valentine's day It's Finished....for now.

valentine's day

Thanks to all of you who have been patiently waiting for pictures of my daughter's room! It is finally in a state where pictures can be taken. I had been waiting to find the right, affordable lamps, hang the sheers at the windows and on the bed, and to hang a bit of art on the walls. And while it is still a work in progress (every room in our house always is), it has turned out to be rather pretty. The most important thing is that she loves it.

valentine's day

Some of you have asked where things were found or purchased. So here we go: The bed is from IKEA and we painted it white. The bedside chests are from Bungalow 5. Lamps are from Home Depot ( I know!). The little suzani I found on ebay. The sweet portrait I found at a flea market and looks so much like my daughter.

valentine's day

The rug is from West Elm (no longer available). Sheets and Duvet Cover were from PBteen. Sheers were from IKEA. Matelisse Bedspread and Shams were from Crate and Barrel.

valentine's day

Dresser was from Jayson Home and Garden. Lamps on the dresser are vintage. Mirror is from the Nate Berkus Collection on HSN. Coral "sconces" are from Urban Outfitters. Louis Ghost Chair is from DWR.

If you check here, you can see the ideas that we had when putting the room together. It came pretty close I think!

So there you have it!

valentine's day valentine's day Round-up

valentine's day

valentine's day Cake for Two. Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse, layered with Tahitian Vanilla Bean Bavarian Cream, Flourless Chocolate Mousse Meringue Cake, and Raspberry Chambord Caramel. Must be ordered 48 hours in advance. $28

What are the necessities for valentine's day ? Well....the list has grown over the years. But everyone has to agree that CHOCOLATE is high on the list. We are very lucky in Sacramento to have cultivated a premier chocolatier by the name of Ginger Elizabeth. She is a hugely talented young woman especially in the ways of chocolate. This valentine's day , Ginger Elizabeth is offering two very special treats if you live in the Sacramento area.

valentine's day

Handmade edible Bittersweet Chocolate Box with edible White Chocolate Rasberry Bow, filled with Chocolate Pearls and 8 Artisan Chocolates. Limited....order in advance. $50

To read more about Ginger Elizabeth and place orders for shipment online click here.

Chocolate is a must....and so is a card, don't you agree? These flocked vintage Victorian style cards from Carmel Bay Company are so pretty and romantic:

valentine's day

Over two dozen assorted vintage style flocked Valentines and envelopes punch out, assemble, And send to the ones you love. $4.99

Hearts for valentine's day ? Of Course!:

valentine's day

African soapstone hand painted and polished to a smooth touch. The perfect gift for someone you love. Use as a paperweight or create a colorful collection. Background colors: black, red, pink, yellows etc. Small $6.75, Large $15.50. Carmel Bay Company.

Let's see......Flowers are always important, but never more so than when sending to a Valentine. Some of my favorite bouquets can be ordered from Jayson Home and Garden. I thought this Anemone bouquet was particularly wonderful, and the onyx box is a keeper!:

valentine's day

Fuschia Anemone's in an Onyx Box. $135. Jayson Home and Garden.

Hmmmm, what's next......JEWELRY! How could I forget. I can always count on Sundance for having jewelry I will love. Here a re a couple of rings I particularly LOVE. And that is what valentine's day is all about, right? LOVE:

valentine's day

Red Jade Ring. $48. Sundance.

valentine's day

Rose Petal Ring. $220. Sundance.

Well....those are the essentials. But it never hurts to show your love by showering your Valentine with gifts. I heart all of these sweet gifts: valentine's day

Proust Questionnaire - Pink. $34.95. Read more about it here. Jayson Home and Garden.

valentine's day

Surprise Ball. $10. Unwind to discover keepsakes, fortunes, and prizes. Sea and Jae

I loved these when I was little and have only been able to find them again through Sea and Jae. Sea and Jae also have a wonderful blog all about giving gifts that are unique and creative. Check it out here.

I was recently introduced to a fabulous pillow company called Fabricadabra, and this pillow says it all:

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Felted Wool Appliqued Pillow. 20"x20". $65. from Fabricadabra

The most important thing to give for valentine's day is, of course, LOVE. So be generous and spread it around. The world needs it right about now.

valentine's day Shopping: Stream of Consciousness

valentine's day

Embossed Flower Mirror

I have been trying to finish up odds and ends for my daughter's bedroom tonight. I still need a mirror for above the dresser I ordered from Jayson Home and Garden, and I really like this one (above) from Wisteria priced at $349. I have always loved inlaid mother of pearl furniture, and have a couple of other small pieces, including a small carved and inlaid mirror (too small to use as a dressing mirror). This style would be so pretty in her room! It is a bit much for me right now though.

valentine's day

Hitchens Low Dresser

This is the dresser I ordered from Jayson Home and Garden. It is a bit of a splurge, but I think it can be used in so many ways so I think it is a good investment piece. I think it would be great as a buffet in a dining room, or as a hallway table. The black color will work into a lot of different scenarios if I change furniture around when children have fled the coop. When my daughter gets a place of her own, she may have to wrestle me for it!

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Sarina Inlaid Mirror

Because of the dollars spent on the dresser, I am trying to save a bit by looking at some other mirrors. I found this one on the Pottery Barn website. Not quite at intricate as the Wisteria mirror, but still pretty, inlaid and less expensive at $279.

Anyway....I got a bit sidetracked on the Pottery Barn website. I started looking at the Autumn table settings. Completely off track, I know. But I really liked these Baroque Salad plates!

valentine's day

Baroque Salad Plates

Typically, I am strictly a white plate entertainer. I just think that food is the star and always looks best on a white plate. I do love a gold rim and have a collection of vintage Tiffany gold rimmed plates. But I have never really taken to plates with patterns. But I think these would look so wonderful with a green salad, or with bread, cheese and olives. And the dinner plate underneath is still white.

valentine's day

Quail Plates

Then I saw these Quail Plates (also from Pottery Barn). I like these too! Perhaps a Baby Romaine salad with figs and Cambozola cheese?

valentine's day

Fieldcrest Hemstitched Napkins

So then I started thinking "table linens" and remembered seeing these hemstitched napkins on the fabulous Eddie Ross' blog. I was floored when he wrote that they were from Target! They looked so elegant. So I went to the Target website and found out a pack of four is only $14.95! There is a matching 70"x70" hemstitched tablecloth for $19.99.

valentine's day

So I am running through the saved websites on my tool bar: I went back to Wisteria and found these embroidered Silver and Gold Crown Linen napkins, thinking to myself, these would be so perfect with my Tiffany gold rimmed plates! ($27.20 for 4...not bad for 100% linen!)

valentine's day

And these Etched Crown Glasses, also from Wisteria ($49 for 4!), I think are going to find their way to my bar before the holidays.

So this is how I end up shopping....one thing leads to another. In some cases, it can lead to really serendipitous finds. So....do you all do this? Have you ever gone to a website to look for something in particular, only to find yourself buying something completely different and unrelated...but wonderful?