OBSESSED

I've officially worked myself into a frenzy over the Missoni for Target collection.  Since I first heard about this launch months ago, (maybe even a year ago?) I've been scouring the Internet for sneak peeks, and today I found the complete 400 piece collection Look Book, including prices.  Let's be real, this is probably the only time in my life that I will be able to afford Missoni, and I plan on driving to the nearest Target the morning of September 13 and being there when the doors open.  No joke.  Here are the pieces I'm dying to get my hands on!

From this look, I want the pleated maxi skirt and the cardigan.  Very Stevie Nicks meets Chanel, no?

I've never really been a one-piece wearing girl, but let's be honest...there's no Zumba classes on my calendar.  And maybe this suit can make me a convert.

The kimono/robe thingy.  Yup, I'll be wearing this with jeans and a tee this fall.  Too pretty to hide at home.

This throw will look perfect casually thrown on the couch! 

I'm really digging the tray on the far right. Will look great on a coffee table, when I get a coffee table one day.

The shoes. Oh, the shoes. YES!

Another little touch of Italian style for the living room.

I can see the little blue box holding DVDs and CDs on our entertainment console. For $7.99 why not grab a few?

Okay, so I probably won't be buying this bathroom set. (No promises though.) But how amazing would this be in a guest bath? I just can't let go of that shower curtain. If only the bathroom off the living room had a shower! Because this will not match our guest room at all. But I still love it!

And finally, the piece I've been looking forward to the most, the suitcase, at a heartbreaking $169.99.  Too much, I know.  But wouldn't this just make your day at a stinky airport?  How cool would I look reaching for this puppy at the baggage claim, amongst all of the boring black bags?  Le sigh.

So what do you think?  Am I absolutely insane? 

If you would like to donate to the "Jessi needs Missoni in her life" fund, send me money via Paypal to ruthmarie86@gmail.com . Just kidding!  (Not really.)

Ah-Mazing!

Dear friends, at the end of September, I will be having lunch with a hero of mine! I was lucky enough to score an RSVP for an exclusive blogger luncheon at The Prairie Bed and Breakfast, owned and personally decorated by none other than RACHEL ASHWELL! That's right, the INVENTOR of Shabby Chic!!! I cannot tell you how excited I am for this!

This book graces my coffee table.

Anyone who knows me knows I have been a fan of Shabby Chic for years.  Rachel Ashwell is one of those inspiring entrepreneur women that fascinate me. I will get to meet and greet with Rachel, network with Kelley from The Hidden List and other bloggers, all while enjoying the gorgeous surroundings and delicious food from Royer's Cafe!! Round Top heaven y'all! And the best part is, my good friend Ashley from This Country Fried Life is coming too! I can't wait! I'll be sure to blog all the details!

My List...

While reading one of my favorite blogs, The Farmer's Trophy Wife, I came across a post called My List...a list of things that she aspires to own one day. As someone who drools daily over fashion blogs and has quite the mental list of my own, I decided to make it official and type these up! If I don't own at least 3 of these items in ten years, hold me accountable! Many of the items on my list are the same as the F.T.W.'s.

MY LIST

1. Custom cowboy boots. A girl came into Ben's store a few years ago wearing these, and I've been pining ever since.



2. A Chanel jacket. And purse. And sunnies.

3. Christian Louboutin pumps.

4. Cle de Peau makeup-preferable the whole she-bang but at least the concealer!

5. Diane von Furstenberg dress. (Or a whole closet of them.)

6. A Mason Pearson hairbrush.

7. A Cartier love bracelet. (Hint hint BEN!)

8. A Burberry Trench.

9. A Rolex watch.

10. Diamond stud earrings..like these from Tiffany.

I mean, why not?

What's on your list?

Pinterest Challenge

Hello hello! I wanted to do a quick mini-post about my Pinterest Challenge! My favorite HGTV host, design blogger and personal style icon Emily Henderson invited her readers to join her in the challenge on her blog last week. Pinterest is a virtual peg board where you can post any image you find on the web and organize it, just like a bulletin board! I'm so obsessed. So the challenge was to choose an image on pinterest that inspires a DIY project, and complete it in a week. I was all over this, because I had an old piano bench that I bought at a thrift store for $10 that I intended to redo "when I had time", aka never. So the deadline appealed to me. Here is my inspiration photo:



Taken from countryliving.com This is Sarah Richardson's summer home...one day when I was home sick I watched her show about redoing this gorgeous house all day long, and then her home was featured in Country Living, so I was very happy to see the show translated to photos. Of course those windows are ah-ma-zing but I also love the relaxed and slightly shabby chic combo of the blues and whites. Since this is the general vibe of my master bedroom, I decided to redo the bench with this photo in mind. I started out with this.



Nothing great, but it was only $10! I couldn't pass it up. It was in generally sturdy condition, and it has this neat label inside the lid to the storage compartment:



So this sucker's at least 50 years old, and it once belonged to a piano! It needed a new home.

Here were my tools for the outside portion of the DIYing. Don't forget the Off...



I used Rust Oleum Ultimate Wood Stain in Sunbleached, because that was all that Lowe's had here as far as a light stain. It worked out nicely though, the color was more blue-gray than white, so I liked it. Plus, I didn't strip the bench, I just sanded it down, so some of the original stain would show through and create an even more rustic look than straight up whitewash. I let it dry overnight, then ventured on over to the one fabric store in town: Wal-Mart. I found two foam cushions that together would work perfectly, and then some quilt batting to wrap around that and create smooth edges. Finally, I bought some ticking stripe fabric to cover the cushion. The ticking stripe matched perfectly with my bed skirt, but I upholstered the bench with the stripes going horizontally since the bed skirt stripes were vertical, so it would have a little contrast. (The bench now lives at the foot of the bed, to no doubt collect clothes.)



Sorry for the poor photo quality. I'll try to take one with a better camera with the bench actually in the bedroom. (Maybe that can be the next challenge? Actually take a good photo of your project!) Overall, I'm very proud of myself, mainly for the reason that I actually did this in the first place. I'm not a good DIYer for the same reasons Emily said she wasn't-I'm not patient enough. Besides waiting for the stain to dry-this was a pretty quick little project.

Plus, Patsy really enjoyed the Mother Theresa headscarf I made her from the scraps. You can just see the sheer joy on her little kitten face.



Check out my boards at www.pinterest.com/ruthmarie86