Friday Favorites - The Industrial Shop

I love Target!  I know, "join the club" right?  But really, they make sprucing up your home on a seasonal basis really affordable.  They always seem to have the on trend design that other more expensive stores do, but at a more accessible price.  Now don't get me wrong, I also love higher end stores and the quality of products they offer, but when it comes to an accent piece or a detail that may come into fashion then be gone in a year ....or even less, I feel much better paying Target prices.

Target.com has a new area called "The Industrial Shop" filled with a mix of Steampunk meets Modern Farmhouse decor that is "in" right now and a lot of fun to play with!  Here are some of me favorite pieces:

1. Island Light - I'm looking for something like this for over my dining room table.  I love the     rectangle shape with the Edison bulbs and it's fun, not too formal.

2.  Bowling Pins - When styling table tops or shelves tall, thin, not to busy items always come in handy.  These bowling pins are just that and help fill out a vignette, without being too imposing.  Plus they're cute!

3.  Throw Pillows (here and here) - Our sofa is a revolving door for throw pillows and I change them out constantly.  These are both fun and neutral.

4.  End Table - This table can work next to your sofa or put two together as a coffee table.  Then when your get tired of them, they'd make a cool night stand in a boy's room.

5.  Iron Bed Frame - These never really go our of style, it's just a matter of how you "style" them.  Left as is for a classic, rustic look or drape the headboard with a rug or fabric to change it up.

6.  Umbrella basket - Now I don't know how often people use umbrella stands or baskets in this case, but it's blue and it's cute, so what else really matters.

7.  Area Rug - So I'm a sucker for anything gray and striped to begin with.  This rug has just enough of a pattern to be interesting, without being busy.  It could ground a room quite nicely.

8. Seeded Glass Up Light - This is a fun and unexpected accent lamp that would work just about anywhere you would need additional lighting.  

9. - Metal Basket - Everyone needs a catch all.  Something to drop the mail in or keep the remotes all together and this would be a great way to use this basket.  It comes is a couple of finishes, but I especially like the bronze one.

This is not a sponsored post, but I'll love to work with Target.  Hey Target, contact me!

Where I've been, Where I'm going.....

(image from @designcrush on Instagram)

So it’s been a while, huh.  This past year has been a series of starts and stops for me, and this blog reflects that.  I had lots of good plans and high hopes.  But life is busy and I got side-tracked.  Unfortunately, that means many things don’t get off the ground and are left in the planning stages.  Or at least, that's what I tell myself to justify why things are not going as planned.  But I think my main issue is fear. 

Fear of not doing something perfectly.   Sure, I would think about a project I wanted to do and a post I wanted to write.  I’d even plan it out.  But in addition to having a full life, I am a classic over-thinker and perfectionist.  And if I can’t do something right, right now, I put it off until I can.  And all to often, I never end up setting aside the time to make it happen. 

(image from @createcultivate on Instagram)

Fear of not fitting in.  There seems to be a common thread among many of the design blogs I read, they have been at it for a while, yet still come across as very youthful.  Am I coming too late to the party?  Would my point of view be relevant?   Would anybody care?  

(image from @jenniferppriest; quote @thinkgrowprosper on Instagram)

Fear of being judged.  There are so many good blogs out there.  I especially love the ones about design, lifestyle and family.  But again, there are a lot of great ones out there.  Do I have anything different to say?  Do I have any fresh ideas?  

These are some of the thoughts that hold me back.  But this time it’s going to be different.  This time I am going to try my best to not let fear hold me back.  This time I am going to be brave.

Jill