INSTAGOOD + SHOPPING EVENT

Truth be told, I'm a Monday person. I love getting back into the grind, and back to work. I guess maybe its a good sign I'm doing the right thing :). The most redeeming part of my job is seeing happy customers and their fun products in use! 

Stir sticks for Bradley's bachelorette party...

Amber ordered some goodies for Mothers Day!

In other news, I've been hard at work on my new line for summer, and I'm so excited that it will be out by the end of this week! Drink flags, Monogrammed Clutches, and Acrylic Trays are just a few things from the fun new kollection...

What's most exciting? I'll be having an event with Fringe Accessories boutique on June 13th. So - if you are in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area stop by to see all of the fun things for spring/summer, sip champagne, and enjoy 20% off of luxe + lillies products as well as Fringe Accessories!

I might just have a surprise shopping event online too! Make sure you are on our mailing list for the heads up!

SUNSHINE, SOMETIME?

It's April 23, and last night we got a new 6 inches of snow. Maybe its because we're Minnesotan, and its what we do - but all anyone can talk about is the weather. I think the state on the whole might become a new breed of crazy is we don't get some warm sun shining down on us soon. I can't wait to get outside, and make my patio a bright living environment that will inspire happiness all summer long. Since summer is only 3 months here, 4 if we're lucky, and anything that sits outside in the winter takes a beating - I have pulled together some affordable but bright options for making your outside space sparkle...

 

rugs, umbrella, sun chairs - towel/scarf - seating arrangement furniture & accessories - entertaining pieces

BREAK FOR BREAKFAST [NOOKS]

This past weekend we helped some friends of ours tackle a few projects in their beyond adorable new house. When I first walked in, I was like a moth to the flame about their dining nook. It's so cute, and got my brain jogging on all of those dining nook pictures I'm always tagging on Pinterest.

If there were a good place, I would have a dining nook stat. But I don't. So, I can only hope that my sweet friends let me share with them all the ideas I have about that perfect white Saarinen table paired with a great printed fabric bench and pillows, roman shades, and bright chairs. 

Mary MacDonald is my fave. I adore how she did pattern on pattern on pattern here.

Not bright in terms of color, but super cozy/comfy :)

house beautiful, lonny mag, southern living

CURRENTLY COVETING: SOCIETY 6

You may or may not know that I started my stationery and homewares line, Kollection, because I want to bring fun and happy designs to the masses. Aka, offering pretty stuff, at attractive price points. So, when I see other companies striving to do the same thing - it makes me smile :)

Basically what I'm trying to say here is I wasted the better part of my weekend on Society 6's website. Maybe I'm late to the game or maybe you're about to curse me for giving you yet another website to waste the better half of your day perusing. 

But for reals, I think I'm in love with Emily Rickard and her colorful abstracts. I just don't think I could have picked better color combos myself...

Starting at just $18. $18 DOLLARS PEOPLE!!!!!!!!

If you're thinking to yourself, "Yea, cool, abstract art - what I really want to do is jump on the beach print bandwagon." You can do that too... for $18. 

from left to right: print one, print two, print three, print four

and because pretty pillows are always great. These start at just $20. Along with 100 other pages of pretty pillows...

left to right: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

HELP! BEDROOM COLOR SCHEMES

We've lived in our house a little over a year now, and it seems like the perfect amount of time has passed to really finish up some of the design schemes. When we finished the renovation [or so we thought] and moved in I knew I wanted to live with it a little bit.. let the house's bones come to life again, and learn what makes us feel the most at home. Its been an interesting lesson, really. When we rented, I think I decorated the apartment - not "our home". I always knew it wasn't going to be for very long, and I just wanted it to look good and be comfortable in the mean time. 

But after living here, purchasing a few investment pieces, and editing the things we have put into place - I'm ready to pull the house cohesively together, not something I gave a whole lot of thought past paint colors when we were renovating [note to self, renovating friends :)] 

I need your help, friends!!! This feels kinda weird and awkwardly out there - just throwing my bedroom right at you. But, here she is... [no judging on the still unpainted window frames].

Now that you've feasted your eyes on that monotone mess, help me decide how I'm going to make it a little more lively and cohere with the rest of my palm beach inspired/accented with blue and or coral house. We're going to start with black + bengal bazaar because its the smallest investment...

Next is blue. I already have this bench, and this would pull up the same blue that is largely in my living room [right down the stairs]...

Third we have coral.. the accent I have used in many places. And because I want an excuse to buy some extra gorgeous bedding from Biscuit...

and yes, I also really want those rope lamps which I have been stalking over at Home Goods for 4+ trips now. 

Which color scheme would you choose?

coral art, bengal bazaar pillows, rug, floral pillows

PACKING LIST: PALM BEACH

Honestly speaking, I love that there is still a part of the world where styles made famous in the 1950's and 60's still are still considered "wardrobe staples" Classic cuts, Lilly-esque prints, tortoise shell - they're all favorite words in my fashion vocabulary. Packing for Palm Beach however, isn't a "throw a few things in a bag" kind of event. It's considered a high-season/low-season locale, and generally speaking, that means 2-3 outfits a day. Here's a couple fool-proof tips to pack light, and right:

Start with the staples:

1: A great pair of high coverage sunglasses

2: 2-3 pairs of versatile footwear, I love these nude wedges [only $29!] that will match anything, and a pair of fun loafers to go with more casual outfits.

3: A clutch and a carryall tote. You be the judge of what to carry when.   

4: 1 or 2 swimsuits that are the cut you like, but still provide a little coverage - PB isn't Miami.

5: Pool/ Beach reading materials. I always protect my electronics, this ipad case is my favorite yet. I can't wait to start "The Martha Rules"! 

Clothing:

1. A pool/beach outfit. I love love love linen or crepe pants. They're so lightweight but will keep you warm when the sun starts to set.

2. A midday outfit. If you're grabbing lunch, doing a little shopping, etc, Throw on some fun colored skinny jeans, and a soft white t-shirt.

3. Evening outfit. A dress, some printed pants/silk shirt - whatever your flavor. 

Accessorize:

1.This "circle scarf" is an absolute must for me. You style it so many ways, and I love to wrap up in it when the weather cools down at night.

2. Organic sunscreen and lipbalm. I'm not looking for extra wrinkles, you probably aren't either.

3. Bauble Bar has sooo many fun necklaces and jewelry pieces that will jazz up your midday and evening outfits alike. 

4. A fun belt can add a little pop of color to any outfit

5. Nail polish is just fun when you're on vacation, right?

Want to know what else is on my packing list, go here!

LEAVE A LEGACY

... when you're carrying one of these absolutely adorable Coach Legacy Tanner Mini totes. Ever since I saw the similarly shaped Celine bag, I liked... when I saw the beautiful bright colors of these Coach totes.. it was love. The watermelony/coral is my fave, how about you?

HOW TO GROW A LOVE FERN [ORCHID]

Valentines day is in a few short days, and maybe you are considering a love fern, a la Kate Hudson in the movie "How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days"? Or, maybe you just like the way orchids look and have a few that you seem to inevitably replace when all their flowers fall off. That used to be me, and those were sad days. I always felt like it was an abrupt ending with this flower I had spent 6+ weeks so carefully watering. Well, let me be proof to all of my fellow black-thumbed friends that you might just be able to turn that thumb a certain shade of green. You don't have to watch you flower [relationship?] wilt and wither away like Kate's love fern if you follow a few steps and have a little patience...

You start with this...

and then it turns [magic, I know] into this:

pretty easy, right? 

STOLEN MY HEART: SCALAMANDRE

Lets just cast aside all those little voices in the back of our heads saying "omgsh, Scalamandre, so not original content" because with some potentially not new to your eyes inspiration, the new Scalamandre line for Lenox is hopefully about to blow your mind. Really, though, Scalamandre can do no wrong, and I would really love to plaster any wall in my house with whatever color I could get my hands on.

I can't even talk about how Jamie Meares paired these ginger jars, chinoise lamps and red wallpaper together... its just. too. good. 

But, lets get down to the real excitement on hand... this line is super fun. For sure need some of those highballs, and that square tray...

dishes, accessories

VALENTINES DAY: FOR YOUR GAL PALS

macarons, faux leather + pony pouch, necklace, candle, personalized stir sticks, striped straws, lipsticks,  print, heart sweater, leather tassel keychain, card, pillow

Valentines day isn't just for lovers, right? Treat your favorite gal pals to a sweet treat this valentines day! Help her accessorize her bar cart, wardrobe, or living room with a few of these fun piece any girl would be excited to receive :)