Friday Faves

I took this last spring in Central Park while lying down on a blanket relaxing in the sun. www.aliciabdesigns.com

I do apologize for being a tad stingy on the postings. I've been really busy of late so thanks for understanding. I do enjoy posting the gorgeous interiors that I post, but I have to remind myself that the blog is for fun. Balance in all things, right? Now, on to the good stuff: it's Friday!

After I complete my country house in CT, I'd like to build a home out in Wyoming with a view like this (with mountains though). I love the openness of the room onto the balcony. From Living Etc.

My bf, an international man of mystery, is going to Paris and Germany this week for work. I haven't been to Paris in YEARS--since I visited my older sister when she lived there. I'd love to go back. This picture is NOT me, but was taking in the charmant Tuilerie Gardens, one of my favorite places in Paris. Via this talented fellow.

Did you hear about the amazing sale going on at the Container Store? One of my D & D friends gave me this brocade metal file bin which I really really needed to house my new Lilly Pulitzer file folders.

I won't be doing anything remotely related to any of the above activities/things. I'm going to CT, and then up to Boston to cheer on my sister in the Boston Marathon. I think she's run about 4 marathons by now and I'm so impressed/proud of her! Is anyone running in the Boston Marathon this weekend? What are your weekend plans? Perhaps some spring cleaning indoors because of all this rain? Or maybe plant a tiny garden because of the rain? Whatever you do, have a great, creative, and happy weekend!

Alicia B.

Making organization so pretty!

Over the weekend I dipped into the Lilly Pulitzer store on Madison ave and picked up some fun little file folders to file my taxes and some other paper work. I think that organization is just as much a part of design as anything else and i think that it really does matter what they look like. It just makes organization and paying your bill just a little bit more fun. It seems that other people agree because I've been seeing more and more of my favorite stores carry their own stationary lines. Take a look.
Vera Bradley has pretty stationary and I was given VB file folders a few years ago. I like this pink and brown Chinoiserie patterned one. $14 for 6 of them.

The Vera Bradley ones, like their bags, have a vast array of fun patterns. Sittin in a Tree HERE.

Jonathan Alder knows what's what and came up with his own stationary line too. PHEW. $9.95 for six of them.

Greek key, as you may know, is my newest love. I might have to go back to Mad Ave and pick up some of these ones at Jonathan Adler.

I found these on Etsy. The ones on etsy were pretty hit or miss (mostly miss), but I thought these were pretty and much simpler than the rest. From Whisker Graphics, 3 for $5 on Etsy.

These are the ones that I bought on Saturday. They're very tropical/preppy fun. $13 for 6 of them.

Lilly Pulitzer has a great stationary section as well as these adorable file folder. COME on! They have turtles on them!

Of course, the Container Store has a little collection of cute folders. A wee bit more affordable than some of the others, these are $6 for six folders--Bloom folders.

If you're into birds, these are really pretty from Kate's Paperie. Cavallini folders 12 folders for $18, woo! Though these aren't my favorite I kind of like the vintage postage feel to them.

I do love attractive organization but I really do think that it makes a difference to have something like these instead of blah manila folders. You know I'm right. Organization is also a great part of decorating and spring cleaning!

Alicia B.

It's the little things...

Sometimes it's the little things that make the big difference. My apartment is certainly clean but I'm not going to lie, it's a tad cluttered. I have tons of magazines and fun design stuff that just accumulates after a while. Are you nodding your head in agreement? Here are a few small things that helped de-clutter my tiny spaces.

That's right. I had one of these little bad boys. It was full of paint and art supplies and had a nice label on it but even so, it was plastic and it was crushing my soul.

So I went on over to The Container Store and got one of THESE, which is made from recycled materials, then I applied a thin pink grosgrain ribbon around it to make it more "Alicia" and look how cute it is now!

It really loves its new home under my slip covered stool.

Do you have moments like this (above),

and this? All around your apartment or house? I love design magazines so I tend to accumulate a lot of them. I love to save the Architectural Digests and the House Beautifuls, and the Martha Stewart Livings, but the other ones sometimes I have issues letting go. BUT, I have created two books to help me with this.

This one that I'm showing you is my "Inspiration Book." It is for things that I see in magazines that inspire me and may not have anything to do with design (the often do though). It has small clippings that I just love to look at most of the time and they make me smile.

Above is one of those pages. A series of beautiful Rothko paintings, a pretty blue and white porcelain plate with a simple flower lying on it, and a black and white bedroom on the opposite side. After I do this, then I can discard the old magazines and free up some more space.

You don't need to make huge changes in your living space to clear out some clutter or make things a little bit simpler. Another thing I'm about to do is change my throw pillows on my love seat for fall! It will freshen up my apartment and not cost a lot of money or take a lot of time. Do you things that you do to freshen up your apartment after a while?


Alicia B.

Holiday Gift Guide Number One: UNDER $50

Clever gift wrapping idea from Martha.

Everyone is doing a Holiday gift guide, so here is mine! Mine are fun, affordable, and related to the home because that's my favorite place. Oh, and btw they're all under $50. Enjoi!

Wooden Pushpins for 8.00 at The Container Store. Yay for organizational gifts!

Which leads me to this one. Books are an excellent gift, but the next step is organizing them. Have your own personal library kit for $36.00 at kate's paperie.

How cute is this wellies soap and wooden soap dish?
From Smith and Hawkin for $20.00.

Efficiency at its best, one motion, three slices!
Shredding Scissors from the Container Store for $8.99.

I'd love to be emo enough to keep a journal but for those disciplined enough, these mini journals from Jill Bliss are from the MOMA Museum Shop for 14.95.

I suppose you could make these, or buy them from Gump's.
Japanese Fabric Sachets for $29.00 and now with free shipping. Go for it!

I DIE for this linen tea towel from my fave museum the Cooper Hewitt. $40.00

That's all for now. I'll be making most of my gifts this year to save money. I'm sure my family is super psyched for another "Homemade Christmas!"

Alicia B.

Back to School

It is THAT TIME of year again (my favorite, actually). It's Back to School time! I used to love going to Staples before school started to get all the cool new notebooks, pens, folders and everything for organizing your things. Even if you're not going back to school (I am, actually), you can still get caught up in the fresh new fashions as well as being organized. One of my fave things to do was to make lists and cross off each task when I completed it...in fact, that's one of my fave things now. Below are some fun pads for making lists:  to do lists, organizers, pads, amazingness. Oh, above is a Kate Spade organizer.  Adore.

Kate's Paperie plain pad, $12
(kate's paperie changed my life...just FYI.)

Kate's Paperie, $9

www.knockknock.biz

Container Store, $14.99

www.knockknock.biz has some funny sticky notes. This one, $15.99

Alicia B.