Image of the Day: So Simple...

Image via Design Sponge

Hey there...

I can't wait for these next two weeks filled with lots of quality time with family and plenty of home cooking. The weather is actually surprisingly chilly down here this week and I am loving every minute of it! Comfy sweaters and hot cocoa here I come!

I am attempting to make my very first turkey this week, cross your fingers that it doesn't come catapulting out of the oven like an I Love Lucy episode. So far I've already painted one of the rooms and I am proud to report that the whole "painting the ceiling" idea worked out beautifully ;-)

Have a fabulous last two weeks of 2009 everyone! I'll see you in 2010!

Love,

Mangonett

Image via Fashion Gone Rogue

Image of the Day: Lit Stairs

Image via Oliveaux

Overcast

Today is my last day of work and I can finally start the winter vacation. It's dark and rainy today, and the weekend's forecast says it will stay that way and even cool down. This whole week I've been so frustrated with my feet getting wet and cold from walking in puddles that I ordered these this morning. You would think that I would already have a pair living in a state known for torrential down pours. In any case, I've been craving some cool weather, it will give me an excuse to make some hot cocoa.

This weekend Mango and I are going to be tackling a whole bunch of projects around the house and I will be focusing on my painting projects all weekend. I bought the paint yesterday, so that's it, there's no turning back my friends.

Have a fabulous weekend, stay dry and warm!

Love,
Mangonett

image via Fashion Gone Rogue

Image of the Day: Swing

I LOVE these doors...swoon!

Image via Desire to Inspire

50 Rule

Times Online just posted their list of the Top 50 Design blogs. Huge congrats to them all! If you haven't read the article yet, head on over and check it out. You might spot some of your daily reads and even find some new favorites. Happy blogging!

Dear Betty,

Dear Betty,

Your love of sparkle inspired me to buy this the other day. I don't usually reach for the sparkle, however I think your ways of combining it with subtle colors gave me the push I needed to try something new. Lots of love for the inspiration.

Love,
Mangonett

The Boot.

I'm shopping for black leather boots. My old pair has seen better days and since I bought them when I was a teenager they're also a bit out of style. I need a pair that's more grown up, can work well with jeans or skirts, and that will last me a while. My max is $200 and even though I'm gaga over the black suede boots that are out there, I think leather would work better for me. So, right now I'm loving these bad boys: Nine West Zelipe $140 Ralph Lauren $179 Banana Republic $198


I'm taking votes! Which boot do you like best?
Can you recommend a boot that you love?
Please help me decide!

Image of the Day: Floating Ballerina

via The Cherry Blossom Girl

Cute.

Adore this outfit, plus she's fueling my personal frenzy of trying to find the perfect, flowy, cream blouse.

Image via Stockholm Street Style

Image of the Day: Feeling Blue

Can you tell I'm in the mood for blue today?

Image via Decorpad

Painted Ceilings

I'm planning on painting two bathrooms in the house this week. I've already chosen the colors and plan on hopping over to Home Depot either today or tomorrow to pick up the paint. However, this morning while I was taking a shower I happened to look up and realized that our bathroom ceilings don't have popcorn! Which then lead me to the idea of painting the ceilings.I've always loved this idea, but figured I'd have to wait because our entire house has popcorn ceilings...until I realized that the bathrooms didn't. AH HA!According to Casa Sugar, by painting the ceiling a pale hue of a cool color, you can actually create the illusion of height and make the room feel larger. The opposite is true with a dark hue of a warm color, it can actually bring the room in and make it feel more intimate. Each bathroom is being painted in a tone of grey, one is a little lighter than the other, however both have low ceilings and not the greatest amount of light. So I'm hoping that painting the ceiling will open it up. I plan on starting later on this week, I'll let you all know how it goes. Wish me lots of happy painting dust!

Images via AT, Alicia B. Designs, Casa Sugar, & Domino

Love.

Love this top from Ph8. Pretty much loving the whole line, but this sparkly T is my favorite.

Hanging with the sea creatures...

This past weekend we made a little trip to SeaWorld. If you haven't been to this park yet, I highly recommend it. They've completely redone it, but have kept the best shows and attractions. The newest roller coaster, Manta, was in two words...awesome dude. We drove up and arrived at our hotel Saturday morning. Thanks to my mad sweet talking skills, I managed to get us an upgrade to a suite. As you can see Mango was very excited...after all, the room came with our very own Shamu squeaky toy which is now gracing our bathroom at home. Next, on to SeaWorld! Check it out, it's as if I'm in the tank with the manatees...yeah, not really, but it was fun to pretend.We saw tons of amazing animals, like sea turtles...rather large manatees and their babies...napping polar bears...and one of my favorites, beluga whales. This guy was particularly happy that day, he popped up to say hello and even did a few cartwheels for us under the water.It was time to go see the big guy...Shamu. The show is awesome, what can I say, giant Orcas flipping us mini-mammals out of the water, how can you say no to that?

Mango wanted to document me doing the "Shamu wave". You might think you're strong enough to resist the wave, but trust me, when you hear Shamu's entrance music it's all about doing the Shamu wave.All the excitement from Shamu made us a little parched, so we decided to head off to The Terrace. Where they have a rather sweet cafe and an even better beer counter... Oh, and pretzels in the shape of Shamu. Gotta love it.

Junk food makes humans obese too, look at that. The dolphin show is another favorite, I managed to catch one flipping in the air. I cheered like a 5 year old.

All of the other animals had "feeding times" and could only be fed by the guests during those hours. The sea lions, however, had the word "continuous" under their feeding schedule. If you dillydallied at all with their food, those guys had no problem yelling at you. Sort of reminded me of myself when Mango takes too long serving dinner.

Taking a little breather before dinner...

For dinner, we decided to "Dine with the Sharks!" as the brochure put it. I swear I saw a couple of those guys eyeing me during dinner...

We ended the night by catching the winter show and fireworks...Good bye SeaWorld!

Image of the Day: Textures

Image via Desire to Inspire

Gaga Oooh La La...

I just received the January issue of Elle over the weekend and I am in love with Lady Gaga's editorial spread. As always...so cool.

So what do you think? Style icon that future generations will be referring to along with the likes of David Bowie and Madonna?

Personally, I think her Bad Romance video clinched her spot as a style icon. We might not get it from time to time, but the woman is definitely fun to watch.

Like Mother Like Daughter

Check out how stinkin' adorable Emmanuelle Alt's daughter Francoise is. I wonder what their conversations are like when she's getting dressed...

Francoise: Mom, you wear the over-the-knee boots and I will rock it out in my classic striped T and trench. Oh, and tell Geraldine to wear those Isabel Marant boots again...I like those.

Emmanuelle: Brilliant.

image via Trendy Crew

Image of the Day: Black Fixtures

via Dress, Design, & Decor

Tootles...

I'm so happy the weekend is here!

Finals week is over and I can finally enjoy my three weeks of freedom!

To celebrate, Mango and I are heading off to Orlando for the weekend to see Shamu and I am so excited! Yes, I get as giddy as a 5 year old when I know that we're going to Orlando.

Once we get back, I have some serious plans for our little town home. Lot's of projects are on the list beginning with a project that started yesterday. I made a covert trip to Home Depot to pick up some paint chips. Yep, there is paint involved (que evil laugh now).

Have a fabulous weekend everyone! Until Monday!

Love,

Mangonett

image via Jak & Jil

Image of the Day: Striped

The second issue of Lonny came out yesterday... have you seen it yet?

image via AT