Organization Inspiration

{all images from decor8, for more pictures click here}

This week, I've been struggling with some really bizarre sleeping patterns which consist of sleeping no earlier than 3 am and waking up around noon. I don't want to complain, because I feel extremely fortunate to be one of few adults who still get to enjoy somewhat of a carefree, summer, but I can't seem to kick the guilty feeling of not getting much of anything done during the day. I feel like such a teenager, well, an old one at that.

One of the things on my summer to-do list was to organize my house from top to bottom, but seeing as I have been in dreamland for the past week, it hasn't been successful. I started doing some cleaning last week, and realized that I have come dangerously close to becoming a hoarder. For whatever reason, I feel compelled to keep anything and everything because it either has some form of sentimental quality, or may perhaps come in "handy" in the future. I'm sure this is what the hoarders receiving interventions on television used to say before their house was declared a landfill... haha I laugh now, but that could easily become me. I'm using these photos of my favorite house tour on decor8 to give me a good kick in the butt. This charming little home in Vienna is only a meager 650 square feet, but is perfectly styled with necessary items that are functional yet beautiful at the same time. Letting go is hard, but I think I can do it. We'll see how it goes...

If you have any home organization tips, please send them my way =) I need all the help I can get!

xoxo

Kitchen Inspiration and Hand Mixer Giveaway!

IF I ever buy a house in the future, I will probably obsess the most about the kitchen . I'm usually pretty laid back when it comes to making decisions, but when I think about designing a kitchen, it has to meet specific criteria which includes: a clean and simple layout that allows for plenty of natural light (which means lots of windows), a viking professional stove and oven, open cabinets where you can display all your pretty ceramics, and little pops of color here and there. I've been scouring the internet for kitchen design inspiration over the past few days and these are among my favorites:

{I love how the counter stools are set up around the island in this kitchen. Makes it the perfect hangout spot}

{the next two kitchens are my favorite. I think it's because it has a lot of yellow, teal, and white- my favorite colors}

{simple yet elegant}

Speaking of kitchens, the generous folks at cookware.com, have allowed me to chose a product to give away to one of my lucky readers! Since the giveaway is kitchen themed, it dawned on me that no kitchen is complete without a mixer! Whether you're a cook or a baker, this thing makes everything almost effortless. Before I graduated to my Kitchen Aid stand mixer, I used a hand mixer given to me by my mom. That little thing helped me make hundreds of savory and sweet goodies, and I can't picture life without it.

{hamilton beach 6 speed hand mixer}

You have three chances to win! Here's how to enter, it's super easy! :

1. Add me as a friend bybecoming a follower of my blog (via google friend connect) on the right hand sidebar. If you're already a follower leave me a comment telling me that you have already done so.

After becoming a follower, you can enter two more times by:

2. Mentioning my giveaway on your blog (dont' forget to notify me if you have done this)

3. or Leaving a comment on this post

you will have until next Thursday to enter.

Good Luck!

xoxo

Mad about Mad Men- Costume ideas for 2009

{images via here}

Halloween is just around the corner, but finding a clever costume hasn't really been at the top of my priority list this year. My past experiences with costume shopping have left me pretty hesitant about the whole process. You buy a costume (they are pretty expensive btw), wear it once, throw it in the back of your closet, and never see it again. So after buying bunny, flight attendant, gangster getups in past years, I've learned to instead invest in costumes that utilize everyday pieces that can be worn later. Last Halloween, I channeled the legendary Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, and it has probably been my favorite costume thus far (with exception to my ballerina costume I never took off when I was 3). I bought a simple black dress, a fake 99 cent cigarette holder, did my own updo, and topped it off with a borrowed a tiara for the whole look. The little black dress is something I can use forever, and won't end up as closet trash.

This year I'm going to play by the same rules and attempt to pull off the look of the stunning housewife, Betty Draper (played by January Jones) from the hit show Mad Men. Set in the early 60's, Mad Men's style reminds me of my grandmother. She was a seamstress back in her day and made the most beautiful and elegant dresses. The style back then was so lovely and polished (something you don't generally ever see today). I really hope I can pull it off, and if anything, I'll still get a really great dress out of it ;)