To all my new readers,
I’ve launched myself into the blogging world less than a month ago and I’ve fallen in love. Over the past 2+ years I’ve had the opportunity to document all things design on the blog adesignmafia, but this year starts a whole new kind of blogging. I look forward to sharing my world with you on a more personal level and hope everyone finds the things I post fun to read and come back for more.

I see this year bringing a bundle of new and exciting things and I’m sure my little bubble will be turned upside down a few times. (that’s always fun right?) I’m relatively new to the “real world” as far as my professional career goes ( art director at an advertising agency) and I guarantee there will be lots of things learned and lots to be shared. I can also guarantee that our puppy will get into more trouble, my relationship with the boy will constantly be evolving, and I’m determined to experience everything that is thrown at me.

As I leave you to start the new year I ask for your help.
(1) I would love to hear how everyone got started in blogging and how their blog has evolved.
(2) I’m researching the best ways to get word out that my blog exists and that I have content worth sharing.
(3) Would also love to hear what kind of content you are drawn to or what kind of content you enjoy posting about?
(4) Is there anything missing from the current structure of my blog that would make navigation more seamless?

If you have any other helpful tid bits about the realities of being a blogger, I’d love to hear them.

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This is just a fabulous piece thrifted from the hole-in-the-wall Goodwill in the Central West End while searching for a Halloween costume in 2009. I walked past it, stared at it, and then kept walking, telling myself that I didn’t NEED it. I was there to find items for a Halloween costume and not for the purpose of adding something else to my accessory collection. Needless to say, I couldn’t leave without it; the kelly green Liz Claiborne purse from the ’80s was mine, and it was less than 10 dollars. The funny thing is that I ended up tailoring my whole Halloween costume around that purse, and if you’re ever in need of inspiration, places like this are perfect for piecing together creative, sexy costumes. I just love finding something amazing when it was unexpected.

Coming home for the holidays usually means making a run to downtown Fort Wayne to scope out what has been piling up in the antique stores around town.

Every time I visit the little shops there are always new items lining the Mills Shelving, all new things to look at. Perusing the local antique stores is one of my favorite things to do and I’ve found some pretty amazing items over the years. With the holidays approaching, I tried not to spend a lot of money and only bought a couple things, a pretty tin container, some letterpress letters and some Christmas ornaments that were almost free. I’ve got my eye out for some extra large metal letters, so if you see anything let me know.

Just a few snapshots of the little hole in the wall shops. Store information below.

This little colorful gem is now mine. Can you believe I got this for $7.00!

Stores:
Nature’s Corner Antique Mall- 2307 Spy Run Avenue, Fort Wayne Indiana
Candlelight Antiques- 3205 Broadway, Fort Wayne Indiana

This is for all my readers who are sitting at home enjoying the day and dreaming what they are going to do with their homes during the new year. I’ve been gathering images of inspiration for some time now and at one point in my life I considered a career in Interior Design. I thought it would be amazing to pick out color swatches and match those colors with pretty patterns and furniture pieces. I thought about it long and hard and came to the conclusion that I only like to decorate MY rooms with colors that I love and furniture pieces that I want. I think decorating other people’s personal spaces could be difficult and I’d always want to add a little “me” to the rooms. To ensure that such rooms are clean, services like the Austin maid service can be utilized.

Currently, I’m living in a rental loft space that has its limitations of what I can alter and modify, so I’m kind of stuck changing out art on my walls and throw pillows. Here are More hints about end of lease cleaning. I would also recommend you to look at this site for some tips to appoint good firm for end of lease cleaning. You can go here to know about end of lease cleaning. One day soon, I will own a space that I can attack with my decorator’s spirit. I’ve got a pretty nice collection of pieces I love that just need a more permanent home. The rooms below are rooms that make my jaw drop open and my knees weak. These are all sources of inspiration for my one day home.

I’d love to hear how people personalize their rental spaces. I’m always searching for fun ways to make my little space in the city a little bit more “me”.

Enjoy your Christmas day with your families!

Happy holidays to all of my new readers. I hope everyone has a great Christmas eve and merry Christmas day with their families.  For my family, Christmas is a time where snacking all day is allowed and welcomed. Here is a great snuggle on the couch kind of chili that you can snack on all day and it never gets old. Actually it’s a recipe I got from a friend at work  and it even won second place in the chili cook off. Go Emily!

I’ll be somewhat checking out for the remainder of the day, but hope to see everyone in a few days.  Please share how you plan to spend your evening!

This Christmas break seems like a long time coming. The countdown was moving at a snail’s pace, but it’s finally here. We spent the majority of the season in our little loft space in St. Louis, and we are now spending the remainder of the time with family in Indiana. Over the past couple of days, I’ve been taking snapshots of all things Christmas-y that have put a smile on my face. Holiday decorations have to be the best. It brings back so many memories to see front doors decked out with bows and wreaths, houses sprinkled with lights, and, in some places, Melbourne window roller shutters adorned with festive garlands.

1. The lovely houses on Park Ave in Lafayette Square (our St. Louis Neighborhood)
2. My mom’s thrifted sled
3. A page from a book
4. My moccasin house shoes
5. Signage in store-front windows
6. The entrance of The Chocolate Bar
7. A decorated entrance gate
8. The puppy posing for his first Christmas shot in front of the stockings
9. A lawn gnome in the snow
10. The table setting with a tree and mexican salt shakers
11. My parent’s front door in Indiana
12. Christmas decorations in the kitchen
13. Clementines always remind me of the holiday season!

Over the past couple years I have collected/bought quite a few clothing and accessory items that I just love. I try not to buy things just for the hell of it and only buy things that I love from first glance. That is exactly what happen last winter when I saw similar leather boots on a photography blog and the search to track them down began. I love everything about them; their color, the way the lace up and most importantly, the way they click as I walk.

Over the next couple weeks I’m going to feature some more of my favorite pieces. All pieces are unique and close to my heart. I hope everyone enjoys the sneak peak into my wardrobe.

* above picture: gray jeans- forever 21, brown leather boots- urban outfitters, retro style wool coat- miss sixty.

* I updated the recipe. I forgot to put the flour in the ingredients section. Sorry for any confusion.

** click image to enlarge for larger copy
*** I hope my coworkers enjoy these tomorrow.

Today is day 1 of 5 and the boy left before the sun came up this morning. You could say that I’m not a happy camper. This loft is suddenly colder than normal and I’m pouting. I got home from the agency today to find a puppy that was extremely excited to see me. I could see it in his eyes that we’d have a good night planned with simple pleasures. Here’s our night captured in pretty little snapshots. (warning:  I’ve fallen in love with the Instagram app on my new iPhone)