Techie Thursday: iPhone 5

My new iPhone 5 arrived in the mail today and I could not have been more excited for this shipment. My iPhone 4 (not 4s) was getting more and more senile by the day; I had gotten use to my Home button not functioning (annoying), but its overall sluggishness - ie taking 30 seconds to load a new text message when unlocked - was insufferable.

And, okay, if we're being honest - I was really sick of having a black phone and had been dying for the white ever since Apple released it for Verizon about 4 months after I upgraded.

And of course, like the good little consumer I am, the thing I'm most excited about is updating my case.

I've been rotating between two monogrammed cases from Etsy for the last two years, and I'm not sure I'm ready to fully give up the monogram, but it's time for something a little different too. I've been loving a lot of prints and photography from Society 6 recently (how adorable are those macarons?) but I am still stuck on the idea of special overspecialization. Below are a few of my faves lately:

Confetti | Pink Diamonds | Herringbone | Nautical Stripe

Gold Glitter | XO Phone | Macarons | Tortoise | Green Speckled

Gold & Navy Stripe (SWOON) | Glitter Flag | Multi Glitter | Ombre Gold Glitter

I think I'm going to go with the confetti dots in a custom blush with gold dots and black initials, but I might not be able to resist adding the tortoise and the navy & gold strip to my collection...

What kind of iPhone covers do you go for? Which one is your fave?

Take it Personal.

It’s no secret that I love a good monogram. At this point, I have collected 2 monogrammed iPhone cases, a monogrammed ring (that I wear daily), but I have been trying to curb my purchases to just non-permanent, inexpensive items. There’s no sense in monogramming everything I own with initials that may no longer be my initials in a relatively short period of time…

Yes, I am counting my chickens before they hatch – or my fingers before they have a ring? Regardless, moving in with the boy solidifies this future change, no matter when it might come, so investing in a new glass cutting board and a welcome mat with my initials doesn’t exactly make sense.

Speaking of moving in – you know what’s not permanent? Apartment rentals. Therefore, completely fair game for monogrammary (coined it!). When I moved into my old place (my first apartment!) I had a custom return address stamp made, and I absolutely loved it.

It made me want to send snail mail – ALL the time – and it definitely was a huge motivation to not be lazy about sending handwritten thank you notes. The only sad thing about moving is that I can’t use this cute little bugger anymore!

Being the crazy person I am, I have been hunting around for a new design to use with my new address. I’ve found plenty that I’ve liked, of course, but the $50-ish pricetag was a bit much to stomach after a recent move (hello, insane moving company fees).

Enter One Kings Lane to save the day (again) with a Three Designing Women sale today. I got a certificate for a custom stamp of my choosing for $26.95 – including shipping! Now all I have to do is actually make a final decision on a design – which is proving to be rather difficult with the amount of lovely choices they have!  My top picks at the moment are:

Cohabitation Creation

I just realized (okay, I am actually counting down) that in just a month and 10 days, I will be in the process of hauling ALL of my crap (and loved items, of course) into a big empty apartment...and the boy will be doing the same. Luckily, he probably has less than 50% of what I'm going to be hauling around, but like I mentioned before, his current setup has no defined style whatsoever, and my current place was shared with a roommate and I invested very little into styling my place (aside from my bedroom) once I knew that the boy and I were "in it for the long haul," as they say.

All of this comes down to two things: 1. this move-in is a huge (and my first) opportunity to really decorate a space to my taste, and this freedom is the biggest motivation behind my spending freeze, BUT, 2. I have NO idea how to style for men's tastes - I can't pick out his outfits without making him look at best, bisexual, let alone create entire living space that doesn't scream "single 20-something  fashionista."

I want the space to have a defined style, but I am seriously struggling to curb my tastes and instincts to be less uber femme. I am fairly preppy by nature (I have had multiple people tell me in the last few months that I am the preppiest person they know...seems like a gross overexaggeration to me, but whatever), and I think prep often has a girly feel. So that said, I am thinking the best way to tone down the Lilly/Kate Spade/Trina Turk color splash extravaganza, I might try to steer in a more nautical direction; pun 100% intended.

Regardless, I can dream, right? I have been a complete click monster on every One Kings Lane and Joss & Main email I get. I'm literally making some marketers day by shooting up their click through rates on every. single. promo. Here are a few things at the top of my wish list for the new place:

I love a good nailhead trim headboard - and definitely makes the cut for masculinity, no?

Okay, so maybe a little girly, but less than the light pink option. I've been dying to add a pouf to my living room setup, eventually as a footstool for a fun patterned accent chair (preferably wingback, thank you very much!)

I know this is a pricey option, but I am DYING for this Society Social bar cart in our massive living space (and to style it up-but more on that later). 

But on that note - I am a total toroise whore and am dying for these Design Darling tumblers.

I do need to decide on a coffee table before I can make this investment, but a laquer tray is CRUCIAL. I'm obsessed with iomoi's patterns, but definitely can't afford them. I guess it will be more worth it when our initials are finalized (yeah yeah, getting too surrious over here) but I dream of this:

Brown popped with orange is stylish, but manly enough for a living space, no? My couch is a cocoa brown suede, so I'm thinking this pallette might be the way to go, in spite of my intense draw to nauticalia (damn myself for not going with a lighter couch!).

Speaking of initials, I am in love with these S&P shakers but I fully realize that this is an impractical purchase pre-nuptials (and pre engagement...I mean, who am I kidding?!)

On a more practical note, I am definitely planning an investment in a pair of these Design Darling topiaries to spruce up my black lacquer entry table in the new place. They're not too femme coupled with a tray for keys, a few candles and a gold mirror hanging above, right?

What are you rules for boy-friendly decorating? I'm clearly in need of some help!

Currently Coveting: Monograms (all day, e'ry day)

I have always been one to love a monogram.

Okay, that's a lie - when I was in my emo teenage years, I "despised" them and I had to physically force myself away from my ever-preppy sensibilities in rebellion (mostly against my parents). That said, you can find me in photos sporting a Dashboard Confessional t-shirt with shorts and a pair of Jack Rogers, so you tell me how successful that endeavor actually was...

Anyway, flash forward 8 years (heart stopped for a second after calculating that one...) and I am as in love with monograms as ever. I want to put them on everything (excessive) and am basically as insta-hooked on them as I am with anything and everything striped (which is saying a lot).

Here are some of my recent faves

:

(clockwise from top left): Pottery Barn Julep Candle Pots | Pottery Barn Weekender Duffle | Lampshade | Throw Pillow (only $75 and totally customizable) | Notepad Stack (via Etsy; so many colors and combos!) | Jack Rogers Sandals | PB Doormat | J.Crew Rail and Wharf 48-Hour Duffle (loving the diamond mono) | Monogrammed Glass Cutting Board (also totally customizable on Etsy) | Jennifer Zeuner Initial Ring (wear mine EVERY day)  | Plum Street Prints Links iPhone Case | Pottery Barn Glass Canisters (adorable for bathroom essentials) | Leotine Rayford Linens (in my dreams - these are a great alternative)

Totally excessive, and yet completely necessary? Yep, I thought so too.