Think Bright Thoughts

With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?”

Oscar Wilde

Blog Re-Design Inspiration & Big Announcement!

I thought it might be fun for you to see the digital inspiration board I created for my blog re-design:

 

I wanted to incorporate the colors navy, fuchsia, dark gray and turquoise.  I also included a few patterns I have always loved and hoped to use: peacock feathers, zig zags and greek key.  I'm still crushing over what Marina of Penny Lane Designs did around here.  Thanks to all of you who left sweet comments about it too!   

So, in honor of my blog re-design, I have been planning something special for you all:

I hereby pronounce next week, March 1st-5th as Sweetie Pie Pumpkin Noodle Reader Appreciation Week! Sound the trumpets! Pop the confetti! Pour the champagne! 

What exactly does that mean for you, you ask? Well, a week full of giveaways, thats what!

So be sure to come on by, as each day next week will have a fantastic new item for you to enter for a chance to win.

Have a wonderful weekend all! 

My Date With a Shabby Apple Dress

(I know, I totally should have been a model)

Okay, so the date was technically with my husband, I was just excited to wear the dress sent to me from Shabby Apple for review.  We decided to check out the classic film "All About Eve" that was playing at our local independent theater downtown. 

When we arrived, two sweet old men in white tuxedo jackets and bow ties were handing out programs.  Then inside the theater there was a man playing live music on an organ. To top all that off, right before the movie, they had raffles to win prizes like a gift basket filled with items that went with the theme of the movie. Quite the theater experience!

So back to the dress: here is where I realized a crazy little coincidence.  I was reading the program for the movie, and one of the stars was Bette Davis.  I'm seeing the name, wondering why it seemed like I had just read it somewhere else recently, when I realized the name of the dress I was wearing is the "Bette D."!  Crazy!  Well, to me at least, I always geek out at little coincidences like that. I'm also quite certain that a dress she wore in the movie was inspiration for the design of the dress I had on.  Here is a promotional pic from the movie of Bette in the dress:

 

Now here is me rockin the "Bette D.":

 

After our movie we went to an Italian restaurant where I finally got to chow down on some pumpkin ravioli.  Been craving it all winter. Delish. 

I really enjoyed wearing my Shabby Apple dress-it was comfortable, the cut was perfect and figure flattering.  I love that Shabby Apple was founded by two women who wanted to create dresses the way they used to be- a one-piece outfit with no need to add a tank top, cardigan, etc.  I just adore this idea, and browsing through their ample dress selection you really see how well they have achieved their goal.

I am particularly smitten with their new "Central Park" line of dresses for Spring:

 

I think the green and white striped dress needs to come home to my closet!

Currently Coveting

Currently Coveting by Sweetie Pie Pumpkin Noodle featuring TopShop swimwear

Peacock Feather Flip Mino, $150
Ummm, no explanation needed right? Flip peeps, you need to send me this asap.
Cluster Earrings, $185
A bit 80's, but I dig em. 

V Neck Kaftan Cover Up, $40
Love the color of this. Would look so great over a black bikini.  

a22 clutch, $130
Pattern perfection.

Dwell Upholstered Storage Bench, $200
Would be super cute in my entry. 

Dwell Shower curtain, $27

Sweet for Spring.

Personal Style, Defined: Romantic

Welcome to a new weekly series here on SPPN called "Personal Style, Defined". I will be partnering with Jill of The Good Life For Less each week to explore and define a new style theme. You will find the interior examples here and the fashion side over at Jill's blog. 

A few questions we hope to answer along the way:

What is personal style?
What is YOUR personal style?
Should personal style be changing or evolving?

How can defining personal style help while shopping for yourself or your home?

The first personal style we have decided to highlight is romantic.

 

If you are drawn to rooms with these elements, you are probably a romantic.

Here are a few examples:

 

Note: The floral patterned wallpaper {sweet prints} 

Pops of pink {feminine details}

  

Note:  Curved armchairs {flirty silhouettes}

Well placed furniture, art and accessories {layers}

  

Note: The intricately carved chest and mirror {attention to detail}

Fresh flowers and candles {feminine details}

Note:  Luxurious fabrics {feminine details}

Mounds of pillows {layers}

Ruffles, tufting and pleating {feminine details}

All images via House Beautiful  

Does this look speak to you? Want to get the look in your home?  

Here are a few of my favorite picks:

 

Ruffled Pillow- Pier 1

Venetian Mirror- The Wall Art Store

Candles- Lollia

Romantic Photography-  IS Photography

So what do you think? Are you a romantic? If not 100%, are there particular elements that you find appealing?  

Don't forget to check out Jill's blog The Good Life For Less to see what she has posted on the fashion side of romantic style! 

NY Fashion Week Faves Part 2 : DVF

Of course Diane Von Furstenburg makes my top faves of fashion week.  The layers, prints and detailing are perfection in my book:

And her black dresses are amazing:

A few of my favorite details. Loving this purse:

And the colors in this crazy fur (hoping it's not real though):

Lastly, i've been growing my hair out since September in the hopes it will one day look like this:

A girl can dream.

Interior Infatuation: Sarah Richardson

Happy Monday sweeties! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I sure did as we are all finally getting over our illnesses and I was able to get out of the house for a date with my hubby! And the good times are going to continue because my hubby is on vacation this week. Woo hoo! Let the good times roll.

Have you all checked out the portfolio of Sarah Richardson yet? It's a doozy, so definitely click on over.  This is one of my favorite projects of hers.  The black, white and green bedroom below is my absolute favorite:

 Where to even start?  It's perfection in my book.

Look at those glimmering tiles in the kitchen.  So pretty.

 

Love all those patterned prints framed over the sofa.

 

 

 Another gorgeous bedroom, this one nice and serene.
   

  

 That floor! That tub!

  

  

  

I love this shared bedroom. Not done in your typical girlie colors, yet still very feminine.

  

Must have: giant bulletin board covered in yummy fabric.

  

Which is your favorite room in the house?
 

Think Bright Thoughts: Week 8

via

Pure Genius: Typography Art

I am in love with these prints made entirely from type elements.  Wouldn't they be perfect in a nursery or kid's room?  Best part is they are available as printable pdf's and only cost $7 each from etsy seller One Little Bird.  Right now the seller is also having a buy one get one free offer, so snatch some up! 

My favorite has to be this dashing fellow:

 

The owls are super cute:

There are other great options in the shop too, like this ABC print:

NY Fashion Week Faves Part I : Tibi

I have been itching to go through all the fashion shows from NY Fashion Week. I had a spare moment so I started with one of my faves, Tibi.

 

I know we are all just starting to get excited for Spring, but now I'm already starting to complile my list of fall must have's:

Brown leather belt with large gold buckle

Maroon tights

Chunky brown shoes (clogs?)

Navy, gray, turquoise and orange color palette

And you know, I'm even kinda diggin the models' hair.  Very reminescent of Sigourney Weaver in Ghostbusters:

Good times.

At Home Date: Cheese & Wine Tasting

What do you do when you have sick kids and no babysitter on Valentine's Day?  Have an "at home date" that's what!  After being continually frustrated by one canceled date night after another, my husband and I decided to start creating our own little romantic dates at home.  Our first of hopefully many at home dates was a mini cheese and wine tasting.  

Here is how I put it together: 

I headed to our local grocery store to pick up a variety of cheeses to try.  I picked a mixture of hard and soft cheeses:

Brie (soft)

Cambozola (soft)

Four Pepper Goat Cheese (soft)

Havarti (hard)

Purple Moon (hard-it's Cabernet soaked cheddar. Delish)

I would suggest to go to a cheese shop if you have one locally. That way there is a bigger variety to choose from, you can ask for suggestions and they can make your portions of each cheese smaller so you don't have a ton leftover. (Like us-I'm pretty sure it's going to last us through Labor Day) 

I also purchased a baguette to spread the soft cheeses on, water crackers for the hard cheeses, grapes (said to be used to cleanse your palette between cheeses) and pink lady apples.

We had a bottle of Merlot and Chardonnay on hand already, so we just went ahead and used those.  If you want to get really fancy, you can look up exact wine pairings for each cheese online. 

Next go home and set up your table all snazzy like so:

 

 Make sure you have some flowers and a candle or two to set the mood.  Turn down the rest of the lights.

 

Put out some cute labels for each cheese:  

Don't forget the sexy music! Go to Pandora or your favorite internet radio station and type in an artist that does it for you.  In my case, Ray LaMontagne.

 

 Now you are all set and ready to go!

 We ended up having a really great time.  See:

 

Happy and relaxed mommy after a few glasses of vino and tasty cheese.  Who needs an $80 dinner out?

The Purple Moon ended up being our favorite

Another hit was this little recipe:
Place a slice of brie and a thin slice of apple on a water cracker. Drizzle with honey and cinnamon. Yuuuummm!

Here are my last few tips for a successful at home date:

Obviously, if you have kids, wait until they are in bed and sound asleep. You don't want any interruptions.

Make sure the house is straightened: toys put away, dishes done, etc. You don't want visual reminders of all the chores that still need to be done. 

Turn the ringer off your phone.

Get dressed up just as if you were going out to do the same activity.  It may be tempting to put on your sweats and get cozy, but it feels more special to have a nice outfit on.  Don't forget some nice jewelry, lipstick and perfume!

We are already brainstorming ideas for our next at home date.  Send suggestions my way if you have any!

Oh, and guess who got some Penguin Classics for Valentine's Day?  Love them.