Tag Archives: home decor

mid-week round-up

April 13, 2016Wednesday Linksarticles, ballet, Fair Trade, food justice, geography, home decor, made me think, news, photography, round-up, wanderlust, young professionalsBeth Berger

Hello friends! What’s new this week? Not much ’round these parts. Just getting back to normal after several weeks where one or both of Chet and I were traveling. It feels good to get some extra work done and to give this blog some love (beyond just posting on Wednesdays, which was all I managed to squeak out last week). We also managed a trip to the beach on Saturday for some seaside nachos and several hours of sunbathing. (My nose and forehead got a lil pink. Resolved: Start upping my SPF game and/or get a really obnoxious beach hat.) And along with my love of pocket letters, I’ve been dipping my toes in planner decorating. I just can’t stop thinking about paper-craftin’, y’all. It is a problem! Ok, I think that’s everything from around these parts, now onto the links…

Good to know my beloved Subaru could become a house if the need arises.

This visionary sees food justice as a social movement.

Wanderlust? Let your zodiac sign point you in the right travel direction.

The cutest photo series ever. (Wedding reception goals?!)

The voyeur’s motel.

This 28-year-old choreographer is making waves in the ballet world.

Siestas: yay or nay?

College students share how deportation relief changed their lives.

Target hacks.

Hugh Jackman has a Fair Trade coffee company!

So interesting to think of the US divided into 11 nations. (My current city, however, doesn’t even fall into one of the 11…which honestly seems correct.)

Bridget Jones and the Millennial workplace.

P.S. You can find a little bit of career advice from yours truly in the new book, Corporate Survival Guide for Your Twenties: A Guide to Help You Navigate the Business World! I am so excited to be featured in this helpful resource for new professionals. The book is by fellow Miami blogger Kayla Buell and you can pre-order a copy on Amazon, if you’d like.

mid-week round-up

March 16, 2016Wednesday Linksaffordable art, documentary recommendation, election, grocery shopping, home decor, inspirational women, links, news, podcast recommendation, recipes, round-up, stationery addictBeth Berger

Hi loves! How’s your week going so far? Chet is back from a week-long work trip and I am ever so glad!!! This week’s forecast is full of warm and sunny weather so we headed to the beach for a couple of hours yesterday. We are also planning on hitting up the pool and maybe sauntering down to a new-to-us park I found while on an evening stroll last week. We’ve also been researching potential locations to go camping in the near future. I’ve found a few that look promising, but I’d love to know if you’ve ever been camping around South Florida, The Everglades, or The Keys! Any spots we should know about? Anywho, enough dawdling…ON TO THE LINKS…

Communal living in the 21st century.

Bulk bins are BAE.

Vacation destinations that don’t require a passport to visit.

Wouldn’t this be a sweet print to hang in our bedroom?

This pegboard is #HomeOfficeGoals.

Stores of women who’ve broken the mold, fought poverty, and changed the course of their lives for better.

This Grapefruit and Avocado Buddha Bowl would make a delicious and light springtime supper.

Why the word Y’ALL should be the standard second-person plural in English.

Where the soldiers are scarier than the crocodiles.

Shonda Rhimes and co. star in an unprecedented campaign ad.

Muscle aches and pains? These helpful pictures show you how to stretch it out.

This looks like a fun DIY to try over the weekend (and feed my marble obsession).

P.S. If you’re looking for something to do this week, I have a couple recommendations! I recently watched the documentary, The Barkley Marathons, on Netflix and thought it was both fascinating and entertaining. I also have a slight obsession with the weird and wacky world of college policy debate. Check out the episode titled “Debatable” of the Radiolab podcast to get a glimpse into this world.

Cool Poster Round-Up!

March 7, 2016Style and Designaffordable art, decorating, Etsy, frame it, home decor, interior design, on the walls, quirky decorBeth Berger

After a recent apartment refresh (new couch! score!), I’ve been feeling especially design inclined. “What other updates should we make to our space?” I asked myself. So, I took to Etsy and descended down the rabbit hole on a variety of decorative elements. What struck me most were all the beautiful posters! And they’re all so affordable! Here’s a round-up of a few of my favorites…

Which would YOU choose? Do you have any tips for tracking down affordable art? Let me know below!

Are you a bath person?

October 20, 2015Style and Designbathroom features, bathtubs, home decor, interior design, unique fixturesBeth Berger

Are you a bath person or a shower person? I’ve always preferred showers. I tend to think of baths as soaking in my own filth. (Is that gross? It’s not that I’m THAT dirty…but still.) When we moved into our new apartment I was super stoked to see a stand alone shower in the en suite bathroom…and not one of those mega tiny, glass door showers either. It’s not cramped at all! And I love that it’s made of white tiles– a new decor obsession of mine. So, I guess you could say I’m a shower girl. HOWEVER! These tubs could cause me to change my tune. Aren’t they pretty? Maybe if I could shower FIRST, I would hop in for a luxuriously long soak! Complete with candles and a novel of course. Which would YOU choose?

(From Frenchy Fancy)

(From Apartment Therapy)

(From Nipponterest)

(From My Domaine)

What about you? #TeamShower or #TeamBath? Would beautiful tubs like these be a big selling point when seeking a place to live?

(Top photo from Cargo Collective)

Must-haves for sleeping in the heat.

June 25, 2015How to'sbeat the heat, bedding, bedroom refresh, home decor, interior decorating, interior design, parachute, summer hacks, summer slumberBeth Berger

Summer is upon us…and all the merciless heat and humidity that comes with it. Since slumber should be your one true respite from all the annoyances of ANY day (not just the hot ones), your bedroom and nighttime routine are worthy recipients of a refresh during these warmer months. With just a quick change of sheet texture, a cool breeze, and a good read; I think I’ve found the keys to honing in on some cool vibes. Here are my tips for a “chillaxed” night of sleep that will HOPEFULLY keep you from running to the freezer at 3 in the morning to toss ice cubes down your drawers….

-A lightweight, cool to the touch set of sheets is my TOP must have for the summer months. These deliciously soft Egyptian cotton sheets from Parachute come in at under $100 for queen size and the website promises they’ll get even softer with age! If you’re feeling like splurging, the linen duvet cover set in “Sea” is airy and light-colored with a truly beachy vibe perfect for summer.

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-If you have a ceiling fan, count yourself lucky and turn that sucker on! If not, a personal fan on your nightstand or dresser is a worthy (and affordable) purchase. Be sure to turn on your fan an hour or so before bed time to get the air circulating and the temperature down.

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-No matter the month, you can never go wrong with a sound conditioner. However, in the summer they are just the ticket for drowning out cicadas and early morning disturbances (for the Country Mice), as well as, late night traffic and extended sunlight revelry (for the City Mice).

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-Lately, I’ve been absolutely OBSESSED with this coconut water toner. Gently spraying your face at night, rather than lathering on goopy moisturizer and diligently working it into your skin, is so much more conducive to the hot weather. And your skin will thank you! It needs a little hydration too after a long day in the heat. Pop it in the fridge before spritzing if you’re feeling really scandalous.

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-Calm your mind by getting a little distracted before bedtime. Quiet the fast-paced social media world and the glaring Netflix binge screens and tuck into a good book. Need a recommendation? Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead is freaking fantastic. It is brilliantly written and while I’m somewhat biased towards it’s Balletic plot-line, I think it would be entertaining for just about anyone.

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-And finally, scent can be a handy tool when needing to float away to the Land of Nod. Give your landing pad a quick once-over with a lavender scented pillow spray before nuzzling down for the night. ZZZZzzzzz

STAY COOL AND SLEEP WELL!

Cheeky Etsy Finds

March 25, 2015Style and Designartisans, Etsy, gift ideas, giggles, home decor, jewelry, made me laugh, online shoppingBeth Berger

Sometimes I stumble upon some real gems when perusing the hallowed pages of Etsy.com. I swear with just a SMIDGE less self-control I could blow my whole paycheck. Check out these recent cheeky favorites…

A wall hanging with an important reminder for all.

A t-shirt for folks brave enough to navigate on 2 wheels.

A cutting board for serious cooks and Netflix binge watchers.

A candle for the lady who DGAF but still wants a pretty smelling room.

A sweet fox necklace for a love-sick babe’s darling neck.

Introducing the illest stitches in Chicago…

February 19, 2015Style and Designaffordable art, crafting, cross stitch, embroidery, Etsy, handmade, home decor, Sick Beet StitchBeth Berger

Today, I’d love to showcase the fabulous new Etsy shop, Sick Beet Stitch. Based in Chicago, the shop offers unconventional hand-embroidery lovingly stitched by owner and creator Robyn Novak. Wouldn’t her work make the perfect addition to a gallery wall? Or a meaningful gift for the keeper of all your inside jokes? I love the collection’s mixture of tongue-and-cheek references and dainty images. And each piece seems incredibly well thought out! Did you clock the double check mark next to “silence” above? Made me laugh out loud. Check out some other pieces…

For more – visit the shop, follow on Facebook, and double tap some snaps over on Instagram!

(Photos by Robyn Novak.)

Dwelling Envy.

January 26, 2015Home, Style and Designapartment life, Apartment Therapy, design, HGTV addicted, home decor, home inspiration, interior decorating, my favorite apartments, renters, style, tiny dwellingsBeth Berger

While the snow we got a couple nights ago was beautiful and all, I’m starting to feel the effects of Winter. The early dusk, less than favorable temperatures and general cold, wet, dreariness has resulted in a lot of time cooped up indoors. Namely, in my little one bedroom apartment. More than just a sense of going stir cray, I’m getting sick of looking at it. And binge watching all the HGTV shows the Gods recently decided to pop onto Netflix hasn’t helped either. I just want to completely DEMO, RENO and DECO (that last one’s a bit of a stretch but go with it) the shit out of this place. Here are some apartments I’ve been ogling on one of my fave internet time-sucks, Apartment Therapy. They have me turning green with “dwelling envy” but are fabulous for a bit of design INSPO (ok I’m done, sorry). Take a look!

The Chicago Apartment.

The Vancouver Apartment.

The Paris Apartment.

I love the sophisticated vintage vibe of the first, the ethereal simplicity of the second, and the Scandinavian retro aesthetic of the last. It’s so hard to pick a favorite! Which would YOU choose?

DIY: Magnet boards.

September 15, 2014DIY, How to'sbuttons, fun fabrics, glue gun project, home decor, magnet board, magnets, office decor, style, upcycledBeth Berger

My sister, Katie, and I did this DIY project a few months back but I thought it was too cute not share with you guys. We thought it was a really adorable way to take something cheap, cookie sheets from Big Lots, and turn it into something beautiful–fabric covered magnet boards. I love how easy this project is to customize. Choose fabrics and details that suit your style and follow a few simple steps…presto, change-o! You’ve got some cool decorative flair for any room. Because we were making our boards as a present for our Mom, we chose a bright, cheery color palette that we knew she would enjoy. Once you’ve got a style and color palette picked out (and some GORGE buttons for magnet-making), it’s time to get started!

What you’ll need:

-Cheap-o cookie/baking sheet(s)

-Fabric

-Glue gun (mine just happened to match PERFECTLY!)

-Glue sticks

-Magnet dots or magnet tape (you can get the kind with adhesive backing but I would use the glue gun so your decorated magnets hold together a bit better)

-Scissors

-Sewing notions to make magnets–we used a variety of buttons and some golden ribbon

And how it all comes together:

-Cut your fabric to size and hot glue it to the back of the cookie sheet.

-Fold edges like a package and trim so they are all even. Cut another piece of fabric to size and glue over the opening–creating a backing. You could do this with a solid more sturdier piece of fabric (maybe even a felt) or stick with the same fabric you used for the front.

-Once your boards are covered with fabric, it’s time to make magnets! Glue buttons, ribbon, googly eyes, ANYTHING YOU LIKE onto magnets with your hot glue gun. Be sure to press them on hard and let them dry completely.

Magnet inspiration–

-For hanging you can get some picture hanging kits from the craft or hardware store to attach to the back or just set ’em on your desk and prop against the wall. Now load your board up with grocery lists, reminders and pics and you’re ready to go!

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Where would you like to hang one of these babies? By your back door? At your office? What colors would you choose? My work just ordered me a new desk (eeps!) so I would love to have one there for a full work-space face-lift. Maybe in some pretty Fall colors to kick off the season!