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.

Men’s clothing is not normally my thing, but this morning I thought….”Hey, why not?”  I like Don, I like the way he dresses (well for work anyway…his casual apparel sometime bothers me), I should dedicate a day to him. I think my wedding was the only opportunity I will ever have to see my husband in a suit, so I must live vicariously through a fictional characters’ wardrobe.

I found the three key Don Draper items on Etsy.  While I was on the search for post inclusions, I also found the Manly Vintage blog–how stinkin’ cute is this?  Fella’s that like vintage and love Chicago…they get two thumbs up from this gal!  This blog appears to have reviewed some Chicago area thrift stores which may come in handy for me, too!  This city has all sorts of nuggets and I have been slowly finding them, but a little help never hurt.  Hooray!

Twitter really has been my saving grace when it comes to finding amazing stores on Etsy.  The site is a gold mine of loveliness, but there is so much fool’s gold that you need to dig through to find the real deal…I can’t say I always have the time or patience to do that.  Instead I do my weekly key searches and then I rely on my lovely twitter gals to help me out. Yesterday I clicked on a rare and delectable treasure….

And that treasure is Hindsvik! The store is run by a couple who appear to have my taste/style, only way better.  They like clocks, lamps and the color blue, so I like them!  They also are such a prime example of what I like in an Etsy shop; great lighting, clear photos, simple props and quality products.  So to you Hindsvik, I say HIGH FIVE!

Find  a couple of my top picks from their shop below:

Hello All,  It has been just a crazy month, don’t you agree?  The transitional month between seasons always throws me off schedule and to top it off I am doing a detox this week and next, which has completely confused my body.  Where are the carbs? The coffee? The cheese?  Not in my belly is where. *sigh* It’s good though, my body needed a little break from the gluttony and my skin is already starting to get a fresh glow!

So in honor of craziness, I give you my random retro selections, courtesy of Etsy!
I am STILL dreaming of my apartment being completely finished, which will probably never happen but this coffee table would be a good start.  I love the two-tone inlay on the top!

The sofa is still TBD, as the hubby and I really can’t agree on a style or color.  Let’s just visualize an aqua or pale blue one with these fun hot pink throw pillows!  I can’t wait to curl up and watch movies.  The one cushion allowance per person on the love seat is just not cutting the mustard—a gal needs space.

Now when you have a cute apartment, obviously it is your duty to entertain in said abode.  So here are a couple of additional accoutrement’s to include; this nifty little coffee pot and linens.  Hand towels to table cloths…I just love cotton in the kitchen and on the table.