What to Do this Weekend? A Chandelierious Suggestion...

You've heard me talk about my friend Karley and her lovely jewelry line, Loubird Handmade. Well....she is having a trunk show this weekend! Tomorrow, in fact, from 12-3:30 at the FABULOUS shop Vintage Bliss, 30 North Ave. in Webster.
The store closes it's doors for good after the trunk show, so get yourself on over there to grab some wonderful deals on gorgeous things! I did some decent damage there myself only yesterday. (Thanks for everything, Sheryn!) Her website will remain open, so please take a look at her link, as well as Karley's. We all need something lovely to look at, don't we?
Here's a little sample of what you might find at Vintage Bliss:

(you know I bought this delicious vanilla candle for myself!) 

This is a perfect example of what will remain available on the Vintage Bliss website: Sheryn's beautiful, one of a kind, vintage frame magnetic chalkboards!

And some of my personal favorites from Loubird Handmade:

Happy weekend shopping!

Thirsty (sniffle) Thursday

Hello there, blogland. Chandelierious is unchandelieriously under the weather this week. Alas, I couldn't totally skip out on Thirsty Thursday... So, today's beverage is for those of us with the sniffles, coughs and sore throats. Yummy and homeopathic, too!
My mom made this for us as kids (gasp) and I still love it when I don't feel well.


                          Whiskey, Honey & Lemon
*4 parts honey
*1 part lemon juice
*1 part whiskey


Put in a jar, stir, and take a tbsp. every 2-3 hours.
Mmmm....it really works. Some like it warm, but I've always liked it room temperature.

Here's to your health!

Simply, Saturday....Spotted: Spring Has Sprung?

Spring has sprung!!! Well, ok, not really. But, it's nice to dream... (especially when the temperature is 10' out.)  Spring has sprung in stores, at least. Decor drenched in citrus colors abound and it's making me warm and fuzzy. Take a gander:

These two displays were at Marshalls and TJMaxx this week. Yummy!
And, remember my post about lime green and black & white  from November? I'm really not a horn tooter, but in this case I will toot a teensy bit, because look at this display:

 Lime green, black & white! Toot toot. (hehehe) Happy Saturday!

Thirsty Thursday...

Hmmm...I don't know about the rest of you North Easterners, but I am done with this weather. Winter hit hard and fast this year and we still have the majority of it to go (Debbie Downer moment, sorry). Today's cocktail recipe makes me think of sun, warmth and toes in the sand. Ahhh.... 
Just for giggles, let's pretend it's July. Let's imagine. Let's have a Seabreeze.


 SEABREEZE
* 1 1/2 oz. Vodka
*4 oz. Cranberry Juice/Cocktail
*1 oz. Grapefruit Juice


Pour vodka into a highball glass over ice.  Add juices and, if you'd like, a garnish of lime.
OR try this switch up: skip the grapefruit juice and go for some grapefruit vodka. Finlandia Grapefruit Fusion or Absolut Ruby Red are yummy! Choose your poison, take a sip, close your eyes...you're on the beach in the sun, waves crashing around you. Right? Yeah, right....

Tips-y Tuesday...

Today's little tip? Get yourself to 30 North Avenue in Webster, N.Y.! Vintage Bliss is a little store filled to the brim with all things beautiful and chandelierious. Owner, Sheryn, was a delight to meet (she reads Chandelerious!). Her store was inspired. I went. I shopped. I loved.
Look what I bought:

Oh yes, I really did.  I also bought a beautiful pair of earrings made by my friend Karley, of Loubird Handmade. Here are a sampling of her goodies. I bought the blue hearts on the left.

She has a trunk show of her items right there at Vintage Bliss on Saturday, January 29th from 12-3:30! Go, browse, buy!
Something else that caught my eye in the store were these darling handbags embellished with gloves and costume jewelry made by another local artisan.

It's truly a little bit of heaven in the village of Webster....

Monday: In the Mood for Mod.

Mmmmm...mod. Loving it. Really loving it paired with something completely, utterly un-mod, like a really weathered piece of furniture or a glam faux fur throw. Or? Yes, a gloriously drippy crystal chandelier. It wasn't until recently that I developed this appreciation. I was pretty exclusively shabby chic/paris apartment style vintage. Then, perhaps as I've (ehem) matured, my tastes expanded.
Nonetheless, as I find new spaces to decorate and tweak, I find myself leaning in this direction a bit. More graphic and less "fussy". Though, fussy has it's place, too...
For today, mod's the muse.
With this sleeker style, I love it in basic black, white and gray (with perhaps a shock of red, hot pink or lime green). These next examples reflect that, but search around if this is your preferred style. You'll find things in every color of the rainbow.
Here we go:


These retro chairs aren't only stylish, but super easy to maintain as they are made of molded plastic.

They'd be perfect around a dining table with this classic, clean chandelier hanging over head.

Can't really leave the dining room floor out of the mod picture, can we? Of course not! How about something like this groovy wool rug?

For the living room, den or home office this arc lamp is a standard retro silhouette.

Lastly, this pillow gently shouts "Yeah, baby" while oozing that Carnaby Street mod style. It also comes in yellow and pink. 

I added it to Be Chandelierious, too! Get your groove on, baby....

Simply, Saturday...Spotted!

Chandelierious things found out and about:

Remember my post abut maps and globes? As if on cue, Marshalls and TJMaxx are selling these tables and other vintage style decor.

This deliciously drippy pink chandelier is sold on Amazon...AND Be Chandelierious, as a matter of fact!

And these? Well, these are like an Elizabeth Thompson's baking dream come true. Also through Amazon, or right through these pictures, as a matter of fact. Clickety click. 

I. Must. Have. Them.

      

   Perfection.

Thirsty Thursday...

Last Saturday I had a fun night in with some girlfriends...Martinis and "Eclipse."
Yes. Eclipse. The teen vampire movie. Yes. I'm 36.
Anyway, my friend Kelly made some delicious martinis and my friend Karen took some equally delicious photos of them. So, my girls get props for today's post!

Oatmeal Cookie Martini (based on a shot recipe)


*1 oz Goldschlager
*1 oz Bailey's Irish Cream
*1 oz Butterscotch Schnapps
*1 oz half and half (this takes the bite out and makes it more of a drink.)

Chocolate Mint Martini


*2 oz. Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
*1 oz Vanilla Vodka
*1 oz Hershey's Chocolate Syrup
*1 oz half and half
*1 Tbsp Rumple Mintz

Thanks, ladies! Cheers!

Winter White...

The snow is falling...the dancing snowflakes look like diamonds.....
Ooooo, diamonds.......
Sorry. Lost my train of thought for a moment. Back on track, snowflakes are diamond like, yes. It inspires me to write about white.
I won't suggest that you paint your walls white (ever). But, I do enjoy fresh, clean white paint on trims and moldings,  especially against rich colors like corals, reds, blues and greens. It just... pops!
White is also a wonderful accent or focal color on furniture and accessories. Besides complimenting any other shade or pattern, it creates a serene atmosphere. Some might find it to be cold, but I think of it as soft and peaceful...like clouds or yes, snowflakes.
 At the moment, the idea of white lacquered furniture is sort of exciting to me. Something sort of mod paired with something sort of shabby. Hmm...I like it. In fact, I picked up a few vintage pieces that I'm considering giving the high gloss white treatment. Stay tuned, if I go with it, I'll post it.
What's your preference? Maybe A white pillow thrown here, a white faux fur throw thrown there...
Let's take a gander at some fabulous snowy white finds.

Speaking of faux fur, this throw is divine.

This duvet set by Shabby Chic is shabby and...chic! 

Loving the simple ruffles on this shower curtain by Creative Bath.

But, not everyone likes fur and ruffles right? For those of you who prefer the more modern vibe, check these out:

These little ottoman stools are all over stores like Marshalls and TJmaxx. I have even seen them in white patent leather.

Or...

Nailhead studded, quilted white leather chair....uber chic in any decor.

Lastly, the epitome of snowy white chic, a rug that looks like sparkly snowflakes. (Yes, there are even sparkles in this rug!)

There you have it. White? Is lovely. As is this inspirational blanket of snow covering the North East right now. Beautiful, yes...but be safe out there you chandelierious people. Be safe....until next time....

Tips-y Tuesday...

Tuesday, 1/11/11's tip? Random acts of kindness. Do them. They matter. They make someone's day. Trust me.
Cases in point?  This lovely gesture from my friend/blogger/jewelry designer extraordinaire Karley of Chic & Green, the Embrace Your Curves Project and Loubird Handmade....

Karley surprised me with this beautiful necklace yesterday for no other reason than she made it and thought it was "me." Her kindness made my day.
Or, take today... I was sitting behind the computer at my little part time gig when in walk my friends and neighbors Barry and Mary Beth. They happened to be in the neighborhood and decided to visit me... by way of the bakery next door. Ta da! Cannoli for lunch anyone? That's what this lady did, thanks to the kindness of these two thoughtful souls. A simple (and delicious) cannoli turned a busy, somewhat stressful day into literally? A treat.
Thank you, friends...thank you.
Random acts of kindness....pass it on.....

Simply Sunday...

It's been yet another busy, fun filled weekend. Yesterday belonged to my beloved and delicious nephew's first birthday party, followed by a martini/"Eclipse" style GNO...love me some martinis, girlfriends and vamps! Good times, indeed...
But, today? Today is a day of laze. And for that reason, Simply Sunday is just this...

This picture of the sleeping birthday boy in my arms says exactly what today means to me....

Thirsty Thursday...

Something caught my eye recently, and now I'm simply jonesing to try it. I haven't  made this cocktail recipe yet, so please bear with/forgive me if it's just "not good." But....I would be flabbergasted if it's not! (side note: Isn't flabbergasted a wonderful, yet highly underused word?)

Anyway, back to cocktails, Pinnacle French Vodka makes every flavor under the sun, but the one that has got me excited is the Whipped. Oh yes, whipped. I. Must. Try. It.

There are many recipes on the website to check out, but this one in particular sounds mouthwatering...

 PEACHES AND WHIPPED

2 oz. Pinnacle Whipped

1 oz. Coconut Rum

2 oz. Pineapple Juice

1 oz. Peach Juice

Mix in a glass filled with ice and garnish with a pineapple slice.

**If you get to try this before I do, let me know what you think! So many other recipes to try, too! And, this even comes in CHOCOLATE Whipped. Oh. Yeah.

Enjoy!

Tips-y Tuesday...

Just have to share another product I can't live without. It's right up there with the sharpie and the magic eraser...
Behold: the Spray -n- Wash Stain Stick. Ta da!!!

This, above all else, takes marker, grass stains and who even knows what else out of your clothing and linens. With a 7 year old and two dogs, this is a life/clothing/money saver. Love it. It never fails.
That's all, folks. Grab some. There's your tip. Have a fabulous rest of your Tuesday!