Bridesmaid Challenge

Last week I received an e-mail from my aunt (who follows this blog). Her friend needed some help coming up with ideas for bridesmaids gifts. She is getting married in June and has eight (yes, eight!) bridesmaids to shop for. She's already purchased each of them a bottle of Little Black Dress wine, because they all got to choose their own LBD to wear in the wedding. She wants to give them a little something else to go with the wine and wants to spend between ten and fifteen dollars per girl. I gladly accepted the challenge, and told her I'd scour the internet and get back to her later in the week.

I immediately began obsessing over the challenge. Growing up with two sisters, I know how hard it is to please three girls, let alone eight. The budget was somewhat limiting, too. I started thinking about personalized gifts (which can get pricey) and something that would appeal to most young women (tricky). Well, here are some of the ideas I came up with on my own. Please let me know what you think and if you have any ideas that I may have forgotten.

Personalized set of notecards $12


Liberty of London for MAC tinted lipglass $14


Chalk note glassware $5


Little Black Dress coffee table book $13


Assortment of Lush beauty goodies $15


Gift certificate for manicure $12


Sparkly headband $13


Selection of Dean & Deluca gourmet candies $12

Since replying to her original e-mail, I've also though of a Sephora gift card or a Max Brenner hug mug with homemade hot chocolate mix in a pretty package. Any other ideas?!

Help!
taylor

Where is Spring?

I'm starting my Monday off by thinking happy, sunny thoughts (even though it's still gray outside). Wishing all of you a productive Monday!

Liberty Scavenging

It's been another gloomy day here in Little Rhody, but it did not keep me from checking out the Liberty of London collection at Target. I made it this afternoon and was shocked to find so many empty shelves! All of the storage bins and gardening collection were completely gone! There were no more pretty floral spring scarves or trenches. I did scoop up a couple of cute picture frames and a keyhole blouse to add some color to my work wardrobe. I was surprised that there weren't more prominent displays of products. The Liberty collection was scattered throughout the store. I was dashing around (almost like I was on a scavenger hunt) looking for the big pink butterflies that indicated some of the collection. I was hoping to find a cute apron to wear in the kitchen, but didn't have any luck. Even the teal piggy bank I eyed up earlier this week was gone! There was a black and white one but it wasn't as cute as his peacock-feathered friend. I was definitely impressed with the quality of the items (and variety), but disappointed that it was so quickly picked over. Oh well! I'll know better for next time. There are already over 350 items on eBay, so if anyone missed out, you can search for specific things here. It appears that the Target website was ransacked as well!

Did anyone else visit Target today?
taylor

T-Minus 14 Hours!

Until the launch of Liberty of London at Target, that is. I'm so excited! This collection has had so much build-up and press. I've been following some of the blogs and tweets from shoppers in NYC (where the whole collection sold out in merely hours!). I'm definitely planning on going to my local Target tomorrow morning and scooping up some of their iconic floral-print goodies. They're going to have clothes for the whole family (babies included) and lots of kitchen and decorative accessories! I spotted an adorable piggy bank with a peacock floral motif and some colorful throw pillows. More details tomorrow!

Is anyone else going tomorrow?
taylor

Owl-Themed Birthday

Didn't I tell you owls were all the rage?! This birthday party is too cute! The owl pinata is my favorite! I just love theme parties, where everything from the invites to the sweets share a common thread. Check out the little owl slippers on the guest of honor!

Have you ever attended a great theme party?
taylor

And Exhale

Ahhh, another work week in the books, and a busy one at that. I'm looking forward to curling up with a good book this weekend and getting some things done around the house. We're supposed to have torrential rain all weekend. I'm hoping to try out some new recipes (like blueberry ricotta pancakes) and catch up on all of my regular blog reads I have been neglecting this week. I'm also researching ideas for a nautical-themed baby shower that my sister is planning for her friend at the end of April. Isn't the theme adorable?! Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I'm off to enjoy a glass of wine and catch up with a friend.
Happy Friday!
taylor

Tchotch-Keys

I'm always fumbling with my keys (especially when my hands are full of groceries, my cell phone is ringing, and it's pouring rain simultaneously). Luckily, there is an easy and fun solution to this problem! Behold key toppers. They are whimsical covers that slip over your keys so you can tell them apart easily. I just bought a set of Ti-Keys to tell my front & back door keys apart. I am a big fan of their funny puns used to name the sets of toppers and bold designs. The garden gnomes are so silly!

I just love random knick-knacks!
taylor

Gimme Some (Novelty) Sugar

This photo is great. I love the bright splashes of color against the greenish wall. Pez candy dispensers are so much fun. I think my favorite is Gonzo on the bottom right side (next to Big Bird). I always used to get a Pez in my stocking at Christmas and in my Easter basket. My youngest sister would never even load them into the dispenser; she'd just put the whole stack of candy into her mouth at once!

Do kids nowadays still like Pez as much?
I sure hope so.

Simply Awesome

I have to take a moment to give a little shout out to my sister's company, Simply Soles. Well, it's technically not her company, but she did intern there during college and she has held a full-time position there for the past year. Anyway, the (mostly) online shoe boutique just opened a retail store at the Shops at Georgetown Park in DC. They had a big opening bash last Saturday and I'm so sad I couldn't be there for it. I know she has worked really hard with Kassie (her boss) to get the boutique up and running. I encourage all of you to visit their website to check out shoes from Tory Burch, Frye, and Tibi. They also have a great blog with weekly outfit suggestions based on trends, new shoes, and the seasons!

I'm so proud of you, Austin!

Eureka!

I've finally found my absolute dream job! I would love to work at Muckykids Art Studio in Cambridge. It involves three of my favorite things: kids, glitter, and messes--yay! I even love the name, it just sounds like a fun place. Muckykids is an art studio that offers classes for kids (ages 1 to 8) that inspire creativity and sensory exploration. Depending on the child's age, they offer anything from printmaking to papier-mâché. It sounds like a place I'd enjoy crafting at myself! They even host birthday parties so parents don't have to worry about their living rooms getting destroyed by toddlers. This really is my kinda place! Wonder if they need any help...

What's your dream job?