One of my super powers is having a good sense of direction and my obsession with needing to know the NYC subway like the back of my hand. I hate being lost, and I hate being somewhere where I can’t grasp if I’m heading north or south, or what train I’m near. Moving to a new borough in a neighborhood I don’t know well, with a street grid system that makes little sense to me, is a new challenge. I hope that if I raise kids in this city someday, they’ll share my knowledge of the subway system. I LOVE seeing kids on the subway who know exactly what stop is next and which way they’re heading, therefore this adorable subway themed birthday party over at The Indigo Bunting for a kid who loves the NYC subway kills me with cuteness. So dang creative.

It also reminds me of this great story on the Abstract City Blog.

via you are my fave

All of my profits from my shop updates have gone straight into a savings account for moving. Of course this has sucked for the last few months because working your ass off at something and then getting to reap the benefits with some splurging is oh so tempting, but I cannot tell you how glad I am that I saved saved saved because HOLY CRAP there are so many things you forget that you will need when you move! Bigger place = furniture needed you didn’t even know you needed. More windows = more curtains. Holy crap curtains are so expensive and most are hideous! Plus I’m not handy enough to make my own. Paint? Don’t even get me started, I already complained about paint. Let’s just say I’m surprised that when I walk into the Home Depot paint department the guy at the counter doesn’t just point at me and say, “Let me guess. Mt Rainier in matte?” because I have no concept of how much paint a room will take, even after buying MORE.

So here’s little medley of things on my buying list right now. At least, there are the not too horribly boring things like knobs and electrical outlet covers and coat hangers and DID I MENTION PAINT?!

Ikea bedside drawers DIY – already plotting this one, I found the exact knobs at Home Depot. Now to just rent a car for an Ikea trip from hell…

Opaque Linen Window Panel in feather grey – on sale! Bought some yesterday. I already own one in white and they’re great. The best non hideous, not too terribly outrageous curtains. I also bought some plain white panels from Umbra that are so simple and cheap.

Vintage Navajo Rug – Not the one I’m bidding on because it’s too small, but I’ve been bidding all over ebay on them lately with NO luck! I want something similar, my backup is this beauty in iron/red at West Elm if I can’t get vintage.

Wire Locker Baskets – I’ve been wanting some for a while and I think I’m going to snatch some up from Three Potato Four because I love this shop so much! I think one next to the couch for books/magazines would be great, or for storing supplies in my studio. Damn it feels good to say “my studio.”

Other than that, things on my wishlist down the road include a vintage coffee table, a brightly colored pendant lamp for the dark grey room, and plants galore!

There are 8 million sample sale sites out there now, but everyone keeps telling me how awesome Gilt and Gilt Fuse are. I resisted the urge to sign up because my shopping problem doesn’t need any help as is, but Caroline‘s post about it talked me into it today, and I scored an awesome Skagen watch for only $40. Holla! It’s simple, classy, and just what I needed. Digging my iPhone out of my purse to obsessively check the time is a thing of the past. You can sign up and have a shopping problem with me, guys!

There are a million vintage shops on Etsy, so I get pretty excited when I come across one that really stands out to me. Usually this is not just the result of great curating, but awesome photos. I want to shout it from the rooftop sometimes: TAKE GOOD PHOTOS for your etsy store! Lucky Little Dot knows exactly what’s up. Plus there’s a cat face plate over there. Whoa.

found via @TeenAngster, who apparently is my Etsy soul mate lately.

I knew that this day would come where Bits Of My Weekend would roll around and I’d have barely anything to show for it. Why? Because that first photo accurately represents what 75% of my weekend was spent doing: painting. It ended up being SO much more work than we’d anticipated, and we’re not even finished. I also had the pleasure of having to get all the necklaces ready to go and do a little photo shoot, which I’m usually excited for, but this was just plain bad timing. But you know what? I have never felt so accomplished as this weekend. I kicked some serious ass, and I slept every night like a rock. I also slipped in one night of fun for Lauren’s unmentionable age birthday, a night of getting dolled up and overindulging in Italian food. Sunday I painted the apartment alone and I didn’t want to leave to go back to the old place. The breeze and the light is so wonderful in the new place, I seriously am ecstatic to move in. And you are probably ecstatic to not hear me talk about it anymore! :)

New necklaces will be updated in the shop on Tuesday, September 22nd at 9am EST. You can now view all available styles here!

This is a slightly smaller update because of being in the middle of moving, but the next one is going to be MASSIVE for the holidays!

UPDATE 9:04am SOLD OUT! Thank you everyone! I’ll keep you updated on the next shop update.

, originally uploaded by coquinete.

Today begins the great painting extravaganza of the new apartment! I know we totally said we’d be down with all white walls this time around, but we quickly changed our minds after we got those keys in our hands. I splurged for some nice Ralph Lauren greys so I’m hoping it looks as smashing as I picture it in my head!

Beyond that, there is so much more packing to do and necklace finishing. It was so stupid of me to schedule this necklace release during the move, but it’s better to get them out the door now than later. I’ve become a rockstar lately at multi-tasking, so I’m sure it’ll all be good. Have a great weekend and remember to stay tuned Sunday evening for photos of what necklaces will be released Tuesday morning!

Spelfenmeisje – ButlerandMaid
decades – RetroLane

I admit it: It’s a shoe week. The change in seasons gets me thinking about all the shoes that I (kind of sort of) disparately need, plus when I’m busy and I don’t know what to blog about, I just think about shoes. Ok actually, I always think about shoes, but in those particular times I think about them more. Right now I have vintage clogs on the brain. I’ve never owned a pair before, but my coworker Margot rocks them and she’s put me in this state of mind where I daydream about them a lot. In fact, one of these pairs might be coming home with me. They would be awesome with some cable knit tights, no?

Can you believe how amazing this coat is that Anabela made? Someday, someday, I will learn to sew clothing. But I’m super impatient so it will probably never turn out as awesome.

*Sorry, sometimes I can’t resist a corny pun. I blame my father.

ps. I suck at blogging lately, but things are oh so busy for the next week and a half and I have paint swatches and boxes on the brain. I literally dreamed about taping up boxes last night. I shit you not.

When browsing vintage shoes on Etsy, I cry a little for not being a size 7 at least 5 times or more. A case in point: these amazing boots. Cry. Big time.

via teenangster’s awesome fall ensembles post on the storque!