Decor in Unexpected Places

After over three years in the condo (where does time go!) I have gotten more of a feel of my own decor style. It seems I am a hybrid Crate & Barrel - West Elm - Pottery Barn type person. I love the traditional meets modern vibe, and it's perfect for a high rise in the middle of Buckhead. I have kept a pretty simple color scheme going in here and have all the larger furniture pieces purchased, but I'm always looking around for what else I can add in. My walls and shelves are kind of itching for some new pieces right now.

But goodness, if I don't like spending money at those types of stores. It hurts me to drop that kind of money on things when I know there are knock-offs available on the cheap in other stores. In the meantime, I keep up the daydreaming about the types of decor I like and want to see in my own home, and keep an eye out for bargains at places like Pier 1, Cost Plus and Tar-jay.

I loved all the lanterns featured in the latest few Crate & Barrel catalogs. They remind me of what life could be like at the beach (wouldn't that be lovely!), but they can transition from season to season just by bringing them indoors.

But seriously, at anywhere from $37 to $80 a pop, they were too much for my cheapo self. It's just a candleholder, after all!

Well, wouldn't you know. Strolling the aisles of a local Lowe's late one evening, what do I come upon but almost the exact same lanterns for literally between $1 and $6 each depending on the size. Done and done. Those plus a globe-shaped one for a mere $9, and I was ridiculously pleased with myself :)

And then I stumbled on even more lantern knock-offs at IKEA, and so I picked up a small circular silver one to complete my "arrangement." Total cost for four lanterns: $17. Take that, more expensive stores!

Now I am in the midst of arranging them for the upcoming Fall season. So far, I think it's looking ok, but some Fall foliage (fake, of course) from the racks at Michael's will probably even things out, along with some Fall-colored candles. The beige candles are too washed out up against my beige walls.

What home decor items are on your wish list right now? What do you think of my little set-up on top of the bookcase?

Bachelorette Business

Living in a high-rise in Buckhead, I am pretty much game for any opportunity that arises where I can play hostess. So when it came time for us bridesmaids to figure out a Bachelorette party plan for our dear friend, Laurie, I of course offered up the condo as party-central!

After a consult with my mom (the original Malone party planning guru!), I decided that a poolside soiree with a tropical theme would be a fun way to kick things off. She was fabulous and put together some fantastic themed party supplies for me to use. Since it's about 80-bajillion degrees here right now, I played it safe and assumed we'd be spending at least half of the day upstairs, seeking relief from the sun. I hung up some fun streamers and decorated the tabletops.

An ice bucket full of sodas and white wine was ready for the gals when they needed a break from the margaritas we'd be having at the pool. I also had champagne (buy it on the cheap at Trader Joe's) chilling in the fridge for a lingerie surprise later in the day. 

In prep for our girls night on the town, I picked up some pink (duh!) swag for everyone to wear. A pink lei would showcase Laurie as the Bachelorette, while we 'maids had some fun light-up rings and name badges (on which we of course wrote our alter-ego names!)

Down at the pool, I reserved a corner for us to relax and chat for the afternoon in the sun. I love the cute chalkboard sign that my mom let me borrow - I announced our Bachelorette theme there for everyone at the pool to see! Some fun candy-striped straws worked perfectly for the margaritas on the rocks (everyone knows you drink faster through a straw...) and flip flop and flower cut-outs kept the tropical theme going. We even had pool toys on reserve in case the gals got a little crazy. Koosh paddleball, anyone?!

The party wouldn't have been complete without the food, though! Since we were planning on a fun night out complete with dinner, I kept the snacks light. Oriental Salad filled up adorable Chinese food take-out boxes, which I then kept in a cooler, and fruit kabobs were on standby for a healthier snack.

Some people like salty and some like sweet when they drink, so I was sure to have both on hand. Chips and a pineapple salsa for the first group, and then fantastic cookie bars for the others! The recipe I used was a hit, so enjoy it with your next gathering - I have included it below :)

After our day in the sun, we celebrated Laurie's last days as a single gal with champagne and girly gifts before heading out for some Ormsby's bocce fun and Cosmo/Lava dancing. 

Congrats, Laurie! We are so excited for you!

Macadamia Coconut Cookie Bars
Via Rachael Ray

1 package dry sugar cookie mix, prepared to package directions
1 cup macadamia nuts
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup white chocolate chips
Softened butter or Pam for Baking, to prepare baking dish

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. To cookie mix prepared to package directions, add nuts, coconut and white chocolate chips. Butter/spray a 9x12 baking dish and press cookie dough evenly into a thin layer across the bottom. Bake bars for about 15-20 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Remove from oven, and cool slightly. Cut into squares, remove with spatula and serve.

Notes from KJM: it may be my oven, but my bars took closer to 20-25 minutes to bake. Just follow the "lightly golden brown" rule and yours will turn out great! Chill the bars overnight to firm them up for a party.

Crusin' with Cocktails

Hurricane Irene (the fact that it's a family name has made us giggle, hehe) is ripping up quite a storm out there right now. I feel badly for all those soon-to-be cruisers who have had their trips moved around a bit, but from the looks of (my fav) Carnival's site, at least the cruise-lines are making good on keeping them safe and out of the way of the rain! The great thing about cruising is that if there is a storm, that's ok, there's some other island nearby (usually) with the same zip-lining, snorkeling or exploring to do. Plus, if it happens to rain, you have plenty of bars, food and entertainment all around you on the ship! So here's hoping those vacationers all still have a blast out there while the storm hopefully avoids the U.S. coastlines ... ack!

Those of us in land-locked Atlanta may not have a cruise to look forward to, but we can at least play pretend with an upcoming soiree right here in our neighborhood of Buckhead! In it's second year, the ASO Bravo! Casino Night is a great way to imagine the festivities of the high seas while being just a cab ride away from your home.

I went to the event last year and had an absolute blast. The group holds this young professionals-targeted fundraiser at a fun, unusual location, the Mercedes-Benz dealer in Buckhead on Piedmont Road. We got to enter on a red carpet, and so we dressed the part for the black-tie theme:

What do you think of my dress? It's a homemade classic, believe it or not, from my mom! I wore it in high school, but like it even better now that I can swank it up outside of the Homecoming dress code restrictions :P

The best part about the night, other than all of that gambling with our complimentary chips, of course, was that there was both an open bar and a great live band. All of that for just $65, and I think you've got your night pretty much made right there. Tell me another place where you can get all of that for a night out on the town at that level - I bet it'd be hard to come up with.

This year, the Bravo! Group is stepping it up and bringing on Grey Goose as the liquor sponsor, and they are also introducing a new theme - Nautical Cruise Cocktail! How fun. I can't wait to bust out (read: borrow from my trendier friends) some Yacht Rock attire.

Who else is in?

Here are the deets: 

Sail away with Bravo! Cruisin’ Casino Night
October 21, 2011 at the Mercedes Benz of Buckhead, 2799 Piedmont Road NE, 30305
Departure: 8 pm – Midnight
Tourist Ticket: $65 per person with $5000 Casino Cash
High Roller Ticket: $85 per person with $7500 Casino Cash, private game table, and swag bag

Surprise: Big Cuts

Yesterday's post was one big tease - there were NO LIES in that post! Which means ....

And yes, I actually laughed as the hair hit the floor :)

This is the new short 'do in a wavy style (hooray bed head + a curling iron!), but otherwise I can still wear it straight and sleek. This plus my chunky Tiffany eyeglasses = office chic, I think!

What do you think??

Ten Truths: Or Nine Truths and a Lie

You know those little things about your best friends and family members that you just know about them, and that not many other people do? I want to let you all in on some of my own little truths today, my own little Katherineisms.

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Ten Truths. 
Or is it, Nine Truths and a Lie? Can You Guess?

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1. I could pretty much sit and work on a laptop in a Starbucks for the rest of my days and would be quite happy and content.

2. I get a shopper's high on the sale racks. The little sale stickers get my pulse racing. When I find a true bargain, I have trouble not telling all the strangers around me about how awesome the purchase was. Good thing I live in the South where talking to the people in the store around you isn't totally unusual :)

The nail salon on the TV reality show The Nail Files. Aka can I live here?

3. A manicure and a pedicure can seriously make. my. day.

4. I had a haircut this weekend and cut most of it off. And I laughed as the hair hit the floor.

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5. I have a naturally pleasant/happy "resting face," and have a hard time understanding those that do not.

6. Anything less than eight hours of sleep and you better watch out, because that will be the one day that I do not have a pleasant "resting face."

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7. My go-to drink is a vodka martini, straight up with an olive (yes, one. That leaves more room for V, after all). But my favorite go-to drink is one I never order out, because they make it too red - the perfect Cosmopolitan should be pink, with more vodka than cranberry or (egads) mixer.

8. My hair is partly wavy, partly straight, but nothing that looks very good when it happens naturally. Going straight or wavy requires both products and appliances.

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9. I like cloudy days more than sunny days. Bonus points if it's going to snow, or even look like snow while it might be 70 degrees outside. 

10. Red and black is a great color combination that I hate. It looks great on most people, but I can not bring myself to wear it. Do not underestimate the power of a college rivalry.

So, what do you think? Is there a lie? :)

Mad About Clothes

I. Die.

Drool, drool, drool. Thanks to my Mom for sending me this one, and boo on Mom for sending me this one, because now I want a whole new wardrobe for the Fall ;) ;)

What are your fav looks from this hot new collection to come? Mine is this dress:

Oh, hi, attractive man :) Men, Banana has you covered, too. Check out these looks to look 100% dapper with a 60's vibe.

:)

Friends Forever

I had a rare night at home alone with zero plans this week. Zero things to do (minus that laundry over there ... hmmm I am ignoring it. Done!), zero things on my mind (more or less ha) and zero things holding me back from some serious time with some old besties.

They were wondering where I've been.

It's been way too long since I watched this show. During the past weekend's Bachelorette festivities, one of my two (yes, I own two) sets of SATC trivia games got pulled off a shelf while we were prepping with champagne. I had so much fun re-living some of the more random pieces of the show with our speed rounds of the game that I couldn't help but pop the DVDs in this week.

The selected DVD, random though it was, proved to be perfect, because it brought up the few episodes where Carrie is post-Berger (ie. Post-It Guy) and getting back to girl time with her ladies. Miranda makes it back into her skinny jeans after having a baby and avoids her ex's new girlfriend, Samantha is risque as always (she's my fav) and Charlotte gets engaged and married to her second husband, who proves to be way better of a fit for her than the first fling.

A few episodes of this stuff later, though, and now I want to go on the record to say that I would be ok with scheduling in (to our already way overly crazy planners) a few ladies brunches in the near future. Any of you fine ladies out there in? Let's do the whole Mimosa and Bloody Mary lazy Sunday brunch thing. I'd be willing to skip a late night or two to save up for it. Both the money and the energy, that is. I realize that we aren't like 70, but I will be the first to admit that weekend mornings are sacred - valuable time spent on the couch with the Sunday paper and coffee! But some well-planned outings here and there might make them all that much more fun.

Men. We can meet for beers. I don't like to discriminate, after all :)

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By the way. Can I live in the SATC sets?

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Decor notes for my future millionaire dream home, that's for sure.

Happy Moments

In this crazy, busy world that we all live in, even I, a perpetually happy and upbeat person, struggle sometimes to see the fabulousness in each moment of the day. Over the past few weeks, I have both known and read about people who have lost others, and it makes it that much more clear to me that each second is important. Whether I am feeling happy, sad, tired, energized, giddy or crazy, I am trying to keep that thought in my head. Right now is important.

What keeps you going each day? Here are some of mine...

* The sunrise. Funny how even though earlier-than-normal mornings typically would make you feel grouchy actually can give a boost if you take in those first few rays of sun peaking through the clouds!

Image Source. Hi, I'd like to live here, please. Thank you.

* Hugs and kisses. I don't care if they are from a dog, your mom, a BFF or a S.O. Those little things give me a little emotional thrill whatever their form.

* Hot sunshine. Goodness, it is SO hot outside. But after spending our days up in A/C-chilled offices, that warm sun is a reminder of everything that is outside those four walls!

Love these paisley cards from Swoozies!

* Handwritten cards. Have you sent one recently? Make someone else's day and send one today!

* Phone calls. Another lost art in the days of text messages and emails. I love spending some time actually hearing another human's voice on the phone now and again. Who is your favorite person to talk with on the phone?

* Diet Coke and Chais. Those are my daily vices. Are you a coffee-lover? Perhaps a sweet iced tea, instead. Those first sips = yummm and yaaaaaay.

* Falling into bed at night. Le sigh :)

Meal Deals to Come

I am back in regular-Katherine mode after being in Bachelorette-overdrive all weekend, and what a fun one it was! We celebrated for our BFF Laurie who is just weeks away from becoming a Mrs! Stay tuned: more to come this week on how I decorated and cooked for the fun Girls Weekend just for her.

After so many weeks of socialness, I am attempting to cook a bit more (healthy) at home, but that doesn't mean that this Restaurant Week notice from Concentrics didn't catch my eye this morning. You can grab up a three course meal for $25 at all of the restaurants during the week of September 4-11. Fantastic! To satisfy your Concentrics cravings before this deal hits, don't forget to use their Summer Swag voucher for 50% off your meals until September 1.

What is your favorite stop in this restaurant group? I am partial to TAP and their Numbers Ale, myself :) 

 

From Books to Betty

A quick glance at a photo of some high school girlfriends on my desk at work made me realize it recently - of the five of us, four are married and three have children. Two have moved a good car ride away, and two are living in the 'burbs. Geez. Where has time gone?

It's no secret that my friends have long been getting married and now are having babies. The newest addition to this equation, though, is that more and more of my friends are now heading back to school. Wait, I thought I finally got out of that place?

Maybe it's because I was at Ma Tech for a solid five years (I promise that's the average!) that grad school did not immediately jump onto my immediate radar. I have loved being a young working gal for a few years now, making and saving money and growing in my skills. Or perhaps (ok, it does) it has something to do with the fact that I hate studying; I'd much rather wing things, and something tells me I won't be able to get away with as much of that the second time around :)

If my schools looked like the schools of Gossip Girl, I may have wanted to spend even more time with my undergrad!

Either way, heading back to school may not have been on the top of my priority list, but it's been slowly creeping into the back of my mind over the past year or so. The S.O. is officially starting a Master's program (yay him!), and a few of our friends are well into MBA programs of their own. I'm not quite sure what I would study if and when I begin back into upper education, but I do know that I have a lot of interest in a lot of areas. I find myself reading a lot of articles and websites just to stay current in a few of them.

As a result, this site grabbed my attention via a Twitter friend today - the key word being FREE!

Open Culture - The best free cultural and educational media on the web

http://www.openculture.com/freeonlinecourses

How neat! In my free time (har har who even has that??), I can head to these iTunes and YouTube lessons to learn more about things like ...

Philosophy in Film and Other Media - iTunes – YouTube – Web Site – Irving Singer, MIT
History of New York City: A Social History - iTunes – YouTube – Web Site – Daniel Walkowitz, NYU
Journalistic Ethics – YouTube – Jim Newton, UCLA
Modern Poetry - YouTube – iTunes – Download Course – Langdon Hammer, Yale
Ancient Wisdom and Modern Love - iTunes Video - Web Video – Prof. David O’Connor, Notre Dame
iPhone Application Development (Winter 2010) – iTunes – Stanford
Human Happiness – iTunes – Dacher Keltner, UC Berkeley
Entrepreneurship and Business Planning – iTunes – Feed – Mark Juliano, Carnegie Mellon


Are you a lifetime student, just looking to learn for fun? Or are you/will you be exploring upper education more seriously with an advanced degree? Either way, do any of the classes on that site peak your interest, too?

Chair Lust

Someone should really stop me from entering a Pier 1 Store. Their sales are good enough to drive a gal crazy. I can see their signs from the wrong side of the road and will literally drive out of my way to go check things out inside. Thankfully, I don't always leave with something in hand, but I very often feel drawn to some of their items, whether $2 in price or $300.

Behold, for example, this chair, priced at around $200, which I feel is pretty reasonable for such a statement piece:

Just look at it's lines! But wait. It gets even better. Check out this baby from the BACK.

Love! How fantastic would this be as an uppity office desk chair? Why oh why didn't I choose color themes for this condo that would better accompany this eggplant chair?

And then I could buy this miniature eggplant chair to keep it company. Plus the adorable ruffle satin pillow for contrast. But maybe in a different color. Blue and purple remind me of a bruise.

I guess eggplant and the bright yellow of my living room, or the bright red of my dining room, don't quite go together. Fine. I hear you. But this sofa with the orange and brown theme might be complimentary somewhere... 

Right??

Hemming and Hawing Over ... Hems

Since it's hotter than all-out here right now, we working gals are wearing some pretty innovative ensembles. Layers upon layers to battle the cold A/C at our desks cover up the light and summery items underneath to peel down to as we hit the road home. And all the while, we are trying to make the most of our wardrobes without having to spend money on new items; mixing and matching is key.

In an attempt to change up my everyday attire a bit earlier this week, I paired a dark jean pencil skirt with a gray sleeveless tank and a black fitted vest (and leopard print heels, rar!) to go slightly rocker-professional-chick for the day. A spare black wrap kept my arms warm at the office. The heat index hit 103 that day, and I was comfortable enough to go after work for drinks without feeling like I needed to change into lighter attire.

At my petite height, I have to be really careful with the length of skirts. Too short and it's not work-appropriate, but too long and my legs look shorter than they actually are. Pencil skirts that hit right above my knee are typically the most flattering, and they can go from season to season with the addition of some tights and layers on top to balance things out. I think pencil skirts will always be one of the most classic styles around for us ladies.

Earlier this week, the front page of the WSJ fashion section screamed out the exact opposite though - midi-length hemlines are the "next big thing" in women's fashion. Wait, what?

Lo looking very 60's and Mad Men last Fall when the midi style was already showing up on the red carpet.

The midi-length falls just below the knee, and is known for being more concealing while also more feminine. The whole "less is more" concept "leaves a lot to the imagination," according to the article. Of course, the Victoria's Secret models make the midi style look really fabulous in that very manner:

Victoria's Secret midi-length. This is in no way work-appropriate, btw.

But then in real life, I worry that we normally-proportioned ladies will just end up looking more cut-off, resulting in an almost chunky appearance:

My observation: flats and this style do NOT go well together. Source: Nordstrom

Yes, the midi style pulls heavily from the styles of the 1950s and 60s, some of my fav style generations, but that doesn't mean I am jumping on the bandwagon just yet. I know plenty of fab fashion a la Mad Men that was knee-length and still gives off the professional, feminine and yes, attractive appeal:

Ladies, what do you think? Is the midi a go or no go? You know my vote, but I'd like to hear yours :)