shopping // arro home

Whenever I am feeling a bit stressed out, I tend to go down the internet rabbit hole. Every article I read links to another article which somewhere along the way links to shopping. This week I made a new discovery in Arro Home. Let me be the first to say this is the best/worst discovery I’ve made in a while. You’re welcome.

1. Cloud Nine Cushion | 2. Jessica Bowl & Jug | 3. Orb Side Table | 4. Glint Water Jug | 5. Rainbow Tea Towel | 6. Fried Egg Cushion | 7. Lunar Orb | 8. Winter Vase | 9. Crosses Quilt | 10. Aloft Ottoman Rose

Also, because I love a good deal, nine of these items are straight from the sale page. Which just leaves the question of, how do you even begin to choose?

shopping // an anniversary sale wish list

It is a truth universally acknowledged that, well, that I love a sale. Not like a Black Friday Sale (though I’m not opposed), or a Prime Day sale (where I acquired an Instant Pot), but like a “scroll through 30 pages of Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale Previews” sale. And then I remember I’m not independently wealthy. That being said, I want everything above…plus a few other drapey cardigans that I totally don’t need. Oh, and the sale starts tomorrow — early access though is happening now. (Mom, hint hint, nudge, nudge)

1. Trouvé Print Halter Tank | 2. ‘Aziza’ Block Heel Pump | 3. Trouvé Silk Asymmetrical Tank | 4. Barefoot Dreams ‘Circle’ Cardigan | 5. Double Face Cape Coat | 6. ‘Jayde’ Mary Jane Block Heel Pump | 7. Zella ‘Live In’ Graphic Leggings | 8. LORAC ‘Refined Romance’ Eye & Cheek Palette | 9. ‘purity made simple’ one-step facial cleanser duo

30 Years // The Swag

Thirty.

It seemed like a good time to take a crew to the wonderful world of Disney, land that is. Since I’m me, and me is a bit absurd, it was an excuse to make welcome bags of my likes. So as I prep a million and one posts on parties and reflects and loves, I figured, why not start with the swag.

If I could provide a tutorial on the bags, I would. But I did them late one night, in my room that looks like a goodwill drop off site, while watching a lot of Criminal Minds. So so so much Criminal Minds. That being said, the bags are from amazon, the sharpies are from whatever drawer I found them in, and the designs are care of my noodle. I filled them with some of my favorite things from May Designs, Emily McDowell, Baublebar, and of course the Disney store…oh, and many Mother’s Circus Animal Cookie packets. A welcome bag fit for a queen…or just me.

bags // notebooks // necklaces // postcards // disney tsum tsums

Emporiyum comes to D.C.

The Emporiyum is a food-extravaganza and this past summer, it was in Baltimore and much to my sadness, I didn’t make it (mind you cider was had and dinner at Woodberry Kitchen so it wasn’t really a loss). But, when it was announced that Emporiyum was coming to D.C. I was in! So with my V.I.P. ticket in hand, and a partner in crime to explore I ventured off to Union Market and ate and drank and was joyful.

The vendor line up includes tons of great D.C. foodies that I love: Toki Underground, Neopol Smokery, and Astro Doughnuts. But I really was excited by the out-of-towners and there were a lot of them. Charleston, S.C. natives Bittermilk and Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. showed what small-batch mixers can do for a cocktail. Between Bittermilk’s Smoked Honey Whiskey Sour mixer and Jack Rudy’s Small Batch Tonic, I knew my bag was about to get a bit heavier and my wallet a little lighter.

Woodberry Kitchen came down from Baltimore with lechon tacos in tow and this gluten-free girl did a little dance of joy (well, as much of a dance as is possible with a lot of people around). That dance of joy continued all the way to Brooklyn Slate. Funny story there, I love me some Brooklyn Slate, not shocking based on my love of cheese boards. Once upon a time on a trip to NYC, I acquired a couple as Christmas gifts on a trip to Brooklyn Flea. Nothing sounds bad about that, right? Wrong. It was at the start of the day and apparently I was going to schlep those slate boards (and a cake stand) all over the city for the rest of the day, which included shoving them into a locker to not have to balance them on my back while ice skating. It was really nice to be able to make a purchase and then put it straight into my car. It’s the little victories.

Of course, I had to end with my favorites, D.C.’s own Typecase Industries. If you are looking for fun letterpress cards, prints, and coaster…Emily, Alessandra and Stephanie are your girls. They regularly take all my money with their amazingly hysterical cards and their D.C. centric prints and coasters. Also, if you need a koozie reminding you that you’re a “Grown Ass Woman”…they can help you out. They’re good like that.

Just because, why not end the day with Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream.

shopping // of a kind

Every time I try and get into a regular rhythm of blogging, my life goes crazy. So here it is, I’m going to try harder, I will fail less, and I still won’t have a regular posting schedule. So there’s that. And without further ado…shopping.

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Of a Kind, it is pretty safe to say that I’m obsessed. If you have no idea of what I refer to, here is a bit about them per their website:

“We select designers whose work we love and feature them on the site, one at a time. We share a series of stories about each designer—inspirations, personal life, taste, training, you name it—along with a limited-edition piece designed exclusively for Of a Kind.”

I love the products, I love the designers I find through them, and I love the weekly emails from the founders Claire and Erica (I’ve been known to forward them to many people and use them, in meetings with my boss, as examples about the proper use of email newsletters). I also really love that right now everything is on sale and with that, I’m sharing my current “I Want” list with the world.

**If you were not recently reminded by your mother that you are on a budget, you can take 35% off everything with code UPINYOURGRILL through 07/08/2014 (so exciting!)