Comfortable Sleeper Sofa

I moved into a new place not too long ago. In a one-bedroom condo I knew I needed to either put in a Murphy bed or find a comfortable sleeper sofa (I know what you're thinking, it sounds like Mission:Impossible) for guests. I didn't really have the room for a Murphy bed since storage space is at a premium. I did a lot of research and found the Dublin Sleeper sofa from Room & Board. Many of the sleeper sofas I looked at were not only uncomfortable, but they were hideous. The Dublin is both attractive and really comfortable. The mattress features a combination of supportive coils topped with an inflatable air chamber for customizable comfort. It's actually more comfortable than many mattresses I've slept on. Also, Room & Board has great customer service in case anything goes wrong with the sofa.

Music Monday

Shout Out Louds - Show Me Something New from Ted Malmros on Vimeo.

I've recently been digging the band the Shout Out Louds. Here's the video for their song "Show Me Something New". I hope you dig it, too! I've been introduced by a lot of great music lately from the blog Black Eiffel. She introduces new music each week. She has great taste (or at least the same taste in music as me) and I have enjoyed almost every artist she's recommended. I've also been introduced to some great new bands from the blog Passionista.

Outfit Identifier

You know how sometimes you'll see a photo of a celebrity with a purse or shoes or a pair of jeans that you really like, but you have no idea who the designer of said shoes, purse or jeans is?  Some smart blogger has come up with a way to capitalize on this very dilemma. They have created a blog called Outfit ID. They post tons of photos daily and list the designer or brand of the item(s) the celeb is wearing. If you find a photo of items you would like identified you can email the blog and they'll figure it out for you. They get back to you very fast and they are very nice. I highly recommend it!

(I really want that purple purse)

A little birdie

How sweet is this paper mâché bird  from West Elm?

Patterned Nesting Dolls

As I have mentioned before I am a fan of patterns--especially modern, geometric, Scandinavian-inspired, Marimekko-esque patterns. Now you understand why I'm smitten with these Russian nesting dolls from CB2. They would look great on my shelf.

Cheap & Chic

I saw this bag in Lucky magazine and think it is a great looking Fall bag. I am in love with the camel color and the price. It looks expensive, but it's only $45. So, if it only lasts the season I won't feel too bad. The bag is also available in black, dark brown and purple.

• Pebble-grained faux leather with silver-toned metal hardware and an intricately braided handle
• Snap closure
• Inside side zip pocket and additional pocket for phone
• Outside side zip pocket
• 12" tall x 15" wide x 5" deep: handle has 5 1/2" drop

Herringbone Boyfriend Blazer

I am a preppy at heart so tweeds and houndstooths (houndsteeth?) and herringbones all really appeal to me. A herringbone blazer is a great fall wardrobe staple and this one from Boden is a great one at a steal at $168. I especially like the girly floral lining.

Payless' New Fall Beauty Line

True confession: I'm kind of a makeup junkie. Especially lip gloss. It's a problem and as soon as they develop a 12-step program for lip gloss addiction, I'll seek help. Until then I'll just spend a large-ish portion of my disposable income trying every new lip gloss, stick and/or balm that comes on the market.

This month bargain shoe retailer  Payless‘ will launch their new beauty line. A variety of beauty items will land in 1,500 stores nationwide. The line includes something pretty for eyes, nails, lips and body--all with equally attractive prices.

The products will be sold under The Unforgettable Moments and the earth-friendly Zoe & Zac Naturals labels. Most items will retail for under $10. Discount shoes and makeup in one store? What more could a girl want?

Correspondence Box Set

I am a sucker for patterns and for note cards so this card set is right up my alley. The wonderful stationers at KenzieKate have come up with a Correspondence Box Set, "the ultimate desk accessory for any stylish ink-slinger" and I have to agree. Each set contains a sleek, lacquered wooden box with 50 beautiful note cards in 10 different patterns. Each card is printed front and back on Recycled stock (love that) and blank inside. Fifty different colored envelopes completes the set. The box is available in Navy (lined with Canary satin) or Goldenrod (lined with Pewter satin). The set retails for $75. Note card refill sets are available for $35. 

Irvine Farmers' Market

I just have to gush for a minute about the Irvine Farmers’ Market. The produce selection is phenomenal. You know how some farmers’ markets end up being filled with cutesy craft booths and only have a few food stands? The Irvine market is the real deal. Each booth of fruits and vegetables look better than the last. There are also stands with yummy baked goods, hummus in a variety of fun flavors, fresh pasta, beautiful plants and herbs, fresh seafood and even grass-fed beef.

There are free samples at about every stand, so many in fact, it puts Costco to shame (you could have a great Saturday morning breakfast on samples alone). We bought baby tomatoes, raspberries, grapes, cilantro and sweet corn tamales. Everything we bought was so good. And it was cheap. The prices are really reasonable, much better than the grocery store and the quality of product is much higher and almost entirely organic! For example, the big bunch of cilantro cost me 50 cents!

This market is a must for any So Cal resident. Even if you have to drive a little ways, it is totally worth it. I wish they held it twice a week so that I could get the fresh produce in the middle of the week, too.

Make sure to bring a basket or bag, it will make it much easier to carry all your purchases around. Also, the parking fills up fast so it’s best to get there early.

The Farmers' Market is held in the shopping center at Campus Drive and Bridge Street (near In-N-Out, across from UC-Irvine) every Saturday from 8 am – Noon (rain or shine).  Seriously, even if it’s pouring rain (like last week), the vendors are still out.

Etsy Shop of Day : Stitched Cards' Shop

One of my most recent Etsy finds is the Stitched Cards Shop. I think all of their cards are darling but I especially love the Barcelona Chair and the Eames Lounge Chair cards. I think we all know someone who is enamored with Mid-Century modern furniture and would be delighted to receive one of these cards in the mail (like my dad, who hopefully won't read this post).