Excellence is not an act, but a habit

whatshouldwecallme:

Before the financial meltdown: 

Now:

That Chelsea Handler quote may as well belong on the Heckner family crest. Well, if we had a crest.

To steal a line from my friend Evie, Craigslist is currently on my sh*t list. This is the second time in as many weeks when I’ve tried MULTIPLE times to get a response from someone with a posting on Craigslist (a recent one, might I add) with absolutely zero contact back. For more than three days. In the world of smart phones. I mean, would it KILL you to write one short email that says “it’s sold” or something? So, in the meantime, I stay chained to my iPhone in the desperate hope that I get a returned email so I can claim my treasure. 

My friend Jessie was the first person who introduced me into the quirky world of estate sales. The whole concept is wacky- you wake up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning to go stand in line for the chance to walk into a beautiful home whose owner has either passed away or moved on to a rest home somewhere. All for the chance of finding beautiful, unique and vintage home furniture pieces and decor items that are sold for many, many more dollars at antique stores. And believe me, they are there- and they are extremely well-priced (read: low-cost.) 

In the world of really odd reality shows (Anyone see Lady Hoggers yet? Because I have), the estate sale circuit is one area that has remained relatively untouched. I, for one, think it would make for excellent cinematic moments. I literally almost hip-checked a woman well-over 60 in order to get in the front door of a home at an estate sale this weekend and she didn’t even bat an eyelash because she was so focused on getting to some vintage crystal sconces. 

I’ve only been to a few of these, but at each one, I’ve encountered some characters along the way. All ages, races, shapes and sizes. And witnessed more than a few awkward encounters when two people want the same ginger jar lamp. 

So if anyone wants to hook me up with Discovery Channel or HGTV right now, just say the word. 

While we’re on the topic, here are a few lovely estate sale finds some friends and I had this weekend:

My friend scored this lovely butterfly armchair for less than $200

I scored a set of vintage barware that I’m kind of obsessed with.

How cute are these paisley towels? Don’t worry, I washed them twice in HOT water. They liven up our boring guest bathroom. 

The other day on Cupcakes and Cashmere, the writer mentioned a cocktail called the Cherub’s Cup. And it had pictures of the said cocktail, which I noticed was pink. Clearly, this was a topic that I needed to learn more about. The recipe for the Cherub’s Cup can be found here and it sounds absolutely perfect for lazy afternoons in the summer, or perhaps even better, in plastic solo cups while sunning on Wrightsville Beach. 

This little dress would be a perfect match to wear while sipping on the minty pink cocktail:

[Source: Topshop]

Bottoms up.

Our extremely talented wedding photographer and friend, Meredith Perdue, recently started a new website with her equally talented boyfriend. It’s called Map & Menu, and it highlights all of the amazing places they travel- in the U.S. and otherwise- and what they do while they are there. Need a restaurant recommendation for some place quaint with lots of local flavor? Go here first. Trying to figure out if your Bed & Breakfast is dog-friendly? Just go ahead and bookmark this site.

Not only is it informative, this website is gorgeous! Beautiful photographs fill the site with life and I love hearing the candid accounts from Meredith and Michael about their adventures. So go ahead and check it out yourself! Kudos to Meredith and Michael! I can’t wait to hear about your next trip. 

Do you need a little pampering, too? You do. You deserve it. I suggest this Jo Malone gift set, comprised of 100ml of your choice of their cologne, 100ml of their luxurious bath oil and a home candle. I’ve never owned their cologne or “luxurious” bath oil, but I can attest to the fact that their candles smell better (lit and unlit) than any other candle I’ve ever purchased. Period. End of story. That’s why, for this edition of Treat Yourself Tuesday, I suggest a little pampering from Jo. 

Had a busy weekend and the time got away from me. I was too busy crying at The Hunger Games movie and taking furious notes on the art of being a hottie in the workplace and at home from Megan Draper on the season premiere of Mad Men. First action item: Learn how to sing in French. Second action item: Learn how to apply full sets of fake eyelashes. Subscribe to the philosophy of wearing matching undergarments and be a somewhat vulnerable diva (is that a thing?) to the fullest, every hour of every day.

Stay tuned. We may need to add a “Ask Megan Draper” column to this blog as a weekly feature.

My summer is going to be extremely low-key with Loafers toiling away in preparation for the Bar exam. Which is totally fine! (Eye on the prize sweetie.) However, if I was planning on jetsetting somewhere fun in the sun, here are some of the things I would pack:

A fun carry-on and beach bag from Deux Lux

An easy dress to wear day or night [Source: Topshop]

A figure-flattering bikini in the season’s brightest hue {Source: Anthropologie]

A beach hat to keep the sun off my face [Source: Zara]

Gold bamboo hoops [Source: Kenneth Jay Lane]

Classic espadrilles [Source: Asos]

A cozy pullover for when the sun goes down [Source: Old Navy]

Or this geometric/neon scarf:

[Source: Asos]

This pencil skirt and a black simple cotton tank or v-neck tee to wear with flats to dinner al fresco. [Source: Tibi]

Funky harem pants to wear while sightseeing [Source: Forever 21]

I know we hear a lot about adding a “man cave” to a home. A place where the man in your life can hang up sports paraphernalia (non-ironically), buy massive dark leather furniture and store a second fridge filled with beer. Great. Fine. Whatever.

But what about a woman cave?

I don’t know about you, but sharing space with a guy entails a lot of compromise; you can’t pick out really girly colors for furniture/pillows/curtains, certain paintings or artwork are off-limits and whimsy pretty much flies out the boring window you have framed with gender neutral curtains. And you can forget about animal prints. On anything.

So I suggest adding a woman cave to your home. Mine would look a lot like the picture below (if I had an unlimited budget of course.) A soft pink linen couch would be an absolute must. As would an abundance of small side tables, layered together and tons of gold and natural accents. A hanging wicker egg chair, while certainly not the most functional choice, would be perfect and fun to swig your cocktail while ensconced in its mid-century arms. I would love to have a spot like this where I could curl up to read Hunger Games while blaring Dance Moms/Beyonce albums and drying my nails after a homemade manicure. For now it will just live here in my dreams/blog world. 

I got a pair of amazing real bamboo chairs this weekend and almost passed them up. I know, I can’t believe it either. (I can literally feel my husband’s eyes rolling at that sentence.) I found the pair of chairs two weeks ago, posted from Fuquay Varina, a small town in N.C. near Raleigh. The pair were priced at $140, which were well below what I’ve seen for similar pairs of chairs on Etsy, Ebay and 1st Dibs.com. However, I felt confident that the seller didn’t know what she had and that I could negotiate her down a bit on the price point. I drove smugly from my downtown townhouse, thinking of the sweet girl from the small town who didn’t know she was sitting on a pair of chairs that people drop $500 on at the drop of a hat. 

Then I pulled up to her mansion. 

While wearing H&M stretch pants and a greasy ponytail. 

I felt awkward. And I knew the bargaining was out the window between her manicure, the Tara-esque lawn and the four cars in her driveway. 

But I think, ultimately, I still got a great deal. And the chairs were even more amazing in person (I almost backed out of going at the last minute because I was tired.) Here they are in place (rug is going away; other changes are also in the works..):

Here is a similar chair in the latest issue of Lonny:

All in all, I think a pretty successful find after a series of disappointing cancellations from Craigslist sellers I was encountering. Stay tuned for more changes with the chairs!

With this gorgeous Tibi number. The blush and cheetah make it playful but the silhouette makes it a classic that you’ll be reaching for each spring and summer for special events and date nights. (P.S. Hate the shoes they are showing with it on Tibi.com)

Working from Wilmington this week and crashing with my parents. Tonight, mom modeled her really cute, new blue open jacket she just bought.

“Isn’t this kimono jacket just perfect? I’m wearing it to a luncheon tomorrow that has a dim sum theme!”

So glad I’m here. For real.

Just go ahead and tweet that with the tag #shitgirlssay but I don’t even care. It is going to be AWESOME! Update for Raleigh people: It is a Groupon for English Garden. Check it out!

What a fun, beautiful weekend! Not gonna lie, it started out rough on Friday after two botched Craigslist furniture deals and driving to the wrong Wal-Mart to pick up a vacuum (note to self: wait the five days to have it delivered to the house to avoid Wal-Mart at all costs), but things started to turn around on Saturday. 

Green skinny girl margarita at brunch

Officially rose season. Enjoyed a tasting while watching St. Patrick’s Day revelers walk up and down Glenwood Ave.

Scored a new ginger jar vase at the Flea Market and made a centerpiece using fresh neon pink lillies. Love this color combo.

A sweet friend tipped me off to a pair of immaculate Staffordshire dogs at the Flea Market. They are in perfect condition and currently flank our TV. I’ve named them Kourtney and Khloe. 

Dinners spent outside, early season sunburns and fresh flowers all made me a happy girl. Hope you had a great weekend, too!

I don’t think I’ve been this excited since Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire came out. 

May the odds be ever in your favor.

So, I have this weird obsession with Etsy. So much so that I’ve been invited to participate on various “teams” (embarrassing and no, I didn’t accept the invitations) and my favorites list is steadily growing to an unmanageable amount. I relied on Etsy for a ton of things for my wedding and I find it a fabulous resource for vintage, unique items that I don’t have the time to look for at thrift stores and the flea market.  Right now, I’m crushing on a few things BIG TIME. They are:

Vintage Schumacher fabric. Would love to see this as a long lumbar on an all-white bed or roman shades. 

Could this seagrass and bamboo ice bucket be any cuter? I don’t think so. How fun for a summer filled with cocktails on the patio? 

Vintage glasses to go with the new ice bucket.

This shell in a shadow box is so cool. I’d love to see it on a narrow wall in a powder room. The moire fabric in the frame makes it extra chic.

This lucite vase is BEYOND awesome. It would look great sitting on a bookshelf or filled with a single bloom. 

I want to mount this turtle shell on a lucite base and put it on my dresser. Fab.

Hold. The. Phone. Brass and faux bamboo in one fun and functional piece. I would set this proudly on my counter (after attacking it with some Brasso/Rub n’ Buff) and fill it with bottles. Or, use it as a magazine rack next to my bedside table. The options are endless. 

Any Etsy finds to report on your end?

With all of this rainy weather we’ve been having, I think a really chic raincoat would make it much easier getting out of the door in the morning when it’s pouring. Right now, I’d love to treat myself to this linen raincoat from JCREW:

What is your favorite rainy day gear?

For any of you out there planning a future bachelorette party, just go ahead and scrap any other ideas. Vegas is THE place to celebrate a pal’s impending nuptials- whether you are planning for the groom or the bride. This was my first trip to Sin City and I can honestly say that The Hangover’s plotline isn’t that quite outrageous once you’ve been to Vegas. 

We stayed at the Aria hotel, one of the newest on the strip. First event on the agenda? The lingerie shower. 

The beautiful bride in the middle, preparing to open gifts.

The tablescape- very appropo.

After the shower, we ventured to the Venetian to have dinner at Tao. 

Standing with the gorgeous bride-to-be (on right) at Tao.

This guy watched over us at dinner.

Following dinner, it was on to Tryst. Coming from Raleigh, N.C., I had no idea what to expect from a club in Vegas. I get really excited when a tiny bar has a DJ playing Top 40, so you can imagine how ecstatic I was when I walked in to an open air bar with a DJ booth that was flanked by a WATERFALL. Game on Vegas. Game. On.

Tryst

I may or may not have left the bar at 4 a.m. and attempted my luck at a few slot machines (one of which was Sex and the City themed.) Needless to say, I didn’t win anything-more than likely I was probably at a colorful vending machine pushing buttons for some candy. 

The next day was spent at the casino, eating a delicious buffet Vegas-style, walking the strip and relaxing at the Aria pool.

Some of the ladies and me en route to brunch

Heaven. We rented a cabana on Sunday and felt like true ballers.

Poolside refreshments

Before we could burn our delicate East coast skin, it was time to get ready for our Saturday night. Which began at the Chippendales show. Y’all- seriously- this was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done. Imagine male cheerleaders, spray tanned to an inche of their life, doing choreographed routines to songs like “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy” and “Rude Boy” with outfits to match. It was hilarious. I’ve never heard so many squeals.

Getting ready for the show

After the show, we ate at Jaleo, a Jose Andres restaurant in the Cosmopolitan hotel. Our amazing party planner friend Dana got us a private room where we enjoyed delicious tapas and drinks. We moseyed over to Marquee following our late dinner and proceeded to get our ears blasted with house music, Grey Goose cocktails in cabanas courtesy of some Jersey mobsters and polished the night off with two bottles of Vueve given to us from a very gracious gentleman. One of the girls wandered off to the casino where she proceeded to win $400 at a craps table. At the end of the night, there were six of us left standing. We closed down the club and walked out of the casino to a bright shining morning sun at 6:45 a.m. When we walked into our hotel, people were checking out with cups of coffee and neatly packed suitcases. A JOGGER with a waterbelt almost took one of us down as we entered the hotel for a few hours of sleep. I’ve honestly never done anything like that in my life. But, it’s Vegas, right? 

I took today off in advance to recover. I don’t think 24 hours will be enough. But I’ll never forget how much fun we all had together in that crazy city. And I have more pictures (that you’ll never see here) to prove it. 

Loafers and I are being really responsible and putting essentially all of our tax return money (which was a shockingly large amount for some reason this year- yay marriage) into a savings account that cannot be accessed. Or at least that’s what he’s been telling me.

I do, however, get to keep a few bucks and I already know the two things that I want to buy with the extra cash. Exhibit A:

Karen Walker sunglasses. These have been here already. But I’m about to turn them from a fantasy…to a reality. I can’t wait.

Exhibit B:

The latest Loren Hope necklace. Here it is on a model:

I’m a firm believer in wearing Old Navy/JCREW t-shirts with fabulous costume jewelry. I can’t fight it- things that sparkle just make me FEEL GOOD. And this necklace is just too perfect to pass up. Plus, in the FAR FUTURE, when I have kids throwing up on me and using me as a cafeteria, at least I can be sporting a pretty piece of jewelry to make me feel like..me.

I’m off to a most amazing bachelorette weekend. Plan on doing a lot of this:

And definitely this:

See you next week with pictures and a report on all of our fun adventures in Sin City.

I’m getting a little depressed looking at our sad and neglected walls, but honestly feel really intimidated to start hanging stuff on them. I also don’t have a budget that will allow for the purchase of a Sally King Benedict original piece of artwork. Luckily, there is a ton of accessible art available via Etsy. Two of my friends introduced me to Leigh Viner, who sells prints in her Etsy shop for just $28. Here are two of my favorites (the two friends both have the palazzo print) :

I think the pink palazzo print would look great hung on the wall right above my bedside table and add a nice pop of color in our whitewashed room.

Here are a few more prints I’m digging right now (you can find them on Etsy by clicking on the image):

Any other Etsy artists I should be checking out?

Welcome to this week’s edition of Treat Yourself Tuesday…with a twist. The other day, I stumbled upon these beautiful and fun cork Kate Spade flats. They were actually calling my name, over the Internet, telling me how much I needed them for the summer:

Kinda perfect, right? Yeah. But their price is not so perfect. Well imagine my surprise when I was browsing Ann Taylor’s site on Friday and found these:

Very similar pair of shoes…very different price point. And, AT typically offers at least 30% off every weekend for new arrivals, so stay tuned to their store/site and you can score these flats (orig. $110) for a deal! 

Hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s edition of TYT (Treat Yourself Tuesdays.)

Over the weekend, I spotted a beautiful porthole mirror at a local home store. Here it is:

I love the studded detail with the mirror and it’s nautical feel. I did a little research and found out that they are quite the stylish home accessory. Here are some examples of them in rooms:

I’m really digging this look and I’m scouring eBay for the perfect one for our bedroom. I think I’m either going to nestle it behind my bedside lamp to reflect the light or perhaps even over our bed depending on the size. What do you think of porthole lamps?

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I’d like to introduce a new feature to the blog, which is also coincidentally one of my favorite past-times: Treating. Your.Self. Have a bad day at work? Why don’t you treat yourself to a new lip color? Having a “fat” day? Buy shoes! Just downright feel like you deserve it? You. Do. 

For this edition of Treat Yourself Tuesdays, I’d like to feature the Pour la Victoire Satchel. Let’s admire, shall we?

She’s pretty right? Well, she’s also comes with a diva price tag, so for now we’ll just sit back and admire. You can find her on Piperlime if you are a moneybags and can swing the $350 price tag. Hope you’ve enjoyed this new edition to the blog! Now go ahead…treat yourself.

Can any of you guys help me? I’ve watched videos, read stuff online but I don’t think it’s working….any help would be much appreciated!