You are my Sunshine

My dad bought this sign for my mom for her birthday and she literally cried when she saw it.  

So cute!

Reclaimed Wood, You Are My Sunshine Sign 

$348 from Abigail Fox Designs

187 Sound Beach Ave

Old Greenwich, CT 06870

Candy Hearts

I'm in the store today prepping some Valentine's Day decorations (great place to buy a gift for your loved one! wink, wink, nudge, nudge) and wanted to share this awesome Candy Hearts iphone app I just found with you all.  You can get the free version or the 99 cent version which I splurged for and then create countless candy hearts to message to friends on February 14th!

Here are some hearts I created and plan to text message to friends and family on Valentine's Day to give them that "someone loves me" feeling from back in elementary school :)

Delicious Night Out

Useful Animal Accessories

Abby's up and away to Asia!  So, I'll try to fill her shoes by adding some pictures of animal accessories that are not only adorable but also useful!  

Whale Shelf: $48.99 Modcloth.com

Elephant Shakers: $12.99 Modcloth.com

Alligator Staple Remover: $70 penboutique.com

Turtle Tray: $34.95 zgallerie.com

Bird knob: $10 Antrhopologie.om

Cow creamer: $9.49 Target.com

Fox Door Knocker: $24 Anthropologie.com

Owl Lamp: $99 Westelm.com

Jonathan Adler Store on Greenwich Ave.

 While I was running round yesterday getting last minute 

To-Do's done for my trip, I stopped at Sephora, where I left with a basket of new makeup and a new moisturizer I am obsessed with. Its called Hourglass, Veil. It is amazing, and also SPF 15!  It is so soft and not at all greasy or slimy which is exactly why I have never liked moisturizers in the past.

I think i'm hooked. (Click HERE for link)

I'll let you know is a week if I am not using it anymore, 

which is my usual pattern, but I think this one is a keeper.

So... As I was leaving I saw the new Jonathan Adler store that I thought was a pop up shop for the holidays but it looks like its here to stay, Which I am very happy about.

I fell in love with these two Mongolian sheepskin benches:

And went home with this fun 

"Hollywood Duchess" Bag that will be great for my trip!

What do you think?

Townhouse Spaces

I have been trying to decide on the type of  built in bookcases for my dining room for along time. I have a townhouse which I love, and have become very comfortable decorating "smaller" spaces. I was hoping to have the design for the bookcases finalized and started before/during my trip to Asia, but with Jan 20th fast approaching its not going to happen. While I have been looking and thinking about the right design for the space, I came across some great ideas for other spaces. I loved this design by Barri Dixon Inc. from a Georgetown Townhouse he designed.  Take a look:

So... What are you thoughts?  Do you like the look? In this case the owner has a collection they want to display, so the curtains most likely stay open all the time. But I love the option of being able to close the curtains to the visual "clutter" making for a very cosy space. In fact, I would love to get comfortable by the fire and watch the latest episode of Downton Abbey by the fire in this room! What do you think?

"Paris of the Orient" Hanoi & Ha Long Bay

 

Stop number 7 of our Asia trip will be a couple days in the city of Hanoi "Paris of the Orient". I am looking forward to a glimpse of the highlights of this cosmopolitan capital city. 

We arent 100% sure what we have planned. We are excited to go with the flow and see where we end up.  But Im pretty sure it will involve a few Ho Chi Minh sites, some temples and monasteries, the Temple of Literature (built in 1070 to honor the philosopher Confucius.) And a trip to the Old Quarter to do some shopping in the markets.

I cant wait to explore the city and countryside. In addition to the city we will be visiting Ha Long Bay for a Junk boat tour of the islands...

This week  The NY Times article came out with
The 45 Places to Go in 2012. Number 15 is
Halong Bay, Vietnam.

"Though Halong Bay, a staggering seascape of some 1,600 limestone islands and islets in the Gulf of Tonkin, formed over millions of years, there’s never been a better time to visit. In November, Halong Bay was provisionally named one of the world’s “new seven wonders of nature”... Largely untouched by humans and topped with thick jungle flora, the rock formations rise dramatically in conical peaks and pillars from the surrounding waters, which feature offshore coral reefs, freshwater swamps, mangrove forests and sandy beaches. Visitors can now reach what Ho Chi Minh himself called “the wonder one cannot impart to others,” on local junk boats, luxury cruises or a spate of new adventure tours offered by local companies." (From the NY Times article)

Have you been to Hanoi? If so please share your favorite spots with us to help us plan!

Singapore to Hong Kong 2012 Adventure...

About a year ago my Mom and I were sitting at one of our favorite little restaurants in New Preston CT, when we decided to take a trip across the world together! When I was in college I spent a semester traveling on Semester at Sea with one of my best friends from High school. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and I think of it often. We traveled to 13 countries over 100 days. Ever since that trip, I have wanted to go back to Asia. I am so excited to be going with my Mom, who is also one of my best friends!
We will be gone for almost 3 weeks and will be traveling from Singapore to Hong Kong, visiting   Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and China along the way. We cant wait. Throughout the next couple weeks I will be sharing our travel plans with you. But before I share more, I would like to introduce you to Brooks Truesdell Dolan who will be joining our wonderful existing team in the store while I am away, and she will be our guest blogger during our trip.

Brooks is one of my best friends younger sister,  I know all our readers and customers will love her! Brooks is very creative, loves to travel, lots of fun and an all around great gal.
Meet Brooks...

Be sure to check out  all of Brooks amazing wedding DIY projects in her wedding pics! http://eventjubilee.com/a-jubilee-event/brooks-kevin/

 Yay!! I cant wait for my upcoming trip and am so lucky to be leaving the store in such wonderful hands as Brooks, Stella, Linda, Boo, Louise, Alexa and Isabelle!!

Welcoming 2012 and saying goodbye to 2011

Goodbye 2011..

"For last year's words belong to last year's language And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning."
-- T.S. Eliot

...Welcome 2012

"Here's to the bright New Year, and a fond farewell to the old; here's to the things that are yet to come, and to the memories that we hold."- Anonymous

I hope 2012 is everything 

you hope for.

xoxo Abby 

All images from our store pinterest page