happy living Design

purging and giveaway

My books needed some room to breath so I made a large pile to be donated.  But I have several of Martha Stewart's decorating books (the thinner paperbacks) that might be of good use to one of you 'out there'.  So I am giving away a lot of four books, one magazine and a few mini good things magazines.

They are all in very good condition, some like new.  Leave a comment below by December 20th at 12 noon and I'll pick one random person to get the whole lot.  I'll try to send them out before Christmas but they probably won't arrive until after depending on where you live.

Jennifer Squires Productions

Support independent artists or crafters this season.

Jennifer Squires is selling beautiful framable holiday cards.

See here for the holiday shipping guideline.

last of summer

Finally the weather is half decent, just in time for all the kiddos to go back to school on Monday (at least around here).  I'm still craving some summer relaxation time though to make up for all the days Kheri and I were stuck inside in the A/C because of scorching weather.

I saw this BarberOsgerby deckchair in this month's issue of Livingetc and was craving some time on our screened-in-porch, in this chair of course.

Every year the Royal Parks Foundation has different artists design these gorgeous canvas deckchairs that you can purchase to benefit London's eight Royal Parks.  Lovely idea!

 

the book giveaway winner

is Jennifer of Brown Bunny Baby. *

Thanks to everyone who left a comment.  I truly wish I had a case of books so that I could send a copy of Scaling Down to each of you!

(* via Truly Random Number Generator)

something a little different for Valentine's Day?

a gift that keeps on giving, at least until you want to take it down.

 

Wonderful Graffiti: Everything is 25% off before 1/31 and they are offering free shipping for Valentine's Day.

Design on a Dime presented by Real Simple

Today and tomorrow, Real Simple– along with co-chairs Maggie Gyllenhaal, designer James Huniford and Real Simple’s managing editor Kristin van Ogtrop -- are hosting the fourth-annual Design on a Dime charity event to benefit Housing Works, the nation's largest community-based AIDS-service organization.

The kick-off party was yesterday (sorry I didn't get this up sooner) and today and tomorrow's events are free and open to the public.  It is being held at the Metropolitan Pavilion at 125 West 18th Street, NYC.

During the event, thirty top-tier designers—including Sills Huniford, Thom Filicia, Charlotte Moss and Jamie Drake—will create breathtaking, one-of-a-kind room vignettes. People will be able to purchase the items in the vignettes at 60-80% off the retail price and all proceeds from the sale will benefit Housing Works.

Founded in 1990, Housing Works provides housing, medical care, job training and other lifesaving services to homeless and low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS.

Shopping for a cause.  I like that.

Let's just get this Valentine's Day thing over with...

I am not against Valentine's Day.  Actually, I use it to demand high-priced-but-worth-it chocolate truffles in assorted flavors from our local chocolatier.  And since every year the holidays come and go and I don't get around to sending out Christmas or New Years cards I end up sending Valentine's Day cards instead.  And growing up I was lucky to have the best dad in the world who made my mom share her dozen roses with me (we each got 6, sorry mom!) so I always felt loved even if I didn't have Matt Damon take me for a champagne brunch balloon ride.  Who eats brunch and drinks champagne 10,000 feet off the ground in the middle of February anyway?  Make V-Day something special, but love the people in your life every day of the year.  Don't wait for Hallmark or Teleflora to remind you to do it.

If you are celebrating and are looking for some unique and fun ideas, I chuckled at some of the suggestions in Jonathan Adler's gift guide.