Wish List: Blu Dot Strut Table

Leave it to Jenna Lyons to find the most perfect desk for her office at J.Crew. Blu Dot's lacquered, steel "Strut Table" is available in four sizes - small, medium, large, and extra-large - and is marketed as both a dining table or a desk. Jenna, of course, has the large version that retails for $1099, but given the size of my petite home office, I'd love the 56" medium table in white.

images via 1, 2, 3-5

Best Dressed of the 2011 Oscars

The two shining stars of the red carpet were Jen Lindley - er, I mean, Michelle Williams - and Gwyneth Paltrow. Head to toe, these two nailed it, Williams in Chanel and Paltrow in Calvin Klein. The simple yet elegant silhouettes fall perfectly on their lean figures, and the iridescent textures looked fantastic on camera (better on screen than in these stills). But what really knocked these looks out of the park was the hair and make-up on both women. Their sleek blonde locks and dramatic eyes perfectly complimented their nude, shimmering gowns. Gwyneth's super-straight hair even framed the neckline of her gown. Love. Love. Love.

I also loved two of the most debated and even hated looks of the evening. Cate Blanchett stunned in this fashion-as-art Givenchy, and Scarlett Johansson turned heads in her curve-hugging Dolce and Gabbana gown. A post-divorce "F*ck you" dress, if you will. Again, part of why these looks worked was the impeccable hair and make-up. Cate's soft blonde bob was a simple accent to her fashion-forward gown, and ScarJo's sexy waves mirrored the vavavoom look of her lacy ensemble. I only wish I could get my hair to do that perfect scrunch.

There were plenty of others who I liked, but these four stood out the most. I'm going to forgo the "worst of" because in all honesty, all of these women are beautiful, and they'll face enough criticism elsewhere. Who were your favorites of the night?

photos via HuffPost

Fashion vs Furnishings | 2.25.11

handbag | rug

THE CHALLENGE:

A pink, quilted leather handbag

or a blush rug hand-woven in India.

You have $400. Which do you buy?

Mo Pink, Please

Well this pink theme could not have come at a better time seeing as my friends Bailey and Pete just found out they're having a baby girl! Congratulations to them both.

And yay for all things girly! Like this pink and zebra apartment that was featured in the premiere issue of High Gloss Magazine. Designed by Erin Gates, this Boston bachelorette pad wears its femininity on its sleeve, from the pink couch and zebra rug to the lucite accents and Saarinen tulip table. The faded greys and pinks are accented by punches of black, and everything from the furniture to the custom artwork follows this color theme. I know I'd have the girls over for dinner and game night every week if this was the space I got to entertain in.

photography by Sarah Winchester

"It tastes like PINK!"

A couple things to discuss.

1. Last night's episode of Glee was hands down my favorite episode since the pilot. I was laughing nonstop at all the great, ridiculous but insightful dialogue, including:

"Like the pop artist Ke - dollar sign - ha." - Principal Figgins

"Do you mean Ke$ha?" - Will Schuester

or Finn's analysis of drunk females that went something like this:

"Girls fall into certain archetypes when they get drunk... exhibit A, we have the weepy, hysterical drunk; then there's the angry girl drunk; the girl-who-turns-into-a-stripper drunk; the happy girl drunk; and finally, we come full circle to you, Rachel Berry, the needy girl drunk."

I think we can all relate.

or when Kurt explains to Rachel, "Blaine is the first in a long line of conflicted men that you will date that will later turn out to be only the most flaming of homosexuals."

and my favorite line from last night that came from the mouth of Miss Rachel Berry as she sipped (chugged) her wine cooler and exclaimed, "It tastes like PINK!"

Which brings me to my second point. I. LOVE. PINK.

It's as though I'm seeing this delicious color for the first time. It's everywhere - interiors, fashion, accessories, graphic design - and I want it in my life. Nay. I need it in my life.

But I don't love just any pink. There's hot pink, salmon pink, coral, and many other various shades... but no. These are not the pinks that do it for me. I like pink that whispers in your ear. That makes you feel as sweet and feminine and it looks. A blush pink, if you will. Behold.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

A Happy Ending

Kai is home.

Thank you to everyone for your support and help. Just a few hours after I arrived home to Chicago this morning, Andrea called with the good news that Kai had been found, thanks to a post on CraigsList and an animal-loving neighbor. Poor guy was lost in their neighborhood, but he made it through a tough Michigan snow storm. His paws are in bad shape, and he's a bit skittish and exhausted, but he's home.

Happy, happy ending. Now everyone go hug their pet. And if you don't have a pet, do yourself a favor and get one. They're the best.

Pinteresting. Very pinteresting...

Have you heard of Pinterest? It's pretty much the new Twitter. A virtual inspiration board where bloggers go to play. You can save and organize images that inspire you, follow your friends, link to your favorite sites, and create gift guides. How does it differ from a blog? A lot less work. No resizing images. No long commentary. It's simple and sweet. See something you like online, click "Pin it" from your bookmarks, categorize it, and donezo. It's added to your list of images. Look how pretty my Pinboard is turning out already! Can you spot my all-time favorite crush, Pacey Witter? Sigh.

Anywhoozlebees. Feel free to join and follow me at LCYblog. The site just started though so you have to apply to belong. No worries. An invite should arrive in your inbox within a few days.

Happy Pinning!

LOST DOG: Please help.

My sister and brother-in-law's dog, Kaius, ran away last night.

He is very large but very sweet.

We are in Grand Rapids, Michigan. If you are located in Michigan, nearby, or know anyone who is - PLEASE, please, please forward this on to them. Email me at alaina.lcy@gmail.com.

He is about 80lbs, mixed breed but resembles a lab, light brown with a white chest. He was wearing a thick black collar and leash when he took off. He does not have tags on but he is microchipped. He rarely barks, but he might jump. He is unbelievably sweet and gentle.

Please help.

Thank you.

UDPATE!!! Tuesday, 2.22.11

Kaius has been found. He's being taken to the vet right now.

Another update will follow. Thanks, again, everyone for your help. And thank you, Craig, for creating your List, without which, we may have never found Kai.

Fashion vs Furnishings | 2.18.11

flats | pan

THE CHALLENGE:

Spotted ballet flats or French copper cookware.

You have $190. Which do you buy?

Create it yourself.

1. bowl | 2. telephone print | 3. pouf | 4. letter | 5. chesterfield sofa | 6. flower vases | 7. coffee table | 8. rug

I thought I would put together my own version of the apartment I featured yesterday, complete with a worn velvet chesterfield sofa, Moroccan pouf, and capital A.

Home as a Reflection of You

I am not sure if it's the chesterfield sofa, the rows of colorful shoes, the profusion of white, or the monogram A hanging in the living room, but this house puts a big smile on my face and has me longing for a complete revamp of my own home. The hodge podge of items in the living room exemplify a space that was not decorated in one fell swoop, but one that came together over time through the collecting of memorable items. Almost every item seems to be an investment piece: the leather couches and the industrial coffee table, the Persian rug and the Moroccan poufs, even the distressed lanterns and the art collection stacked on the floor. Often times people run out and buy everything simply to furnish their new house (guilty), and more often than not, it shows. Homes end up looking like pages out of a catalogue. This apartment illustrates the results of waiting and slowly collecting favorite pieces over time. By doing this, your home will be a better reflection of you, and not just whatever items were hot that season.

via

Thoughts on Personal Style

shirt | dress

I just discovered the shop Totokaelo through a post on Jen Ament's blog, Art and Lair. I immediately fell in love with both the graphic top and the silk matka dress, shown here, despite how different the two items are. I think it goes to show, when it comes to my personal style, I'm kind of all over the place. And while my closet is undoubtedly dominated by preppy styles and J.Crew labels, I would just as willingly sport this slouchy, rock-star shirt or don this ultra-feminine frock.

What about you, readers? Do you keep an open-mind when it comes to fashion, wearing anything that catches your eye, regardless of color, texture, or pattern? Or do you prefer to stick with a style that has worked time and time again?

LCY in NYC: You've Got Mail self-guided tour

Seeing as I stayed on the Upper West Side when I was in New York two weeks ago, I thought it would be a great opportunity to treat myself to a self-guided tour of some of the locations used in my favorite movie, You've Got Mail. I had remembered viewing this special feature on the DVD and was able to pull up the exact locations online. I didn't make it to the boat docks, the store front used for The Shop Around the Corner, or Riverside Park garden from the film's last scene.

"Don't cry, ShopGirl. Don't cry."

"I wanted it to be you. I wanted it to be you so badly."

Horribly cheesy ending aside, this movie warms my heart like the giggle of a chubby baby or a frozen cheese cake sampler. And despite missing a few clinch locations, it was exciting, particularly seeing the intersection of Amsterdam and Broadway, where Joe's and Kathleen's paths cross in the opening scene as The Cranberries' Dreams plays in the background (scroll to the bottom if you want a music guided tour). "Ohhhh my liiiiife is changing every daaaay in every possible waaaaay!"

Location: 83rd and Broadway

Quote: "The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, nonfat, etc. So people who don't know what the hell they're doing or who on Earth they are can - for only $2.95 - get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self. Tall! Decaf! Cappuccino!" - Joe Fox

Location: Corner of Amsterdam and Broadway, at 72nd Street

Memorable Quote: "Ya know what? The truth is that he was the one who started me thinking about writing." - Kathleen Kelly

"Mister.... 152 felony indictments?" - Joe Fox

"Mister 152 insights into my soul!" - Kathleen

Location: 2245 Broadway, between 80th and 81st Streets

Memorable Quote: "Knock knock." - Joe Fox

"Who's there?" - Rose**

"Orange." - Joe

"Orange who?" - Rose

"Orange you going to give us a break by zipping this credit card through the credit card machine? Come on. You can do it. Zip zip." - Joe

**I hope you've all realized that Rose is played by the same actress who is Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy.

Location: 201 W. 83rd Street, at Amsterdam

Memorable Quote (this entire scene is my favorite in the movie with a lot of great dialogue, but here are some of my favorites):

"Joe? Just call me Joe? As if you were one of those stupid 22-year-old girls with no last name, 'Hi, I'm Kimberly.' 'Hi, I'm Janice.' Don't they know you're supposed to have a last name? It's like there's an entire generation of cocktail waitresses." - Kathleen

"Look. I am not a 22-year-old cocktail waitress." - Joe

----

"You poor, sad multi-millionaire, I feel so sorry for you." - Kathleen

----

"So who is he, I wonder. Certainly not, I gather, the world's greatest living expert on Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, but somebody else entirely different." - Joe

Location: 2090 Broadway, at 72nd Street

Memorable Quote: "Today?" - Joe Fox

"Today." - Kathleen Kelly

"Wow." - Joe

"I know. In Riverside Park." - Kathleen

"Hmm... well that would mean he's a West Sider." - Joe

"Isn't that amazing? Maybe I've seen him and don't even know it." - Kathleen

"You could have seen him every day and not know it." - Joe

"It's very possible." - Kathleen

Location: 80th and Broadway

Memorable Quote: "Listen to this. Every night a truck pulls up to my neighborhood bagel place and pumps about a ton of flour into underground tanks. And then the air is filled with white dust which never seems to land. Why is that?"

For the rest of the tour locations, click here.

And because it's Valentine's Day, and I love Harry Nilsson's Somewhere Over the Rainbow:

Fashion vs Furnishings | 2.11.11

bag | vases

CHALLENGE:

It's Valentine's Day.

Would you rather receive the fashion item at the top of your wish list (a la this Tory Burch mini) or a hand-made porcelain vase filled with a bouquet of your favorite flower?

(ignore prices on this one)

LCY in NOLA: Perch Store Tour

At the tip top of my list of things to do in New Orleans was to make a visit to Perch, a home goods and antique store in the Garden District. I learned about the beautiful store and their many treasures through blogging, and I simply had to see this place in person. As soon as I walked up the front stoop, I knew I was in for a treat.

Of course I had to get a photo with store owner and the blogger behind Visual Vamp and the Perch blog, Valorie Hart. How fantastic are her boots?

Overstuffed embroidered pillows piled atop a polka-dotted coverlet. Mmm, I like.

Love the juxtaposition of this modern pineapple lamp and the antique door. And I'm just now noticing the oversized apple core. How fun is that? Perfect for a kids room.

Awesome, awesome rug. Oh - and pretty much everything else in the room. See the little mushroom on the side table? If it wasn't concrete, that would have found its way back to Chicago with me.

Linen settee with nailhead trim adorned with an ikat pillow. Do you see why I had to visit this place? Also, I know it's difficult to see, but the rug below was made from recycled bottle caps. And it's gooorgeous. How cool is that?

This jaw-dropping black glass chandelier hangs in the front room. Talk about a statement piece. Can you imagine it in an all-white room?

If only I had room in my luggage for these antique, oversized doors from France. And one of the paper mache bull heads.

Mmm yummy grey velvet topped with lemon yellow pillows. And how sweet is the mini lucite Louis chair?

I really wanted this pig. Alas, I did not buy him.

I did, however, make away with this union jack pillow. Having lived in London for some time in college, I am a self-proclaimed Anglophile and love anything that reminds me of my time there. The fabric of this pillow is super soft and distressed, so the colors are faded instead of the normal saturated red and blue of most union jack products. It has now replaced the yellow ikat pillow on my desk chair.

The black and white photography in this room was hauntingly beautiful. Misty landscapes and shadowed figures...

Paper mache birds. I don't like birds, but I was drawn to the lines of these guys. I thought they made a great decor piece, especially against a darker colored wall, and they were priced quite reasonably ($45). I knew it would be a risk traveling with them (and I was low on room in my suitcase as it was). But I see they're available for purchase online. Interesting...

The dramatic mirror, the colorful drapes, the lucite Louis chairs, and the black flower pillows. I love it all.

The chandeliers were bananas. I mean - do you see that purple murano-style glass? It also comes in red and turquoise and sells for $1750.

In an effort to change up the decor in my living room, I am thinking of taking on a painting project, something I have never done. This beautiful piece perfectly captures the colors and look I'd like in my own home: soothing, dreamlike colors in soft, messy brushstrokes. Filing this away in the back of my noggin.

A bevy of antlers! My favorite decorative accent.

Another interesting painting - although the colors are much brighter than I am looking to do in my home.