Home Goods in Dayton

The Home Goods store had its grand opening in Dayton on Sunday, March 11th. I am so glad that I no longer have to travel to Cincinnati just to go to the store.

I plan to make another trip in a couple weeks when all the hoopla dies down. A bought a few things, but wasn’t really able to look the way I wanted to because of the number of customers out there at 8 am.

Here are my purchases. New soaps for the bathroom.

A cookie jar that I plan to use as a decorative piece. It’s bigger than it looks in the picture.

A throw pillow for my bed. I have been looking for a pillow with orange in it for a while now!

Is there a Home Goods near you? How often do you shop there?

Peace and blessings,
Michelle

 

A weekend of shopping

This weekend I took care of a few decorating things around the house. I needed a new tv stand, so I decided to head to Ikea to get one.

I bought the Besta combination. I also purchased a lamp and some shelves to put up over my small desk area in the living room. Here are photos of the tv stand and the lamp.

Wish they made this with “tea” on it.

Here are photos of the shelves that I put up over the desk.

Have you made any decorative changes lately?

Peace and blessings,
Michelle

 

Making a list & checking it twice

I have a couple friends on my Christmas list that I have been trying to decide what to get for them. I want some, if not all of my gifts to be handmade this year. Not necessarily by me, but I love the fact that I can give a gift made with care.

So, these friends are each fashionably trendy in their own way. I have recently fallen in love with the Cowl trend, and I think I want to get Cowls for each of them.

I went to my usual spot for handmade items….Etsy
I found quite a few to choose from. Now I have to decide in enough time to have them sent.

infinity eternity cowl

charcoal grey infinity cowl

green infinity scarf

infinity eternity cowl

I purchased this one for myself.

rasta cowl

If you were the recipient, which one would you choose?

Peace and blessings,
Michelle

 

Big Cartel…A Shoppers Paradise

I stumbled across Big Cartel a few years ago, but at that time I was caught up in the Etsy craze, so I really didn’t pay it much attention. Well, I stumbled upon it again last night while doing my evening wind down web surfing.

Big Cartel has everything that you can imagine, from hair products to socks and everything in between. Here are a few things that I came across and plan to purchase.

I used to buy Avocado Shea butter from Alex when she sold on Etsy. Now I must support her move over to Big Cartel. You can find her shop at Safi Hair Care

I came across the Live to Love shop and automatically fell in love with their product…so much so that I bought this scarf last night for $10. I am really starting to get a thing for scarves.

I plan to purchase an iPad for myself, so when I saw this iPad bag over at Stash I knew I wanted it!

I do have a 13″ MacBook and I would love a messenger bag to carry it in, instead of dropping it into my backpack when heading to class. This messenger bag from Stash would fit the bill perfectly!

My cousin W.S. is really into photography, and is currently studying it. I might spring for this camera bag from Stash for her birthday or Christmas. I am sure she would love it!

So, there are a few of my favorites from Big Cartel. If you are looking for some early Christmas gifts head on over there!

Peace and Blessings,
Michelle

 

Fashion Forward…Part 2

As I stated a few blog posts back, I am working on maturing my look. I would like to start shopping for more age appropriate clothing. On the weekends I revert to what’s comfortable…sweats or jeans and a tee. I would like some less “college-like” and more “grown and sexy”. I am going for a more mature look, but still comfortable. I believe that is doable. So, my search has led me to the web, where I came across a site that I am absolutely in love with.

The name of the site is Polyvore and I have found quite a few lovely style boards that are comfortable looking and chic. I love this site because it tells you where you can get each item from.

Of all the looks that I saw on Polyvore, this one is my absolute favorite. I can see me rockin’ this!

I would probably change the top on this one, but I like the overall look.

Here are a few other looks that caught my eye!

Has anything in this collection caught your eye?

Peace and blessings,

 

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things…

There has never been a time when someone has wanted to buy a gift for me and I didn’t know what to tell them. I always have a list because I am constantly searching the web and finding things that I love. As a result, I have decided to do a monthly post about my favorite things. Hopefully some of these things will become your favorites as well!

This item has been on the top of my favorite things list for a while! Right now I cannot justify the purchase, but one of this day I may buy it without justification. Everytime I go to the Apple store or another store where they sell the iPad I have to play with it. Keep your eyes open for the “I finally bought an iPad” post.

This item, the Nikon D90 has been on the top of my list for a while also. My cousin has one of these and I played around with it! I absolutely love the photo quality.

I am a huge Iyanla Vanzant fan! I can remember seeing her on Oprah and being amazed by the words she spoke. I received her book Yesterday, I Cried in a grab bag in 1999. I read the book from cover to cover in two days, and more was highlighted than not. I read it whenever I hit a rough patch in my life. I just started Peace From Broken Pieces (birthday gift from T) and I can already tell it’s going to be the same as Yesterday, I Cried. Looking forward to getting more life lessons from Ms Vanzant! I recommend these two books!

As I stated in a previous post, I have never owned a pair of goulashes (rain boots), but Ms Bev got me a pair for my birthday, and I wore them to class the next day (it rained) and I fell in love with them. I was splashing in puddles as T and I walked to University Hall. Made me feel like a kid again.

I am in love with this headband, and I plan to purchse it soon. It is called Rain and it’s being modeled by the lovely Alex from The Good Hair Blog. (www.thegoodhairblog.com) If you would like to purchase the headband, go to www.younikness.com

I don’t know how many of you know this, but I am addicted to magazines! I am excited about the premiere of the HGTV magazine in October.

I am a huge fan of natural hair! I just love seeing my African American distaff rocking their naturals! This will always be a fave of mine.

My final item in this months lineup is a knit pattern by Brooklyn Tweed. I love all things handmade, and knitting is one of my favorites! Brooklyn Tweed has wonderful patterns. He is an awesome designer!

What are some of your favorite things?

Peace and Blessings,

 

Fashion Forward: Fall Wear

Lately I have been thinking about changing up my look, and I think Fall/Winter would be the perfect time to do it. During the week I pretty much dress business casual for my job, and on the weekend I dress very comfy. Sometimes jeans and a tee, and sometimes sweats. I have been feeling that I want to update my look…dress more like a 39-year-old woman and less like a 21-year-old college student. I have noticed that when I dress better I feel better!

So, as I was looking around Pinterest I came across a few outfits that I would like to incorporate into my wardrobe. I feel a shopping spree coming on.

I think I want to add a sporty looking leather jacket to my wardrobe. I think this one is so cute!!!

I love how the jacket in this outfit adds color to outfit. I am going to work with a layered look this fall, and I think this would be a good start with a couple more pieces!

Lately I have noticed I have a thing for scarves. I have acquired quite a few over the last year. Time to put them to work. I think this outfit would be lovely with some nice three quarter length boots!

This outfit screams cuteness! I would probably change out the shoes with these cute ankle boots that I have!

I have never thought about wearing a tank in the Fall or Winter, but I think this would be a good time to implement the layered look!

So, after my shopping spree I will post pics of my new looks. Have you changed your wardrobe lately?

Peace and Blessings,

 

Getting ready for winter…

On Saturday I went to the mall with T. We ended up spending 6 hours in the mall. We hit quite a few stores, did some eating and ate a cinnabon while getting pedicures.I haven’t spent that kind of time in the mall in a while.

I went to Macy’s to get some Clinique face soap. We ended up on the 3rd floor where I took advantage of the bra sale. Nothing like finding good bras on sale.

I found two items that I plan to go back and get. Saw this sweater as soon as we walked in the door. It is wool!

I also found these boots that I want. Gray is quickly becoming my favorite color.

Have you found any “must haves” for the winter?

Peace and Blessings,
Michelle

 

‘Tis better to give than receive…

As stated in one of my previous posts, my friends and I adopted a young college student. He is a very humble guy, and is eager to learn from others. We took him to Old Navy on Friday to get some clothes for him. B.M. picked him up, but did not tell him why they were going to Old Navy. My wife and I met them there. When they got there my wife explained why we were there, and he was so humble, and completely amazed. He is a very inquisitive young man. He asks questions about education and other things.

At the present he wears his clothes kind of baggy, and he made the statement that as you get older, you make changes. So, we bought him some jeans that weren’t so baggy, and he seemed to like them. There was a young man in the store who was older than D. and he was giving him some advice about clothes. Telling him that when you wear your clothes properly, and you change from the “hood” look to a more professional look, you feel better about yourself. So, we are going to try to work him up to that. But for now, less baggy jeans is a start.

I am happy that we were able to help him, and I wish we could do so much more. I plan to start a Christmas fund for him next year, and take him shopping to get some of the things that he needs. In the meantime, and between time, I will try to help him out during the year. He doesn’t only have needs at Christmas time. My wife and I were talking in the car after we left Old Navy; just talking about how many D.’s there are out there. It saddens me to even think about it. For now, we’ll help the one that we know, and try to reach more and more as we move along.

Get out and help someone.

Peace and blessings

Michelle

 

Tissue Tee part 2

This is a tissue tee. The difference in a tissue tee and a regular tee is the thiness of the tissue tee. It's so soft.