Shop Spotlight :: Uncommon Goods

I'm so excited to share with you a fabulous online shop called UncommonGoods! "UncommonGoods is an online marketplace offering creatively designed, high-quality merchandise at affordable prices. At UncommonGoods, we believe that creativity and the expression of individuality represent two great human treasures. We have set out to create a business that makes uncommon goods accessible to everyone." They focus on selling handmade, recycled and organic products by supporting independent artists to small manufacturers who create products in a more socially and environmentally responsible manner.

What I love most is their beautiful selection of unique jewelry - you're guaranteed to find something amazing, whether it's for yourself or as a gift to someone special. Many of the pieces they sell are handmade, like the sweet little diamond arrow necklace they so generously sent me (see below)! And if you're looking for personalized jewelry, they have many great options as well. I'm in LOVE with the custom baby footprint necklace and would adore wearing one with my baby's footprints (I'm due in August with baby #2!). Isn't it the sweetest thing? They also have one with hand prints.

I've rounded up some of my favorite pieces to share with you. Which ones are catching your eye? Click here to visit the shop, where they sell much more than just jewelry (like art, home goods, gifts...). Enjoy and happy shopping!

SHOP THESE PIECES

a. personalized love birch cuff | b. stacking ring | c. custom baby footprint necklace | d. energy circle ring

e. calla lily earrings | f. hammered cuff | g. trinity wooden cuff | h. diamond arrow necklace

A snapshot of me wearing the beautiful diamond arrow necklace, which was

designed by mother and daughter team, Cindy and Avril Joffe. It's handmade with 18K gold vermeil, featuring a beautiful sparkly diamond at the head of the arrow. It was created to "inspire you to pave the way to your true north." I get so many compliments whenever I wear it! Handmade in the USA. 

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This was a sponsored post by UncommonGoods. All thoughts and opinions are my own! 

Belle Cuisine :: Fresh + Healthy Smoothies

Hello there...I've missed you all! It's been nearly a week since I've posted anything, as I was on a trip to Big Sur last week (absolutely gorgeous!) and have been busy being a working mommy and wife (I'm sure many of you know how it goes). Anyway, on to today's post...

Now that the holidays are past us, one thing thing I've noticed are my pants are fitting just a little too snug, which makes me absolutely crazy (anyone else feeling this too?)! I overindulged straight from Thanksgiving until last week and it's beginning to show :/ But, instead of crying about it, I've decided to take action and jump-start my exercise routine as well as start eating clean. Being a busy mom on the go, I usually don't have much time to eat all of the healthy fruits and veggies I should, so I decided to start making smoothies everyday. This has been such a quick and easy way to fill up fast and get a good dose of my daily fruit and veggie intake. I use the Magic Bullet which is inexpensive and works fairly well (much easier and faster than a blender), however I would love to own a fancy juicer one day. There are tons of fantastic recipes out there and today I'm sharing several that are on my list to try over the next couple weeks. Let me know if you have any smoothie secrets of your own! Enjoy and wishing you a happy, healthy New Year.

 [PINEAPPLE MINT CELERY DETOX JUICE]

[NO-ORANGE ORANGE JUICE]

[PEACH OAT SMOOTHIE]

[TANGY CITRUS GREEN JUICE]

[HONEY + WALNUT SPICED PROTEIN SHAKE]

[BLACKBERRY PEACH COCONUT WATER SMOOTHIE]

[KALE SPINACH & APPLE SMOOTHIE]

Christmas Cards from Minted + Fabulous GIVEAWAY!

Whether you're ready or not, the holidays are right around the corner! Thanksgiving is in just a few weeks and Christmas is just 48 days away. To help you prepare for the exciting holiday season ahead, I've teamed up with the fabulous company Minted for an exciting giveaway. If you're not familiar with Minted, here's a little lowdown of the company and their mission: Minted is the world's premier marketplace for independent design. Our mission is to find exceptional artists and designers all over the world and bring their work to consumers who appreciate great design. They currently have minted designers that represent 43 countries! I love that they support and promote the work of a diverse community of independent designers.

I really enjoyed browsing through their huge selection of unique Christmas photo cards and invitations, which can be semi-customized to give you exactly what you want. I'm definitely going to be ordering our family Christmas card from Minted this year and you have the opportunity to do the same! They also have an amazing selection of announcements, stationary, party decor, art prints and more.

Details and such for the Giveaway:

1. Visit Minted right away and check out their site. Come back to belle maison and leave a comment about one of your favorite items and how you'd spend you $50 credit!

2. Extra entry for those who mention the giveaway on Facebook (@minted), Twitter (handle:@minted) and/or Pinterest! (#minted).

3. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, November 14th and will receive a $50 credit toward any purchase on Minted.com.

4. Please make sure I have a way of contacting you if you're the winner! If necessary, include a valid email address in the comment space or via email. GOOD LUCK!

Now start designing your Christmas card or holiday party invitations here!

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[ALL IMAGES HAVE BEEN SOURCED FROM MINTED]

'Five Things' Friday - The Mollye Spaulding Edition

Yay, it's Friday! I hope you something fun planned for the weekend. I slipped up and did not announce the winner for the Design Camp giveaway yesterday, as promised. But because it's such a great opportunity, I'd love to extend the giveaway a few more days! Click here for details. One LUCKY winner will be announced on Monday, September 2nd. Now, please read on for today's fabulous contributor post. Enjoy!


Hello again! It’s Mollye from The Suite Life Designs. Today I am sharing my version of Five Things Friday. Many things are inspiring me lately and I am so excited to share them with you!

One. My husband and I just recently got back from our first trip to Barcelona. I am left SO inspired by all the beautiful architecture. I love all the details and balconies throughout the city. Barcelona is rich in history and wandering around the city was a lot of fun.

Two. With summer coming to a close and Labor Day this weekend I thought this was the perfect recipe to serve at your last summer BBQ. When I think of summer food tomatoes and corn are always the top of my list. This salad uses not only beautiful tomatoes and corn, but bacon and cheese - YUM! This is definitely on my list of things to make for Labor Day. [Image Source]

Three. As much as I love summer, I really love fall fashion. I love a chic coat or a pair of comfy boots. Fall is just around the corner, (not sure how that snuck up on us!) and I am getting totally inspired by this beautiful fall look! [Image Source]

Four. I recently stumbled across this beautiful vanity space on Pinterest (where else?) and was totally inspired. I love the feminine, vintage feel of this display. Gathering items on trays or in pretty cups is a great way to show off your everyday items in a beautiful way. I already use trays and small bowls for my jewelry, but using these items for makeup brushes and perfumes is a really good idea. [Image Source]

Five. I always love finding great inspiration for styling my bookshelves at home. I like to mix in objects with my books for a more collected feel. When I saw this bookcase I fell in love! Every girl loves shoes right? Well I never really considered displaying some of my favorite pairs in with my books and decorative objects. This is a really fun idea and you can constantly change up which shoes you choose to display! [Image Source]

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend! Don't forget to stop by The Suite Life Designs for more daily inspiration. See you all back here next time!

 xo, 

Mollye  

Let's Celebrate :: Goodbye Summer!

Hello Lovelies, it's Nycia here from She Inspires, with a little end of summer inspiration to make you smile. With the kiddos heading back to school and Fall approaching so quickly, there's no better way to say goodbye to the summer than with a few girlfriends over brunch with a mimosa in hand and of course, in style. This fabulous inspiration room that I stumbled upon on Pinterest is just simply divine. All the crisp white, and the yummy pops of color makes for the perfect color palette for an end of summer soiree. Wouldn't you want an invitation? 

 PARTY STYLE   

 [IMAGES SOURCED BY NYCIA EMERSON]

Meet Me @ Design Camp, Orange County + WIN a Ticket to Attend!

Attention all designers, bloggers, design enthusiasts...I'm inviting you to join me at Design Camp this October in sunny Orange County, California (my neck of the woods!), for a two-day event hosted and instructed by Celebrity Interior Designers Lori Dennis and Kelli Ellis! I attended the very first Design Camp last October in Austin, Texas and had an amazing time! This year I will be speaking about blogging along with one of my all-time favorites, Paloma Contreres of La Dolce Vita! The exciting line-up of guest speakers includes Katheryn Ireland, Nathan Turner, Cliff Fong, and MORE.

Ready for the best part?! ONE lucky Belle Maison reader will have a chance to WIN a ticket to Design Camp, Orange County...$1,300 value! That means YOU may have an opportunity to attend for FREE. Here's the lowdown:

WHAT'S DESIGN CAMP? The course is tailored for design professionals and design aficionados,with special guests segments led by local and national industry experts in niche fields.  Each day runs from 9AM-6PM and is broken down into 8 segments per day. Drinks, Snacks, Lunch, and Cocktail parties included. By the end of Camp, attendees will have the confidence and ability to run successful modern-day design careers, execute magazine ready interior projects, take careers to an entirely new level, network and collaborate with local suppliers and colleagues. Click here to see the line-up of exciting speakers.

WHEN & WHERE? October 9 - 11, 2013 in Orange County, CA @ The Laguna Design Center.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS & HOW TO ENTER:

• Winner receives one entry ticket to Design Camp Orange County, $1,297 value!
• Email me (julie[at]bellemaison23[dot]com) on why YOU should be chosen to attend Design Camp and what you would look forward to most! The winner will be hand selected by me, so please make your comment thoughtful and detailed (and make sure I have a way to contact you if you win).
• Mention the giveaway on Twitter (please include handle @TheDesignCamp and @ModernChicHome) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/thedesigncamp).
• The winner will be chosen and announced right here next Thursday, August 29th. Good Luck!

PLEASE NOTE: The ticket DOES NOT include hotel and flight accommodations so if you do enter, please make sure that you will definitely be able to travel to California. Recommended hotel for design campers is the Ayres Hotel Laguna Woods.

Best of luck & I look forward to reading your entries!

Fashion Post :: My Favorite "Go-To" Outfit

Hello beautiful Belle Maison readers! It's Lou here, one half of the blogging duo from Lynn + Lou. I hope your week is going well. Today I am excited to share a go-to outfit that I frequently end up wearing.

I am in love with these bright sky blue skinnies. They are fun and colorful without being too bright and over the top. They have the perfect fit and I just love the skinny ankle.

I paired my skinnies with a basic graphic tee. Graphic tee's are my go-to on an "I don't know what to wear" day. I have far too many to count, but in my opinion, one can never have too many.

I topped everything off with my leather basket sandals, fringe vest, and I kept the arm candy simple with a few gold bracelets and my favorite over sized vintage La Mer watch.

This is definitely a go to outfit for me on any given day. And the best part, add a pair of boots and it transitions perfectly into Fall. Speaking of Fall, I just can't wait for it. I love the crispness in the air and the changing leaves. What is your favorite part of Fall?

For more outfit inspiration, foodie delight, crafts and design, follow me over at Lynn + Lou. Hope to see you over there!

Cheers!
Lou 

Trending in Teal

 [IMAGE SOURCE]

Hey there, it's B from B. in the Know bringing you the latest and greatest from the world of fashion! Each year there are those select few colors that seem to be everywhere. I remember not being able to get enough of cobalt blue a couple years ago. Now, the color that's trending every which way I turn is teal. And we are not just talking one shade of teal, but rather a wide spectrum of teal. It is totally the color of the moment – at least in my life. It is perfect for a lightweight summer skirt or dress, but then also looks fabulous in a pencil skirt or blazer to look sharp at the office. Who says you can’t be professional and trendy at the same time?! Certainly, not this gal. The other fabulous thing about teal being the color of the moment is that it is a color that transitions with the seasons rather well. For summer, pair it with white and light neutrals. Then, as we move into the cooler months pair it with black and camels. The cooler months are also a great time to play with the darker shades of teal. So, whatever part of the world and season you find yourself in, you, too, can be trending in teal.

 [IMAGE SOURCE]

 [IMAGE SOURCE]

 [IMAGE SOURCE]

How do you feel about the current color of the moment? Are you trending in teal? What is your color the moment?

Much love,
B

Etsy Shop Discovery :: Rebel by Fate

I love discovering new shops on Etsy, don't you?! Rebel by Fate had the bracelet (in the first photo) featured on the front page, which is how I ended up finding their fabulous little shop. The first thought that came to mind when viewing the personalized bracelet was, I'm going to order one of these with Luke's name (my 14-month old son and little love of my life!). Their tag line is Modern Handmade Bohemian Jewelry, which perfectly describes their unique collection of goods! What other Etsy shops are you loving these days?

[PERSONALIZED BRASS ARROW BRACELET]

[HYPNOSIS TURQUOISE NECKLACE]

[ETERNITY CROSS BRACELETS PAIR]

[HAND CUT ARROW BRACELETS]

[FEATHER HAND CUT BRASS NECKLACE]

[TURQUOISE DANGLE EARRINGS]

ALL IMAGES VIA ETSY SHOP REBEL BY FATE

Dream Getaway :: Dusit Thani Maldives

When I think of my "dream vacation", the Dusit Thani is now a place that comes to mind. Talk about traveling to paradise! It's one of the latest in the series of phenomenal luxury resorts located in the Maldives. The resort consists of 100 private residences on the island Mudhdhoo. It's built along the shore surrounded by white sand beaches, a beautiful marine reef and turquoise lagoon. Today I'm taking a mental vacation to this place, would you like to join me?! I feel relaxed just by staring at the photos. It looks like all you'd need is a suitcase full of bikinis, sundresses and flip flops - my kind of getaway.  See the girl snorkeling in the last photo of the post...that's me ;) Well, a girl can dream, right? Do you have any exciting vacation plans this summer?

 

[ALL IMAGES VIA DUSIT THANI MALDIVES]