Target Tuesday.

I must say that this has been the rainiest year I can remember since living in TN. I'm already engulfed in a torrid affair with my beloved vodka, and oh so delicious oreo's. If there is any hope of me surviving this gloomy grey covered sky from lack of motivation, laziness, and sleepiness, the sun must come out. Otherwise, I am going to continue down a path of a 17 year old teenager with no direction, driving determination or enthusiasm. My biggest spurt of energy these days comes from the motivating force of walking to the fridge or the slightest chance of grabbing a cat nap. Oh those are good days! What is it about the rain and gloom that sucks all the life out of us? I really do need to invest in a comfy sofa for the office so I can slip in a quick nap or two.

(Nothing like a good old fashion CAT NAP!)

In an effort to boost my spirits, and ambition (did I ever admit to having any? I mean really, is it required or necessary to run a business...??) my target tuesday is going to be on candles. I have been lighting candles as big as a forest fire in my office and home, to TRY and kick start an ounce of inspiration and gusto into my everyday routine. Although I would rather make a trip to the fridge, and take a quick nap. In pursuit of this so called "motivation" (who really needs it anyway?) I have awakened a passionate, obsessive monster that prefers the recreation of doing NOTHING. So lets light some candles! Makes perfect sense.

I realize that there is every kind of candle known to mankind in our existence. Everything that can or could be added or subtracted has been done. The right ingredients the wrong ingredients, what ever necessary to sell that candle has been done. So why take on an industry that can easily run circles around me with precise execution? Well, it's simple really. Because I can! No good accessories line is complete without candles. And with Target as my driving force of support (they can be my motivation, ambition, enthusiastic cheerleaders) I can produce the BEST candles, at the BEST price.

My candles will burn for 80 hours or more. They will be soy based and have the best quality wax. Each candle will come with a wick trimmer to remind ALL of us that a trimmed candle is a better performing candle! They will have subtle but aromatic scents that eliminate everyday odors without knocking our socks off with over perfumed fragrances. There is nothing worse than bacon smelling freesia. And yes there are thousands of choices to choose from when selecting and buying candles. But I promise you this. These will be the prettiest, most fragrant and best quality candles you can buy for the money. So light up a candle, grab a bag of oreo's, and snuggle into your favorite Target blanket for a rainy day afternoon of movie watching.

They say it's my Birthday, whoop whoop!!

Once again Im sure you have all noticed my drunken absence....., a-hem, I mean lack of presence in the blogosphere. I was originally told that this blogging thing was a winter sport, or hobby rather. I find myself less interested in typing and more interested in gulping; it's so much more promising. I mean really, think about it, it's 30 something degrees outside, and Im wearing more clothing than an NASA astronaut headed to space. With all these layers of clothes I can barely manage to turn around or lift my arms without catapulting myself at warp speed to the ground of sludge and fall leaves. ( at least the leaves are pretty this time of year, and quite engaging. Might as well enjoy the view if Im going to be consistently stuck viewing them at microscopic distance.) So slushing down a few oreos and a sip of liquid warmth never hurt anyone.

The way I see it, if Im going to end up on the ground anyways, I feel the booze is just a better alternative as a winter sport. It keeps me warm, requires less clothing, and makes everything (even taxes, debt, and cranky customers) not seem so bad. Oh how I love the holiday season!!

Today is my birthday. So in true birthday festivity fashion I went to Costco and stocked up on my beloved booze of choice, VODKA. No need for work today. If any argument for self employment glory should stick (never mind the headache of payroll, taxes, employee bullshit, solicitors, paper work, staying late ALL the time, CUSTOMER bullshit and CLIENT bullshit) it is the shear fact that I can do what ever the hell I want with no doubt that the vodka will kick in quickly and the place could burn down with no regrets ( at least for today). Amazing little bottle of liquid courage and friend, oh how I love thee. Ha!

We at AB HOME have been in the midst of preparing for our HUGE annual warehouse sale. It is our anniversary in the grandest proportions. Why I have to give my crap away to the public for MY anniversary at stupid prices I will never know, thus, we have been knee deep in tagging inventory hell for the past three weeks. Over 700 SKU's of product slashed to ridiculous prices. Never lower. This is the time to buy, buy, buy. And at this moment, if I look at one more plate, deck of playing cards, holiday what-not, or accessory, well it just may require another slurp of my fruity vanilla liquid gold of, "AHHHH, much better."

Today my friends, it is good to be BOSS lady. It is 8am and I am still in my pj's . My intentions for the day...well no major plans. Everyday is a freaking roadmap of take care of this, make sure you do that, don't forget to call so and so, get blah, blah done before... and so on. No agenda other than:

1) write blog post so bloggyland doesn't think Im in a permanent drunken stooper under a bridge in elated bliss,

2) make turkey sandwich for lunch (with a few oreos)

3) Watch as much trash TV as humanly possible

4) MAYBE go for a walk to wash off the guilty pleasures of life, and get a little fresh air to rinse off the smell of booze, oreo crumbs and lord knows what else, before the family comes at 6 .

And not necessarily in that particular order. Yes, it's good to be BOSS lady today! Hope all of you in bloggyland have a fabulous Friday and a great weekend. Cheers!

Target Tuesday.

In honor of our make-up wearing, costumed loving Halloween merriment, I wanted to slip in a little holiday festivities for our TT today. Typically I wouldn't add Halloween to my category list of Target Tuesday must haves. But this year will be my nieces last youth, dress up to get free candy before you are an adult, Halloween. She is delighted and sad all in one big plastic pumpkin container of candy. Oh to be young again!

Halloween isn't really one of MY favorite holidays. But, I do love the magic, excitement, and anticipation it brings to young faces everywhere. I enjoy seeing the wonder, fear, and make believe pleasure it brings to young and old alike. And who doesn't love candy! IT HAS SUGAR IN IT!!!

So for my lovely niece, and her bon voyage to youth, I will design a decorative over-the-top acrylic candy container. Carved and molded into fun ghouls, princesses, and Vampires (what is halloween with out vampires?) They will be light to carry, clear so candy can be visible (you have to SEE the potential sugar count) and they will have ribbons for handles. Once the night of Halloween has wrapped up, the decorative acrylic holder can be used as a candy dish, candle holder, or a vodka mug, I mean beer mug. Candy and vodka! Who doesn't love that combo?

And I suppose for those of you are caring, involved, and conscious these delightful containers can be used to plant a tree, or shrub and give as a gift. Multi functional. Love that!

Mecca for furniture buyers!

Me and Tobi Fairley at the withit breakfast
Tobi and some adoring fans

Me and Annie Selke at the Vanguard showroom

Mary Knackstedt during her educational seminar fro designers

Karim Rashid. THE best product designer out there. He designs everything from cell phones, vacuums, trash cans and furniture. Most likely, you have used a product, or own a product designed by this man!

I have returned from the glorious and infamous HIGHPOINT furniture market. It was larger than life. I could not believe how amazing it was. But most importantly I couldn't believe how many people were at HIGHPOINT!

I wandered around aimlessly trying to find my way out of the airport in my rental car on the first day. After four failed attempts and a wasted hour, I began to get frustrated. Holy Mary and Joseph bring me closer to Jesus! Finally after an hour and a half I found the holy grail, CHIPOTLE. After I consumed my yummy and delicious burrito bowl I decided to head to HIGHPOINT. I got on my shuttle to head downtown. Unsure of what I was about to see I grabbed my seat in anticipation. The shuttle driver pulled out of the depot and headed down the road. He made a left and then a right. We started driving down a residential neighborhood. The beautiful old oak tree branches slapping the bus windows. All of a sudden we made another left and the furniture mecca opened up! I couldn't believe my eyes. Furniture showrooms everywhere! Sparkly, shiny, calling out to me.

I went to several seminars and so many incredible showroom's. with celebrity designers promoting their lines everywhere. Here are a few pics of the many great people I met!

High Point Market

Well as if I wasn't busy enough, I am running around the house frantically trying to pack! Can the cat go in the overhead compartment? She is insistent that she goes. I guess I can shove her under the seat, but she will be disappointed to find less than perfect accommodations. She is convinced that this trip includes kitty food, kitty toys, and grandma. Well she is right about grandma!

I leave at midnight. First time in highpoint, so Im a bit nervous. Its large. Showrooms are sprawled out all over. But I will have mom, and her and I plan to hit the town (all in the name of furniture manufacturers) whoo hoo, what fun! SO I will report back, with pics of course, about all the happenings and mishaps that we encounter. Hopefully we will find all sorts of good stuff! Happy weekend to all!

Busy, busy, BEE!

Im sure all of you have been wondering where I have been. And if not, I will pretend that ya'll care because it makes me feel important. ( It is essential to my existence, without it I and my fellow designers will go extinct; it's a proven fact) To put all of you at ease, I have not been ignoring you. I have been incredibly busy. (eating oreos, brushing my hair, and watching Oprah) hehe Actually, I am participating in the Living Green in Green hills show house, of which I have one week to put together a plan, and install. The event planner, and builder of the home had another designer pull out at the last minute. So who does she call? Yep, AB HOME Interiors, AKA the don't worry, we will fix it, holy Mary and Joseph crisis, FIXERS! I have quite a knack for pulling things together in very short amounts of time. I suppose it is the combination of stupidity, lack of time to procrastinate, and pure ADRENALINE!

I am a tad worried about the overall look. Because of the lack of time I am using what I got from my own showroom. No time to think, and analyze. No time for research to come up with a killer plan, and no time to be clever. I must say I have put myself in these situations before. With fairy dust, and a little magic I pull off miracles. I believe that the finished product will be awesome. I always amaze myself once the crazy psycho in me calms down! EVERYTHING MUST BE PERFECT!!!

On top of the one week deadline for the show house I am working with my clients and their time constraints,( I currently have 35 active clients!) and we are preparing for our annual WAREHOUSE SALE!!! Over 600 skus go on sale for one day only. It is absolute madness!!! Incredible, stupid prices, on everything from dishes, accessories, lamps, holiday, gifts and more! It takes us six weeks to prepare for this event because it is so big. As if there wasnt enough crazyness to go around I am leaving for Market next Friday for over a week. I feel like an on coming train is approaching me at warp speed and instead of moving off the track to avoid harm Im just staring at the pretty light and listening to the honking horn, walking closer and closer to the explosion!

Hopefully things will slow down as we get closer to the holidays. Just know that I am around. I may not be blogging as frequently as you all may like. (I know how much you love and adore, and wait on pins and needles for my next post!) I suppose it will make each post that much sweeter. I hope you all have a wonderful Saturday, and if you would like more info on the warehouse sale send me an email and I will give you the details!

TARGET TUESDAY!

So have ya'll noticed a little lapse in my presence? Yes, yes Im fully aware. I have a laundry list of excuses. Ive been so busy clipping my toenails, washing my hair, catching up on guilty pleasures, eating doritos, and trapping raindrops on my tongue. Gotta wash those oreos down with something! As much as I love fall, it definitely plays havoc on my mood and motivation; or lack there of. I have been motivated about as much as a one legged man in a butt kicking contest. Ehh!

We had 23 straight days of rain. Then like church is to Sunday's the sun came, the angels were singing and I found myself frolicking in the office, and skipping through the halls. But all good things must come to an end. The frolicking turned to angry A.D.D and the angels left only to be replaced by lucifer, I mean doritos and oreos. It has been raining, drizzling, pouring blah, blah, for the last two days. I swear to holy heaven on earth if I eat any more oreos, sugar snaps, juji fruits, dots (lord have mercy they have SUGER in them) Im going to catch ADHD, with a side of no attention span, and a week long overdose in the form of a much needed nap. So this week my TT will focus on one of my favorite, favorite garments-ROBES!

ioffer.com

Robes are toasty warm, and best of all ONE SIZE FITS ALL! Plenty of room for oreos, fruit slices, and olive garden; OH and don't forget a slice of homemade peach pie. YUM! But despite my love for the frumpy, solid colored terry robe, I have decided that I am going to amp it up a notch. My robes will be made of silk, but lined in flannel. I want to have gorgeous colorful patterns that remind me of fall, winter and spring, so when Im stuffing my face there will be a small reminder of the importance to have the shape of a woman, and not Mr potato head. No guarantee that the silhouette you once donned over the summer will return, but remember ladies, one size fits all, so plenty of room for expansion!

They will have the warmth of flannel but the exterior luxury of silk. (You have to feel pretty when you're munching on doritos.) The patterns will be large over exaggerated paisley's, damasks, polka dots, and florals. They will be fun, pretty, warm and most of all COMFORTABLE! And when Spring returns, the birds start chirping, and the snow melts you will have the ability to remove the flannel lining for a comfortable summer cover up.

http://www.hillesodesigns.com

I hope all of you are making your way through this fall frolicking and skipping through the halls. But if you are not, grab a bag of oreos (double stuffed) throw on your beautiful silk Target robe, and plop in front of the tube to watch a new episode of CSI-Miami, and maybe even a little Oprah!

Sweet Dreams

As we approach fall there is nothing I love more than a comfy, cozy decadent bed. Beds set the tone for a bedroom. Its where the angels sing, and the sweet dreams occur. There is nothing I love more than an upholstered bed. They add a texture, depth and softness that other materials cannot achieve. Here are a few of my favs!

Jonathanadler.com

laneventure.com

olystudio.com

gracehomefurnishings.com

Enjoy those zzzzzz's, look out the window and watch those beautiful amber, gold, and pumpkin colored leaves fall to the ground, as you lay in your tousled 400 thread counts!

TARGET TUESDAY!

Is it fair to say we are in a recession? Or would our "situation" be better described as an economic meltdown caused by greedy, glutinous, money hungry pigs swallowed and consumed with insatiable affluenza? I for one do not ever recall a time where every business, big or small, was so desperate and motivated for everyones dollar. My husband and I went to the mall Saturday night. I realized that I had not been in the mall for over nine months. No need to go. They want money for all those pretty, sparkly, shiny new things. Money that I do not possess. And yet I sell pretty, sparkly, shiny new things, and I am desperate and VERY motivated to get everyones dollar too. Funny how the world works. I need money to eat (not really), pay bills (is that really necessary I paid those last month), and make sure I have enough left over for my heavenly, splendid drink of choice, dirty martini, two olives, yum! (a few hundred bucks should do.) But like so many Americans with little left over, I am unable to participate in the purchasing of pretty, sparkly new things. I have a budget and priorities to stick to. A martini and olive budget. My little martini makes all my old, tired worn out decorations look new, intoxicating (literally) and fun. And some times I wake up and find them in new places (How exciting!) So our Target Tuesday focus will be on decorative, fun and AFFORDABLE, piggy banks.

Piggy banks can be fun, flirty, practical, and decorative. My piggy banks for Target will be all those things, plus easy on the bank. *wink* I will have banks in fun shapes like stars, globes, urns and the tried and true, Mr piggy himself. To add to the fun they will have fun sayings on them like "martini budget", "maid", "allowance", "spa day", "rainy day", " I need a break", and so on. My banks will easily go with your everyday decor, and to add to the fun I will have chalkboard on the backs so you can tally your savings. How fun! And to add to that youthful nostalgia, I will offer some banks that can only be accessed by breaking them.( "I NEED A BREAK!")

My little piggys will add whimsy and fun to the everyday mundane of feeling broke. They will make you smile as you add that extra dollar AND they will produce cold hard cash! How great is that? Resourceful and efficient. Something everyone could use a little more of in this economic meltdown! Thanks for visiting us on this Target Tuesday!!!

Tips, tricks, and blacking out.

Oh how I love goofing off and doing whatever I want. No obligations, no responsibility...

photo by imtiredonline.com

As you all know I prefer to mouth off, play hooky or be naughty, rather than to save humanity from the greater evil on the planet or GASP! do something purposeful. What can I say, I was born in the projects, south of somewhere, with a drug addicted mother and and absent father.....are you buying any of my bulls**t? Yeh, I have had some problems working on this corner, no one seems to be buying any bullsh**t these days, probably the economy. Despite my desperate attempts to dodge, shake off, and elude my audience (does anyone actually read this blog?) I have come to the conclusion I can no longer avoid and escape the ruthless tactics to cheat my attention span.

I had a strategy. A plan of sorts to swindle my way out of this obligation and responsibility. EH! I hate the word Responsibility. When I signed up for this blog, if it can be deemed worthy of such, I guess I made a pact; (though I took it with less than a grain of salt.) But I KNEW it would come to this. I KNEW that the ugly "R" word would resurface, and a decision would have to be made. But like any good designer I simply IGNORED it. Surely it will just go away on it's own, right? My husband swears by this motto, in fact lives by it! If it works for him it will certainly work for me.....But they kept coming. One after another after another, they kept coming. The emails.

Denying any of the "R" word I had a choice to make. Reply to the emails, OR simply ignore them! Yes that is a grand plan. Making decisions is easy! We will ignore them and the "R" word responsibility will just go away. Like a 10 year old watching a movie with a sexy scene my mother would say, "pillows up"! So for the past 6 months I have kept my grimy, stained pillow up to my face. Peeking out occasionally to check the weather, feed the cats and of course, go pee. After all I'd rather enjoy my pillow with, and for good reason, than sell it for $2 dollars to cranky pillow lady!!

F-I-N-E!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I guess I have rejected and dismissed my obligations long enough. And I REALLY need to get this pillow cleaned! So with dragging feet, head slumped down, eyes rolling into the back of my head, and the largest, ginormous SIGH you can EVER imagine, here are some of my tips, tricks, and words of advice on design.....

1) Add stock trim to everyday cabinets. Whether you apply trim to your already existing cabinets, or off the rack cabinets for a new project, adding trim will give you a custom look for little cost.

This simple 1/2" trim on the front, upper cabinets can easily be added to glass, or solid cabinets (see bottom cabinets) This is an easy project and can be done in an afternoon.

2) Paint the inside of bookshelves and cabinets. It creates depth, and allows your accessories to pop. You can also use contact paper, or wall paper to give it a super fun pattern or texture. ( but keep accessories simple if you do this) Select a paint color or paper that compliments your existing decor. Easy to do and can be done in less than an hour

3) Mix and match hardware. GASP! you can do that? YES! You do not have to match every single finish in the house. Mix it up. It gives the house a more refined, collected look, and no so matchy. In this pic we have stainless appliances and oil rubbed knobs. Also the faucet is antique pewter.

4) Use ribbon and upholstery tacks to create a fun easy display space in a hall, kitchen, mud room, or laundry room. Ribbon and upholstery tacks can easily be found at any craft store. Use them to creat a border. You can use a little chalkboard paint, magnetic paint and cork board to put within the makeshift decorative frame. Voila! A great display for the grocery list, kids projects, To-do's and memorable pics. This pic below is not framed with ribbon but could easily be added.

5) Add buttons, trim or fringe to ready made pillows. Pillows can be purchased anywhere. (like the new line offered at Target by Amanda Burdge...*wink*) All craft stores have embellishments, thread, and needles. Pick out your favorites and sew them on. Even if you can't sew this is fail proof. ! Easy peesie, lemon squeezie. Once again, make ready mades custom with a little ingenuity. This pillow and other ideas available at mymomsshop.blogspot.com

6) Vodka. Drink plenty of this and EVERYTHING looks better! It can be found at any drugstore, liqueur store, or grocery store. Offered in numerous flavors, and best paired with sprite, seltzer or anything fizzy. As a extra bonus it will make you feel warm and fuzzy, (like that old boyfriend from high school, only better!) and will make all your trumped up worries go away..poof!... like magic!

May cause dizziness, blurred vision, loss of vision, (my eyes! Where are my eyes?!Oh they are right here where I left them...) increased sweating or spitting, forgetful breathing, turning blue and puking green, floppiness, sloppiness and constant crying, amnesia, drooping eyelids, nausea, and love for foreign, germ infested, porcelain toilets. Do not operate heavy machinery while taking vodka as it is known to cause sleepwalking, eating and driving while not fully awake resulting in pregnancy, Vegas marriages, one night stands, and finally, blacking out.