Upcycle anyone?

I learned a very cool new term today: upcycle! If it's new for you too, here's the gist: recycling an item in such a way that improves the value of the item. I didn't know that I'd "upcycled" before, but I totally have! On the way to the store one day I saw a beat up vintage-style dresser on the curb. Somehow - sundress and all - I loaded it all by my lonesome into the back of my car. Then I forgot about it for a while and waited for inspiration to strike...

...fast forward ove a year (yes, a year) and I now have a baby and she has a lot of stuff, and I mean a lot of stuff. It's taking over every inch of my house. And if we leave to run even the shortest of errands, the dogs like to drag all of her stuff to different parts of the house. I needed a place to put all of it. Eureka! And since it's for her I got to have a lot of fun with  it.... buttons on the knob and funky flowers along the door. I love it! And I take great satisfaction every time I reclaim the floors in my house by sticking all of her toys inside of that awesome cabinet that I made for her.

So how did I learn this new term: upcycling? Take a peek at one of our own staff member's blogs to find out how she upcycled a coffee table that she bought at Finders Keepers Furnishings: http://www.facebook.com/l/dAQCG3OsAAQD13qye1aekgWIgrx165JY_FIaFSeYyNN_7Dg/levetansetzerhomeownership.blogspot.com/2011/10/coffee-table-project.html

In fact, you should check out her blog in general - it's pretty awesome.

This Week's Blogger Inspiration: The Only Fashion Princess

Meet the Only Fashion Princess, a seventeen year old student from Amsterdam that possesses style and confidence well beyond her young years. When I come across girls willing to shrug off conformity as teenagers I can't help but think: I WISH I could have been so bold at her age: because it 100% rocks! This princess knows how to work anything from floral prints to biker chic and everything in between - and sometimes, all together. She's sexy and edgy all the while maintaining a sense of class and self-worth. We can't wait to see what's coming next for this fashion princess.... and her backgrounds make me really (really) want to hop a plane to Amsterdam.

Check her out at: http://www.theonlyfashionprincess.blogspot.com/.

Inspiration - Marie McGrath and The Joy of Fashion

Here at Finders Keepers Boutique, we love and live for inspiration. We spend countless hours searching other bloggers to see what they're up to, revel in some stroke of fashion genius, be moved by someone's words, or to feel connected to that universal sisterhood of style. So, once a week, we're going to repost bloggers who made us say wow - who kept us on their blogs for hours and hours as we scrolled through their pictures and thoughts.

This week: Marie McGrath with The Joy of Fashion @ http://www.thejoyoffashion.blogspot.com/

Marie takes pictures of her daily ensembles and she has grown quite a following. Her creative use of colors in combination with classic lines makes for a sophisticated, inviting style that I know our customers would love. She's Kate Spade's take on Audrey Hepburn, sweet through and through with a glint of sass that she'd be remiss not to satisfy. In one of my favorite recent posts, Marie adorned a side ponytail with vibrant little butterfly clips. Brilliant! Infact, I'm infatuated with so many of her looks that I kept changing my mind about which one to use. As soon as I settled on an outfit she'd post something else that caught my eye. So, I'll post a couple of looks (I couldn't choose!) featuring a favorite theme of mine (mixing black and white accessories) and leave the rest for you to discover!

Visit Marie McGrath at http://www.thejoyoffashion.blogspot.com/