Marchin' On

I guess it doesn't really matter if you're having fun; time still flies. (Incidentally, I am having some fun.) Here's what's up for March's to-do list:

1. Seek out or make artwork for my apartment. I have lots of empty, white wall space, and it's calling out for some color.

2. Wear my favorite color on March 17 so I don't get pinched.

3. Continue my lust lists. I'm enjoying them, and hopefully you are, too.

Lust List: Week Five

This week I've got my specs set on Restoration Hardware. I've posted a little bit about this place before, but these are some of my favorites. Just like with other lust-y posts, I feel like this place is uber-expensive, but they have great things.

Their whole look is very calming and put together. For some reason, walking around the store makes me think autumnal thoughts, even in July. Everything is very clean and simple, but it also has that vintage feel.

Lust List: Week Four

Ahh. Room & Board, how I love thee. Almost everyting they carry is completely simple without being boring or old-looking (in the bad way). The prices are fairly high, but I get the sense that these are investment pieces and that the quality is top-notch. They also offer things that are truly iconic, and I don't just throw that word around willy-nilly.

I've gotten (and drooled over) the catalogs for years, but I have not yet made a purchase. If I did, these might be some of the items en route to my address.

Lust List: Week Three

I thought I'd go for the obvious and post my next Lust List on Valentine's Day. Fitting? Well, lust is a bit strong here. Pottery Barn is always nice but sort of basic--which defnitely has its place. See also: my wardrobe.

But their stuff is unnecessarily expensive to me. It lasts, though. The tip here is to go to the back and look for sale items. When I first moved, I found some awesome green washcloths that had been eight dollars each marked down to $1.99. I bought four.

Usually I find tons of stuff in the catalog that I like, but I just spent about an hour on the website and am just not feeling it so much this time around. Here's what I did find, though...

Lust List: Week Two

This week's target is CB2, which is the spunky little sister of Crate & Barrel. Just like with West Elm, I don't always lust over CB2, but they do have some nice finds. And their catalogs/website are always fun to peruse. Sometimes their stuff is way too modern or loft-y or plastic-y, but there are some definite gems to be found. That lamp is pretty much my ideal piece of decor; I love everything about it.

As before, you can click the pictures to be taken directly to the product pages. I hope you're enjoying this new series.

West Elm Update

On Saturday I popped by my local West Elm store, and I have to say that it was bittersweet. That natural-colored pendant fixture is really nice looking, but it has this cloth/filter/shade thing underneath--you know, right where the light would come out. That could possibly make my bedroom more dim. Not ideal.

But the gray fixture (see the first picture in my previous post) is neat. I'm sort of worried about the scale, but I'm still thinking about it. That one does not have any crazy filters. In fact, it's lined with a metallic something or other that is supposed to reflect light.

The chairs and sheets were exactly what I had hoped for. But I didn't buy anything. Not to worry. :) Plus, by the time I'm ready to throw open the curtains and let some light in, those items will probably be on sale.

Lust List: Week One

It all started with a catalog. A West Elm catalog. It came in the mail the other day, and I have been thinking of it constantly since then. For the first time in a long time, I want so many things in it. Maybe it's my self-imposed shopping freeze, but these things were calling my name.

At first I thought it might just be Domo, but no. It's this fresh style. That light fixture is exactly what I want and need for my bedroom. West Elm is really hit-or-miss for me mostly. The prices are usually reasonable, but sometimes their pieces are too modern--too ethnic, too gimmicky, too low to the ground. When they're good, though, they're good.

I will leave the bulk of interior posts up to Nick Olsen and my pals at My White Shirt and Dept. of the Interior, but I'm going to do a few weekly posts about some of my favorite furniture "and stuff" from some major retailers. Click the pictures of individual items to be linked to their pages on westelm.com.

Now that I have my own place, I can finally start making a few dreams a bit closer to reality. Note: I do not advocate going to a single store for everything. It doesn't work for clothing, and it doesn't work for homes. Variety is the spice of life, ya know.

February is for Lovers.

I'll spare you the usual speech about how I can't believe it's time to post another new calendar shot. And how the previous month flew by. And how I feel like I'm running at an incredible rate of speed.

Ok. JK about that last part. I don't run.

For this month's to-do list:

1. Get more sleep at night. I've been staying up until midnight here lately. If you see me on-line after 10:30 PM, please tell me to go to bed. Don't be an enabler.

2. Maybe buy a new TV. I know, I know. My resolution. But this is something I should buy for myself. I still have my sister's old loaner TV right now, which I'm completely grateful for. But I hear that HD is the wave of the future, and LOST just started back up. I'm already hooked I can't even stand it.

3. Exercise. Whoops. I know I said it last month, but I haven't done it. Not once. Not even a little. I am making my new pedometer jump, jump, though.

Have an excellent February, won't you?

Meet My New Friend

Hey everybody. I'll try to get my February calendar post up tomorrow, but for now I wanted to show you my new friend Domo. He was a gift from my other friend, Emily.

When I'm at work all day, he holds down the fort at the apartment. I think the eyes are the funniest part.