Comfort and Joy: An Interior Decorating and Lifestyle Blog

Friday's Fancies

2011-06-17T17:15:00.023-06:00

If I were going out for drinks tonight on a swanky patio downtown, here's what I'd wear:

Have fun all you luckies who don't have to work this weekend! ;)

Check out all the other fanciers at the Friday's Fancies party at Long Distance Loving!

Blog Crush: Lay Baby Lay

2011-06-17T14:13:00.000-06:00

I absolutely love an inspiring nursery. I'm always collecting inspiration in the "someday" file! So imagine coming across a whole trove of incredible, inspirational designs in a sweetly-designed blog, to boot!

Lay, Baby, Lay just rocks my socks! The looks presented are not overly babyish, and more often than not, feature great items that would transition nicely to a more grownup room or to other places in a stylish home.

For example, I fell completely in love with the "professor jr." look:

via lay baby lay

I was totally smitten by the nerdy baby vibe. ;) And all of the pieces are so re-purposable...

Equally impressive are the variety of looks that are featured. Regardless of your baby decorating aesthetic, you'll find a design that will make you smile.

Go check it out! Happy Friday browsing! :)

Blog Crush: The Golden Diamonds

2011-06-10T07:00:00.001-06:00

I came across Doina's blog, The Golden Diamonds and I've seriously found a new fashion obsession. This girl has incredible style and I've been reading through back posts of her blog for the last few days, not wanting to miss a single post.

I particularly love this outfit. It's so stylish and yet so recreate-able. The green purse is genius.

images via

I've been trying to restrain myself from pinning practically the whole blog to Pinterest. ;) There is so much inspiration to be had, so be sure to check her blog out!

A Sofa, Styled

2011-06-09T07:00:00.020-06:00

I still am really obsessed with this sofa from Anthropologie.

What I might do with it if it became mine:

Love That Sofa by Sarah @ Comfort and Joy on Polyvore.com

Pair it up with a bunch of eclectic pieces (like those pretty peacock feather pillows) and call it good!

If you had this sofa, how would you style it?

What I Wish I Wore Wednesday

2011-06-08T17:00:00.001-06:00

I'm not feeling well, so this post is going to be about an outfit I wish I was wearing today! A.k.a. - not feeling yucky and in my pajamas. ;)

Today I wish I was wearing this. Mouse over each item for details!

Get The Look by Sarah @ Comfort and Joy

I love this outfit because it pulls a lot of trends together (stripes, boyfriend jeans, nerd glasses, color blocks) without making its wearer look like a walking fashion emergency. That takes some skill right there!

It's cute, casual and super fun. I could see myself wearing this for a variety of occasions and reasons. :)

What also appealed to me is that I basically have all the pieces for this outfit and I could re-create it without much shopping. I steal Garrett's jeans for the boyfriend look, I've got about 4 striped shirts, have green flats. I'd just need to pick up (probably thrift) a pink cardigan or blazer and I'd have this outfit made! If Kendi can thrift a pink blazer, I bet I can, too, right? ;)

The Home Centric on Etsy

2011-06-06T07:00:00.001-06:00

Recently I came across The Home Centric shop on Etsy. Talk about pillow heaven at absolutely affordable prices!

While some other shops tend to be sparse with offerings, The Home Centric shop is bursting with an incredible selection of designs. Here are some of my favorites:

Cotton Linen Pillow Cover with Mother of Pearl

Plum Stripe Silk Dupioni Pillow Cover

Silk Pillow Cover with Ruffles and Pearls

Green Peacock Feather Silk Pillow with Sequin Embroidery

Black N White Silk Pillow Cover with Satin Ribbon Embroidery

Jute Flowers Cotton Pillow Cover with Mother of Pearl

Contemporary Yellow Suede Pillow Cover

Vintage Caramel Satin Pillow Cover with Ruffles and Crystals

Circle of Images Velvet Pillow with Mirror Embroidery

I love the attention to detail that has gone into these pillows! There's fun texture and depth imparting luxury to every single design. Hopefully I'll have an excuse to order from this shop soon. ;)

Which one is your favorite?

Cocoa & Hearts

2011-05-07T13:14:00.000-06:00

I'm loving Cocoa & Hearts, Jen Ramos' new collection of original artwork for sale. I've adored her lipstick dots painting for ages and I'm excited that her pieces are now available for purchase.

image via cocoa & hearts

Isn't she talented??

Stay tuned for a second round of paintings that will be coming to the shop shortly, including some smaller pieces. :) Also, check out her blog. It's one of the first few that I started reading when I joined the blogosphere.

Sofa Lust

2011-05-03T14:41:00.000-06:00

I'm obsessed with this sofa from Anthropologie.

It's been a while since a piece of furniture took my breath away.

Soo many things I could do with a piece like this. Some mood board fun may be imminent. :)

Quite Unique: Handmade Goods Sold Daily

2011-04-14T09:51:00.000-06:00

I discovered Quite Unique the other day and I wanted to share it with you, since I think it's a really cool idea. Curation is the digital currency of the moment and this little company is capitalizing on it. :)

Quite Unique sells small, limited quantities of handmade goods on a daily, limited basis. Once they're gone, they're gone! So if you love Etsy, but don't have hours to click around to find the most coveted stuff, Quite Unique is for you.

To get the daily goods, you'll need to sign up for an account. You can, of course, get email notifications so that you never are disappointed by missing a sale. Items to tend to sell out quickly on this site!

To pique your curiosity, here's a sneak peek of one great product featured recently:

I thought these little 'staches were a cute way to liven up a drink. They're perfect for parties. :) These little fellers sold out at Quite Unique, but (in case it was love at first sight) they're available on Amazon for slightly more.

Check it out and let me know what you think! :)

What I Wore Wednesday - 04/13/11

2011-04-13T09:57:00.000-06:00

It's What I Wore Wednesday. :) I've got a meeting to go to today. Time for a blazer and statement necklace!

Blazer - Bandolino (from The Bay)

Mustard Tank - Target

Jeans - Ross

Necklace - Gift

Basket Weave Flats - UO

Purse - Guess

Don't forget to visit all the other lovely ladies at The Pleated Poppy! I'm also linking up with No Model Lady.

Also, if you're feeling so inclined, hop over to Jess LC's Design Your Look Challenge and vote for my spring fashion pick!

Pamela Love

2011-04-11T07:00:00.002-06:00

I was browsing one of my favorite inspirational blogs, Moon to Moon when I came across jewelery designer Pamela Love.

image via theselby.com

Not only did I drool over her gorgeous, eclectic, bohemian home, I was instantly smitten with her rough, yet polished tribal jewelery.

All images are from Spring 2011 via pamelalovenyc.com

Pamela's work features exquisite shapes and forms. I absolutely adore this cuff bracelet. It's the perfect accessory to toughen up any sweet outfit.

I'm a fan of the "more is more" look myself, so I was happy to see all the layering of necklaces in the look book. I do this kind of thing all the time. :)

I love that jewelery for Spring 2011 ranges from mega-statement pieces to completely wearable designs. A sweet little ring like this has incredibly versatile appeal.

Be sure to check out the website to see (and drool over) her men's and classic jewelery lines as well. :) Which piece is your favorite? There is so much to choose from and to love in this collection!

And what did you think of her gorgeous home? :)

A New View

2011-04-09T11:35:00.000-06:00

Blogger has come out with a few new ways to access blogs, and I've been playing around with those new features today.

I think the most useful view is probably the flipcard view . Often times I remember seeing an item on a blog and I know it's there somewhere but am aggravated by extensive searching and flipping through blog posts. I like the idea of a quick and easy visual access to blogger blogs. :)

The sidebar view functions like a very pretty rss feed reader. Quick and easy to browse through posts!

The mosaic view is quite similar to Pinterest's layout. Unfortunately it only seems to pick up images that are directly uploaded through blogger and doesn't recognize images embedded in other ways.

I hope you'll find these new options useful, too. :) Happy Saturday!

Black Contrast

2011-04-01T12:47:00.000-06:00

I'm currently in love with the look of black contrasting frames. Especially when the rest of the design is black-free (or mostly).

Source: images.meredith.com via Sarah@ComfortandJoy on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Sarah@ComfortandJoy on Pinterest

I'd also paint out the interior doors in black to complement the look.

Source: plushpalate.blogspot.com via Sarah@ComfortandJoy on Pinterest

I love me some black doors. :)

Design Your Look Challenge at Jess LC

2011-03-31T10:33:00.000-06:00

Jess LC is hosting a fun "design your look challenge" this spring. Basically: design an outfit that you'd love to wear that incorporates 2 pieces of Jess LC jewlery.

With a prize to be won, of course I had to play along. Here's what I want to be wearing this spring:

(mouse over for item info!)

Jess LC Design Your Look Contest by Sarah @ Comfort and Joy

I love, love love the construction of those pants. And that Alexander McQueen top had me at hello. I just had to combine the two and mix in some fantastic accessories with Jess' jewlery. Time well-spent on Polyvore. :)

Want to play along? :) I'd love to see what you come up with!

Turn off the computer and go outside

2011-03-10T17:57:00.000-07:00

Today I took this one to heart:

Source: etsy.com via Sarah@ComfortandJoy on Pinterest

I think it's done me good. :) What a lovely day.

What I Wore Wednesday - 3/9/11

2011-03-09T10:14:00.001-07:00

After a couple days of nasty, cloudy weather, I was incredibly happy to see the sun this morning. It's supposed to be a nice warm day and I was definitely in the mood for spring:

I'm wishing for blossoms and blooms. Hurry up and come soon!

Sooner or later the trees and trellises will be dripping with new life.

Floral shirt - Target

Belt - F21

Necklace - Claire's

Earrings - H&M

Skirt - Thrifted

Purple hose - Target

Brown flats - F21

Don't forget to visit all the other lovely What I Wore Wednesday ladies at The Pleated Poppy! Today I'm also linking up with No Model Lady, Jewelscapes and the Color Brigade.

Mood Board Monday - Nursery Edition

2011-03-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

Today I'm linking up with Mood Board Monday over at Pewter + Sage. Today's challenge was to create a nursery around one of the two cribs provided. I chose this one, the Peyton Lifestyle crib in Espresso.

So without further ado, here's my inspired creation. Mouse over each item for more info:

Mood Board Monday Nursery Challenge by Sarah @ Comfort and Joy on Polyvore.com

The espresso finish on the crib mixed wonderfully with luxe, grown up furniture so I created a nursery that would appeal to adult and child alike. Mirrored casegoods and metallic finishes create high-end, neutral base for some whimsical accessories.

I picked up the blue, yellow and green from the Three Fat Birds print, repeating these colors in the drapes, throw pillows and the elephant wall print. I like how the bright, child-like colors pop against the monochomatic furniture choices.

I'm pleased with how it turned out. :) What do you think?

Also, don't forget to enter my giveaway for a watercolor painting from ElegancewithaSmudge on etsy. She's the super-talented one who created the Three Fat Birds print I used in today's mood board. Her sweet little watercolor would look great in a child's room, or would be perfect to bright up any other room in the house. :)

Resolutions in Review.

2011-03-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

Now that we've hit the third month of the year, I'm taking a second look at my resolutions and am reflecting on how things have been going.

Source: 29.media.tumblr.com via Sarah@ComfortandJoy on Pinterest

Blog Goals:

1. Get better at keeping up with series posts
Check. :) I've been revisiting my Mirror, Mirror series, Read This: book reviews, have created a spring-y bedroom mood board and have been photographing my outfits for What I Wore Wednesday.

I'm thinking about trying to create a regular posting schedule for my series. I'm willing to experiment with it and see if it will work for me. I've been thinking about the blog lately and I don't want to keep to a formal posting schedule if it means I'm going to start thinking about (and treating) my blog as "work" that I have to do. I definitely don't want to take the fun out of blogging and have it become just another obligation. But, I am willing to experiment. :)

2. Get better at taking pictures
I think this has been going well so far. I've been reading tons of fashion blogs for inspiration and have been collecting photo tips. Now that the weather's better, I've started going outside to get the light that my point-and-shoot camera needs. It's been a little bit tricky because morning light is harsh and it's been hard to get home in time to get golden evening light for pictures. Daylight savings time is coming soon, so hopefully that will help me out. :) Eventually I'd like to get a DSLR to capture really great photos.

3. Balance out a mix of pre-planned and reactionary blog posts.
So far, so good. I've been keeping up with my series and still have been able to respond to new things in the design and blogging world. :)

4. Pretty it up
I'm proud of having figured out how to make some great changes to the blog. I've added pages, which have freed up my sidebar quite a bit. I think it makes everything MUCH easier to find. :)

Source: weheartit.com via Sarah@ComfortandJoy on Pinterest

Personal Goals:

1. Devote time every day to stress reduction meditation/yoga/chanting/appreciation journal/etc.
I'm proud to say that I've created a habit. :) A little bit of yoga and meditation each day is definitely doable and I realize how much I've come to enjoy that time.

2. Embody success.
I've been doing a variety of exercises in order to further define my dreams and goals and then break them down into doable steps. It's been very helpful and inspiring! I particularly like Tim Ferris' dreamlining procedure. And Tim Ferris in general. I admire his spirit. :)

3. Be more choosy about what I put in my mouth.
This has probably been the hardest resolution to put into practice. ;) But I am doing much better, am eating at home rather than getting takeout all the time. I'm sure my wallet thanks me too!

So that's how things have been going over here. What do you have to feel proud about so far this year? :)

Giveaway: Watercolor Painting from Elegance with a Smudge

2011-03-02T10:33:00.001-07:00

It's time for my second blog giveaway! :) This giveaway is courtesy of my friend Kalyn who has a lovely etsy shop:

Now that she's a stay-at-home-mom, Kalyn has turned her love of art (she was an art major in college!) into a sweet little shop full of lovely things to decorate with.

Today she is giving away one of her items to a lucky reader! This piece is a 4 x 6 watercolor and ink of anemone flowers.

Collecting original artwork is a great way to decorate a home on a small budget. This pretty print is ready to brighten up someone's nest. Hopefully yours! :)

How To Win:

This giveaway is limited to residents of the US and Canada.

1 entry: Visit Kalyn at Elegance with a Smudge, and comment on my blog about your favorite item

1 entry: Favorite Elegance with a Smudge on etsy and comment with your etsy name

1 entry: Follow my blog with Google Friend Connect on the sidebar

1 entry: Tweet this giveaway

1 entry: Blog this giveaway

The winner will be selected from the comments left on this post, so don't forget to leave a comment for each entry! Please leave your email address if you don't have a blog, so I can get in touch with you. :)

The winner will be selected with random.org and announced in an update to this post on Tuesday, March 9th (1 week). I will email the winner.

Good luck, everyone! :)

EDIT: This contest is now closed. And here's the winner, Kayla! :)

Lusting: Monticello Architectural Plate

2011-03-01T17:36:00.000-07:00

I was browsing at Ballard Designs when this beauty, the Monticello Architectural Plaque caught my eye:

I would love, love, love to get this for my apartment. We currently just have the ugly middle-of-the-room ceiling fan that comes with a rental. :( I am so envisioning applying this to the ceiling and putting a beautiful chandelier (or at least a non-ugly ceiling fan) in its place.

Ballard has a 20% off sale (for everything that hangs on a wall) going on right now too. Ridiculously tempted.

Books: Crafting a Meaningful Home

2011-02-25T09:02:00.001-07:00

I've been checking out a lot of crafty decor books lately, and, to be honest, most of them have simply run together into one big blur of well-photographed sameness. As best-selling author Tim Ferris says, a lukewarm 'oh, that's nice' reaction is really the death knell of a book! So it was with great pleasure that I sat up and took notice immediately upon opening Crafting a Meaningful Home.

Crafting a Meaningful Home:
27 DIY Projects to Tell Stories, Hold Memories, and Celebrate Family Heritage
By Meg Mateo Ilasco
(available at Amazon)

via mateoilasco.com

First, there's the personal connection that develops. Nothing like a good story to hook a reader in! :) Each project is intimately connected to the people who created it, which invites the reader to linger a while on each page and contemplate rather than simply thumbing through magazine-style, gorging on image after image. However, this is not to say that this book is a not a feast for the eyes. It is indeed, though it's one that's mean to be savored rather than inhaled.

via book-by-its-cover.com

Second, I enjoyed the novelty of seeing projects that this decor-a-holic blogger has never laid eyes on before. The tennis racquet cross stitch above is just genius! It was instant love. :) The projects that I have seen before (like the crochet rug) are not terribly trendy but terribly cool. Even the silhouette project had a neat new twist. Refreshing. :)

via coochicoos.com

In summary, I'm terribly impressed with the combination of novelty and narrative that Crafting a Meaningful Home presented. It's a definite standout and well worth buying or borrowing from the local library.

Watch the Crafting a Meaningful Home book trailer here.

What I Wore Wednesday - 2/23/11

2011-02-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

Wednesday just keeps sneaking up on me! Check out all the other lovely ladies at The Pleated Poppy.

This morning Garrett and I went out the balcony. Now that the snow is gone, I'm itching to fill the beds with flowers and stake up tall stalks of tomatoes. Come on, spring!

Grey jacket - Costa Blanca

Black ruffled shirt - Costa Blanca

Necklace - Claire's

Earrings (can't really see 'em) - Claire's

Jeans - Ross

Black heels - I forget! The mall :)

I love being outside without a coat on. :)

Spring Mood Board

2011-02-22T13:50:00.000-07:00

If you're feeling a bit down about the weather, here's a fresh, spring-y mood board I put together to drive those winter blues away.

I'm so loving that bright floral duvet. It just sings spring! :) What are your go-to items for a dose of spring inspiration?

Throw Pillow Roundup

2011-02-21T10:42:00.000-07:00

Hope you're enjoying your President's Day! :) I spy with my little eye some pretty pillows. Here they are, rounded up!

Throw Pillow Roundup by Sarah @ Comfort and Joy on Polyvore.com

UO - Ruffle Stripe Pillow, $32
UO - Floral Scarf Print Pillow, $32
DwellStudio Home Peacock Citrine Pillow, $58
DwellStudio Diamond Ikat Square Pillow in Citrine, $58
Ruby Red Rose on Cream Pillow by bedbuggs on Etsy, $22
Gray and yellow polka dotted poppies - buttonandthimble on etsy, $15

Does it surprise you that I picked a floral and a stripe? ;) I think you already know about my obsession...

Lastly, I have a small request for you: Saturday was the one year anniversary of this lil' ol' blog's creation and in honor of that, I've created a reader survey. Would you take it, pretty please? :) I'd love to hear your thoughts and incorporate your feedback to make Comfort and Joy even better!

What I Wore Wednesday - 02/16/11

2011-02-16T09:18:00.001-07:00

It's What I Wore Wednesday time again! :) And I've got to say, I'm absolutely loving this warm weather that Denver is having. Since I'm on vacation, I've spent the last two days outside as much as possible and I have plans to spend a good chunk of today outside as well.

Before I show you my lovely warm weather outfit, I want to show you this dress I've been obsessed with by Tibi:

Totally darling, but a bit on the pricey side.

By luck I found a similar shirt version of this dress at Ann Taylor Loft (on sale, no less!) and snapped that baby up! Here it is in my outfit I'm sharing for today:

Stripe & Lace Shirt - Ann Taylor Loft

Cardigan - H & M

Necklace - Claire's

Jeans - Papaya

Boots - Madden Girl
Purse - Guess

Garrett took this picture with his Android when we were at the zoo. It was really the perfect outfit for strolling outside on a nice warm day. :)

Don't forget to check out all the other lovely ladies at The Pleated Poppy!