Category Archives: For the Home

Judging Books by Covers, part II

Posted in For the Home by

childrens puffin set classicsOne of my most popular posts of the last two years was about Judging Books by Covers so I thought I’d do another roundup of some ones I wouldn’t mind sitting pretty on my shelf.

Kids Collection Box Set — covers by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazini and book titles in the set are Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, The Secret Garden, The Little Princess, Wind in the Willows, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Call of the Wild, Anne of Green Gables, Black Beauty, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Buy it here or on Amazon.

JD Salinger collection — I’ve not read any of the other books in this collection from J.D. Salinger other than Catcher in the Rye (one of my favorites).  Have you read any of his other books?

The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm Taschen

The Fairytales of The Brothers Grimm —  Reviewers on Anthropologie.com say this is the real deal, the fairy tales that aren’t made into happily ever afters, which sounds prety intriguing to me.  You can buy it from Anthro or from Taschen Books here.

classic penguin jane austen drop cap jessica hirsche

 

Drop case collection — my favorite is the ‘A’ for Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice—I adore the peacock feather motif.  Check out this article about the series with Penguin Creative Director Paul Buckley.

Mr. Boddington’s Penguin Classics — BFOTB kindly gifted me this gorgeous Wuthering Heights and I’m tempted to buy the coordinating Pride & Prejudice, Little Women, and Sense & Sensibility.  Would you believe I’ve never read Little Women?  Rachel from FRIENDS would be ashamed, I know.  Even Joey read it!

 the beekeepers bible williams sonoma

The Beekeeper’s Bible — because my dad is always rescuing bees and fretting about what will happen if/when the bee population disappears. Plus, this book cover artwork is simply stunning.  http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/the-beekeepers-bible-book/?pkey=cagrarian-garden-bee-keeping&


What are the prettiest books on your shelf?

The Scent of the Season

Posted in For the Home by

Dear Fellow Christmas Lovers,

Today I’m writing to tell you about the most splendid scent of the season: Frasier Fir from Thymes.  I tried it a few years ago and have been obsessed ever since.  It smells like a Christmas tree is in your hands when you use this soap or lotion and it’s just divine.  Every year Mumbles and I join his family to go Christmas tree hunting at a local Christmas Tree Farm (by the way, how cool are Christmas Tree Farms?  If I was a farmer, that’s what I’d want to grow!) and the smell of the damp leaves, the cold air and fresh cut wood is all around.  I swear this scent is just like that — crisp and woodsy but also warm and a bit floral to lighten it up.  Perfect. For those of you looking to savor the scent of the season (or stretch it out a little longer), be sure to stock up.  Here are a few of my favorite products from this fantastic line — I just love the faux bois caddy for the soap and lotion set and I think the decorative sachets would make a perfect compliment to brown paper packages tied up with strings!

clockwise:  Votive $12.50  |  Sink Set $36  |  Reed Diffuser $60  |  Decorative Sachet $3.75


Do you have a holiday scent that you love?

Splurge vs. Steal: Ombre Fur Throw

Posted in For the Home by

Yesterday I shared my current obsession with faux fur and thought you might enjoy these lovely faux fur throws in gorgeous gray ombre — I’ve seen them in person and they’re both perfect for cozy cuddling and glamorous gifting!

splurge vs steal grey ombre fur throw

left: Ombre Faux Fur Throw – West Elm $119
right:  Threshold Grey Ombre Faux Fur Throw – Target $24.99

Cozy Up to Fur

Posted in Beauty & Fashion, For the Home by

There’s something about winter (though we don’t quite have winter in California, do we?) that just calls for fur, I think.  I found an awesome pillow at Home Goods the other day – a brownish gray fur on one side and velvet on the other. And I had to have it. Had to. It’s on my couch now in all its soft, cozy, calming awesomeness.  Baxter under one arm, my fur pillow under the other.  And, I realized (how crazy that sounds, yes) that I’ve got a bit of a thing for fur.  Mrs. Mercado and I swooned over the chic but casual fur throw from west elm, I’ve always loved the little white throw from Ikea that you see in nurseries and on at-home office chairs all over Pinterest and Apartment Therapy, and then Target Does It Again kept taking photos of a white faux fur coat that I just had to go out and buy despite the fact that I feel a bit Russian when wearing it (and Mumbles thinks I look like a pretty Chewbacca so sadly, I returned it).  Also, my mother has some gorgeous real fur coats (inherited from my Grammy) that I might someday have the gumption to wear and at the Long Beach Flea Market a few weeks ago I noticed a lot of sellers had vintage coats and stoles and wraps that lots of ladies were happily taking them home.  So yeah, I’ve got faux fur on the brain faux sure. (see what I did there?!)

From coats to hoodies to boots, throws and pillows…how do you feel about fur?

faux fur roundup

1. Sam Edelman Faux Fur Walking Coat – Nordstrom $200  |  2. City of Lights Faux Fur Wrap – Ruche $34.99  |  3. Wildcat Coat – JCrew Crewcuts $178  |  4. Mossimo Faux Fur Coat – Target $49.99  |  5. Faux Fur Vest – Banana Republic $125  |  6. Merona Single-Breasted Coat with Fur Collar – Target $79.99  | 7. Fox Grey Fur Decorative Pillow Set of 2 – Overstock $84.99  |  8. Tejn Faux Sheepskin – Ikea $9.99

Gift Idea: Monthly Deliveries

Posted in Beauty & Fashion, Food, For the Home by
yuzen box.jpg

my first Yuzen box delivery – such a joy to open!

Wouldn’t it be grand to have the feeling you do while opening presents on Christmas morning every month? I think so, and it’s a bit of how I felt each of the three times I came home to discover a Yuzen package waiting for me at my door (read my experience here).  If you can’t quite decide what to get someone or feel like you’re running out of time, here is a roundup of monthly subscription services I’ve come across recently, which, along with Yuzen, would make for fabulous gifts beyond Christmas morning for just about everyone on your list.

For the Crafter: Whimsey 3 months $45 | 6 months $90 | 1 year $165

For the Creative: Creative Bug 1 month $24.99 | 3 months $59.97 | 6 months $101.94

For the Beauty Queen (or King): Birchbox 3 months $30 | 6 months $60 | 1 year $110

For Bob-the-Builder (or anyone of any name): Lego Master Builder Academy $29.99+

For the kids: Kiwi Crate 3 months $59 | 6 months $110 | 1 year $220

For the well accessorized: JewelMint (tailored to an individual’s personal taste, so gift cards are the way to go so they can use credits to pick their selections each month) 1 credit $29.99 | 2 credits $59.98 | 3 credits $89.97

For the shoe-obsessed: Shoe Dazzle (gift cards allow individuals to choose their style selections each month) $25+

For the burly man: Dollar Shave Club from $1/month

For the foodie + music lover: Turntable Kitchen 1 month $27.12 5 | 3 months $81.36

For your caffriend: Craft Coffee monthly $24.99 | 6 months $22.49/mo | Annual $19.99/mo (save 10% when you pay in full up front)

For your furbaby: Bark Box 1 month $29 | 3 months $22/mo | 6 months $17.50/mo

For the snail mail lover: Tota Press, a delivery of 2 letterpress cards for $10/month. (found via Daily Candy, which has great gift guides for all the people and critters in your life).

Happy gift giving! 

Do you subscribe to a monthly delivery service or have you ever been gifted one you loved?