Happy Monday! How was your weekend? We have house guests coming and some exciting work projects too, so things are bustling around here! My iPhone says this is what I’ve been up to since last Friday:
This weekend I went to CB2 to pick up another set of Marta glasses and some picture frames. They had these cute little mini chairs that I think are supposed to be tree ornaments, but they are perfect for the Dollhouse Challenge! (PS all the vintage pieces I posted about came in last week. They are crazy-good! Can’t wait to share)
When the weather started to turn colder a couple weeks ago, I threw an internal mini-fit. But the Halloween festivities changed my mind and I’m suddenly excited about the upcoming holidays. We made Butterscotch Pumpkin cookies on Saturday morning and we started planning out our Thanksgiving menu (my husband’s very favorite meal of the year). The girls are talking about Christmas and Santa again. And excitement levels were through the roof (literally. I think our upstairs neighbors heard the shrieking) when the girls discovered Tommy, our Elf on the Shelf, came back to New York City all the way from the North Pole! That clever little guy sees ever good and bad deed and reports back to Santa each night. I swear, I wish Tommy lived here all year! My girls have been on their best behavior all week.
You never know where Tommy will be sitting in the morning. Sometimes he gets sassy with his seated posture.
Speaking of Christmas, I would seriously consider applying for a seasonal job at Anthropologie if only to justify two or three dozen of these glass ornaments. I mean, look at that COLOR!! (I would also want a pair of these chairs)
Jenny the Carpenter made an appearance this weekend as well. We’re making some little changes to the built-ins in the girls rooms. It’s all done now and the paint is drying today. I’ll share the afters with you once we can put all the books and other ‘stuff’ back on the shelves and photograph the room.
Grace made her first diorama! Her school is new and amazing, so their class study is on buildings and the new spaces in their school. She made a diorama of the library and wrote the cutest little interview-style report to go with it. She’s so in to interviews now and walks around with her notepad, asking questions all day.
I took down the drapes in our living room because I thought I would like the room better without curtains, but now I am sort of missing the finished feeling curtains bring to a space. I’m thinking maybe white with a ruffle trim edge. I love this charcoal gray cotton:
And also this pleated grosgrain:
I also organized my computer desktop off this weekend. No easy feat, I assure you. Hundreds of images. When I came across this one, I lamented the passing of summer again with it’s soft warm glow, glorious fruits and vegetables and the pretty FLOWERS!!! That might be my favorite flower arrangement ever. If I could do my wedding reception over, all the flowers would be just like these. Straight-from-the-garden looking.
Speaking of flowers, look what I was sent over from my lovely friends
Joanna and Alex (and I like to think
Toby was in on the decision too. Have I told you that that little guy has my heart under lock and key? We’re buds.). Fresh flowers are my very favorite thank you gifts. UPDATE: the flower shop just brought over a second arrangement by accident. Bonus!
Also this weekend I went to
Mitchell Gold Bob Williams to check out the
Zondra slipper chair in person for a client’s living room. Turns out there isn’t a showroom in the tri-state area with a Zondra chair in store. So lame, MGBW! I was also a little bummed the sales guy wouldn’t tell me who makes this fabric. Can any of you save me a trip to the D&D and tell me who makes it? Usual suspects are Robert Allen, Kravet and Duralee.
Ladies. Do you ever get sick of doing your makeup? It’s eye makeup that especially kills it all for me. So lately I’ve been just using a little tinted moisturizer, a swipe of mascara and red lipstick. I call it the 45 second makeover. Perfect for when you are running late (which happens to be most days for me). My secret weapon in the lipstick department is this
red chapstick from Laura Mercier in Crimson Tint. You can put it on easily without a mirror and it doesn’t get on your teeth. I think that means it probably doesn’t last as long as regular lipsticks, but you know. You win some you lose some.
My kids are begging for a puppy for Christmas. Do you think they mean a dog of the Staffordshire variety? My love affair with these porcelain pretties continues. Read all about it
HERE.
image via Absolutely Beautiful Things
Off to take some photos of the girls room! xx
Anna~ Adding blush to the process is my 60 second makeover! :)
I use NARS in Orgasm (like almost every other woman in the world it seems like – it's such a great shade).
awww you and your fam are so gorg!! think a visit to sephora is in my future, i love the look of that lip tint!
oh i love that lipstick. i've been looking for a way to get a pretty red lip and that looks perfect!
Hooray for random posts! Can't WAIT to see your girls' room.
OK I seriously had JUST finished writing you an email to let you know about those CB2 chairs for your dollhouse when I came on here to look for your email. And what do I see?? A post about the chairs!!!
Great minds….
Jenny, you could not be more adorable. I love these types of posts where we get to see more of you and your personal life. :) Thanks for sharing
I WANT those anthro ornaments!! Wowie!
I love the ornaments too, I keep telling myself don't do it, Henry my 20 month old will destroy them. Have you seen the colorful ornaments on the Land of Nod, they are good looking and kiddy proof.
your iphone pic recap is so fun. i think i could use the same elf around my house. can't wait to see the girl's rooms.
I agree! Some mascara and red lipstick/chapstick make a huge difference when you don't have time or don’t feel like doing the whole process. I'll have to try this one out!
Love the diorama project. My kids, especially my 11-year-old, are really into that kind of stuff.
Sandy
You're so pretty with your red lipstick Jenny! Love this post!
This was a VERY FUN POST Miss Jenny! I must try out that Laura Mercier balm — it reminds me of a Burt's Bees tinted lip balm that I just picked up – these days I am all about the tinted lip balms! Cannot, cannot wait to see the girls' room!! ~Melissa
What a great diorama – your little girl obviously has her mother's talent for dollhouse decorating! Love your 45sec makeover – I have something similar but always include blusher which I can't live without!
i'm on the doggie train too! we just got three colors in, black, blue and PINK! http://store03.prostores.com/servlet/furbishstudioonline/the-942/Pink-Staffordshire-Dogs/Detail
Anna~ Adding blush to the process is my 60 second makeover! :)
I use NARS in Orgasm (like almost every other woman in the world it seems like – it's such a great shade).
You are so pretty! I am going to buy that Laura mercier. Randomly Bert's beeswax makes a good tinted chapstick too.
Are those chairs actually 12:1 scale? I read online that they're too big. They are so cute.
Oh, you funny girl! Your random collection of thoughts was so charming today. what a delicious read – as always!
Jenny, you are so pretty!
Hey HGTV: how does this girl not have a TV show! SHEESH! Snatch her up!
Love your blog, Jenny. And I especially love seeing the more personal side of your life!
hugs!
nice photos.!
Love this post! Would you mind sharing your strategy for organizing photos. I have so many "inspiration" pics but don't feel like I have a really good method of finding what I need when I need it. Your thoughts would be so helpful!!!!!!! Thanks!
Love this post. The ornaments, the mom done built-ins,the grossgrain pleats, the lipstick! Did I miss Joanna's bedroom reveal?
Love this post! The ornaments, the mom done built-ins, the pleated ribbon, the lipstick! You are lovely. Did I miss Joanna's bedroom reveal?
Those ornaments are fantastic!! Why doesn't money grow on trees? :)
I agree with Hannah. LGN is the first (and sometimes only, if I'm time-strapped) that I visit (er, devour) each day. Doesn't HGTV realize what a devoted audience they would have if you had your own show?
At Christmastime I ALWAYS think about working at Anthro… the ornaments are always so amazing. They also go on super sale after the holidays so I try to stock up then (and then I end up forgetting exactly what I bought so it's a pleasant surprise the following December)!
Wow you've been quite busy :) Love the chairs you found for the dollhouse, and can't wait to see it!
what a productive weekend! I'm SURE that's what your girls mean :)
Lady, re: the makeup shortcuts, I think it really helps that you're totally beautiful!
I am in love with those anthro chairs!! If only they weren't so pricey. :(
Jenny, you won't find the blue tile jacquard fabric at the D&D building. it was a custom fabric for Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams.
you can however place an order for cut yardage through any of our retailers. order fast…the pattern has been discontinued and there is limited availability.
Hi Jenny–so sorry to hear! Checking if one of the wonderful home furnishings shops that carry MG+BW in the tristate have Zondra on the floor (tho those may not be close enough…thinking J. Seitz in New Preston, CT, and Hammertown Barn in Rhinebeck, NY, do.) Zondra is much loved…sure she'll be back on floors soon…at this past Furniture Market, we did a display of long-time favorites and realized she's been with us since 1996…