Love: Menlo Lamp

I love Anthropologie just as much as the next girl. I especially love Anthro sales -- because while I appreciate Anthro's well-edited selection of goods, occasionally I feel like its merchandise can be a little, well, overpriced. Exhibit A: The Menlo Lamp.


I love everything about this little lamp. It is beautiful in its simplicity. I want one. But I'm not spending $148 (really?) for one. So I've decided that I'm going to DIY myself a little Menlo lamp instead.

I'm not sure how I'm going to do this, but I know it can be done. Apparently, there are tons of websites that sell lamp-making supplies. I'm intrigued. And hopelessly committed to making my own Menlo lamp. Stay tuned.

Love: Lands End Canvas

The last time I had a closet full of clothes from Lands' End, I was in the 5th grade and my mom was still picking out my outfits. As soon as I stumbled upon the hidden gem that is the Lands' End Canvas line (aside: Why isn't Lands' End doing more to promote this line? I love everything in the collection. Love.), I realized that it's only a matter of time before I become an older (and maybe even a little wiser) version of my 5th grade self.

Earlier today I ordered the Heritage Trench in light khaki ( a coupon for 25% off + free shipping was just the encouragement I needed):






Isn't it cute? It's beautiful, it's classic, and I cannot wait for it to arrive in 4-7 business days. Now, I just have to exercise some self-control and refrain from ordering one of everything else on the Lands' End Canvas site.

Living Room: Before and After

Last year, I submitted a decorating advice request to Apartment Therapy. I had gotten stuck halfway through my living room design project -- I just couldn't figure out how to pull everything together.

Here's a "before" shot of the section of the living room that gave me the most trouble (ack!):


And here are some other "before" shots of the living room:



And now, here are some "after" shots (and by after, I mean (a) after numerous trips to Target, IKEA (I firmly believe that a plan + an edited shopping list + IKEA in small, targeted doses = success), Pearl River Mart, Anthropologie and Brooklyn Flea, and (b) after two visits from my parents, during which they hung wallpaper and assisted with other decorating projects -- thanks, Mom & Dad!):







I've had so much decorating over the past few months that I'm sure my living room will continue to evolve. But I'm pretty happy with the progress I've made so far!

MOMA Mystery Solved

The mystery piece is Gerald Murphy's Wasp and Pear. Thank you, MOMA.org.

Easter at the MOMA

I spent yesterday afternoon strolling through Manhattan's Museum of Modern Art (along with at least 1,000 other people who also decided to spend Easter Sunday at the museum). I had so much fun -- I really love the MOMA. I snapped a few pictures (with the camera on my Blackberry Storm!) to document my trip. [Disclaimer: As the descriptions below will reveal, I am not an art historian. I just love art. And weekend trips to the museum.]

A destination scroll from an Italian airport terminal (I think). I nearly killed myself trying to get this picture. That floor-to-ceiling glass at the MOMA can really mess with someone's depth perception.

Warhol's Campbell's soups.

I'm pretty sure this was a mixed media collage.

I'm in the middle of Google-ing to figure out whose work this is (leads are welcome). I should have written it down; I love this piece.

Another Warhol. Marilyn, in technicolor and against a gold background.

This adorable bicycle was displayed with a vintage Vespa and a Ferrari!

(A representative portion of) Monet's Water Lilies, at the MOMA until April 12. This is the real reason why I went to the museum in the first place.

1: Eames! 2: Oh, what I would give to "borrow" (on a permanent basis) this furniture for my apartment... 3: Eames!

If you look closely enough you can almost make out my reflection in this picture.

My First HSN Purchase

High on my list of guilty pleasures is watching HSN (and QVC). I just *love* watching professional product presenters (and the occasional celebrity) hawk well-lit goods in front of a television camera. Of course, I never felt too guilty about watching home shopping programs because, you know, I never allowed myself to actually purchase anything...

Until today.

How cute is the "Union Jack" tote (modeled below by Twiggy)? It's from the Twiggy London line, which Twiggy herself introduced on HSN today. I actually first spotted it in my copy of next month's Lucky magazine, and switched immediately from the West Virginia-Duke game (only for a second) to HSN to find Twiggy and HSN personality Colleen offering up a dove gray boyfriend blazer. The blazer looked cute-ish, but I was singularly focused on the Union Jack tote. I claimed one of the navy totes as my own, and, because it was "Today's Special," I saved 25%.

via Modelina

My confirmation e-mail tells me that I'll have my new bag by April 13. I can't wait! In the meantime, it looks like I'll be watching Butler take down, with any luck face Duke in the NCAA Championship Game. Did anyone else see Da'Sean Butler go down with a knee injury halfway through the second half of the West Virginia-Duke game? Ouch. Hoping for the best for him.