Kitten Lounge

Snazzy Sundays: Designing Made Easy

KittenCouture — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 12:34:20 -0800

With New Year's Resolutions, whether we follow them or not, we find ourselves prepping various areas in our life and being able to look at items that we want in a new way! I am a very visual person so when I saw this Home Design Software, I knew that Paul and I should get this as we begin to seriously put our home together with the idea of spring and summer functions around the corner. I love that this 3D plan allows you to change colors, work with floorplans and allows you to move furniture without lifting a finger! It's definitely something that I will be investing in and will be a great way to play with ideas as we continue to find what we're looking for. Whether you're putting your dream home together or are taking an existing space, this software is an essential! Has anyone else used this or have they used something else?

Snazzy Sundays: We Need a Bookcase

KittenCouture — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 05:00:00 -0800

Ah moving in with your Food Editor who also has quite an eye for design means that I don't have complete say so on what goes within our space! I love that we agree and disagree and we are definitely learning. So we have an interesting space that is upstairs and downstairs. We decided that upstairs, which is our living space, will be very Japanese like. Our bed is a beautiful platform bed that is known as Espresso in color. This is great since I love that the wood is black with a hint of brown but I find it difficult to find additonal wooden pieces. We also have gorgeous wood floors that are more a of a cherry stain so the problems continue. We need a bookcase badly and probably a few as we are piling up on books and interesting items. But what to get? Below are some shelves that I am thinking of and believe that this can add to our theme! This weekend we went to Pearl River and we bought our first sake set!

Snazzy Sundays: The Look is Great But How Does it Smell?

KittenCouture — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 06:38:33 -0700

I am a huge candle person and much like I change my decor to match the season, I do the same with my scents. I have been a Yankee Candle Company girl since my first college apartment! So this morning as I see the most gorgeous sky ever compared to yesterdays windy and then horribly rainy day, I began to think about the aromas that must be used within our condo during the fall season (anytime between now and Thanksgiving - then of course you have to change again). Fall reminds me of crisp air, crunchy leaves, warm beverages and so much more. So here are some ideas that you may know of and those that you never thought of! Happy Sunday and can you believe that this will be the last week of Oct??

Snazzy Sundays: I Remember Tupperware

KittenCouture — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 05:00:00 -0700

I remember growing up having Tupperware at home. I believe my mom bought them from someone at work but they were perfect to use at home, to take to parties and so much more. Now that I am moving in with my boyfriend and we are hosting various parties, it made me think of Tupperware when it came time to thinking about keeping our foods fresh. They have so many options when it comes to storage, using it in the microwave, transporting it to and from locations and so much more. Take some time to check out all of the great items that are available and make sure you begin thinking about what you need for the holiday season.

Snazzy Sundays: Set The Table

KittenCouture — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 06:48:27 -0700

Last night Paul and I hung out in Williamsburg and saw the cutest shops. One of the restaurants that we had dinner in was in a large beautiful brick building (it is our dream one day to have a building like this). With Sundays post on my mind, I knew that I had to find a perfect piece. As I woke up this morning hearing the crazy rain that came out of nowhere, I realized that I would spend the morning lounging and visiting Pottery Barn.com. I think that tables are so important in the home! It's perfect for storage, filling the space in the home and so much more. Just like we have styles in our dress, there are various tables that also show a little bit about who we are and this site and store is always the best place to go! Have some fun looking at these tables and to also think about anything new you want to add whether you're moving, prepping for the holidays and more.

Snazzy Sunday: Begin to Fall Into Fall

KittenCouture — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 05:00:00 -0700

This morning as I walked out of my boyfriend's balcony on his condo, I realized that although there wasn't a chill in the air, the seasons were changing and with all the rain, there was a alot of fog. Instantly, I began thinking of all the warm elements that I like to infuse within my living spaces! So of course, the best way to begin adding items into the house, is to look online. After a review of some fun pieces from West Elm, this is a great way to generate some ideas for all of your areas in your home.

Snazzy Sundays: We Love Lolita

KittenCouture — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 05:00:00 -0700

Designs by Lolita accessorizes the most significant part of your home - the kitchen and related areas! We all have various glasses that are our favorite whether it comes from Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, etc. Although I love these places and many times my table has been set with these items, it's nice to have something that catches ones eye due to it being something not found in these stores. Designs by Lolita is the answer! I love that from pilsners, martini , margarita glasses and so much more, so much care is taken in the designs of the themed glass, For example, the Pink Ribbon glasses where a portion of proceeds go to supporting the reseach of breast cancer glasses that are available January 2009 are done by hand as are every other item! You know my love for supporting indies and those items which are handcrafted. I also love the Halloween Martini glass as I am a huge fan of candy corn and think this would be perfect when you are having your fall festivities whether it is prior to or after Halloween! These pieces are perfect for your home and for those that are in Clearwater Florida from Oct 5 - 7th, Lolita will be at a signing for Macy's!

Snazzy Sundays: Plate It

KittenCouture — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 13:58:58 -0700

I am in the middle of a massive decoration period as my boyfriend and I begin to move in together. We already have plans of various parties that we would like to do (Crawfish dinner - yum) and of course planning for the holiday season as well! Everytime I begin to think about something that I may need, somehow I come into contact with something that I feel is perfect to share with all of you! La Plates believes in making sure your decor looks fab while also allowing you to personalize your dinner plates. I really love that they also let you know what is appropriate etiquette in terms of monogramming! It's a quick read especially since you may be doing this as a gift. I also love that you can think about the patterns that you like, the color and also the type of script that you would like to use. I also love that during this month, 10% of proceeds that come from sales will go to Ovarian Cancer research! You can begin making your table perfect while helping others which is never a bad thing! Take some time to check out great items which will be welcome within your home.

Snazzy Sundays: This is How it Starts

KittenCouture — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 10:01:05 -0700

Oh the summer ends, fall is on the way and everyone gets into this massive baking/cooking kick. Somehow we think about having people come over so that everyone can enjoy great friends, food and drinks. Or many people think about baking/cooking in terms of possible gifts. Either way, it is always nice to freshen up what you have and to think about what is essential. Anthropologie is one of my favorite places when you think about items for the home and of course when the holidays come up, you know that you can count on them have to cute items that are perfect for presentations when they're on your table or to create great conversation when people watch you cooking with them. If you're all about color and a sense of the eclectic, this is perfect. Take some time to check out some of my favorites that will boost your kitchen, dining areas and of course - you.

Snazzy Sunday: Now Your Home is Regal in Purple

KittenCouture — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 05:00:00 -0700

Purple comes in strong this season as it is one of the main colors of the fall. Although I am exciting to see this color in various ways from makeup, coats and so much more, what about when it comes to your home? There is no reason to eliminate this powerful color from your home. Thankfully, I am so glad that Vivre agrees with me and has so many great pieces in varying shades of plum. Take some time to check out the pieces that look best whether it will enhance your pictures or be the perfect item to place on your dinner table.

Snazzy Sundays: Think Storage & Multi-Use

KittenCouture — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 05:00:00 -0700

My boyfriend and I are generating ideas for our new place and I have always been someone that wants to make sure that we have great pieces that can be used in multiple ways. I have to say that I am obsessed with Pottery Barn. I love that the Rustic Bench is great to use as a side table or something to sit on when you have an extra guest over. In addition, the Samantha Entryway Bench is amazing to have as not only something to sit on, but as a means to put cute baskets within the shelves to ensure that your loose items have a home. My personal favorite is the Cottage Trunk! I am a huge fan of wicker and love that this has such a great look and will keep so many things in one area. Take some time to check out Pottery Barn to see what will work best for your storage, sitting and of course eye candy needs!

Snazzy Sundays: Light the Way

KittenCouture — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:00:00 -0700

I love candles! There is something warm and inviting about them. When it comes to having them out, since I have always been a Yankee Candle girl, I allow them to sit in those glass containers that they come in. But when you begin to thinking about putting your home together, you think about other ways that you can present your favorites. I have to say that these Lacquer Pillar Holders. I love that they come in various colors and heights. It's something that's old school while having a touch of something very today and working so well with your decor as well. Take some time to think about all the elements that you want to add into your home. Then take a look at Pottery Barn to see what would look best and how much you plan on getting whether you visit the store, order via catalog or online!

Snazzy Sundays: Work From Home

KittenCouture — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 12:07:51 -0700

I think that when it comes time to work whether you do it from home or just from time to time, you need the perfect space. I am a huge fan of this style of table! Available at West Elm, the Sawhorse Work Table has a glass top and sits on steel plated legs. This table is perfect to place within a studio, guest room or more. In addition, having a nice lamp on it which is also apart of the minimalist aesthetic as well. To add a bit of texture to the room, having a cubed bookcase which is accented with wicker baskets is a perfect touch and allows you to keep unnecessary clutter off of your desk as well.

The Kitten Lounge & See Pretty Things Received an Award

KittenCouture — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:10:44 -0700

Today was so hectic that I didn't get to sit down and check in with some of my favorite blogs - which is always unfortunate because you miss something. Well it wasn't until I got home tonight, via Gchat, that my friend - Sarah of Style It told me that I had won an award and directed me to her site!

The Brilliante Award highlights those blogs that are amazing and allows the person who receives it to pass it on to other blogs that they love. You can only give this to 7 people and it must be that number - tough choice but rules are rules and I am so not giving it back! I love passing kudos on and letting others know why I like something so without further ado my 7 picks for this award:

*I definitely want to be more green around the home and with a move coming up and a lot of furniture and items to be purchased, I have quickly grown attached to Jennae's blog, Green Your Decor. I love supporting this and bringing it into my home; however, I love knowing that I have a great resource to find some great leads. Between her site and Domino - I am so caught up on my decor needs!

*My mom and I work on various business projects together and it's nice to not only have that sense of team but to know that you're with family at the same time. I love Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains and I love that this is a great lifestyle blog and am always eager to see what the super duo - Beckie and Jamie are talking about. It's like yet another slice of home and you can never have too much of that!

*I remember when I first came across Katie when I saw that she had jewelry pouches. In fact, she was one of the first people I blogged about on my first blog, Kitten Couture Blog and then was one of the first accessories people I blogged about on See Pretty Things. Since then, I continue to blog about her pieces as I am a HUGE fan of supporting indies and I continue to check in with her on her blog Fashionmista which is so cute whether she is talking about her wedding, graphic projects or how to keep people who work from home motivated. She is always out there and I love being connected to someone who shows so much of themselves and helps others as well.

*As some of you know, my day job is working at Lacoste at the corporate offices and thankfully I have always been a tennis fan and since working there, have embraced golf as well. I watched it growing up as a kid but now being surrounded the sport, having a friend whose dad is a golf pro and always keeping an eye out for how great our product looks on Christie Kerr, I have also enjoyed Golf Girl's Blog! Patricia brings fashion to golf and lets us all know about it!

*If it wasn't for Sarah of Style It, I wouldn't know about a lot of applications that I use now such as Twitter, Twitterfeed and there are a lot more. It was because of her that a few months ago, I learned about iJustine and I love popping in on her site to see what she's up to and I agree with Sarah that her underwater Flip footage is super funny. I am always excited to learn about new items even if I don't have one (no iPhone I'm still pleased with my Pearl!).

*Last summer I came across Fashion is Spinach and I was in love. In my mind, it's like the Anthropologie of fashion blogs. I love the tidbits and the way that everything comes together but whether she is talking vintage, showing runway images or talking about being the winner of the Eddy's contest, she has a great voice and one that I love visiting.

*You can't be in the city and not think about where you're going to eat, what's a great place to have a drink and occassionaly, what do you want to cook? I have a lot of sites that I read to keep me up to date on what's the next best thing and since I walk around the city a lot, I love finding things on my own. But I am a huge fan of Restaurant Girl and love that she always suggests a place that I love when I go or sometimes without reading her review or knowing that one will be created, I go to a place that she has gone to as well. You always have to have a great resource and she is one of mine!

These are my 7 picks who I will pass this award on to! I look forward to continuing to read their sites, to talk with you through Twitter and to learn more about the areas you cover!

Snazzy Sunday: Pier One is a Perfect Stop

KittenCouture — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 05:00:00 -0700

This weekend my boyfriend and I went on an important errand to Blockbuster and found ourselves at a Pier 1 Imports! Of course they had an amazing sale going on and since we are in the process of decorating our place, how could we not stop in? I have always been a fan of this store and love the interesting pieces that can be found there. Interestingly enough, my boyfriend fell for this Red Bonded Parsons Leather Chair. Let's just say I didn't fall for it and fortunately, there was a black one that was like this that I was more than happy to compromise on. Thankfully, we were much more agreeable on other pieces but with sales from 25 - 75% off, this is a must to take a peek into!

Snazzy Sundays: You're Always Ready To Host

KittenCouture — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:00:00 -0700

Large parties don't just host themselves! You have to mingle, keep an eye on the amount of food that's out and you may need to refresh some drinks. You can make some of your running around much easier by having this Chesapeake Ice Chest on your roof, backyard or even indoors. This is a great way to keeo all your beverages cool and this piece is on sale as well which is always nice to have. Now the party is a little more manageable when you know you have a plan and can easily check on your guests without wondering about the temperatures for your guests!

Snazzy Sundays: Bring Luxury to Your Party

KittenCouture — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 13:00:00 -0700

You may not be heading to the Hamptons or St Tropez for an amazing Fourth of July weekend; however, if you have a yard, rooftop or something of this nature, this Chesapeake Changing Cabana could add to the theme of your party. If you don't use it as a changing room, it could be a perfect space to sit in and get a little shade from the hot sun! If you were in NYC or nearby areas, you know how hot it was today and although it's raining up a storm, it's actually making things a bit cooler. I love the colors of this cabana which works well into this theme and it's on sale which is amazing and is currently going on at Pottery Barn!

Now that you have the shade covered, you can think of cute plates, beverages and a lot more to make your party one to remember all the way to the fireworks! Take some time to check out the site and if you have some tips, let us know as well!

Spongelle Giveaway Winners!

KittenCouture — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0700

First, I have to say thank you so much to everyone who participated! I love when people leave comments and share something about themselves! If you have always wanted to know what you could do to relax, I would definitely take notes from the people who left their great pieces of advice! But unfortunately, we only can have 2 winners although it was so close, I decided to give away 3 Spongelle Soaps!

Congratulations Jennae who was my favorite, I think it's adorable that she is able to relax while having fun blowing bubbles with her child. Obviously, she's a busy lady between doing graphics, blogging and also dabbling in yet another form of creativity! I checked out her site at Green Your Decor and I think we should all take notes!

Another kudos to Mary Jenkins! I love taking baths too and although I find to get the perfect one, it takes some time - it's so worth it. Check her out at Now Entering Momville - I definitely started reading it when I had a second and gave me some much needed laughs!

And finally, I love keeping it simple so how could I not include Theresa N who does yoga in her garden? Maybe it's because I grew up in the Midwest and sometimes miss those serene moments being out in NYC but it made me feel refreshed just thinking about it!

Congratulations ladies and thank you to everyone who put in comments as well. As a heads up and in honor of Fourth of July we have an amazing giveaway that will include two different items which is going to be fun. One involves a food that is definitely iconic when you think about Americana dining and the other is something that is quickly becoming a typical activity that we enjoy more and more! Both will launch on Mon and winners will be selected on Fourth of July so keep your eyes peeled!

Snazzy Sundays: Your Home is a Tea Shoppe

KittenCouture — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 05:00:00 -0700

I love tea. In fact rarely do you see me drink coffee. Tea can be had in any state and I am all about it but when it's hot out, I leave the warm brew and definitely want the cold kind. As nice as it is to buy a prepackaged bottle of iced tea, I grew up drinking tea that we brewed and let the sun get in there a bit and then chill it over ice. If we didn't do the sun thing, then we let the stove to do its thing and the refrigerator took care of the rest. The thing is, I never could do it because you would want to make a large pot, I hate playing with stoves and who will spot me as I pour hot liquid into a container. If that's what I have to deal with I will buy my $1.29 bottle!

But then someone at Tea Forte got smart and created this interesting system where you brew your tea on top and then pour it into the iced container. Notice that both are pitchers and will allow easy pouring from one place to another and it reduces the mess and all the steps in between! I love that you can use their pyramid infused teas that are larger that fit perfectly into the upper pitcher. I also love that this is not only affordable but has such a great modern look to it. This is definitely something that I would consider getting for my new home and maybe even an interesting new blend as well which is always a nice way to christen your new home!

Snazzy Sundays: Spice Up the Kitchen

KittenCouture — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 05:00:00 -0700

So my past few weekends have been spent looking at condos in Hoboken. In the beginning it was very exciting and now I must say that you reach a point where you get a little desensitized to many of the features that you later learn are standard with the place that you are looking at! With that being said, looking at these crisp and modern places makes me want to decorate all over it! I have learned that my bf is fascinated (read obsessed) with ceiling heights and I am all about storage whether it is closets, shelving or bringing in containers. So as he looks for yet another amazing space, I tend to visit sites like Ikea to find these super cute Spice Containers. I love a contemporary/modern look and I love knowing that I can see what spice I am actually about to use. So it seems that we may be closer than ever in terms of getting a great place! I can't wait to share with you guys all the items that I plan on getting from Crate & Barrel, Ikea, Target and so much more!

Mingling Mondays: Gorgeous Weekends Ahead

KittenCouture — Mon, 26 May 2008 05:23:00 -0700

Yes today is Mon and I am all about Mingling but I wanted to share with you something that will be changing in terms of "Sippin' Saturdays", which has been all about drinks, Snazzy Sundays which tends to focus on home decor and Mingling Mondays. Although from time to time this summer, these days will cover the topics mentioned previously, I will also take these topics to another level by taking in the best of what we can do on our long weekends! In these posts, you'll find great ideas and fun places to go to that are in the area or in our own backyard. I am so exited to share with you and if you have a restaurant, city, boutique, etc - share with me and I will come out to check it out! Consider this segment to be something like the travel channel of sorts and I will be your guide on fun items. In addition, due to the continued condo hunt that my boyfriend and I are on, I will also bring you yummie places to eat in the Hoboken, Jersey City and Williamsburg area as well.

Back to Mingling Mondays, I had the luxury of enjoying my first half day Friday of the season by heading to Bryant Park and watching other people enjoy the day as well. I am really getting into using my Flip and can't wait to start using it for my ultimate projects which will be revealed within the next few days and of course available on my You Tube channel! Until then, enjoy watching footage of people hanging out in the park and can I say that I loved being able to chat with everyone on Twitter as well. If you have an account check me out there and of course you can always catch me on Facebook as well!

Snazzy Sundays: Love a Gorgeous Day

KittenCouture — Sun, 25 May 2008 09:30:00 -0700

I woke up this morning and after all the stress that has been going on last week, I actually woke up and felt relief! So I have a Flip and have had it since the holidays and have never really used it. Now I am all about using it and decided I would wake up and take this amazing view of the city from the Jersey City side in Newport Pavonia. What a great way to start the day! With the amazing weather, we spent it visiting condos (yeah) and then getting acquainted with the neighborhood and finding tasty places to eat! Who doesn't love a long weekend and one that happens to fall on the Memorial Weekend? Enjoy my shaky footage and happy Sunday everyone!

Snazzy Sundays: ICFF Has Come Into Town

KittenCouture — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:36:51 -0700

If you are interested in seeing what is out there in terms of furniture or what you would like to put in your home, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair is currently going on now through the 20th at the Javits Center! This is a great way to see a variety of designers from all over the world in one area showing their creativity and innovation. I am definitely excited to see what is there as I do have friends who will be at this event such as Phuze Designs. Take some time to visit the site and if you didn't make it there this weekend, make sure to stop in after work or if you had planned to take a day off for yourself anyway!

Snazzy Sundays: Happy Mother's Day!

KittenCouture — Sun, 11 May 2008 05:00:00 -0700

Happy Mother's Day! There are so many ways to spend it whether it's at one of your favorite restaurants, going to a broadway show or in the comfort of your own home - you're bound to find a way to make it special. If you do have it at home and you have amazing weather, you'll want to make sure that you have it on your patio, roofdeck or whatever open space is nearby! When I look at these Water Hyacinth Pillows from West Elm, I think of all the ways that you can make your outdoor space cozy! Not only that, but Mother's Day makes me think of summer being around the corner with all of the amazing holidays that emerge. I love the idea of making your outdoor space taking on more of a natural look by making an oasis of sorts right outside. Somehow you can always make the island just at your fingertips, why not start off with making Mother's Day the kickoff to this event! Take some time to check out all of the items that are available from West Elm for everything inside and outside of your home as well!

Snazzy Sundays: Pop Up Bar

KittenCouture — Sun, 04 May 2008 19:19:50 -0700

No matter how much of a backyard, deck, etc that you have - you can have a pop up bar at your disposal thanks to this super cute piece, known as the Sydney Bar, that's available at West Elm. I love that there is space for you to prep, people can have their drinks on another stand and there are various areas to organize your beverages and tools. I love that you're glasses have a home, there are holes for wine and much more. I think that this is such a great thing to have and feel that it could even be something that you could use within your home for those that may be in large cities where we don't even have space to have a backyard. I think that this is so cute and is definitely something that you will enjoy having! Feel free to check this and much more at West Elm!