House Beautiful

Archive for the 'Deals & Steals' Category

Friday Faves | 2.17.17

Gooooood MORNING!  Happy Belated Valentine’s Day.  These are for you:

Daisies

OMG – WHAT is UP, people??!  Long time no see.  Just sitting here with my to-do list that is – like everyone else’s – 87 miles long, and I’m thinking about all the things I’m DYING to blog about – including but not limited to:

  • Beauty faves (Karrie and I have THE BEST stuff to rattle off – life-changing stuff),
  • Whole 30 (which I did in January and which was also sort of life-changing),
  • a long Musings post because I’m up to my eyeballs in design inspo,
  • the Bach (sorry!) which I am a cool 12 episodes behind on,
  • Casa Covet Living updates,
  • an update on my biz (I launched an official website last month), etc.

But alas… I’m pretty sure I have a few clients who will mangle me with their bare hands if I don’t get their designs over to them today… so howsabout just a little Friday Faves snack?

1 – THESE ADORABLE MUGS, which scream laid-back Cali beach life, and which I’m absolutely certain I need to have in my laid-back Cali beach life. I swear I look at them and see surfers at sunrise and hear this song playing. They just sold on Etsy, but the seller looks like she makes all her pottery by hand, so I’m sure she could make me s’more, right? My birthday is March 19, folks. Just sayin’.

Cutest Mugs Ever

2 – THESE PANTS. LIKE BUTTAH. The softest, comfiest pair of sateen britches *ever*, currently at Anthro. I had to size down 2 sizes from my norm (who doesn’t love vanity sizing?), and it’s taking all the self-control I can muster not to go buy ’em in the honey mustard color, too.

Anthro Pants | Covet Living Stephanie Ballard

anthro sateen pants

3 – THE PRETTIEST PINK LIPSTICK YOU’LL EVER BUY. First off, I love MAC lipsticks because they’re so buttery and rich. I was on the hunt for an everyday lip color that isn’t a bold BANG hot pink, but that also isn’t a sheer gloss (my usual go-to, which Karrie constantly reminds me makes me look washed out… gotta love that your besties & parents don’t sugarcoat anything). Anyhow – this color (“Lustering”) is just enough pink with a hint of sheer and it’s PER-FECTION.

Lustering, MAC Lipstick

 

Sorry bout the car selfie but this is what it looks like on:

MAC Lustering Lipstick

 

4 – THIS GLORIOUS IMAGE that the chick who writes the Gypsea Lust blog took. Every time I look at it, I feel like I breathe a little deeper and easier. It’s so beautiful – currently my screen saver but I can’t wait to blow it up big time and slap it on my wall.

SNORKLER

5 – THIS TILE my boy Amiel found for me last week at Country Floors while he was loading me up for my library. It’s a Tabarka I hadn’t seen before in that color combo, and because it’s so light & neutral, it’s a good one for the faint of heart to use – so simple but without being boring. You better believe I’m trying to weasel it into project #keepingupwiththejoneses – hey girl heeeeeeeeyyy! Talkin’ bout you!

Tabarka Tile Country Floors

6 – THIS DIVINE CLUTCH. Suede + a big tassel = true love.

Suede Clutch

7 – CONGAPLEX. I realize this is a bizarre add to a fave things list, but I’m just lookin’ out for all you campers: This immune booster is NO joke… think Emergen-C, on crack.. times 10. My chiropractor – who’s also a personal friend – told me to pick some up once when I was getting sick, and it nipped whatever I had right in the bud. I’ve turned a few friends onto it too when they’ve had something coming on, and they’re now Beliebers. Keep it on hand, just in cases.

Congaplex

8 – HOW STINKIN CUTE WOULD THIS BE IN A POWDER BATH?  Flanked by some sweet little sconces?  I mean, I doubt I’d pay $1,300 for it, but if I saw it at Homegoods I’d snap it up stat.

Gilman Wall Mirror

9 – THIS CHICK’S OUTFIT IS EVERYTHING. Or maybe it’s just her attitude. I’m not a mom jeans lover, but I am loving her bob + blunt bangs, sunnies, that shirt… the dark nails, the bag. Everything.

Jeans + White Tee

10 – THIS QUOTE ABOUT RISK. I realized recently that every. single. good thing I’ve got going would’ve never come to be had I not done something REAL scary, and maybe borderline stupid.  E.g. uprooting 3 years ago and moving to the other side of the country (best decision ever); leaving a job that had run its course at the end of 2015 and then just going – what the hay? – imma go ahead and start my own biz (other best decision ever); sucking it up and doing something that makes me inordinately uncomfortable and landing a killer gig (more on that later); getting into a long distance thang with someone I swiped right on who lived over 1,000 miles away –  which is legitimately insane.  And also something every person I know warned me against, as it had Craigslist killer / axe murderer written all over it, and about a 0.2% chance of working out. Uh.. that was almost a year ago. And among other things, he thinks Gus is the most precious thing that ever was. Which means I pretty much think he hung the moon.

79813-Denis-Waitley-Quote-Life-is-inherently-risky-There-is-only-one-big

11 – THE SWEETEST TANGERINE-EST FABRIC EVER. Just saw in House Beautiful and can’t wait to use it (anywhere)… like on some roman shades in a breakfast nook maybe. I can’t even.

IMG_8422

12 – THE BEST LEATHER JACKET OF ALL TIME. And the best $69 I’ve ever spent invested. I would SPRINT TO ZARA if I were you. Sizing: I’m 5’9″ / athletic build and I got a small, which is snug (but so cute), but I couldn’t wear it over a sweater – just tees & tanks.

Perfect Leather Zara Jacket
That’s all I got! …well, that’s a big fat lie but I gotsta get back to work.  Have a great weekend!!!!

Hearts & Stars,

Steph's Scanned Signature

 

Fall Fashion (And All Pretty Inexpensive!)

Steph asked me to write a post with Fall looks for a trip she was making to crisp, cool Colorado. Awesome. Exceppppppt for the fact that she’s already arrived in Colorado, and well, whoops. Sorry Steph. Better late than never!

So here’s a whole bunch of stuff I’ve been eyeing for Fall. Which, btw, has FINALLY arrived in So Cal. I’m so pumped yo. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that I get so many fashion ideas from girls out there blogging new Fall looks daily, many of them looks on the cheap – which I SO appreciate (that would be you, Miss Mary Powers and Andee Layne). So Imma return the favor for all of you! None of these are gonna break the bank terribly. Here we go:

First, MOTO JACKETS. I recently went to a party in a house in the Hills where every girl looked like they’d stepped off a trendy little fashion blog, and I kid you not, all were wearing black moto jackets with second hand designer bags. Wear with cute jeans or a maxi dress and voi-frickin’-la:

Moto Jackets | Covet Living

(From top left: Vegan Moto Jacket, $128 | Faux Leather Moto Jacket, $98 | Easy Rider Moto Jacket, $98 | Faux Leather Jacket, $98)

 

BOMBER JACKETS – Perfect for the newly cool weather around the country, before the biting winter cold arrives and slaps ya in the face:

Bomber jackets | Covet Living

(From top left: Patterned Bomber Jacket, $49.99 | Print Bomber Jacket, $49 | Contemporary Floral Bomber, $24.90 | Camo Print Bomber Jacket, $149)

A great MAXI DRESS to wear with either a moto jacket or a long nubby cardigan (see below) and knee high boots:

Maxi Dresses | Covet Living

(From top left: Bettina Wrap Dress, $62 | Autumn Bardot Maxi, $68 | High Roads Dress, $54 | Ebba Dress, $40)

SWEATERS, SWEATERS AND SWEATERS!:

Tassel sweaters | Covet Living

(From top left: Ellis Sweater, $88 | Brave Soul Tassel Front, $36 | Open Front Fringe Cardigan, $27.90 | Brave Soul Tassel Front in white, $36)

Sweaters | Covet LIving

(From top left: Off shoulder sweater, $52 | Ananda Cardigan, $52 | High Neck Sweater, $22.90 | Smoke on the Water Cardigan, $99

Fall Fashion Sweaters | Covet Living

(From top left: White Grid Drop Turtleneck Sweater, $35.99 | Open-Front Marled Cardigan, $37.90Kimchi Blue Grizzly Open Cardigan $129 | Black Lantern Sleeved Sweater, $25.99)

PANTS – PS, Steph just bought the two Piper Jeggings below and they look freaking hawt on her:

Pants for Fall | Covet Living

(From top left: Shaping Skinny Jeans $49.99 | Piper Jegging in Olive $38 | SPANX Faux Leather Leggings $98 | Piper Jegging in Black $38

LOAFERS are a thing again this season and I’m personally a fan. They’re polished, classic, and professional (if that’s your steez), and if you get the right ones, they’re pretty comfy:

Fall loafers | Fall Fashion | Covet Living

(From top left: Chandy Loafer in Caramel Suede, $119.95 | Sueded Loafer, $24.95 | Chandy Loafer in Gold, $119.95 | Suedette Slip-On Loafer $33)

And boots? Ahhhh, well that’s gonna be a whole separate post – there are just so many good ones.

Let me know if there’s anything else you want me to find – I’m loving scouring the blogs/internet for you ladies!

xoxo,

karrie signature