Style Lush

Wooden Trays. My current obsession

by Christina

It started about a year go when I saw a gorgeous mango wood tray, I bought it, put an air plant on it and it lives on my mantle.

Then I saw a bamboo tray, had to buy it. For a bit it was on my desk as a coaster/mail sorter but now it's on my dining table as part of a really simple centerpiece.

Then, I bought another one. This time for my leather ottoman in my family room for an attractive remote holder/candle burning/drink setting surface.

This wood is just so pretty! If I could have a bamboo butcher block island that looked like the tray on the ottoman, I would. I'm done with this though. I have to be. I get obsessed and suddenly the one cool thing is everywhere in my house and it's no longer cool. I've done it with mason jars, insulators, globes, type press blocks and now these trays. Oh, and the birds. I'm officially out of surfaces to put a bird on.

Am I alone or do you get tunnel vision when you find something you love ?

Bachelorette Gifts...For Your Sister

By Tara

My sister is getting married in March, and to celebrate the big occasion, some friends of hers are hosting a bachelorette party for her in February. Because the party is being held in Indiana, and I am stuck down here in Georgia, I had no part in planning the event. Which is really too bad, because if I had helped plan it at all?

I would have definitely tried to veto the lingerie party theme they decided to use.

Because, really, who wants to wear lingerie that their big sister picked out for them? And even if there are some people out there that wouldn't mind it, I know for a fact that my sister definitely isn't one of those people.

Plus, my mom is going to the party. So that just adds an entire other level of weirdness, I think.

However, in the spirit of playing along, I think I've found a few options that might work:

{Honeydew Lace Trim Pajamas - photo credit: nordstrom.com}

{La Fee Short Pajama Set - photo credit: nordstrom.com}

{Betsey Johnson - photo credit: dillards.com}

{Satin Boxer Pajama Set - photo credit: victoriassecret.com}

{Henley Boxer Pajama - photo credit: victoriassecret.com}

{Betsey Johnson Terry Wrap Robe - photo credit: dillards.com}

I can totally get away with going the cute route, instead, right?

Now, if I can just find a way to get my mom to skip this part of the evening entirely, everything should be fine...

Interval Training for Dummies

By Rebecca

Okay, folks, I know this is not a fitness blog, nor am I any type of fitness expert. However, like everyone else in the universe, I'm trying to work out more often and stay in better shape. My preferred mode of exercise is group fitness classes, primarily because I respond best to someone with a loud microphone telling me exactly what to do. Also, I will push myself MUCH harder when I'm not working out alone.

Plus, I find solo cardio to be excruciatingly boring. Ugggghhhh.

But obviously, there are lots of times when I can't get to a class and have to grab 30 minutes on the treadmill or the elliptical or the sidewalk.  How do you keep it interesting? For me, the answer is interval training, which I didn't even really know was the name of the Thing I Was Doing On The Treadmill To Avoid Boredom.

Basically, after warming up, you alternate low-intensity exercise with periods of faster, high-intensity exercise. I discovered this one day by accident and dare I say, I *almost* had fun on the treadmill. Here is what I might do in a typical beginner-level treadmill workout.

Walk for 5 minutes to warm up**
Jog 3 minutes at a slow to moderate pace
Walk 1 minute (keep up brisk pace to keep heart rate up!)
Jog 3 minutes at a slow/moderate pace
Walk 1 minute
Run 1 minute at a fast pace
Walk 1 minute
Run 1 minute at a fast pace
Walk 1 minute
Jog 3 minutes
Walk 1 minute
Jog 3 minutes
Walk 5 minutes to cool down

And BAM! You've just done 29 minutes on the treadmill and it felt like no time at all because you were breaking everything up into tiny chunks. If I can't have a bossy instructor yelling at me to do it, I at least need to play mind games with myself. Also, since I kind of have OCD, I would probably do another minute to make it a full 30 minutes, because 29 minutes is oddly unsatisfying. (I'm weird).

What about you? Have you tried interval training in any form?

**Let me give you a tip here. While you warm up, you really need to listen to the song "Video" by India Arie. It is the most self-esteem-affirming song EVER, all about loving yourself JUST THE WAY YOU ARE, and it honestly puts me in such a good mindframe while working out. Try it! In fact, I recommend you listen to this song often, because seriously. It's good medicine.

 

Kid's Silverware

By Jen

My three-year-old recently declared that she was DONE with baby silverware.  We've long had those forks and spoons with the giant plastic handles and apparently, she is now way too grown up to use those. 

Enter the IKEA Fabler children's flatware set.  It's a stainless steel set, so it looks like adult silverware, but it is smaller and more suitable for a child's hand.  It's really nice quality and feels like it will last a long time.  Plus, it's only $4.99 for the three piece set of fork, knife, and spoon so you can afford to buy more than one set. 

{Image from IKEA.com}

Crazy-Affordable Chevron Rugs

By Leah

A million years later, I'm finally catching up with the rest of the world and have bought my first piece of chevron decor. I don't even care if this makes me sooooo 2000 and LATE; I LOVE IT.

Listen, I know I wrote about a rug last week, but I have to share this great deal: I saw this rug on the Urban Outfitters website and couldn't believe they were selling a (cute!) 5x7 rug for under $100. I bought it partly just to see if it was too good to be true.

It showed up within a week, and you guys, it's awesome. The design is printed on only one side (not woven through with different colored material, if you care about such things), but otherwise the quality seems pretty top-notch to this non-afficianado rug purchaser.

It comes in two sizes (5x7 and 3x5, the latter of which is only $39, if you can believe that), and you have your choice of a bunch of cute colors--so many it was really hard to decide which one to get, especially since I'm using it in my craft room, which currently has a design aesthetic called Cardboard Boxes Everywhere, meaning it's basically a blank slate.

Now that I've done a quality check on one, I'm seriously thinking about getting another for the front porch just so I can buy a different color. ZIGZAGS EVERYWHERE. (Hey, is anyone still wearing their Missoni for Target stuff? Just wondering.)

Anyway, get yours now, before the rugs go out of stock/go out of style/get all bought up by meeeee. 

Update: I couldn't stand it and totally just bought one for the front porch. 

How Would You Wear It? Gap Skirt

By Jessica

 

I recently purchased this skirt

in an effort to break out of my knee length skirt comfort zone. It's about mid-thigh length and has pockets, which means I pretty much automatically love it (because of the pockets, not the length, short=scary!), but I can't decide what to wear with it. I initially purchased it thinking I would wear it with the boots my husband bought me for my birthday

and bright/pattered or navy tights? But I also bought some adorable navy blue satin flats that are an option as well. I just have no idea what to put on top.

What would you pair with this skirt?

Currently Coveting: Madewell Dresses

by Natalie

The weather we've been having in Austin lately is just gorgeous, but it's been giving me the mistaken impression that we're already well in to spring. While it was 71 and sunny today, and we went for a hike, and had a picnic, this can only mean that February is bound to be rainy and frozen.

However, this hasn't stopped me from wanting all of Madewell's spring dresses.

This one is calling my name:

I love a stripe, so this makes the top of my list. Though I would like to say the shoes and socks are RIDICULOUS with that dress. And not in a good way. (I have Opinions about socks and sandals.)

For spring parties (of which I have none to go to, unless they are kid parties that require yoga pants so as to properly extract my children from a bouncy house) I would like this polka-dot number, please.

(Again, not on board with the shoes. That dress demands a sandal, sans socks.)

For the days when I want to don large sunglasses and a hat and pretend I'm a lady who lunches, I shall wear this flowy one, please and thank you.

(Also with sandals. No socks.)

And now, for the Most Likely to Actually Wear It Award, I present to you: the shirt dress.

Since the description of this dress reads: "Our philosophy with this utilitarian shirtdress is the more wrinkly, the better," I figure it was meant to be mine. I'd wear this with flip flops and ponytail to pick up my kids from school, so... yeah. This is probably the one I should get.

What are you craving for spring?

{all photos via madewell.com}

 

Sweet Valentine's Day Printables

By Kate

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays, not only because of our tradition of homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast (though I'll admit, that helps), but because it's just plain fun to celebrate those you love and decorate the house with pink and red and hearts all over. (And bowls of candy. Those are fun, too.)

Here are some fun free Valentine's Day printables from around the web, many of which are making an appearance in my house this year. 

15 sweet prints, most of them available in a variety of colors from Sprik Space

DIY Valentine Treat bags, plus tutorial from Twig & Thistle

A classic lyric, modernized with pink chevrons, courtesy of Evelyn Kate Designs

Gift tags and a 5x7 print from Simple as That

Subway art in multiple colorways from The Bonjour Family

A modern twist on the Valentine's Day card, with customizable coupons from Love vs Design

An adorable set of 5 pink prints from Pizzazerie

{All photos credited to the individually linked blogs.}

Adorable Kid Gift: Boogie Monster Dance Kit

by Lawyerish    

For Christmas, my mom sent our daughter the Boogie Monster Dance Kit, and we have had such fun with it!

 

The kit contains a book, a music CD and a set of Boogie Monster legs:

Yes, they are shaggy orange leg warmers.  And my kid says, "Put on my Boogie Legs!" whenever she sees them.

The book is a fun read with a nice rhythm to it, and the text suggests different moves for the child (and parent, if you're so inclined) to try as you read along.  The CD is a fun, non-grating set of songs to help you and your little one get your groove on.

It's a great way to spend some time with your favorite small person doing something active without even having to leave your living room.  I think kids age 18 months to 4 years are especially well suited to the Boogie Monster's ways.  Give it a whirl!

(Photo credit: bn.com) (and my own)

Slipcovers that work: Sure-Fit

Our couches are at least ten years old. TEN! They've survived a cat, a dog, a baby, three moves, countless juice spills and snack-dumping incidents, an endless parade of misdirected crayon use and frankly, they show every big of wear and tear they've earned. These things are nasty. NASTY. No matter how many times I scrubbed the arms, laundered the cushions, vacuumed the crevices, they still looked . . . disgusting. Comfortable, but disgusting.

After finally coming to the determination that it was time for a new set, I got pregnant again. Which means another small person to spit up, spill juice, dribble snacks, pour lotion on the arms, ETCETERA. 

(This just in: children are foul, delightful little creatures.)

I didn't want to spend the money on a new set that would be destroyed in a matter of months, but I sure as hell didn't want to keep being positively MORTIFIED every time someone came into our home. Slipcovers seemed like an awful idea until a friend promised me that Sure-Fit would be different. (I sound like an infomercial. I swear, I bought these myself, and Sure-Fit doesn't even know who I am.)

I went with the Royal Diamond stretch, seen here, but in chocolate brown:

And BADOW! My couch doesn't look QUIIIITE as sleek as the photos would have you believe, and it's true, I have to do a fair amount of tucking and smoothing a few times throughout the day to make sure they don't look like bags, but overall, I am thrilled. THRILLED. My couches are no longer humiliating sacks of shame, the covers are completely (COMPLETELY!) machine washable, and I only spent $170 at Overstock for a couch AND a loveseat cover versus, say, thousands of dollars on a new set my kids are bound to demolish. 

The covers are super-stretchy (well, the form-fit ones are anyway) and have a TON of elastic to fit around all the important bits on the couch. And they cover EVERYTHING, stem to stern, leaving only the tiny feet underneath, if you can even see those. Putting them on took about ten minutes, and I'll bet they'll be ready for their first wash next week. (I've heard they DO wash well, and since they're mostly synthetic---but soft, I swear---I'm not surprised.)

Do it! You won't be sorry. The only thing there is to be sorry about is buying red denim couches in 2001. Red denim shows EVERYTHING.