Things I Love: Pretty Pastels

This past weekend I noticed that the trees were starting to bloom all over the city and I couldn't have screamed more like a little girl. It's official! We're done with the dreary days of winter and moving to summer! When you live in the Midwest you're never really sure that winter won't come back and bite you in the ass in the middle of May, so I try not to get too excited until I see the trees turning green.

With that in mind, everything that caught my attention shopping around this week was light and colorful, like newly springing leaves. I'm in a mood to throw out all of my black and grey clothes, but I'll hold off on that I guess. But there's nothing better than shopping for sun dresses and open-toed shoes when you can actually start wearing them!

Mother's Day Gift Ideas from UncommonGoods

I don't think I've talked about UncommonGoods on here before, which is odd because I love suggesting it as a destination to anyone who asks me for gift giving advice. The site was actually recommended to me when I was in a bind trying to find a quick Christmas gift for someone I didn't actually know too well. Needless to say, I found something that was perfect and have been a fan of the site every since. So, when they approached me to do a little review of their Mother's Day Gift collection, of course I agreed!

Loving Right Now: Kitschy Vintage Kitchen Decor

I'm still in the process of trying to make my new apartment feel like a home and it's been so hard to focus on just one room. I want to buy everything, for every room, all at once! Anyone else understand this feeling?

Of course, I can't do that because as much as I wish I am, I am not a millionaire. So, I've been doing it slowly — paycheck by painstaking paycheck and cutting corners where I can. Like the responsible human being that I am. Unfortunately, all this has allowed me to do is continue adding items to an ever growing list of "wants". That combined with my inability to focus on one room has created an odd list and caused be to buy things on impulse - making for some very odd, half-finished rooms. To combat this insanity, I've decided to share it with you! Aren't you excited? In an effort to focus, I'm just going to share my wants, my loves, my hopes, and my dreams for my new apartment room by room. Maybe that way I won't wonder why I have an extensive plate collection for the kitchen walls but still no table for the craft room (yes, this is a real problem).

60s Chic in Warby Parker's Palm Canyon Collection

Like all style conscious girls, I love a good pair of specs. There's nothing worse than not feeling like putting your contacts, but having no other choice. So I make sure I have choices, lots of them. Thanks to the Internet, the perfect pair of frames doesn't have to set you back $600 at the eye doctor. Sites like Warby Parker have made it so easy to have a collection of frames instead of one pair that you have to wear until they break (we be-speckled ladies have all been there). BUT because it's so easy, I'm also constantly shopping new frames and the one set I haven't been able to find is the perfect brown/neutral pair. The time has come, my friends!

Tuesday Inspiration: Brocade for the Holidays

Now that we've finished stuffing ourselves after Thanksgiving, it's time to start hunting for that perfect holiday dress. I'm not ready to commit to anything yet, and I have a relatively small budget to work in, but there's nothing wrong with a little window shopping is there?

In perusing the internet for ideas, I found that one of fall's RTW 2012 trends would make the perfect holiday outfit: brocade!

Monday Design: A Mediterranean Getaway

I guess I'm secretly dreaming about living by the Mediterranean with all this heat because this makes the third post in a row about gorgeous homes in sunny Mediterranean climates (the other two are here and here). But can you blame me? If I'm going to have to be dealing with intense heat, I'd at least rather be dealing with dry heat in insanely gorgeous locations. Well, who wouldn't right? Anyway, this little getaway is another Italian retreat surrounded by mountains, the sea, and nothing but breathtaking views. Forget taking a vacation here, can I just live in this fantastically designed home forever?

What struck me most about the Monaci Delle Terre Nere is how they combined the design elements to keep the interior of the home completely try to that rustic Mediterranean style, yet updated it at the same time to make it feel entirely fresh, modern, and luxurious. The incorporation or sleek modern furniture and the addition of glass walls really makes the home feel expensive. Leaving the walls bare and rough keeps the history of the building and adds a touch of that Mediterranean charm. Perfect for anyone looking to experience that charm without sacrificing even the slightest luxuries. Now I don't mind sacrificing some luxuries to live near the Mediterranean, but this place is definitely a dream.

Tuesday Trendspotting: Velvet

So last fall there was this pair of black velvet leggings that grew on me and when they went on sale for $10, I came super close to buying them. In the end, I decided that I would probably never wear them and that it would be silly of me to buy them. WHAT WAS I THINKING?! I was kicking myself for a while for not getting them, but never more so than now. With velvet coming back in full swing this season, I realize that I should always listen to my fashion instinct, no matter what. No matter what.

Well, no use dwelling. I've learned my lesson. Now I'm just going to obsess about velvet from far away until I can get my hands on something I love. Velvet is tricky because it can definitely look tacky or over-the-top really easily, so you have to play it right. I love the velvet shoes that are out there. That's one way to play with the trend without over-doing it. Shoes and cute little clutches are a super easy way to add a chic touch of velvet to your holiday outfit without having 90s flashbacks. I still haven't found that perfect piece that I would want to buy, but I do love the look of blue velvet and burgundy velvet.

Urban Outfitters does have this cute thing, but it's too tiny even for me. So for $40 I think I'm just going to hop by the fabric store and make my own. (Please hold me to that, I'm notorious for coming up with craft projects that never get realized).

Anyway, there are lots of other options out there right now. Some of my favorites:

1. via Pinterest

2. Sarah Klassen

3. The Street Fashion Style

4. Need Supply Co.

5. via Pinterest

6. Dorthy Perkins

7. Top Shop

Velvet is a great holiday season fabric because it's lush, rich, and soft - great for celebrating in the winter. Do you think it has staying power? Would you buy a velvet piece to wear outside of the holidays?

Ready for Gift-Getting Season?

It's that time of year! Gift-giving season and gift-getting season! Who else is excited? In the spirit of the season and mostly because shopping for other people always just makes me want to shop for myself, I thought I'd collect my wishlist into a handy dandy little blog post. Some of these are realistic, but most of them aren't (I mean it's me talking here, most things I talk about are a daydream). Anyway, get ready for The Ultimate Maggie Gift Guide 2011.

Anything from Art of the Moment that has an owl or wolf on it. This etsy seller is amazing! All of these pieces are fused glass and she gets the most amazing details in every piece. Definitely worth checking out even if you're not buying me a present ;)

A vintage typewriter to help me fulfill my dreams of becoming a reclusive, drunken hermit. Preferable in the light pink or teal persuasion.

I love this Fossil watch or any big boyfriend watch in a dainty color will do too, thank you. (Confused? Here you go.)

A sewing machine table. Once upon a time I had an awesome vintage sewing machine (see photo,  awesome right?), long story short, I don't ave it anymore. I now have a new sewing machine that's wonderful as well, unfortunately, it didn't come with a table like my old machine did which makes it a little hard to use considering there is all of zero table space in my tiny apartment. I would love to get the same table back, but at this point any old table with possibly a couple drawers (I know, I dream big) would be fabulous.

These leggings from Make it Good PDX to fit with my current galaxy obsession. Oh, did I mention that they GLOW IN THE DARK?! No? Well, now you understand why I need them.

Because, let's face it, I'm a hipster and I love taking pictures. The Diana + actually isn't all the expensive, I don't really have a reason for not buying one for myeslf yet.

A flash for my Nikon and a flash diffuser. See reason above.

A gorgeous handcrafted leather notebook. I'm just going to go ahead and pretend that I would actually have the time to write in it and throw it on the list.

And finally, what I would love more than anything would be more time to do the things I want and to clear off my to-do list a little. But I have a feeling that's on everyone's wishlist.














Well, now that I've sufficiently bored you with my wishlist I'll call it a day. Have you started creating your wishlist yet?