By Jen
I am trying to become a person who accessorizes. In this quest, I've been looking at hair clips that I think I could pull off as an adult.
{Image credit: Little Birdie Secrets}
{Image credit: Melinda Rose Design}
{Image credit: Flowersbythevase}
What do you think? Can I pull them off or should I stick to my trusty elastic hair bands?
By Leah
I woke up this morning with the phrase "black lacquer ring" in my head. I have no idea what that was about, but when I thought about it for a second I realized what a cool accessory that would be; you (or maybe just I) don't see a lot of black rings out there these days. I love that they can take on different looks--classic to funky--and go with a range of trends, from neutral or neon. I especially love the idea of a black ring in spring and summer.
Forever 21, for less than five dollahs!
Vintage, from Elephant Caravan on Etsy ($25)
Vintage bakelite bubble ring, from Anciennes on Etsy ($35)
By Blythe
I have been quietly scoping out mothers' necklaces since my son was born. I would really like something subtle, high quality, and personal. It has to look OK as a single charm, since my son is most likely going to be an only child. Also, I'm really picky about jewelry.
Did I mention my kid turned five a couple of weeks ago? Yeah. Really picky.
I have finally found a charm that I love. Send a fingerprint and this artist will create a sterling silver engraving with a name and birth date on the back.
Fingerprint Charm by Chris Parry
Chris's Etsy shop is full of clever items, including pretty fingerprint rings, personalized bar code cuff links, and engraved guitar picks. Love.
{photo credit: Chris Parry on Etsy}
By A'Dell
Last Christmas I bought lots and lots of holiday pillows to perk up my brown sofas and I was really surprised at how much HAPPIER they made the whole room. Two big brown sofas in a single room with brownish carpet is, well, a lot of brown. I decided pretty fast to invest in some pretty and bright everyday pillows once I tucked the red and green ones away for the season.
I could make pillows (they're pretty simple) but I sort of don't feel like going through the effort. I want the sofa prettified NOW. I'm eyeing an Etsy shop that has TONS of pillows in several sizes and a ridiculous amount of patterns. I only need four pillows (max!) but I'm thinking about buying six or eight and rotating them.
Bright Green Pillows, set of 4 covers, $60
Purple Chevron on Natural, set of two covers, $36
Aren't these so CUTE? I think they'd be softer on the eye than a pattern on bright white.
Pink Ikat and Chevron, set of two covers, $28
Green Zebra, set of two covers, $30
I'm such a sucker for animal prints.
Confetti Pom Pom in Green, Brown, and Aqua, set of two covers, $32
Navy and White Chain Link Pillows, $30
by Emily
I have been looking for a good excuse to gift someone with this for months now, and although I've come up with many Big Reasons to gift it (bringing a new baby home, celebrating a ten-year anniversary, moving to a new home), I find that the real reason I've been looking is because I ACTUALLY WANT THIS MYSELF. Very VERY badly.
Of course, this home I currently live in is the ONLY home I've ever shared with my husband (we moved in together the night we came home from our honeymoon). We brought both of our babies here, our only dog (who passed away more than a year ago) only knew this home as his own. It's filled to the brim with memories and I think this is the perfect way to take the memory of this home with me whenever we leave it. (And we will eventually leave it, SIGH.)
These are custom house portraits by Rebekka Seale. She does watercolors from photographs, and they are adorable and amazing and she isn't even OFFERING them currently because she's been so inundated by orders, and RIGHTLY SO. If you can even GET one right now (you can't at this moment, there's not one listed for sale), the turnaround time is four months. But isn't it worth it? So whimsical and gorgeous and the perfect gift for an anniversary, a new baby, a going away gift. OR FOR ME, ANYONE WHO IS READING THIS.
I am going to stalk her Etsy page until it comes back. And then drop some more VERY OBVIOUS hints for anyone around me.
[photo credit: etsy.com]
By Leah
I don't take my rings off very often, but now that I'm the owner of a brand new fancy bread machine (hooray, technology! you make me a better domestician), I need somewhere to put my jewelry that's safe and routine (so I don't forget where I put stuff) and also cuter than an upcycled lid from a old pickle jar.
I bought myself this little sweetie from Bed, Bath and Beyond (they had a display of about ten different animals at the cash registers) and I love how it looks perched behind the kitchen sink:
Here are some other pretty options:
Lotus bowl from dgordon on Etsy
Skultuna brass for only $122 (OMG, NO, but it is beautiful)
Handcarved oak cat from Boxnmor on Etsy
Vintage-looking circus-style animals from Luggage and Leather (I can't pick a favorite)
By Leah
About a month ago I bought a shirt at Target that had tiny little peacock feathers over a navy background. It's not the sort of thing I'd normally pick out, but it was on sale, and the peacock motif made me feel like I was getting away with something--maybe because it's animal print without being, you know...animal print.
While looking for a link to the shirt, I found almost nothing else peacock-patterned at major retailers that wasn't completely hideous (these rain boots from Target are pushing it), but there was a ton of great stuff to be found from--who else?--our friends at Etsy. Here's small sampling:
Peacock pendant ($8.95) from The Pendant Emporium.
Smoky crystal peacock ring ($15.65) from Angeltodora98.
Peacock feather earrings ($4.99) from I Am Superstar.
Wooden peacock necklace ($16.00) from Juniper Rush.
Custom painted peacock Toms shoes ($149.00) from Blake Barash.
Peacock pumps with crystal ($60.00) from Paris XOX.
Custom printed peacock feather dress ($24.00) from Wear Yeti.
Handprinted peacock shirtdress ($40.00) from Seal Maiden.
Peacock tie ($30.00) from Cyberoptix.
Reclaimed redwood peacock clock ($65.00) from Nica and the Newfie.
Henna-inspired burned wood peacock spoons (3 for $38.00) from Greenwood Creations.
Peacock pillow cover ($45.00) from Pop O Color.
Peacock hip flask ($16.00) from Lezlee Elliott.
By Megan
My very good friend recently got married after a whirlwind three week engagement. Needless to say, there was no time for registering, and even if she had registered, I would have wanted to get her something more meaningful than a toaster. I would like to get her things that are useful, but also come from the heart.
Fortunately, this is one person on my list who I'm not having a hard time shopping for.
Christmas Ornaments for decorating her first married Christmas Tree
Crate and Barrel Set of 12 Mini Glass Ball Ornaments
Recipe Binder - My friend's vows including attempting to learn to cook without also burning down the kitchen. Her kitchen actual DID burn down at one point - although she wasn't at home when it happened, so this is a particularly important point.
I'm planning to print all of my tried and true recipes and put them into a binder for her, using these free printable templates, and wrap it all up with a cute potholder.
Personalized Stationery - I'm a sucker for pretty notecards, and so is my friend. Naturally, she'll need something in her married name.
These would be great packaged with a new address stamp.
Can you think of anything else a newlywed might like to find under their Christmas tree this year?
{Photo Credits: crateandbarrel.com, prudentbaby.com, and Rowhouse14 on Etsy}
by Christina
I have two running lists in my head. A real one that is within the limt of our budget and the fun one, which is so not. The fun one has things like an $1100 camera and assorted lenses and a $350 cuckoo clock, and, really, that's just the start of that one. My real list is still fun though and it's been a really long time since I've put any thought into it. Typically my husband just knows what to get me but this year he asked for a list. Lucky me!
(via amazon)
Love Florence so her new cd is a must.
OPI, Black Cherry Chutney becuase you can never have enough nail polish.
(image via steffels blogspot)
A house portriat, though it's too late to get this before Christmas, I'd still love one. 
(via rebekkaseale)
And finally 3 of these for the cities that my husband and I have lived in. (Tacoma, Chapel Hill and Columbus)
(via bird avenue)
And black frames with white mats for them. A pretty modest list of but all of these items would make me so very happy.
What's on your list?
by Kate
I have a Pinterest problem. There, I said it. I spend entirely too much time pinning all kinds of things: meals I'll never cook, decor I'll never recreate, outfits I'll never wear, and crafts I'm not talented enough to try.
Of course, Pinterest is also filled with things that are more my speed: those you can buy -- including Etsy gems you'd never find on your own, because you didn't even know you needed them. 1Canoe2's state and city letterpress prints are all over Pinterest, and for good reason -- they're adorable, affordable, fit into a standard 5x7 frame, and are a great way to show your love for your favorite (or favorites!) of the 50 states.
1Canoe2 also has some great options for hostess gifts, something I'm always looking for during the holiday season. Perhaps a set of letterpress recipe cards and dividers?
Or a cute set of cards?
I am in love with their quirky style and fun prints. Aren't you?
{Photo credits: 1Canoe2, via Etsy & Pinterest}
