Style Lush

Plantable Paper Goods

By Leah

'Tis the season for thanks, thankfulness, and thank you cards. And soon it will be time for Christmas cards and gift tags and new calendars and finding great items for all those mothers-in-law/preschool teacher/boss-types who are impossible to shop for.

This year I'm going to fly my hippy flag high and proud and pick up some things from Botanical Paperworks, who specialize in plantable paper goods of all kinds. Check it out:

Plantable seed thank you cards.

Plantable seed journal.

 

Plantable seed calendar. (My favorite. Each page grows a different herb or vegetable. LOVE THIS.)

 

Plantable seed postcards.

 

Plantable seed confetti (for decorating your Thanksgiving table).

 

Plantable seed wine glass tags.

 

Plantable seed cards and envelopes for all occasions.

They have cards for holidays and special occasions, and also miscellaneous things like wedding stationery and favors, business cards, promotional products, and memorial products. (A friend of mine sent seed cards when her dog died, and although that might seem weird out of context, it was actually really lovely.)  

Lots of great ideas here, for the holidays and beyond. (And the calendars are genius, aren't they?) 

What Goes Around Comes Around: Leather Jackets Are Back

By Rebecca

I used to have a leather jacket that I wore everywhere. It was made of intentionally wrinkly brown leather, it was cropped and it had large shoulder pads. It was also double-breasted. The year was 1988. 

(Seriously, if we can't make fun of our sartorial choices from 1988, what CAN we make fun of? But if you are reading this and you were not yet BORN in 1988, I don't want to hear about it. Well, actually I do, because your mom probably has some pretty awesome pictures to show you.)

Anyway, let's fast-forward to the present day, shall we? And shake our heads about how silly our fashion choices once were?

BUT WAIT. what's that, you say? A similar jacket exists today? A similar jacket that despite my words two paragraphs ago, that I think is actually REALLY cute? 

 

It's true. I'm a hypocrite. Well, I guess this jacket isn't really cropped, and I can't tell if it has shoulder pads, and it's technically not double-breasted but rather a moto-zip style, so you've got to give me a pass here. This is the quilted leather moto jacket from Gap and I shamelessly* love it. 

*Almost shamelessly. Because the 80s left their mark.

(Photo credit: gap.com)

 

Late to the party: I'm finally reading The Harry Potter books

By Manda

Well, I'm about to show my cards here but ... I watched all the Harry Potter movies without reading the books first. I KNOW! I'm awful! The first Harry Potter book came out in 1999, and back then I was a too-cool-for-everything college student who was up to her eyeballs in Chaucer (that she only read MOST of, let's face it). What I mean is, it was after my time. Harry Potter wasn't on my radar until the first movie came out in 2001, and even then I didn't see the movie until way, way later ... was it 2004? I have no idea. But when I saw it? I LOVED IT. And even though my husband was teaching a young adult literature class at the time that featured the first novel, and even though I have had books 1-5 sitting on my book shelf for nearly 7 years ... I never read them. What a shame!

I finally read book one when I found out the entire Harry Potter series was featured on the Amazon Prime Kindle free lending library (because let's face it, until I got my Kindle just over a year ago I was not reading enough!). I do not hesitate to say that I have not enjoyed a book that much in a long time! And since I couldn't borrow another book for another month on my Kindle? I got up and walked to my bookshelf and plucked out the second one. And then the third. And now? I'm on book four!

I read a few chapters here and there when I have time, and I really look forward to my reading time. In my opinion as an English major (hey! They hand out diplomas to people who MOSTLY read their Chaucer! Woo!), they are very well-written and very entertaining. And you know what else? Even though I imagine the actors' faces when I think about Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hagrid and Dumbledore, the rest has been easy for my imagination to paint. I don't feel trapped by the fact that I saw the movies, you know (which is probably also a credit to how the movies were made for people who loved the books first!)?

There is something just comforting to me about these stories. Maybe it's that we always break the movies out when the weather turns colder, usually with a cup of hot tea and the Scrabble board. Maybe it's that Harry is so much fun to root for. Maybe it's the holidays at Hogwarts or the butterbeer ... whatever it is, it's magical. Yep. I said it.

What are you enjoying revisiting this fall? Are you a muggle who loves Harry Potter?

(image via Amazon.com)

Lighted Halloween Window Decorations

By Elisabeth

Since my children started noticing what our house looked like during Halloween, I have tried to add a couple new decorations a year to fill out our beginners stash. Now, I never want to go overboard, especially with price, since these are all seasonal items, but I do want to please the kids during their favorite holiday of the year! (Um, what about Christmas, guys?)

I found all of these on Amazon and most of them were Prime Shipping, so I received the first two in time for Halloween last year. I remembered a little earlier this year, so we've added 3 more to the mix while still waiting on the last one to be delivered. The kids love having the house lit up with all of the various Halloween characters, plus it makes our house stand out from the street! (Plus, the clean up is taking them down from the windows and storing them in a tub. Easy!)

Jack 'O Latern

Ghost

Skull

Bat

Witch

 

(Photo Credits: Amazon.com)

My Favorite Scarves for Fall

By Rebecca

All of a sudden it is no longer 90 degrees outside, so obviously I've started plotting out my sweater- and scarf-wearing ways for the winter. As a Californian, our winter is really "winter," which probably makes me love fall and winter clothing all the more because it's mostly decorative! In fact, I am a serial scarf-buyer.

I think one reason why scarves appeal to me so much is that they make it very easy to accessorize. I wear mostly simple clothes, so when you find a scarf that is easy to throw on with a cardigan and jeans it dresses up a simple outfit into something special.

For example, a bright scarf makes it easy to colorblock. Take a pair of cobalt blue jeans and a t-shirt, add a scarf that's yellow or pink and you have an easy outfit that looks intentionally styled. To quote Emeril, "BAM!"

Without further ado (since I'm not sure where else I can go with this after invoking Emeril), here are a few cute scarves to liven up your fall wardrobe.

First up, we have the refined silk/cashmere wrap from J. Crew. I have this scarf and it is warm, light, and generally fantastic. Mine is a darker fuchsia color from a couple years ago, but I really like this lighter pink.

Another great one is the Old Navy Open-Weave Fringe Scarf. I don't own this one (yet), but I did try it on in the store yesterday. I didn't buy it only because my cart was already full of long-sleeved stuff for my kids, who have outgrown all their fall clothes, but it will be mine. It's a mere $13.50!

Okay, let's talk about infinity scarves. I adore them and I can't quit them. Not only are they cute, but they eliminate the pressure to wrap or tie your scarf just so. I really like this striped one from Nordstrom. It has stripes! And is only $20! Total winner.

Are you a scarf-wearer? Have you seen any cute ones I should look at?

 

(Photo credits: jcrew.com, oldnavy.com & nordstrom.com)

 

 

Buy it in bulk: Method Orla Kiely limited edition

By Manda

It's no secret that Style Lush writers fully endorse Method cleaning products! Hillary really loves them. So does Beth!

And so do I! They smell great, they're non-toxic and green (plus the bottles look fancy and modern!). But I have to tell you, my preferred bottle of all-purpose cleaner was getting a little played out. I have two little kids and two dogs so I clean every day. I was starting to associate the smell of French lavender with ... DOOM. You know? My bottle was running low so the other day at Target I set about picking a new scent. I noticed the Orla Kiely section and tossed some stuff that looked (and smelled!) promising into my cart.

OH MY WORD. Have you smelled the pear ginger all-purpose spray? I kind of get tempted to drink it every time I clean. I fully intend to buy every bottle they have in stock the next time I'm in Target because I will be SO SAD when it's no longer available!

 

(photo via Methodhome.com)

I also grabbed a few bottles of the vanilla chai scented foaming hand wash ... it's the perfect sweet and spicy scent for fall (and no triclosan! Which helps tremendously with my wedding ring dermatitis).

Have you tried the Orla Kiely for Method line at Target yet? What's your favorite scent?

There's an app for that: How I budget for Starbucks

By Manda

Fall is here! For many, it means cooler temperatures, bringing out our favorite jeans, boots, and jackets, football, the return of our favorite television shows and of course ...

PUMPKIN SPICE LATTES! You guys? I'm an addict. I love Starbucks all year round, but things get crazy in the fall and during Christmas time. Usually I get a Starbucks drink at the store maybe once every two weeks for a treat. But now that October is here? My habit has been bumped up to at least once a week, maybe more.

The problem? It's killing my budget!

Enter the free Starbucks app:

There are MANY cool things about this app (it's available for iPhone AND Android!), but my favorite is that it encourages you to organize and use Starbucks gift cards with a rewards system. If you register your gift cards on the app, you can then SCAN YOUR PHONE at Starbucks and you don't have to worry about where you put them! You can reload your cards using Paypal right on your phone, or you can reload your card at Starbucks and it will automatically update your balance on your phone. You can also consolidate your gift cards on the phone so you don't have a bunch will small balances rolling around your purse (I have a messy purse and lose gift cards sometimes, so this is perfect for me!).

So, here's what I do: If I sell something on eBay (which I only do once in a great while) I just transfer $10 to my card via Paypal, which is instant. OR I make myself put $10 on a gift card and then the balance transfers to my phone account. I find that if I budget myself to $10 every week or two weeks, that I stick to it and it helps keep things under control. Now? I REFUSE to use my debit card at Starbucks. If I don't have enough in the account on my phone I either take the extra steps to reload it or - imagine this - cut myself off! It's very helpful. AND! It's fun to see your points add up! There are perks to using the rewards system: Free drink on your birthday, free flavor shots and refills, and also as your points add up you eventually get a free beverage here and there. Sweet, right?

The app is also a great way to give: You can send anyone a digital gift card to their email address. If they have the app it registers to their account on their phone (I think!). Very handy and what an easy way to surprise your favorite people!

How do you budget for your favorite indulgence?

And if you're a Pumpkin Spice Latte junkie like me? HIGH FIVE!

(Photos from: Someecards.com and Starbucks)

Fall Activities: Apple Picking

By Tara

I know I've mentioned this before, but one of my favorite things about living just north of Atlanta is our proximity to so many cute little towns and activities in the North Georgia Mountains. I really do feel like I have the best of both worlds, with museums and theaters and restaurants to the south of me, and forests and lakes and mountains to the north.

I love it.

One of the things that has been on my fall to-do list for the last few years, but that we've never quite made it around to experiencing, is apple picking. Anything that can be made with apples is something that I will eat or drink, but my husband isn't quite as overly enthusiastic about the fruit as I am, so a trip to the orchard always gets dropped below our other activities (pumpkin patch, county fair, annual fundraising event at the historical cemetery in town, etc) (yes, cemetery. it's historical and gorgeous and just the perfect trip for the month of Halloween). But we made it happen this year, and I would definitely love to make the trip an annual event.

If you happen to live in the Southeast (or even if you don't, but you still want a weekend away...), I'd recommend the Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay, GA. It's held the second and third weekends of October (which would be the 13th-14th and the 20th-21st this year), and there are hundreds of vendors on hand and craft demonstrations throughout the weekend, along with seven orchards in the area to choose from for apple picking purposes. The festival itself has been around for 41 years and even got a mention in the October issue of Southern Living magazine as something you should do if you're looking for fall activities. And I would NEVER argue with anything Southern Living says, so you know it has to be good...

{photo credit: my husband}

Adding To My Collection: Fall TOMS

By Jessica

We've been dealing with a lot of crazy car drama around my house lately, along with some other assorted stresses, which leads to me getting worn down, which leads to me ending up with a miserable virus. When I'm stressed I usually want to go shopping as a little distraction but when I'm felled by a nasty virus I do the considerate thing and stay in my house (take note general population--this is how you don't get other people sick) so no shopping for me. Luckily, I have a sweet husband who needed to grab himself a pair of jeans at American Eagle and was kind enough to swing a couple of doors down and grab the pair of TOMS I have been coveting ever since they sent me the fall catalog. Smart move, that.

Chestnut Suede Desert Wedge. They are also available in black and taupe (and I would take them in both those colors, especially the taupe, please).

Super cute and super comfy!

(Photo from: Toms.com)

PS: Speaking of TOMS, tell Elizabeth what you think of these TOMS wedges!

Halloween Costumes for the Little Ones

By Sara

My mom loves to regale me with stories about how she made my Halloween costumes every year and how EASY it is to make them. She made a strawberry (darling! with a vine hat!) and an M&M (in orange! and green! overachiever!) and a gypsy in fifth grade (no midriff baring top so not entirely up to par in my book (the nerve!)). I, however, am less inclined to spend time making these kids' Halloween costumes with my near zero sewing experience and lack of time although I appreciate all my mother's hard work

Instead I canvass the internet for cute and cheap costumes that come in a package...buy it and done. No fuss, no muss, just cute kids. This Halloween I grabbed the first two cute-enough costumes I saw and called it DONE.

For our swash-buckling four year old boy:

Boy's Pirate Costume, Target, $24.99

And for our sweet one year old girl, who loves eating watermelon as much as the next baby:

Watermelon Costume, Children's Place, on sale $20.96

Old Navy always comes through with great kids' costumes at excellent prices. This year I'm also loving these:

Fairy (multiple colors), Old Navy, $38

 

Strawberry, Old Navy, $18

 

Baby Elephant, Old Navy, $20

 

Monster, OId Navy, $18.50

Carters, The Childrens' Place, and Costco (in store) are also great places to pick up well-made costumes at decent prices. Are they heirloom-quality to be passed down for generations? No but they sure are cute. Now I need you all to please promise me you'll never allow your young daughter out of the house in this:

Girls' Pirate Costume, Target

This is in the KIDS costume section. Hold me.