Last Minute Mother’s Day Gifts—A Greatest Hits List
Mother’s Day Gifts—A Greatest Hits List
If you are like me, you see things all year long that your mom would love, whether it is tea towels, or a CD, or maybe a beautiful necklace. When spring approaches you’re so caught up in spring cleaning and enjoying the weather that you temporarily forge that Mother’s Day id fast approaching. I almost forgot myself—what a hectic spring so far!
Have no fear, I have compiled a Greatest Hits list of potential gifts and you still have a few days left to get one together.
1) Mix tape: Most people love music so you can’t go wrong here. Although your mom may not have a CD player she most likely has a computer so she can listen to your mix. I do this for my mom a lot—she is a HUGE music fan and is always pleased I’ve taken the time to compile some songs I think she would like. Plus moms love to feel a part of what you are doing and how better than to share what you are listening to?
2) Fabulous scarf: I always keep my eyes peeled for scarves, partly because I am a scarf hoarder myself, but also because I know my mom loves them too. An accessory is a great gift because it is something that changes up an outfit she already has, and she can style it in a way in which she likes. I can’t help you choose the color, but by now you must know your mom’s favorite, non?
3) Flowers (or a plant): If your mom loves to be surrounded by nature this is a great and traditional gift. Flowers are always a “do!” Or maybe you get her a plant she can keep to brighten the house with or one she can put in her garden. Every time she sees it she will think of you, and being surrounded by natural beauty will bring her soothing joy. There are lots of beautiful flower arrangements by Laura Jean available at BF right now, go take a gander!
4) A book: It saddens me how quickly “old fashioned” books are losing their allure in today’s digital world. I think even tech-savvy moms would appreciate a novel (or maybe a cookbook) picked out especially for them by their children. To add a more thoughtful element be sure to write an inscription in the front of the book, that way it’s like a giving a greeting card that will survive long after the book has been read.
Remember to call your mom this Sunday!
Until next time,
redbird
Dress You Up
“Dress for the theatre of your life” a quote from the Advanced Style blog
I couldn’t help but be drawn to the above quote for a few reasons. One, it speaks to my personal motto which is essentially “never leave the house not looking awesome.” It’s unfortunate that everyday “fashion” has devolved so much that sweat pants (and even pajamas) are deemed appropriate to wear on the street while running errands. While it can take some extra effort to “dress up,” if one does the compliments and turning heads make up for it. I am particularly drawn to people who have obviously given their every day clothing a great deal of thought. I am also impressed by those amazing looks that people whip up for special occasions like weddings, parties, and formals. If only people dressed like this every night! Then again, maybe it would make those occasions seem less special? Either way, dressing glam is ALWAYS in style. It makes me so happy that there are so many times of year when dressing to the nines is de rigueur. Right now, every other person I know is planning to attend a Formal or Prom or Spring/Summer wedding. I stopped by BF to scope out the selection of occasion dresses and was pleased to find many cool items. Below are snaps of two of my favorite dresses, a stunning purple-y/blue dress with a sequined dancer on the front, and a breath-taking yellow lace dress with matching lace shawl. J’adore them both!
Until next time,
redbird
Inspired By: Vintage Underpinnings
I was most recently inspired by the vintage underpinnings on display here at the store. You won’t be surprised to learn I have a collection of vintage slips, both half and full slips, some festooned with lace and flower appliqués, others simple & color-blocked. I have always adored looking at them just hanging there on the wall. I recently bought a decorative hook and used it to hang my collection just inside my bedroom door. The slips add color and texture, as well as a soft hint of femininity to my boudoir, plus having them hung in an organized fashion makes it easy to find the one I’m looking for. What might one do with vintage slips and other vintage underpinnings like undies, garters, and bras? Wear them! If they are in sturdy condition, by all means style them right in with your regular wardrobe. Need a sexy layer to peek out of a low-cut dress? Use a lacy full slip! Need a cool bra to show through a sheer blouse? Try a vintage cone bra! Need an interesting outfit to wear and feeling bold? Create a dress by layering two vintage slips for a night out on the town, as I’ve been known to do many a time. The colors and lines of many vintage undergarments are so lovely they just beg to be SEEN and not hidden away! On the other hand it could be fun to surprise your lover by sneaking a retro undergarment into your usual repertoire. He/she may be pleasantly surprised to discover a pin-up girl within arm’s reach! Stop by BF to see what fun underpinnings are currently in stock– there’s also a nice selection of vintage gloves and hats that could lend themselves well to your next lovely and ladylike ensemble!
Until next time,
redbird
*below photo is a copy of a Gil Elvgren print, who drew the best pin-ups ever (& please forgive the illustration until I procure a better camera!)
From Cereal to Spaghetti: Using Japanese Dishware Every Day
I was struck recently by the display of Japanese dishes at Boutique Fabulous, mostly because I am a dish fantastic, but also because all of the pieces are really simple, beautiful, and elegant. I’ve been told that BF has carried Miya dishware for quite some time, but just recently got in a shipment of their white sake cups and pitchers, which are designed to be sleek AND affordable, and are therefore totally within my budget. You will find an assortment of dishes, sold in sets, ranging from bowls (replete with repetitive blue glazed patterns) perfect for soup to cereal, to electric blue plate and cup sets that include wooden chopsticks, and special sets that include both sushi and sake gear combined. I personally like to repurpose my dishes; I’ve taken a ceramic ‘egg carton’ dish and used it to store rings and necklaces, and turned a sake pitcher into a makeshift flower vase. There’s also colorful painted chopstick sets for sale, which will brighten up any silverware drawer, and any meal whether it’s Asian or not. Ever eaten spaghetti and meatballs with chopsticks? It’s totally fun and doable. Have you ever scrambled and then also stirred your cooking eggs using a chopstick? If you like light and soft eggs, you must try it—you will NOT be sorry!
Until next time,
redbird
Meet the Boutique Fabulous Staff: An Interview with Renee
I personally wanted to get to know the girls of Boutique Fabulous a little better. I’m always intrigued by what people make and do; I’m eager to know what excites them, and what inspires them to create. I especially like to hear about what draws them to both their work and to their projects outside of work. First off, I interviewed Ms. Renee, a cashier and manager at BF, about what makes her creativity bloom. She’s been working at the store since March 2010, and by the sound of it, is continually inspired by her job.
What is your full name? Renee L. Majkut, my polish last name comes from my wonderful husband. We were married in August and my last name is still so new!
What drew you to the store? [I love] the vintage items & the overall aesthetic of the store. I’ll never forget the first time I walked in, instead of taking my time that day to look around at every little thing. I had to grab an application! I needed that kind of time to explore all the items & atmosphere in detail! I was so excited to have found a place like BF, it’s a place where I [can] both work & be creative.
What are your favorite things about/items in the store? I love the lighting, the whole shop had this warm feeling, it’s so cozy. It’s a pretty basic element but one of my favorite things about the store is the floor plan. It’s always changing and challenging [us] with new items, new seasons, and new moods. I love communicating ideas through design with merchandise, composition and color, creating an atmosphere with all the products we carry. It’s so exciting to get new products in and create a little environment especially for them. My imagination gets some great exercise here!
What kinds of activities do you do in your personal life? I’m always drawing, painting, and making art in one form or another. My most recent passion has been creating cut paper animations; it’s such a long crazy process but so rewarding in the end. I also I love baking and the hospitality that’s connected with food, it’s delicious!
Where do you draw inspiration? Definitely [from] people… working at Boutique Fabulous I encounter so many different people in a day, I always leave with a beautiful story. It’s amazing to have such a connection with someone I’ve never met before (and don’t know if I’ll see again). The collision of common interests & thoughts is always inspiring! [Also] color is a huge inspiration for me, it’s an instant attraction & burst of inspiration… it’s everywhere!
What are your favorite things? My earring collection, (especially these pretty brass Vintage Fuss earrings that make a twinkling sound when I’m moving around), Planet of the Apes 5 piece VHS collectors set, and this wonderful vintage slide projector! I love collections!
What are your current obsessions? The color orange. I’ve also just picked up playing the Ukulele, I love a new sound! I have a weird collection of instruments I play around with, there’s always a new one that pops up and demands moments of obsession. I always imagine that certain notes and tones are associated to colors, so playing an instrument, it’s like painting.
Stay tuned for more interviews with the gals from BF. I’m excited to get to know each of them better so that you all can get to know them better as well!
Until next time,
redbird
Enter Saint Valentine & Bring Us Good Chocolate
Here it is almost Valentine’s Day. In the past I’ve had mixed feelings about it—I love the idea of taking a special day to celebrate love yet I am bothered a bit by the over-commercialization of the holiday. I suppose that can be said about any popular holiday, and so I find it best to take what I like most from holidays and exploit only their most beautiful attributes. In the case of Valentine’s Day, I love the signature colors of red and pink (which is a personal favorite combination), those adorable vintage Valentine cards replete with cartoon hearts, loads of chocolate and an excuse to eat tons of it, and fresh flowers (especially roses and pink carnations!).
Another way I keep holidays more personal and less commercial is if it’s a holiday that requires giving gifts I try to seek out locally-made items and stay out of the malls and drugstores (no drugstore chocolate ever, please!). Boutique Fabulous has the right idea with their plans for the week surrounding this year’s Valentine’s Day! They’re working with local flower designer Laura Jean who is creating special flower creations– these will certainly make perfect gifts. I would buy flowers for myself if I knew my cats wouldn’t destroy them! They’re also hosting a chocolate tasting with locally-made Taza chocolate (& Bailey’s, champagne, & red wine for pairing) on February 9th from 5-7pm, and I plan to be there nibbling away on samples. As if that wasn’t enough, the BF girls are also hosting a Victorian Valentine Party (with more champagne) on February 11th from 6-8pm and will be decked out in Victorian dresses! In addition, you can swing in on the evening of the 14th between 5-8pm with your certain someone for a sip of complimentary champagne.
The holiday of Saint Valentine is truly about thoughtfully considering your feelings towards those you love and letting them know. It shouldn’t take a holiday for you to remember to express what’s in your heart—although a cute Valentine and a Mexican chocolate treat certainly won’t hurt in getting your message across. Please remember: say I love you every day.
Until next time,
My Favorite Inman Square Haunts
It’s no secret that I think Inman Square in the coolest square on this side of the river. Having lived here on and off since 2004, I have really come to know and love the local businesses, the food, and just the overall charm of the ‘hood. There are just so many good things happening here these days, perhaps more good things than ever before. I wanted to take a moment and share my favorite Inman outposts.
If you are in Inman and you find yourself hungry you can literally get anything you could possibly want within a one-mile radius. Tacos? Check. Indian? Oh yes. Asian? We got it. Amazing sandwiches? Uh huh. Italian? Oh my goodness yes! My personal favorite haunts include Trina’s Starlite Lounge for good cheap burgers, Sloppy Joe Wednesdays, and fab classic cocktails. My spot for Italian food is City Girl Cafe– they serve these Currant & Sage Sliders that will make you cry with delight. I can’t not mention All Star Sandwich Bar who whip up some of the best homemade French fries you have ever had– to go with their enormous awesome sandwich menu of course. 1369 Coffee House has been my go-to for over 7 years and they get it all right all of the time.
Then there’s the shops! Of course Boutique Fabulous is at the top of my list, how could it not be? Just the other day my bestie and I were there visiting and oohing and ahhing over all the goodies and she snagged a pair of white bunny earmuffs that are both adorable and warm. Score! My other favorite Inman store is Lorem Ipsum Books. I could sit for hours on one of their convenient couches and read. What is better than being surrounded by hundreds of books while you lounge or browse? As long as you’re very careful you can bring your tea in with you– bonus! The kids that work there are lovely and knowledgable, and the ambiance is relaxed and easy.
If you have somehow never ventured off the red line to check out Inman Square, you are seriously missing out. A mere mile from Central Square, it is worth the walk. I suggest taking Inman Street in from Central, as it’s a much nicer walk than taking Prospect. I hope to see you soon in our square, do say hi if you see me out and about!
Until next time,
redbird
PS- I have been cooking up some new exciting subject matter for the blog, so check back bi-weekly for treats!
Sparkle, Love, and Celebration
This year when I came home for the holidays, I was reminded how much I love to visit houses that are true homes– cozy and comfortable spaces built around the tastes and desires of their inhabitants. Homes where there are beautiful accents such as a special glass lamp, a selection of a grandmother’s hand-me-down tchotchkes, a pile of love-worn books, interesting dishes, or a colorful rug. Items that really give a home its personality and mood. Both my mother’s, aunt’s, and dear old friend’s houses in Maine were like this: warm, inviting, decorated, charming, and all very different from the other. Again, I bring the blog back to collecting, but I think it’s incredibly important to curate your own collection, to build an archive of treasures. Doing do creates visual stimulation and pleasant memories for you and for others who live in or visit your space. When I am out shopping, I am always keeping my eyes open for an item that would fit nicely in my home, or in a friend’s. I search out thrift stores, antique shops, and charming boutiques like BF to find such things. I buy the particularly special items to pad my lair with beauty. Beauty is essential to a happy life, I am fully convinced of this. Ugly things create ugly moods and squelch creativity and inspiration. This time of year I want nothing more than sparkle, love, and celebration– with some reflection in there too, of course, I can’t forget that.
Happy New Year to all of you fabulous people!
Until next time (and next year!)
redbird
vintage new year image
Escape the Malls: Buy Local, Support Local
December is by far my most favorite month. I know for certain it has something to do with my birthday, which falls mid-month, but it’s really because Christmas has always been my most favorite holiday. I love searching for and buying gifts, and crossing each recipient’s name off of my list– and I especially love the wrapping and the giving! I simply adore watching the eyes of my loved ones light up when they see the gift I’ve carefully chosen for them. I’ve spent most of my life working at Mom & Pop stores and have learned from the inside the value of shopping at and supporting your local small businesses. I was thrilled when I was reminded about the upcoming “Shop Inman by Moonlight” annual event that is happening tomorrow night (12/8) in Inman Square from 6pm until midnight. Businesses participating in the event include Boutique Fabulous, Lorem Ipsum Books, Inman Oasis, and 1369 Coffee House. Take my advice and swing by Inman for gifts from any and all of the ‘fabulous’ businesses in the square. BF has some stellar gift options right now like CUTE knit cupcake ornaments, baby socks from Trumpette, the most scrumptious Thymes fir-scented candles, and really cool homemade soaps with images of shoes and skulls and other cool things on them. If like me you are an Inman Square resident (or enthusiast), then you just might need a set of Screencraft Tileworks marble coasters designed by BF’s Mara and Jilly for yourself or for someone you love.
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Until next time,
redbird
Don’t Overlook the Art of Collecting
A new friend of mine decided to start collecting old records. His initial idea was to buy some with particularly fantastic covers and turn them into a collage for his living room wall. He started flipping through piles of records (coincidentally at BF) and not long after realized he wanted to start collecting some records just to have. And thus began a small obsession. I have been a collector since childhood, collecting dolls, books, cassette tapes, and beach glass. Once an adult I began innumerable collections: vintage blue Ball jars, old bottles, cookbooks, hats, silk scarves, Whiting & Davis chain mail bags, cowboy boots, and old cameras just to name a few. Upon a recent trip to the infamous Brimfield Antiques Fair, I saw gads of people collecting, whether they were interior designers scouting out goods for clients, or my girlfriends who were scooping up etched glass boxes or tiny statues for their own homes– while I snagged some great hats to add to my growing collection. Collections add dimension, character, and beauty to your home; they create a way to showcase your interests and tastes. Boutique Fabulous is another go-to spot for finding items to add to your shelves, it’s always rife with choice goods, be it old records, vintage jewels, hats and magazines, or a yummy new bag. Stores like BF are truly treasure troves of items worthy of your collections. Here’s to the beginning (or expansion) of your beautiful collection!
Until next time,
rebird
