New Fire Side Chairs from Nell Hills

The best things are worth waiting for -- I've waited two years to purchase our fireside chairs.  We found the chairs a couple years ago at Nell Hills in Kansas City but they didn't fit within our decorating budget at the time and so we waited. I've learned over the years it's better to wait and save to get exactly what you want, rather than purchase something a bit cheaper you don't completely love.  So, after church Sunday, off we went (me, husband, daughter) to our favorite home furnishings store.  The always lovely, Mary Carol, was there and helped choose the fabric for our new chairs, which I am completely in love with.  Now, I must wait just a bit longer ( 6 - 8 weeks) to see what they'll look like in my great room.

Maggie did a bit of shopping of her own.

This is the chair.  Adorable and comfortable!

And perfectly petite to frame my fireplace.

Chair by Lee Industries.

See that gorgeous velvet blue fabric on the ottoman below?

This is the fabric our new chairs will be covered in! Gorgeous!

Photo: Living room in the cottage from the move "The Holiday"

Here are a few other things I found at Nell Hills.

I've already thought of a dozen places I could use this unique piece...

daughter's room, guest bathroom, breakfast nook, veranda.

Now I just have to convince my husband I "need" it.

Beautiful farm table and bench.

The table top is a bit uneven in places and I think that adds to it's charm.

I finally bought the "His and Her's" pillow cases I've been eyeing since last fall.

Shop: Prydes in Old Westport

Ladies, you may want to email this post to your husbands in advance of Valentine's Day.

If you live near Kansas City or ever visit Kansas City than you have to shop at Prydes in Old Westport.  In fact, if you don't live in or visit KC you should really just plan a trip solely to shop at Prydes.  It's tagline is "the hardware store for cooks" but it's so much more than that.  It's more like a little slice of heavenly pie for anyone of the domestic nature...and in fact, they also sell really good pies!  If you need it for your kitchen, they have it.  If they don't have it, it doesn't exist.

Pryde's has been family owned and in Kansas City for over 40 years.  It's 10,000 sq ft of kitchen gear, tableware, gifts, bakeware, food, patio items, cookbooks, etc. etc. etc packed into every last square inch of a historic building on Westport road in midtown KC.  Doing inventory must be a nightmare but I'm so grateful for the ladies that keep this place so charming and wonderful.

I go to Pryde's on rainy days when I need a little pick-me-up, when I need a specific cooking item, when I need to buy a gift, or when I just have a few extra minutes to spare.  It's a great place to get a gift.  If you're not sure what to buy someone go to Prydes and tell one of the ladies' your budget. They'll help you pick out something great and they'll gift wrap it beautifully.

So, that's my little shop recommendation for y'all.  I rarely get to rave so much about a shop but I absolutely love this place and think you will too.

How cute is this? It'd make an adorable side table.

Yes please! I'll take it. 

I wish my linen closet had all this.

I have no idea what I'd do with this, but it's so cool.

Gift wrapping station.
The ladies know how to tie a bow like no one else.

Who needs an apron?

Colander? Sure! What color?

Gadgets Galore

I highly recommend registering at Prydes for all your special occasions.

Cutesy Kitchen Gear: Measuring Cups

I have a slight obsession with cute kitchen gadgets.  I particularly find myself having a hard time resisting the urge to buy every set of measuring cups I run across that is different from your standard all-clad stainless steel variety (which I also  have of course).  Measuring cups make great gifts and they're inexpensive.  Tie a set of measuring cups or spoons to a box of muffin mix and you've got a great hostess gift any gal would love.  I thought I'd share a few of my favorite finds with you...well, maybe a bit more than a few.  I told you, it's an obsession!

I absolutely love these and lucky me, I got them for Christmas. Thanks Mom!
White Porcelain from World Market

I cant' decide if I actually like this, or if I just find it intriguing.
Regardless, in the right kitchen it could really add to the decor.
Enchanted Buck Cups from Anthropologie

Vintage Longaberger Pottery Measuring Bowl
Measures up to 3 cups and includes ounce marks
Baahurrah Farm Shop on Etsy

Flowering cups.  Cute enough to use as dipping bowls too.
Available at Pier One Imports and other places,
but "other places" are more expensive

Real cups as measuring cups.  Genius.
Also available at Pier One Imports 

These ceramic blue cups include the cup measurement, the ml measurement
and the fl oz measurements.
They're by Nigella Lawson. I swear everything that woman does is beautiful!
Available at CentralChef.com

Absolutely gorgeous! Stunning! Classy! Love! It!
Pewter Measuring Cups with Stand at Cooking.com

Looks like something your grandma may have used.
Vintage Kitchen Copper Measuring Cups
by Cherished Heats on Etsy



If you want to display your measuring cups and have them within reach, like this idea a lot.  Except I'd recommend using small hooks rather than chains so you can just grab and go, and not have to unhook anything.

This print of measurement conversions as awesome! Framed, it would look great in a kitchen AND be super resourceful.  It comes in a variety of colors at Sweet Fine Day on Etsy. 

Dressing Like a Lady

If you asked someone about my style they'd never say I was trendy or hip.  I hope they'd say my style is feminine and classic.  Truth is, when it comes to fashion the only thing I know for certain is I'm always comfortable in a nice pair of fitted jeans and a white v-neck cotton tee paired with leather riding boots.  That may not seem feminine, but to me it is classic and confident with just a hint of sexiness -- all things I believe women should be.   Of course, if I had the right occasions I'd wear a full a-line pocketed skirt with high pumps and tight cardigan every day.  That is my idea of ladylike dressing at it's best.  But playgroup and the grocery store with a toddler require more practical attire than heels! My daily routine may not match my desire for dress-up, but I can still add some femininity to my appearance each day.

Real Simple recently ran an article about the return of ladylike dressing with this fall's fashions.  I certainly hope the "trend" lasts far past fall.  While I don' expect, nor desire, the 1950s to return with petticoats and white gloves I would love to see the return to clothes that are sexy, but not racy, feminine, and overall make a gal feel girlish.    A lady's clothes should be figure flattering, not revealing. She should look confident, not masculine. Sophisticated. And the clothes should be useful.  After all, we're busy ladies.  We don't have time for fuss and mess with our clothes -- we need our clothes to work for us.  Oh I could write a book on the genius of dresses with pockets!

I could post pages and pages of ladylike attire I've fallen in love with but here are just a few examples...or a few more than a few.  This lady likes clothes!

From one well-heeled hostess to another....

Having a couple versatile dresses that can be dressed up or down is better than having a whole walk-in closet full of dresses.

Anna Sui From the Archives Dress

A classic white button-up gives a slightly sexy look while having a confident strength.

Carolina Herrera Three-Quarter Sleeve Blouse 

You can't get more classic than pearls.  These stud earrings offer a hint of sophistication.

Pearl Stud Earrings by JCrew

The perfect little black dress is quite possibly the most important wardrobe staple.

Lauren by Ralph Lauren Dress

Dressed-up t-shirts offer the comfort of a cotton tee and while creating a "being cute is effortless" look.

Loosely Looped Tee for Anthropologie

Great rain and snow boots are essential for surviving bad weather.  In fact, get a few pairs of good boots and wear them with skirts, dresses and pants on days where heels just won't do.

Cole Haan Air Melanie Rainboot

 Frilled-up flats can will give you that charmed feel, without looking like a little girl.

Kenneth Cole Slip Sliding Flat

 An easy sheath dress saves those "I have nothing to wear!" days.

Well-fitting jeans will hug curves and flatter the feminine figure.

Kut from Kloth Jeans

A black shrug is essential. It can be worn over a cocktail dress or with a tee and jeans.

Supple Crop Shrug from White House Black Market

A good, neutral colored wrap will be useful in a hundred different ways.

Anny Taylor Luxury Drape Wrap

Girly accessories, like this necklace, can feminize a simple outfit.

Boden Corsage Necklace

A-line skirts flatter every figure. Perfect with flats or heels.

Marc Jacobs Wool Skirt

Newlywed Gift

When it comes to giving a wedding gift, always buy the couple something from their registry, but put your own special touch on it as well.  I noticed newlywed friends of ours registered for batter bowls and a large pancake spatula, so I added a container of good pancake mix and in the card wrote, "Take time to enjoy the simple things...like making pancakes together on a lazy Saturday morning."

You all know I'm a big believer that presentation is important in all things, so I had to share with you this uber cute Mr. and Mrs. gift wrap I found at Wal-Mart.  (Big box stores can really surprise you with stylish products some times!)  It's made by Hallmark, maker of the best wrapping paper in my opinion.  What makes good wrapping paper? It must be thick, not easily torn or wrinkled, and have grid lines on the back for cutting.  Hallmark's paper never fails.  While I love the variety of fun colors by other brands, no one beats the quality of Hallmark paper.

More Fall Decor Inspiration from Main Street, USA

We spent the weekend with my husband's family in rural Missouri. While the boys were duck hunting my sister-in-law and I went on a hunting trip of our own...shopping. She introduced me to the most charming home decor store on Main Street in the small town of Troy, MO. All About Home is traditional furnishings mixed with beautiful seasonal decorations and good ole customer service. It's one of those rare places where the shop owner takes you to her storage rooms to rummage through her glorious stash of great finds. It's got that friendly small town, hometown feel where you could just hangout all day. I love places like this. Shop Keeper, Lori Atkins, is the sweetest! And very current on the latest trends and fabrics in traditional home decor. Tell her what you're looking for and if it's not in the shop she'll try to find it at market or in her next antiquing trip.

Don't you just love finding places like this? I feel so few exist anymore and they are such a treat.

Since it's all about fall right now, here are few inspiring decor ideas I picked up at All About Home.

Tall, long-stemmed vases filled with leaves and miniature pumpkins

How Simple! Gourds atop candle sticks.  

Wrap garland of leaves around a chandelier.
If you have a roof or overhang at your front porch, buy a simple candle chandelier, like this one, and hang above your front entrance.  Use battery powered fake candles instead of real one and decorate with garland.  Very festive!

Gourds stacked inside a metal bird cage.

Miniature pumpkins poured into a lantern.
Add a very tall candle to this and place the pumpkins arounds it for an orange glow.

Trick or Treat sign.  This one came home with me.
I'm going to put it on a black bench on my front porch for Halloween with  a witches hat and pumpkins.

My Best Decorating Tips: Find a Friend and Find a Store

A good friend and neighbor is on her third couch in a year.  She's hired a decorator to help her realize the vision she has for her cozy family room, but even with this decorator's help my girlfriend is still uncertain which direction to go.  Truth is, my friend has good taste and actually does know what she wants, she's just nervous about making the wrong decision.  And who wouldn't be.  Decorating, especially buying investment furniture pieces, can be nerve-wracking.  Last year when my husband and I invested in a new couch and wing-backs for our great room I agonized over fabric choices.  Then I found my saving grace -- it's a store called Nell Hills in Kansas City and Atchison, Kansas.  When I walk into Nell Hills it feels like how I want my house to feel.  The owner and all her decorators have great taste. And the prices are reasonable and fair.  When I'm in a decorating rut I know I can turn to this store for my solution.

Nell Hills Entrance Ready for Fall

The best advice I can give for decorating:  find your own Nell Hills.  Before you start shopping for furniture pieces shop for a store that fits your style.  Talk to the owners and associates to get feel for their design strategy.  And when you find that place become a loyal customer.  Most likely the store will go above and beyond to give you superb customer service.

After hearing my neighbor's trials with her designer (and how much she was about to pay for a couch - gasp!) we took a quick trip to Nell Hills where an associate and I helped my friend find more options.

That's my second piece of advice for decorating.  Find someone who's home looks like how you'd like your home to look, and make sure that person will give you her honest advice and opinions. Then have them help you make your decorating decisions.  It's much more fun to have a partner than to do it yourself anyway, and your friend will most likely be flattered you asked for her help.

Here are a couple of my favorite finds from our recent Nell Hills trip.

CR Laine Camel Back Couch
This will be beautiful covered in a herringbone linen,
and it's half the price of the couch the designer was trying to sell my neighbor.

His and Her Pillowcases
I love bedding done in all neutrals and this adds a fun element.