A Passion for Scrapbooking, Decorating and Shopping

Mrs. Howard goes to Charlotte...

It's official, Mrs. Howard's shop in Charlotte, NC is now open. 

Mrs. Howard's Personal Shopper

Do you know what I love about this foyer?  The mix of styles that bring harmony to this space.  From the lantern chandelier to the contemporary center table to the rustic benches.  The artwork provides symmetry and balance.  And the flooring as well as the mouldings that provide architectural elements, all of which dazzle my eyes.

There was an article recently in The Washington Post's HOME section on Phoebe Howard showcasing her great talent.  

 

This rug...I love!

And I would loved to be dazzled in person by Phoebe's design wonderment.  So this means a road trip is in order. 

Until then, I will continue to enjoy the inspiration and delight from Mrs. Howard's Personal Shopper.

A souvenir...

My addiction to home decor magazines often leads to me to the newsstand at the airport and at local grocery stores while traveling. 

This trip, all it took was a visit to Publix where I discovered Florida Design's Palm Beach Home & Decor.

Getting a taste of what the local flavor is in terms of interior design is what I like to do.  And in flipping the pages, my eyes stopped on this page:

Love those "x-shaped" designs as shown on the coffee table and on the back of the chair.  The chandelier is simple and elegant.  And I am making a mental note on the placement of artwork on each side of the mirror.

On the last page of the magazine, Roche-Bobois' ad featuring their Maestro sofa is one I like a lot.

It is a serious lounging-kinda-sofa.  Perfect for the family room. 

Still dreaming here...not only about lovely upholstered goods but wishing I were still on vacation. 

And vacation souvenirs can be in many shapes and forms.  From seashells to local home decor magazines.

Hope you enjoyed the souvenir show-and-tell.

Robb & Stucky...

During our visit to southern Florida last week, I got the chance to visit a furniture retailer, Robb & Stucky, with a showroom that seemed endless and filled with casegoods and upholstered furniture to send me into eye-candy-wonderland. 

I'm not very good about hiding myself from mirrors while taking photos.  I was so distracted by the beauty of this "room" I could only focus on capturing as much as I could into the photo frame.

Do you ever walk into a furniture store and say how a certain piece of furniture would look great in a particular room of your home?  It drives my guy crazy because all he can hear are the dollar signs popping into his head as I think out loud.  And that's what I am pretty much doing, particularly when I said "these chairs and mirrored nesting end table would look great in our bedroom."

You could say that I am vocal about my dreams and fantasize a lot about what could go where in our home.  ;-)

My sister and I were drawn to the wall color and decorative striping on the wall of this particular room vignette.

What drew us to Robb & Stucky was their brochure my sister brought home after a business meeting she attended at their store's community meeting room (this could be a potential meeting place for a crop, right).

Well in the brochure I discovered a leather sofa, potentially for our family room.  So we went to check it out.  It's a wedge-style sectional sofa.  Not too big, not too small.

And with sexy nailhead trim, I had to go run my fingers over it in the flesh. 

The nailhead trim continues around the perimeter of the back of the sofa too. 

They were making it too easy for us to make a purchase from their store as they ship anywhere in the U.S.  I didn't need to hear that.  The good thing is we can stew on this for a bit before making any final decisions on a major furniture purchase as I have the salesperson's email address.

It was quite an experience visiting Robb & Stucky.  I wish we had one located nearby in my neck of the woods but it's probably a good thing we do not.  The temptation would be too great. 

If you are ever near one of their locations, it is worth spending the time perusing their goods as you never know what you might find that would look good in your family room.

More gift-giving ideas...

We've got a marathon of gift ideas going on here where I am continuing to share them by interest:

Travel Well
Paris Double Handle Cosmetic Case and Roller Duffle bag by Room It Up are a chic way to travel.  And a Dual Access Rolling Computer Case is convenient when traveling by air as it has a separate compartment for your laptop (which you can easily access and remove when you go through security) and one for your clothing.

There is also a Wheeled Underseat Tote that fits underneath a seat of an airplane.  This appeals to me because I do not like lifting bags. 

A masculine Passport Case makes for a nice gift for the international traveler.

Scrapbooker
A pair of Scrapbooking Girl socks would make a great stocking filler.  And Copic's Spica Glitter pen set are delightful pens that add just a touch of sparkle to your cards and layouts.  They are my current favorite.

Dymo's Caption Maker (pink) is a wonderful label maker with tape in a variety of colors.

Sports Fan
A do-it-yourselfer as well as sports fan would appreciate a Baseball & Football Hammer.  Perhaps a NFL jersey?

Cosmetics
Bare Escentuals is a favorite among my friends as well as myself.  And their Ruby Collection ia gift set worthy of gift-giving.  For a stocking stuffer, John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Hair Spray is a favorite.  It's hard to find locally, so AmericaRX.com has helped keep my medicine cabinet well stocked.

Sentimental
A nativity by Willow Tree is one I can personally recommend.  It brings serenity and can become an heirloom for future generations to enjoy.  Also, a crystal ornament from Waterford is a nice family gift and keepsake.

While shopping for gifts, whether it's online or at the mall, I like spoiling myself with a Gingerbread Latte from Starbucks.  It slows me down, believe it or not, as I sip and savor a few minutes of solitude.

I hope you too take the time to do something for yourself during this busy time of year as we prepare for the holidays with our family and friends.

And I promise to provide more ideas as I continue to finish my own holiday shopping.

Left, left, left-right-left...

It was a combination of wrist pain and seeking the ideal mouse for a left-handed person that led me to the Logitech Optical Marble Mouse.

I was convinced this is the mouse for me when I read that both left and right-handed folks can use it.  Most of the trackball-type mouses are for right-handed individuals only.  And to have a mouse that is stationary is the perfect feature for my little workspace. 

It only took me moments to adapt to the style and function and am currently pain-free when it comes to my wrist.

I still have my Kensington mouse which makes a great travel companion to my laptop.

I've got to hand it to technology.  I honestly don't know where I'd be without it.

The UK via Target...

When I visited my dear friend, Sheila in London nearly 10 years ago, I stocked up on items I couldn't get in the US.  One was Elnett hair spray and available only in Europe.  Made by L'Oreal, it was named as a favorite by many hairdressers and celebrities.  So I saw my trip to the UK as an opportunity to get my hands on this highly coveted hair staple. 

Also, I got the chance to visit Anya Hindmarch's store on Walton Street.  (There's an article on Anya in the October issue of Domino Magazine.)  She designs the most classic and sophisticated handbags one could ever imagine.  They are pricey, so I came home with a small souvenir, a wallet.  The leather is shiny and style is tailored, which suited my taste.

So, as I was trying to get through my mag pile this weekend, I came across articles sharing the fact that Elnett is now available at Target.  Amazing.

 

Then I read that Anya Hindmarch has designed a line of handbags for Target (I'm thrilled), which I'm unable to find any info on their site.  Although I did discover some on eBay already.  **Note:  I just learned that the bags will be available online after October 8.**

Boots has already been a fixture at Target for some time now.  And that was another retailer I visited during my UK trip.  That is when I learned that drugstores in the UK are referred to as 'chemists'. And Rimmel is a line of cosmetics from the UK that is also available at Target.

This may come as no surprise to my friends as Target was my destination tonight.  I did not find an Anya bag but I did find the Craft-Lite Cutter as my consolation prize (I've seen it on QVC).  And I discovered in the home decor section Wooden Scissors similar to the Pottery Barn ones for a great price.

But I will not give up on Anya.  I will continue to visit Target until I find an Anya bag (or hope they offer the bags online). 

And as for that trip to the UK some years ago, let's just say I'm thankful for friends who helped make the trip possible and for ones willing to schlep my purchases in their suitcase for me as I ran out of room in my luggage. 

Creatively escaping...

It was my first full day in Phoenix today, spending time shopping and dining with great friends.

The views at the hotel are incredibly serene.

Indulging in good food.

And stocking up on necessities to keep our blood sugar at the highest possible levels.

Shopping stops included Melrose Vintage where we all were enamored with the black & white display...

as well as all sorts of craft and home decor goodies.  We also visited Mystic Paper and Scrapbooks, Etc.  And Kitty and I managed to purchase a box-full of accessories for our home at Flowers & Such. 

It was a day made possible by a very dear friend who knows all the in-spots around town. 

This was our way of kicking-off a weekend filled with creative activities.

Post-trip...

It was hot & humid but fun moments were shared between us (Aunt & Uncle) and them (nieces, nephew and family).  And considering the weather, it is not a good time to visit southern climates this time of year but we wanted to share in the life of teens and toddlers for a few days.

They can be precious...


And they can be creative (as in masculine teen room decor)...

We are happy to be home (particularly after an airline delay) but our hearts are longing to be back in the company of our family. 

And to entertain myself during the delay at the airport today, I purchased and read a few local home design magazines.  I consider them my souvenirs from a trip.

Then to my pleasant surprise, I see an ad for a Home and Garden show with a guest visit by Angelo Surmelis in Miami later this month.

I'd love to learn design tips from Angelo in person but time is not on my side over Labor Day weekend.  So for those decorator enthusiasts in the Miami area over Labor Day weekend seem to be in for a home design treat. 

Southern Florida appears to be the mecca of home design.  And one of these days, I am going to devote a couple days to checking it out in person.  Driving along I-95, you see all sorts of design centers and reputable manufacturers. 

There's good things going on in those neck of the woods.  I hope to visit more often.  Here's to family and home design. 

Dry County...

Spending the afternoon in New York City yesterday was the prelude to an awesome evening filled with live music by my all-time favorite band performing at Madison Square Garden.

What excited most fans was when they sang Dry County, which is typically not on the set list for their tour here in the US.

I was disappointed that they didn't sing Raise Your Hands but I got over it real quick when I heard Captain Crash emanating from the speakers.

Jon Bon Jovi works up a sweat.  He is an amazing performer.

He performed a few songs on a side stage too. 

Hallelujah is sung with such feeling.

I was sorry to their performance come to an end.

Till we meet again...

These photos were taken by my best friend (and #1 fan) with her 10x optical zoom camera.  Thank goodness for zoom. 

For now, I will take great comfort with iTunes and continue to fill up my library with music by Bon Jovi.

Shopping at Woodbury...

If you've ever been to the outlet at Woodbury Common you may agree this is shopping paradise.  It's been several years since our last visit, but my best friend and I had no problem getting reacquainted.  And our gracious host made for a fun threesome, where we made our way through various stores and enjoying our girls weekend. 

One of my favorite splurges was on a pair of sandals and a Coach swingpack to use for our visit to Manhattan tomorrow.  Best of all, they were way below retail price.

We even managed to work on some scrapbook projects yesterday with some very friendly ladies.  I'm also incredibly inspired by the home of our host who is in the process of decorating her home. 

I love the combination of good friends, shopping and being inspired. 

Time Savers: Travel Gear...

Just before a trip, my mind is scattered between preparing for the trip while dealing with the ongoing daily life of work and home.  If I could afford the time, ideally having one day before & after a trip would make traveling more manageable in the organizational sense.

One day before the trip, I could spend packing and getting our house in order (who likes to come home from a trip with a dirty home).

And the day after the trip could be spent unwinding, unpacking and tending to laundry. 

Ah, the luxury of time.  In most instances, I do not have that luxury.  Instead, I make a list of what to pack.  Sometimes it involves running all over the house seeking items to pack in our suitcase. 

To help offset some of the chaos, I keep a hanging organizer / toiletry bag packed at all times.  Between Target & Drugstore.com, I manage to keep that bag filled with Q-tips, cotton balls, shampoo & conditioner, face cloths, eye make-up remover, hair brush, pony tails, deodorant (Ban roll-on is my absolute favorite), dental floss picks and all the necessities for everyday hygiene.  And let me add that Drugstore.com is a huge time saver.  I've ordered Viva paper towels from them too.

Cosmetics are essential to my travel gear.  After returning from a trip, it can take me days to unpack.  And it's frustrating when I go to apply make-up in the morning only to find a good portion of it is still packed.  It's a distraction because I have to go get the suitcase, pull out my cosmetics bag  and make my way back to the vanity to continue applying my make-up.  And what I mean by distraction is that I would stop along the way and do 5 other things en route to the suitcase before returning to the vanity.  I am infamous for this....dawdling and losing focus of the task at hand.

Just recently, I decided that an expandable hanging travel bag dedicated to cosmetics for travel-only is a must.  It too will remain packed at all times.  I already have small containers of make-up from the Bare Esscentuals kits I've purchased in the past as well as extra mascara on-hand.  I had to purchase an additional blush make-up brush and Prime Time bases.  To me, it's well worth the extra expense just to save a little time and frustration.

With the necessary electrical chargers needed for our equipment permanently tucked into a ziploc bag and ready to travel at a moment's notice, packing our clothing is the only task to deal with prior to a trip. 

Also, I learned from Jessica some time ago where pre-planning outfits and tucking them into plastic bags is an efficient way of packing for a trip.  I tried it using extra large size Ziploc bags and had a wonderful trip without the time-consuming task of selecting what to wear.

Now we're on our way to being a well-traveled traveler.

Travel well...

#1 Lesson learned....make sure you've packed your laptop's adapter before leaving for a trip.  If you don't, it will cost $79.99 for a new adapter. 

#2 Lesson learned....stay abreast of what technology has to offer.  For example, when purchasing a USB stick, make sure you are NOT purchasing one that requires a memory card unless you have the appropriate memory card for the device.

It is when you decide to transfer photos from your laptop to a portable printer for printing, you discover the USB stick does not work.  You then open it and realize it requires a memory card.  (Fortunately I had my card reader and downloaded photos from my laptop to my compact flash card which also works on my portable printer.)

#3 Lesson learned....pack plenty of nude-colored unmentionables, which can be worn with any color outfit.  It is when you decide to wear white pants and have only black unmentionables that you realize your outfit pre-planning for the trip was shot to hell.

As a result of these lessons learned, I now have a plastic bag dedicated to electronics for travel.  It will remain packed with an extra phone charger, a compact flash card reader and a laptop adapter.  When I travel, it is ready to go.  I hope I remember to pack it!

And I now know there's a difference between a USB stick that requires a memory card and an actual USB stick.  Not one of my brightest moments, I'd say.

I now must stock-up on nude-color unmentionables.  Why bother with other colors?  I'm going to play it safe and travel well.

Inspiration bound...

In a few days I will be en route to North Carolina with my best friend to gain some hands-on inspiration by talented ladies in the art-world at the Inspired Artist Workshop.  Donna Downey has gathered quite a cast of teachers who will share their knowledge and inspire us with creativity. 

I intend to detox my mind from work stuff and open it up to absorb as much art and fun as I possibly can. 

We've reviewed the list of recommended supplies...

and I began to collect mine into a zippered bag I found at Target recently.

And I have gathered books for personalization at the event by those who inspire me.

We have our driving directions and noted all scrapbook/craft stores in the vicinity as well as a few furniture stores.  You can't go to North Carolina without having a browse at casegoods and home decor accessories. 

And we plan to enjoy a refreshment from Sonic as well as paying a visit to Hobby Lobby (never been to one before).

Only a scrapbooker/papercrafter can appreciate the lengths we go to check out local craft stores.

We have 344 miles to go where inspiration awaits us.

Come fly away...

...come fly away with me.

Jupiter...

If I may, I'd like to introduce you to a new blog that has nothing to do with scrapbooking but has a lot to do with real estate and West Palm Beach, Florida.  In particular, Jupiter and Juno Beach.  Hence the name, Blogging Jupino. 

The company behind the blog is Cobblestone Realty.  They are a growing young company continually expanding services to provide a complete line of realty products and services for their clients.  They serve one of the most beautiful areas in Florida and are located on the east coast where their community is rich with a diversified population.  They have seasonal (or snowbirds as they like to call them) young families.

There are a few famous celebrities who love the Jupiter area because of the private communities available to them.  Cobblestone Realty can help with relocation, second homes, seasonal rentals and investment properties. 

Blogging Jupino is a forum for Cobblestone Realty to share resources, information, and anything that pertains to homes and real estate.  They plan to include tidbits on interior design and staging a home for sale as well as local interests.  I look forward to hearing more on that front!

More importantly, the blog is managed by my sister and her hubby is Cobblestone Realty.  I'd like to welcome them to the world of blogging.  And if you want to stop by to wish them well, I know they'd greatly appreciate it. 

Of course if you are ever looking for a home in the West Palm Beach area, Cobblestone Realty would be a great resource.  And if you are interested in opening a local scrapbook store, this area could really use one! 

My comfort zone...

It is very comforting to be home again although I miss my family.  We do not get to see each other very often so it was such a pleasure to spend quality time together.  And that included watching one of my nieces prepare for a cheerleading competition, transporting them to and from school, and simply observing their daily routine.  We even babysat our youngest niece (my goddaughter) and hubby prepared an awesome meal of ribs and sweet potatoes one evening. 

I also assisted my sister with selecting a new printer and scanner that would be appropriate for photo-printing.  And given that CR rated it  #1 and my best friend owns it too, we knew she made the right choice.  Now, I must try to influence my BIL that my sister is in need of a new camera!  (What are sisters for??!!)

And I was excited at the prospect of a Michael's opening in her neighborhood but had not opened their doors yet.  I had intended on visiting Jerry's as well, but simply ran out of time.  Oh well....next trip. 

Tonight, as we returned home, I had packages waiting for me including one from French General.  I've seen this link on many blogs and decided to order some incredible buttons just because they are so pretty. 

It is now close to midnight and I still have a lot of catching up to do.  I think it is time to call it a night and head to my comfort zone, which is our very own bed.  Night, night.

Reflections...

We had a very memorable trip to Florida.  My most treasured moments were spending it with family and getting the opportunity to meet my niece for the first time. 

Some of the observations I made with Princess J are her sleeping habits,

contentment after having a bath,

that when she turns her head toward you and opens her mouth, it means she's hungry,

and when you have an Aunt who is constantly taking pictures (with a flash) while you are trying to sleep can make for one unhappy baby.

And I do not want to do anything to make my niece unhappy, so I hold her close and tell her how much I love her.

We attempted to do some shopping with Princess J, but it was not meant to be.  It is hard to take a baby shopping when she is on a 2 hour feeding schedule.  Mom and I did get a few moments in J. Jill and purchased a few things.  In all honesty, this was one trip where I was not concerned about shopping.  In addition to meeting our niece, we had quality time with my sister and brother-in-law who were very hospitable and showed us a great time, even if the weather was very soggy. 

Hubby and I are now spending some quality time with our home which I plan to share more on very soon.  And Monday will be here before we know it, so we're are gonna try to make the most of it.

Spa-ing...

What do you do when it rains in Florida?  Why you go to the spa!  While Princess J's Grandma and Uncle babysat, her mommy and I went to the spa for a wonderful massage.

My neck muscles were a bit tight and my arms ached from what little bit of golf I played yesterday (caused by swinging with the golf club incorrectly).  Can I be any more pathetic. 

Still haven't done any shopping (aside from the stack of decorating magazines I purchased at the grocery store), but we do intend to get to Target tomorrow...yea!  And I still haven't purchased a card reader which I must do before we leave or my sister will fear she will never see all those photos I took of her princess.

We surely are enjoying our moments with family. 

Warmer climates...

Do we really want to visit warmer climates this time of year?  I can tell ya that my hubby would prefer Canadian climates right now.  But it is for the love of family and one new niece that we will make this venture into an area that consists of palm trees, sand and geckos (yuk). 

Promised hubby I'd play 9 holes of golf with him (it's not my thing and 18 holes would be a real stretch for me).  Do you think that is enough of a trade-off to convince him to go shopping with me?  Or maybe even visit a scrapbook store or two?  We'll see how it goes. 

And we get to babysit.  Should be interesting given this adorable baby is only 3 weeks old.  I'm bringing the 20D and plan to take a gazillion photos of this princess.  I also cannot wait to see the reaction of her parents when I give them the shabby-chic baby album I made. 

Our bags are packed and we are off!

p.s. I purchased a cute tote to carry my mags on the plane.  We'll see if anyone notices...   ;)

Vay-kay...

I'm going to celebrate good things with family and friends this weekend and plan to take lots of photos.  So, I should have plenty to scrap at Get Croppin next month!