8500 Square Feet of Goodness

Over the Christmas holiday, my fabulous Sister-in-Law (who I don't spend nearly enough time with) and I had the opportunity

to go to Ann Arbor to check out

The Treasure Mart.

It was gooooood!

Open since 1960, The Treasure Mart has been committed to reuse, recycling and repurposing. The constantly changing inventory of gently used merchandise includes beautiful antiques, nostalgic collectibles, a wide variety of useful household items. They sell everything on consignment which means money spent at this store will go back into the hands of the local community.

I love that.

Another interesting feature of shopping at The Treasure Mart is the monthly price reduction on all items priced at $5.00 or more.

An item that has been in the store for a month from the date on the ticket is 10% off, 2 months 20% off, 3 months 30%, etc.

This ensures quick turnover and great deals!

While wandering around the three floors and 8500 square feet of "packed to the rafters" goodness, we came across this little beauty for $75.00.

I had to have it.

And now, I can't get this image out of my head...

Is it too crazy or should I be like Nike and

"Just Do It"??

I know it's only paint, but I'm a committment phobe... hahaha!!!

I'd love to hear your ideas!

I Have a Confession.

I have a confession.

I am not a fan of the whole “New Years Resolution” thing.

It’s not that I don’t get the appeal. Believe me, I do.

A New Year feels untarnished by bad choices, untouched by drama.

It feels full of possibilities and second chances.

We all know that a turn of the calendar does not absolve us of our choices,

or rid us of our demons,

or serve as a free pass for a do-over.

So this year,

instead of setting silly goals and

making a bunch of promises to myself

about living like I ought to anyway...

I'm just going to

spend more time with these guys.

nieces & nephews

My favorite people in the whole wide world!

Welcome 2011!

All Roads...

On Christmas Eve... all roads lead home!

Last minute Christmas gift suggestions:

To your enemy, forgiveness.

To an opponent, tolerance.

To a friend, your heart.

To all, charity.

To every child, a good example.

To yourself, respect.

Merry Christmas Friends!!!

I Wish...

I wish I was here...

Telluride, Co.

DYI: A Little E.R. Inspiration

Remember this little number from Eddie Ross? I still love it and I still haven't made one.

This Christmas, I'm trying to be a little "craftier". And I have a lot of you ladies out there to thank. I've been so inspired by some of your projects that I've decided to try an easy one myself. So, I'll start out with a simple "Eddie Ross" inspired outside wreath.

I like the idea of using non-tradional colors. It's fun and less expected than the usual Christmas colors.

I really like this ribbon for some reason... I'm using it!!!

So I pulled out a couple of lengths, and fashioned this bow.

(Always the hardest part for me)

Next, I went to my favorite Big Lots and found these great shatterproof ornaments for $2.99 a box.

I sorted through all the ornaments and decided to use only the matte finished ones.

Then, I found an old wire hanger and bent it around into a circle with a little hook on each end.

Then, I just started stringing the ornaments onto the wire.

When I used all the ornaments, I bent it back into a circle and attached the two ends using the hooks I fashioned on either end of the wire hanger.

Then I just fastened on the bow... and DONE!

Now as I look closer, I wish I would have changed some of ornaments around for better color distributation and made a bigger bow... !

It's no "Eddie Ross Wreath" but it's not bad, huh?

Rent the Runway... Brilliant!

The attic of my parents' house is a graveyard of dresses from years gone by. Prom dresses, bridesmaid dresses, dresses worn to formals – you name it, and you can find it up there. Seriously, I put Katherine Heigl’s 27 dresses to shame. And the worst part of it all is that these precious and costly dresses only saw the light of day once in their entire existence. They got all prettied up, made their debut, and then got stuffed back in the closet never to be seen again. Honestly, it’s a little heart-breaking.

In this day and age of recession and cutbacks on my wardrobe, I simply can’t afford to keep on living this way. Which is why RentTheRunway.com is such a lifesaver. Their slogan is “Love. Wear. Return.” and one look at their website will have you clutching your chest believing the "big one" has finally struck.

This mail-order service (I liken it to Netflix for fashion) allows women to rent high-end fashions and accessories for about one-tenth of the retail price. Running from $50 to $300 for a four-night loan, that M.Missoni dress you've been eyeing will be delivered to your doorstep, in TWO SIZES just in case. After you’ve had your fun, you simply mail it back to the company (at their expense) and they take care of the dry-cleaning. It’s so effortless I may slip into a fashion coma.

Do you know what this means? Never spending a fortune on a dress you’ll probably wear once before it goes out of style. Always looking better than everyone else at the party because you’re in the latest Christian Siriano design. And finally, the end of outfit-repeating. I’m literally hyperventilating at the thought.

Praise be couture, Rent the Runway is Mecca. Now I just need somewhere to go.

Meet the Masterminds, Jennifer Hyman Co-founder and CEO.

And Jennifer Fleiss Co-founder and President.

Check out a few pieces in their collection that are available to rent today...

California Dreamin' gown by Matthew Williamson

Retail price $2,195

Rental price $300

Sailor Bandage Dress by Hervé Léger

Retail $1590

Rental $150

A Formal Affair Dress by Carlos Miele

Retail $1,575

Rental $200

Sail Away Dress by Milly

Retail $425

Rental $50

Princess Sweetheart Gown by Bibhu Mohapatra

Retail $3500

Rental $350

Varsity Dress by Pency

Retail $475

Rental $75

Aqua Ombre Bacall Earrings by Elizabeth Cole

Retail $196

Rental $25

Miriam Haskel Interlocking Pearl Necklace

Retail $300

Rental $35

Midnight Blue Blait Necklace by Gemma Redux

Retail $680

Rental $50

Cherry Bomb Handbag by Judith Leiber

Retail $1595

Rental $150

Dreamweaver Clutch by Judith Leiber

Retail $1695

Rental $150

Coeur De La Mer Clutch by Judith Leiber

Retail $2295

Rental $225

With Christmas and New Year's upon us and party dresses a must...

What do you think of renting a dress? Is it kinda gross or is it a totally fantastic option considering the money you could save??

I'd love to hear what you think!!

P.S. I got a little sidetracked on my DIY's. I'll post them very soon!

Dreaming of a White Christmas...

Today, we got our first good snow of the Winter.

Everything looks so clean and bright!

I hope this is what Christmas will be like!

I'll be spending the weekend decorating, baking and finishing up a couple of DIY's.

Tune in on Monday for the finished projects!

Merry Weekend, Friends!!!