Quick DIY: Wrapping Paper Wall Decor

As much as it makes proper decorators cringe, the reality of my current situation dictates that I figure out temporary solutions for accessorizing my rooms because investing in pieces I truly love is just not a practical use of money when there are floors to replace and a bathroom to be gutted.  In a few years, I may be able to spend several hundred dollars on a piece of art I love, but I'm not willing to walk past blank walls until 2014.  That means I get creative in the meantime.

I was really excited to see Cavallini wrapping paper for sale at Paper Source for only $3.95 per sheet.  The vintage maps and prints are really beautiful, and boast saturated colors and a standard 20x28" size.

 

One sheet of wrapping paper plus a $19 Ribba frame from Ikea makes a handsome addition to my living room while I figure out what I want for the long term, don't you think?

 (excuse the crappy phone picture, it's all I have)

I think it would also be fun to decorate a little boy's room in a collection of maps and botanical prints for well under $100, or start marking the cities where you've traveled for a personal touch.

I'm excited to head to St. Louis for some quality time with my husband's family next week, and I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving! 

P.S. Be sure to rsvp for the LOFT Girls shopping party in Dallas on December 1st!

Be still my heart: DwellStudio Decor

I look at a LOT of interior photos in my quest for inspiration that I can recreate at home.  Usually, I will pin or save a photo because of a single item or combination of colors.  Rarely do I come across a style that's completely me, so imagine how I stopped in my tracks upon seeing the DwellStudio Holiday 2011 catalog.

I love every single piece and that NEVER happens.  Too bad I can't run out and stock up, since the prices are a little out of reach in the short term.  However, this what I plan to recreate as soon as I can:

And here are my favorite pieces available now:

DwellStudio 2011 by cardiganjunkie on polyvore.com

If the DwellStudio and Target collaboration ever grows to include furniture and decor pieces, I swear I will camp out in the parking lot.  What about you - are you a Dwell-aholic like me? 

Frugal Find: UK Style by French Connection

Like so many other suburban US kids, I grew up wearing a lot of clothes from Sears.  However, I've spent the past decade avoiding the store because I don't like overly sexy or overly frumpy clothes, which seem to be the most prevalent options.  I had long ago considered Sears to be out of my consideration set when shopping for myself, but seeing one top in a magazine helped me to discover that one of my favorite brands that I can't often afford, French Connection, has created a mass market collection.

UK Style by French Connection has some great pieces that are super affordable, and I will be venturing to Sears this week in hopes of scoring that bow blouse for $23.99 and a cute blazer for under $50!

UK Style by French Connection by cardiganjunkie featuring a cocoon coat

Sadly, the Sears website is still terrible and all the product shots are blurry, but you get the idea.  Has anyone else tried this brand yet?  Am I getting my hopes up for nothing, or is it the best kept secret in mass market fashion?

Yes, you can mix black and brown!

This week I got an email from Jessica of the blog Jessie This, and her question about mixing black and brown pieces together in one outfit totally got the thinking about how so many of our mothers told us never to do that.  I know I was hesitant to try it at first, and there are probably lots of ladies still dutifully pairing black with black and brown with khaki or blue. 

My (totally amateur) opinion is that you can totally mix brown and black so long as there's enough contrast between the two hues that the pairing looks intentional.  A really dark chocolate brown can look like you meant to wear black but it was dark and you didn't realize what shoes you had on until you got to work.  However, a rich cognac or camel brown really pops when paired with black and I think more people should try it.  That said, here are some options from the internet that illustrate the concept:

Source: musingsinfemininity.tumblr.com via Caitlin on Pinterest

Source: kendieveryday.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: anp.se via Allie on Pinterest

Source: reasonstobreathe.tumblr.com via Alleigh on Pinterest

Source: blogs.babble.com via Paulette on Pinterest

And here's how I would do it:

black and brown by cardiganjunkie featuring low rise skinny jeans

Reader Request: Stylish and Practical Winter Footwear

Happy Monday, everyone!  I had a great weekend relaxing with friends and playing hostess during our party.  I'm finally rested up for another busy week at work, and can't wait to have nine days off for Thanksgiving break.  I'm so excited it's a little sad, since I pretty much live with my smart phone in hand and have nightmares about email marketing gone bad. 

Last week I got a reader request email from Teresa, a very stylish Iowan who is looking for winter footwear options beyond her Hunter boots.  I will freely admit that I'm completely unqualified to write this given that I've grown up in Texas and have seen snow less than a dozen times in 28 years.  However, I can internet shop with specific criteria in mind, and think I've come up with some good options that will be cute but practical (i.e. no suede, semi waterproof) and serve her well when the weather turns cold and wet this year. 

winter shoes by cardiganjunkie featuring low heel boots

If I were dressing for snowy weather every year, I'd invest in some of the waterproof Timberland boots that look way more stylish than your typical all-weather boot.  Teresa can pair them with skinny jeans or skirts, and look more dressed up than she would in her wellies.

Winter boot outfits by cardiganjunkie featuring michael kors watches

Teresa could also invest in some leather ankle boots that will keep the snow and water away from her feet, and look nice with some colored cords for weekend or skinny pants for work.

Winter bootie outfit by cardiganjunkie featuring a double breasted coat

Hopefully this was helpful for Teresa and anyone else looking for options beyond rubber boots and shearling trim.  What's your favorite footwear option for winter?

P.S. If you'd like to submit a guest post for me to publish next week, please send me an email.  I'll be on vacation starting Monday and probably should have planned ahead.  :)

P.P.S.  Don't forget to rsvp for the LOFT Girl shopping party in Dallas on December 1st!