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vacation packing with intention

31. January 2012

As most people start to prepare for this week’s Super Bowl parties, Mr. Lively and I are starting to get ready for our trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico! We will be gone Friday through Monday for a romantic weekend trip that doubles as my Christmas and Valentine’s Day present (I’m a lucky lady!). I [...]

diy ornaments

28. November 2011

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving! I had a great time over the long weekend in St. Louis with Mr. Lively and his extended family. Sleeping in, eating well, and recharging was delightful (and much needed). But now that I’m back, I am turning my attention towards decorating my apartment for the holidays. My [...]

dual purpose: fancy candles

9. November 2011

Today I have a new use for those fancy candles that smell beautiful, but are less than rosy for the budget. Previously I shared how to re-use the pretty box. And here’s a new way to use the canister itself. (Like Martha says, to get rid of the leftover wax, put it in the freezer [...]

my home on Apartment Therapy House Tour

25. October 2011

As I write this I realize how surreal this is for me: yesterday my apartment was added to Apartment Therapy’s House Tours. Four years ago when I first moved to a not-so-great studio apartment, I discovered AT and their amazing house tours. This was years before I read any blogs and I was amazed and [...]

dual purpose: jewelry box

31. August 2011

As you can imagine, being a jewelry designer means that I have several jewelry boxes. This one in particular is very special to me as it once belonged on my Grandma’s dresser for many years. Since I use display boxes to showcase most of my special pieces, this box has been meaningful but unnecessary. … [...]

dual purpose: door hooks

25. August 2011

Today I’d like to introduce a new little treat I have for MML; Dual Purpose. As a designer and someone who is all about clearing the clutter and staying (mostly) on budget, I have a few tricks up my sleeve that help me have a home that looks great and functions well. From time to [...]

summer home updates

22. June 2011

Since the last photos were taken of my living room and bedroom, I’ve made some summer updates to my apartment. Given the warmer weather and my evolving sense of style, I’ve chosen to go with brighter pops of color. Some of these colors and trends are even making their way into upcoming collections as well… [...]

[sponsor post] golightly jewellery + giveaway

6. June 2011

Today we have an inspiring post by Jen, an MML sponsor, Midnight Hustler, and jewelry designer. Her company, Golightly Jewellery has a great mix handmade gems and classic styles at very affordable prices. Below she shares some encouraging words about entrepreneurship. And to makes just a bit sweeter, she’s sharing a pair of Whitney earrings [...]

easy diy nailhead corkboards

2. June 2011

Today I have a little DIY project to share. I’ve had this one on my mind for about a year now, and a few weeks ago I finally completed the project. Here was my inspiration from my friend Alaina over at Live Creating Yourself: I adore nailheads and given that I wanted the boards to [...]

[sponsor post] acute designs interview & giveaway

17. May 2011

Today we have a sponsor interview and giveaway with the lovely Regina, founder and designer of Acute Designs. Her shop is the perfect mix of affordable handmade baubles for hair, neck, wrists, and shoes. Below Regina shares how she used her creativity and passion for accessories to launch a full-time business after breaking out of [...]

designing behind closed doors: my linen closet

9. May 2011

I originally wanted to call this post “My Souped Up Linen Closet” but Mr. Lively in a mix of sarcasm and reflection mentioned that it should be titled “Designing Behind Closed Doors” and the name stuck. Yes, I unabashedly went way far beyond the call of duty and created a beautiful linen closet for my [...]

moving made easier

19. April 2011

  As I mentioned last week, I am moving to a higher unit in my apartment building today and tomorrow. Then on Thursday morning I fly out to San Francisco for a bag photo shoot followed by a trip to LA to meet Mr. Lively’s parents. So from today through Tuesday, April 26th, I will [...]