Epoch Elly

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Vintage Swim Caps

First off, I my vintage swim cap came in today! I put it on the hook in the bathroom just like the pic in apartment therapy, and it is ADORABLE!

Too cute! I love this! All I need is a pretty vintage robe and it will come together!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

WHAT I DID THIS WEEKEND!

I spent A LOT OF MY WEEKEND at antique malls. It was icky drippy outside and it felt like the perfect thing to do in this nasty weather. Here is what I bought!

Just in time for Valentines! $6.00!

http://www.etsy.com/ Silhouette

My 75% off skunk! I had to take him home! $1.50

I am going to learn how to embroider. I think I would be better at this than knitting.

I'm pretty sure this is from the 80's but I LOVE it!

Hard to see...poodle lipstick holder.

Yes, it is a sihouette. Of course I could not pass it up!

Boy silhouette 1954

Today, I thought I would bring up a few key things that my mom has taught me about decor. My mom has AMAZING style when it comes to making a house beautiful. She has redone an 100 year old house and from where it was to where it is now...AMAZING! Here are a few tips from my wonderful mother! (She's in the grey.)

First, do not buy sheets with any polyester. I know this seems like a no brainer, but a lot of sheets are made with 70% cotton 30% poly. Check your sheets. You might think they are 100% cotton when really they aren't. Poly bunches and will wear down faster than cotton. After you wash them, they get really gross.

Listen to this: (from Wikipedia) Polyesters are also used to make "plastic" bottles, films, tarpaulin, canoes, liquid crystal displays, holograms, filters, dielectric film for capacitors, film insulation for wire and insulating tapes.

Do you want to sleep on that? Ewww...

Second, change your pillows. Another no brainer. But, believe me, a certain HUSBAND never thought to change a pillow before I came along. He thought since there are pillowcases on them that they are clean.Well, they aren't. I change mine every 6 months or so.

Oh dear, how you need me...it's okay, I need you too.

Third, in your functioning bathroom (the one you use every day) buy only white towels, white mats, white shower curtains. This is a good idea, because white is easy to bleach. They are easy to keep clean and colors fade. Every time you wash a colored towel, you are losing pigment. This way, you can easily buy one or two new towels every once in a while instead of buying a whole new bathroom set. Plus, white matches everything.

Lastly, do not buy bathmats with the RUBBER BACKING. This melts in the dryer. Nuff said.

Expect the Unexpected!

Sorry for not having a post for a few days...I have been researching this one A LOT!

Let's talk about things that aren't art, but are used as art! Whew! Kinda hard to say, but amazing! I love taking pieces that are unexpected and adding them to a traditional, contemporary, vintage, or even modern decor! I got this idea the other day while surfing on my FAVORITE design site www.apartmenttherapy.com. I was looking at a home tour and saw a bathroom with an old vintage swim cap and robe on a hook. To me, it looked just like art- a pretty sculpture inviting you in to take a LONG bubble bath. I decided to see what else I could find on this subject. Here are some pretty cool ideas!

Apartment therapy

Project Nursery

Monday, January 10, 2011

Aly's FAVORITE things!

Haha, I just watched the episode of HIMYM and Barney decides to copy Oprah and giveaway his favorite things...seriously track suits? HA! :) Well, they are comfy, but let's talk about FAVORITE things for the home!

Neil Patrick Harris in HIMYM- Picture Via the Talking Box

Fun Gifts for a Friend or YOU!- I love www.uncommongoods.com. They always have interesting items! I LOVE these sassy horiscope tiles. I think they are quirky and could work as something unexpected in a room and these elevated kitchen utensils cut out the need for a spoon rest or messy countertop!

Uncommon Goods

Candles: These are by FAR my two favorite brands. They smell so good and LAST a long time! Voluspa candles are at Anthropologie and Central Market! I love the Huckleberry ones! LAFCO is a company made famous by the woman herself, Oprah! They have amazing scented candles. The candles are all named for different rooms in the house! My favorite is The Kitchen Candle. It smells like cilantro and orange! YUMMY! A little pricey for a big one $55, so I bought the little $20 one and it lasted a long time! LAFCO (Luxury Articles and Fragrance Co.) is located in Highland Park Village in Dallas or on http://www.lafcony.com/.

TUFTED anything! But, today I have a soft spot for a tufted headboard. Come on, how lux is this? SO MAD MEN! I love anything tufted. I just think it looks so vintage and so modern at the same time!

Nikki Hilton's bedroom

Katy Elliot

CotedeTexas

Oh Elly...

Note: Don't ever add sand to a hurricane vase if you own cats.

BAD idea. Thank goodness I caught her in time. Silly Elle.

Chalk Dust Everywhere!

Amanda Nesbit

Maybe it is because I am a teacher, but I love that old chalkboard smell. Nails on a chalkboard do not bother me and I always had fun clapping erasers. I LOVE that chalkboard paint is popular right now, and I think it is such a fun and whimsical way to bring nostalgia into a home. I am thinking about adding some in the kitchen and "framing" it with some white molding found at Home Depot. I think it might be a fun touch to the kitchen. When we took a tour of apts in the building recently (our building has over 100 different floorplans) our neighbor opened up her home. She has a separate toliet area away from her shower closed off by doors. She painted the ENTIRE toliet area in chalkboard paint! HA! What a QUIRKY idea! There were little notes and pictures all over the walls! Although I am pretty fearless and will try anything in decor, paint scares me a bit. I need to get over this! Maybe a few of these pictures will inspire YOU like they did me!