Honk! Honk!

Oh I am so jealous of that horn! Still have yet to get mine fixed-- so annoying to have to drop the car off. Isn't that funny, I was home all day today. Could have totally dropped it off and had it fixed but it is sooo hard to live without the option to go somewhere. Silly, I know.

Anyway, 10 more minutes and Friday is a gonner. I'm just under the gun. So I better hurry! Honk honk! I really wanted to bring you a polyvore of all the fun things I scored at Forever21 yesterday but dear GOD is it hard to find things on their website. I just couldn't hack it. Then I got completely sidetracked thinking about our upcoming trip to NY and wondering what in the world children wear on their feet when it is 30 degrees outside...the last thing I want to do is walk around the city with complaining kiddos (although they are so excited that I'm not sure that they will even think about the cold!) I did manage to find some good options for them. And ordered them a size larger so hopefully they'll get at least a few wears out of them next year. Now I have to organize scarves, hats and gloves-- warm ones...may have to go out on the hunt tomorrow. Who knew this trip would be so much work. It's been in the mid 70's here so it is going to be a REAL shocker for all of us, but we are so happy to be going. Visiting family, friends and NYC.

nyc by simonehowell featuring vintage boots

So-- here is a little ode to NYC. Both pairs of women's boots will be accompanying me. One I think will be able to brave the elements..the others...not so much. It's going to be crazy packing around here. And that's only after the baby shower next weekend. February is shaping up to be chaos for me. Baby shower (for my brothers baby), trip to NY and the father daughter dance at school. I'll need a serious break come March! Now back to my maxi dress obsession.... (Go sneak a peek at my facebook if you don't know what I'm talking about)

luvluv and Carlos Bakery(it's on the NYC list fo' sho'!).
Simone

Free Love - A Romper Giveaway.

The shop is back open!! Yay, finally! It is loaded with vintage jewelry along with a few embellished pieces and the three rompers-- Which I lurrrve. I was hoping to get it all finished today to tie in with the Gardenhouse Giveaway on Fabulous Fun Finds. Head on over there and check it out. A Romper is up for grabs! For you. For free. From me. And Heather too! Love Heather! Good luck ya'll. ( check out all the other amazing giveaways Heather is doing as well....loads of great things!)


Check back here once that giveaway is finished...I may have a consolation giveaway... we'll see..... Well check back in before then too. I am sure I'll muster up something stylish for Friday. I also have a good rant ready for the next few days. Elementary school has my panties in a bunch! Well really just one particular teacher but none the less, I feel a rant coming.


Who doesn't love a free romp(er) and rant?? ;)

luvluv.
Simone

Makin' up for it Monday

We had a fabulous day in the garden yesterday. We started the morning at the garden center --bought some lettuce, larkspur and bachelors buttons then came home and worked in the garden all day. Indulged in a late afternoon bath and glass of wine, cooked dinner and then sat and wondered why I had no motivation to head into the studio! lol. Duh. Maybe the wine and the bath at 4pm were not sure a good idea! So today I am making up for it. But I thought I would share a few shots from the garden as well as the rest of the romper line today. I am absolutely loving the rompers. They are soooo dang cute! I'm obsessed with the Amy Butler fabric in this one.

And the wallflower print and blue velvet ribbon in those one-- I'm in lurve I tell you.

I am planing on opening the shop this Wednesday or Thursday. The rompers will be available in sizes 3/4, 5/6 and 7/8 custom sizes aouve that can be ordered. They will be selling for $67.00 . A few less baths and 4pm cocktails and hopefully thing should go as planned.

luluv flowers and wine.

Simone

Studio Romp

It's been an extremely productive week in the studio. I was feeling really good about blogging, sewing and the like and then I missed Friday's style file post. So instead of the Jersey Shore style file I thought I would share with you some of what I have been working on. I get many requests for children's clothes so I have decided to to a small girls line for Spring and Summer. My plan is to offer two styles of dresses and three different rompers. Oh my-- the rompers! TDF!

They are the quintessential "what a little girl should wear in the summertime." (althought they would be adorable with a long or short sleeved tee underneath as well.) The colors are vibrant of course and unexpected as usual. I am loving them! Today is dress and photography day.

I'm starting to feel like I don't get a break from work and am dying to do a little gardening so maybe I'll make a little time to hit the garden center today also. Oh, and I 'll be making cupcakes with the girls-- gee, I better get a move on!

luvluv.

Simone

Karma.

Sunday I returned home from a fabulous flea market adventure, Mr. H must have sensed I was in a great mood, feeling relaxed after having a full day at the flea market to myself. He says to me "You have to see this car. I am in love with it. I think it will be the perfect car for commuting. But please keep an open mind" You see, we have been looking for a car for Brian for a few weeks testing driving loads of different cars but always running into the same problem. Most luxury cars seem to be designed for a guy who is 5"11 or shorter...and Brian is 6'2". "Oh dear," I think to myself. "This is coming from a guy who carried a briefcase in college instead of a backpack....."

So I glance down at the i-pad and see a photo of a big black caddy! Not the sporty, smaller one (which by the way is a GORGEOUS car) not the mid-sized one...NOPE! The big, hunkin' DTS. Full size, my friends. Hotel room on wheels. I laugh and say "Ummmm. I wouldn't be caught dead in that car. Only old people and Boss Hog from the Dukes of Hazzard drive those" and I hope that I have heard the end of his Caddy dreams. By Monday Brian had test drove that car along with a Volvo. Both cars would work but he reeeealy wanted to DTS. So I caved. After all, who am I to tell the guy what kind of car he can drive?!? He is the one that spends so much time in the car for our sake, commuting so that we can live outside of the city he works in. He's a great hubby and a great dad so he should get what he wants....I gave in, slightly cringing at the thought of driving that beast around town (even though I really don't have to all that much) I was telling our friend about it and he said "Oh, yeah I just saw a photo of Pauly-D from Jersey Shore driving one of those, they're pimp sleds." Is that supposed to help?? Um...no. But what does help is that karma caught up with me the next day.

I scored a vintage Givenchy crest necklace and earrings set at one of my local antique haunts. SUCH a Rachel Zoe moment. I am smitten!! I guess compromise is good and it comes back two-fold! So now at least I'll have great jewelry to go with my Snookie bump hair while riding in style with my very own Pauly-D!

luvluv and Caddy style! (ohhh, maybe that will be Friday's style file??)

Simone Snookie Howell.

Fabrics and Finery

Yesterday I spent the day at my all time fave flea market....the one that I think has the best jewelry. What a fantastic day! It was in the low 80's (yes, can you believe it? Snow two weeks ago and now this?!) and I mosied around the market for 4 hours! Indulgent.

I found some really amazing pieces. Once the shop re-opens, probably around jan 24th, I'll be adding more jewelry pieces to the mix. now decided to start offering more jewelry in the shop as well.

Some I will be embellishing, like the gold beaded necklace above-- it has a vintage brooch simply pinned onto it. STUNNING!

Something I found interesting as I was looking at jewelry-- I kept pairing them up with different fabrics... Like this bracelet....

I could totally see worn with a top or dress done in Amy's fabric shown above.

And this bracelet-- with the most AMAZE clasp ever could totally pair with one of Jennifer's Queen Street fabrics. LOVE!!! I sort of amused myself as well as thoroughly enjoyed myself -- pairing jewelry with fabric as I sauntered around one of the happiest places on earth in the glowing sunshine.

Time well spent.

luvluv.

Simone

Mad for Shoes.

Everyone loves fabulous shoes, right?? And I believe part of my purpose on this earth is to spread the love in the form of fabulous accessories, shoes and clothing. Usually the fabulous shoes are in the form of a polyvore; because I don't and can't make them!! I had planned on getting my nieces shoes from Joyfolie for Christmas (and by planned I mean thought about it for two minutes on the day before it was too late to order for Christmas delivery-- because that is how I roll in December!) I know Jessica's shoes are close to impossible to come by-- so i am not sure why I thought I would just mosie on over there and pick up a few pairs. Ha! Those of you who stalk her blog are laughing at me! So I found myself in a bit of a pickle. I did find these fantastic shirts. "Mad for Shoes" Aren't we all?? So I ordered a few of those and then decided, I would have to make the shoes myself. Soooo, off to etsy I went to find a pattern...which I found here. And then it was on to fabric selection and a little elbow grease.

Are the results not the cutest ever?? These are for Miss Lillian. They are done in Maeve from Jennifer Paganelli's new line called Queen Street. I.heart.Jennifer. Full stop. Every fabric she produces is fantastic. And she is a doll to boot! The little flowers were made by simply hand gathering silk seam binding and then stitching it into a little rosette.

I bought a load of seam binding from French Market on etsy-- they have every color under the sun! The beads and buttons are vintage (as is to be expected right??)

And of course a pair for Miss Evie-- A little Amy Butler Love! A hand rolled silk rose and again more vintage baubles. I love them both!!

The father daughter dance is coming up at school. If my two sasses were not so obsessed with the idea of finally being able to wear a little heel I would think about making them some. But what ev's! Neither of them would even consider letting me make them a dress either! What's up with that???

Happy stylish Friday!

luvluv

Simone

Sunshine

A bit of a stressful day here. Had to make the same thing over three times due to silly mistakes-- mostly due to the fact that I am distracted by family concerns. I would say I try not to let things get to me. But they do. It is just in my nature. I envy those who can get thru a full day of uninterrupted work with family issues going on. Me?? Ahh, not so much! I am Emo (tional.) I make no apologies for the passion I feel for my family. I.heart.them.

By this afternoon I was totally drained and I could not believe how quickly the first school pick up had snuck up on me! So I dredged my bad attitude out of the studio to pick up three little peaches. Miss A and her two friends. Giggles and all. Thanks goodness for them. I was droning through the drive home, sort of listening to the radio and sort of listening to them chat and giggle. And then I heard Miss A say to her friends "You know, my mom IS the best driver in the whole town" It was honestly like some was tickling me. LOVE her! A complete change of attitude- in an instant! Amazing how a little sunshine can instantly change your mood!


1. SUNSHINE quote, 2. lush, 3. Vintage Mini Cooper , 4. lush

And yes, do you not die for these prints?!!? I am obsessed with Anne. (her TDF work is available here) I am obsessed with Miss A too. I think they both have such an amazing outlook.

Wishing you a little sunshine in your life.

luvluv.
Simone

Fabulous Choice

I sat down to start this post a half hour ago!! My mind is jumbled as there are too many things I want to write about! Funny....that doesn't often happen! I was going to write about the New year and Resolutions and how I don't really make them, I just want to continue to improve myself, to constantly take stock in where I am, where my family is, my relationships and my work. Where do I want to go? Where have I been?

So I went in search of a quote that would hopefully tie it all in, they are not easy to find. Some fit but didn't get the full message. You would think that I would have a treasure trove of favorite quotes, as it seems like most people do. I don't I have a few faves, but other than that I'm empty! I do often turn to Sasha at Everything Fabulous for a dose of inspiration and came across a post of hers from this past summer. It is an excerpt from this book, Matthew Kelly's The Rhythm of Life.

"Everything is a choice.

This is life greatest truth and its hardest lesson.It is a hard lesson, because it causes us to realize that we have chosen the life we are living right now. It is perhaps frightening for us to think that we have chosen to live our life exactly as it is today. Frightening because we may not like what we find when we look at our lives. But it is also liberating, because we can now begin to choose what we will find when we look at our life in the tomorrows that lie unlived before us.


Life is choices.

You have chosen to live this day. You have chosen to read this book. You have chosen to live in a certain city. You have chosen to believe certain ideas.You choose the food you eat, the clothes you wear, and the thoughts you think. You choose to be calm or restless, you choose to feel appreciative or ungrateful.Love is a choice. Anger is a choice. Fear is a choice. Courage is a choice.

You choose.

You may argue that you are forced to live in a certain city or drive a certain car, but it is not true. And if it is, it is true only temporary and because of a choice you have made in the past.We choose our lives, and in doing so, we design our lives.Perhaps one day we will realize that we have chosen much more than we have even imagined.I hope that day is today.For the day we accept that we have chosen to choose our choices is the day we cast off the shackles of victim-hood and are set free to pursue the lives we were born to live."
~ Matthew Kelly from the book The Rhythm of Life

I choose improvement, forward motion and dreaming big. I choose to start the year by finishing up my studio redec that started many moons ago! Those are a few shots of the finished space. What do you choose for 2011?

luvluv.

Simone

Surprise start.

What a way to start the year! It hasn't snowed here in I don't know how long. I think once since we have lived here-- and it was really three minutes of slush falling from the sky. Yesterday we actually had snow accumulate on the ground! Keyyyy-razy!

The dogs went mad, the kids went mad! So fun! And so cold!! The kiddos were outside in the only gloves we have-- knit and fleece, not at all waterproof....but when you are young and you can make a snowman in your own backyard-- and you live in Southern California-- you don't seem to mind frozen hands!

We are supposed to get more today, under a "winter storm advisory." One to four inches. It's nonsense I tell you! I think I'm going to cozy back up in bed. Thank goodness we don't live on the East coast. I would be worthless when it snowed!

A view from the studio window. The heater is on in there now-- I'm waiting for it to warm up before venture out!

I hope the rest of 2011 is filled with fantastic surprises like this one!

luvluv and snow boots.

Simone