Spotted At: Ross

In the world of home stores, I feel that Ross is often forgotten about, but it's actually one of my favorite spots to search for home accessories.  They have some nice stuff and fantastic bargains sometimes, especially if you score something on clearance.  I've gotten some great deals there, including my Pottery Barn knock-off mail station and powder room mirror, just to name a few.  This past weekend I was at Ross and spotted some very cute items.  I'd like to share them with you in a new segment I'm calling “Spotted At: Ross.”  Creative right?  Okay, onto the stuff.

How cute is this grey and yellow Waverly bedding set that I spotted? It comes with the comforter, bed skirt, two pillows, and two shams. I promised myself I would remember the price to share later, but the best my foggy memory can muster up is that it was around $45 for a Queen size set.

Then I saw these cute mosaic vases. I was really tempted to take the red one home with me, but I already have a shelf full of unused vases on a storage shelf in my basement, so I had to pass. I want to say they were about $12.

What I was most impressed with at Ross was their fantastic new selection of decorative throw pillows. I found these two, which felt really nice and I believe were stuffed with down or feathers, for $16 or $17. I really liked the peacock one, but I wasn't sure where I could put it so I had to pass. But now that I think about it, the idea of a peacock pillow stuffed with feathers just sounds wrong!

They had other cute pillows too, I liked all three of these pillows that I spotted, which ranged in price from about $11-$16. 

Oh man, looking back on these photos really makes me wish I would have bought these pillows, they're so cute!  Don't worry, I didn't go home empty handed though.  I couldn't bring all of these pillows home, but I also couldn't go home without buying any at all, so I snagged these two babies on clearance  for $9 each.  I thought they'd brighten up my dark and neutral living room couches and I think they're just the right splash of color.  Plus, they should coordinate wonderfully with the nearby window seat I plan to update soon!

I just can't help it, when I see a cute new throw pillow, I'm like a 13 girl at a Justin Beiber concert.  However, this has not gone unnoticed by my husband. He is keeping a running tally on the number of throw pillows we now own and that number is getting a little ridiculous.  It sounds so stereotypical, but men just don't understand throw pillows!  Oh husbands, can't live without them, can't purchase ridiculous amounts of pillows with them!

What about you?  Any pillows wars going on in your house?  Or any other Ross shoppers out there or is there another secret spot you dig for discount décor? 

2013 Ikea Catalog

The mail is always a big deal in our house.  There’s no good reason for this because most days the mail is just a junk pile of things I don’t need, like credit card applications or cash-for-gold fliers.  But getting the mail is fun anyway because every once in a while I’ll receive something good like a party invitation, Better Homes & Gardens, or best of all- a package I forgot that I ordered.  And once a year, something very exciting comes- the Ikea catalog!

For about the last 15 years, I’ve gotten a strange amount of enjoyment from flipping through a brand new Ikea catalog.  15 years ago, before high speed internet and certainly home decorating blogs, the Ikea catalog was my only source of decorating inspiration. Well, that and episodes of the Christopher Lowell Show (anyone remember that show?)  I was very young back then, but I’ve always loved decorating shows & catalogs!

That’s a very long way of telling you that I like mail, I was a weird kid, and the 2013 Ikea catalog came in the mail recently.  So as I like to do each year (you can see my 2012 and 2011 recaps here), I like to share some of my favorite finds from the catalog.  Here’s what I liked this year:

The MALM occasional table. For $129, I think this is a great looking table that’s very versatile.  I can picture it in an entry way or family room as a little office or homework space. Page 41.

HYLLIS shelving unit for just $14.99.  What a deal and a steal for galvanized steel (sorry, I can’t resist a rhyme once in a while and we’ve already covered the fact that I’m weird).  But seriously, what a great price for a shelving unit.  I can picture it in a pantry, garage, or basement- maybe even as a baker’s rack in the kitchen.  Plus, the description says it’s indoor/outdoor and I think it would look even cuter on a patio full with flower pots.  Page 51.

Hello, gorgeous upholstered bed, BEKKESTUA.  If you get just the headboard, it’s $250.  Not bad, right?  Page 62.

Speaking of the bedroom, I’m in love with the turquoise-blue Malin duvet set.  It’s shown in the catalog on page 79, but I couldn’t find the product description in there, but it’s on their website and available in different sizes from $19.99-$39.99.

This map pillow, the BENZY LAND cushion, also caught my eye and is listed as $12.99 on page 138.  No surprise that I like this pillow, after all I sewed my own nautical map pillow, have a big map featured over my new office/craft desk, and made a map photo frame (recently featured on SmarterTravel.com woot!).  So yeah, I kind of have a thing for maps.

It was also interesting to see that this year’s catalog had, dare I say it, a more blog-like feel to it.  Scattered throughout it were their own Ikea hack suggestions as to how their products could be DIY modified or spruced up.  Anyone else notice that?

So those are my picks for the 2013 Ikea catalog.  Any other member of the Ikea fan club out there?  What did you think of this year’s catalog?

By the way, Ikea (or anyone else for that matter) did not ask me or sponsor me to write this blog post.  They have no idea who I am, except maybe as the weird lady that comes into the store every once in a while.  Point is, they had nothing to do with this blog post.

DAP DryDex

After an unfortunate curtain hanging incident that left my kitchen wall with an inordinate amount of holes (don't ask!), I had quite a lot of spackling to do!



That's why I was so happy when DAP reached out to me about a very cool product, DAP DryDex. Sometimes it can be a little tricky to know how long you have to wait after spackling before you can sand and paint over it. This product takes the guess work out of it because it has a dry time indicator - it goes on pink and dries white! Perfect for inpatient people like me who tend to jump into the next step of a project too early.  When it's white you're ready to sand and paint!

DryDex was easy to find at the Home Depot.  The Home Depot near me had two different sized tubs.



If you haven't spackled before, it's very easy to do. I even enjoy doing it, there's just something satisfying about making a hole or crack disappear. First, clean and dry the surface to make sure there isn't any dust or other debris on it. Then mix around your spackle a little bit with a putty knife and then apply about a quarter sized amount onto your putty knife. Push the spackle into the hole or crack you're trying to fill and smooth the spackle on top. That's it! The spackle will dry within one to five hours, and the convenient part about DryDex is that it will change colors from pink to white when it's done! Once dry, larger holes/cracks may need another coat of spackle, but smaller ones may be ready to sand and paint after just one coat.

Dap DryDex is available in the little tubs (like the photo above), in a tube, or as an entire kit that comes with a putty knife, sandpaper, and adhesive patch made for repairing larger holes.

Have you tackled any spackling projects lately?  Or ever had a crazy disaster hanging something that left you with an insane amount of holes in your walls?  No, just me? Ok then, lets pretend that never happened.

Note: This post was sponsored by Dap, but the content of this post and all opinions are entirely mine.

My Favorite Doggy Products

This week we celebrated our sweet pup’s second birthday.  He got plenty of toys and treats to celebrate his special day. 



I know I can’t be the only crazy pet owner that spoils their dog, so I thought I’d share a few of my favorite doggy essentials.  These are products we've actually tried and would rate with two paws up.

1. "Cesar's Way" by Cesar Millan
   I highly recommend this book to any dog owner. Cesar (also known as the Dog Whisperer) provides a great understanding of how dogs think and how to use that thinking to train your dog. The book has totally changed the way I relate to my dog. Cesar explains that many people make the mistake of treating their dog like a little person (guilty as charged), but to have a better behaved dog, they should instead work with their dog's natural insticts and provide them with the types of things that dogs value instead (like exercise). 
2. Dog Bowl Set with Stand
   I couldn't find the exact bowls I have online, but this one is really similar to the ones we use (ours are just plain green instead of having the paw print pattern). I like have both the water and food dish in the same place and the stand keeps the bowls steady while the dog is eating, instead of having the bowl scoot across the floor while he's trying to eat.
3. Dematting Brush 
   Schnauzers don't shed at all so instead they must be groomed and get fur-cuts every so often. This also means that their fur has a tendency of getting matted, particularly around their legs and belly.  If you've ever tried to brush a matted dog, you know that it's not fun for the dog or the human. I've tried several brushes and this brush is the best I've come across for removing mats.  Its curved design cuts through tangles, making it more tolerable for the dog because it can brush the dog without pulling their fur.
4. Doggy Pen
   Okay, so this isn't really a necessity, but I got one of these pens as a gift and they are really cute!  Plus, it's actually writes very nicely.

1. Doggy Luggage Tag
So this is another one that I don't really need, but I saw this at Petsmart the other day and it is super cute!
2. Doggy Fleece
Our pup got this fleece as a gift this year and I can't wait until colder weather for him to wear it.  Since he's a relatively little guy with short hair, he actually enjoys wearing sweaters to keep him warm in the winter. I like the argyle print of this sweater because it's versatile and he can dress it up with a tie or dress it down with a pair of jeans (just kidding!).
3. Bacon Treats
Of course every pet loves treats and these our one of our pup's favorites. Lucky for us, they are pretty inexpensive and a bag usually runs us less than $1.50.
4. Slicker Brush
When a dematting brush isn't necessary and our pup just needs a short comb through to keep his hardo looking just right, we use this basic brush. It's cheap, easy to use, and the dog doesn't protest too much over it.

So those are our doggy must-haves.  If you're a dog owner, what kind of dog do you have and are there any essential products you love?

2012 Ikea Catalog

It’s that time of year again- the Ikea catalog is here! 



For years and years I’ve enjoyed flipping through the Ikea catalog and all of it’s eye candy.  Here’s what caught my attention this year:

Pretty bedding!  Ikea seems to have several pretty new bedding options this year.  The pink and purple Lyckoak duvet set caught my eye (page 171).



I like the blue dotted Smorboll duvet too (page 178).  And such great prices!



In the décor department, Ikea’s selection of pretty colored glass vases and candleholders really impressed me.  There are so many pretty things on page 288, I don’t know where to look first!



Plum colors continue to gain in popularity and these two purplish vases (Varlikt) stood out to me (page 287).



I also noticed some cute purple drinking glasses (Skoja) and I love their color and shape.



Looks like I’ll have to make another trip to Ikea soon!  Do you enjoy pouring through the Ikea catalog too?  What caught your eye this year?

Fruitful Design

I received the May issue of Elle Decor magazine in the mail this week and the Trend Alert page jumped out at me.  Elle Decor lists fruit prints as a hot trend in both clothing and home decor this season.  It was refreshing to see such bright and fun prints featured in Elle as the magazine’s high-end design isn’t usually as playful. (At least that’s how it comes across to me. Does anyone else feel the same about the Elle Decor?)

Regardless, I love that they featured fruit prints as a hot trend because I’m in totally on board with them.  Fruit prints are so colorful and cheerful and I think they’re a perfect accent to spice up a home's décor in Spring and Summer.  They leave me smiling and singing like Carmen Miranda!

And I love that there are so many sophisticated options for fruit prints that don't look like they belong in a kid's room or on the set of the Golden Girls.  Here’s a little collage of some more fruity décor that I’m loving:

Citrus Print Pillow

Exotic Fruit Print Placemat
Lemon Oven Mitt

Strawberry Pitcher

Cantaloupe Citronella Candle

Fruit & Spice Cork Placemat

Lemon Wooden Tray

Pear Shaped Notepad

Fruit Juice Glasses

Lemon Tray

Are you a fan of fruit prints?  Oh and if you're keeping track, this is my 7th post where I've made a mention of the Golden Girls!  But only my first mention of Carmen Miranda!

West Elm Field Trip

I took a little field trip to West Elm on Friday to check out their new Spring stock.  I’ve shopped their website before, but this was my first trip into their stores to check out their stylish goods in person.  And of course I loved what I saw!

Coming into the store, they had this pretty living “room” set up with all blue and white accents.  I’ve noticed the blue and white trend a lot this season, including in the new Sabrina Soto collection at Target.

I’ll admit I wasn’t crazy about the blue and white trend when I first started to see it, but now I’m really starting to like it.  I love anything beach related and West Elm did a great job making this space look serene while adding nautical accents (without making it look like a bad theme restaurant!)  I’m even loving the cute whale pillows.

There was more blue and white in their patio table display as well.  This color scheme paired with the natural baskets made for a sophisticated look.  I love the idea of using big baskets outdoors to stash bottled drinks or barbecue supplies.

The glass lanterns hanging from the patio umbrella also caught my eye.  I bought similar lanterns from the Christmas Tree Shops last year (for under a buck!) and had been wondering if there was a way to attach them to my patio umbrella.  These were just attached with string which looks great, but I wonder if this is just for show or if the umbrella can actually be shut with the lanterns attached.  I will have to try this once we start dining on our patio again.

In addition to all of the pretty decor accents, the store was full of DIY inspiration as well.  West Elm has these cute bottles filled with sand which I bet could be cutely recreated at home with an empty wine bottle.

I was also inspired by this frame with natural fabric mat.  I couldn’t really tell if the mat was made of a type of burlap or some type of linen fabric, but regardless I love this idea.  I think I’ll try to recreate this at home with a collage photo frame I have on hand.

I was so happy to finally visit West Elm in person.   Although I restrained myself and left without any shopping bags, I did leave with plenty of inspiration!  Are you a West Elm fan?  How do you like this season's popular blue and white color pallet?

(By the way, West Elm is not sponsoring me to write this in any way. I just wanted to share my shopping trip with you!)

Z Gallerie Field Trip

Since we're catching up about my Florida vacation, I wanted to share a very exciting part of my trip.  While in Florida, we went to a local shopping plaza, for what else but some fun vacation shopping, and I squealed with delight as soon as I saw this:

Z Gallerie!  There are no Z Gallerie stores anywhere near I live, so this was the first time I've ever visited this decorating dream in person. 

As soon as I walked into the store, I saw this stunning teal living room set up. It was just gorgeous!  The "room" looked so elegant and rich with bold teal furniture and chocolate and silver accents.



Since I visited the store around the holidays, they had a few holiday table settings on display.  I just loved this silver place setting:



The store also had lots of cool stuff, like these slanted glasses:



And this beautiful gold capiz chandelier:



Of course, even though I loved the store, I didn’t love every single item.  Like these rather odd tusk magnifying glasses:



I picked up a few holiday gifts while I was in the store, but unfortunately because we had limited suitcase space (and the airline checked luggage fees would really have started to add up if I took the entire store home like I wanted) I didn’t snag anything for myself.  I guess that means I’ll just have to take another trip to Florida to check out the new spring Z Gallerie merchandise?  Or maybe I’ll just cross my fingers that they open up a store up North!

CSN Stores Giveaway!

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to those who entered! 

Today I’m hosting another great giveaway from CSN Stores!  If you haven’t already checked them out, CSN Stores offer a slew of products for every room of the house- everything from kitchen ware, modern bar stools, home decor items, and so much more!




The Prize: One lucky winner will receive a $40 gift certificate to use in any of CSN’s dozens of stores. 


To Enter: Leave a comment and make sure I have a way to contact you if you win (either link to your blog, leave your email address, twitter alias, or privately email me your email address). 


Bonus Entries: No bonus stuff is required to enter/win, but if you want to become a follower of my blog, share this giveaway on Twitter, post about this giveaway on your blog, shout it from the rooftops, run an ad in your local newspaper, or however else you want to spread the word, I’d be forever grateful and you can earn up to 3 bonus entries!  Just leave a separate comment for each bonus entry.


Details:  All entries must be received by 11pm EST on 1/23/2011.  Maximum 1 entry (+3 bonus entries) per person.  One winner will be chosen using Random.org.

Good luck!

Numerical Home Decor

Happy 1-11-11!  If you're a fan of fun dates, the numero uno happens to be your lucky digit, you're the world's #1 mom, or you're a math teacher like my sister (hi!), today is a special day for you!

In order to commemorate today's fun numerical date, I put together 11 numbered decor items I'm loving:

Numbered Jars

Numbered Map Tacks

Numbered Dish Towels

Numbered Ceramic Hooks

Mister Numbers Print

Woodland Numbers Print

Number Necklace

Numbered Pillows

Retro Alarm Clock

Letterpress Poster Calendar

Modern White Clock

For more numerical fun, check out some house number ideas I compiled on 09/09/09!