making every day a happyday! » fun finds! http://www.erincondren.com/blog welcome to the erincondren.com blog Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:25:24 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 copy cat? http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2010/07/27/copy-cat/ http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2010/07/27/copy-cat/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:14:53 +0000 erin http://www.erincondren.com/blog/?p=1066 as a designer myself, I make it a practice to respect the creativity and ideas of others and keep my collection fresh and unique without being a “copycat.”  I remember the purse parties years ago where gals sold “Kate Spade” bags from their homes, but we all knew they were not really made by Kate.  It actually drove me nuts and I swore I would never purchase something that robbed the designer of her originality (and the sale!) However, am I a total hypocrit for finding similar looks for my home for a whole lot less than the “real deal?” I think not.  A friend of mine has turned me on to a website called www.copycatchic.com and I am hooked! She is not promoting “fakes”, just showing options to purchase from other collections if you can’t afford the original.

Nate Berkus' living room

I just adore Nate Berkus and loved the feature on his apartment in Elle Decor.  I also love EVERYTHING by Madeline Weinrib, but until I can afford her collection, i might have to stick with the IKEA version of this fab rug for now.  I’m sooo okay with that when it looks this good!

Madeline is soo fine!

IKEA version works for me!

]]> http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2010/07/27/copy-cat/feed/ 6 how HIP is this? http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2010/07/26/how-hip-is-this/ http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2010/07/26/how-hip-is-this/#comments Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:38:30 +0000 erin http://www.erincondren.com/blog/?p=1037 i mean, really, there truly is an “APP” for everything!  several friends have turned me on to HIPSTAMATIC, an Iphone APP that makes photos look like “old school” polaroids.  I love the borders and funky hues…looks like the summer of 69! (think Bryan Adams and sing along)  Send us a Hipstamtic photo and we’ll turn it into a note card. Now THAT’S HIP.

]]> http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2010/07/26/how-hip-is-this/feed/ 0 My Magic School Bus http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2010/06/25/my-magic-school-bus/ http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2010/06/25/my-magic-school-bus/#comments Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:29:09 +0000 erin http://www.erincondren.com/blog/?p=1011 As a working mom, it has always been tough juggling my career and family time.  I would sometimes be envious of others that spend more time in the classroom, watching gymnastics class, participating in more playdates, etc. But over the years, I have come to really enjoy my “work/life balance”, especially as my kids are older now and fine without my shadow.  I also love my role as “Ms. Frizzle”, the wild and whacky woman from the cartoon Magic School Bus, as I drive 6 kids to school each day before heading to my office.

I drive an old Vee-Dub Eurovan, which I absolutely love.  It’s certainly not fancy, but then again, neither am i.  The kids pile in each morning and we have a seat rotation so there is never a reason to complain.  They each get a turn to choose which route we take to school (3 choices) and we usually tell “knock knock” jokes, or listen to Miley, Micheal Jackson, or now my daughter’s fave…Justin Bieber.

For the last day of school, i found this darling School Bus Raglan Tee on Zazzle.com and let my six bus riders autograph the back. Next year my kids will go to a different school in walking distance from our home…i will surely miss these whacky bus rides and cherish the memories forever!

My daughter video taped our FINAL RIDE with my phone, click to see the whacky wild ride!

]]> http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2010/06/25/my-magic-school-bus/feed/ 0 Personalized fun! http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2010/03/25/personalized-fun/ http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2010/03/25/personalized-fun/#comments Thu, 25 Mar 2010 21:20:55 +0000 media http://www.erincondren.com/blog/?p=618 I couldn’t help but fall completely in love with the new personalized bags and pillows offered at Jonathan Adler! I’m particularly smitten with this khaki/ pink combo cross pillow.

This tote bag is just too much!

I love all things personalized, and these would look great covering my house from top to bottom design your own pillows and more!

]]> http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2010/03/25/personalized-fun/feed/ 0 1-Stop Wrapping Spot! http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2009/09/30/1-stop-wrapping-spot/ http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2009/09/30/1-stop-wrapping-spot/#comments Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:28:00 +0000 jennifer http://www.erincondren.com/blog/?p=421 I was in Costco the other day bargain hunting, and I found this! It’s a ‘Portable Wrap & Craft Center’ from Snapware (the makers of the snap&seal tupperware). It’s a storage solution for your gift wrapping supplies, with space for up to 36 rolls of wrap, a ribbon dispenser, built in ruler.. etc. The best part is that it’s got table legs that fold out, so the container becomes a tabletop! You can wrangle your gift wrapping chaos into just one area! Sounds mighty good to me. Looks perfect for the upcoming season. :)

 

~Jennifer*

Portable Gift Wrap Center some package details so clever! ]]> http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2009/09/30/1-stop-wrapping-spot/feed/ 1 Yum-O! http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2009/06/17/yum-o/ http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2009/06/17/yum-o/#comments Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:03:40 +0000 jennifer http://www.erincondren.com/blog/?p=343 How incredibly adorable are these cupcakes?! Such a fantastic idea, too- I kind of want to leave the office right now and try making these myself! If you head on over to Bakerella (thanks to Brandy for the link!) there is a complete tutorial on how to create these gems for you and your family! Hint Hint: Dad would love them this Sunday!

~enjoy
Jennifer :)

fast food fun mixes lettuce mustard ketchup cupcake brownie burgers sugar cookie fries yum-o! ]]> http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2009/06/17/yum-o/feed/ 0 SUCH a small world! http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2009/04/30/such-a-small-world/ http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2009/04/30/such-a-small-world/#comments Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:32:33 +0000 erin http://www.erincondren.com/blog/?p=293 wow, sorry it’s been so long since the last post…between spring break and the shopping frenzy created by recent press and our sale, there just haven’t been enough hours in the day! I am way behind on my blog posting, but have so much to share with you!

Just two days at Disneyland over break, and I was rejuvenated with a zillion new design ideas…who’d-a-thunk one could pull so much inspiration from the 1950′s ride “It’s a small world!” As Southern Cal natives, we had never spent the night at The Disneyland Hotel before now…less than an hour from the park, it never seemed to make much sense. Boy was I wrong! We had the best time, partly because our kids are now 7 and understand the concept of waiting in lines….but also because we didn’t feel pressured to see it all in one day! We took the monorail back to the hotel, ate a nice dinner (with wine! no booze in the park) and then relaxed in bed to watch the fireworks out our hotel window! I highly recommend a two night stay so you can soak in all the sites and really enjoy the happiest place on earth. small-world-front small-soldiers happiest-cruise aloha pink-zebra plaid tulips queen postcards

]]> http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2009/04/30/such-a-small-world/feed/ 1 welcome to club condren! http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2009/04/17/welcome-to-club-condren/ http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2009/04/17/welcome-to-club-condren/#comments Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:16:45 +0000 erin http://www.erincondren.com/blog/?p=254 I must admit, I was surprised and shocked to see the 5 page spread in the MAY issue of Family Circle!  They photographed me and my home nearly two years ago, but held the feature until now….it was well worth the wait!  For the first time, I read the issue from cover to cover and was so impressed with all that is new in that mag. It seems with so many magazines folding during these tough times, Family Circle has scooped up new creativity and has become a fabulous resource for clever crafts and design-on-a-dime tips. Surely worth more than the $1.99 cover price!

family circle may 2009 erin condren 1 family circle may 2009 erin condren 2 family circle may 2009 erin condren 3 family circle may 2009 erin condren 4 family circle may 2009 erin condren 5 ]]> http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2009/04/17/welcome-to-club-condren/feed/ 4 bling with darcy’s blues http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2009/04/17/bling-with-darcy-blues/ http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2009/04/17/bling-with-darcy-blues/#comments Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:01:15 +0000 erin http://www.erincondren.com/blog/?p=268 Jeans and a cotton top, a fashion staple in the closets of SoCal women. How do you pull off this easy, comfortable look in any situation? Add some bling of course! Forget images of Mr. T and fifty pounds of gold.

Flip flops that sparkle in the sun and show off your pedicure; belt buckles that pack a punch and bracelets gleaming with colorful gems all spice up the otherwise ordinary. I adore my UCLA belt buckle that proves Bruins can bling!

darcy blues flip flops darcy blues belts darcy blues bracelets

Now we’re talking, that’s the endless summer look that glides effortlessly from a day at the beach to an evening of cocktails with friends.

Full time mom, Darcy at darcysblues@mac.com, whips up these fabulous creations in her spare time. Catch her at a shopping party or email to get some for yourself.

]]> http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2009/04/17/bling-with-darcy-blues/feed/ 7 trapeze! http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2009/04/15/trapeze/ http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2009/04/15/trapeze/#comments Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:17:10 +0000 erin http://www.erincondren.com/blog/?p=244 What circus themed blog would be complete without a post about trapeze? Ladies and gentleman, girls and boys, direct your gaze to the center ring.

A friend of a friend, Chanel Durelli, is an ariel artist. She teaches and performs trapeze professionally in the Los Angeles area. Always up for a little adventure we decided to attend a class and now we’re hooked, literally, by our knees, legs, anything! Hold on for dear life and try to look graceful while doing it. It’s quite a challenge, an exhilarating experience and an exceptional workout.

For those who prefer to leave it to the seasoned pros don’t miss your traveling or local circus troop. Many can be hired for events. What better way to liven up a party than to have people swinging from the rafters?

trap1 trap2 trap3 ]]> http://www.erincondren.com/blog/2009/04/15/trapeze/feed/ 3