Design Challenge: Budget Area Rugs

About a week ago,  I got an email from a friend who had reached the end of her decorating rope.  "I need a rug for the area between my kitchenette and living room area (Probably like 5x7, but I could maybe go a little bigger)," she wrote.  "I think I need something with color--my living room is mostly grays, navy blues, and white, but I also already have a lot of graphic prints, so I think it needs to be more colorful without a huge bold pattern (which is SO hard for me to avoid!)"  With those parameters, it actually seemed like this would be a pretty simple find.  Until she hit me with the price point:  "between $100-$200".

On a normal day, I probably would have just said, "Tough beans, kid.  Ain't gonna happen."  However, I recently had a similar dilemma in our own home when we were looking for a new crawling-baby-knees-friendly area rug for our living room, and much to my relief I found Rugs USA and an enormous selection of unbelievably priced rugs.  I had read a few good experiences by bloggers I trust and so I took the plunge and bought a 100% wool flat weave 9x12 rug for around $350 (including the pad).  Luckily, it is amazing and looks much more expensive than it was.

So, with my friend's instructions, I knew Rugs USA was the place to shop.  She sent me some inspiration photos of rugs she likes (here and here), as well as a couple of pieces she is buying to put in her apartment (this for a sideboard/bar and this amazing headboard), plus I know her decorating style and her current furnishings pretty well so it didn't seem to be such a daunting task.

Here's what I found:

A: Oriental Weavers Kaleidoscope Rug, $199 (4' x 5'9")

B: Rugs USA Overdye RE21 Multi Rug, $472 (5' x 8') + 60% off coupon code = $188.80

C: Rugs USA Overdye RE31 Rug, $482 (5' x 8') + 70% off coupon code = $144.60

D: Windsor Grove Rug, $399 (5'5" x 8'2") + 55% off coupon code =  $179.55

E:  Jasmine FR3 Rug, $834 (5' x 8') + 70% off coupon code = $250.20

All in all, pretty close to price point and I think pretty close to the inspiration images as well.  Whaddya think, did I succeed?

So help a brotha out--which one would you pick?

xoxo
--mel

Teething Style + moshi moshi Discount!

So, NC is teething.  

The thing about teething, at least in our case, is that it is never ending.  Our child has had white, bumpy, lumpy, sensitive gums for at least two months.  Every morning we wake up and think, "Okay, today is the day we go into her nursery and we find Gary Busey in the crib."  But it just never happens.

Anyway, teething is not fun.  So the only thing we can do is continue to let NC put whatever she damn well pleases into her mouth to help ease the pain.  Thankfully, we have some pretty stylish options for her.

I jumped right in when she was only a few months old and bought NC a raw amber necklace to wear to help with any inflammation that may be causing her pain.  I don't have any hard data to support the success or failure of said amber necklace, but it doesn't seem to be doing any harm, and NC is a super happy baby most of the time so I'll keep it on.  Plus, she looks so cute wearing it.  Case in point:  

My friend from college also sent us an adorable teething necklace for NC to wear so she can pick it up and chomp on it herself.  NC LOVES it.  And of course, she looks so cute wearing it.  Again--case in point:

While I of course know that when it comes to teething, the priority is that whatever you are using to help with the situation has to WORK, I also want my life to remain somewhat enjoyable to look at and not completely filled with merely functional baby gear.  Thank god there are others that feel the same way:

(clockwise from top) Quinn and Lane Hazelwood Necklace / Kangaroo Care Teething Necklace / 

My Natural Baby Silicone Teething Necklace / moshi moshi Wooden Ball Teething Necklace / 

Kangaroo Care Modern Mama Teething Necklace / nihama Teething Necklace

Do you have a teething baby on your hands too? Just need some new gems for your little one or even yourself?  You're in luck:  

My friend Anna from moshi moshi is giving Suggestion readers 15% off now through May 12

(Use code MEL15)  

Her necklaces really are amazing and every teething baby will love them.  And even if you don't have a teething baby, I may or may not have worn NC's myself because I think it's so cute, so buy one for you or someone special!  With Mother's Day coming up, Anna's necklaces will make perfect gifts.   

If you need further incentive to buy a moshi moshi necklace, here's another dose of cuteness.  As if you haven't already had enough.  What?  I'm not ashamed.

xoxo

--mel

    

Spring/Winter Wardrobe 201

Last year around this time, I posted about how Spring had sprung "in theory", but certainly not "in practice".  Well, whaddya know, it's doing it again this year.  This weekend it was both a balmy 70 degrees and a snowy 25.  This, my friends, does not a happy dresser make.

I was hoping I wouldn't need to combine my winter woolens with my new fresh airy Spring wardrobe AGAIN, but alas, here we are.

Which brings me to today's lecture:  "How to combine Spring and Winter wardrobes:  Part 2"

Lesson 1: "It's sunny and snowing…does this mean the devil is beating his…??"  I'll stop you right there.  Yes, you may have thought this was impossible, but in CO, anything is possible, and it happens more often than you may think.  Throw on your favorite jeans with a cheery painterly cardigan and a sunny yellow coat.  All this bright color will make you less depressed to put on your snow boots for one last run (hopefully) of the season.

Lesson 2: "I have a hot date tonight…and I'm freezing.  Can I wear my sweats?"  Answer: no, you can't.  You spent the money on that amazing maxi dress with the flirty jeweled plunging neckline, and you're gonna wear it.  This is where the perfect mix of "hard + soft" will work wonders--pair it with a warm leather moto jacket, nude suede booties, and a precious minaudière, and you're good to go.

Lesson 3: "It's a beautiful Spring weekend, but the whipping wind is bitter cold!  Don't make me put on the wool coat again…"  You're right.  For your sanity, put away that wool coat!  Instead, keep your warm cozy wool scarf on, but pair with your new floral moto jacket, preppy striped trousers, and your trusty leather ankle boots.  Just the right amount of winter gear to shield you from the icy breeze.

EXTRA CREDIT--Lesson 4: "I bought my 8 month old a ton of adorable spring dresses but I may get child protective services called on me if I let her out in only these.  Help me not go to prison!"  Okay, calm down.  Layer her warm winter tights under her new happy dress to keep her legs warm.  Throw her lined coat on top to keep her body toasty, and her leather booties on bottom to keep her toe-ies warm (because these are the ONLY SHOES that will stay on her feet).  Precious.

Hopefully, I never have to give this lecture again.  Come on Spring, you can do it!  

--mel

Day Drinking

A couple months ago, I went out to brunch with a friend and fellow new mom at one of our favorite haunts.  As I shuffled into the booth, late of course, I breathlessly ordered my normal brunch beverages: "black coffee, ice water, and a mimosa, please".  That's right, my normal brunch beverages.  As in, I order these things pretty much every single time I go out for brunch.

Note: when you have a child, brunch and happy hour are usually the best times to go out and be social with friends.  During happy hour, I suppose the adult beverage is a given.  However, for me, at brunch, it's a given as well.

Anyway, my friend started her beverage order in quite the same way--"coffee, water, and…do you guys have beermosas?"  My eyes lit up like a kid on christmas morning.  Beermosa, you say?  Am I that out of the loop??  Where have I been all this time sipping away at the normal, boring, yet still delicious, mimosas of our grandmother's era, when this glorious concoction known as a beermosa waited for me on menus across the land for me to conquer?!?!?

Fast forward to a few weeks later on my birthday when my family and friends took me out for a delicious brunch and when the waiter came to take our drink orders, I started mine in the same way--"black coffee, ice water, and…"--I caught myself before I finished my own boring sentence.  I asked him about the great beermosa of lore and he said, "Let me see what I can whip up."  He brought back a huge glass of freshly squeezed blood orange juice and a cold can of crisp Belgian white beer.  This, my friends, was the beermosa elevated.  I was in heaven.

All this being said, with the discovery of the beermosa, my eyes had been opened to the possibilities of new and exciting beverages to accompany me on my adventures in day drinking.  No longer was I held captive by the comfort and ease of the good ol' mimosa.  I had gotten a taste of the new world, and I wanted more.

So, here are a few other delicious looking concoctions that might just accompany my "black coffee and ice water" in the near future.

1- Burnt Sage and Blackberry Sangria.

2- Autumn Cider Mimosa.

3- Tequila Watermelon Popsicles.  (a.k.a. the more socially acceptable "jello shot")

Cheers!
--mel

World's Most Ethical Companies: H&M

Recently, the Ethisphere Institute released it's annual list of companies that "truly go beyond making statements about doing business 'ethically' and translate those words into action".  There are several categories of business represented in the list and thankfully, a good showing of American-based companies as well (Levi-Strauss & Co.; Gap Inc.; Ford Motor Company; Google, Inc.; and the list goes on).  

Refinery 29 made a good point that this list of ethical businesses still doesn't take into account manufacturing and labor practices which, I agree, should certainly be included in the qualifications for an ethically run business (read about Ethisphere's scoring qualifications here).  However, H&M, one of three apparel companies included in the list, has been paving the way in the retail world for their use of recycled, sustainable, and organic textiles in their products recently and for that, they should certainly be applauded.  (Read about all of their sustainability practices here.)

So!  If there ever was a good time to go shopping, it is now!  Below are some of my Spring favorites from H&M.

Check out the rest of Ethisphere's most ethical companies so you can help support businesses who are working to better themselves and therefore the world economy as well.

--mel

(clockwise from top left)  tunic with lace detail // light pint lyocell tank top (part of the CONSCIOUS collection) // lyocell cargo pants (part of the CONSCIOUS collection) // pink ballet flats // baby girl white floral sneakers // girl's leopard swimsuit // pink patterned bowl // black storage basket // notebooks 

spring

Well, they say that Spring has sprung.  

I say…"they" have straight up lost their marbles.

As I sat down to type this, it was snowing outside my window.  Yesterday, I was wearing rolled up jeans and a cardigan.  Tomorrow it's expected to be sunny and 65, which in CO is the equivalent to the perfect day.  

For us here in the high desert, Spring is shaping up to be pretty much "by the book" so far.  These crazy mood swings are always par for the course for the beginning of Spring.  So, while I'm not exactly surprised, it doesn't change the fact that I am still longing for a consistent stretch of cool and sunny days.  Perfect days, if you will.  The days when I can finally put away my snow boots and heavy coats until next year.  The days when I can plan on going outside a couple days in advance and not have it literally snow on my parade. 

Until then, here's a little collection of what my Spring-colored dreams look like.  Hope this helps to put you in a sunny mood as well.

XOXO

--mel  

Loeffler Randall "Emma" d'orsay flat  //  Harriet's Haberdashery children's patchwork quilt dress

springy crocheted cacti  //  floating balloons from Railsberry

Eugène Séguy Insectes  //  Adventures in Dressmaking natural dye dress    

Petit Backstage  //  Averie Cooks Funfetti Sugar Cookies

Faribault Woolen Mill Co.

First of all, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for your tremendous response to my last post.  I was blown away by all the amazing stories I was told both here and on my Facebook.  I can't tell you just how wonderful it was to connect with all the mamas out there who have been on a journey like mine.  You all are amazing.

So, let's keep hanging out, shall we?  I've got another suggestion for you today:  WOOL.