Have You Seen This?? Valentine’s Edition

It’s Valentine’s Day!  One of my favorite holidays!  I think it’s great that there is a day set apart from all other days just for sharing, caring and giving.  After losing a young family member just 2 weeks ago, I am reminded that we should take the time, no matter what day it is, to let those in our lives know just how much we love and care about them.  We may not get the chance again…Happy Heart’s Day to you!  Do something special for someone you love today!

I honor of Valentine’s I think we should put the color pink on it’s well-deserved pedestal!  Peruse these amusing items I found that are definitely “Pretty in Pink!”

 

 

Okay, what lady doesn’t need their very own pink extension cord??  Enough with the safety orange already!

(Coleman Cable pink extension cord $75.00).

 

 

 

Awww!  How sweet!  We can’t forget about our four-legged sweethearts!  Of coarse our Lab could care less about this little bauble, but I sure think it’s cute! She would much rather have a cookie and a ball!  (Lands End Pet I.D. Tag in fresh pink- $7.50)

 

 

 

 

I love anything Chippendale and anything pink, so this chair makes my heart skip a beat!  (Hickory Chair- “Linwood Side Chair” $1995.00)

 

 

 

 

How cool is this??  What a clever name- the “Paper Pot!”  I love that someone’s creative brain thought to change the humdrum name from Kleenex box cover to “paper pot!” Genius!  One of those things that seem so obvious and make you say “I should have thought of that!”  (“Paper Pot” is apart of the Ai Collection from Molla Space.  $40.00).

 

 

 

 

This iPad sleeve serves many purposes.  It’s smart, innovative, stylish…and PINK! What more could you need or want?  Look smart while you work smart!

(From Smythson, in Magenta- $280.00)

 

 

 

So, you have your iPad, your sleek iPad Sleeve, guess you just have to have the hip headphones to go with.  These pink headphones from Urbanears are just the ticket!  Strap them on and get your listen on!  Sixty bucks and they’re yours!

 

Last, and certainly not least, is this beautiful lamp from Currey and Company ($360.00).  The “Lilith” table lamp comes in this luscious blush color that is so “OMG!” While you are at it, complete the pink by using the “pinque” light bulb by Sylvania.  Task lighting never looked so good!  Ooh La La!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WAIT!!!  How can we discuss pink and not include…

                                         The Pink Ladies!!!

              Can’t forget these hip chicks!

                       Girl Power!

 

    Make sure to put some pink in your life!

Thanks for spending some time with me today!

Have You Seen This?

After being in Atlanta for the Winter Gift and Home Furnishings Market over the past couple of days, I feel as if I have seen everything, but I did come across these simple, fun little items from a company called “Tokyo Milk.”  Check out their website and do some exploring for yourself:  www.tokyomilk.com

If you have read any of my previous blogs, you know that I love bees, so when I saw these items on the Tokyo Milk website I had to include them in this week’s “HYST?”  (Have You Seen This?)  The hand creme is called “Honey and the Moon” and the soap is called “Bee Soap No. 82.”  I love the packing and the clever naming of the products.

The company also carries stationary, which has been and will probably always be close to my heart.  The lettering reads:  “Don’t fret about a couple of ‘ol gray hares!  Happy Birthday!”  Again, how clever.  I also love the old style typesetting and the graphics are great too!At the Atlanta Market, birds were everywhere so I just had to  share one of the soaps in the Tokyo Milk mini soap collection- “Staccato Mini Soap No. 13.” I love the colorful portrayal of the birds on the soap’s packaging.  To me, it’s little things such as a product’s stylish  packing  that both set it apart from other items and make me want to buy it!   Think about that as you are out on your next shopping trip.  Keep your eyes peeled for the bright, or “pretty packaged” items and how they seem to stand out.  That’s how they reel us in to drop that pretty little thing into our shopping cart!  No matter if it’s the soap for your dishwasher, a candle for your home or the colors and design on pack of chewing gum.  Companies are forever trying to find ways to make you say “I want that!”  Be conscious of this the next time you are shopping- does packaging influence you??  Things that make you hmmmm….

Have You Seen This???

Before getting into my weekly installment of “Have You Seen This?” I have to take a second and mention how excited I am to be sitting in my office looking out at the beautiful falling snow!  Can’t wait to have some snow cream for dessert later…

This week I want to tell you about a little gadget I read about  in an article by Susan Dickenson in the November 2010 issue of  “Home Accents Today”.  Even if you are not in the market for this nifty little piece of equipment, I think you will still find it innovative and just another way technology equals convenience.

“Square” as it is called, is a little, FREE,  piece of plastic that allows you to accept credit cards via your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch or Android.  The process is simple:  The Square snaps into the headphone jack of your phone. You slide the card through the slot and enter the amount of the purchase.   The customer signs the phone’s touch screen and “cha ching”, you are done!  You can then enter the customer’s email and a receipt will be sent automatically. 

What’s the catch, you ask??  Although the equipment is free, the usage comes with a price.  The merchant is charged 2.75% of the purchase price, with an additional 15 cent charge to swipe the card.  This little piece of convenience isn’t free, but it sure is handy. 

Let’s go back, just a minute, to what I said above about those of you who may think you aren’t in the market for such a thing.  Susan Dickenson, the writer of the article, mentioned Girl Scout cookie salesman, people that do yard sales, babysitters and cab drivers.  For impulse buyers, and just for the sake of convenience, this could mean the difference between losing and a sale and getting a sale!  (For any interior designers out there, I thought how great it would be, in the case of being out at a client’s home and finishing up a design consultation, that I could get paid on the spot!  Wow!  That would be great!) 

Keep in mind, as with any new piece of technology, there are glitches to be worked out.  But, once the bumps and malfunctions are ironed away this will another device that will help us move effortlessly along the information highway.

To read more check out: https://squareup.com and http://www.homeaccentstoday.com/

Have you Seen This???

So, here we are, a new year!  My husband and I were watching something on TV last week about folks discussing their resolutions and how, this year, they would do things differently.  My husband made a valid point. “It’s just another day” he said.  “If you didn’t do it on December 31, what makes you think you will do it on January 1?”  I thought, yes, that’s probably true, so rather than make some grand proclamation about this or that and what I plan to change, I will just simply say I hope that I can be a better blogger in 2011.  Okay, now that I have that out of the way, let’s get moving!

I have been compiling things that I happen upon in magazines, on the internet or otherwise.  I would like to share these things that I think are innovative, fun or just plain cool.  Hope you enjoy!   Here’s the first…

As I am often referred to as the “monogram queen” what I saw in the December issue of Southern Living Magazine was very exciting for me and just simply put a smile on my face.  Flipping through the first couple of pages, I saw it- custom monograms attached to beautifully wrapped Christmas gifts!  What a novel idea.  I thought “this is the kind of thing that makes gift-giving extra special!”  I jumped up and ran to my computer to do a quick search for “Southern Proper Monograms”  Check it out: www.southernpropermonograms.com. 

Southern Proper Monograms, by “Mark it with a "B” is a company that makes custom, wooden monograms.  The monograms come in different sizes and font styles.  In addition to the large monogram (seen in the wreath above) the company also offers individual letters.  Your monogram arrives to you in unfinished wood so that you can further personalize with the color of your choice. 

I was so excited to receive my little surcie;  I opened it up like a little kid!  I couldn’t stand it until I got outside, spray paint in hand, to complete the little Christmas gift to myself. Once painted, I happily placed the monogram on the mirror over my fireplace.  I stood back and said, “Gosh, it’s just the simple things in life that make me smile!”  Josh, my husband, chimed in and said “Well, I really got jipped…I could have gotten out much cheaper for Christmas had I known a wooden monogram would please you so much!”  After receiving “the look” he kindly disappeared…Ha!!

I have great plans for my little monogram.  It will be proudly displayed this Spring on my front door, in a fresh lime green, I am sure!  Can’t wait!

Stay tuned for more fun things….

My 15 minutes…

I have now had my 15 minutes of fame!  Yesterday, Monday November 15, I appeared on “Charlotte Today” a local mid-day show that highlights life and lifestyles in the Charlotte area.  I was asked to come on the show to decorate a tree and give holiday decorating tips.  It was a fun and interesting experience!

I hardly slept the night before the show.  Not because I was nervous about being on TV, but so afraid that I was either going to oversleep or forget something that I needed for the tree.   Laying in bed, at 3am, my mind was reeling.  I was going through the trunk of the car in my mind.  Was I sure that I put extra floral wire in a bag?  What about extra extension cords?  I did check those lights to make sure they worked didn’t I?  Ugh!  I needed rest and my overworked mind was not going to allow it!  I am sure you have been there…

So, my elves  and I arrived EARLY (something that usually doesn’t exist in my world) and got right to work.  Just as planned, we got the lights on the tree (they did work, thank goodness) and I positioned the tree topper and wired it into place, with the floral wire that I did remember to put in my bag!  This part of the process was videotaped to be shown during my interview. 

Once this part of the process was complete, we were able to just hang out and wait.  It was interesting to watch everything going on around us.  John Wendel, the meteorologist for the station, was  doing weather updates.  And yes, it’s true, there is no real map- he stands at a blank, green board and gives his report.  Very cool.

Once air time was upon us, the staff was so great.  They let me know exactly what to do and when to do it.  They made me feel very comfortable on the outside, although on the inside the anxiety was beginning to build a little. 

As soon as the interview began, I really forgot about being nervous and just started answering questions.  I mean, why be nervous about talking about decorating a Christmas tree?  It’s something I love to do and have already decorated 7 in the past 2 weeks! 

Colleen Odegaard and Rob Tanner, the hosts of the show, could not have been more accommodating.  I felt that I was just talking to friends in a room that just happened to be full of lights and cameras!  Mary Alvarez, Executive Producer of Local Programming for the show, was wonderful.  She went over everything with me beforehand and gave me very detailed information that made me feel well-informed and prepared for the interview.

Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.  In the end, all the nerves and anxiety were really for nothing.  Things worked out without a hitch, which doesn’t surprise me.  You see, this was in the works for me long before I could even think or imagine it.  I have Someone who is working things out, behind the scenes on my behalf.  His favor on my life makes me realize how small I really am and how big He really is.  How awesome!

In  case you missed the show, I have included a link to view the video.  Enjoy!  Thanks for taking the time to read about my fun day!  http://www.wcnc.com/charlotte-today/Take-the-hassle-out-of-tree-decorating-108191789.html

I can’t close without thanking my “elves".  My mom and best friend were so gracious to rearrange their days to help me.  I could not have done it without them and I owe them BIG time!  Much love and thanks to them both!

Just Checking In…

Things are in full swing…my room at the Christmas Show is complete- Whew, what a relief!  Lots of work in just a few days.  The show begins tomorrow and I am ready to meet and greet!  Please stop and say hello!

In my last post I mentioned the exciting news I received about being on “Charlotte Today” with Colleen Odegaard (Channel 36) next week.  I found out that the show will air live next Monday November 15 at 11:00am.  I am so honored to be apart of the show and look forward to the experience! 

I will keep it short and sweet today.  Thanks for stopping by!

It’s Election Day!

Today’s the day to get out and do our civic duty- VOTE! 

As I entered the “booth” to cast my vote this morning I thought about how lucky we are to live in a country that allows the people to speak via a voting ballot.  There are so many in our world that don’t have that luxury and are often punished if they try to voice their opinions!  I feel so blessed to be an American!  No matter your party affiliation, I am sure we can all agree with that statement!

On a much different note,  I received some “fun” news last week.  I will be appearing on “Charlotte Today,” a mid-day show that airs each day on Channel 36 (WCNC)  from 11:00am-12:00pm.  I  will be offering decorating suggestions for the holidays and will also be decorating a tree.   I will do the taping on November 15 and will be sure to pass along the air date as soon as I find out when it will be!  I am very excited!

If you have any questions concerning holiday decor, please feel free to email me at tammy@tammytaylorinteriors.com.