Until I get my studio set up at our new place, I’ll be posting mostly thrifty finds & ideas. If you’re interested in guest posting here, please email submissions (photos at least 500px wide) to melissa at melissaesplin dot com.
I’ve been a contributing guest blogger at Houzz for the last 3 monts and it’s high time I share my latest ideabooks with you!
If you’re not familiar with Houzz.com, it’s a comprehensive home decor site. There you can find home tours, the latest in home designs, trends & ideabooks featuring places where you can buy fantastic home items. I contribute to the latter. I scour the web for inspiring items for the home & I’ve had so much fun doing so. Here’s a little description of the ideabooks I’ve compiled thus far:
20 Art Prints for Under $100 – having art in the home is SO important! Pat yourself on the back if you have invested in originals. If you’re on a tight budget & want to get started collecting some fantastic art, you’ll definitely want to see this ideabook. I’ve aggregated 20 prints worth purchasing, all under $100. Most are under $50. I have quite a few of these in my own home.
19 Decorative Toys – Toys don’t have to be an eye sore or ridiculously expensive. Here’s a list of 19 design-friendly, kid-friendly toys that I wouldn’t mind displaying in my home.
20 Great Big-Box Finds – With my budget, I typically look to Ikea or vintage shops to find unique, but in this ideabook you’ll find 20 fabulous design finds for the home available online or at your local big-box store.
All of my ideabooks include items that I would consider buying myself, so you’ll find that most of the items published there are affordable. I hope you take a look around (especially at the art one – many of those items are made by independent artists)!
top: H&M, leggings: Thief + Bandit kids, socks: Children’s place, shoes: H&M
Also, last night I spent about 4 hours at H&M’s pre-opening party. It was fantastic! I spent a load of money & outfitted (mostly) our family for winter. I’ll say, the best about that shopping experience was that the place was SO organized & there was a sales associate at every turn. Sadly, though, I missed out on the skirt that I planned on getting: Hot Pink Pleated Skirt. I found what I thought was my size, but it turned out it was too small! Oh curses, reverse muffin top!! Anyone near an H&M with that skirt in stock?
I’ll look forward to your finds as I’m moving in a couple of months too!:)
I always get a size up or two from my regular size at H&M. Unfortunately the nearest one is over an hour away. $12 for that skirt is a great deal. I wish they would do online shopping. I LOVE LOVE LOVE their kids clothes. Penelope is probably still too little for them but forever 21 has girls’ clothes and they are so cute but they start at a girls 4-5. FOr example: http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=girls&Category=girls_dresses&ProductID=2000024396&VariantID=
AND:http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=girls&Category=girls_whatsnewall&ProductID=2005757344&VariantID=
AND:http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=girls&Category=girls_tops&ProductID=2069758179&VariantID=
I could go on…I hope these links work ;)
I was at the mall this afternoon and the line out of H&M was like a mile long. Word on the street is that people camped out to shop when they opened at noon. I didn’t bother waiting in line today. Instead we bought some Christams ornaments at Crate and Barrel?
Great finds with the art prints. Also, your little one is too darn cute.
I’m so jealous of your H&M. I wish we had one where I live! Penelope looks so cute – I’d love to steal her boots in my size!
I so so so so want that pink skirt too! I can’t find it at the Dallas H&M. They opened the store in early fall and it’s always CRAZY packed!
PS- penelope is seriously too cute.
That skirt looks fantastic – hope you find it!
Am not much help, we aren’t even near a country with a H&M.
That%20skirt%20looks%20fantastic%20-%20hope%20you%20find%20it!
Am%20not%20much%20help%2C%20we%20aren’t%20even%20near%20a%20country%20with%20a%20H%26M.%20
What size are you looking for? I’ll be running errands near my local H&M on Tuesday night!
Have u picked names for the giveaway_dont see any winners listed
Have u picked names for the giveaway_dont see any winners listed
Thanks agaian for this oppourtunity
Pen looks fab! I’ve drooled over those thief and bandits before. She’s a stunner!
Pen%20looks%20fab!%20I’ve%20drooled%20over%20those%20thief%20and%20bandits%20before.%20She’s%20a%20stunner!%20
Gotta love H&M. Did you see their Versace line? Love it.
P.S. You’re definitely not the first person to buy a size that ended up being to small at H&M. Their sizes are way off. I have to buy pants and skirts 2 sizes bigger there that what I usually buy. So, you’re not alone. :)