Save the Date for this fabulous local event at my favorite Room No. 3! Lovin’ Local supports and celebrates local women owned businesses (including yours truly) while enjoying delicious treats, bubbles and beats. With Spring and Summer festivities upon us, there are so many occasions to shop for- Mother’s Day, graduation parties, teacher gifts, birthdays and of course your own personal shopping. You won’t want to miss the amazing pieces from Room No. 3, yummy fragrances from Alora Ambiance, my favorite beauty products from Lovecrate, delicious juice from Truce, the best paper goods from Brown Ink and dreamy pillowcases from Beauty 101. Brass Tacks will be offering complimentary gift wrapping for all of your pretty purchases so mark your calendars and I hope to see you all there!

xo

1 Sukha Wall Hanging 2 Dutch House Number 3 Vanilia Blouse 4 Rituals Fragrance Sticks 5 FLINK Pillow 6 de Waldaad Bench 7 By Molle Table Linen

Greetings from the land of tulips, canals and cheese! While I have had the pleasure of stepping foot in Amsterdam once before, ten days here has allowed me to truly soak in all this amazing city has to offer. In typical “girls trip” fashion, my mom and I have been doing nothing but eating, drinking, shopping and walking. And let’s be honest…our suitcases are filling up rather quickly! With multiple stops at fabulous shops, we’re getting to know some people on a first name basis (this is a good thing, trust me)! I could easily decorate my whole house from here (but my husband would have my head) so I’m sharing just a few of my favorite finds while they’re still fresh in my shopping mind.

Step into the dreaminess that is Sukha Amsterdam and you will not be disappointed. Sukha means “joy of life” in Sanskrit and this store is seriously a joy to behold. With charming doodles like this and amazing pillows like that, you could browse for days. The young woman behind that pillow has a beautiful line called FLINK Netherlands. She helps define Dutch Luxury by using the most high-quality wool (knitted in an old Dutch knitting factory) to create the most divine blankets, pillows and scarves. FLINK is not the only line committed to a growing movement that celebrates the beauty of local production. By Molle, uses only natural materials to make all of their products. From the undyed wool of Swedish and Norwegian sheep to the flax for their linen from the Atlantic Coast- By Molle embodies sustainability and true craftsmanship. This gorgeous table cloth is already coming home with me (not surprisingly, it’s striped!). Clothing companies like the Dutch brand Vanilia are also committed to corporate responsibility. With just twelve small collections released a year, their charming stores are beautifully curated with unique pieces you can be pretty sure not many others will own  (like the new favorite oversized blouse I will be living in). If I had more room in my suitcase I’d be adding in some amazing vintage furniture from de Waldaad (like this bench!), a charming custom made house number from Alfons De Letter and yummy scents from Rituals.

I guess another trip is in order come new home decor time!

1 Good Vibes Only 2 Mixed Succulent Wreath 3 Otomi Table Lamp 4 Faux Deer Antler 5 Marais Side Chair 6 Strut Console Table 7 Catalina Rug 8 Colorblock Woven Baskets

I’m in major new house planning mode over here and have been doing a lot of thinking about what makes a house a home. The feeling of “home” is derived from an intimate relationship between ourselves and our space. When finished properly, a home gives you comfort, pleasure and a personal sanctuary. It is the accumulation of meaningful items that ties a home to you and your life experiences. Or maybe it’s not about what’s in your home at all but rather a general sense of familiarity. It’s quite easy to get caught up in only wanting the finest finishing touches for your house. Expensive furniture, top of the line appliances and everything else you see on the pages of a glossy magazine. But, at the end of the day, your home is your cozy space. It’s a half drunk glass of wine in the kitchen. A ruffled blanket on the couch. Your slippers by your bedside table. Your pup’s bone tucked away in the couch cushions. An unmade bed and piles of laundry. The smell of your husbands cologne and that favorite recipe you cooked last night. A place surrounded with simple possessions that inspire you and your loved ones. Home is where you begin your morning and end your evening. It is where you share moments of joy and moments of sorrow. Most importantly it is where you grow as an individual and watch your family grow along side you.

The importance of all of this seems more obvious as I begin planning the remodel for the home that will be our family home. I’m trying to make decisions through the eyes of what my children will one day see. Keeping that in mind I hope to make my home a cozy but bright space that reflects the happiness my husband and I share on a daily basis. One which teaches our children to love and be loved and to approach everyday choosing joy. With that said, I’m sharing a bright smattering of items today that just exude playfulness. From a reminder to share good vibes to pretty eye candy to gold accents and an artistic lamp. There are so many ways to really liven up a home- I can’t wait until we complete our remodel and begin making our house a home.

From top left to bottom right: Pastel Flag Garland / Sugar Paper Hippity Hop Card / Riegelein Gold Chocolate Bunny / Crate&Barrel Easter Baskets / Brach’s Malted Milk Chocolate Easter Eggs / Easter Steiff Chick / Decorating Easter Eggs / Freshly Picked Platinum Moccasins / Chick n’ Egg Dishtowels 

I really love Easter. Something about celebrating the arrival of spring, the excitement of a grand egg hunt, brunch with family and an excuse for a new dress…The whole day just puts me in the best of moods. Lucky for me, this day is already next weekend!  So whether you’ll be creating a special easter basket for a little one or celebrating on your own, these festive finds should put you in the Easter spirit if you’re not already!

Easter always seems like the perfect time to send a care package to my nieces and this year Sugar Paper made my card selection extremely easy. Throw in a couple of malted eggs and a chocolate bunny and mission complete! While I don’t yet have kids of my own, if I did I would be gifting my tots a few new pairs of Freshly Picked Moccasins. These adorable moccs are my go-to baby gift and with new color releases regularly, the options just keep getting better. Easter is also a great time for gifting classic items like Steiff stuffed animals. Steiff completely reminds me of my childhood and this little chick is perfect for a special Easter basket. Adults can of course enjoy Easter baskets too in which case I’m loving these themed dishtowels and Martha Stewart’s ever challenging and amazing egg creations. Wherever you celebrate next week (and if you celebrate at all), I hope you all have a lovely Easter Sunday!

1 lemlem for Jcrew Lilly Scarf 2 Parachute Sheet Set 3 Castle Artwork 4 Tortoise Gem Necklace 5 L.L.Bean Boat and Tote Bag 6 Jcrew Metallic Low Wedges

As I work on wrapping up travel itineraries, finalizing a big birthday bash and handling many other to-do’s in between- my thoughts are all over the place and this post reflects that! Outside of work, my husband and I are starting to design our new home. A remodel is in the works but I of course am focused on final decor (premature!). I’m in love with these playful pieces of art from the talented Castle who is based in Australia. I’m a sucker for inspirational words and can’t think of anything better than bringing them to life in a fun and playful way. I hope to frame one of Castle’s beauties over a cozy new bed fitted with Parachute sheets. Parachute Home keeps popping up everywhere- affordable, luxurious, simple sheets designed in CA and made in Italy- yes please! When I’m not thinking about the new house, I’m focused on packing for my upcoming trip to Amsterdam. I picked up these fab shoes last week as they’re the perfect item to wear with casual jeans or dress up a dinner outfit. I also have my eye on this bright scarf (I adore lemlem, founded by supermodel Liya Kebede) and an affordable new statement necklace. You seriously can’t go wrong with BaubleBar’s prices. With so many fun items to bring on my trip, I’ll surely be making use of my hardy go-to L.L.Bean tote. A classic piece for everyone to own!

What’s on your mind this Spring? Wherever you are, I hope you’re soaking it up!

1 RMS Beauty 2 RMS Mascara 3 COOLA Sunscreen 4 Mrs. Meyer’s Dish Soap 5 Late July Organic Snacks 6 One Love Organics Skin Savior

For me, Spring isn’t just about cleaning my closets and stopping to smell the tulips. It’s a time of year that always inspires me to reflect on my health and lifestyle choices. As the snow melts away, I’m motivated to exercise more and fill my body with healthy veggies and whole grains. I focus on my post-winter skin by nourishing it with moisture and protecting it from the sun rays it’s not used to feeling. Minnesotans experiences such seasonal extremes that force you to a heightened awareness of seasonal transitions. After six months in the frozen tundra, Spring is by far the most long awaited transition. Every year I go through a “spring renewal” ritual and pamper myself with healthy organic food, fabulous new products and even an annual moisturizing body wrap. It’s a way to say hello to Spring and start six months of warmth feeling refreshed and energized.

This year, I’m loving so many wonderful organic products I don’t even know where to start with my pampering. RMS “”un” cover-up was a favorite throughout winter and I’m now loving their living luminizer, mascara and just about every other product they make.  I recently discovered One Love Organics through the fabulously curated local online boutique, Love Crate, and am using it as both a cleanser and moisturizer. Perfect not only for spring but also next winter! I discovered COOLA Organic Suncare Collection after a malfunctioning aerosol sunscreen incident in Hawaii last all. Our resort came to the rescue with this fabulous replacement and it’s now my go-to sunscreen- it smells divine! Speaking of fabulous scents, I am such a sucker for Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning products and the amazing scents they come in- Radish, Basil, Rosemary– yes please! While her products make doing dishes a little less painful, I often choose to stick to my Late July Organic Snacks to avoid dirty dishes all together.

What fabulous organic products are keeping you healthy and happy this spring?!

1 Tory Burch Calita Dress 2 Teil Duncan Artwork 3 Illume Go Be Lovely Soap 4 Illume Sketchbook Ceramic Candle 5 Truce Juice 6 Letter For You Pillow 7 Rifle Happy Stripe Wrapping Paper

I am embracing the arrival of April with open arms. The snow is falling sun is shining and all I can think about is summers out on the lake (yes, I realize this is a bit premature).

I plan to be sporting a series of breezy dresses all summer with this boho-chic number on the top of my list. Summer also gives me reason to end my winter diet (hello red wine and pasta) and start eating healthy again. What better way to get your daily veggies than to drink them?! Truce is my favorite local juice company with options like The Vacay which actually taste as if you’re on vacation. On the topic of local companies, Minnesota based candle company Illume, is killing it lately with their gorgeous illustrated candles and soaps giving fans like me a reason to shop not only for scent (how amazing do pineapple cilantro and cactus verde sound?!) but also for pattern. Speaking of talented illustrators, how fabulous is Teil Duncan? I’m head over heels for this talented girls work and am anxiously awaiting the arrival of new originals so one can come live with me on Lake Minnnetonka. There’s nothing I love more than amazing artwork other than fun pillows. This option is whimsical yet neutral and is sure to add character to any room. Wrap it up pretty for an April birthday girl and she’ll love you right back.

From left to right: Linen Striped Grosgrain Napkin Set / Vera Wang Golden Grosgrain Teacup / Typographer’s Linen Table Runner / Grosgrain Ribbon / Sperry for Jcrew Boat Shoes / Italian Grosgrain Sheet Set

Grosgrain: (noun): A heavy, corded ribbon or cloth of silk or rayon.

While I’ve always loved wrapping with grosgrain ribbon, I’ve lately noticed it popping up everywhere! From shoe strings to napkin trim to the inspiration behind Vera Wang china– it’s safe to say this ribbed textile has staying power.

1 The Goldfinch 2 Faux Floral Arrangement 3 Beard Oil 4 Saved Rosé 5 RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek 6 Handmade Heirloom Scissors 7 Printed Espadrilles 8 Seagrass Flatweave Storage Basket

Spring always inspires me to bust out the bright colors, resume my consumption of rosé wine (after a long winter of sticking to heartier reds) and do a little home organizing. I’m loving these bright espadrilles from Jcrew- comfort, color and pattern all in one shoe. I plan to throw them on while enjoying a glass of rosé on my new front porch. This particular bottle is the brainchild of winemaker Clay Brock and tattoo artist Scott Campbell (hubby to Lake Bell). I hope it’s as good as it looks. Nothing goes better with wine and a sunny porch then a nice hefty novel. Speaking of reading, I’ve decided to start saving my favorite magazine issues (you know, the issues you just can’t throw away in case you may need that best restaurant tip some day) and I’m pretty sure this basket is the perfect home for them. While I love a good basket, nothing warms a room like a beautiful vase of flowers. If you’re anything like me you’re tired of killing your lovely blooms (I just can’t keep up with the regular trimming of the stems despite my awesome new scissors). Enter this fabulous faux version which will stay beautiful forever. Wine, shoes, good reads and flowers- what more could a girl need?! Kisses from her hubby of course. Thank heavens for beard oil making someone’s newly grown facial hair soft and kissable.

Ok  Spring, I’m ready….now why is there still snow on the ground?!

1 Gold Stripe Cork Case 2 Lucite Ampersand 3 Jeweled Baseball Tee 4 Coconut Oil 5 The Four & Twenty Blackbirds Pie Book 6 Orange Water Bath Soak 7 Fresco Garden Pot 8 Printed Fabric Slingback Flats

Due to my love of gift guides I’m starting a series on the blog called “show and tell”. I’m always on the hunt for the latest and greatest goods so this new series will give you a glimpse in to my most recent favorite finds. To kick this off I’m bringing you an eclectic mix of fun items sourced on my latest trip to New York.

I’ve been on the hunt for a new iPhone case for quite some time and couldn’t help but snag this option for 40% off sale prices. Cork and gold stripes? On super sale? Yes please! I of course couldn’t make it out of Jcrew without a few other items catching my eye like this and these. While in NY I also made the obligatory stop at C Wonder and fell for this fun lucite ampersand which would be perfect in our new home. Speaking of new homes, I’m anxious to add a kumquat tree to our space and think this gorgeous pot will make the perfect little home for my new plant baby. We will also have a jacuzzi which will be such an indulgence for this bath lover. Locally, Room No. 3 carries this yummy line of bath salts and I can’t wait to get my hands on the new orange scent. Oranges won’t be the only aroma filling my house as I plan to be baking pies from this fabulous cookbook all summer long. With pie eating comes the need for dental hygiene. You seriously can’t go wrong with oil pulling.

What are your latest fun finds? Do share!