The Pen is Mightier than the Sword...

 

I am a big fan of small indulgences, and.....well, big indulgences too.  However in this case giving in to the beauty and charm of the designer version won't break the bank. Woo hoo!  :)  

A truly beautiful pen is a lovely little pick me up.  It's something that is very useful, but will also look exquisite sitting on your desk.  I'm also of the opinion that you will be less likely to loose a pen of this caliber, which is a huge plus.  And let's be honest - how many of us actually have a pen at the ready on our otherwise perfectly organized desk's? (sarcasm alert) Ready at a moments notice?! Yup, I didn't think so.  If you are anything like me, the cheapies are like sock's....I have no idea where they go, but they can't be trusted to stick around for very long. 

The gorgeous floral pink pen above is called the "Mumsie Pen" from Miss Lilly Pullitzer.  Doesn't it just disarm you immediately with it's sunny, utterly cheerful vibe? It makes me think of fresh bouquet's of Mum's and lemonade. This pen would do Charlotte York proud. It's unapologetically girly. LOVE.

Next up we have the incomparable Mr. Johnathon Adler.  Purveyor of all things "Happy Chic".  These pens are graphic HEAVEN.  Of course I went with the Green Greek Key Pen...I was helpless against it for obvious reasons.  These scream urban chic, Playful Avant Garde, and Zoey Deschanel.

 Last, but certainly not least....the classic Leather Pen, in to die for colors from Horchow. Complete with personalized monogram. Oddly the first thing that came to mind was the ever hateable Olivia Palermo...but hey, she does have great taste. 

Vintage Bali Hai Hollywood Regency Style Dresser's

Okay, some thing's in life are "meant to be", and these dresser's definitely fit the bill. I was looking for something substantial to replace my current night stands now that the built in is in place - and came up with the impossible ask as per usual: Authentic Hollywood Regency Style Eames Era Bamboo Dressers in the perfect dimensions.   I chose this combination as a target because I wanted something that was playful, and yet glamorous and unexpected. Once again I find that ask and you may receive is more than a pipe dream. 

This lovely pair was found on eBay in mint condition, and in the perfect dimensions (right down to exactly the right depth...it was almost scary).   They had only been listed for 20 minutes, otherwise I'm sure I would have never had a shot...when you really love something, consider snuggling up with "Buy it Now", you won't regret it.  And will never fall victim to the certain anguish of "what if?" Alas, their only fatal flaw was their location - exotic Ft Meyers Florida.  Humpf. So I had to arrange for them to be shipped all the way up to Seattle, which was spendy, but totally worth it. 

They are scheduled to arrive by June 11, at which point they will be sanded down and refinished in a perfect high gloss white. (Benjamin Moore Super White, but of course)

The dressers were made by a company called Henry Link, and were part of a line manufactured in the 70's called "Bali Hai".  This line was wildly popular, and is highly sought after on the vintage market along with a similar Thomasville collection of the same era.   

I'm also going to swap the hardware out - and I'm torn between simple milk glass white knobs, something gold and glamorous, or white bamboo.  Decisions, decisions.

Cheers to having a Kelly Wearstler moment on a budget!

MAKE YOURSELF PROUD - Peter W. Smith

I just bought this little gem because I needed to get cash :) It's such a good message though...I often find myself pondering why I strive to achieve things, and how much of the time I'm doing it for other people.  So if you do one thing today - MAKE YOURSELF PROUD.

A Walk on the Wildside in a fabulous dress...

Ah, yes..the JCrew Blakely dress. Totally, completely and utterly obsession worthy.  I have coveted it since the moment I layed eyes on it's understanded, yet elegant perfection. With just a touch of the wild it couldn't be more perfect.  I even love that she's not looking at the camera...and you know why - because she knows that you can't tear your eyes away from her.

Although I wasn't able to justify buying the dress for $200, I found something else to satisfy my need for subtle zebra stripes.  I happened to be on the West Elm site, and to my utter amazement spotted the dress in RUG form. Bravo West Elm.  They call it the "Safari Rug", it only comes in divine Ivory & Platinum, and it is precisely what I needed for my "dinning area".

I have adored the zebra rug look for a very long time, but didn't want a rug that even resembled a hide - as I don't support the practices through which these rugs are often created. Furthermore, traditional black and white was simply too harsh for my condo.  I have, how shall I put this,  a "lot of look" going on in the main living area of my condo...so I have to be careful.  This will bring in just enough WOW factor, with a touch of the unexpected.

Swoon indeed.