Best of: West Elm Sale

There is little I love more than a great sale, and when that sale is happening at West Elm? Well, it's a safe bet I can kiss my next paycheck (or two) goodbye. West Elm is one of my favorite destinations when I'm looking for inspiration or buying a gift, whether it's for a birthday, holiday, wedding or housewarming-bottle of wine not included! I've rounded up some of my major lusts & musts from their current sale, and I already called my mom to tell her to expect the Shirley Fintz Elephant Lamp to show up at home until I have a place big enough to justify another lamp in NYC.

(starting from top) L to R: Bend Dining Table | Chester Tufted Leather Chair | Woven Glassware Set

Shirley Fintz Elephant Lamp | Marbelized Planter | Ombre Glassware

Sunset Throw | Dipped Wood Rolling Pin | Orb Lanterns

Plaid Weave Display Basket | Ceramic Floral Bucket Vases

Recycled Glass Jug | Modern Trellis | Embroidered Mosaic Pillow Cover

If you could take three things home with you from the sale, what would they be?

Dream Home: Gardens and Greens

It's time to change up this #dreamhome series a little bit. While I love finding a well styled, fully finished house, more often than not I find myself coming across thematically similar rooms and exteriors that I want to share with you but frequently can't find more photos from the same house. Starting this week, Wednesday's #dreamhome post is going to relate to a specific theme or idea, whether it's a color or decorating style or type of room. There will still be the occasional full home tour, but this opens the gates to share so many of the amazing things I come across with you!

This week's post is all about gardens & greens, inspired in part my my own little urban garden that's slowly growing on my back porch. There's something incredibly soothing in coming home every evening to tend to and water the various herbs and plants I have growing-and sometimes I'm rewarded, like tonight with three sweet little strawberries! Summer makes me miss where I grew up more than any other season. I spent every spring and summer watching my mom garden (and once mistook very hot peppers for cherry tomatoes-I didn't eat either for nearly 15 years after) in our huge acre of a backyard, and whenever she visits we always make sure to go to the New York Botanical Gardens-way higher on our list than any other tourist attraction! We spent my birthday there just a few weeks ago. One of these days, I hope I have an apartment with a little bit of green space outside to truly start my own little urban garden.

*images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Colorful in the Hamptons

 I'm going to apologize right now for all the photos in today's post, but I'm pretty sure Hallie & Jessica have futures as photographers & set stylists-I couldn't make up my mind what to share with you!

My everyday uniform is pretty much always a mishmash of color (evidenced here, here and here), especially cool tones and brights. I picked up these jeans last year in bright yellow (duh), and when I spotted this lime color I knew I had to get this year's version, too. What better place to bring together some of my favorite hues of late spring-especially this pretty seafoam blue-than the Hamptons? Unfortunately, it's back to the city and work for me today, but this unexpectedly long weekend has been more than fabulous. Bucket list: renting a house out here some summer, soon!

T-shirt, Victoria's Secret | Jeans, Gap (on sale!) | Belt, Gap

Sunglasses, Ray-Ban | Necklace and Bracelets (big & small), Sequin

Nails, OPI Ogre the Top Blue (one of my all-time favorites)

Sandals, Jack Rogers/borrowed from Hallie

Beach Bum

I am a self-proclaimed beach girl all the way, and somehow the last couple weekends have worked out in my favor! Over Memorial Day weekend, my mom & I headed out to Coney Island (which is at the complete opposite end of the subway line from where I live) to spend a few hours wandering the boardwalk and getting some sand in our toes. This weekend, a friend and I drove to Jones Beach on Saturday to soak up some sunshine (we both got sunburned, oops) and listen to the waves crash on the shore.

While we were there, I found out I would be headed to Southampton on Sunday! My company recently opened a store in the area for the season with an apartment set aside that was just begging to be used. I hopped on the jitney yesterday afternoon & got here just in time to meet up with Hallie and Jessica for a little while before they headed back to the city. Unfortunately, it's raining today, but it's supposed to die down by the afternoon & I'm seriously looking forward to a stroll on the beach and perusing some of the cute shops on the picturesque main streets. In the meantime, here's a couple snaps from my beach days the last few weeks.