stupid airlines...

Helping my boyfriend plan his trip to Vegas...wish I was going so I could use my Plum Victoria's Secret Passport case I got for Christmas! LOVE IT!

other cute travel accessories.

Maura PetersTravel Candles $5.99

Cute Packing organizers


Airborne $10. A healthy traveler is a slightly happier traveler.





Ohh I love travel accessories. i HATE flying. Used to love it when airlines rocked (circa 1994) but now they are just awful.

Hello yellow, you make me so mellow.

Etsy Drawflowers Shop - 18" $137
Love this lampshade and this designers work, can't afford it right now (oh the sacrifices of unemployment) though...maybe I could adapt this look for my bedroom lampshades I'm hopefully going to finish today.

Michael Kors Oversized Chronograph Watch $195 ( i have a white Fossil one and LOVE IT! but the yellow would be fun for summer)



Laura Day Design: Oh, yellow walls. I've been loving yellow for a while. This room looks great but I would definitely add some gray pillows on those white chairs..you know me and gray!



Ferm Living



Silk Pillow $110..

ok those would look great posted up on those chairs. And my dream room is made. Hope everyone has a bright, fabulous summer day.

Words from Mom of 18 Michelle Duggar from TLC's "18 kids and counting," I thought these were excellent words for not just moms, but every one to live by. They are things we often don't think about, but clearly they work. That family is one of the most tight-knit, respectful and humble families...and above all, HAPPY.

1. Always use soft words, even when you don't feel well.
2. Always display kind actions, even if you have been mistreated.
3. Show joyful attitudes even when no one is looking.
4. Have sincere motives with no thought of self-gain.
5. Never let the sun go down on your wrath; don't go to bed angry or guilty.

Have a blessed and beautiful day! And extend your love to someone.

HELLO real simple!! Pick me Pick me!! I love organizing more than anyone...but my boyfriend doesn't. maybe this would help him. :D and btw I <3 The Container Store.

No more tangled jewelry

Organizing jewelry has always been an issue for me...probably because I'm constantly losing pieces and taking them off and throwing them in my purse. Right now keeping my jewelry is limited to my Juicy Couture Shoe Box packed in the back of my car...OH the horror. (At least the box is WAY cute) But I have a wish list of jewelry organizers for when I finally get settled somewhere.

Pottery Barn $89

Wrapables.com $66 (in red or silver)


Straight pins with pearl heads $2-7 a package. Michaels.


pinning necklaces on my wall was my favorite when I lived in the dorm. There was so much wall to fill and it helped keep them all untangled and easy to see. I think this look would only look good now in a walk-in with a big pin-board.

Just call me Mrs.Meyers....all I do is clean, I just enjoy it, especially when I'm finished. Now if I only had these SCENTastic household cleaning products from Mrs.Meyers. Their line of natural, aromatheraputic products would make cleaning even more enjoyable.
Then I could sit down, watch extreme home makeover(makes me cry everytime) and light a Method Soy Candle. (available at Target and their website is awesome)

$10

Hope everyone in the south is going to take advantage of it not raining! Except I think tomorrow we're expecting more. I'm off to Target to buy some big tubs for MOVING!...again.. 7th time in 2 years. SO FUN.....not.

Cooking, Cooking Gone

I've been cooking alot lately probably due to my unemployment and the whole month of rain we've had (Anyone else in the south feeling my pain!?). It's had me thinking a bunch about kitchens. I have yet to decide my kitchen style, but I know when I get my own place that aspect of my home will be crucial. I just haven't decided what I'd like. But these were some fun (not all serious) ideas.


" Welcome home Ken! " - Barbie



country collection


Love the cabinets



I only bake in heels and diamonds

Lamp Shades

I bought two marble lamp bases for $30 at a Goodwill months ago but the shades are rather hideous. I haven't decided what fabric/ or pattern I'm going to use yet.
.
urban outfitters gray forest $19
(This would go perfectly in my room! except I want to add more color like yellow :D my 2 favorites at the moment)

This would be a fabulous DIY project! Some chalk paint and a stencil on a big piece of paint board. Cheap and very effective. Would work great beside a desk or in a kitchen.

Urban Outfitters $29

I'm feeling very crafty right now, so I'm going for a quick run to work off some of the tasty vegan muffins I ate yesterday :D
Thanks Nike for your ever present inspiration to get my ass off the couch and down the road. You will forever be my personal trainer and motivator.

Ok rain, Enough already

It is the end of May and the rain STILL has not let up. I'm a fan of summer and all this rain is cramping my style. I can't remember the last time I've been out in the sun. Poor tan, getting no UV love...although I'll look back on this rainy summer and be thankful for when my skin doesn't resemble my brown leather Michael Kors bag.
But I guess I'll have to make the most of it, bake some vegan cookies and muffins I think??
I made a delicious batch of apple, cinnamon choco chip muffins from the book "Naturally Thin."
They are so AMAZING! egg free, dairy free, gluten free, almost fat free and 100% worth it and really easy to make.

I wouldn't mind serving dinner tonight on these Blossom Plates from Crate and Barrel $29.99

This is on My Super Wishlist: and HOW FABULOUS is the color!? Love it.
Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer $275 on sale. if only I had one of these to do my mixing...but for now my little muscles will have to do.


Well, I'm off for some baking fun and tasty dinner!
Dinner: Fusilli with Creamy Mushroom Sauce(vegan) and small glass of chardonnay.
The boyfriend loved it (I added chicken to his bowl, for his little meat-eating self....ewewe)

Summer Recipe

1 part Relaxing, Comfortable Space

+

1 Refreshing Mojito Sans Guilt....it's summer.

+

2 or 5 good summer reading books (just got done with The Manny)

+

1 Pair of Michael Kors Sunglasses

+
100 parts
Garnier Nutritioniste Renew Lotion spf 28 (skin damage and summer dont look chic together)

+

Generous sprinkles of Summer Lovin'



Mix all ingredients together near a pool, beach, park etc and ENJOY!

R.I.P Daisy Marc Jacobs

Eulogy to My Daisy by Marc Jacobs Perfume:
You were a magnificent fragrance.
I could always count on you to keep me smelling, well, like a daisy.
I can't tell you how many compliments you helped me pull in.
Lets not forget how cute you were as a bottle. Your little white flower cap.
Although I always keep a variety of scents, secretly you were always my little favorite.
It was so sad to see you go, in such a tragic way.
Although the separation from you will be tough, I still have my Coach Signature to be my support.
I hope you have found your way to perfume evaporation heaven and have a fabulous great-smelling time. Kisses!

Thinking I'm crazy? I may be a little bit, but I also have a keen sense of humor. Ok, here is the story that I'm hoping will thoroughly entertain all you ladies out there (because it could happen to you)
Here it goes:
I'm in the process of moving out of my apartment, into my boyfriend's, I'm sick of moving so the process is going Verrrry slow. Since we were going on a trip to B-Ham for a few days I wanted some more of my clothes. I head to the apartment and of course bringing along my four year old of a boyfriend who has NOOO patience for things like this what-so-ever (bless his heart though because he was so helpful with the big kitchen box) Well as I'm feverishly packing things away, I through a load of bathroom stuff into a very cute V.S. box I'd save from a gift. In this sexy box is ironically where I keep my stash of tampons.
In this box I also place my Daisy perfume. (Are you catching on to where this is going?)
So As I cram the contents of my room into a suitcase the size of golden retriver I didn't put much thought into my packing strategy. And so it goes, when I open up my suitcase and began unpacking I came along my VS box, which was perfect since I'm was about to be graced with mother natures' monthly gift. Unfortunately, well, lets just say that all my tampons had become pre-scented with a $60 fragrance and My Daisy was out of commission.
And once again my four year old chimes in, "Did they all puff up!!?? I heard that's what they do, but I've never seen one?" All I could do was laugh, and bid a farewell to my favorite fragrance.
Oh for the love of men, tampons, and the waste of a fabulous perfume, and why life's to short to be saddned by any of those things.

Random but squeaky clean post

This was such a random thought when I was cleaning the bathroom yesterday. I had just bought a new toothbrush (colgate 360...PINK, of course) but once I brought it home and was looking at it perched in it's silver toothbrush holder, I had a moment of deep though into why toothbrushes are cute looking? I've seen some "fashion toothbrushes" that have really cute handles, but the bristles and the head are just awful.
Case and Point:

these are very cute, large variety...but lets get real about the head. There's no way these's brushes will ever compare to my colgate. But why can't colgate catch on to the "cutest or chic-ness" if you will of designing a good-looking toothbrush so that when it's not in use it can at least be used as a tasteful piece of design....

Maybe I missed my calling.
Ok, more random-ness, but OH-So-Funess!! LOOK at these bath tubs, (since were on bathroom talk)


Massimiliano Della Monaca, a designer from Italy


these made me smile

Watermelon and Pool

I spent my morning learning how to hit a baseball (thanks loving boyfriend), eating watermelon and laying by the pool. It got me thinking of fun, interesting lounge chairs for summer...

round lounger pottery barn (reminds me of this fabulous rooftop bar in playa del carmen that had several of these through out the place)


Hanging Lounger Pottery Barn (Who needs a hammock?! When You have one of these?)



Hello really cute brown zebra print towel! with a green accent!

Have a fabulous summer day. :)

Thunderstorms and Green Tea

I arrived in the South two years ago about this time and I had never been in a summer thunderstorm before. It's taken me two full years to not be completely terrified and worried that the apocalypse was coming when it started raining in the middle of SUMMER! (Being the Northern Cali girl that I am, I couldn't wrap my brain around how it could just start thunder storming out of no-where!)

Fortunately I have learned to embrace the soothing sounds of the unpredictable downpours, especially when I'm all curled up in our super comfy Egyptian cotton sheets and getting my morning laughs from the train wreaks on Clean Sweep.

Things To Do On A Rainy Day:

Finish My Mosaic

Organize the closet...again
Add to my design/inspiration book
Give myself a pedicure (oh this would have said Get a pedicure if I still had a job)
Read my book (The Manny)
Pilates
Organize the Kitchen

Armani Hotel

interior design mag 4/1/09



I'm in love with this arrangement. Martha Stewart


And some more paper flowers. Leave it to Martha for paper flowers


Sorry for the randomness of this post! But I'm off to start working on that todo list. Have a fabulous Saturday.



Swank Simplexity

Entering My First Giveaway

I entered my first giveaway at Fantabulously Frugal ! I really hope I win! :D Ill update more later.
I may be one of the last people in their early 20's who still religiously writes cards to everyone I love. I LOVE getting mail but I love sending letters even more. These are FABULOUS! keep your fingers crossed for me.

My New Personal Blog

Swank Simplexity. It is more of my general interests and everything that amuses me in my life. If you're a follower of this blog I would love for you to take a look at my new one. I will be talking about anything and everything and I can't wait!! :D Hope everyone will stop by!

My first Blog award!

A big THANKS! to The Wife in Stiletto's For awarding me with this!!

The Rules
1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.
2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Here are my recipients for this award. All of these keep me smiling, thinking and inspired everyday. Thanks!

Down And Out Chic
This is Glamorous
SF Girl By The Bay
The Fig Tree
Southern Bride
NYC Housewife in Training
High Heeled Foot In The Door
Marley and Lockyer
Habitually Chic
D Sharp Journal
Pink Wallpaper

My Alphabet

The ABC's of Me ...

A - Age: 20
B - Bed size: Queen
C - Chore you hate: I surprisingly really enjoy cleaning
D - Dog's name: at home (Snoop and Daisy)
E - Essential start your day item: the 3 C's. Candles, Coffee and Cake (last one's a joke ;) but wouldn't that be nice
F - Favorite color: at this moment. Gray . :D
G - Gold or Silver or platinum: Platinum
H - Height: 5'10"
I - Instruments you play: 2 songs on the Piano
J - Job title: This question just made me sad. Unemployed and Student Status Questionable
K - Kid(s): are adorable, but not for me quite yetttt.
L - Living arrangements: with the love of my life
M - Mom's name: Libby
N - Nicknames: Lo, Florence
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: never.
P - Pet Peeve: Messes
Q - Quote from a movie: "Mada-Who-Ya? Noooo Silly not Mad-Who-Ya, MADAGASCAR!!"- King of the lemurs Madagascar
R - Right handed or left handed: Left
S - Siblings: 1 brother
T - Time you wake up: between 8 and 9 but if you count the time I spend blogging and drinking coffee... 11am.
U- Underwear: yes Victorias Secret
V - Vegetable you dislike: I think it would be against my beliefs to say I don't like vegetables (since I'm a vegetarian) I love them all
W - Ways you run late: Not wanting to leave him in bed without me
X - X-rays you've had: foot and wrist
Y - Yummy food you make: vegan mashed potatoes, I make a really good from-scratch pizza
Z - Zoo favorite: oh this is so hard! I LOVE THE ZOO!! flamingo's, the bears, penquins, giraffes, (I used to want to be a white bengal tiger trainer)

flowers make me happy

especially when they're made out of paper. Oh Martha