Friday Favorites – Weekly Inspiration

Welcome to Friday Favorites, a series where we share our favorite decor, design inspiration, fashion finds, TV shows, recipes and more!

Hope you’ve all had a great week! Mine has been swamped with work. Planning content for the fall and holiday seasons, some brand collaborations, and… designing and finalizing my new website!

This is something that’s been in the works for months but I didn’t want to say anything until it got closer to being ready. And now, fingers crossed, it should be live next week! Eek – I’m so excited to share it with you! The design will look slightly different and the layout should (hopefully) make it much easier for you all to navigate and find what you’re looking for!

Are you all going away for the long weekend? We will be staying here. We have some dinners with friends planned and I’m hoping to make it to the beach. And Monday is our wedding anniversary so there will be a good dinner involved. 🙂

And now let’s talk Friday Favorites – welcome to September!

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THINGS I LOVE IN DESIGN/DECOR

I’m crazy for this vintage inspired kitchen! See the whole home here.

 

Since it’s been so hot the last week, it’s really gotten me in the fall mood. I can’t wait for some leaves changing and cooler weather! In the meantime, I’m bringing fall inside. I brought out the faux millet I bought last year, and added these faux dried grasses which I love! I’ve had real dried grasses before, but they dry out and crumble all over and can’t be saved, so I’m excited to have found these. 

This chunky throw has been a favorite for a long time and now it’s 40% off! A definite find. 🙂

I also love to add some faux pumpkins around the house. Not too many, but a few is nice since pumpkins aren’t even available in September here. (They’re also great for mixing with real ones on the porch!) This green heirloom pumpkin looks so real! And this similar one looks great, too (they come in other colors as well).

A couple of finds at amazing prices: this chic dining chair gets 5* reviews and is under $200, and this decorative wood tray and this wood vase give great style for the price.

Best sellers for August: this marble tray/cheese board (on sale), this unglazed vintage jug, and these gorgeous gold lanterns (40% off!)

 

THINGS I’M WEARING/LOVING/WANTING

Of course we have to talk J.Crew! Not only because they dropped more of their fall line, but they do fall soo well! Plus, almost everything is on sale for Labor Day! This lady jacket (40% off) is a super best seller – so chic! How cute is this contrast-trim cardigan (40% off)? And I love this short-sleeve cotton cashmere sweater (40% off) and this ruffle-trim cotton blouse could be worn all year.

I just bought this sweater coatigan (40% off) in black (I bought the tan last year). It’s a favorite of mine as it’s so versatile, and since it’s on sale, I snagged it. If you want a less expensive version, this version from Amazon is good too and comes in tons of colors. The main difference is the fabric. J.Crew has wool but if that doesn’t bother you, it’s a good option. 

This leather coat (above) is an unbelievable price – how often do you see a longer leather coat (not faux) at this kind of price?!

I just love a two-tone shoe don’t you? They’re so chic and really fit this transition period of early fall. Just ordered this black and white loafer, and this slingback heel gets rave reviews and is hundreds less than the designer version!

Best sellers for August: this versatile mule, this pretty print blouse, and this plaid blazer.

 

HERE’S A LIST OF JUST SOME OF THE MANY LABOR DAY SALES TAKING PLACE THIS WEEKEND!

Ballard Designs has 20% -75% off sitewide plus free shipping.
Bloomingdales has an extra 30% off clearance.
J. Crew has 40% off almost everything, plus an extra 60% off sale with code SHOPNOW.
J.Crew Factory has 50-70% off the entire site, and an extra 60% off clearance with code SALE60.
Anthropologie has an extra 40% off sale.
Gap has 50% off jeans and tees, 70% off sale, and 40% off everything else.
Loft has 30% off full-priced styles. 
Pottery Barn has up to 50% off select furniture, outdoor, lighting, and more, prices as marked.
McGee & Co has up to 25% off sitewide.
Target has 30% off kitchen and dining items, plus select special pricing – prices as marked.
Wayfair has up to 70% off – prices as marked.

 

THINGS I’M WATCHING/READING/LISTENING TO

I heard an interview with Elizabeth Banks on a podcast last week and she mentioned how she and a group of friends get together once/month and watch one of the movies on the AFI 100 Bests Films of All Time list. I thought that was such a great idea! Many I’ve seen (like Casablanca, above), but some it’s been a long time. And some I’ve never seen. Wouldn’t it be fun to go through a list like that?! I’m thinking of instituting it this weekend. 😉

Along the same lines I’ve thought of tackling the Greatest Books of All Time but of course, they can’t be knocked off in 2 hours on a Friday night, haha!

 

THINGS I’M MAKING/EATING/DRINKING

I don’t know what’s happened, but our tomatoes have been amazing this year! I honestly can’t remember them ever being this delicious. As a result, I’ve been living on Caprese Salads with Burrata, as well as Ina Garten’s version using blue cheese (above). Another simple dinner that’s always popular here is a BLT made with thick, applewood smoked bacon and fresh heirloom tomatoes. 

I’d also love to try this Tomato Salad with Bacon Vinaigrette – it looks delicious. Or check out some of these 34 Tomato Recipes You’ll Want to Make Forever. (I’m all over that Tomato Ricotta Toast!)

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Do you follow Sharon Santoni on Instagram? Her feed is full of gorgeous pictures of France and her home there. She’s also the author of My French Country Home.

10 Full-Body Stretches to Start Doing Everyday for Better Mobility and Fewer Aches

What Gratitude Does for Your Health

12 Interior Door Styles & When to Use Them

And if like me, you are horrified by what’s happened in Maui due to the fires and want to help, I thought I’d share some of the better places to donate. I chose to donate to two: the World Central Kitchen is providing meals on the ground, and the Maui Strong Fund is providing financial resources.

There are lots of other places to give, but if you choose another one, just be sure they are actually donating where they say they are. Sadly, some people take advantage of people trying to do good. You can always verify charities on this website.

 

And if you missed it, this week I shared some Chic & Affordable Fashions from Walmart (with much more than what you see here)!

 

Happy Friday!

Sheila
xo

P.S.

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Oh and if you’ve missed any of the previous Friday Favorites, you can find them all here!