Small Business Saturday

Hopefully everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and survived Black Friday - did you see those fools in Philly with the stun gun?  Outtttta control people...

I was SURE I wasn't going to venture out on Black Friday but I woke up at 4 AM and couldn't get back to sleep no matter what I tried...I also had to take my car to the shop because the windows had gone crazy...the car was even smart enough to lock me out...I'm not a fan...I went a little (ok a lot) crazy yesterday - mainly buying stuff for myself (most of my Christmas shopping for family is already done)

Especially at Anthropologie...20% off the entire store...*sigh*

Here are a few photos of what I bought:

 

I bought the german glass letters and paris ornament at Pottery Barn - they're still on sale (I think through tomorrow maybe).

The mercury glass 'A' and blue latte bowls are also from Anthro as is the mug (which I saw and loved last week while I was out shopping).

The sequined / velvet purple-y shirt and bedazzled lace crop cardigan were quite the splurge.  I also picked up this lovely apron that matches my oven mitt I bought in Toronto. 

It was hard to convey the clothes well just hanging on the chair so here's Anthro's photos from the site with the links if you're interested:



Apron

Cardigan

Velvet Henley

The mirrored geometric box I found on an end cap in Target - they had other designs and sizes too - so crazy about this box.  Right now I have it on a stack of books in my bedroom but I like the idea of putting jewelry in it too and using it for storage - I'm sure it will move around.

I moved a few things around on my bookshelves  (one of my favorite activities), here's the before and after.  You can see I down-sized my trophy collection somewhat - a few are for sale in the Etsy shop right now and getting a lot of views! 

Before

 

 

After

As you can see (if you're crazy like me) - I have already swapped two of the seascape paintings on my gallery wall...told you it wouldn't stay that way long ;)

Ok...so I don't have my projects done yet this week - but hopefully I'll get them done this weekend and share them on the blog Sunday night

By the way - if you haven't heard - today is Small Business Saturday.  Get out there and support your local small businesses! 

I'm offering 10% off of any purchases over $50 in the Etsy shop -> FiveElevenDecor

If there's anything you've had your eye on - now is the time to get it - in most cases everything in the shop is one of a kind or vintage and hard to find so once it's gone it's gone ;)

Have a wonderful weekend!!

-Alisa

 

PS - This is not a sponsored post in anyway - I'm just a shopaholic and thought I'd share my finds ;)

Eleven Things Volume 16

It's been way too long since the last Eleven Things post (August to be exact)...and I'm feeling random so here goes...

1.  I have owned Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 for exactly one year now and have yet to master it.  I even bought a book for dummies (I'm sure)...that's going to be a goal for me in 2014... 

2.  I decided to go on a road trip to PA yesterday - around the West Chester area.  I was hunting down two particular items - a wooden box/crate and an aqua ball jar...you know how the saying goes you never find it when you're looking for it...well I definitely struck out at the first two places...I was none too pleased that I'd drive alllllll over the place and hadn't found anything...but the last place I found what I was looking for and a little extra, how could I pass up blue depression glass...my first collection ever :)  (actually I did try to talk myself out of it but it was a short conversation):

Here they are in their new homes:

 

 

The wooden box is a project so I'll show you that transformation hopefully next weekend (it was way too cold and windy outside today or I would have definitely had it completed).

3.  Here are a few shots from my adventure yesterday (mainly from Anthropologie):

 

How cute is this mug?

 

Finally found what I was looking for!  In a converted barn no less..

 

Really cute store called Charming Charlie - I had never been and I was walking in circles like I did my first time in HobbyLobby...

 

I'm obsessed with Talenti gelato - I'm on a mission to find their new holiday flavors next...

4.  Here's what I bought from Charming Charlie...a woman actually followed me through the store trying to get that leopard print scarf from me...#notkidding

5.  Have you heard of Snapstagram?  I'm obsessed.  As you know I'm obsessed with Instagram and Snasptagram is an easy way to get prints from the photos that you've Instagrammed.  I know...it's pretty awesome.  No idea what I'm going to do with all my prints but I <3 them...you can even get a little flip book made...as you can see I went a little overboard...

6.  I decided against painting my antique wooden pediment I bought at the Chartreuse barn sales a few weeks back.  It cleaned up pretty well and I reserve the right to change my mind ;)  I also decided it looked better over my shoe closet...

 

Here are a few more shots of my closet room just for fun...love it in here :)

7.  I did paint the frame I found out shopping last weekend (Shop Hop Treasure Hunting)  I think it looks great with my new vintage ocean painting.  I had to re-work my whole gallery wall to fit it in...I really should have gone with shelves so I wouldn't destroy the wall...oops

 

The newest addition is on the far right on the bottom.  I'm sure I'll move things around again (and maybe install shelves at some point)...but for now I like it.

8.  I'm in the middle of posting a bunch of silver stuff for sale in the Etsy shop - along with a couple new handmade necklaces - follow the links on the right sidebar and check them out if you have a minute.  (silver will most likely be posted by tomorrow evening)

9.  I really really really want to go to Hawaii.  Have for a long time.  Guess that will be the next trip once I can save up some $$$. 

10.  I can't believe the weekend is almost over.  Yes, I say that every Sunday evening.

11.  I've started decorating for the holidays...just small doses so far - I'll get the tree out and everything next weekend, here are a few shots from around the house:

Yes, I know this makes it difficult to sit on this chair, it's so cute though :)

 

*********************

 

I'm hoping to get a few projects checked off this week so I might have a post or two up in the near future...if not - I hope everyone has an amazing Thanksgiving holiday!!

 

Alisa

Shop Hop Treasure Hunting

Happy Sunday!  I can't believe the weekend is over already...I also can't believe I'm actually on top of my blogging for once ;)

So, I heard about this shop hop (kind of like a bar crawl for shopaholics) event in Falls Church this weekend and decided to check it out with friend and fellow blogger Tara @ Strawberry Jam House.

I was surprised - I was expecting all the stores to be crazy-packed like Lucketts was during the Holiday open house.  We didn't come home with bags and bags of treasures (but hey sometimes that's a good thing...I am worried about turning into a hoarder at some point).

I didn't take too many photos in the stores - if you follow me on Instagram you may have seen a few I posted:

Here are a few more photos from the stores we visited - some of the places we made it to were:

Stylish Patina, Rough Luxe, Brits on Broad, and Falls Church Antiques Annex.

 

 

I almost bought one of those scarves, I loved the colors.  Here's what came home with me:

 

I needed a 16x20 frame for another painting I scored online and this vintage one fit the bill.  I've got to work some magic on it before it's ready to hang...and then actually find a place to hang it... :/

Oh and if you like the 'painting' it's available in the Etsy shop -->Vintage Floral Faux Painting

I nearly leaped over a stack of antiques to get to this thing.  Amazing, right?  It's an antique cast iron revolving cobbler's nail holder-thing.  I couldn't wait to fill it up :)

 

I'm obsessed with mercury glass anything (real or faux) and loved the shape of this candle holder.

 

 

First, I tried the candle holder as a vase on top of a pile of cooking books...

 

Then, I tried it on my kitchen table - I think this is where it will stay for a while...

Here's the cobbler tray filled with beautiful beads...this makes me happy...

I think I mentioned that I've become obsessed with this gelato - the packaging is so cute that I saved it to store beads :)

 

I forgot to share this photo last week - my Mom took this in the RH outlet while we were shopping...how funny is this chair?  I look SO little :)

 

Happy Treasure Hunting!

-Alisa