You know that moment when your girlfriend walks into the party and she is wearing the most stunning earrings? What is the first thing you ask her? Where did you get those? You know what they say- knowledge is power! The hard part is we don’t all have time {or the energy} to be in the know. Fret no more! Rank & Style has you covered. Seriously, it is kind of brilliant.
Rank & Style creates Top Ten lists using an algorithm {yes, I needed help spelling that} that researches and aggregates data from the department stores, boutiques, fashion blogs and style magazines you trust. There is a new list each day and you can search all the past lists on their site. They rank items in clothing, beauty, shoes, and accessories. Looking for calf hair pumps? They have a top ten list. Need the best hair dryer? There is a top ten list for that. Awesome, right?
I really do love this site! It is new {still in beta}, so check it out. I really think they are on to something.
Ever meet a girl and instantly know you could be friends? I know you would feel this way if you met Kim Guillet. She is the passionate, down to earth, creative force behind Kim Caron Designs. Her unique, hand-made jewelry is gorgeous. Her pieces range from statement rings to delicate necklaces and everything in between. {I am personally in love with druzy quartz. It is just so darn dreamy. Just look at that fabulous ring!}
I am trying something new. Just for fun, I decided to ask Kim a few questions about her designs and her inspiration. There is no better way to get to know someone!
When and why did you launch Kim Caron Designs?
I launched Kim Caron Designs last April. My neighbor Karla talked me into having a trunk show at her house. She has been such a supportive friend.
How did you get your start designing jewelry?
Over 20 years ago I was introduced to jewelry design- it was at Mercer Island High School. I had an awesome teacher, Laurie Hall, and I took the class multiple times. About 3 years ago I was admiring my friend Amy’s Jamie Joseph ring and realized I wanted to make something like that! I signed up for classes at BCC, Danica Design, and Pratt in Seattle to learn jewelry fabrication all over again. I still take classes all the time. There is so much to learn- it’s endless.
What inspires you when designing?
I find inspiration everywhere–from my friends, from the stones themselves, from looking outside at color combinations and of course from Pinterest!
Your studio is so charming. What do you love about it?
I love my studio. My husband Marin built it for me for our 15th anniversary. I think he was also motivated to get his workbench back. I had taken it over in the garage. For me time flies in the studio- I feel like I always have something new I want to try.
How do you name the pieces in your collection?
Every piece of jewelry is named after a little girl I know. My nieces Gracie and Sadie gave me that idea.
It’s a Monday morning. What jewelry are you wearing?
Right now I’m wearing the callie “hope” heart pendant necklace. 100% of proceeds from this necklace go to Ben Towne Foundation for Pediatric Cancer Research. I hope to sell tons of these!!! I know Ben’s mom from college and have been absolutely floored by her strength and determination. I wanted to give 10% of all sales to a charity I believed strongly in. It was the perfect fit. Ben’s story is at bentownefoundation.org. You will cry.
Isn’t the first step to recovery admitting you have a problem? I have a magazine problem. Their glossy covers call to me. Some wait for me in my mailbox. They are full of inspiration, gorgeous photography and inside scoop. Quite simply, they are 100% pure delight. I just can’t stop myself from subscribing and buying. The problem is -my beloved issues become stacks and stacks of unread material. Somehow I never find uninterrupted time to sit and devour them. However, there is no reason for this and I am putting a stop to it! Unplug. Disconnect. Grab a blanket and snuggle up. Find a cafe. I am going to make the time for my guilty little pleasure. And I am not going to feel guilty about it.
{And for those of you who have made the switch to digital magazines on your iPad or tablet, I commend you. You are doing our planet good. I, however, love to hold magazines in my hands, dog ear the pages and (yes) stack them on my side table. Sorry.}
Call it my latest visual obsession, but I can not get enough of stacked wood! I was first taken by the idea of stacking wood rounds {or split wood} in a fireplace. It is genius for a non-working fireplace or one you don’t use regularly. I love that it adds a natural element to a room. The mismatched shapes of the wood make it just plain awesome. How about wood stacked next the fireplace-floor to ceiling? Again, genius. Storing wood, actually used to build a fire, and using it as part of the room’s decor. The possibilities are seemingly endless. Wood stacked under consoles. Wood stacked under benches. Wood stacked under open counters. Yes, yes, and yes!
We have a wood burning fireplace in our bedroom. Oh, I know…how romantic. And yep, we have never used it. The little wheels in my head are spinning. If I can pull out the hideously ugly insert, you better believe that stacked wood rounds are taking its place.
Auctions, benefits, a night out with your honey. They all call for cocktail attire. This is my Modern Cocktail uniform. I love separates because it allows greater versatility for me. It isn’t often I am running to school pick-up in a LBD, but I could throw on a simple silk top with jeans and not look out of place.
The rules for this uniform are simple. The classic black trouser, with a long hem, is the base for this look. Pair it with a black silk top and sexy black pumps. Yes, that’s right. Black on black on black. Punch it up with glam accessories such as an over the top clutch and bold, layered necklaces. {You might already have all the pieces in your closet.}
Give it try on date night or for your next event. Worried? Don’t! You will love it. Haters be warned because you are too {damn} classy!
PS. The above items are “dream” selections for my closet. I do own black trousers, a silk top, black pumps, and a glittery clutch. Just not these gorgeous pieces. It all still works!
I recently decided to give my very small closet a major over hall. I plan to share the before, inspiration, and afters very soon. I am just working on the finishing touches. The closet itself is quite basic and the storage system inside is less than aesthetically pleasing. Since I am not making any major changes [structurally], I made some tough decisions to create a bit of space for art work. It is actually quite exciting because this can be art just for me. The more girly the better! I am surrounded by boys and boy stuff all the time, so this down right AWESOME!
OK. Here’s the deal. I can’t decide. I should be able to hang two pieces [one larger piece and a smaller one], possibly three if they are all smaller in scale.
Here are a few of the frontrunners. Many I found on Etsy and each shop had many wonderful pieces. Which one{s} do you like best?
I can’t wait to hear what you think! I will post the finished product – when I have everything just so.
{Since I do not want price to sway your decisions, you can find the links to the original art pinned on my a closet to love board.}
I love a great online store! In the coziness of my PJ’s with a cup of coffee {decaf, of course}, I can browse for myself and others. Believe it or not, gift giving season is right around the corner. Every year I have grand plans of kick starting my holiday shopping early. With sites like Moorea Seal, it might actually happen this year. Based here in Seattle, The Moorea Seal shop is a curated selection of beautiful accessories and objects, highlighting handmade artists from the United States. 7% of all proceeds from the store benefit five non profit categories.
During the summer I swooned over everything gold in the shop. Handmade jewelry and accessories all in my favorite hue. This month I love a statement necklace, an awesome print, items that represent my beloved Northwest, and great bags to carry all of my stuff. I certainly found items I would buy for myself, but spied many others that I could give as gifts.
And now the really great news. Starting today, thru November 30th, simply use the discount code JUNELOVE at check out and you will receive 10% off your entire Moorea Seal order! How much do we love that? Please share the goodness and this post with any and all.
Yes, I know. I am painfully aware that it is NOT picnic season. I thought of waiting to post about this latest find, but I just couldn’t. I just found the What is It? melamine paper bowls in the gift department at Nordstrom [of all places] for 50% off. Too good to pass up! I had been looking to replace my Target kiddie melamine bowls. Don’t get me wrong, they served us well. It was just time for something a little more grown up! These babies are dishwasher safe and too cute for words. They are truly exact replicas of the classic paper bowls. I will keep them in a low drawer, so the boys can easily get to them, year round.
You probably won’t be running out to purchase summer party goodies [unless you can find them on sale like I did], but it is worth a “pin”. There is always next year!!
I loved this article about 100 Ways to Live to 100. It presented a study that shared advice from centenarians. There are 100 ways listed that could, possibly, lengthen your life.
A few on the list, I am happy to say, were naturally given to me. I was born a woman and had a happy childhood.
Some are just not possible. I wasn’t born in Japan and I am not going to win a gold medal, an Oscar, or the Nobel Prize.
Many I have done or I am already doing. For example, I live in a Blue state, I got married and I have a family, I run {but not too much}, I wash my hands, and I love retail therapy.
Here are a few things I think I can add: practice yoga, don’t dread getting older, keep busy, get a mammogram.
Lastly, I will be sure and remember to move to the Aloha State and not play professional football!
I seriously fell in love with Chicago. A direct, mid-morning flight from Seattle got us to the Windy City in time for cocktail hour. We explored the city by foot, taxi, train, and boat! We took the Blue Line into the city from the airport. For $5 it was a total bargain and kicked off a weekend of adventure. It was great to walk Chicago because it was totally flat! I felt like we could walk for miles and miles-which we probably did! I highly recommend the Architecture Boat Tour on the Chicago River. The 90-minute tour provided excellent history and stories regarding the buildings, the architects, and the city itself! My favorite building was the Chicago Tribune building [sadly, I don’t have a picture!]. The food was outstanding. We ate late [since we were on rock star- I mean Pacific time]. Dining with a party of 8 can be a challenge, but we had excellent service and outstanding food! One evening at a tapas bar we ordered the entire left side of the menu. We were having so much fun, decisions were easy. It was a luxury to travel with dear friends, dress up, dine out, stay up late, and have little [well, actually no] responsibilities.
We ate well, slept little and laughed heartily. The deep dish pizza, 4am closing, and social media may have got the best of me-but the trip was fantastic. I wasn’t fully recovered until Wednesday. Thank you, thank you, thank you Chicago! I will be back.
Stay::
Fairmont @ Millennium Park Centrally located just a few blocks from the Chicago River and Michigan Avenue. It was an easy walk to Millennium Park [home of The Bean] and The Art Institute of Chicago.
Xoco Mexican done right by Rick Bayless [none of us knew how to pronounce it….we were told it was “cho-co”]. Casual dining. My favorite was the Guacamole Bar [add mix-ins] and fresh to order churros!
Giordano’s Home to the famous stuffed pizza. Death by cheese, but oh so right! Can’t go wrong. [They also offered gluten-free thin crust.]
The Gage Great place to grab a drink and something to eat before the game. I loved the interior. Felt like old school, Chicago [what ever that is!].
Play::
Divvy Bikes All over the city we saw racks and racks of awesome blue bikes. It was a bike share program. Too cool!
