purchases.

Here's the hooded asymmetrical sweater with safety pin closure. Draped well, but the quality of the yarn was just OK. Not bad for $29, but I have a few sweaters similar to that so I passed.

I paired the sweater with the white cut-off tee (purchased for $12) and the olive cargo pants. The pants fit well, but I have a pair similar at home in black. The boots are my Frye Engineers.

Here's the winner:

The Trish Summerville for H&M Girl With the Dragon Tattoo launched December 15th in stores across the US. Please let me know what your favorite pics were!

All photos by Courtney of the Big, Beige, Box. Please use with permission.

BBB-Holiday Gift Guide-

2011-12-15T15:34:00.001-05:00

Are you still looking for last-minute gifts??? I compiled a board on Pinterest here. I've found some AMAZING gifts (read: I would like any of these pleaseandthankyou) for mostly under $100.

Do you have any cool gifts to suggest? Please pin them to my board, it's open to the public!

Happy Shopping!

BURIED-where's Higgins?

2011-12-14T14:43:00.002-05:00

Been hustling to close out the end of the year and go on holiday. Be right back!

Holiday gifts you can DIY on the cheap

2011-12-09T14:19:00.000-05:00

Since I've been doodling and sketching since childhood, I always give art as gifts. I wanted to review a few projects I did a while back and debunk the claims that art is only done best by those with talent.

Personalized portraits have always been a fun project for me. Some times I free hand the drawing, but if I'm feeling particularly lazy, I will straight-up trace the image right off my computer screen. That's right, in the project below, I stuck an 8.5"x11" piece of computer paper right to my screen and traced a quick, rough outline of the people that I wanted to sketch. After I had my pencil drawing somewhat mapped out, I then went to town with a Sharpie and with first the outline, then started shading.

If your sketching skills need some brushing up, why not just photocopy your art? I'm serious. I've done it twice, and still have one of these projects hanging in my home.

In my Newport Mansions Photocopy Project, I took advantage of poorly aligned printer cartridges and got a really cool effect when making copies of photos in a book.

I literally just put this image under the copier (I have a 3-in-1 printer, scanner, fax inkjet printer) and framed the results.

Lastly, I got even more creative with my printer/copier and literally copied my pillows. This was the time when Imperial Trellis was at its height and I couldn't get enough of this pattern.....SO I copied and framed it.

This project has actually followed me to three apartments. First, the original:

Squint and you can see them over the backsplash of Apt #11

Then, they found a home and a new skull friend in Apt #12.

Now, they'd even found a place in Apt#13.

Have you any quickie, DIY art projects? Please share!

Guerrilla sightseeing NYC

2011-12-07T23:18:00.061-05:00

What a weekend! On Friday I had the pleasure of meeting Courtney from Courtney Out Loud during his trip to NYC. We spent most of our time eating delicious food and wine at Eataly and talking shop. It was such a great feeling to meet up with someone who has a burning passion for design and is so open and willing to share his knowledge and experiences! The blog community has been so kind to me and it motivates me to push myself farther into design. THANK YOU!!!

Sunday, my bff came in from LA and we spent the next four days running amok in the city. I was able to get her some culture in between drinks and amazing meals. Here are some of the snaps I managed to take.

We stopped at MoMa (which should really be my second home) and spent a lot of time on the painting floors. It never ceases to amaze and awe me that I can walk down the street and be around the works of Master artists like Van Gogh and Monet. My mummalah raised me on a strong dose of water lillies so every time I see this gargantuan painting, I get lost for a while.

My friend pondering Monet's technique.

I stumbled upon Van Gogh's Starry Night. I don't recall seeing that a few months ago so it may be a new addition to MoMa. I could be wrong, but if you're in the city please check this out. It's even more spectacular in person.

Lately, I've been very interested in watching people take in the art at museums. I've seen some really cool moments: a man swooping his wife around to steal a kiss in front of the Monet was one I wasn't able to get with my camera. It was so spontaneous and passionate...so cool to see.

We visited the 911 Memorial yesterday. The grey, misty weather was a somber backdrop and echoed the subdued palette of cool stone and bronze in the grounds and architecture. Because each individual's experience here is so different, I will only say that the memorial design is PERFECT. It secures the footprint of the Twin Towers in the landscape and outlines the vacancies they left. I can't even put into words how powerful it is to be there in person.

Lastly, today we shopped in Soho. Here's a shot I took while lying on the couch at the Frye store. There are over 2800 straps of leather, all about 4 ft long, with circular metal rings attached at the bottom. The rings are the hardware from their "Harness" boot. Coolest chandelier EVER!

This Old House at the Newport Mansions!

2011-12-02T09:53:00.000-05:00

My stepmother works for the Newport Preservation Society and forwarded me the update on the This Old House segment filmed earlier this month. Please follow them on Facebook for updates, or visit their web page here. The Elms is an amazing mansion filled with tons of history and is famous for its gardens. I'm very interested in what TOH is going to feature on its show. I'll keep you posted with the air date and channel soon.

I'm off later today to connect with the West Coast Courtney, of Courtney Out Loud. I am SO excited to be meeting him in person and we are going to explore NYC's finest design retailers. If you hear a large boom and the sun drops out of the sky, don't worry, it's just the universe imploding as two Courtneys unite (notice that I didn't spell K-ourtney??).

Trending on MY Pinterest: Beach House Chic

2011-11-30T09:24:00.000-05:00

The only boho bone in my body lies in my dreams of one day owning a beach house. I realized this when my Beach House board started to take shape on my Pinterest. A trend slowly formed and my inner global table/Cali girl started to emerge as I collected images of blindingly white spaces with wood accents. Could this be the place where I shed my black moto boot/skinny jean/flannel shirt ensemble?

Here are some of my favorite images.

Source: appletreestaging.blogspot.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

This house is absolutely insane. You're seeing the outdoor patio bar that has straight shot service from the house's kitchen.

Source: karina-elbeso.blogspot.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

This is what I'd like the kitchen to look like inside, minus the folksy chairs. The stainless steel appliances, plus the huge, hunkin wood table, pulled on top of those concrete floors are functional and polished at the same time.

Source: elledecor.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

I will never do rustic in the bedroom. This one above is neutral and white enough to be a peaceful sanctuary and does NOT throw a "vacation rental" vibe. I never understood why people would skimp on their bedrooms at beach houses. You are on vacation, why sleep on a crappy bed with mismatched sheets? And don't get me started on the use of knotty pine in many of these places.

Source: blushingandsweet.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Continuing the white/wood vibe, an amazing living room. Bleachable slip covers eliminate the concern for dirty beach feet and wet bathing suit bottoms. I was always getting yelled at as a kid to get my sandy ass off the couch. Not in my beach house!

Do you Pinterest? Have any cool pins on beach house living? Please comment below!

BBB Bucket List: Bungee Jump Bloukrans Bridge, South Africa

2011-11-28T19:00:00.001-05:00

Source: vivaboo.com via Jim on Pinterest

My friends and I are planning a holiday trip to visit a recently departed New Yorker at his new home in Cape Town, South Africa. Out sheer peer pressure, panic, and later excitement, I said yes to jumping off this bridge above (sorry, Dad!).

Bloukrans Bridge is an arch bridge located near Nature's Valley, Western Cape, SA. According to web sources, it's the highest single span arch bridge in the world and stands at a height of 216m (over 700 ft) over the Bloukans River. It carries the national N2 route, and is also the site for the highest commercial bungee jump. The jump takes place underneath the roadway where guests walk out to the jump platform via a narrow metal grated pathway. I'm sweating just thinking about it seeing as I haven't even gone sky diving!

Has anyone done this jump or something similar? No horror stories, please.

On my block

2011-11-22T23:53:00.001-05:00

photo: Big Beige Box

I shot this a few weeks ago with my iphone from the back of a cab that I just had hailed to go downtown. The shadow caught my eye at first and when I traced back to see who it belonged to, a woman in the most unique outfit caught my eye. I literally had ten seconds to get my phone out of my bag and take the picture before the cabbie sped off down 9th Ave. I was so lucky that the car next to us didn't get in the frame and steal this moment away.

The beauty of this shot is that you can literally write two different stories: one for the shadow, and the other for the lady. They are focused in two totally different directions and yet originate from the same place. It makes me think about perception and perspective-the shadow caught my eye when I took the shot and I thought it belonged to a random person handing out menus. I didn't notice the colorful lady until I was cropping the shot in the cab on my iphone. Now I wonder what she was doing all dressed up in the hot pink fascinator and what she handed out. There's no way I could have dreamed that that person was attached to that shadow.

This shot reminds me that to be mindful of how I perceive people or certain situations. If a picture speaks 1, 000 words, how come it doesn't always reveal the whole story?

BBB Clients: The view from the Ohm building

2011-11-21T22:08:00.001-05:00

This is from a bachelor pad lease-signing this weekend. Move-in at the end of the month so I'll be busy for a while.

Meanwhile, enjoy the view from the 35th floor. If you squint you can see Lady Liberty.

Daily Dog: Higgins Picking Paint Chips

2011-11-19T04:35:00.000-05:00

I might have created a monster. A few weeks ago, I tried to see if Higgs would jump up and share my desk chair. Now, I'm spending my office time scooted to the edge of my seat (which, BTW needs re-upholstering because it's all packed out) while this one can literally curl up behind me. Now, I can't do an expense report or surf the web without this little one with his head on my desk or peeking out from underneath my arm. I'm officially a crazy dog lady.

Lots to do this weekend in the city with T-day parties, etc. I'll be posting pics per usual on Instagram (@bigbeigebox) all weekend. If you ever wonder what I encounter in my travels across the city, I update this at least daily.

Happy Weekend, see you on Monday! For those of you in NYC (and beyond) shopping the H&M for Versace, good luck and wear a helmet!

International Blogger Roll Call: South Africa

2011-11-18T08:44:00.000-05:00

I'm going to Cape Town next month and would love to start planning. Is there anyone out there who has been or knows of any South African design blogs? I really want an insider's peek into this city, and especially that from the perspective of someone who loves design!

Source: google.com.au via Samantha on Pinterest

A Google search led me to discover that Cape Town is up for Design Capital of the World for 2014. I'm DYING To see what this city has to offer and open up another corner of the world for you.
Please send links in the comments below! I'd really like to document my trip and bring all the good things Cape Town has to offer to my readers here in the States.

More arresting graffiti style wallpaper

2011-11-17T08:40:00.004-05:00

I woke up this AM with the next two images in my mailbox from my DFG (Design Fairy Godmother). Talk about WOW! I'm digging the hand-painted, undone look of both of these wallpapers. The graffiti wallpaper trend is taking off!

Source: diamondbarattadesign.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Source: villa-bisono.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

This is a room from the Kip's Bay Decorator Show House done by Amanda Nisbet. The wall paper is genius!

Source: honeyandfitz.blogspot.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

And obviously, unless you've been living under a rock, is Jamie Meares' take on my favorite wall paper that she hand painted herself for Furbish.

The whole "grand statement" of an entrance is resonating big time this week for me. My poor roommates have NO idea what they're up for...I hope they like it!

High Impact Entryways

2011-11-16T16:04:00.001-05:00

When you live in a small apartment, why not amp up the "wow" factor a little? After all, space is at a premium, and keeping your decor sparse and clean may not always open up a space the way you think it will.

I'm sure all of you have seen Nicole's latest project below.

Source: sketch42blog.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

The entryway of your house or apartment sets the tone for the rest of the house. I love how Nicole's foyer and the one below achieve the same effect--you get a stunner of an entry, but at the same time it has continuity with the next room.

Source: withlovefromkat.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

I would like to do something on a grand scale in my own apartment but do not have the luxury of having a separate foyer area. Below are some examples of how to use pattern to define a space.

Source: blog.lonnymag.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Source: blogs.babble.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Here's my entryway. I'm thinking about riffing off Nicole's latest project and am using Kelly Wearstler's foyer wallpaper as my inspiration to do my own paint treatment in this space. I'm VERY excited to share this project with you in the next two weeks!

Higgins in the City

2011-11-15T11:20:00.001-05:00

Inspired by a shoot done for the JCrew blog, I had my friend take a few snaps of Higgs and I on our block.

Photo c/o: Abby Brack Lewis

Source: blog.lonnymag.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

NYC Buildings: Central Park and NY Public Library

2011-11-14T09:19:00.045-05:00

My college roommate (Hi, Ab!) came to visit this weekend and we shot a TON of photos. She is one of a handful of friends that I can fun anywhere with, doing absolutely nothing. We trekked over 5 miles on Saturday in glorious, crisp, Fall weather. I was planning on shooting with my personal Canon and getting a lesson from her on using my manual settings, but I failed to charge my battery and was only left with my iphone. Here are some of the snaps I took and uploaded on Instagram (@bigbeigebox).

We left my house in Hell's Kitchen in the morning and walked up 8th Ave to Central Park, crossing through Lincoln Center. We walked up to the park to the West 70s and cut across, as I've never explored the East side. This picture above is taken at the Conservatory Reflecting Pool, where visitors can rent motorized mini sailboats.

According to the official website, Central Park's plans originally called for a formal flower garden and a large glass conservatory, surrounded by a reflecting pool. The plans for the conservatory were abandoned, but the pool stayed, inspired by similar ones in France.

Did you know that there are over 29 sculptures in Central Park? This one by Michael Sailstorfer was installed early September of this year and is made out of truck tire inner tubes. It's absolutely stunning in person and rises over 30 ft above the sidewalk. Be sure to check it out (it's on Central Park South, across from FAO Schwartz) as it will be there until February 2012.

Lastly, we toured the New York Public Library's Stephen Schwartzman location on 42nd St. This beau-arts building opened to the public in 1911 and is considered the "main" location for the NYPL. We checked out the free tour (every day at 11am and 2pm) and got a great history of the construction and materials of this amazing building.

The exterior is made of Vermont marble and some of the pillars inside are solid slabs. This building also has a corridor of marble harvested from Greek quarries that also supplied the Parthenon.

Every weekend this city unfolds in front of me and I'm amazed and so appreciative of all the "new" things I discover. Please comment if there's a place you'd like me to investigate, I'm open to suggestions and would love to see NYC through your eyes!

Happy Monday!

A little to the right...Bergdorf Goodman

2011-11-12T14:10:00.002-05:00

Took this while out in the city today. Looks like BG is doing their windows for the holiday.

Today's the Day: LaLa Couture's Boutique Opens 11.11.11

2011-11-11T11:42:00.000-05:00

Starting with the determination of ONE and the efforts of MANY, LaLa Couture is officially open for business! My sincerest congratulations to my dear friend, Molly, for all of her hard work and determination to make her dream happen! LaLa Couture is not only a store, it's the start of a community of amazing women in Fort Lauderdale.

Please like LaLa on Facebook to stay in the loop for the store's latest arrivals from brands like Free People, Miss Me, and Mink Pink. Order here online- LaLa ships all across the country and can make you look fabulous for your next girl's night out or trip to Vegas! You won't get better prices or customer service anywhere else.

If you're in the neighborhood, please stop by. LaLa is located at 1918 East Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 and give Molly a huge hug for me!

Faux Malachite Finish: Painting Tutorial

2011-11-10T08:37:00.001-05:00

There has been a paint sample that's been staring at me for the past six months and I finally decided to do something about it yesterday. As you all have seen, I've been obsessed with malachite lately and after being inspired by DIYs from Bri and Danika, I gave it a try.

I had two things lying around:

1. A black and chartreuse stationery box and 2. Picture frame of same chartreuse color

Here's what I did (not rocket science):

Don't prime (I know, it's probably going to scratch off). I generously laid on a coat of Gliden's G31 Forest Green directly onto the box. This is the 2oz sample you get at Home Depot that comes with a brush built into the cap (score!).

While paint is still wet, use the brush provided by the paint sample and make concentric squiggly circles. You will see that doing so removes some of the wet paint and exposes the original color of the box beneath.

Work in sections, laying the initial coat of paint and then wiping off the excess while you make your pattern with the brush. What's great about malachite is that it is has a natural, organic pattern so there's no way you can mess up!

Keep squiggling and playing with your pattern. Make sure you wipe off the excess from your edges (I should have taped these off but I was too excited to slow down and do it right!).

This took all of ten minutes to do. I'm currently letting it dry overnight, as some areas are thick with paint and still tacky.

Then, I got VERY ambitious and started in on this frame I had lying around from Target.

I make sure that I painted all the edges like the inside of the frame, as well as its outside border.

Then, I piled on the paint. You can do this quick and easy, with no rhyme or reason as to which way your strokes go. Make sure you only paint an area that you can easily complete the pattern. If you paint the whole frame first, areas will be drying before you can start the pattern and the effect will not work.

I went pretty heavy-handed with this. You will see in the frames that come that I did a lot of wiping off my brush to remove the excess paint.

Here's another close-up of the pattern I was making. I alternated squiggly circles and tight, circular sweeps. Additionally, I let the thickness of the paint vary in certain areas. This is achieved by cleaning off, or not cleaning off, your brush.

Here's the end result. This seriously took all of ten minutes to do. I was scouring the room for other things to malachite next. Someone please stop me before I go overboard!

Here's what the frame looks like this morning. It's still a little tacky and dried matte. I am going to get a clear lacquer spray to lock in the pattern and give it a 'finished' look.

Cork Wall Decor: My Thanksgiving Project

2011-11-09T10:32:00.000-05:00

Let me start by saying that I've been doing yoga religiously for the past week and I've immediately felt strong, centered, and motivated. There's something that resonates with me after each class where I find I walk down the NYC streets with my head up and heart radiating.

It's also re-inspired my creative drive. I'm working with my girlfriend this week to tweak her friend's West Village apartment, the order for my malachite shades is going out on Friday (aka Payday), and I've got a massive surprise collaboration on the horizon.

Meanwhile, I must collect ideas for my Thanksgiving vacation. My stepmother has been collecting wine and champagne corks for YEARS and wants to display them in her new home. She and Dad are working on fleshing out their "game room" which will house their new pool table, karaoke machine, and Nintendo Wii (aren't they cute?). We've got an entire finished basement to decorate and the corks will be a prominent feature on display there.

I've done a lot of research on cork walls on Pinterest. I've seen some really cute side projects like so:

Source: sergetheconcierge.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Source: thehighheeledhostess.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Source: icanfindthetime.blogspot.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

What I haven't found is an entire cork wall that looks cute except for this.

Source: omaha.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Source: artsandcraftss.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Because this looks kinda tacky. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Spoonflower Malachite sample has arrived!!

2011-11-08T13:46:00.000-05:00

The sample from Spoonflower arrived yesterday. The print is amazingly true to what's on the website and I'm totally happy with the quality of the the (least expensive) quilting weight.

I am going to measure my roller shades this week and place my order. My only concern is will the extra weight of the fabric make it hard for the shades to roll up into themselves? My roommate painted her shades and the weight of the paint alone makes it impossible to roll up the shades.

Source: spoonflower.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Sneak Peek: My boutique design

2011-11-06T11:58:00.001-05:00

Remember the project I started earlier this summer? The LaLa Couture boutique is set to open next Friday in Fort Lauderdale. The client sent me a sneak peek this am that I was DYING to share with you.

This vignette is the main focal point of the fitting room area and is visible from the store floor. We wanted to create an area in the fitting room where friends, husbands, etc. can sit comfortably for the mini fashion show that ensues with trying on clothes. This area had to speak for the entire store, encompassing the essence of the LaLa Girl.

We chose sleek textures, incorporated curves, and turned up the shine to convey a look of luxe and girly sophistication. The walls are covered in a damask wallpaper pattern that was painted to match the rest of the store. I highly recommend using this to incorporate texture in a room. It's subtle but has a great impact.

Here's the original plan below. We sourced all items (except the mirror and wallpaper. There is a little Jonathan Adler gourd vase on that table too!) via the web. As you can see below, we got some great deals!

The store opens next Friday on 11.11.11. Is there anyone in the South Florida area who can stop by??

LaLa Fitting Room Back Wall by courtchase on polyvore.com

PolArt 4901-A Floor Mirror - Home Furniture Showroom
$953 - homefurnitureshowroom.com

Westmont White Faux Leather Chairs (Set of 2) | Overstock.com
$324 - overstock.com

Pink Large Damask Wallpaper - Kitchen Bathroom Wallpaper -...
$23 - interiorplace.com

Accent Tables & Stool | Accessories | Z Gallerie
$100 - zgallerie.com

Pier 1 Imports - Ruffles Pillow - Purple
$19 - pier1.com

Crystal Chandeliers | LampsPlus.com
$800 - lampsplus.com

My Afternoon View

2011-11-05T16:02:00.000-04:00

Dad, I want to be a carpenter

2011-11-04T08:40:00.001-04:00

Way before HGTV, there was Home Time (currently on Season 25!) and This Old House on PBS. I grew up obsessively watching these shows and was desperate for the chance to tile a bathroom or raise the walls of a house. Since age 8, I hogged precious TV time following Bob Vila all around New England, renovating some stuffy salt box house. I swore to my dad that I was going to grow up to be a carpenter (not exactly what he had in mind for me).

source

Look at these studs. No, the guys.

There's our homie, Norm, far right.

Well you can imagine the delight of my step mom when she heard this story from my dad. She works for the Preservation Society of Newport and they are filming a segment for This Old House on the grounds of one of the Newport mansions. She called me this week and said she'd do her best to get an autograph from Norm Abram, the show's host. My step mother is the most unabashedly outgoing person I know, so on a break from filming she walked right up to Norm and started talking about me.

Here's what went down:

"Wish you had been here-it was awesome-I went over to the property this afternoon and watched them filming. Norm Abram was there and I told him about you and that when you were little you wanted to grow up and be a carpenter. He chuckled and asked me, "What does Courtney do for a living now?" I told him you were a sales rep....and he laughed. He said, "She can always do woodworking on the side!!!"

So Norm Abram knows ALL about me and how my corporate ambitions overturned my desire to use a lathe.

Did or does anyone watch TOH anymore? Or is it just me!

Fifi Runn Dog Collars-We won!

2011-11-01T21:48:00.000-04:00

Painter Michelle Armas (whose work I absolutely ADORE thanks to MFAMB) posted a giveaway on her blog last week for some snazzy new dog collars and Higgins WON!! The criteria was to write about you or your dog's most embarrassing moment (we won off a poop story, of course!) for a chance to win a stunningly graphic collar from Fifi Runn.

Source: armasdesign.blogspot.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Shari Margolin, a graphic designer, founded Fifi Runn after searching high and low for find cute, but edgy collars for her dog. In the true spirit of DIY, Shari ventured out on her own and created her own collars fit for the city dog with good taste. ALSO, Fifi Runn is founded on good intentions: 10% of all proceeds to a different dog-focused charity each month.

So surprised to see that little homie got mail!

Look at this care package!! Higgins was LOVING the treats from Big Daddy Biscuits.

SO handsome.

The Fifi Runn "Electric 80s" collar is SO graphic and colorful. It has a metal hardware and the vibrant pattern is beautifully printed on a nylon collar.

We went hunting for rats on our walk around Hell's Kitchen tonight.

Thank you Shari and Michelle for making Higgins the fly-est pup on the block!

Coming Soon...

2011-10-31T21:22:00.001-04:00

After talking about this for the past two million months, my dear friend Cat nudged me in the right direction, and I'm gaining momentum on the first project I've done since moving into Apt #13 in May.

A sample of this has been ordered:

Source: spoonflower.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Because this:

Source: Uploaded by user via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

Is happening to this:

Source: bigbeigebox.blogspot.com via Courtney @bigbeigebox on Pinterest

NYC On The Street: Bergdorfs

2011-10-28T09:34:00.000-04:00

The view of Bergdorf Goodman as seen from Central Park South earlier this week.

Look at the brass detailing and all the intricate lines that play between the windows....LOVING it.

See all of my shots from the streets of NYC on Instagram: @bigbeigebox

Personal Style and Accessories

2011-10-27T10:50:00.003-04:00

I'm loving how the Fashion world (and its amazing bloggers...hello, Manrepeller!) are making the "Arm Party" (aka TONS of bracelets) a big, trendy thing now. I've been doing it for a while now-this just supports my habit. I thought I'd share with you what I'm rocking after work and on the weekends. I've started incorporating this into my work attire but have found that it's equally an attention-getter and a distraction.

Of all the jewelry I have, I rely on bracelets to set the tone for my outfits. Since I have long, monkey arms, my wrists are almost always exposed and beg for decoration. They're part of my uniform and my armor and feel like "me" immediately after putting them on after a day's work.

Michael Kors watch (similar), Marc Jacobs bracelets (old), LaLa Couture bracelets (old)

Always on repeat: these have been my signature "Arm Party" participants.

I coveted this watch for over a year; it was a Nordstrom exclusive that never appeared to me in stores. I found it on a whim in a FL Watch Station outlet and did a little happy dance on the spot.

My brother's gf gave me the Marc bracelets for Christmas almost three years ago. She bought them at the Marc Jacobs store on Newbury St in Boston for all her sisters. We all wear them to this day on a daily basis.

The LaLa bracelets were a b'day gift from the store owner and were probably the first few things she started offering when she started. The LaLa Couture store is such an inspiration to me because my friend Molly took a leap of faith on her big dream and worked her ass off to get this store off the ground. Not many people would leave the comfort of their cushy 9-5 to jump into the world of retail on their own dime. I wear these bracelets almost daily to remind myself of Molly's hard work and it inspires me to be true to what I really want.

The anchor ring was a purchase from long ago and it's simply a reminder of growing up in Rhode Island. The anchor is featured prominently through out Rhody and Newport.

I decided that I needed to mix it up a bit and went on to the F21 website to refresh my arm party without breaking the bank. This whole look cost about $30.

Pyramids (similar), Deco cuff, Rhinestone bracelet, all F21

Rar

2011-10-26T09:31:00.000-04:00

This makes me laugh every time.

NYC buildings: Empire State

2011-10-25T16:00:00.000-04:00

The thing about NYC is that you can easily miss the landmarks if you don't look up. The base of the Empire State building isn't that remarkable and for someone like me who is all of 5'3" off the ground, you miss a lot of cool things at eye level.

That's why you always need to LOOK UP when you're in the city. But if you do, please pull over on the sidewalk. Locals like me really hate running tourists over who stand in the middle of EVERYTHING with your shopping bags like there's nobody else in the universe.

Yep, that's right, I'm local now :)