Such Pretty Things

Target Tuesday: Pucci-esque Brushes

When I was a very little girl, my Nana was a huge fan of the designer Pucci.  She had the coolest mini-dresses in wildly graphic prints, colorful silk scarves, and even Pucci-patterned towels in her powder room. All that beautiful color and design made a big impression on me and I still love Pucci to this day. So, when I saw these beyond fabulous limited-edition make-up brushes at Target, they immediately went right into my shopping cart.

They are are actually designed by Sonia Kashuk, but they are clearly "Pucci-inspired"...

And I absolutely LOVE them!

The entire five-piece set is only $14.99 and would make an incredible gift for any fashionista, don't ya think?

Happy Tuesday!

:-)

Jessica

Pretty & Thrifty Thursday: Summery Earrings

I found these pretty, summery earrings at Target yesterday.

I just love them and I can already envision myself wearing them with my maxi-dresses and sandals on balmy summer evenings.

The colors are gorgeous! Turquoise is all the rage this season...

...and I can never pass up anything in a pretty periwinkle.

Only $7.99 each, but I think they look much more expensive. :-)

Run, don't walk...

:-)

Jessica

Target Tuesday: Dedication

Well, as promised, I woke up bright and early this past Sunday morning so that I could be at Target right when the doors opened. Now that, my friends, is dedication.

Having been traumatized by past Missoni and Liberty of London openings, I got there super, super early.  So early it seems, that I was the only one there.

Well, just me and the security guard. O.K., so maybe "The Shops" aren't exactly Missoni, but I wasn't taking any chances. So, I waited in the car in the empty parking lot (with the doors locked) until a few other (crazy) shoppers showed up and I felt safe enough to venture out of my car.  A quick poll determined that of the five of us there, three were there specifically for "The Shops", while the other two didn't have the slightest clue what I was talking about. You will be proud (but perhaps not surprised) to hear that I was the very first person in line.

And as soon as those doors opened, I made a beeline for the new displays.

I headed for the home items from "Privet House" first.

They were nice and seemed to be of high quality. Lots of patterned melamine dishes and serving pieces. A few pillows and tote bags. Not really my colors, but definitely fresh and modern and perfect for summer entertaining. Can you guess what I bought from this display?

Next, I ran to "The Candy Store" end cap. 

Here's what it looked like when I got there....

And here is what it looked like when I left...

I wonder who bought all those polka dot lollipops???  Next up was the "Polka Dog Bakery" display.

Very cute and very pretty packaging, but I didn't buy anything because our dog just happens to be a very finicky eater. I almost bought some boxes just because I liked the colors, but I applaud myself for having the self-control to put them back on the shelf. :-)

The items from "The Cos Bar" looked very urban-chic, but maybe just a little too hip for me...

Plus, the colors kinda reminded me of Halloween, sooooo....no.

Finally, the clothing items from "The Webster" looked nice enough, but I didn't really see anything that I was overly excited about and ultimately left without buying anything from the collection.

All in all, I love "The Shops" concept and it was lots of fun to see all the new product lines.  Were they worth getting up at 6 am on a Sunday morning?  Not completely sure. But those lollipops with the Necco Wafer polka dots sure are cool...

Happy Tuesday!

Jessica

Speaking of Lilacs...

I am totally and utterly in love with this wonderful lilac-scented solid perfume by Pacifica.

The fragrance is heavenly, the packaging is pretty, and it's perfect for summer travel! Plus, it's a real bargain at just $9.00!

And if French Lilac isn't your thing, you can chose from a bunch of other wonderful scents like orange blossom and mango grapefruit.

:-)

Jessica

Pretty Spring Finds

A recent shopping trip resulted in some pretty Spring finds, so I thought I would share them with you. I just fell in love with this delicate floral necklace...

It was only $6.80 from Forever 21. And when I saw this blingy bracelet in my EXACT color palette, I wanted to buy a dozen!

I controlled myself, but they would make really pretty napkin rings, don't you think? ;-)

I am always a sucker for a new polish and this splurge-worthy lavender-pink one (it's called "Teddy Girl") from Butter is the perfect shade for Spring!

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

XOXO

Jessica

 

 

 

All That Glitters...

It's no secret that I like a little bling now and then - especially during the holidays.  And glitter nail polishes seem to be all the rage right now.

When I saw this fabulous polish by Deborah Lippmann, I just couldn't resist.

It's called "Happy Birthday" and it's filled with tons of multi-colored, multi-shaped glitter.

So fun! It looks very cool on it's own - or layered over a solid color for a more subtle look. I also love these lower-priced versions that I found at my local CVS (pictured on the left and middle: Wet n' Wild #238C and Milani "Gems")...

Have a Happy and Glittery Day!

XOXO

Jessica

 

 

Target Tuesday: Missoni Madness!

Well, I've been waiting rather impatiently for Target's new Missoni collection to hit the stores. Missoni's wildly colorful knitted stripes and zig-zags are not typical of my usual design palette, but I am actually quite a fan (I LOVE anything related to fashion!).

So, today was going to be a pretty exciting day for me. My plan was to drop off the girls at school and still make it to Target in time for them to open at 8 am.  I knew the minute I hit the parking lot that things were not going to go as planned.  The parking lot, which normally has about three cars in it at 8 am, was already half full!  I made it inside by 8:01 and there was already a large group of women surrounding the Missoni clothing racks.  I panicked!  What to do???  Did I forget the clothes and run up to the second floor to try getting some housewares?  Should I go to the children's department? Accessories? Did I just stay there and try to fight it out?  My paralyzingly indecision ultimately cost me. I chose to stick with the clothing and by the time I made it upstairs, almost everything in housewares was gone!  :-(   It was truly quite a scene - tons of adult women clawing at racks and pushing their way through to the merchandise (yes, I was one of them). Within minutes, most of the racks and end-caps were completely depleted.

Woman were running around, carts overflowing with everything they could get their hands on.  It was a madhouse.

Now, while I did miss out on some of the things that I had eally hoped to get, I did manage to get a few things...like these cool melamine plates and trays...

I think they will make for some fun place-settings...

I had really wanted these cute make-up bags and was lucky to score a few.

The clothing selection was limited by the time I got to it, but I did get this pretty shirt...

I love the mix of colors and patterns.

Some adorable skirts for the girls...

And scarves in a bunch of pretty colors...

I think the towels may actually be my favorite.

I wasn't able to get any bedding or pillows.  They were completely gone within seconds.  But that's OK, because they don't match anything in my home anyway!  ;-)  When I left the store, I was in sort of a daze and I was completely exhausted.  But still determined to find those items that I had missed out on.  So, I promptly logged onto Target's website (in the car/on my i-phone!), only to find out that the site had crashed because it couldn't handle all the traffic.  In fact, it was still down (and only working intermittently) the last time I checked at around 5 pm.  Insane!  So, did any of you try to brave Target today? Did you get onto the website? Or am I the only crazy person around here???

Happy Tuesday!

XOXO

Jessica

Target Tuesday: Lace Tank

Lace embellishments are all the rage in fashion this season. Lace is so pretty and romantic, but it can also be hip and modern.  Here's a fairly simple project that even a beginning sewer can tackle - a sweet lace tank top with a modern edge.  Here's what you'll need: a tank top in a pale color (mine is a creamy white from Target),a lace scarf (or any large piece of lace will do), matching thread, needle (or sewing machine), and sewing pins...

I found this beautiful scarf at Target for $12.99.  It's a gorgeous pale pink color - perfect for Spring.

Yes, it was a bit painful to cut this beauty up, but the good news is that the scarf is really long (almost 6 feet) and there is plenty of lace fabric to make several of these tanks - so grab a friend and get started! First, lay out your lace scarf on the front of your tank and neatly cut off a piece that is about one inch longer than the length of the front of the tank.  Now, trim out the ruffled, center section of the scarf.

Begin pinning your lace in place.

I chose to put mine centered, straight down the front of the tank for a clean, modern look, but you could also place it horizontally or off to one side. My best advice: use lots and lots of pins.

They will keep the lace straight and in place as you sew.  When you get to the top and bottom of the tank, make a hem by neatly folding the edge under twice - about 1/4 of an inch each time.  Pin in place.

Now you are ready to sew.  If you don't have a machine, you can also do this by hand.  First, sew the top edge.  Then, just work your way down one side. I sewed about 1/2 an inch from the edge of the lace - down an existing seam.  Next, sew down the other side.  Sew the bottom last.  Once you've done this, add a few stitches down the middle - this will hold your lace in place and give it added durability.  Now, if you are really scared of sewing, you could use fabric glue - I just can't guarantee how well it will hold up. As for washing, I recommend hand washing in cold water and laying flat to dry.  A cool iron is OK if needed. And there you have it, a pretty (and inexpensive!) lace top for spring!

Happy Tuesday!

:-)

Jessica

Spring? Maybe.

We have been having the most mercurial weather so far this Spring.  For example, two days ago it was 40 degrees and rainy, today it is supposed to be 85 and sunny, and tomorrow rainy and cold again.  It's driving me absolutely crazy because I am sooooo ready for spring already!  And it's made even worse by the fact that I just love all the delicate floral patterns and lace embellishments that seem to be everywhere this season.  I am just chomping at the bit to wear them!  I was always that kid wearing her wool jumper and tights on the first day of school - even if it was 80 degrees out.  No patience at all. :-)

Sadly, until the weather cooperates and I can finally put away the winter coats, I guess I am just going to have to focus on my spring accessories instead.  In that spirit, I thought I would share a few recent springy finds. Don't you just love these new shades of nail polish from Essie...

They are so pastel and pretty.  My favorites are "Muchi Munchi", the perfect soft pink, and "French Affair", a gorgeous pale Lavender.

I also found these sweet little floral hair clips at H&M...

They were only $2.50 for two!  In the perfect shade of minty green.  Not into wearing flowers in your hair?  Try clipping them onto a pair of ballet flats.  And how adorable is this little necklace from Forever 21?

It's a replica of a vintage hand mirror!  And the mirror is real.  A major bargain at only $1.50!

And finally, I LOVE this pretty pink lace scarf from Target...

Wear it "as is"...or tune in tomorrow to see what I do with it. :-)

Happy "almost" Spring!

Jessica

The Cake Decorating Party: The Aprons

I have been working away on some of the final touches for Mini-Mini-Me's birthday party, which as you may recall from my previous post is going to be a cake-decorating party at one of our favorite bakeries. I really wanted to add a bit of vintage flair to this party and I thought that aprons would be the perfect way to accomplish this.

I contemplated sewing them myself (as I had for Mini-Me's cake decorating party several years ago), but the whole point of having a "not at home" party this year was to make life a bit easier for Moi - so, I nixed that. :-)  Instead, I spent hours on-line and running around town looking for the perfect aprons.  I wasn't having much luck and then I found these...

Aren't they adorable!  I just love all the bright, happy colors and the wonderful mixture of vintage-style patterns.

The details on these are fantastic - sweet ruffles, ric rack, and fabric-covered buttons.

For a little extra girliness, I decided to add some pretty flowers that I found at the craft store.

I just love how they all look together and I can't wait see all the girls dressed up in them!

* If you want some for your next party, head on over to Marshalls, HomeGoods, or TJ Maxx - it took me a total of about five trips to find all the best patterns, but I think you will agree that it was well worth it!

Happy Friday!

Jessica