Melissa Loves

Cheap & Chic

Hello my friends! 

                   Today's cheap & chic was inspired by the lovely dress down below & the cute pink oxfords. I imagine this dress would be fairly effortless and I like the unexpected detail of the oxfords with it. Some black bits to bring it down to earth a little and there you have it. Would you wear this to a party in the summer? Anybody have this dress & like it? 

~ necklace here $38.00 

~ dress here $25.00

~ black flower hairclip ( used on the belt in this outfit) here $4.50 

~ bag here $88.00 

~ oxford here ( I love this little oxford...and because it is made by born, it makes me think it will be very comfortable) $94.95

I hope you like it & hope you have a wonderful day, friends! I will not be here the rest of the week as we will be visiting family. But, I will see you back here on monday. Until then, have a wonderful rest of your week and be well! 

xo

Melis

 

Snippets & inspiration

Hello my sweets! 

               How were your weekends? Anything fun to report? We had a great & relaxing weekend. Two showings of The Hunger Games! I took our eldest gal to see it on friday & then she wanted to take her daddy back to see it yesterday! :) It was time to clean so, there was some of that....friends over for dinner and that's about it! Over the weekend I saw some lovely interiors that inspired me so, I though I would share those with you today & a few snippets from my weekend. 

Snippets: 

~ I know, I know...more shots of my porch. Sorry about that....it just sucks me in & before I know it I have taken yet another picture of it. That teeny tiny rug doesn't work but, it is a place holder for now. I would love to get this rug, for out there, at some point. Cheerful, right?  

~ There are super nice neighbors down the street, who have a beautiful home with beautiful antiiques. Last summer they had a little yard sale & I was in heaven. This bench was one of the things I scored from them. And the super cool green glass vessel? Yet another hand-me down from my best gal, Annie. It was tucked away in a corner of her folks home. And I fell in love. ( thanks hunnie!) 

~ Ah....forsythia. I love it, love the way it looks, love it's bright & cheerful yellow hue. There is a big Forsythia out in back of our home & nothing I like better than bringing a couple of big sprigs inside. ( the little bird mirror is from here) 

Inspiration: 

~ Always dreaming of kitchens and I adore the yellow door in this one. A little surprise to make your day a little brighter. From here.

 

~ This bedroom is so serene. I love that big, soft upholstered headboard and the beautiful sculptural lamp. Via House Beautiful shot by Chris Barrett design, here

 

~ Such a great idea to paint the inside of the window frames that bright & happy yellow. I love that and love how it frames the view and makes the room incredibly warm. From here. 

I hope you have a wonderful start to your week, my friends! I will see you back here tomororw. Until then, be well. 

xo

Melis

Closer to home

Hello lovelies...

                    Ah, the weekend is upon us and I couldn't be happier. Going to pick my eldest gal up from school early today ( we are playing a tiny bit of hooky) & going to see the 4 o'clock showing of The Hunger Games. She has been counting down the days...and if the truth be told, so have I . The opportunity to do something special, just the two of us....I treasure that. This week has been so incredibly lovely, weather wise...I am out on my front porch as I write this and I wish you could all come over. Sit, chat, laugh and have a cup of coffee or tea. That is heaven to me....I thought I would share a little bit of my week with you in pictures. 

 

~ I can't seem to get enough of heather, and it is so readily available these days. Trader Joes and Home depot always seem to have some. I love the color and the fantasies it conjures up of laying in a field of them, having a picnic. ( or is that just me?) :) 

~ Wandering around Montclair yesterday, with Marichelle. Laughing, shopping & having lunch. 3 of our favorite things. I saw this top at Anthro and isn't it a beautiful pattern? I love it. here 

~Whenever we are in Montclair, we have to stop in to our favorite shop there, Parcel. Say hi to Nancy, the owner and creative extrodinaire. She and her equally amazing assistant, Vanessa are now making beautiful wedding toppers. Vanessa made the one above, Isn't it so increidbly pretty? Parcel here 

Do you have any fun or exciting plans for the weekend, my friends? I would love to hear about them. I will see you back here on monday but, just before you go....

~ Have you heard Kimbra yet? I love her voice. 

~ or seen this? ( so magical & if you love books, you will love this story) 

Until then, be well. 

xo

Melis

Little things & little moments

Hello my sweets! 

                 Man,  it is beautiful outside with all of the blossom trees blooming! What is it like where you are? So many things inspiring me today and making me swoon. I thought I would share them with you...what are some little things or little moments that are making you happy today? I would love to know! 

Little things: 

~ My darling friend, Deb's latest offer of beautiful goodness! It is on Fab.com for one more day! Right....HERE. And then after that, right here. I am in love. :)  

~ lamp here ( still in love with this lamp after over a year...can't believe it is still there. Even the blooms light up when it is on) love.

~ shoes here 

Little moments: 

~ ooh...and one more. The quality time with my hubby this week....heaven. 

3 pieces of art: 

~ Such a fan of Julie Van Wezemael's work ( introduced to me by Ez). She is an illustration student in Belgium but, the depth to her work and the folkloric bent make me think she is already way beyond her student days. 

~ Betsy Walton was one of the very first artists I was introduced to when I found blogland and etsy, 6 years ago. I still love her beautiful use of color, unexpected mix of figures & shapes and this piece is still one of my favorites & one of the first things I bought on etsy. Link to her shop: here 

~ Olaf Hajek's work never ceases to amaze me...I love the dark & vibrant colors he uses in his work and the romantic subject matter of nature, florals and sometimes mysterious figures.

I hope you have a wonderful day, my friends! I will see you back here tomorrow, until then....be well. 

xo

Melis

Cheap & Chic: Interiors

Hello my dears! 

               ** Update: I heard from the company and the string bobbins shown in the original image are $75.00 each. Just FYI **   Still coasting along, happy as a lark, from yesterday's feature on Design Mom. It meant a lot to me to see my home encapsulated in that way. I put so much of who I am into my home and having it celebrated makes me proud & filled with joy. The room below, also makes me happy. I am a sucker for florals. And what makes this space for me is the chair and the large embroidered piece leaning on the back of the table. I know this is a styled space for a piece on incorporating florals & vintage pieces. But, I still think it looks like a cosy & accessable spot for reading or just resting. Right? 

 

~ Source: here (This image was shot by Anson Smart, Styled by Lara Hutton for Counrty Style Australia. I wasn't able to find the image on Country Style Australia but, I was able to verify it by emailing the photographer)

So, I thought I would try my hand at getting togther an affordable version for all of us....you wouldn't believe how hard it is to find an affordable, vintage wood & metal folding stool. Sheesh...feel free to enlighten me! :) 

~ vintage embroidery piece here $70.00 

~ small chandy here $39.00 

~ chair here $475.00 

~ bundled rope here $7.99 (here is the source for the string bobbins shown in the original image: I couldn't verify their price so, I didn't include them in the C & C version but, I  have an email in to the reatailer) 

~ pillow here $70.00 

~ table here $50.00 

~ white urn here $35.00 

~  vintage bottles here $49.00 

I sure hope you liked it & hope you have a wonderful day, my friends! I will see you back here tomorrow. Until then, be well. 

xo

Melis

Cheap & Chic

Hello my darlings, 

                 Listen, usually I say what inspired the outfit today, etc. But, I am rendered speechless by the incredibly lovely post about me, over on Design Mom today. I was beyond honored, when Gabrielle asked me if I would like to be part of her "Living with Kids" series, but I had no idea that she would paint such a lovely picture of me & my home. SO kind and thoughtful.Thank you, Gabrielle! ( it doesn't hurt that my awesome friend Marichelle took such great photos of my home. Thank you too, hunnie!) So, I didn't want to leave you hanging & got together an oufit for today. I hope you like it! 

~ necklace here $8.80 

~ dress here $69.50 ( I bought this dress yesterday; SO comfortable & cute)  

~ scarf here $9.99 

~ bag here $88.00 

~ flats here $98.00 

Have a wonderful day, my friends! I will see you back here tomorrow. Until then, be well! 

xo

Melis

 

 

Snippets & inspiration

Hello, hello! 

                Did you have a lovely weekend? We didn't have many plans & that turned out to be the best thing. An impromtu trip to the woods, dinner with cousins & a sleepover. Fresh bagels in the morning and a family walk with the doggies. It was lovely....So, I thought I would share a few snapshots with you

Snippets:

~ the reservation that is near our house is a 2000 acre park filled with wooded trails, a dog park, a waterfall and one spot that has an amazing view of the NYC skyline. We love to take our dogs there and I am always scoping out nature to bring a teeny tiny bit of it home with us. This time it was a picture of these beautiful mushrooms above. But, one time I carried a moss covered rock home with me, kind of heavy in the end but, worth it. :) 

~ This is Maddie; beloved by all. See how happy she is to be there? She is a rescue we adopted almost 8 years ago. One of the best decisions we ever made. :) 

~ oh, and I painted a chair. Another gift from my best friend Annie's folks home, when they were moving. I love the wicker back and the yellow velvet seat( It's a much brighter yellow in reality, the photo has darkened it a little). Painting things & giving them new life....it is amazing how happy it makes me. 

Inspiration: 

~ I love this color blue, just love it. It is the color I would love to paint our living room. Still a sucker for painted white floors as well...and how lovely are those windows? I also love the trio of the bed, side table and chair. Wondering how comfortable that bed is? Hmm....source: here ( this looks like a very similar color: sea glass blue

~ Veronika, who runs a blog called A Few Things from my life & has an etsy shop here, decorated and shared her little girl's room on her blog. I think her home is beautiful & I love her style. I love the colors mixed with the natural elements in her little girl's room. The whimsical flamingo wallpaper in a favorite color combo (pink & grey ) and the sweet garland casually hanging off to the side. It is all very approachable, very warm and very pretty. See more of the room shots here: and here is the flamingo wallpaper. 

~ Well, if you have been reading my blog for long you will know that front porches are one of the great pleasures in my life. When we moved into our new home a few years ago; the front porch was the deal sealer for me. I had wanted one all my life & one was actually within my reach! :) That is where you will find me on most beautiful days. This one, in the photo above, I guess is more of an enclosed sleeping porch but, a porch nonetheless! I love the daybed and beautiful soft light streaming in. I bet you could read many a good book & take many a good nap on that bed, no? Here is one from Target that isn't too expensive....here. But, I bet you could find one at a flea market, on Craigslist or at a yard sale for less. 

I hope you have a wonderful start to your week, my friends! I will see you back here tomorrow for a new cheap & chic. Until then, be well. 

xo

Melis

Closer to home

Hello sweethearts...

                       So, I want to apologize for the abrupt change in the weather, perhaps it was all of my "Spring is here! Spring is here!" the past couple of days that sent it running for cover. Any fun plans for the weekend? We actually don't have a lot planned, for once. It will be nice to just play it by ear. Thought I would share a few snapshots with you, from around & about this week. 

~ the latest spot to perch on our porch :) One of my best friends was helping her folks move in december and gave me this chair from their basement. I recovered the seat with a little burlap ( as I am wont to do) and am wondering if I should paint it.....thoughts? I like it & it is comfy. Come on over & sit a spell. K? 

~ an early evening stroll with the furry gals ( Maddie & Luna) Maddie( above) is a little camera shy so, pictures of her are rarer. However, if she doesn't know there is a camera lurking near by ( in my phone) you can catch her off gaurd. :) Isn't she a beauty? And such a sweetheart. 

~ I was taking this photo to send to someone, so they could see this piece by Tamar. If you have read my blog for awhile, you know Tamar is one of my all time favorite handmade soft sculpture artists. To fully appreciate her work you have to be able to get up close & personal and see all of the details. The stitches, the mix of textures and the unexpected. For example: her crown sparkles and is made of a fabric that mimics old newspapers. She is surrounded by one of Shanna's decals....I thought it was a nice touch. 

~ Every pore in my body is screaming " Don't post this pic! You look like a goof! Don't do it, woman!" :) But, I did it anyway. Why? I don't like to be told what to do. Even by me. :) 

Listen, I hope whatever you do this weekend....you have a wonderful time. Relax, enjoy something delicious to eat and be good to yourself. Ok? 

I will see you back here on monday....thanks for coming to see me this week. Oh, but just before you go...

~ completely besotted by this ( want to frame it & put it on a wall) 

~ need this, this & this. ( yesss....need ) 

~ this commercial makes me laugh & this one. 

Until then, be well. 

xo

Melis

Little things & little moments

Hello my darlings! 

                Favorite things, favorite things....I love to share my favorite things. These 3 little things are making me very happy today. See the stool down below? I had fallen for it awhile ago & then it disappeared before I could get my grubby paws on it. But, now it is back & better than ever (read: "on sale") So, I snapped up two for our entry way. It is just plain silly how happy that is making me. Do you get that way too? With the glorious weather we have been having and spring upon us....I am one happy gal. 

3 little things: 

~ heel here ( not too high but, still pretty....and glitter?! done.)  via Grace

~ photograph here ( something about this photograph is just so incredibly beautiful to me....maybe it is the size, the nobility of the sweet sheep or....I am not sure, but I love it) 

~ stools here ( yippee) 

 

3 little moments: 

 

3 pieces of art: 

~ Melanie's piece here ( love that beautiful blue) 

~ Tubi Du's piece here ( I know there is no shortage of images of Paris for us to choose from....but, this one, with the treatment making it look like the light behind the buildings is glowing? That is just awesome & makes it completely unique.) 

~ Jennifer's piece here ( besotted, beside myself and daydreaming of this piece being on my wall where I can stare at it all day long) 

How about you, my friends? What are some little things or moments that are making you happy today? I would really love to know. 

I hope you have a wonderful last couple of days of your week. I will see you back here tomorrow, until then be well. 

xo

Melis

Cheap & Chic: Interiors

Hello, hello! 

                 So, a little while back, Design Sponge featured, my pal, Jennifer's bedroom in one of her home tours. I adore Jennifer and her jewelry ( Oh, you too? Why am I not surprised? ) and think she has absolutely amazing taste. Her work & her style are extremely well-edited. Super warm and with an ethnic and down to earth vibe. Not to mention, serene. I feel calm, just looking at it. How about you? So, since I loved her bedroom so much, I thought I would get together an accessible version for you. ( * not to say Jennifer's sources aren't accessible, they may very well be.) :) 

~ Jennifer's bedroom, for Design Sponge, photographed by Lena Corwin

 

What makes this bedroom, for me, is the neutral accessories/foundations, and that gorgeous suzani taking center stage. * Jennifer made the lovely fiber art hanging on her door ( from wool roving & some feathers) inspired by these.

1.  headboard here $399.00 ( queen)  

2. vintage suzani here $69.99 

3. houndstooth blanket here $38.00 

4. ticking stripe sheets here $29.00 (for a set of 2 shams)  

5. Chevron weave blanket here $49.99 ( for a queen) 

I hope you like it, my friends. I will see you back here tomorrow. Until then, be well. 

xo

Melis