Check out this cute belt she made:
You could win a cute wristlet for your keys.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Giveaway Reminder
Remember to enter the Wear It aGinn giveway. There aren't many entries yet, so you have a great chance at winning.
Check out this cute belt she made:
You could win a cute wristlet for your keys.
Check out this cute belt she made:
You could win a cute wristlet for your keys.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Starting Simple
I haven't completed any big projects lately, but sometimes completing the simplest things can be just as gratifying.
For example, I have the dreaded junk drawer in my kitchen. I cringe every time I open it and then quickly try to slam it shut and cram all of the clutter back in.
While Mary was playing in the kitchen, I decided to empty the entire drawer. It's only be bothering me for 3-4 months!
I emptied the stuff and sorted it into litte plastic containers I had around.
While it's not perfect, it's so much better. This little project only took me about 10 minutes and zero dollars after 3-4 months of procrastinating!
I have a house filled with little projects like this that need to get done. I just need to start simple, not stress about making it perfect, and get things done.
What little projects do you have around your house that you've been avoiding?
For example, I have the dreaded junk drawer in my kitchen. I cringe every time I open it and then quickly try to slam it shut and cram all of the clutter back in.
While Mary was playing in the kitchen, I decided to empty the entire drawer. It's only be bothering me for 3-4 months!
I emptied the stuff and sorted it into litte plastic containers I had around.
What little projects do you have around your house that you've been avoiding?
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Wear It aGinn Giveaway!
I know you will like my friend Renee Ginn. She crafts. She cooks. She DIY's. She parents two adorable children and she's an army wife. She basically can do it all! She doesn't have a blog...yet! She has just started a new little venture called Wear It aGinn.
Renee is making adorable items, such as these preppy wristlets. How cute would these look attached to your key chain? I might never lose my keys at the bottom of my bag again! Wouldn't these make perfect teacher gifts?
For your favorite Republicans out there.
For all of my dog lovers, check out the dog collars.
How about a Jacquard Ribbon Belt? This is just a small sample of the collection.
Renee is making adorable items, such as these preppy wristlets. How cute would these look attached to your key chain? I might never lose my keys at the bottom of my bag again! Wouldn't these make perfect teacher gifts?
For your favorite Republicans out there.
For all of my dog lovers, check out the dog collars.
How about a Jacquard Ribbon Belt? This is just a small sample of the collection.
Here's how you can win a wristlet of your very own:
You must be a follower of Saved by Suzy on Facebook or through Google Friend Connect to enter. Leave a comment for each and increase your chances of winning:
1. Be a liker of Wear it aGinn on Facebook.
2. Pin your favorite Wear it aGinn item to Pinterest and leave me a comment saying you did.
3. Leave a comment telling Renee your favorite item.
4. Share the news: blog or facebook about this giveaway and let me know you did.
This giveaway will close on Wednesday, Sept. 26th and the winner will be announced on Thursday, Sept. 27th.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Marbled Papers
I am officially in LOVE with these marbled papers from Paper Mojo.
Aren't these boxes made by Centsational Girl gorgeous?
How about this amazing bookcase makeover from Gorgeous Shiny Things? I love everything on Danika's blog. If you're not a reader already, check it out RIGHT NOW!
I had hopes of framing a few sheets for these empty frames in my bedroom.
We're getting a little tired of this anonymous family staring at us x6. I would much prefer looking at this beauty.
While the Paper Mojo is reasonably priced, I found the shipping a bit too much for my teeny-tiny budget. I hate it when shipping costs more than the item I'm purchasing!
Hmmm...looks like I might be experimenting on making some of this paper myself!
Here's a Martha Stewart tutorial.
And this one from Skip to My Lou looks similiar, but a bit simpler.
Have you tried this?
Aren't these boxes made by Centsational Girl gorgeous?
How about this amazing bookcase makeover from Gorgeous Shiny Things? I love everything on Danika's blog. If you're not a reader already, check it out RIGHT NOW!
I had hopes of framing a few sheets for these empty frames in my bedroom.
We're getting a little tired of this anonymous family staring at us x6. I would much prefer looking at this beauty.
While the Paper Mojo is reasonably priced, I found the shipping a bit too much for my teeny-tiny budget. I hate it when shipping costs more than the item I'm purchasing!
Hmmm...looks like I might be experimenting on making some of this paper myself!
Here's a Martha Stewart tutorial.
And this one from Skip to My Lou looks similiar, but a bit simpler.
Have you tried this?
Friday, September 14, 2012
Loving this fabric
I was browsing around on Fabric.com recently and I came across this fabric:
It's Waverly Santa Maria Desert Flower. I think it would be fun in one of the girls' rooms or even on throw pillows in the living room. There are so many great colors to pull from.
Doesn't it look pretty on this lumbar pillow:
Are you lusting after any fabrics lately? Do share!
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Mary's Office Overhaul
My friend Mary and I are both nonprofit consultants who work from home. Mary is lucky enough to have an entire room dedicated to her very own home office. She's in the midst of an office overhaul and needs a little help in finding furniture and accessories.
Mary is probably the most meticulous, efficient and organized person I know. Unfortunately, her "before" office pictures don't reflect this.
She's started this project by emptying her office and getting rid of the old furniture. She's already painted her office this pretty turquoise color that looks beautiful with her new dark wood floors. Isn't this a huge improvement already?
Now, our job is to find furniture that will help Mary stay organized. Ikea has lots of great items for offices and their white furniture would pop against the blue. The price is also right!
Doesn't the white and turquoise look pretty? I'm not sure what accent color Mary wants to go with, but I'm thinking a green, citron or yellow.
Of course, I would recommend an Expedit. Is there a better way to keep paperwork organized and pretty at the same time. This one is from Kirsten at 6th Street Design School.
While Parson's desks are attractive, I think Mary needs something with more storage. Maybe something like this:
I also like the idea of a long shelf/desk space against the wall where she can spread out and work.
Wall space shouldn't be ignored. It can provide additional storage.
I've always liked these organizers from IKEA. What a great place to stash all of the pens, paperclips, staples, and other little stuff that clutters the desk top or drawers.
That's enough for today, but I'll have a few more posts of ideas for Mary's office. Next up, is a roundup of fabric for curtains and maybe a throw pillow or two.
Mary is probably the most meticulous, efficient and organized person I know. Unfortunately, her "before" office pictures don't reflect this.
She's started this project by emptying her office and getting rid of the old furniture. She's already painted her office this pretty turquoise color that looks beautiful with her new dark wood floors. Isn't this a huge improvement already?
Now, our job is to find furniture that will help Mary stay organized. Ikea has lots of great items for offices and their white furniture would pop against the blue. The price is also right!
Of course, I would recommend an Expedit. Is there a better way to keep paperwork organized and pretty at the same time. This one is from Kirsten at 6th Street Design School.
While Parson's desks are attractive, I think Mary needs something with more storage. Maybe something like this:
I also like the idea of a long shelf/desk space against the wall where she can spread out and work.
Wall space shouldn't be ignored. It can provide additional storage.
I've always liked these organizers from IKEA. What a great place to stash all of the pens, paperclips, staples, and other little stuff that clutters the desk top or drawers.
That's enough for today, but I'll have a few more posts of ideas for Mary's office. Next up, is a roundup of fabric for curtains and maybe a throw pillow or two.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Apple Oatmeal Muffins
While I haven't had time yet to decorate for fall, I did have time to bake up a yummy fall treat...Apple Oatmeal Muffins. These are so good that Mary requested that I make these for her preschool birthday celebration instead of cupcakes.
Not only are these muffins delicious, but they make your house smell soooo good.
Apple Oatmeal Muffins
2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. oats
1½ c. brown sugar, packed
½ c. butter, room temperature
1 c. buttermilk (or 1 c. milk + 1 tbsp. lemon juice, sit for 10 min)
¼ c. plain applesauce
1 egg
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. apple pie or pumpkin pie spice
1½ c. Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced
Topping:
⅓ c. all-purpose flour
½ c. brown sugar, packed
¼ c. rolled oats
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
4 tbsp. butter, melted
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with papers.
2. To make the batter, in a medium size mixing bowl, combine flour, oats, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and spices. Whisk together until incorporated, set aside.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar. Add egg, applesauce, and vanilla, mix on low until combined. With mixer on low speed, alternate buttermilk and dry ingredients, adding about ⅓ of each mixture at a time, until remaining ingredients are gone. Remove bowl from stand and fold in apples. Scoop mixture in to prepared muffin tin (fill just a tad bit over ¾ of the way).
4. To prepare the topping, in a small mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix until clumps begin to form. Sprinkle over each individual muffin. Place in oven and bake for 22-25 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. The muffins should have a little spring to them and the topping should be golden brown and crunchy.
5. Remove and let cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Makes approximately 18 muffins.
Adapted from Life {Made} Simple Apple Pie Muffins
I generally wouldn't add sprinkles to these muffins, but since they were for a four-year old's birthday, I guess that's OK!
Not only are these muffins delicious, but they make your house smell soooo good.
Apple Oatmeal Muffins
2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. oats
1½ c. brown sugar, packed
½ c. butter, room temperature
1 c. buttermilk (or 1 c. milk + 1 tbsp. lemon juice, sit for 10 min)
¼ c. plain applesauce
1 egg
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. apple pie or pumpkin pie spice
1½ c. Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced
Topping:
⅓ c. all-purpose flour
½ c. brown sugar, packed
¼ c. rolled oats
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
4 tbsp. butter, melted
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with papers.
2. To make the batter, in a medium size mixing bowl, combine flour, oats, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and spices. Whisk together until incorporated, set aside.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar. Add egg, applesauce, and vanilla, mix on low until combined. With mixer on low speed, alternate buttermilk and dry ingredients, adding about ⅓ of each mixture at a time, until remaining ingredients are gone. Remove bowl from stand and fold in apples. Scoop mixture in to prepared muffin tin (fill just a tad bit over ¾ of the way).
4. To prepare the topping, in a small mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix until clumps begin to form. Sprinkle over each individual muffin. Place in oven and bake for 22-25 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. The muffins should have a little spring to them and the topping should be golden brown and crunchy.
5. Remove and let cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Makes approximately 18 muffins.
Adapted from Life {Made} Simple Apple Pie Muffins
I generally wouldn't add sprinkles to these muffins, but since they were for a four-year old's birthday, I guess that's OK!
We Have a Winner!
Congratulations to Megan from a Lived in Home! She won the pillow giveaway from Jessamie's Etsy store Bird & Branch Redesign.
Jessamie has just added some super cute vintage brass items to her store. I'm lusting after these antelope bookends.
Be sure to check out Bird and Branch to see if there is anything you can't live without.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Ragnar Recap
I'm back and I survived running the Ragnar Relay from Breckenridge to Snowmass/Aspen, Colorado! This was one of the most unique, fun, and crazy things I've ever done.
In case you've never heard of Ragner, it's a relay made up of teams of 12 runners (or six runners if you are truly insane). The teams trade-off running around the clock until they reach the finish. As you can imagine, there's not much (if any!) sleep.
Our race was 188-miles through some of the most beautiful, but STEEP, mountain country. The leaves were just starting to change and it was gorgeous! Most of my legs were on trails along streams and rivers - beautiful during the day, but creepy during the night. I don't know if I was more afraid of running into a bear or being attacked by a scary human. Luckily, I experienced neither one, just quiet, solo running in the dark.
My team was so much fun! Usually running is such a solo sport, but the relay adds in a teamwork aspect. I enjoyed cheering on and supporting our runners as well as the time we spent not running where we got to know each other better and talk about everything under the sun. It was also fun to chat with other teams along the course.
Our team name was "Soda Fast" (sorta fast, get it?)
We had a six-pack of Diet Coke and a six-pack of Coke.
This is after we finished, thirty hours after we started. We don't look too bad for running 188 miles with NO sleep!
While we weren't the fastest runners, we weren't the slowest. Best of all we won the team spirit award for "Farout Fashion." I would much rather be spirited and fashionable than fast any day!
If you've ever thought about doing one of these relays, go for it! You will not regret it. I'm already looking forward to next year.
In case you've never heard of Ragner, it's a relay made up of teams of 12 runners (or six runners if you are truly insane). The teams trade-off running around the clock until they reach the finish. As you can imagine, there's not much (if any!) sleep.
Our race was 188-miles through some of the most beautiful, but STEEP, mountain country. The leaves were just starting to change and it was gorgeous! Most of my legs were on trails along streams and rivers - beautiful during the day, but creepy during the night. I don't know if I was more afraid of running into a bear or being attacked by a scary human. Luckily, I experienced neither one, just quiet, solo running in the dark.
My team was so much fun! Usually running is such a solo sport, but the relay adds in a teamwork aspect. I enjoyed cheering on and supporting our runners as well as the time we spent not running where we got to know each other better and talk about everything under the sun. It was also fun to chat with other teams along the course.
Our team name was "Soda Fast" (sorta fast, get it?)
This was at the starting line.
We had a six-pack of Diet Coke and a six-pack of Coke.
While we weren't the fastest runners, we weren't the slowest. Best of all we won the team spirit award for "Farout Fashion." I would much rather be spirited and fashionable than fast any day!
If you've ever thought about doing one of these relays, go for it! You will not regret it. I'm already looking forward to next year.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Giveaway Reminder!
You still have time to enter to win this adorable pillow from Bird and Branch Redesign.
Go here to enter. The giveaway closes at midnight Tuesday and the winner will be announced on Wednesday. There aren't a ton of entries, so your chance of winning is pretty good. But, you have to enter to win!
Remember that you can also get 10% off at Bird and Branch Redesign on Etsy through Wednesday by using the code SUZY10.
Good luck!
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Are You Feeling It?
It's starting to feel a lot like Fall! Despite the hot days, the mornings and evenings are crisp and cool. I love this time of year. It's perfect running weather. Which is a good thing because by the time you read this, my running shoes will be packed and I'll be heading to Breckenridge to run the Ragnar Relay. Two hundrend miles of mountain running with 11 good friends. I can't wait!
Aren't these flowers pretty? The mother of one of Kayla's friends sent these to me as a "thank you" for driving her daughter to gymnastics. What a fun and unexpected surprise.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Artist-Designed Wallpapers
I know I've posted about my sister Gina who lives in New York. She attended Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology and she is an amazing seamstress, crocheter, quilter, etc.
I haven't mentioned my other sibling, Mike, very much on the blog. I know that he does some sort of graphic design, but I recently visited his company's website and was blown away by the work they do. Their largest client is the Limited brands and they do everything from custom tile mosaics to store facades to wallpaper design. Mike works in wallpaper design and he recently developed a new wallpaper pattern that will be going into Bath & Body Works stores.
The company, Apropos Studio, is based in Minneapolis. I really had no idea what Mike and Apropos did until I visited the website.
They created the aged-looking ceiling tiles, polka dotted wallpaper and some other things for the Pink store in Soho.
Here's a window for Henri Bendel in NYC:
A display for BCBG:
I'm excited to see the next group of artists. What do you think? Would you ever put this type of wallpaper in your home?
So I have a sister who was in fashion, a graphic designer brother, and I went to law school. Doesn't quite make sense that I'm the one who ended up with a design blog!
I haven't mentioned my other sibling, Mike, very much on the blog. I know that he does some sort of graphic design, but I recently visited his company's website and was blown away by the work they do. Their largest client is the Limited brands and they do everything from custom tile mosaics to store facades to wallpaper design. Mike works in wallpaper design and he recently developed a new wallpaper pattern that will be going into Bath & Body Works stores.
The company, Apropos Studio, is based in Minneapolis. I really had no idea what Mike and Apropos did until I visited the website.
They created the aged-looking ceiling tiles, polka dotted wallpaper and some other things for the Pink store in Soho.
Here's a window for Henri Bendel in NYC:
A display for BCBG:
Appropos just launched a new subsidiary called "Area Environments." Area produces artist-designed wallpapers. This is from their website:
Area's hand-picked, international rotation of artists produce unique collections that reach the core of relevant style and design, which in turn strengthens and enlivens the perception of your brand or project. From the hottest street artists to emerging fine artists and everything in between, Area's one-of-a-kind designs encompass and innovate the modern environment.
I thought I would share a few of my favorite wallpapers currently available at Area.
So I have a sister who was in fashion, a graphic designer brother, and I went to law school. Doesn't quite make sense that I'm the one who ended up with a design blog!
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Pillow Giveaway!!!
I know that you lovelies know Jessamie from her blog Bird and Branch Redesign. But, did you know she also has an etsy store by the same name?
Jessamie sells cool vintage finds, like these glasses.
She has also recently started selling pillow covers and she is offering you a chance to win this beauty.
The pillow is a 12x22 lumbar size. It would look great on your bed, dressing up a chair, on your sofa, or pretty much anywhere!
Be sure to check out B&B on Etsy. Jessamie has other fabulous pillows for sale and I know she will be adding more! Saved by Suzy readers can get 10% off any pillow through next Wednesday September 12th by using the code Suzy10.
The Rules
There are lots of ways to enter. Just leave a separate comment for each of the following. The winner will be announced next Wednesday.
1} You must be a follower of Saved by Suzy either by clicking the "Join This Site" button on the sidebar or by liking Saved by Suzy on Facebook. (This one is mandatory!)
1} You must be a follower of Saved by Suzy either by clicking the "Join This Site" button on the sidebar or by liking Saved by Suzy on Facebook. (This one is mandatory!)
4} While you're visiting the shop, leave a comment here telling Jessamie what you like best in her store.
5} Spread the news! Facebook, Twitter, Blog, whatever! Then leave a link in the comments.
*ALSO*
If you're not feeling lucky, here is a 10% discount code for you just in case you don't win the giveaway. The code is good until Wednesday September 12th.
SUZY10
5} Spread the news! Facebook, Twitter, Blog, whatever! Then leave a link in the comments.
*ALSO*
If you're not feeling lucky, here is a 10% discount code for you just in case you don't win the giveaway. The code is good until Wednesday September 12th.
SUZY10