The Zhush

Random Chanel Item No. 125

2012-05-25T06:51:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day Weekend! Summer! Three day weekend kick~off...yup, my figurative Chanels are literally jumping for joy! Whatever your plans are, hope it's off to a great start!

summertime smooches,

image via: le catch

Driven To Distraction: Hudson Interiors

2012-05-24T09:21:00.001-07:00

After being away at Blogfest for the last three days, the plan for me today was to get back to work and deal with my looming overflowing inbox. Halfway through my to do list, I decided to unpack from the past few days, which led to discovering my scribbled "must check out Jill Goldberg and Hudson Interiors" note to self. A procrastinator at heart, that's exactly what I did next. "Jill Goldberg and her team bring a youthful exuberance along with a fresh take on interiors to every project", this is from Hudson's site . I can tell you first hand that Jill brought this same energy to Hearst Tower, when she came and spoke on the House Beautiful panel on Tuesday. With many of these exact images floating behind her as she spoke, it's no wonder I wrote this urgent note to self.

Blogfest 2012: Processed + Condensed

2012-05-24T04:27:00.001-07:00

Now that Blogfest 2012 has ended, I thought I'd share a quick recap with my Instagrams. Meeting and connecting with fellow bloggers is always the best. The first night at the Kips Bay Showhouse, I got to chat with several ladies that I was hoping to connect with, but sadly not everyone. Day two started bright and early at Hearst Tower. Listening to top tier magazine editors give engaging presentations along with some of the most dynamic personalities in the design world was an incredible treat. I plan to blog about some of these talents soon. That morning there was also a short film about the event's sponsor, Kravet. The film illustrated the company's origins. An immigrant "American dream" story that personally, as a first generation American, really touched me. Kravet, a family based company with it's vast amount of product lines simply amazes me. Next we were off to the Elle Decor Concept House, and then impossibly in the same day, the Decoration and Design building (the D+D). There was a delicious spread for lunch and then we were treated to a truly entertaining and talented guest speaker: Alexa Hampton (seated on the left in the image below along with Traditional Home's EIC, Ann Main). Alexa, my new designer crush, is basically the coolest. She should have her own talk show. Shortly after, with the luxury of not living too far from the city, I took off and joined everyone again the following day at the Museum of the City of New York, where Glassybaby's founder, Lee Rhodes, gave a touching presentation about the company's products and mission. Lee, officially became my entrepreneur crush. Blogfest kept us busy and inspired to say the least, thanks for another great event!

For more detailed recaps, be sure to check out Pretty Pink Tulips and Bright, Bold and Beautiful, just to name a few!

Obsession Du Jour: Cozamia

2012-05-23T04:42:00.000-07:00

Putting together yesterday's Pink Flamingo post, led me to discover the vibrant artwork of Nancy Ramirez and her hip site, Cozamia. In my search for attractive pink flamingo examples, I stumbled across the image above on Pinterest (of course!) Once I tracked it down to Ms. Ramirez, I was hooked. Each and every print is right up my ally. In fact, there was at least one or two pieces that I recognized from beautiful interior features I had seen in publications or on blogs, thus sealing the fact that I'm officially and utterly obsessed with Cozamia.

Images via: Cozamia

Wednesday Wants

2012-05-23T03:46:00.002-07:00

I'm thinking it's time I branched out and tried a new scent. While I adore my Jo Malone Orange Blossom, I'm loving the idea of a more portable perfume. I've never owned a solid scent...thinking the blood orange aroma along with the clever packaging of Tocca Stella, make for one compelling want!

Image via + available here

A Creative Day: The Everyday Series

2012-05-22T17:15:00.000-07:00

Coming off day two of Blogfest, anything creative sounds fitting right now, as today was certainly a day dedicated to creativity and inspiration at its finest...Eileen over at A Creative Day has a fun feature: The Everyday Series, and she kindly asked me to participate. Today is my day, I hope you'll have a look.

Pink Flamingos: The New "Keep Calm + Carry On"?

2012-05-22T03:30:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed all these pink flamingos popping up everywhere from fabrics to art and even on clothes!? They're kinda' growing on me...how about you? (Keeping things short and sweet over here today, as I'm heading out the door extra early for day two of Blogfest, looking forward to events taking place within Hearst tower this morning...hoping to catch my breath soon!)

Images via: Southern Living / West Elm / I Need Nice Things / The Animal Prints Shop / Cozamia

$100 Shop Bop Gift Card Giveaway Winner!

2012-05-22T03:25:00.000-07:00

Congrats to lucky comment number 130! You won the Shop Bop $100 Gift Card! We have your email address and you will be contacted shortly...be sure to check out the great sale going on now over at Shop Bop until May 23rd. Enter BIGEVENT at check out if you spend at least $250. and receive a minimum of $50. off your order, for more details visit Shop Bop. Thanks so much to everyone that entered and to Shop Bop for the fun giveaway!

Getting Ready For Blogfest 2012

2012-05-21T04:38:00.000-07:00

How fabulous is this closet? Its from the May issue of House Beautiful, I literally can not put this one down! The feature is of Annie Brahler's home, owner of Euro Trash, a new-to-me store, that I'm now a bit obsessed with. To be honest, this home didn't jump out at me during my first flip through the mag...but after I went back a few times, it grew on me and now I'm quite taken with it. I'm hoping this same spark will apply to my closet, where I'm no doubt standing in a sea of discarded clothes in a last minute effort to look presentable for Blogfest (it starts this afternon with two showhouse tours ends hours later with a cocktail party...I mean, what would YOU wear?) I really hope something in my closet suddenly appeals me to after not seeing the merits of it before. This is often the case, as I usually need to process things for a while. No doubt, I'll be mentally processing this week's Blogfest activities for weeks to come...

Monday's P.O.P.

2012-05-21T03:41:00.000-07:00

purple palace

Image via: ArchitecturalDigest

Warehouse Sale!

2012-05-19T05:52:00.000-07:00

With new inventory coming in on almost a weekly basis now, our warehouse is getting a bit out of control...we decided it was time for a sale! Behold, our first annual warehouse sale...check it out here! Add this code at check out for an additional ten percent off everything in the store: zhushx2

Special thanks to these blog friends for posts with zhush.com features!

both via:

Random Chanel Item No. 124

2012-05-18T04:39:00.001-07:00

Here in our neck of the woods, it's carnival season. Which means in addition to sports, middle school concerts, and a jam packed calendar of fun...we'll be piling everyone in the car at some point and heading off to our local fair. This month is shaping up to be one giant, crazy roller coaster ride..fasten your seat belts everyone!

xoxo,

Teen Room Makeover: Inspired By Agus Interiors

2012-05-17T04:22:00.000-07:00

As I continue to look for inspiration for my younger daughter's room makeover, I can really appreciate fabulous "before and afters" like this one from Jennifer Agus Interiors. As Jennifer explains, "When I began this project, we were faced with the issue of combining two sisters into one room. Initially, there was only one girl in this room with a lot of heavy & dark built-in furniture. The challenge was providing more space for both girls to accomplish their school work as well as storage for all of their toys." Agus used lacquer furniture, which is really durable for children, and softened the room with fun upholstery for the headboards and roman shades. She covered the ceiling with a lilac color that made the room look lighter and taller. With a dedicated color scheme and adjustments to the sizing and spacing of new bedroom furniture, Agus was able to pull together a design that offered the most space for both of them while introducing a bright red, chocolate, hot pink and white color way – not your average color combination. The bottom image gives you a sense of the "before"... I can never lead with the "befores"...(should probably call them afters and befores).

Soft Quiet Spaces

2012-05-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

May is such a busy month for us. As school winds up for the kids, we have a plethora of both day and evening events and functions to attend. Throw some fun family celebrations on to the calendar along with a few business meetings and obligations and it seems I can't find a single moment to just stay home and relax. A self professed homebody, I'm happiest curled up on the couch with either my iPad, a great movie or my endless list of recorded shows. I often need this time just to recharge. Maybe I'm just projecting my own thoughts on to this apartment, but something about these images, found over on Yatzer, convey that soft, quiet time that I'm craving so badly right about now. Do you see it too?

Fashion Fave: Front Tie Blouses

2012-05-16T04:58:00.000-07:00

Sometimes its the smallest details that make me the happiest. Like these front tie blouses that keep popping up everywhere this season. I love the cute, casual look and the fact that they solve my "tuck or don't tuck" dilemma. What's catching your eye these days?

top row available here: Nordstroms
bottom row available here: Shopbop

Wednesday Wants

2012-05-16T03:46:00.000-07:00

What I really want on this Wednesday morning is some work out motivation. I'm thinking some new "kicks" might do the trick! I'm loving these cross trainers from Nike. Not only did they get rave reviews online, but they come in a bunch of fun colors and they are under $100.00. Since I tend to wear only black work out pants, I always resort to the "longer leg look" and go for black.

As for last week's BB cream post, based on comments made both here and offline, I went with the Garnier. It has a slight perfume odor which I'm not loving, but once it's on this smell seems to go away. Honestly though, I can't tell the difference between this BB cream and the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer with spf that I was already sporting...

On another personal note, these Wednesday Wants are working out quite nicely, as my daughter was able to clue Mr. Zhush in before Mother's Day, turning this want into a reality!

To follow all these wants and see more of my style and fashion picks, please feel free to "stalk me" over at Currently Obsessed. If you're not already familiar with this highly addictive sight, its a fun place to check out what's trending amongst all your favorite bloggers.

Inpsired By Shades Of Citrus

2012-05-15T05:04:00.002-07:00

Having penned this blog for over two years now, friends will often ask my opinion on design concepts for their own homes (which I love!). Since my friends are some of the best dressed people I know, I try to get them to relate their living spaces to their wardrobes, often recommending color palettes they would wear in an outfit. Lately, I've been drawn to bright lemon and lime colors in clothing. So...when I hit upon this charming feature in Style At Home, I immediately fell for the color combos here. All these citrus pops work so well with the neutral background. For me, this helps to illustrate what I already suspected...all the brights I've been craving in my wardrobe will work just fine as long as I pair them up with some neutrals. Some might prefer brights with brights, but for me in order to be comfortable, I need more of a balance of colors in both decor and fashion.

Thank You

2012-05-15T04:48:00.000-07:00

I found this quote on The Everygirl's Pinterest board and it really resonated with me. After reading all the touching comments and emails from yesterday's "Things I'm Afraid To Tell You" post, and then visiting all the other blogs that participated, it was incredibly reassuring to see how alike we all are. Intellectually, I think we know that, but sometimes it's really great to see it firsthand. One running theme seemed to be how hard everyone is on themselves... I guess this is just human nature.

Thanks again to Meg for putting this "second wave" together, and to Jess and Ez for the foresight in knowing the value and importance in sharing. For me, the whole experience left me energized in such a positive way.

Things I'm Afraid To Tell You

2012-05-14T04:56:00.001-07:00

You may have noticed some of these "things" posts out in blog land... It started out here with, Jess' Things I"m Afraid To Tell You and then Ez turned into a "movement" and now Meg from Mimi+Meg was inspired to keep the momentum going and included me in her round up this time around.

Basically, the whole point of this is to show a little bit of the reality behind all of our lives. Have you ever read a magazine article, blog post, watched a tv show, or even a commercial and got sucked into the trap of thinking or worst, even believing that there is some unattainable level of perfection out there that you are not meeting up to? I know I have! If you catch me on the wrong day, despite being old enough to know better...I too can be vulnerable to this type of thinking as well.

I think of this blog as a bit of a show, putting only my best side forward intentionally, and not really revealing a whole lot about my personal life or any of the "not so pretty" bits. I mean the whole premise here is really great design and style. But, I would never want anyone to ever read The Zhush and come away from it thinking that I've got it all together and lead a perfect life.

No one leads a perfect life. I could take some photos of what our house really looks like on any given day, not the stylized version that was printed in a magazine. (But, really, who wants to look at a messy house?) Half of the belongings were props that went back home with the stylist that day! It's the pretty parts of life that make the harder parts bearable isn't it? Sometimes we want to believe in the fantasy, that's truly the allure of magazines and blogs. But, I know first hand that sometimes all this believing can be too much, and we can be too hard on ourselves.

So in an effort to give a little insight and some transparency here are a few things "I'm afraid to tell you."

1. I had wanted to start a blog in 2008, and it took me over a year to work up the courage to do so. I'll often tell people it was on "a whim", but really it was more like a brave moment finally connected in my brain, and then, that day, on a whim...I went with it. My "whim" is really the fashion equivalent of "this old thing? I just threw it together, I've had it forever." That's another thing... I never just throw something together, on any given day I've probably torn my closet apart in an effort just to look presentable, it can be exhausting.

2. I've been talking about starting to paint again (I was a fine arts minor in college) and I'm now battling the same negative chatter in my head (see number 1). It will probably take me many more months to get past my own inner critic.

3. I have a tendency to be overly sensitive at times and I dread any type of conflict or controversy. I go out of my way to avoid it. I always have. Imagine the type of lawyer I made back when I practiced in New York City. Way to know oneself...

4. I often get e-mails from readers asking how I manage three kids, this blog, the store, etc. Usually they are from young moms looking for life balance advice. First off, I don't really manage...juggle is a bit more apt, and every other day I literally drop a ball or two...and I have HELP! The word "balance" makes me want to scream.

5. I sweat the small stuff and the smallest things have the potential to set me off in a jealous downward thought spiral. Most days I'm immune to such nonsense, but then suddenly, bam..a fit, young, yoga mom at check out in front of me in the supermarket, a friend's ultra organized and super clean house, a family of really well behaved kids in a restaurant. You name it, I've been jealous of it. I compare and mentally berate myself for NOT being whatever the insecurity du jour is.

6. I dread my Birthday every. year. I have a lot of hangups about aging and getting older. A Lot. It's my Achilles Heel. I don't like a lot of attention focused on me on my Birthday, but if it gets ignored, I'll freak! Basically, I expect everyone around me to be a mind reader, even though my own thoughts on this day are a bit of a mystery to myself.

Clearly, I'm only just glossing over a few things here, not because I don't want readers to know I'm flawed, or because I have an aversion to keeping things real. Life is real enough. Yours, Mine, all of it. I enjoy blogs for a quick diversion, and I assume my readers do too. But, it does feel good once in a while to do a reality check...everyone has their own fears, anxieties, insecurities and odd quirks. Everyone.

So, if you want more peeks behind the proverbial curtain, I highly recommend checking out all these incredible blogs participating today. Some of them really go there, and are a lot more brave than yours truly. Not an easy task, trust me....

Coco + Kelley / Court & Hudson / Sacramento Street / My Cup of Te / Crystal Gentilello / MIMI+MEG / The Decorista / Modern Eve / Apartment 34 / Design Blahg / Vmac & Cheese / Miles to Style / Life in a Venti Cup / Radiant Republic / Savvy Home / The Doctor's Closet / Design Manifest / Because It's Awesome /{extra}ordinary wonders / Sparkling Footsteps / Hitha On The Go / Note To Self / So Much To Smile About / Blogstar / The Goods Design / Style & Pepper / Small Shop Studio / Long Distance Loving / Maggie Rose Blog / The City Girl In Me / The Best Laid Plans / Concrete Jungle DC / Food Fashion Fitness / East Coast Chic
Thanks again to Jess for her initial post, and to Ez for starting the movement. And, finally,
Here are the bloggers that participated in Ez's Wave No.1 of Things I'm Afraid To Tell You:
Design for Mankind | Little Brown Pen | Beautiful Hello | Curating Style | Sweet Fine Day | The Jealous Curator | Happy Days | Sage & Berries | Really Handmade | Peck Life | Satsuma Press | Rena Tom | For the Easily Distracted | The Hemborg Wife | Vitamini Handmade | Courtney Khail Stationery and Design | Meg in Progress | Dando Photography Blog | Widdershins22 | Alison Citron | Pink Moon Daily | Just Pretty Things | From China Village | Tea with Me | The Darling Ewe | Not Your Average Ordinary | The Electric Typewriter | Elleby Design | Parsimonia {Secondhand With Style} | Life as an Artistpreneur | Hello Cupcake | Dellie | The A & B Stories | Pretty Little Things | Feistyelle | Nib & Zed | Well and Cheaply | I Ripple. I Dance. | Whitfield Awesome Blog | Foxtrot Press | Dry As Toast | The List of Now | Apple Blue | For the Love of | Four Flights of Fancy | Miss Modish | Snapshots & Secrets | Dirty Laundry | Bubby & Bean | Penelope's Press | Little Nostalgia | Vale Design | Pikaland | Fleurishing | Print Pretty | Vespa Tales | Hazel & Agnes | Amanda's Musings | Mo' Funk Designs | Ordinary Mommy | Camp 1899 | In Honor of Design | Liberty's Yarn | Love, Life & Pictures | Stacey Winters | Owl in the Rain | Living Life Creatively | Emma Elizabeth Clease | I Live in Vacouver Now | British Cream Tea

Monday's P.O.P.

2012-05-14T04:04:00.000-07:00

purely purple

Thank You Matchbook Magazine!

2012-05-12T05:40:00.000-07:00

It was an absolute thrill to find our tortoise shell salad servers as one of Katie's picks! Loved the whole round up, not to mention every page of this issue...thanks Matchbook!

Random Chanel Item No. 123

2012-05-11T05:19:00.001-07:00

Whether you're a mom, have a mom or just know a mom...enjoy this special weekend! Happy Mother's Day!

xoxo,

Future Fortified

2012-05-11T03:30:00.001-07:00

Future Fortified is a public awareness campaign of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). They enable individuals, businesses, and organizations to help millions of women and children around the world gain access to the essential nutrients they need to lead healthy, enriched lives. So when the people over at Future Fortified contacted me about the special Mother's Day photo series they were planning in order to raise awareness about it's campaign, I knew I wanted to help out by participating. All we needed to do was take a photo using this growth chart...we had a lot of fun creating this image, starring my youngest, produced by my oldest and art directed by yours truly!
Visit Future Fortified to learn more about all the great work they are doing.

Peeking Into Designer's Homes

2012-05-10T03:27:00.000-07:00

I love it when shelter magazines showcase a well known designer's home. Maybe I'll even make this concept a regular item here. The Architectural Digest feature on Suzanne Kasler's house, did not disappoint. This English Regency style manor located in Atlanta, Georgia was everything that you would expect from this talented lady. I especially loved her outdoor patio area, bathrooms and kitchen, but every inch of this grande abode is really spectacular!

$100 ShopBop Gift Card Giveaway!

2012-05-09T04:16:00.000-07:00

Today's giveaway is for a $100.00 gift card from one of my favorite online retailers, Shopbop! How great is ShopBop? Everyone I know is obsessed with shopping online, and with good reason. Sites like Shopbop make the whole experience so easy and stress free. And, now in addition to all of my faves like Joie, Equipment and Tibi, (I've highlighted my wish list above) Shopbop has gone ahead and added foundation garments to its ever expanding list of fashion all stars. I'm thrilled to see that they carry Hanky Panky, in addition to "new to me" brands, like Marlies Dekkers and Sloane & Tate. Shopbop even rocks blogging with the Shopbop blog. If you won this giveaway, what would you get? Leave a comment below to enter, one entry per person. GIveaway will run until midnight, May 20th, 2012. Winner chosen at random and announced Monday, May 21, 2012. Good Luck!