Girl's Night!

As much as you love spending time with the one you're with, every so often don't you crave a super estrogen-y, wine-fueled, all night gab/bitch fest?  Tonight I get to hang out with two of my favorite girls, who I haven't seen in waaaaay too long. 

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I am so looking forward to gossiping, eating, drinking and laughing so hard that Cabernet spews from my nose. 

Yeah, I'm super classy like that.

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After plenty of delicious food and slightly more than plenty of wine....

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There will certainly be plenty of this:

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No, not really.  Has ANY sleepover in the history of girls and women EVER, EVER resulted in a nighty-wearing-pillow-fight???

However, there is ALWAYS the possibility of a little of this:

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I hope your weekend is filled with tons of fun, food, laughter and (if you do it up right) the next morning might feel a little bit like....

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Ok, when is a hangover ever this chic?

I think this is a more realistic representation..(although this hipster zombie look is still way more stylish than reality)..

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Have a fabulous weekend!

For Your Weekend

If you're looking for a little break from all things "Valentine's Day", you've come to the right place!  I promise none of that business today, not because I don't like or celebrate Valentine's Day....I'm actually just saving the red and pink explosion for Monday. Ha!

So, you know..there's that to look forward to.

Today I'm sharing some of my favorite things from some of my favorite blogs.  Enjoy!

I talked a little bit about this on Wednesday and since then I tried out the advice from Kate at Centsational Girl for identifying and polishing brass.

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A little lemon juice, a little salt and a little polish with steel wool took my dresser knobs from drab to almost fab!

They could use a little more scrubbing but after the first round I think the difference is pretty remarkable, don't you?

Ripping out the disgusting carpet and painting the subfloors on our stairs and in my home studio/office is one project that I'd like to attempt in 2012.  Carrie at Lovely etc did an AMAZING job on her floors and her results are a big part of why I'm even contemplating this undertaking.  Not content with a single color, Carrie took it to a whole new level by stenciling on a lovely pattern.  Incredible!

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Have you checked out Serena & Lily yet?  It's a really beautiful online shop with everything from lighting and furniture to baby goods.  A handful of my favorite items:

I admit I'm a little late to the party on Matchbook Mag but when it comes to stumbling upon this dazzling publication, it's better late than never.  The one year anniversary issue is out now and I'm in love! With Jonathan Adler on the cover, how can it not be fabulous? 

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A little sneak peek inside:

So when you have a little time to relax, make yourself a yummy cocktail (maybe a blood orange mimosa?) and tuck into some of these sites. 

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Have a great weekend!

For Your Weekend

As far as Blogfest 2012 goes, there is officially no turning back now.  I went and bought myself plane tickets last night.  I found a price too swell to pass up and it's a done deal.  Let the squeals of excitement begin!

The next few months are going to be the longest of my life!

In other developments, I think I'm going to have to come up with a "Plan B" for my guest bedroom headboard.  I originally wanted to add an upholstered inset but the more I look at it, the less it's looking like a DIY-able option. There are a couple of spots that look a little tricky for an amateur to upholster.

See what I mean?

I'm all for budget-friendly, DIY solutions when possible but I also want it to look well done. The final product has to be one that I am proud to show off. I just don't believe in DIY simply for the sake of DIY.  What's the point of spending hours of my own time (and my own money!) on something that I'm not going to absolutely love? 

So it's onto "Plan B" and I'm not sure what that is just yet.  I've been trying to avoid painting but there may not be any other option. Maybe a grey wash treatment? I'll have to think on that a little more. Thoughts??

Speaking of headboards.  Jenny at "Little Green Notebook" is at it again with another DIY Tufted Headboard Tutorial.  She simply amazes me. 

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Now that's a little DIY done right!

I'm kind of obsessed with patterned drapery right now.  Here are some of my favorites of late:

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Is it just me or do solid window treatments seem particularly yawn-inducing now?

Here's a new blog well, new to me at least, that is pretty fantastic.  Any down time you have this weekend would be well spent at The Lettered Cottage. Tutorials and inspiration galore! On everything from design and DIY to photography. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

For Your Weekend

This will be quick and dirty today. I have a lot to accomplish before I have to run out the door in an hour.  Hopefully I remember to brush my hair!

Last week it was Rue Magazine and this week House of Fifty released the Winter/Spring issue upon us:

One of my favorite images (albeit a little stretched for some reason!):

In addition to tons of gorgeous interiors there's also food, lifestyle advice, DIY How To's and, from page to page, it's easily one of the prettiest magazines out there.

I picked up the new headboard for the guest bedroom this week.  It looked different in my head so plans for the upholstered inset will have to change just a bit but I still plan on doing it. 

The finish on the posts is so pretty that I can't bring myself to paint it.

I'll be starting on this project next week so stay tuned!

Onto the rest of "For Your Weekend"....

This post from Young House Love was just the thing I needed today.  Thanks Sherry and John for being so real and generous with the inspiration!

Don't read this if you're not in the mood for a good cry.  It makes me feel really lucky that B and I have the kind of dogs that will live forever.  Phew! Seriously though, so very truly sad for your loss Jen.  

If I wasn't absolutely dyinnnnnng-uh to go to Paris already, Erin's pictures from her recent trip would do the trick:

I'm thinking this is a weekend for a little Clooney:

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And on the small screen, a Clooney look-a-like:

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Right???

Have a great weekend everyone!  See ya back here Monday for the reveal of my guest bedroom design board.

Your Weekend - Recommended Blog Reading

Happy freaking Friday!  Oh I am so very happy the weekend is here!  I'm excited to:

1. Sleep in past 6am
2. Drink my morning coffee in a leisurely fashion
3. Stay in my pajamas until lunch
4. Meet some girlfriends for breakfast on Saturday
5. Pick out a paint color for our STILL builder-white laundry room because next week we'll be taking delivery of these babies:

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Yes, we got them in cherry red folks.  I was thinking graphite all the way but getting them in red (at a great sale price!) got us a higher quality set for our money.  Plus, red is so much fun and laundry is so....not.  I'm thinking this energetic color in the laundry room will make me smile when I'm sorting my whites from my colors. 

So a full on makeover of the laundry room is in swing!  This first stage will be paints and prettying up the storage situation with bins, jars and baskets.  Ultimately I plan on installing a countertop for folding, some artwork and a new shade for the window.  I'd love a little beadboard here too.  We'll see!  I'll definitely get you some before and afters along the way.

Well, that's my weekend plan. Oh, I also plan on cruising by a few of my favorite blogs to do a closer read (with pajamas on and coffee in hand) of some gorgeous and inspiring posts.  On my list:

Have a plain old tray that needs a glam holiday (or any day really) makeover?  Janell at Isabella & Max Rooms shares a super easy tutorial that will sexy up any bar area with a little gold leaf action.

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Have you always wondered how bloggers and magazine types take such dreamy photos?  Head on over to Centsational Girl for tips and "How To's" that will have you taking better photos in no time.

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I love fashion blogs and my latest discovery (thank you Pinterest!) is The Daybook.  Sydney is stunning, (that's her in the photo below)  hilarious and she has really great, accessible style.  Be sure to also check out her "Tutorials" page.

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The holiday issue of Rue Magazine is out!  I can't wait to sink my teeth into it this morning.  There's lots of eye candy.  A tease:

You read this blog so chances are you've probably reupholstered a basic chair seat or two in your lifetime.  No tutorial necessary for you guys on that thank you very much!  So how about reupholstering a picture-back chair?  Head on over to Design Sponge for a very helpful, step-by-step tutorial.

Made By Girl features the work of an incredible home stylist and decorator Ana Antunes.  I'm drooling over all the pretty going on there.  I am an absolute sucker for detail shots and she doesn't disappoint:

Have a wonderful weekend!