DIY Play Kitchen

Happy Thursday!

This definitely isn't a new one, but I just found this awesome awesome DIY play kitchen build entirely out of scrap wood and other IKEA finds.

Isn't it fabulous?  Christmas is only 4 months away (!), so if you have/know a kiddie who needs a kitchen, click here for detailed instructions.

Look for Less

It all started with this Orla Kiely outfit:

I LOVE it.  The pattern mixed with the stripes, the layers, the leather bag and tights.  It's stylish without being pretentious or elite looking, with a bit of humor... everything I love.

Trouble is, I'm a thrifty kinda gal (read: cheap), and I don't have a few hundred bucks to drop on this outfit.  And it's hard to recreate, as no one does an Orla Kiely pattern like Orla Kiely and that is why we like them.

Still, I really want to recreate this layered, mixing of patterns look.  So I did my best to find some more wallet-friendly options. Which wasn't easy, people - I think I looked at every printed dress available for purchase on the entire Internet - and I'm still not sure I nailed it, but take a look:

We start with a great printed dress (or even a top with a black skirt or dark jeans could work):

 Yellow print dress    Go-Jane strapless dress  Urban Outfitters Ikat Dress 

 Grey Printed Dress   Floral tube top  Forever21 Grey Dress

If you are more modest like me, you can layer the strapless dresses or a solid color tee.  Then adding a second (or third layer), go for a striped cardigan:

Merona Striped Cardigan    PacSun Grey Striped Cardigan   Gap Blue Shawl Collar Cardigan

Add some solid (neutral) color tights, some platform shoes like these suede covered pumps from Charlotte Russe:

And a great leather-look shoulder bag:

Charlotte Russe bag                              Target Bag

And voila!

So what do you think? Ready to go fall shopping?

Poketo + Target Update

So I posted yesterday about how excited I was to run to Target for the new Poketo line.  And I did run, on my lunch break, but I have to admit I was a little disappointed. 

You know that monster bag I was so excited about?  Well, I was a little less excited when I got there.  I looked all over for tote bags, and what I found was this:

Turns out it's not a change purse.  The tote is stuffed inside the bag.  At which point, yes, the exterior can be used for a change purse.  It's a "Tote-in-Tote".  Not a bad thing on it's own, but I had issue with the fabric. Both were made of a cheap-feeling nylon, which was kind of a deal breaker for me.  I am a mom who lives out of her car many days, so I need a tote that can HOLD stuff, you know what I mean?

Lucky for me, they had some lovely canvas totes nearby.  It took me half hour to decide, but I finally got the one pictured below:

It's a but more artsy than my usual day-to-day style, but I think it will help bring some color into my fast-approaching-all-black wardrobe.  And it was a steal for under $15.

What do you think? You like?

Inspiration 8.11.10

These travel-inspired Spark Letterpress invites at Oh So Beautiful Paper

These patterned British plates at sfgirlbybay

This gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous engagement session on Style Me Pretty.

This bed made of scaffold tubing at Design*Sponge

The Les Indiennes bedding at Say Yes to Hoboken

This fort building toy Jordan Ferney posted on Babble

This marvelous kitchen my friend posted on her new blog Helvetica in a Handbasket

(don't you love the name?)

This S'mores dessert bar posted by Amy Atlas (swoon)

 

Art of the Day 8.10.10

In honor of the Poketo launch at Target, I wanted to share another print available from the original Poketo:

"Snowy Owls" by Susie Gharemani

Isn't it lovely? Part of Poketo's genius is that they make art accessible by carrying it at afforable prices? You can buy the Snowy Owls print for only $40 here!

Tuesday Tunes

A friend of mine alerted me to this ukelele/kazoo cover of Regina Spektor's "On the Radio".  It's an awesome cover; too bad he ruins it by having 3 minutes of college kid silliness at the end.  Just ignore that part. :)

Song is still awesome though.

And this is why I Heart Target

Thanks to Creature Comforts, I am running - RUNNING - to Target on my lunch break today to check out the new Poketo goodies.

First on my list?  This Monster tote bag.

And look! It comes with a change purse!

See you at Target!

Update: Read about my actual trip to Poketo+Target shopping trip here.