Sweetie Pie Style's 2011 Trend Forecasts

Design Refuge is having a fun little blog challenge in which you are to predict what will be hot in interior design in 2011.  After extensive research including hours statistical number crunching and cross-sectional survey studies (I kid) here are my predictions:

Hot Pattern: Dots

Sources: top left, bottom right 

 Hot Color: Grape

Sources: top left, Domino, bottom right

Hot Color: Mint

Sources: top left, bottom right

Hot Design: Navajo

Sources: top left, bottom right

I included fashion finds as well, because as we know, interior and fashion trends go hand in hand.  So what do you think?  Do you agree? What are your predictions?  You can join in the fun too, the last chance to link up your post is this Thursday!

Holiday Gift Guide-Baby

Ahh, sweet little babies.  Too young to bug you every day about what they want for Christmas, so you can just go buy whatever you want!  Here are some cute things...

1. I can't get enough of cute little sweaters with ears on the hoods. Every baby needs one!

2. These organic crochet donut rattles are adorbs-can you just see a baby toting these around? As an added bonus, these will grow with the child, who can use them later in their play kitchen.

3. A bold black & white book with fun animal shapes will keep baby interested at story time.

4. We love playing "Tickle Monster" at our house, and this book with soft blue "tickle mitts" would take it to the next level!

5. This elephant rocker is a fun take on the more traditional horse rocker.  An added bonus is it is made from recycled wood and painted with low-odor, eco-friendly paint.

Holiday Gift Guide-Men

Men. I swear they are the hardest to buy for.  Well, at least for my man anyway.  He never has anything on a wish list, never drops any hints as to what he wants, and 99.9% of the time when you ask him for ideas he says "I don't know" or "Don't get me anything".  Uh, sure dude.  So here is my shot at what to get the man in your life who gives you no ideas, just like mine.

1. 3 Piece Rabbit Wine Opener Set-If your man likes wine {and mine sure does} give him this big daddy of all wine openers.  It corks a bottle in 3 seconds flat. 

2. Marc Jacobs Bang Gift Set-Have you seen the ad for this stuff?  Helooo Marc Jacobs!

3. ABC of Men's Fashion Book-Fun for the fashion conscious dude-or the one you want to make over for the New Year!

4. Marc Jacobs Neoprene Laptop Sleeve-I love this sleek cover for the laptop toting guy.

5. Goa Black Watch- This watch has universal good looks.

So do you have a hard to shop for guy?  What do you get for him?

Cyber Monday Sale at One Sweet Find-15% Off Today Only!

Today only, receive 15% off your entire order at my vintage home goods shop, One Sweet Find!  Simply enter the code "SweetDeal" at checkout.  Snatch up those items you have been eyeing as an early Christmas present for you or someone you love.  Remember, once an item is gone, it is gone.  Below are a few items from the shop; for my complete inventory, please continue on to the full shop here.

Think Bright Thoughts

"Secret Message" lamp, available for purchase here.  What a fun idea!

Holiday Gift Guide-Kids

Kids are always so fun to shop for.  As a rule I try and stay away from anything that makes noise or has a million and one tiny pieces.  Educational toys like books and puzzles are always a favorite to buy, as well as functional items like clothing or things that put fun in the everyday.  Below are a few favorite picks:

1. Food playsets are always fun for kids, and this Breakfast Set is too cute!

2. This Teapot Mouse House will spark imaginative play, and the everything fits inside the teapot for easy storage.

3. An animal shaped lunch box, like this Bee is a fun way to take snacks on the go.

4. A book that even mom and dad will enjoy.

5. This Whirl Balance Scooter is super stylish and will help train your little one for a big girl bike!

6.  Encourage kids to play with their food with this Food Face Plate-trust me they will be more likely to eat those veggies!

7. An adorable Robot Puzzle to challenge little minds

8.  This was just too cute-Enzo Motorbike.  I mean, there is a sidecar people!

9.  Baby Blue Moccasins? I die!

10.  Not your daddy's Lincoln Logs-these are made from sustainable bamboo.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday!  Anyone brave the Black Friday sales?  I stayed in-not really up for all that.  Now I'm about to go indulge in some more leftovers!  See ya Monday!

Thankful

So many reasons to be tankful on this day and always...

What I Wore-Outfits 11-14 of 30

The good news is, I haven't given up yet.  The bad news is I am already super duper bored with my options.  I'm realizing what I could have left out of my 30 items and what things I should have added.  Oh well, you live and you learn.

Day 11

I think this is my first time wearing this shirt in the challenge. I got to run a few errands on my own {no kids} this day-to the pharmacy and a few crafty/fabric stores for supplies.  I covered a bulletin board in some pretty fabric and nail heads for my office.  Can't wait to show you the results!

Here I am pulling off the "What am I wearing?" pose.  Ha! I love this envelope clutch and don't use it nearly enough.  I was able to use it this day because when I don't have kids with me I get to travel much lighter! 

Olive Green Button Down Shirt-F21 {similar} {similar}

  Curvy Boot Cut Jeans-LOFT

 Brown Heeled Boots-Kohls-{similar}

Earrings-Kendra Scott

Clutch-Back in the day from Marshalls {similar-ish}

Day 12

Another shirt I hadn't worn yet!  Woo hoo!I love a fun bold print every now and then.

This cuff is one of my favorite vintage finds eva.  I found it at an antique shop outside of Bodega Bay, and they sold it to me for only $5!  I thought the sales lady was going to change her mind and run after me to charge me more so I got outta there as fast as I could!

Printed Sheer Tunic-Target {similar}

Dark Skinny Jeans-Old Navy

Black Leather Riding Boots-Enzo Angiolini-Piperlime

Day 13

Nothing too new going on here.  I'm getting a ton of mileage out of this sweater so far.  What is it, like the third time I've worn it already?  That's real life for you peeps.  I wear stuff over and over and over if it is comfy and cute.

 

I got this fun necklace on clearance at Kohls for $4.  There's not much I won't buy on clearance for only $4.

Brown Boyfriend Style Cardi-Target {similar}

Black cami underneath

Curvy Boot Cut Jeans-LOFT

Brown Heeled Boots-Kohls-{similar}

Necklace-Kohls {similar}{similar}

Day 14

Okay, here is where I am trying to get creative-a sweater over a dress!  I wouldn't normally do this, no reason in particular, I just wouldn't.  But this challenge makes you do wild and crazy things.  See how exciting my life is?

Pumpkin Colored Sweater-Thrifted {similar} {similar}

  Black Tank Dress-Target {similar}

Black Leather Riding Boots-Enzo Angiolini-Piperlime

Necklaces-F21{similar}{similar}

Earrings-Target {similar}

Now that I am going to start getting down to the nitty gritty in the last 15 days, if you have any ideas for me as to how to mix things up, let me know.  I'll be your guinea pig and wear whatever the heck you want me to.

Unique Recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers

Happy Thanksgiving sweeties!  I wanted to quickly share these delicious sounding recipes I ran across in Rachel Ray magazine.  One of my favorite gals-Katie Lee, came up with these unique ways to use up your leftovers.  Enjoy!

Buffalo Turkey Cobb Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 pound sliced bacon
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 3 cups shredded leftover roast turkey (about 3/4 pound)
• 3/4 cup store-bought buffalo chicken wing sauce
• 2 heads red-leaf lettuce, leaves torn
• 1/2 pound blue cheese, crumbled
• 2 avocados, cut into cubes
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, cook the bacon until crisp; drain. Crumble the bacon.
2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the vinegar and mustard. Whisk in the olive oil; season with salt and pepper.
3. In a bowl, toss the turkey with the buffalo chicken wing sauce and transfer to a platter. Place the lettuce in a salad bowl and arrange the bacon, blue cheese, avocados, tomatoes and eggs on another platter. Serve salad-bar style, with the mustard vinaigrette on the side.

Sweet Potato Soup with Cranberry Cream

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 granny smith apple—peeled, cored and chopped
• 1/2 large onion, chopped
• 2 cups leftover cooked sweet potatoes, mashed
• 1/2 cup leftover stuffing
• One 32-ounce container (4 cups) chicken broth
• Salt and pepper
• 3 tablespoons plain yogurt
• 3 tablespoons leftover cranberry sauce

Directions:

1. In a dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the apple and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 7 minutes. Stir in the sweet potatoes and stuffing and cook to heat through. Add the broth and bring to a boil; season with salt and pepper. Lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Using a food processor or immersion blender, puree the mixture.
2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the yogurt and cranberry sauce. To serve, dollop the soup with the cranberry cream.
   
   
   Mmmmm, can't wait to give them a try!

Holiday Gift Guide-The Girls, Tween

In all my years of Christmas experiences, I think my tween years were the most fun for me.  No longer browsing the Toys R Us catalogs for what I wanted, I would make meticulous wish lists full of the girliest, most "hip" items I could find in my Seventeen magazine.  I was always a bit before my time I suppose {I got married when I was 20, remember?} Anywho, if I could erase the years and be 13 again, these would be on my wish list: 

1. She'll be stoked to store her lunch money in this- Kate Spade Funfetti Coin Purse

2. For how often she practices writing her name in pretty script-give her one that lasts- Lace Name Necklace

3. Any budding fashionista would love this book to create in- My Wonderful World of Fashion Book

4. Perfect for watching tv, texting marathons and facebook updating- "Furliscious" Beanbag

5.Her very own first perfume- Viva La Juicy Perfume Gel

6. Keep those nails polished- Essie for Crewcuts Four Pack

Holiday Gift Guide-The Girls, Luxe

A super luxe item or two under the tree never hurt anybody.  If you are looking to treat an extra-special lady in your life this year, start here:

{I'm a poet and I didn't know it}

1. A nod to your shining star- Tory Burch Starburst Wreath Necklace

2. Only the chicest candle there ever was-Diptyque Baies Noir Candle

3. A sexy gold dictionary for your word lover-Gold Leather Dictionary

4. The ultimate indulgence-a warm bath with Laura Mercier's Honey Bath & Almond Coconut Milk Collection.  Light the candle for ambiance and when you are done slather on the body souffle!

5.  Warm hands, warm heart-JCrew Long Leather Zip Gloves

Too Funny-Tips on How to Become a Star Style Blogger

So since starting to post outfit pics and joining the 30 for 30 Challenge, I've began to get a bit {okay a lot} self conscious about the whole thing.  I had never really paid too much attention to all the fashion blogs out there-as I tend to gravitate towards interior design, but since kind of joining in on the action, so to speak,  I've been peeping more out and see how many there are out there.  Girls who are younger, prettier, have designer clothes, awesome cameras/photographers and locations to shoot their photos.  And I know what I have come across in these few short weeks is just a drop in the bucket.  I hate the whole comparison game, it gets you nowhere and only makes you feel like crap.  But, I'm just going to brush it off and post my humble little photos until the challenge is over.  The whole point of this post, before I went off on an insecurity tangent, was this hilarious flowchart I came across on Refinery 29 (one of my favorite fashion sites) about "How to become a star style blogger".  It's tongue-in-cheek and helped me see how ridiculous the whole thing really is-I mean who really cares anyway, right? We're all just having fun.

Hilarious right?  Loves it!  Hope this gave you a good laugh!

Holiday Gift Guide-The Girls, Under $25

 I'm so excited to be kicking off another year of holiday gift guides here on the blog!  It truly is one of my favorite things to do-compiling these lists of fun finds perfect for gift giving.  I'm starting off with some great budget-friendly finds {all under $25} for the girls in your life-mom, sister, friend, frenemy-why not?  These picks are so reasonably priced you might as well!

1. Kate Spade "Library Books" Mug

2. L'Occitane Cherry Blossom Lip Gloss & Hand Cream

3. Sephora Collection Golden Sparkle Body Oil

4. Sequined Canvas Tote

5. Sequin Bow Stripe Gloves

6. Fringe "No 4 Sanctuaire" Currant & Cassis Alchemy Soap

7. "Shawl of the Wild" Scarf

8. Scotch Naturals "Hot Toddy" Nail Polish

9. Beaded Zigzag Belt

10. Leather Cutaway Stud Gloves

11. Sheer Shimmer Scarf

12. Sparkle Skinny Belt

13. Pyramid Stud Earrings

14. Knit Bow Scarf

15. Nars "Vintage" Nail Polish {faves brought back from the archives}

16. Green Drop Earrings

17. Marseille Soap-Fig

18. Fringe Blackberry and Currant Soap

I love to give luxe-looking little items and accessories like these for Christmas.  Something fun, yet useful, and sure to bring a smile to any gal's face!

More guides to come this week, including kids, men and for the home.

Interior Infatuation: Faiella Design

Happy Monday morning to you sweeties.  Hooray for a short week!  Thanksgiving is a mere 3 days away-bring on the turkey!  Although, I must confess that we are so in the Christmas spirit here that we spent the weekend putting up our exterior Christmas lights and our Christmas tree is already up and trimmed.  We also dusted off our "Elf" DVD for the first watch of the season.  Now I'm feeling all kinds of jolly.  I also spent some time finalizing and organizing my gift guides for here on the blog-watch for those to begin debuting this week.

In the meantime,  check out this lovely home from the portfolio of Faiella Design, as seen on Houzz.  It's the perfect mix of modern and traditional and the colors are bold but not overwhelming.  Love! 

 

 

 

 

 

What I Wore: Days 8-10 of 30

I'm trying to catch up a bit in the 30 for 30 challenge, so I decided to post some outfits today as a Sunday treat for you.  That's if you consider these outfit posts a treat, which I guess is wishful thinking.

Day 8

I've had this outfit in my head since last year.  I saw a blogger with bright blue tights, can't remember who now, but I loved them.  I found a pair on clearance when it was starting to get too hot to wear them,  so they sat patiently all summer for their fall debut. And here they are!  Fun, no?

Black Tank Dress-Target {similar}

Brown Boyfriend Style Cardi-Target {similar}

Brown Frye Knock-Offs-Target 

Tights-TJMaxx

Purse-Hayden Harnett

Necklace-Windsor

Day 9

New pose alert!  My husband came up with this one.  He's really getting into being a photographer now-not.  I think he suggested a new pose out of sheer boredom.  And that's a very educated guess because he does a lot of sighing and rolling his eyes when I tell him "Okay just one more...no that didn't look good-one more!"

This scarf was a gift from the hubby when he was away on a business trip recently.  I want you guys to guess where he got it from.  There is a blaring clue if you are paying attention.  First one to guess right wins...my adoration.

Plum Vneck 3/4 Sleeve Top-Gap {similar} {similar}

Camel Peacoat-Old Navy {similar}

Curvy Boot Cut Jeans-LOFT

Brown Frye Knock-Offs-Target

Earrings-Kendra Scott

Scarf-??

Day 10

Date night!  We actually got an overnight sitter (in-laws) for a Friday night-which never happens. We only get overnight sitters when we are going on vacations, so it was a bit of a treat to have a night alone in our own home.  We went out to dinner and a movie-Due Date.  That movie is hilarious! Anyone been to see it??  

And I realize I already look tired in this picture, and we hadn't even left yet.  It is exhausting trying to get the girls ready for a night away, let alone getting yourself ready too.  We ended up being a half hour behind schedule, which always wigs me out.  I like to be on time people!

This outfit was inspired by Victoria Beckham.  I recreated the look on 100 Inspirations recently-check it out here.

Heather Gray Boyfriend Tee-Target {similar}

Black Blazer-Banana Republic {similar}

Olive Green Slim Cargos-LOFT

Black Patent Heels-Target

Purse-Vintage

Necklace-LOFT

And there you have it!  I'll post more on Wednesday.  Hope you are having a lovely Sunday evening!