D is for discount!

Okay, remember I posted about decals a month or so ago!  I still love em' and have them on my brain as I finish the basement playroom/guestroom!   I love a way to personalize, but not permanently.  Well, our friends at Lulukuku have a special code for Life & Style A to Z readers...15% off!

Here are a few of my Lulukuku favorites!  

Go to their Etsy store and get yourself some decals with a discount.  Just enter ATOZ15 to get the deal.  Thanks for the coupon Lulukuku!  Until next time...xoxo

A.W.L.... Art We Love!

Artist:  Seth Indigo Carnes

When my husband and I first moved in together... our first "disagreement" was focused around art.  He had a bunch of posters from Prints Plus that he wanted to hang on our walls.  My least favorite of which was the lava flowing into the ocean poster.  ICK!  I was quick to tell him that if we were going to hang art of the wall it was going to be actual photos and paintings and not posters of such.

Many people think that they cannot afford proper artwork, but my friends ... you can!  Affordable artwork is just a mouse click away.  I have spoken of Etsy a lot. You do have to kind of have an idea of what you want to search for, but there are so many options.

Art We Love (featured on the Nate Burkus Show last week) is another great resource for original artwork at a variety of price points starting at $15.  Here are some of my favorites!

Artist Midori Harima

Artist:  Stefan Hengst

Artist Tomoo Gokita

Finally, 20X200 offers a great variety of artwork also! The have photos and other works on paper and introduce two new editions each week.   As the name will tell you- you can purchase prints for as low as $20 bucks and as high as $200 (dependent on size).  There is something for everyone!  Here are a few examples of what you can find at 20X200.

Artist Christian Chaize

Artist:  Lisa Congdon

Artist:  Valerie Roybal

Go on... support artist and get youself something unique and original and now sold at your local mall! :)  Until next time...xoxo

S & B... Stripes & Bows!

Okay, sorry again for being out of touch.  I might have been overly ambitious when I said I would do 3 posts a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday).  With a new baby... I am finding scheduling a challenge.  So, let's just say I will do a couple posts a week for now and when they will post... we will just have to wait and see!

I have not posted about Etsy in a while.  Here is a new Etsy find.  I am absolutely in LOVE with these pillows, placemats and bags!  These striped bow numbers are the cutest things ever.  Check out Soraam's Store on Etsy for the full array striped bow designs and items.  I saw this pillow on Full House Blog, so thanks!

Have I mentioned that I love these items?  Love!  Until next time...xoxo

P... is for Poster!

So, this weekend my neice turned 1 year old!  Since my sister and her hubby live the chic condo life... we lent out our house/backyard for the birthday celebration.  It was a very fun time and made my husband and I realize we have a lot to learn before the arrival of our little one!

So, I got my niece, Reece, a few things to celebrate the big ONE!  My favorite is the custom name and birth info print from Almost Sunday Designs.  You send all the info (name, birthdate, birthplace, weight and inches) and pick your custom colors and then you get a proof of your poster in email.   The length of the name dictates the design (she has options for twins too).  Once the proof is just as you like it, voila a few days later it arrives in the mail!

Where did I get it?  Etsy of course!  I think it is a super cute keepsake!

I also got her a Serena and Lily stuffed corduroy lamb.  

You can get one of these "stuffies" at Rosenberry Rooms!  

These Serena and Lily "friends" are a pricey but gorgeous item.  I got mine on sale and actually these were just on Gilt Group recently for $24!  You can also find them at  Nieman Marcus and sometimes on Ebay too!

I am amazed at how time is flying by!  Happy first birthday Reece.... I hope you are ready to be a cousin!

Until next time....xoxo  

E is for Etsy..... Etsy love!

Sharing some more Esty love today!  I have mentioned how much I heart Etsy before.  You can find everything on Etsy.  Constantly searching for throw pillows..... I could lose a day just looking at all the zillions of options on Etsy!   My husband complains about how many throw pillows we have on the bed, but I love them.   I still need pillows for the breakfast nook and I am sure I could find some other places for more throw pillows! :)  

I "favorited" Bed Bugg's  store on Etsy.   

You know I love flowers and bows...big time!   

Toss on a pillow or two or three or four! :)  Until next time...xoxo

C.H.A..... Cute Hair Accessory!

How cute are these hair accessories?  I stumbled across this on A Diary of Lovely.... a new blog I just discovered.   I love  these flower pieces.  They are very reminiscent of a headband I admired at Boston's SOWA market a few weeks ago.

Made by Much love, illy... you can get a headband or hair pin or whatever on Etsy!    I love the colors and the fact that these pieces are not too in your face... simple....stylish.  

The hardest part is always deciding which to get!  Think you are lucky?  A Diary of Lovely is actually doing a giveaway for a gift certificate to get one these CUTE items right now!   You have until Tuesday to enter.
   Until next time...xoxo

A is for Accessory... cute home accessory!

I love the start of each month.  Why?  Because that is when all my magazines come.  Yesterday I got September's House Beautiful.  Love it!    I stumbled across a cute home accessory on page 41 that I had to share.  Related to my post yesterday it involves a trellis pattern.

Do you love these vases?  They come in all sizes and colors.  Get one or two or three to match any decor.  I could see the pink one on my dining room table or the green one on my kitchen counter.  So many options!
 

Thanks House Beautiful for sharing.  Where can you find them... on Etsy of course.  Check out Jill Rosenwald's gorgeous stuff!

Okay- last trellis post of the week! :)  Until next time...xoxo

S.P...... STATE PRIDE!

The other day on gilt group I came across the Maya Brenner jewelry sale and her state charm necklaces. Love them! What better way to share your state pride! Of course, by the time I got on gilt group, Massachusetts was sold out. If you too missed out.... you can buy directly online. They have options in both gold and silver.

Celebrities are all over Maya's State Charms. If it is good enough for Jessica Simpson, Eva Longoria, and Rachel Bilson.... it is good enough for us! Right? These babies start at $120 bucks for silver and run up to $300 for the gold ones with small diamond.

If these are outside of your budget right now... I of course have another budget friendly option for you! Where... at Esty of course. Check out Truche's shop and the United States of Love Collection. These are freaking adorable and run $50.

I really want the Massachusetts charm. Either of these lovely options would do. I actually cannot figure out which option I like more. They are both adorable! It is soon to be Valentine's Day.... maybe someone else will decide for me. Honey... are you reading?

These are the perfect gift for a friend who is moving away, for someone who is going off to college or for someone who is just plain full of state pride!

Show of yours! Until next time.... xoxo

G! GIFT IDEAS... there is still time!

Okay, so the brother-in-law emailed in a panic last week. What to get my sister? I sent him in the direction of Etsy.... my afforementioned favorite place to shop! You can get amazing things in this "ebay for artists" type site! Jewelry, artwork, clothes and so much more. All special becuase they are made my hand with love!

If you are like Mr. Brother-In-Law and waited till the last minute- there is still time. Check out some of my favorite items on sale at Etsy!

Wren Handmade has adorable items! Order by Thursday! These hair clips are adorable!

Orange Beautiful's 12 Months of Prints! Love these, been eyeing these for myself! Husband- are you there? You will need to expedite shipping if you order from him/her, but you can do it!

Mia Beads has great and affordable jewelry! There is still time to order from her and she is offering holiday prices! This locket is super cute!

Just Another Day has all things paper... notecards, prints, etc! How cute is this Retro Lady print? Order with priority shipping.

Alicia Bock Photography ... one of my favorites. I bought two of her photos last Christmas for my sister and my sister-in-law. Love them! Order soon!

Cut & Paste Print has "Keep Calm and Carry On" posters in a variety of colors. These are all the rage these days! Get one for someone you love and one for you too!

Little Black Rabbits Shop has a variety of splendors. I heart this clutch BIG TIME!

Kate's Shop has adorable knitted items like this hat! I have a hat obsession and there a ton of cute options on Etsy.... search for yourself!

For all you last minuters... time really is running out! Get the one you love something cute, thoughtful and from Etsy!

Until Next Time...xoxo

V... as in "BIG V"! The Artist...

So, my blog would not be complete without a shout out to my artistic roots. As a graduate of RISD (RIZDEE)....I think I know what good Art (imagine me saying that with a Boston accent) is! My dear friend, who I lovingly refer to as "Big V"- (she is truly "tall".... but not "big") is amazingly talented. The real world knows her as Veronique Latimer and she makes amazing paintings... Huge and and Tiny! Her current work is done in encaustic. What is encaustic... well I don't really know, but it is magical and made with beeswax. If you want more detail, you would have to ask the artist herself!

Veronique's work is multi-faceted and full of layers and stories- it evokes memories of your childhood and is like wrapping yourself in your favorite blanket! She uses vintage photographs, leaves, keys, words, stamps, soda tabs, etc to create stories.... some true... others imagined. Her paintings are beautiful and surreal- landscapes and stories. You can get Veronique's paintings on Etsy.com Now, if you read my blog before today- have you figured out that I get almost everything on Etsy!?

Her work is incredibly affordable ($30-$125)- something to keep in mind with the holidays approaching. You can even commission a piece which is a great way to remember grandparents, capture a wedding moment, pet, or celebrate a friendship. Big V will work with images (photocopies) that you share and will incorporate your words and stories! It is a great wedding gift (see right) and she can incorporate invitation, date, photos, text, etc. This is such a unique and special gift...who would not want it!

Check out her work at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Veroniquelatimer. Additionally, for those in the Boston area, she will be at Bizarre Bizaar on December 6th. Check it out: http://www.bazaarbizarre.org/boston.html There is nothing better than having original artwork on your walls. I am still trying to break my husband free of his "Prints Plus" addiction .... we can afford real original art!!!

Until Next Time.....SUPPORT ARTISTS!!! xoxo