Style Lush

Cheating On My Dyson

Editor's note: For our last week at Style Lush, I've asked the writers to share both a favorite post by another writer, from over the last three years, and a favorite post of their own. You'll see these posts linked to at the top of their new post for the week. Enjoy a stroll down Lush memory lane!

 By Jessica

I kind of can't believe I am writing my final post for Style Lush right now, I've been here from the beginning, so selecting a favorite post of mine, or anyone else's, through all this time is proving too difficult for me in light of the reality of this being my final post. I have found so many wonderful products, artists, musicians and friends through this site (and Food Lush as well) thank you for allowing us the opportunity to be a part of your world.

***

If A'Dell tells you that the chocolate cake at Costco is THE BEST and that you should go get some, you should probably believe her, because she's serious about that chocolate cake and she's right, of course. And if A'Dell gives good reviews on a Roomba? Well then maybe you should go get one because she's probably right about that too. At least, her review sure makes a convincing enough argument to maybe push two people already looking at a Roomba right over the edge into buying one. See, we are really committing to making changes (large, machine based changes) for my health needs this year and we thought maybe this might help tackle the never ending cycle of dust and debris the dogs love to track in from the yard. Now, we have a Dyson and it has served us admirably for years

but the lure of something that could be running while I was doing something else? Something that could run everyday (because let's face it, that is not happening with the heavy and cumbersome Dyson)? The lure is very strong indeed. 

A lure we were unable to avoid, thanks to Costco having a great price on a special version apparently only they offer which comes with extra filters and extra brushes, definitely a great deal. Obviously you can tell Mayday (the dog in the photos above) was much more concerned about this thing than she is the Dyson (and yes, it was running in that top photo while she was sleeping in the sun) and the Roomba "chased" Maddie (our other dog) around the kitchen for a bit, she was--unthrilled.

I, however, am THRILLED with this little thing. Yesterday I was able to swiffer, spray paint a piece of furniture, run a load of a laundry and take a shower WHILE my floors were being vaccumed. It was fantastic. So far we are keeping the Roomba for the main parts of the house and the Dyson for our bedroom because our spoiled princesses each have full-sized comforters on the floor on either side of our bed and I don't want to deal with picking that up each time but maybe someday they'll deign to have dog beds.

It's so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up*

 

*Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

My Current Favorite Necklaces

By Jessica

I know the trend right now is "statement necklaces" and I have seen beautiful examples worn beautifully on many of my friends, hanging in shop windows, styled in catalogs and on various fashion blogger-y types. Unfortunately whenever I try to wear one, I feel like a little girl that has been playing in her mother's jewelry and not in a good way. 

I thought maybe I was just not a necklace person (I love a loud cocktail ring, like whoa) but I have an undying love for a Fossil necklace I own so maybe I'm just a different kind of necklace person, a pendant type of necklace person. 

I guess I like my statement to be a whisper. 

Like these necklaces I purchased, with my Christmas cash, from Fossil (outlet), which I absolutely ADORE. Seriously. I couldn't be more in love with them or this 

wishbone necklace from Sosie. 

Of course, now that I've identified my style I have others I want to add to my collection.

Pin Drop necklace in silver via Sosie

Signature Pendant in yellow via Fossil

Freshwater Pearl and Ebony Friendship necklace via Blue Poppy

or any of these Jennie mentioned.

What necklaces are you loving right now?

Help Me Make This Cute

By Jessica

One of my goals for this year is the complete organization and de-cluttering of my house. I need this for my sanity, NEED IT, and one of the first areas I've been tackling is the entry way by my front door. I had some "big dreams" of finding an entry table at a thrift store and using that as a way to keep the mail from crossing the threshold and continuing to take over the top of our bar. After the reality of my local Goodwill shattered that for me, I decided to rummage through my garage and see what I already had that might be able to work. 

Which is how I came to have this metal shelving thing brought into the house. 

It's not the prettiest thing going but it did suit a lot of the needs this area has: storage for my boots, a space for baskets to hold misc shoes and paper recycling, space for mailing needs (envelopes, stamps and an address book), someplace to put the mail itself and a space for my husband to put his work bag.

Right now all the mail is pretty much just slapped down on the top of the thing, I have one sad little candle holder over in the corner and the misc shoes are in an old picnic basket BUT it was such un-believable progress from how bad this area used to look, that I was willing to just live with it for a bit. 

I also have to admit being stumped by the unit itself. It's brown coated metal on the sides and shelves, with a wood laminate top and chrome accents. How exactly best to paint such disparate surfaces? 

Also, do I want to paint it a bright color and go with plain baskets? Or paint it white or black and go with bright baskets? And for the mail do I want something to sort it on the top or maybe some sort of magnetic sorter on the side and leave the top for display?

HELP ME!

My Quick Little Wish List

By Jessica

My husband and I don't exchange personal gifts at Christmas. We help our son shop for each other on a small, he-could-conceiveably-afford-the-items-himself budget, so that he'll get into the habit of shopping for others at the holidays but other other than that and maybe stockings? Our holiday dollars are always ear-marked for other people. 

That said, there's nothing wrong with a little holiday (online) window shopping right? Maybe something on my list might help you round out your own list or help you shop for someone you know. Of course the Style Lush Gift Guide probably has most everyone covered.

Crop It Like It's Hot Tee from The Unrefinery $24.95

Louis Armstong Told Us So  print by Bianca Green on Society 6 Large 28x19 $32.00

Obey Make Art Not War Tee from Zumiez $31.95

Minnetonka Kilty Suede Mocs from Zappos $41.95

Rock The Boat Ring from Peacock Plume $12.00

L.A.M.B. Stripped Clutch from Zappos $119

Wish Upon A Star Friendship Necklace from Fossil $48

Key-per Flap in Aqua from Fossil $98

Galaxy Leather Cuff from CJohannensen on Etsy

Don't Forget To Play Pillow Cover by Marc Collins on Society 6 $20.00

Christmas Paper Crafts: My New Tree Topper

By Jessica

This year, I have resolved to work with what I have and refresh my holiday displays without purchasing anything new, as much as possible. I did purchase this GORGEOUS Santa print that makes me smile every single time I look at my mantle, but, so far, nothing else. Which is how I ended up searching for ideas on a new topper for my tree that wouldn't cost me anything. Because while I may be working with what I've got, that doesn't mean I don't also want to change my theme/color scheme again. I'm a complicated woman. 

I have fallen in love with idea of red, teal, and acid green with hints of white and sparkle so that's the path I've headed down. I have decorations that will work for me but no topper and I thought about just pulling out my doves and using them again but wanted something more funky, retro yet modern? I also, for some reason, have been obsessed with the idea of making things from paper this year. 

I did some Google searches and some Pinterest searches and ultimately I ended up with two tutorials of a similar style. One that was more intricate and since it was made with glittered paper, more glittery as well and the other, more subdued and I suspect, since it was made with black paper, the one really spoke to me.

Obviously, I didn't use black paper (I still might somewhere this year) but I definitely went with that second tutorial to make my tree topper:

I followed that second link pretty much exactly with two exceptions:

1) Glue. I used hot glue to make it quicker and not require anything to hold the strips together while they dried. (NOTE: hot glue is HOT, have a bowl of ice water handy, in case of drips)

2) Measurements. Even though we were taught metric briefly in elementary school, I am still a lame American that knows inches not centimeters so my strips were 1/2" x 12" 

This project required less than one standard 12"x12" sheet of cardstock scrapbook paper which I always have on hand and probably around 30 minutes total (that's being really generous with the time, I didn't time myself). So totally FREE, YAY! And also, totally GORGEOUS, YAY! I love how it resembles a celtic knotwork design and looks different depending on how you look at it, since it's open on the inside and sort of puffs out a bit. 

I HIGHLY recommend making one of your very own or even making a bunch of these stars and just hanging them as decorations in front of windows, from the ceiling, around the mantle...the possibilities are endless.

Have you ever made your own tree topper?

My Thoughts on the Amika Hair Mask

By Jessica

 

I've recently canceled my Birchbox subscription (I'm possibly switching to another service on the recommendation of Twitter pals) but one of my last boxes contained the above hair mask. I know quite a few people that balked about this product but I was actually excited to try the Amika Nourishing Hair Mask. I love trying new hair products and this one is free from parabens and safe for color-treated hair. 

After trying it, I'm pretty meh overall. It smells good so that's always nice. The consistency was creamy and weighty as you'd expect from something with "mask" in the title but it left my hair lackluster and flat. I'd say that maybe it'd be better for drier hair, but I can literally go a full week without washing my hair and not have a hint of oil, so...your mileage may vary.

Do you have a hair mask you like?

(Photo from: Amika)

The Renaissance Festival

By Jessica

It varies by state, but fall in my area of Texas is time for the Texas Renaissance Festival. Running 8 weekends from early October through Thanksgiving weekend, TRF is the largest (55 acres) renaissance festival in the U.S. Each weekend is themed and it's a great opportunity for someone who loves to dress up (aka me) to have more than just Halloween as a reason to wear costumes.

(Me this year, final weekend, photo via pygmypony.net)

(Me and my son, first weekend this year)

(Me and my husband, pirate weekend, last year)

There are those who take it more seriously and go full period-dress and others that use this as an excuse to bust out their best storm trooper ensemble (yes really) and still others that just show up in normal clothes and enjoy the spectacle, but regardless of how you dress, a good time is usually had by all. There are shows to check out, mead to sample, jousts to witness, many interesting character actors wandering about and at TRF, a whole children's area and fireworks to close out the night.

In Texas, we have two other festivals I am excited to try out Sherwood Forest Faire  and Scarborough Renaissance Festival and we have them on our calendar this year. I attended my very first renaissance festival wayyyyy back in 1992, in Arizona.

Have you ever attended a renaissance festival? Would you/do go in costume?

A Dress Outside My Comfort Zone But Well Within Budget

By Jessica

Like a fair majority of the writers on this site and I already mentioned over on Food Lush, I was in New Orleans over the weekend for The Blathering. Saturday night dinner is the traditional "dress-up" event and as everyone was discussing their outfits on twitter, it seemed the trend encompassed one word: glitter. Now, I love all things sparkle (I apparently have "parrot syndrome" and can't help myself staring when something is shiny) but actually wearing something like that? Not so much. I am not so much about the flash when it comes to my own self, apparently.

I shopped in MANY stores trying to find the right dress for the event, the right dress for me, before dejectedly ending up back at Target, figuring that I'd at least find something for the rest of the weekend and just rummage through my closet and wear something I already owned for the dinner. And then, I found this:

Converse® One Star® Women's Long Sleeve Corey Dress

I decided to not be a big old chicken and give it a shot. Y'all this dress is SHORT. I don't do SHORT. It's also a bubble skirt and I'm not sure people are still even doing bubble skirts but I tried it on and I kinda, sorta, loved it. It scares me how much I love this dress. The back of the dress is drapey and a bit open and it ties at the top but with the long sleeves it feels edgy and different to me. I just... I LOVE IT. Since we were out in New Orleans (lots of walking, lots of potential for *muck*) I wore it with black motorcycle boots, bright fuschia tights, with peacock earrings and a teal belt. 

I can't wait to have a reason to wear it again. 

Have you bought anything outside of your comfort zone lately?

(Photo from: Target.com)

Shopping Tip: Search The Name

By Jessica

A little bit ago, I feel in love with a pair of shoes on ShopRuche but was crazy bummed to find they only had one pair left and of course they weren't my size. I decided to take a chance and do a Google search on the name listed for the shoes on the off chance I could find them available somewhere else, like eBay or something. I really loved those shoes.

(please excuse the insane amount of dog hair in that pic, my dog blows her coat like mad, furminator or no)

And wouldn't you know it, not only did I find the shoes, but I found them cheaper and in several different colors on Amazon.com*. I am so glad I decided to just see if I could find them anywhere else because these shoes are so cute and comfortable and I love them even more on my feet than I did in the picture online. Plus I paid LESS, which always makes me happy.

Do you search the name of an out-of-stock item on the web to see if it might be available elsewhere? Do you check the name, even if the item is in stock to see if you can find it cheaper?

Woodfire Candles, A Good Thing?

By Jessica

I stumbled across these Woodfire candles by Illume the other day at Central Market and was compelled to smell them instantly. I love the smell of a campfire or the smoke in the air when fall finally hits here in Texas (if ever it does) and people start using their fireplaces. I absolutely love the smell of these candles but I wonder how it would be to have this burning in my house. Would I start to get overwhelmed by the smell and fell like my house was burning down around me? Or worse, totally forget that is the candle burning and truly panic that my house was on fire?

I kind of want to buy one just to see, just because I love the smell that much. I'm not sure if that is genius or crazy on my part, however.