My Parents Decorating Tips and Boudoir

My parents bedroom is a mix of new substantial furniture, flea market finds and one of a kind choices from their favorite talented dealers & friends. It reminds me of a yummy cream puff! My Mom has chosen soft colors of the sea for her seaside home.

Also, you don't have to do it alone. Surround yourself with talented shopkeepers or interior designers. These amazingly gifted people may search out items that may fit your castle perfectly. And, you might just make a few friends in the process! Some of the treasures in this room were found from friends Janet Solomon of Frenchblue & Co, Lucy and Tony Torres of The Paris Flea Market, Denise Lohbec of Summerhill LTD and the grand handmade white pillow with antique lace is from Karen Ewart of Bleu Gardenia. Their boudoir inspiration has always originally come from the the queen of the boudoir, Claudia of The Paris Apartment, due to her book.

My Dad loves to garden and my Mom loves the thrill of the hunt in home decor. So, the two of them sure make a powerful team. I wish I had learned more about gardening from my Dad and decor from my Mom. But, in the last ten years I have gotten my own "home" and have been playing catch up on learning how to make a house a home. So, I thought we might share a few tips with you.

Tips from my parents for decorating a home:

Learn what you like by researching decor magazines, books, blogs and your local decor shops.

Put together a binder of pictures of anything that catches your eye.

From these pictures you will see similar color palettes and styles emerging.

If you find a shop or two that fits your style or inspires you, make it a point to get to know the proprietor.

Choose three colors to use in your home, so you can move items from room to room and have consistency from room to room.

First, focus on decorating the rooms you utilize most.

Pay special attention to your bedroom and make it luxurious.

Put your money into your sheets, bedding and pillows. Their favorite shop for inspiration is Bliss Linens in Corona Del Mar, California. But, if your on a tight budget buy from Tuesday Morning.

Make your home cozy by using candles, family pictures and have personal collections.

Finally, it is all about proper lighting. Have a brighter main light, reading lights by the bed and soft lighting. All on dimmers. And, a candle or two for fragrance and ambiance.

I hope you enjoyed taking a look at my parents boudoir and seeing their decor tips. Thanks for stopping by... have yourself a fabulous day!

Fabulous Finds and Co Teams Up With Boutiquing.com

Old School: Vintage 50's green sequined cocktail dress with vintage wrap

Mixing vintage and new: Fields 4 Dreams new gold bling dress with vintage faux fur vest

On September 19th, Boutiquing.com had a blow out sale from over 30 top boutiques in the Orange County area. Here is Nicole Fields, the proprietor of Fields 4 Dreams Boutique in San Clemente, California. Nicole and I joined forces that week in her boutique and this was a great opportunity to get the word out that she now offers vintage in conjunction with her amazingly priced trendy apparel and accessories. Nicole has a serious talent at putting together a personal outfit head to toe that fits the person's age, personality and pocket book.

Boutiquing.com wrote up a incredibly favorable review for the Fields 4 Dreams Boutique. It looks like "they got" what many of us enjoy when visiting the boutique. So, if you are ever in our area, please drop on by. Fields 4 Dreams "Where your fashion dreams come true".

Weekend Read ~Top 20 Weekly Fashion Posts

Fashion Roller-coaster

Edited by Jennine

Wow… we’ve got an interesting bunch this week… word from fashion weeks has put us on a roller coaster from the creepy toenails on Shoe Daydreams to the stunning Alexander McQueen on ferOHHHsh, a much needed shopping bill of rights ondramatis personaeand Bay Area Style File wonders why cigarette cases are marketed to teens at Urban Outfitters. We’ve also got some new faces in our round up including one of my favorite French blogs, Morning by Foley whose beautiful photography reminds me how sweet fashion really is.

Links à la Mode : October 8th

• 39th and Broadway – Stop Glamorizing the Recession!


• Bay Area Style File – Crimes of Fashion: Chain Mess Cigarette Case


• Bobbins and Bombshells – Fashionable History: Veils


• BRICK MY LANE – The Longer Length SHOWstudio


• dramatis personae – Ashe Mischief’s Shopping Bill of Rights


• Fashion Pulse Daily – Goth Chic Rules the Runways


• ferOHHHsh – Alexander McQueen Spring 2010: McQueencaps.


• Fete a Fete – Dolce & Gabbana Fragrance Anthology


• Independent Fashion Bloggers – FTC Ruling : An Ethical Double Standard?


• Little Black Book – Velvet touch


• Morning by Foley – A beautiful afternoon with girls, a fairy and bows…


• Prom Mafia – Halloween – Recessionista Style. How to make smart and stylish choices when deciding on a Halloween costume.


• Rags to Reverie – A stunning editorial from V Magazine and how I got my copy from New York City


• Random Fashion Coolness – Garance Doré


• Retro Chick – Ethical Design Spotlight – SPUN


• Shoe Daydreams – Bad Trends in Feet – Gargoyle Toe & Clear Claws


• Style Symmetry – New divine dresser to watch out for Giant Dwarf!


• Sweet Fancy Treat – Interview: Uma Turan – Milliner


• THE COVETED – Berrylicious Colors and a New Mascara to Die For from Benefit Cosmetics


• The Curvy Fashionista – The Real Curves behind the cover of Glamour’s November Issue


• the3st – Interview with Marina Makaron

Vote for Your Favorite Party Outfit~ Independent Fashion Bloggers Dress Up Soiree Contest

Dress Up Soirée NYC • Outfit Contest


To vote, find your favorite image and give it a rating. Only one vote per IP address. Whomever gets the most votes by Friday, October 9th, 2009 wins one of a series of prizes, announced on Monday, October 12th.

CLICK ON the link below to view all the fun, funky and extremely unique looks that the fashion bloggers would wear or did wear to the lastest Dress Up Soiree in NYC. Of course, if you wouldn't mind voting for my outfit, the gold number in this post and currently number two on the list, I would be very thankful!

Click on this link to view all the outfits and vote:
http://heartifb.com/members/pg/photos/album/103330/dress-up-soiree-evolving-influence-photos

http://heartifb.com/members/pg/photos/album/103330/dress-up-soiree-evolving-influence-photos

How To Dress For Your Age~ Links A' La Mode

Edited by Debutante Clothing

Written and edited by Debutante Clothing:
I just turned 35. It’s a landmark year not just chronologically, but style wise. I am now approaching that next age bracket in the How to Dress for Your Age features in mags. You know the ones. Thank goodness for my blogger pals here at Independent Fashion Bloggers. You’ll find some of the best style guides here this week. Guides such as Mischief My Dear’s advice on finding the perfect LBD and Fasshonaburu’s Spring 2010 trends guide. But beware the urge to dress too sexy. 39th and Broadway tells you why toddlers and stilletos don’t mix, and Squareectomy questions the taste level of visible thongs. Enjoy!

Links à la Mode : October 1st

• 39th and Broadway - – Toddlers, Stilettos, Thongs, Oh My!



• Awakened Aesthetic - – features t-shirts by the Samburu Project, which provides drinking water to the Samburu District in Northern Kenya.



• Bobbins And Bombshells - – veiled headband fascinator DIY tutorial



• Debutante Clothing - – vintage paper dresses that are anything but disposable



• Fasshonaburu - – Sure peaked shoulders and sequins and tribal were on the runways… again. But here are five NEW trends to come out of Spring 2010 NY Fashion Week!



• fête à fête - – Vouelle’s new Fall-Winter 2009-2010 shoe collection, straight from Paris!



• Friend in Fashion - – A vintage tale: gorgeous lace & bows



• Hong Kong Fashion Geek - – VPL’s anatomy-inspired spring collection, and how to replicate the skeletal fascination right now



• Idiosyncratic Style - – Awesome style from the brit drama Skins



• Independent Fashion Bloggers – When should you start charging money for your blogging experience?



• Jewelrywhore - – Madeleine Albright is kicking butt with her brooches



• Mishief My Dear - – four versions of the Little Black Dress that should be in every woman’s wardrobe



• Oranges and Apples - – A guide to vintage shopping in Berlin



• Squareectomy - – More Exposed Bits: the less flattering side of the fashion world



• Super Kawaii Mama - – Travel Essentials to keep it glam! The secrets to staying fancy in flight.



• The Coveted - – Do Fashion Blogs Glamorize Smoking?



• The Demoiselles - – Elle answers a reader’s question about being an in-betweeny – not quite plus size, not quite “regular”



• The Fashion Planner - – shows you how to get the look of Marc by Marc Jacobs.



• The Working Wardrobe - – perfecting the business “ice breaker” by working your accessories (that don’t thaw out your assets).



• Where Is That From? - – eco fashion show featuring local Toronto designers and design collectives

The Power of a Blog~ Powerhouse Mother and Daugher Blogger Team, Atlantis Home and Sea of Shoes, Featured in Vogue Magazine and Style.com

The mother and daughter style bloggers from Texas made huge strides in the fashion industry and have jumped into the limelight of mainstream media representing fashion/style bloggers. Mom, Judy Aldridge, is the author of the Atlantis Home blog and daughter, Jane, is the author of Sea of Shoes. Judy is a former model, mother of two daughters and designer. Judy and Jane have been scooped up by Vogue and have been traveling the world for special Vogue photography features. Above they are in Paris at the Palace De La Concorde for a photo shoot and trip to Chanel.

Jane is a teenager that first had a local Television station do a story on her because she was receiving thousands of hits a day on her blog from all over the world. Jane showcases her HUGE assortment of high-end designer shoes and her wearing them in many of the items her mom sells online at Atlantis Vintage.

Her mom, Judy, has an amazing collection of retro animal Christopher Ross & Laloon belts, 80's jackets and unique jewelry. Judy also shares pictures of her chic Texan Trophy Club home from time to time, but mostly shares her personal daily fashion looks on her blog. I enjoy seeing how the Judy keeps her look fresh and funky utilizing vintage pieces. But, Jane always puts a smile on my face since she is so darn adorable in anything she wears. She definitely got her mother's "model" genes.

Judy Aldridge's page showing her unique sophisticated style. Here's a great interview with Judy. These gals are really making a mark on the fashion industry, showing the power of social networking and it all started with a blog.

What have you gotten out of blogging?

I have been blessed with becoming blog friends some of the most respected, talented, creative and kind people I have ever meet in my life. You know who you are, if you are reading this! I actually asked Judy Aldridge via e-mail to advertise on her or her daughter's blog when I first started, about six months ago. She sent me back a very kind e-mail letting me know that they had something "in the works", so they couldn't do it at this time. But, wished me luck and showed how classy and compassionate she is. So, when I opened my Vogue magazine last month and saw them in it I was ecstatic for them. Oh, how I love when good things happen to great people!!!

So, had to blog about it and share with you what could actually be possible for a lucky few or many of us bloggers ! You know the old question from nonbloggers, "Why do you blog?" Well, my new response is going to be "because you don't know where it is going to take you in your friendships, contacts, and opportunities. That's the fun of it and learning a whole lot about the world in the process." I've gotten inspired, connected to humanity, made friends from all over the world, found so many like minded people, learned so much about being supportive of others accomplishments and trials, and basically become a better person through it all. And, I have been privileged to interview the most amazingly gifted, giving and inspirational people. Reading a magazine never gave me any of this. So, here I am typing in the dark this morning before I make my coffee, hit the treadmill and my little one & hubby wakes up. I've got my priorities, baby!

I blog on... I type on... I connection on...

I hope you do the same...

Photo credits: 1, 2 and 3 Found at Sea of Shoes blog
4, 5 and 6 on Style.com/Vogue.com here and Vogue magazine

The Art of Mixing Vintage and New for A Fashion Forward Unique Look

Nicole Fields of Fields 4 Dreams Boutique sponsoring a fashion show for the Good Ole Girls networking group with proceeds going to a Susan G Koman breast cancer charity last week. Nicole was the mastermind behind having me, Fabulous Finds & Co., move 100 plus retro/vintage pieces into her upscale boutique in San Clemente last week. This gold gown was sold the first day. It looks like it was made for our model, Ashley.

Here's a show stopper 1980's number with a custom vintage bag and Nicole's

trendy accessories to update the look.

A white snakeskin type 90's cocktail dress from my collection on a local
dancer and friend, Jenee. Jenee Rubinstein, A.K.A. JR, runs a Solid Hip Hop dance studio in San Clemente. She looked smashing in this dress and everything she wore.

Nicole Fields, the owner of the boutique, is the hottie in the vintage gold dress that was the announcer for the fashion show. Jenee twirling in an adorable new chambray dress from Fields 4 Dreams.

Cute and it looks so comfortable

Ashley, a FIDM fashion design student, in a new Fields 4 Dreams dress, accessories and denim jacket. These are actually Ashley's cowboy boots, but we have a half dozen boots available in the boutique right now. More to come...

Jenee in a new classy outfit with a black layered type pencil skirt, black and white striped top and matching jacket. This outfit is selling fast since it's perfect for the office or date night.

Ashley sporting a hot vintage faux fur vest from my collection
in a sassy gold dress from Fields 4 Dreams

Ashley working that back

80's Versace little black dress and 80's faux cropped fur gold jacket

80's Cache art deco inspired cocktail dress with updated accessories

70's hot little romper with an updated belt

80's Cache bright yellow dress with rhinestone accents and new accessories

My family and friends showing their support. Lisa from LUXE, wearing the cute red blouse, has a must see home design store on Avenida Del Mar in downtown San Clemente. Love you gals!

The "dreamers" closing the show in hot little sequin shorts, cute hoody and dreamer t-shirts

This was actually my first fashion show and it was a huge success raising $1,200 for breast cancer walkers. Thanks to Nicole, last week I moved into her boutique, attended a special boutiquing .com event and this fun fashion show. Our next fashion show is on October 10th at San Clemente High School with the Cross Country Team. I'm bringing a sales book and cash this time, since they wanted to buy the outfits right off the models backs. We will also be sponsoring a special evening November 5th at the Fields 4 Dreams Boutique for a Dana Point group of gals for the Susan G. Koman breast cancer for a cure walk.


Nicole has been so kind to add my company information to her new Ad above coming out in our local DISH magazine. Nicole is the "model" for the ad. She is a sales and marketing dynamo with 20 years of retail and merchandising experience. Our partnership has already been amazingly successful. I am so grateful. And, doing what I love and have always had a passion for.



If you are ever in southern Orange County, please stop on by. The boutique is right off the 5 freeway at the Palizada (from the North) or Presidio (from the South) exits and one block away from the upscale downtown shopping area. The pier is only a mile away, so drop the kids off at the beach, the men at one our local restaurants/bars and come shop with us.




Fields 4 Dreams Boutique
"Where your dreams come true"

SNEAK PEEK Into The New Tony Duquette Book Called More is More~ More Over-The-Top Style

More is More!! Nothing says more, more and more than Tony Duquette. The new book that can be preordered now at Amazon should be quite an over-the-top feast for the eyes.

American artist and design legend Tony Duquette (1914-1999) was known for his over-the-top style in interiors, jewelry, costumes, and set design. His clients included Elizabeth Arden, the Duchess of Windsor, and Herb Alpert. (This image and the following are from the Tony Duqette's previous book called Tony Duquette)




The multi-talented Duquette designed sets for MGM musicals with Arthur Freed and Vincente Minnelli, and designed Tony Award-winning costumes for the original Broadway production of Camelot. Duquette was the first American to exhibit a one-man show at the Louvre in Paris.



I can't wait to get my hot little hands on this new book.

What do you think of Tony Duquette's style?

More is More book cover found at Amazon.com

Additional images found at From Betsy with Love