Style

Happy Wednesday Smarties. Welcome to August and the winddown of Summer. This weekend there are several fantastic sales, performances and activities to take advantage of. Head to Daniel Stowe to see the butterflies, see one of the plays performed by the students of NoDa School of the Arts or visit the castles at ImaginOn. Have fun, get out and enjoy!

The phrase “a place for everything and everything in its place” accurately describes my distaste for clutter. I’ve been in desperate need of a remedy for paper clutter – reminders, birthday party invites, to do’s and various paper scraps with something important scribbled on them.

Now y’all now that Pinterest is ripe with bulletin board examples however some of them require more tools and time and patience that I have access to. I wanted a project I could complete in an hour-ish. So, I trotted over to Michael’s and looked around until I found what I needed.

People often ask me my opinion on using sectional sofas. Under the right conditions they can be functional and look great. I think their best use is in rooms with high ceilings or lots of windows, and upholstered in a lighter color. Getting room and upholstery proportions correct can be a challenge. If you’ve got a smaller sized room with low ceilings you are better off choosing a mix of a sofa and chairs to help break up the space. Here are a few good examples of sectionals.

My favorite summer style this year is anything and everything by fab designer, Elizabeth McKay. My story goes like this. My big sis was here in May and we found the most incredible alligator outfit at our favorite local boutique, Cottage Chic. We bought her the alligator outfit (in the Hayden shorts, not pants), but I had some rules attached to when I got mine (we often buy twinsies, it’s a good thing she lives in FL and I live in Charlotte:-).

I’ve been on a workout/lifestyle change/complete Jen reinvention over the last two months and I vowed not to spend a dime on any clothing until I reached my goal. This alligator outfit would be my treat and something to look forward to. Fast forward to two weeks ago, almost exactly at my goal and I got an email from my friends at Elizabeth McKay, addressed to “Jen Bunich” and I almost fell out of my chair. It was as if it was a little treat from Jen in heaven, saying “here ya go sister, you deserve it!”

We are coming up on the official start of summer and that means fun in the sun and time to sport our casual and cute apparel. That being said, when you’re expecting, it can be challenging to take advantage of the trends. Our friends, Natalie and Casey, at Buttoned Up Style, a style consultation firm in New York City are here to help us navigate the ins and outs of summer fashion. They have highlighted some of the hottest summer trends and how to translate them to preggo-approved wear. There are so many super-chic stores (physical and online) to help you look your best while you boost your belly.

The first trend that is all the rage is color blocking. Using bold pops of colors is a great way to draw the eye in to certain areas. This trend is also helpful for post-partum fashion, as you can use darker colors to help make certain areas appear smaller. You can mix bright tops, like this Gap Pure Body Tank with a pair of colored jeans or a colored maxi skirt. With the summer heat and humidity fast approaching, maxi skirts and dresses are a must!

School is out or almost and that means getting ready for sleep away camp. My daughter will be headed to Camp Seafarer for the second year and my son will be headed to Camp Sea Gull for his 5th summer. I will be packing for one week for her and 4 for him. This is how I make it happen with as little stress and expense as possible.

 XL duffel bag with wheels. Don’t need to spend a lot of money, mine is from Wal-Mart and I had them monogrammed at Alphabet Soup. I pack sheets, towels on bottom and clothes on top. I always try to only have one bag go to camp.

 Inexpensive twin sheets and light weight blanket, foam egg crate and zippered pillow case. You can find inexpensive sheets at Ikea, Bed, Bath, Beyond, Target and WalMart.

 Inexpensive towels and washcloths. I color coordinate sheets and towels to make it easier for my children to keep up with. I also by cheap because they are kids and this stuff gets DIRTY!

I was recently in a client’s home office, and we discussed how to get started on working on changing her space. I think the best approach to starting an office redo on your own is to designate 15 minutes a day, put it on your calendar if you have to. I am a big proponent of less is more in a home office, the less clutter there is the faster things will get done. Prior to “decorating”, even if you are working in a limited space, your lighting, filing and seating are very important. If you are really working from home all day and plan to for a long time get the best one you can afford. Everyone likes a good-looking chair, but the comfort and positioning are the most important. If you have started a home-based business or work at your computer all day long I recommend the Aeron Chair by Herman Miller or the Leap Chair by Steelcase. The ergonomic features support the body at every position and are height adjustable. They are both pricey but worth it. The Russell Executive Mesh chair is an Aeron Knockoff but gets good reviews for much less. Here are a few of my other tips for your home office-

Adrienne Matthews is part of a made-up group I have dubbed “Glam Squad for the Home”. You met another member of this sassy entourage, Smarty Margaret, a couple of months ago.

Let me explain “Glam Squad for the Home”. For too many years, my home has been furnished by family hand-me-downs (just because it’s old doesn’t make it antique) and odds-and-ends simply accumulated (let’s buy a couch today) over the years. None of it goes together. None of it makes sense.

Just in from our friends at Towne & Reese, they are hosting a sample sale! Browse your favorite styles from 4-8pm on Thursday, May 31st, and 9am- 1pm Friday, June 1st. Remember, the sample sale is CASH ONLY!

You can find Towne & Reese at 214 W. Tremont Ave., Suite 303, Charlotte, NC 28203, please park across the street!

Buy 1 pair of shoes and get another pair 1/2 off Friday, May 25th through Saturday, June 9th!

This sale includes popular brands like Kenneth Cole, Steve Madden, Puma, New Balance, Saucony, Naturino, Pediped, See Kai Run, Livie & Luca, Lelli Kelly, Kid Express, Native, Chooze, Primigi, Rainbow, Stephen Bonanno, Jessica Simpson, Umi, Keds, Stride Rite, Merrell, Sperry, Teva and Chaco.