I swear I have already written this post! I thought I even remembered the copy, but when I looked through my archives last night I realized I was just crazy.  This is a reoccurring theme the past few weeks, so bare with me if I don’t seem myself.

The larger question here is if I should fake it?  I have had my eye on the Eamer RAR Rocker for months now and I really need to make a purchase before this baby comes.  But you also know that I am a bit frugal.  The real deal is just shy of the $500 mark, which for a piece of designer furniture that will last for decades to come does not seem unreasonable, but the knock-offs are not only more affordable ( I saw one for $100!) they are also made out of a more eco-friendly fiberglass.  Eeck!  I feel like this is a moral decision, I genuinely feel torn.  I mean, no one likes a poser!  What do you think?  And do you love it, too?

Most of you know of my love/hate relationship with Etsy.  I mean I really do enjoy finding good stuff on the site, but I just find the search so much less fulfilling than a good thrift shop dig.  So many stores and goods and no tactile experience–it always leaves me wanting for more.  Every couple of weeks though, I try to spend some time finding new shops to follow and if I’m lucky a new little something-something.

Last night was my Etsy night.  I choose to plunge in and keep my search terms very vague so I could cast a wide net. I went with the generic “mid century modern” and wow, that term sure delivered page upon page of loveliness.  One store, in particular, caught my eye and it’s called The Sunday Times Market.  The couple that host the shop sound just about as cute as can be and if they lived in Chicago, I would totally make them my friends (even though they don’t like kimchi!)

I picked a few of my favorites from their line-up; but with all the colors, quality vintage and amazing photography you will see that it was hard to choose just four items!!!  I also suggest that you check out their site for good measure.

p.s. My coffee press broke this morning (again?!?) I had to use a sieve to drain my stinkin’ coffee. Why does this keep happening to me?

This week has brought me great joy.  For starters it’s already Wednesday, which means the week is already half over and then I find out I may get to have a little work stop-over in NYC next month (excited to see my ladies!),I finally found a network tv show that I like (Parenthood), then Season 3 of Mad Men was released on DVD and I finally saw the photos of the Mad Men Barbie dolls.

I am sure that I must sound completely lame, but quite frankly it takes a lot to get me excited about anything, especially the release of doll photos and the launch of a DVD.  So, I refuse to fight it.  I mean just look at this mini Joan and her cute little outfit.  (Although it really seems that could have made her proportions a little more Joan-esque, no?)

Sometimes in life I am just so grateful that all things are temporary.  I can only tell you that my entire week, last week was trying and I really was doubtful whether or not I could actually make it through, I mean how much can one hormonal gal take? I was beyond meltdown mode.  Well as it does, it got better.  I had the best weekend I have had in ages.  One of my besties, Jody and her husband were in visiting from NYC.  It felt so good to have someone around who knows me and gets me and our husbands even seemed to like one another (not a simple feat–if you are married you will understand.)

We walked around the city and ate and just had fun.  The rest of the weekend mirrored this lovely bliss, with finding our new favorite breakfast restaurant seeing a movie and getting to spend QT (quality time) with my man with no fighting (again, not a simple feat. ha!) I even got my entire apartment cleaned and all the laundry done.  It was like god made this long weekend just for me.

So in honor of  temporary things I am going to highlight something that my friend Jody brought to my attention over the weekend.  Her and her husband have one of the few amazingly cool Brooklyn apartments that I have seen.  It’s new and modern and void of any unsavory things left from previous tenants.  They have been in the apt for a few years now and they were starting to get a bit bored–they wanted a change, but a change that would not cost them their security deposit.  They found this amazing temporary wallpaper that they used in their kitchen which, from the pictures, really transformed the space.  The paper basically works like a super-powered post-it note–you just press it and it seals, but apparently leaves no weird sticky residue.  How fun?  I am 100% considering this for my next apt (Matt and I have already started to look because this 2 bedroom may not be cutting it for 4 people with lots of stuff.

So here is a shot of the Tempaper in action. And a big cheerful sigh of relief from me that all things are not permanent.

Oh and it seems temporary things really are on my mind–check out my recent post for 24Savvy on FLOR modular flooring.

I think I may have mentioned Lonny Magazine a couple of months ago in a post.  After seeing their debut issue, I was filled with excitement that a shelter pub may still have a home, albeit online.  I mean the end of Blueprint and Domino Magazine were truly sad days for me.  I am one of those lame people that still have some issues cataloged at my apt. Does anyone remember the layout of Erin Featherston’s Parisian apartment? *sigh*  Fingers crossed that Lonny is here to stay.  She may not be budget-friendly (in regards to the items featured) but she is free and eco-friendly and she gives a wealth of ideas that can be reenacted on a budget.

These two photos got me hook, line and sinker.

I am not sure if I mentioned this in the past, my memory as of late is a little dull, but I have been asked to contribute to a new website called 24 Savvy.  I am the Chicago contributor and I am writing on fashion and home.  yay! The site covers a little bit of everything but the Webisodes with Kathleen Monteleone are super fun.  She is the current star of the touring Broadway show Legally Blonde (and possibly a friend of mine.)

My first post went up this week and it’s a fun little holiday number hilighting the lovely Sprout Home, so I thought I would link and share.  Let me know what you think of the site and if you are Chicago local, send me some cool stuff to cover.  Considering that I can hardly peel myself off the sofa these days, I can use all the details you fine folks are willing to offer.

I love paper!  I have loved everything about it since I was a kid–the crisp feeling between your fingers, the smell and the tingle of excitement that comes from flipping through a stack of finely crafted Italian card stock.  Is that creepy?  I used to play secretary as a child and my grandmother would get pads of Rx brand paper from her neighbor for me to “take my notes.”  My collection of paper has dwindled over the years because I found it very hard to move and store when I lived in NYC.  When you have no place to put food or clothes in your studio, that box of stationary you’ve had since you were 9 seems less of a priority.

I have been slowly trying to build my collection back up.  I am due for some personalized letterpressed note cards with my married name, but those are a little pricey to request as a gift.  I also need to up the ante with my thank you cards, the dollar bin at Target always has these really cute note cards that I keep grabbing, but the quality is a little lame.  I thought I might add the journals below to my holiday wish list this year.  I like that they have a retro vibe, but are modern and covered in cloth.  I found them in the Bust Magazine Shop.

I am coming to you, my fine readers, today to ask for some assistance. I was just told by my in-laws that my christmas list was not long enough and that they need more ideas.  Oddly, I have been at a loss the past few weeks for things that I want.  Imagine that!?  (I think it may be a side-effect of not feeling well.)  But I remembered yesterday that I still need throw pillows for the new sofa.  I remember finding a site last month in Lonny Magazine that you could custom make your own, but I stupidly did not write it down and now I can’t find it again. (Jen White, do you remember?)

So I need your suggestions for cool sites, stores or etsy shops to get amazing, moderately funky pillows for our beautiful retro-modern sofa. Please help a sister out!

Now I have spoken of my love for magazines in the past, but  have I described the bizarre nature in which I go about reading them? I read magazines from back to front, the first time only looking at the photos, then I read a second time and read through and dog-ear the pieces that I like, then I usually put the magazine down for a week or two and pick it up later to find things that I may have missed.  What?  I like to get my money’s worth!

I think this is also a bizarre habit learned after years of being a publicist and looking for client mentions.  There is nothing worse than telling a client that they didn’t make it into  a pub that they were slated to be in, only to realize later that you missed the inclusion.  So re-reading became pretty standard practice and now that magazines are no longer required reading, it has spilled over to my personal life.

So I was re-reading my recent Bust Magazine and looking at the stinkin’ cute Ellen Page(and Alia Shawkat) piece when I saw my cake stand!  Now this is not really a big deal, I guess, but it made me happy.  Ellen page, cupcakes and my super-cute cake stand (purchased by my friend Melissa for my Bridal Shower last year)….Awesome!  This is one of my favorite gifts of all time because it is the cake stand I used for my wedding cake!  (Now I promised that I would do a wedding post this month, so this should tide you over until I pull together the real deal.  Also, I must confess I haven’t even looked at 1/4 of my wedding photos…it was too overwhelming, so I plan to take this on soon.)

*If you would like to purchase the cake stand for yourself, you can pick it up online at Fishs Eddy.  It comes in 3 sizes too!

So I must say it is a little bitter sweet to see the end of this Mad Men season.  In the course of this season I have seen the popularity soar.  The Etsy stores labeling Mad Men garb went from less than a hundred to a few thousand–it is absolutely insane!

I fluctuate between Joan and Peggy being my favorite characters.  Both are smart, savvy and forward thinking.  I decided to end with a Joan post though because for what she may lack in book smarts she compensates with street smarts.  She is a fighter!

To complete the season 3 Joan look–this wiggle dress (I wish it were on a model) has great texture and color and would highlight curves beautifully.  This is actually the length I like, not too short, not too long and the brocade is stunning.  And as we visualize Joan taking it up a notch in her career I thought a retro typewriter would be the perfect accessory.  This one is in beautiful condition and even has a decent ribbon.  Both of these items are around $50, so you can get a little Joan for $100 to keep you going until the next season.  Enjoy.