Missoni for Target.....my favs!

I’m sure you’re privy to Target’s newest  collaboration with designer…Missoni.  How do you feel about that?  I’m not a huge fan of Target’s “from designer to awful plastic hanger" delivery of the clothing thus far in what has been termed their “Go International Designer Collection”.  I appreciate that they are bringing designer pieces to a larger audience but it misses the “target” (I’m good, right? sarcasm.) on quality, texture and craftsmanship.  I wish they would make their clothing at least as “good” as Banana Republic?  Shouldn’t be hard...but what do I know? That being said, if Vivienne Westwood ever did a collection for Target I would buy it all up it 2.2 seconds. 

Soooo…..in this highly anticipated (hello, 10 page ad in Vogue’s September Issue) 400 piece collection for Target I have gathered my 13 favorite pieces. I would love to know your favs!

i'm planning on stocking up on these.  I have gotten out of the habit, as I tend to stay in nicer places than I used to while traveling, but I used to pack a "travel candle"....these are PERFECT for that.....I may have to save a few for the rare occasion I accompany my husband on a vintage car rally where we don't always stay in the nicest digs.....

i mean, this is just cute.  

i always give my house guests bottles of water, but how much cuter would it be in these?!  good on a nightstand for a graphic punch that isn't colorfully distracting.

just because you have to keep a tool kit in your car doesn't mean it can't be "hidden" in something cute......or maybe i'll wait until these bags go on super mark down and use them for my grocery bags...!

ugh. flats.  ugly to begin with.  these are adorable and i'm going to stock up.

i love giving people photos as hostess gifts and always keep frames on hand in order to do the job for them, so the photo doesn't stay in the card for years to come....

just you know, little pretty whatever clips for your 'do.

i'm not committing to completely backing these pillows until i see + feel them in person, but the one of the right has potential of living with me.

if these are too cheapy to wear to work, use for a scarf around a pony at the gym, or tied around a handbag.....tie up your silverware or a bunch of apples for a picnic in these....see below:

just adorable for your picnic basket.......!!

not a fan of the tower, but love this catawampus mix of patterns for a spicy and sassy tea party/post dinner gossip session!

i have to see these in person, but i think these may be a cute "catch-all" on a dresser for spare change, or stack one up with attractive and disposable hand towels for your next mixer...

i love wine + i LOVE these gift boxes.....you still may not be able to distract the fact you're packing Charles Shaw, but these are chic enough to up the ante on that $10 bottle of wine you're taking to a party.

and that's it, folks....my 2 cents.  Missoni for Target reigns downs on September 13.  You can see where I took all my images from and view most of the lookbook here.

Soundtrack for this colorful + fun designer is one of my favorite Cuban bandleaders who I just happen to be listening to tonight....Perez Prado:

bold and beautiful BRASS...!

i love a bit of brass in a room or on my body....here are a few pieces i would snap right up!



1. cocktatoo scupture by sergio bustamante...mexico, 1970's
2. pair of italian faux bamboo arm chairs...1960's
3. alexander mcqueen suede skull platform pumps
4. french brass serving cart....1950's
5. brass ram
6. curtis jere "tree of knowledge" wall sculptures.....united states, 1970's



7. "give me a beak" necklace by monserat de lucca by defy!
8. gaetano sciolari spiral chandelier....italy, 1960's
9. mid-century brass mirror
10. metal iphone case by EXOvault
11. squirrel and peacock letter openers by jonathan adler
12. fox head door knocker 
13. billy haines chairs and table


Soundtrack is the obvious goodness of Brass Monkey by those boys from Brooklyn:

random ramblings with some PHOTOS of CUTE THINGS thrown in!

I’ve been in a bit of a blogging slump.  Sometimes I put so much pressure on myself to put together something so finished and specific, but those posts take time…something that I typically don’t have much of.  And when you throw that in with a lack of bloggin’ motivation, well…hence my semi-silent summer.  Oh, is it summer?  Can’t tell through all the windy and FREEZING fog here in San Francisco…maybe that has something to do with it as well.  I may have a slight case of the summer time blues.  Growing up in Santa Barbara I am accustomed to “June Gloom” and foggy summer days, but those mornings would typically clear to a warm enough sun to jump in the Pacific….not really an option for this wimpy girl up here in Nor-Cal.  So what have I been up to?

I zipped down to some very toasty weather a few weeks ago to meet up with two of my best girls and one very special, two year old.  We met up at my girlfriend’s family lake house in Lake Nacimiento for a quick, 24-hour trip….just enough time to warm my bones with the sun and to warm my heart with the girls and Dylan….just enough time to escape the city, reset my buttons, see a gazillion shooting stars and ground myself.  Focusing on the human design of sweet Dylan and my best friends was just what I needed….

sweet curls...

I threw a small get together for my husband which was super fun…!  We got our ping-pong table going which was insanely silly – and grew into quite the competition.  I always like to throw in some silly factor with his birthday, and it typically is something with being able to decorate people….there were special ribbons, option of a ‘stache and Justin Beiber VIP party passes.

my adorable husband aka "the ageless wonder"

Yesterday I went to the Alameda Flea Market and snapped a bunch of photos for you all….I actually ended up wandering up and down every aisle and made one SMALL purchase….mostly just took everything in and mustered up at least enough motivation to post this blog!

i adored these vintage shoe boxes....someone needs to do an installation of these in their master dressing room and/or shoe boutique!!

i'm a sucker for birds and old graphics...

a pretty case of purses

cheerful breakfast or side porch table...or tucked into a favorite garden corner

i think an installation of these in a super modern kitchen would be amazing!

i stalked this adorable chicky and her man (right foreground)....they were Italian and dressed to the NINES.  love.

i was *this close* to getting this....vintage danish modern

imagine these in a mint green lacquer with a fabulous fabric in a sunroom...surrounded by birdcages and ferns....you could sip your morning tea in your vintage Lilly Pulitzer gear....

hmmm...looks familiar, right, Jonathan Adler fans?!

this was a case from France of jute and jute linen samples...pretty sweet.

Soundtrack for this random rambling blog is a random mix from Crazy, Stupid Love (which I saw last week with my husband….ummm, can we just discuss Ryan Gosling?!).  I especially LOVE Mark Ronson’s remix of “Animal” by Miike Snow: