In Arkansas...

In Oklahoma ...

In New Mexico...

Goodbye...

My heart breaks today... 

My 13 yr old boxer had to be put to sleep. Both my husband & I are very sad & miss him dearly. It will feel so weird moving into our new place without him.

I will think of him as my husband's best friend, always following him around our home, sitting between his legs when he worked at his desk, sticking his head out of the car window to catch the breeze. He loved car rides & looking out the window for hours. What a blessing it was to have such a good dog.

His name was Danny & I hope we'll see him again one day....

A friend of mine emailed this poem she found online today:

My best friend closed his eyes last night,
As his head was in my hand.
The Doctors said he was in pain,
And it was hard for him to stand.
The thoughts that scurried through my head,
As I cradled him in my arms.
Were of his younger, puppy years,
And OH...his many charms.
Today, there was no gentle nudge
With an intense "I love you gaze",
Only a heart thats filled with tears
Remembering our joy filled days.
But an Angel just appeared to me,
And he said, "You should cry no more,
God also loves our canine friends,
He's installed a 'doggy-door

Fashion: Layering 101

Hello loves! Lauren here.

Cannot wait to see what this year has in store, especially when it comes to fashion.

And I thought, what better way to kick off the New Year than a little Styling 101? Let's start 2012 with lots of layers. Mix and match, try new things, step out of your comfort zone. It's a new year, so why not? Hope this little step by step style guide helps lead you to take a little style plunge!

First look / Second look / Third Look / Fourth Look

-post by lauren wickman 

Wanted: Super Chic Decor...

Been thinking a lot about how to decorate our new apartment in New York City. It's not that big, only 1000 sq ft. BIG difference leaving my home which is almost 3000 sq ft. Crazy huh?

Well, I'm sure I'm going to post a lot about this adventure & will welcome any design ADVICE from any Interior Designers out there. One apt (so much BIGGER than ours) that I loved, belongs to Cathy Triant Buxton. I love her style & would love my place to be as CHIC...!  

She also has a WHITE sofa!!! I've decided to keep mine for now after seeing her apartment....it REALLY inspired me.

Any of you in the middle of moving right now?? Are you just as CRAZED & excited at the same time?

-images by jeffrey hirsch for ny social diary

Getting there...

Hello everyone! Hope you all are doing well! 

Packing is getting ridiculous....ever wonder how you accumulated so many things? I'm beginning to feel good about selling most of my furniture....

more to pack.....

-image by jen ramos

Design: Gemstones

Hello dear readers. Drew here, bringing you insight from a different perspective on my views of design. I was browsing home decor on the internet & came across a feature on a new trendy home accessory.  It struck a nostalgic chord of childhood memories. 

GEMSTONES. 

I fondly remember mining for rocks in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, freezing water running over my hands as I cleaned and polished every gem I came across in the heavy white bucket. What used to be a collection can now be something much more. 

 

Quartz and agate seem to be rising to a decor stardom level. They come in all different brilliant shades, shapes and sizes. You can get fancy and add these precious gemstones to a fireplace, mimic them in a bed spread, use them as table surfaces, as glamorous lamps and even a fashionable mirror.

Just admire these gems in all of their natural splendor! 

image via We Heart It

image via Kelly Wearstler

image via Design Therapy from Pinterest

image via La Belle Vi from Pinterest

image via Amanda Nisbet Design linked from Matters of Style

image via Kelly Wearstler

Take a peek at some of these clever approaches to making a simple gem come to life:

1. Tish Mills Chandelier via One Kings Lane

2. Tish Mills Yellow Quartz via One Kings Lane  

3. Arteriors Home Lamp via Coco+Kelley

4. Arteriors Fergie Agate Slice Sculptures

5. Tish Mills Amethyst Embedded Table via One Kings Lane

6. Rug via Pinterest

7. Sky Parlor Bookends via Etsy

8. Lille a shop Stacking boxes

9. Matthew Studios Table

10. Zhush Clock  



-post by drew humphries

DIY: Rope Bracelet

Hi everyone! It's Jenny Bevlin bringing you another DIY post. I love accessories, but I especially love jewelry! I've noticed lately that I have been buying a lot of bracelets and even making some myself. I find that making my own accessories is very rewarding. It's fun and you will love all the compliments you receive when you say you made it yourself! What you need to make this bracelet:

• Hot Glue Gun
• Flat Nose Pliers
• Scissors
• Rope trim
• Jewelry Jump Rings
• Jewelry Lobster Clasp
• Jewelry Ribbon Endings

Steps: 

Measure the rope around your wrist leaving about an extra inch longer than your wrist. Cut the rope. Make sure you add a dot of hot glue to the end of the rope you just cut to keep it from unraveling.

Cut 3 more strands the same length as the first strand. Make sure to add a dot of hot glue to ends of the rope each time you cut it.

Lay out the rope as shown in the photo above.

Overlap the rope as shown in the photo above.

Pull the end of the top rope under and up through the bottom rope.

Pull the ends of the rope tight.

Trim the ends so that they are all the same length. Make sure to add hot glue to the ends to keep them from unraveling.

Put the rope ends into the ribbon ending and close with the pliers.

Use the pliers to add the jump rings and lobster clasp.

- post and images by Jenny Bevlin

Biker Boot Trend

I've been seeing a trend I love - Biker boots. Not just any kind, I love the ones that go up to your calves.  Kind of a mid boot right? In fact, I was so enchanted with this type of boot that I bought the Jeffrey Campbell ones at ShopBop. Well, I had to return them because they were too tight! Apparently the sizes run small & they don't have my size ughhh!

I believe they have them at Free People - so I may buy them there anyway.  I had biker boots in high school & they lasted FOREVER and were VERY comfy!  

So, what do you think about this trend? Are you into biker boots?
 

 

a. jeffrey campbell

b. rag & bone

c. frye

d. urban outfitters

e. lagarconne

f. leatherup