Friday Favorites

Check out a few of my Favorite Things List over at My Favorite Things blog!

Happy Friday!

xoxo Alisa

LOVE LIST

How cute are these contemporary treelike mugs from the Netherlands?

They look cute individually or stacked!

Office Area

I am currently working on my office area and trying to make it more functional, organized, and inspiring to me. Here are a few photos of some office areas that I like and am drawing ideas from.

So, PB Teen has this great chalkboard decal that I would love to use on my wall

 Side Note:

PB Teen is also a great place for some random organizing items, such as an earing holder and necklace holder.  I actually have owned these both for a couple of years and I LOVE them and how organized my jewlery is.

LOVE LIST

Bambako headbands

I'm so lovin' these amazingly creative headbands and wish I could have a new one

for every day and every outfit.

 Sue London slippers

I would love a pair of these leather ballet flats!  They look so comfy and cozy.

These melamine floral nesting bowls are just too cute!  Wouldn't these make a fun gift...

for me?  :)

Lollia Perfume, soap, and candles.  Wonderful. Lovely. Simple.

What a beautiful cake stand.  I wish I could add that to my little collection.

Jewelry from crewcuts for my princess

This swing set looks so simple, colorful, and fun! Wheee

More Children Gift Ideas

Darling stamp sets by Yellow Owl Workshop sold in Modern Palm Boutique.

My children love stamps and I think they would love these themed sets!

 

This Dwell childrens art kit is darling and so is the paper doll apron!

Love the design on these blocks from MoMA

 

I know a special little guy that would love to play with this tool bench.

I'm still browsing for more ideas, so I'll share more later......

The Girl Effect

The other day I saw the Oprah show on Half the Sky, which I wrote about below.  It was amazing. It was heart-wrenching-horrible.  It was moving. It was powerful. I have a thought in my mind, on a daily basis, "what could I do to help someone, somewhere."  And yet, I continue to do nothing.
I am busy raising my family and scurrying about trying to get here and there on time.  Trying to keep a house clean, keep up with the laundry, keep up on the dishes, get a work-out in at some point in the day, spend quality time with each of my children, get homework done, squeeze in a shower and possibly make-up; get errands done, and sometimes a decent dinner.  If I'm lucky, I get a little time on the computer late at night, but I always regret staying up late, because the next day, it all starts over again, and I'm going to have another day of running around, trying to keep up.
Yet, there is some woman, somewhere in the world, who is just concerned with survival.  This woman is trying to just survive the cruelty and horror of her reality.  For some reason, I am here and she is there.  It seams so unfair, so horrible that anyone should have to endure the cruelty that is prevalent in Africa, China, the Middle East, etc.  Why does this have to be? I doubt I will ever understand. 
I KNOW, as a woman, I am so blessed to be an American, and I couldn't be more grateful that my daughter is born here and can have such security and blessings and opportunities. I also know there is a season in every life, and right now my season is to raise my beautiful children.  I am so very grateful that I have the blessing of this season.  Someday, because I have been blessed with so much, I'd like to dedicate more time and effort to helping other women.  For now, I can only do so much.  But, I want to do something!  There is power in helping....
I believe there is power in helping a girl.  Just one little girl can make such a difference in some far off land or even here at home.  Raising strong, educated, aware, and kind girls can also have a powerful effect. That is why I love this video clip, THE GIRL EFFECT, on Oprah's website.  Watch. And then go here to see all the little things we can all do to help just a little...it will do a lot!

Black and White

As I was looking through my favorite design photos from my favorites folder, 

 I started to notice a major pattern...

an unmistakable thing that I never really realized about myself...

I like Black and White with a punch of color.

Huh!

  I guess I never really knew that about myself, but the majority of pictures I save suggest that this is true.

So, in dedication of my new revelation, here are some fabulous photos, designs, and things...

all

Black and White 

 

I was all finished with my Black and White post...

and then I cracked open my new Metropolitan Home Magazine, December issue (um...did you say December? Uhhh yes!  I did!  How did we find ourselves here--coming up on another Christmas season? Crazy!)

 I'm so lovin' these photos and the article on a pair of professional designers from California and their home renovation.

Photos via Metropolitan Home, Elle Decor, Better Homes and Garden, Martha Stewart, Domino Magazine, 

House and Home Canada.

 

images via JCrew and Shabby Apple