Hooked on... before and afters!

Don't you just love a good makeover? I just love a good "before and after." Such a sense of accomplishment and completion.

Here's some inspiring rooms that turned out just oh so good!

Home Office Makeover


after:


(courtesy of Cottage Living)

Living Room Makeover
before:


after:

(courtesy of Real Simple)

and lastly, just love this one...

Entry Hall
before:


after:


(Courtesy of House Beautiful)

One common theme in all of these (that I just realized) is the use of blue... I wouldn't consider myself a "blue" person. But I guess I am... seeing that my living room is painted blue (could have been my first clue!). I love that little blue vase in the office makeover and the very subtle blues and greys in the rug. The blue in the second makeover is a little more "in your face" - but seems very invigorating to me. Plus, notice the red splashes... which I do love! And the blue in the last room, the entry, just says "ahhhhh... relax, you are home."

Join Hooked on Houses to see what others in blogland are hooked on these days!

Fashion Friday... TOMS Inspiration!

Just 'cuz I'm lovin' on TOMS lately, and because I have been out of town for the past couple of days (no time to post!)... I thought I would feature TOMS for Fashion Friday again... this time a bunch of TOMS lovin' from polyvore!


A.I.S.L.- hello lisa - by ♫~A.I.S.L.~♫{taking requests} on Polyvore.com


130: Failure's No Success - by platinumblonde on Polyvore.com


River Hills, Manhattan Prep [RP] - by Pied+Piper on Polyvore.com


wanderer and seeker - by micheley on Polyvore.com


Untitled - by xfashionxgeekx on Polyvore.com

Give TOMS for Valentine's Day

are your valentine's day plans coming together yet?

I don't have anything too planned out yet... likely some fun stuff for the kids like heart shaped cakes and heart shaped pizza... there will probably also be oodles of candy and other sweet stuff involved. But like I have mentioned before - I just love Valentine's day. Who can resist all the sweet pink and red and hearts and love. Even years that I was never in a relationship, before my husband and kids came along, I still just loved this holiday.

I think movies and popcorn with these cozy clothes would be just perfect.


hearts. - by Jill GG on Polyvore.com

all of these items can be found at oldnavy.com

...if you can believe it... cheap chic!

How are your plans coming for Valentine's day?

what's rockin' wednesday.

What's rockin' me today:

This quote. So true...

These delicate and fresh prints in honor of my favorite holiday (valentine's!) found via Creature Comforts! Oh how fun they would be in my ever evolving blue and red living room.


This inspiration board... seriously? It's perfect (if an inspiration board can even BE perfect... although they are like questions I suppose... never a bad one if you put thought into it).

And the Twisted Sister Halter by Free People - just imagining warm sun on my fashionable little shoulders... ahhhhhh.


What's rockin' you?

somebody needs to buy these...

so i don't. Hunter boots at GILT!!! (without the, ahem, guilt).

i'm feeling...

...uninspired and unoriginal. bummer, huh?

Would you care for some re-runs since you are here and everything? Just so this wasn't a waste of your time? Well, okay then.

This set on polyvore was ridic popular... over 52 thousand views, WHAT?!?! It's just jeans and a tee and a sweater. Oh yeah, and a drop dead gorgeous handbag.


Today's Outfit Casual - by Jill GG on Polyvore.com

But then, wait a minute, this one got almost 3x that. Seriously?

But of all of them, I think this one of mine is my favorite. It's just super "me."

How do you get out of your creative/writing ruts?

i have a small addiction forming...

...and it is for, of all things, reusable grocery or "shopping" bags... I just can't get enough of them!

Envirosax from Red Envelope


Eco Techno Tote from Target




Cindy Kirk I'm Not Plastic from Piperlime



Are you using them these days... if so, DO DISH, what are your favs?

giving that gives back.

Some of you may know that I am completely obsessed with TOMS shoes... I just love the idea of one for one. What a difference it would make in this world if more retailers did this! Buy a box of cereal... we'll send a box of cereal to the inner city? Buy a tube of toothpaste... we'll send another one to the women's shelter? Buy a new mattress... we'll send one to someone whose home was taken in a hurricane? Just think of the possibilities!

TOMS shoes donates ONE PAIR OF SHOES for every pair that you buy! It gives me the chills I love it so much... check out their adorable styles and order some for your girlfriends, your kids or your hubby with free shipping before the big LOVE fest this February 14, 2009. It makes me smile thinking about it!




Click the link above to start shopping now!

I know how great a new pair of shoes feels... I can only imagine how the recipients of these shoes feel.

(di)stressed anyone?

I don't know about you, but I have been absolutely DROOLING over the hip distressed jeans that are hitting the mainstream these days... some examples:


distressed jeans... - by Jill GG on Polyvore.com

With some of these retailing for upwards of $200 - one must ask themselves: Is it a good idea to buy jeans that are already half-way or more through their life cycle? This is a total "good life for less" moment... check out the tutorial on distressing jeans yourself!!! Courtesy of free people.

ps. i love those "people"
pps. i am heading to my closet this moment to find a spare pair... stay tuned!

Fashion Friday... Toy Watch!

I just CAN NOT believe that it is Friday again already! But you won't catch me complaining! Who doesn't love Friday?!?! In this installment of Fashion Friday (where every Friday I make an ensemble from one of the items I highlighted this week on the 'ol blog)... I chose to go with the Toy Watch. Which I have nothing but pure love for. Oh, and also the pair of $19.50 patent flats I got from Old Navy. Because if lovin' $19.50 patent flats from Old Navy is wrong... I don't want to be right! I got these little sweeties in the mail today and they are adorable! Cuter than in the pic even! Without further ado... Fashion Friday folks:


toy watch love. - by Jill GG on Polyvore.com

Don't forget... if you are interested in joining Gilt - here is your personal invitation!

did i mention i needed a dash of red?

Seriously, what would I do without you spectacular internet people?

I do believe I mentioned I needed a another splash of color. And thanks to Completely Coastal I have my inspiration!

i cheated... well, not really, maybe just a little.

So I am on this spending freeze which is both an exercise in contentment (one I need to practice repeatedly) and another in boosting the 'ole pocketbook after the spending frenzy that was Christmas.

But here lies a technicality... I got a gift card for GAP for Christmas that was just burning a hole in my pocket... so I picked up a couple of things. The good news is that the world is on sale right now! The bad news is that it felt like cheating. Not "spending" is also about not "acquiring" - not giving in to the thrill that comes with shopping bags and big boxes being delivered to our doors by UPS.

I'm only human I guess. In the spirit of "getting over it" - wanna see what I got!?!?


Women: Flutter-sleeve T - true black knit





Women: Pintucked top - menswear blue





Women: Button-back twill dress - plymouth rock





Women: Women's Faux-Patent Ballet Flats - Black




All of this for only $75 (well... $75 and 76 cents... which I threw in...). I know there are a lot of others in blog-land on a spending freeze too - how's it going?

a reminder...

"If one advances confidently in the direction of
his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he
has imagined, he will meet with a success
unexpected in common hours."
- H.D. Thoreau

a year a week and a day.

It's a blog-iversary!!! That's right... apparently I blew right by the exact date! But today is one year + one week + one day.

Here is my first post... a nice simple entrance, don't you think? And for the most part it still sums up my intentions here. To live a full life, to shop (oh, yes, to shop!), and to be the person of my dreams.

So thank you. Thank you for joining me everyday. Thank you for reading. Thank you for helping me be the person of my dreams.

i'll show you mine...

So last week (or the week before?) I was bragging on the new pillows I got and how I am just loving blue with red these days. Well I finally got a shot of them in their element... the sun was shining for a brief moment and I snapped a few pics. These pictures are also a lot better representation of the color in the room... that paint chip from the previous post really did it no justice.





After looking at the pictures (isn't it how a picture leaves more room for critique than the live living space?) I think I need to still add more red punches of color... the pillows seem to stand alone a bit. What do you think?

cheesy photo, but good content to follow...

I was recently reading the January 2009 issue of Better Homes and Gardens and ripped out a great article on organization. If I could access this article online for you, I would link it here. [Ahem, BHG people, I can't link the article.] Any how, it featured a home that almost sent me to tears of joy for the sheer beauty and organization combined. No plastic bins in sight here folks, just pure genius. The name of the article is "Practical Magic" and can be found on page 35 of the January 2009 issue. (It also had a great laundry area that I plan to use as inspiration as well)

One of the ideas was to hang hinged (the key is they have to have a hinge) shadow boxes in your closet and pin jewelry and accessories in to both highlight and store them. So any how, I can't for the life of me find decent links today. But I did find these to give you an idea of what I am thinking (via exposures online).

The good new is that I found them at Michael's craft store for $39.99 for the 12x20 size. The bad news is that Michael's doesn't feature them online (again, no luck with the links here). So if you can look past this cheesy example of how the shadow boxes could be used. And think of a more classy and updated look with delicate pearl push pins gently holding up my precious jewels (or cheap costume jewelry that gets me by) in my closet - well then, there you have it! I'm thinking right above my folded sweaters. Thoughts?

why I love Forever 21

... because seriously, where else can you get all of these trendy goodies that, let's face it, you may or may not want to wear next season!?

All of these items are $32.80 or under! What a steal!


why i love forever 21 by Jill GG

must read!

On a suggestion (more like how can you not read this book when the excerpts she featured were so intriguing?) from The Sassy Kathy I put a hold on The History of Love by Nicole Krauss at the library (the library is free! Why do I always forget that when I want a book! I placed holds a bunch more rockin' books... I'll blog on them as they are available!)

So far it is amazing... I plan to finish it soon. So check it out!

i am NOT buying...

I am on a little spending freeze in this house. I [conveniently] started it after I purchased these jeans and this artwork. It was briefly broken yesterday when I picked up two videos and a bag of Starburst at the video store (yes, that is how strict it is!). So if you are counting that is seven days of no spending. My goal is 25 days, so 18 more to go. Groceries and gas. That is it. And even this week I am cleaning out the pantry and freezer for dinners before I shop.

The more I read out in blog-land, I'm not the only one. But what's wrong with a little "fake" indulgence... in that spirit, this is what I am NOT buying:

I will resist these ADORABLE flats that are on sale for $63 from $108 from the always alluring Boden.


I'm walking straight past this adorable tunic that screams summer and would look so adorable over jeans or with a swim suit on the beach... (only $25)



I will not snatch up one of these adorable prints...even though my heart is all aflutter for valentines.


I'll pretend my skin wouldn't be better off for indulging in this Ginger SouffleWhipped body cream from Origins.


Care to play along? If you do... leave a comment and a link!