Melissa Loves

Closer to home

Hi my friends, 

                 The weekend, the weekend! This weather makes me want to go out and be festive. Right? Any fun plans for the weekend? We have a sleepover party, dinner with friends & more work on the project below. 

~ Yesterday I planted some things in between the stones, I have plans to make a "moss shake" to encourage moss to grow and we have this coming for rest & relaxation. Woo hoo! :) Eventually, when the stones settle in more we will put our wrought iron table and chairs on there again. It is a work in progress but, coming along nicely. Maybe next summer I will go into full swing, planting shade garden plants and a pretty clematis for that fence. It makes me happy. 

~ Luna says...."Loook into my eyes....you will have a good weekend....you will have a good weekend....." 

I hope, whatever you have planned, you have a fantastic few days off. I will see you back here on monday. But, just before you go.....

~ ack. adorable. 

~ this video is cool, love that guy. 

~ isn't this gorgeous? ( thanks darling Mrs. French) 

~ want to visit this shop & besotted by this gal ( cause of her style & her art....) 

~ covet

Until then, be well! :) 

xo

Melis

Closer to home

Hello sweethearts! 

                  Happy Friday! Any fun plans for your weekend? We have a sleepover or two..including me & my girls staying at our pal, King's, in the city. Which may involve a bike ride by the river, playground hopping and sleeping in a huge tent in their living room. :) I had a few photos to share with you today but, for some reason I could only access the one via email on Instagram. Hmm... It will probably come as no surprise. My mommy's day present arrived. See? 

~ Maybe you remember me saying how much I adored these flowers from Tamar & sharing a snap I took of one in Zucker bakery a week or two ago? I love her. Thank you to my sweet hubby. :) 

It is another beautiful day here so, I am going to step away from the computer & go enjoy the day. I hope you enjoy the day too & your weekend. I will see you back here on monday but, just before you go....

~ love this group ( walk off the earth- they became youtube famous from this cover of the Gotye song & they seem really down to earth and sweet. Great voices don't hurt! :) 

~ speaking of great voices, this kid is only 18 & what a soulful voice. This cover of LMFAO's Sexy & I know it, is awesome. ( on a side note: I adore LMFAO cause they seem to really not take themselves too seriously..so wrong feels so right.) :) 

~ did you hear about this amazing story/bond? I love elephants & this just made me love them all the more. 

~ love, love & covet 

Until then, be well, my friends! 

xo

Melis

ps don't forget to enter the Moo card giveaway! Monday is the last day to enter! :) Right here.

Closer to home

Hello, hello! 

                 Ahhh.....the weekend. Let's all collectively breathe a sigh of relief, shall we? :) Any fun plans for your time off? I don't think we have too many plans....just a relaxed time on mother's day, as far as I know. For all you mothers out there, I hope you have a wonderful day, on sunday. I love this quote (seen at the end of this commercial for the olympics)  "The hardest job in the world is the best job in the world". Couldn't agree more. I thought I would share a few snippets from my week with you. 

~ Ez & Marichelle journeyed out to Terrain ( about 2.5 miles from us) but, I couldn't go that day. However, they brought me back a sweet little fern in a very sweet pot. And see the adorable garland in there? Oh, Ez just whipped that up and stuck it in there. If I tried to do that, it would look like a 2 year old did it. That gal has major talent. :) 

~ When we went out and about on wednesday, we of course popped into Anthro, I seriously cannot believe the talented stylists they have working for them. Those gals & guys deserve a gold medal for the amazing feats of inspiration they create in there all. the. time. The arrangement above is a plate by Nathalie Lete and it looks like they created little pockets with canvas, inserted the plate and drew the lower half, freehand. You had to get close to figure out there was a real plate in there & it wasn't a painting. I thought it was inspired & beautiful. 

~ Yep, she does indeed. Luna always wishes everyone well. :) But, just before you go....

~ Isn't this cool? 

~ love, love, covet

~ I wish I could go to this with a friend....wouldn't it be fun? 

~ Also, if you want to help my hubby's movie, head on over to their facebook page and "like" it! :) Right here: Brief Reunion

Have a great time, whatever you are doing...my friends. I will see you back here on monday. Until then, be well. 

xo
Melis 

Closer to home

Hello sweet ones! 

                      Yesterday we headed into the city & saw dear friends, who we haven't seen in quite some time. It was so great to see them & yet again....it reminded me of my days as an actor. It seems to be coming up quite a lot recently & I can't help but wonder why. These friends did an awesome documentary called "Showing up: A conversation about the audition" and my hubby and I are both in it. I haven't had a chance to see it yet but, there are many amazing actors in it, talking about what it is like, as an actor, to audition. The good & the bad. It might be fun for you to check out the trailer here. There is also a DVD of it & here is the page with all of the actors involved. ( if you scroll down a bit you will see me & Joel in there - the first pic on the 7th & 9th row, if you click on the pics there is a little more info. :) I am super proud of James & Riad, they have worked so hard on this project over the years & it is SUCH a great venture. They are amazing people & I adore them. On the way home, on the train...I started getting one of my headaches( I think it is brought on by the weather, when it is rainy & overcast...I usually get one) and started taking pics on instagram which worked fairly well distracting me from my head! Unfortunately for you, I am now going to share those pics. :) Little snippets of my afternoon. 

~ The park in our town is beautiful. It is spacious, has a little duck pond and that romantic little bridge you see above. I like walking home from the train through here....it is romantic, no? 

~ a bright blue dress is sure to make a rainy day a little brighter and those wedges I have had for-evah. They are oldies but, goodies. Still holding up super well after 7 years and super comfy for heels.(they don't have these anymore, I don't think but, here is something similar,in case you are interested) 

~ I know it is no secret I love jewelry. A little bit ago I lost the charm bracelet Joel had given to me when we first found out we were pregnant with my eldest gal. He added to it over the years & it was precious to me. Can't really replace something like that but, I do love the new bracelet he gave me for my birthday this year. We can start over & add to this one. The little pyrite bracelet is from Debbie Fisher, I had long admired it on the arm of my friend, Jennifer and asked her if she minded if I copied! :) She said "no". I used to have one of her beautiful arrow cuffs on there as well but, I managed to lose that one as well. sigh. perhaps the universe it trying to tell me something? ( quit wearing bracelets, girl!) :) 

~ I need a haircut...and when it rains, my hair truly does whatever it wants. It doesn't listen to me or behave. Wack-a-doo. I felt like the "little girl with the curl in the middle of her forehead" do you know that old limmerick? 

How about you, my friends? How was your week? Any fun plans for your weekend? Today I am having lunch with my sweet friend, Brandi & Tomorrow, I am heading into the city again, to visit lovely Grace at her shop's 5th anniversary party. Wanna come? I bet it is going to be super lovely & fun. Whatever your plans are, I hope you have a beautiful weekend. I will see you back here on monday but, just before you go.....

~ Isn't this gorgeous? 

~ So courageous & heartfelt of all these ladies to share. Bravo to them. 

~ love, love ( they are out of stock right now but, you can sign up to be notified when they are back,I adore the pink & white ones!) covet ( loved their other book, Creative Walls, can't wait to see this one) 

Until then, be well! 

xo

Melis

Closer to home

Hello sweethearts, 

                  Last night we had a lovely couple over for dinner ( hi Charlotte!) They are both in their 20's so, it got me to thinking about when I was 27 and where I thought I would be when I was 42. You know, I don't think I really thought about it in terms of age. And there is NO way I could have guessed the way things would go. I certainly wouldn't have expected to only be working as an actor in voice over. There were no blogs & my interest in all things design was unknown even to me. Then there are my beautiful girls. Again, there is absolutely no way I could know, at 27, how having them would change me & my life for the better. Often friends ask me if I miss acting & I always say the same thing. I miss it less than I thought I would. But, every so often, I will see something really good ( a tv show, a play or a movie) and wish with all of my heart that I could be part of it. At any rate, I thought I would share a few snippets from my week. Mostly from around the house because I have been nesting. Okay, okay....I am always nesting. 

~ Boxes from here. ( if you are interested in them, you could ask Tara & Percy for a special listing)  

~ I have been exchanging & returning rugs left & right! I guess the only way to know if it is right for you, is to try it in your home & then be willing to return & exchange. This one is from Target. I can't seem to find it online but, there may still be some in stores. 

~ Tamar Mogendorff here 

~ My mom & dad went our of their way to send this beauty to me, I love it. 

~ I love stuff like this....in the window of The Evolution store here

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, my friends. I will see you back here on monday. But, just before you go....

~ Isn't this a beautiful photograph & a beautiful dog? (click through on pinterest link for the photographer, thank you Julie for helping me track them down. :)   

~ love, love, covet

~ This seems like a very worthy project to back.

Until then, be well. 

xo

Melis

Closer to home

Hello sweethearts, 

                   Happy weekend! Any fun plans? I have some plans up my sleeve for Joel's birthday ( which is tomorrow) I am excited about them, he has no idea. :) The funniest thing happen to me yesterday ( and by funny, I mean odd) I have run out of perfume & went to get some more ( if you know me, you know that perfume is like air & water to me. Necessary.) When I sprayed on the one I have worn off & on for years, suddenly...I didn't like it anymore! So weird. And now, I feel a little bereft. Not sure what to do. There are 3 I have vacillated between over the years ( Calyx, Annick Goutal's Eau de Hadrien & Jo Malone's Verbenas de Provence) and after a while....you can't smell them anymore. Meaning, when you wear them everyday, you become immune. You know? Definitely a cushy quandry to have but, a quandry to me nonetheless. So, any suggestions would be welcome. I am defnitely a fussy fuss when it comes to my signature scent. Anyway, I thought I would share a few snapshots with you, just around and about the house. 

~ my new fave candle. yum. here ( all you really smell is the clementine, it is so lovely) 

~ picked this up at my favorite store in our town, Perch home. For my girls. 

~ oh! how did this pic get in there? :) Luna, looking fetching as usual. 

Whatever you plan on doing this weekend; I hope it is fun, relaxing and beautiful. I will see you back here on monday but, just before you go....

~ Did you see that Karen has a limited supply of gorgeous dopp kits she made just for Refinery 29 ,here? (until May 3rd) So want that Oxaca one! 

~ Isn't this beautiful? ( a young Sudanese boy drinking water by: Georgina Cranston) 

~ love, love & covet

~ I have decided, though I am too old for role models probably, that Beyonce is the shit. She is beautiful, loves her curves, so talented and a badass. It's not that I am just now getting on the Beyonce "train", it is just that this video/song is a kick ass girl anthem. LOVE. ( the choreography, the two guys dancing with her in the beginning, all of it) Thanks Kathleen for the intro. months ago. :) 

Have a great one & until monday....be well! 

xo

Melis

Closer to home

Hello lovelies....

                      It's my birthday, and I am happy!  We have some fun plans for the weekend, a small gathering tonight, kiddie parties all weekend and a shower for a sweet friend on sunday. Do you have any fun plans for the weekend?  I thought I would share some snapshots from my week with you. 

~ it makes me so happy to see the big trees leafing out. Spring is really here! It always makes me feel hopeful when I see nature coming back year after year. 

~ it kills me when she sits this way....so stinkin cute. I call it her "old man" pose. 

~ our big fluffy gal, Maddie. She doles out her kisses very selectively, she is thinking about giving me one here.....

~ rings & puppy fur...is there anything better? :) ( rings: left to right; one I made, tiny arrow ring from Jennifer ( which will soon be available in her shop, look for it in the next couple of months) thin gold bands from Cassie & Chalcedony ring from here ) 

Whatever you have planned, I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I will see you back here on monday but, just before you go....

~ Have you seen this sweet, sweet short film? So heartwarming and beautiful. here ( thanks to my hubby for showing it to me) 

~ I am in love with this. 

~ Isn't this beautiful? ( by Sania Pell) 

~ love, love, love  ( just click through on the photos to see the sources) 

Until then, be well. 

xo

Melis

Closer to home

Hello sweethearts! 

                   Happy friday! Any fun plans for your weekend?  Our wonderful brother-in-laws are coming in for some family fun this weekend and there most probably will be a sleepover or two. I thought I would share a few snippets around my house....some things I brought back from our trip & some that I didn't. :) 

~  I fell in love with these larger than life flowers made by The house that Lars built. So, a couple of weeks ago I ordered one & it was waiting for me when I got home! Safe from it's journey from Denmark! :) love it. 

~ just a little mish mash of small felted balls and a festive Indian garland from Parcel 

~ Anything that reminds me of the ocean, makes me happy. I have always loved driftwood & if memory serves....my mom was always looking for it when I was little. She gave this garland to me when I was there, for an early birthday present. You can find one like it, here.

~  I had been wanting to pick up some coral for awhile now. I knew, when I was in the Keys I would be able to find some that was perfect. Right next to an amazing conch shell my mom found a long time ago down there. 

I hope, whatever you have planned, you have a lovely weekend & I will see you back here on monday. But, just before you go....

~ Isn't this lady beautiful? ( from Advanced Style)

~ I love this ( for our mudroom) 

~ how adorable is this pup? Up for adoption in Cali. here

Until monday, 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

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