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.

DIY Grasscloth Tray

Over the weekend, I ventured over in the freezing cold to the Hell's Kitchen Flea market. Among other things, I found an adorable wooden tray! It had nice holes with slight curves on the sides and then ducks on the actual tray part. The only problem was that the ducks were ridiculously silly looking! As you know, I love DIY and I had recently read a very inspirational post by Eddie Ross HERE about fixing up a bland looking tray to make it look chic. Check out my project:

Since I'm not an 85 year old woman (or my older sister), the ducks didn't really appeal to me. I had bigger plans for this tray.

I took some grasscloth that I bought at Kate's Paperie and measured out the inside area of the tray.

Cut it.

And then I fit it inside the tray and voila I have a cute wooden tray! No ducks!

I know mine is quite different from Eddie's but they are different trays. The mahogany wood in mine wasn't conducive to a ultra chic croc skin finish of Eddie's. I can't wait to use it in my new apartment for serving drinks, bringing dinners from the kitchen to the dining table (2 feet away), or for vases/candles etc.


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.