Local Love: 5 Phoenix Mid-September Events

The winds of change are in the air! Time to head out, clean out, clear out, make a few changes to your home plus wardrobe for the cooler weather months ahead and also start some fall travel. The temps here in Phoenix may still be burning in the 100's, but don't let that stop you from getting in a fall frame of mind. Getting out of the house to support local businesses is a great way to kick off your fall season - and even help get you "in the mood" if you're not already. Support your local teams during tailgate season - for recipes and tips, read my guest post this week at Hadley Court: 10 Tailgate Treats to Try! Looking for fresh produce? Most Arizona Farmer's Markets Summer hours are still in effect (because of the heat) but will shift come October when it's cooler. Keep an eye on the markets at ArizonaFarmersMarkets.com. Looking for fun & festive decor for your home? One place in particular to start is a visit to Sweet Salvage - who for the past three years has been voted "Best of Phoenix" with their monthly themed vintage market, open only the third weekend of each month.

 Meet the Sweets Team!

Rustic Remains - Sweet Salvage Vintage Market Event - Phoenix
Thursday September 18 - Sunday, September 21

This over the top event will bring you the creepiness of Halloween and the beauty of Autumn treasures. The monthly pop-up market has also expanded its food truck selections, making your shopping experience even  more delightful because you can stayed fueled PLUS also help support additional local business.

 

Sneak Peek of Rustic remains - Sweet Salvage Fall event!

And the Sweet's Team has a little surprise in store for you: Enter to win a chance for the Sweet's Team to come play at your house! On Saturday, September 20th, one lucky winner will be chosen for a Fall or Halloween Front Door Makeover by a team of Sweet Salvage designers! This awesome prize will be on display during our Rustic Remains event when the doors open. Entries accepted all day Saturday with drawing at 2:30. Must be present to win. Valued at $500.

Get more Sweet Salvage info, plus see their new website at: sweetsalvage.net

 

Phoenix food Trucks - happening at Sweet Salvage! 

From food trucks to restaurants - Taste Phoenix Restaurant Week!

Arizona Restraint Week - Fall 2014

September 19 - 28

Getting out of the house need not only be for a shopping experience. Arizona Restaurant Week offers a selection of fun spots and fine foods to try all over the valley, with prefixed menus selections from participating restaurants sure to satisfy a variety of tastes! Visit their website to see the wide variety of participating restaurants, including Mexican, Indian, Italian and American flavors to name a few - plus even categories including beverages and excluding gluten. 

Get additional info plus restaurant list at: arizonaresturantweek.com

 

 JunkInTheTrunk Vintage Flea Market - September 20th

Junk In the Trunk - Vintage Flea Market - WestWorld
Saturday, September 20

Over 170 vendors selling all things chippy, rusty, vintage plus handmade goods

Early Entry starts at 8AM and costs $10
General Admission starts at 10AM and costs $5
The event ends at 5PM.
Children12 and under are Free all day
Parking $5 per car.



Located in the new building at WestWorld, which will provide wonderful amenities including an improved sound system, multiple restrooms inside the building PLUS: (best but certainly not least)  AIR CONDITIONING!!!

Find additional info + driving directions at junkinthetrunkvintagemarket.com

 

Goodwill Thrift Stores - Saturday Sale - All Color Tags 50% Off

Thrift Sale - Goodwill - Central Arizona
Saturday, September 20

Every-other Saturday here in the Valley are Supper Saturday Sales at Goodwill thrift stores. No need for coupons - just thrift-shop-til-you-drop at all east valley Goodwill stores all day Saturday, September 20 - The perfect way to get extra savings on Fall essentials for your wardrobe (sweaters, skirts, coats) and for your family or home. Discount applied towards secondhand merchandised only. Seasonal decor, such as Halloween, Fall and Christmas are excluded, but still at great savings to you.

While you're headed out thrifting, also bring in a few items to donate, plus help get your home cleared out for Fall.

For central AZ locations, visit goodwillaz.org

 WoMAC - It's In the Bag Fund Raiser - Phoenix Art Museum

It's In The Bag - Phoenix Art Museum
Saturday, September 27

The Women's Metropolitan Arts Council (WoMAC) is hosting its sixth annual fundraiser. “It’s In The Bag!” is an evening of cocktails, gourmet hors d'oeuvres prepared by local chefs, shopping, and fun that provides Phoenix Art Museum guests with the ultimate night out. Dine on food from local restaurants St. Francis, Gallo Blanco, Del Friscos, Nook Pizzeria, Nothing Bundt Cakes & Urban Cookies. Drink from an open bar plus enjoy wine tastings by two local wineries.

The event boasts live entertainment and a silent auction. This is an excellent means to meet and socialize with art museum members plus attendees while raising money for the Phoenix Art Museum. 

The title of the event stems from the concept that items will be auctioned with a thematic bag. Whether the bag is a designer bag with theatre tickets or a gym bag with a gift certificate for personal training sessions, there is something for everyone. 

Tickets are $75 each - available online at: PhxArt.org

In October, when temps will start to drop (a little) Phoenix will host even a few more metropolitan events such as art festivals, a jazz festival and - Phoenix Fashion Week, which is sponsored by Mercedes Benz (just as New York Fashion Week!)

If the valley is still to hot for you, now is a great time to take a drive up north to Sedona. You can read my previous series - Sedona in September at:

Vistas & Views of Sedona

Area Artisan Finds & Shops

Historic Architecture: Chapel of the Holy Cross

Hope you get out and get inspired!

Thanks for stopping by.

8 Fashion & Decor Inspirations From New York Fashion Week

My favorite city in the world, also known as the fashion capital, New York City, has been host this week to the designer launches for Spring Summer 2015 collections during New York’s Fashion Week. Although I'm in Phoenix, I've been keeping up with the shows in New York thanks to a site I came across called nowfashion.com. Located in Paris, nowfashion.com is the first real time fashion photography magazine to publish exclusive live fashion shows, plus feature collections, show schedules, videos, and fashion boards. Of the over 160 shows, which kicked off last Wednesday and will run thru mid-day Thursday, September 11, I've been able to collect images from the Spring / Summer 2015 shows - which are great for tracking trends, upcoming styles, and colors - not just for fashion, but for interiors as well. In honor of New York Fashion Week, visit Hadley Court blog to read my guest post, Translating Trends For Timeless Interiors From New York Fashion Week, along with these eight inspirations below...

 Quintessential Merge of Fashion and Decor 

The above space was recently featured in Traditional Home magazine, featuring the home of CEO for Ann Taylor, which was also perfectly showcased on the runway for this dress from fashion designer Lela Rose.

Abstract Expressions

Fashion and Decor: inspired by American abstract expressionist, Franz Kline - To be seen next Spring in the Donna Karan New York - Ready-To-Wear Spring 2015 Collection... Decor: West Elm (Kline replicas - No longer available)

Just as with interiors and art, not all fashion styles are for everyone. Some may see a line and immediately want to ridicule its design, while others will see a line and are inspired by it. Inspiration can come from an intricate pattern, quality details, rich textures, or the use of certain color palettes – whether they are bold and graphic or subtle and sophisticated such as the Spring 2015 Collection from The Row...

Return To Minimalism
Fashion: The Row - Ready To Wear - Spring 2015 Collection
Interior: Traditional Home feature.

Many interior designers also look to the world of fashion for color cues and pattern combinations for their designs, from interiors to furniture design and even home decor lines. Pulling the thread together between fashion and interior design is also called lifestyle design: you wear it – you live it.

Show Me Your Stripes!

 Fashion: Tibi Ready To Wear - Spring 2015 Collection

The lines featured this week during New York's Fashion Week are Ready To Wear lines (aka RTW) and are quieter and a little less dramatic as a Couture show, primarily because these are the lines which will end up in specialty shops, boutiques, and department stores. Some of the attendees for these fashion shows are buyers, merchandisers and store apparel designers,seeking inspirations and collaborations for their companies. Interior designers too can be inspired as to details to look for when attending the upcoming High Point Market in October – which is basically the “Fashion Week” for the furniture and interior design industries. 

Architectural Sophistication 

Fashion: Ralph Rucci - Ready To Wear - Spring 2015 Collection

Space: Anti-Office - by Park + Associates

Cognac 

 Fashion: Tome Ready To Wear - Spring 2015 Collection

Space: Designed by Joseph A. Keenan, featured at Traditional Home - Photo: Gordon Beall.

I like the demilune bar-table placed in front of the mirror - doing this makes it into a whole round table. Great trick for a small space! 

Try a New Hue: Turn To Teal
This Derek Lam Spring 2015 leather dress is the perfect color inspiration for top to bottom lacquer treatment of millwork - from moldings to cabinets - as this butler’s pantry is in the home of Miles Redd (painted Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball) featured in Elle Decor. Lacquer finished millwork is a growing trend in home decor and interior design.

And saturated color furnishings are also a trend I'm sure will continue to be spotted at High Point Market, coming up this October - in new hues, perhaps even in this teal.

Fashion: Carolina Herrera Spring 2015 Collection -  Space: Designed by Tobi Fairley.

Even if you're like me, and can't make it to New York (or upcoming London, Milan, and Paris) Fashion Weeks, you can still get your runway to room inspirations on line at sites such as nowfashion.com, online fashion magazines, Instagram, and of coarse, Pinterest.

Thanks for stopping by!

12 Things to Do This September To Get Ready For Fall

Yes - the lazy days of summer are ending - even if some parts of the country are in resort or tropical climates - and Back-to-School is in the air. With the arrival of a new season also comes the time to change routines, recipes, and reorganize your home for Fall. Think of these as your new Autumn Resolutions. If you are blessed with a family, take advantage of the extra hands with a Chore Chart for the kids and a loving Honey Do list for the hubs. This can help encourage house pride if everyone is engaged and involved in the tasks vs. everyone expecting one person to do it all - unless of course you're solo, you can do it all, just take it one space and one task at a time. You can get started with these tips inspired from Style at Home on 10 Things to Do this September for purging and decluttering to help making your home serene and inviting (plus I added a few of my own), not only for Fall but the upcoming Holiday Season - plus two to plan on to get out and enjoy the autumn weather...

1. Cut the Clutter
Getting organized is a significantly easier task when there is 'less stuff' to deal with. Before tackling larger home projects, take a house tour and survey your own home - clear out any clutter accumulated from summer, or even collected over past seasons - especially in closets. Ballard Designs recently shared the above closet as the perfect closet cleanse for a master closet. Afterwards, avoid the hassle of a garage sale by taking the best of your purge to to a local consignment shop, and simply donate the rest to a local charity or church thrift shop.

Clutter Clearing Checklist:

Clothing Closets

Handbags, Shoes, Ties and Scarves

Jewelry Drawers

Dressers, Credenzas & Buffets

Linen Closets

Under-The-Bed Storage

Under the Sink + Medicine Cabinets

Guest Room Closets

Office Storage

Laundry Rooms

Garage (and even car trunks!)

Junk Drawers & Drop Zones

2. Prep the Front Hall Closet for Winter Coats
With the Fall fashion season comes a closet full of coats, whether they are new purchases or coats being taken out of storage (and dry-cleaned). So true: "Don't be caught scrambling for a coat on the first chilly morning of Autumn." Get organized ahead of time with these SAH 6 Solutions for Front Hall Closets... and don't forget to also include your mudroom too! In small spaces, simply adding an amoire can create convenient coat organization. In even smaller spaces, wall mounted hooks can help, especially with kids coats and back-packs... just install children's coat hooks a little lower for them to reach.

3. Organize the Broom Closet + Under the Sink Cabinets + Spice Drawers & Baking Supplies
Your household chores will go a lot faster once your cleaning supplies are under control. Check out these suggestions for a clutter-free broom closet -- including organization ideas for those of us without one! Check baking supplies, spices, and their expiration dates (especially on baking powder & flour). Besides also cleaning up the kitchen areas, take a peek under the bathroom sinks as well - clean brushes, condense beauty supplies, purge expired medicines (especially cold medicines from last year).  

4. Organize Summer Photos
Whether your camera is digital or an old-school 35mm, if you want to enjoy the sunny warmth of your summer photos come the cooler months for Fall and Winter, they need to be organized. Style at Home has solutions for both your boxes and envelopes full of photos along with tips for organizing the files on your computer. Personally, when I upload photos to Flickr or to my computer, I automatically will highlight all and rename them, usually with the season + year. I tend to label folders starting with the year, so by years end, I can take all that year's photos, and place them all inside ONE folder of that year.

5. Focus on Clean Air
As the weather gets cooler and you keep windows open less often, your home will be getting less and less fresh air from outside. Help keep indoor air quality high by clearing chemicals, Style at Home suggests switching to biodegradable cleaning products and investing in a few new houseplants -- English ivy, peace lilies and gerber daisies are top picks for cleaning indoor air of pollutants. If you want to save some green while being green. also see this post on How to Make Your Own Cleaning Products. Here in the southwest, we've usually had our windows on lock-down due to summer dust storms. Dusting off vents, fans, window ledges plus ensuring the air filter is changed is a must.

6. Pet Peeves Begone! 

(I LIKE this task!!)
Pick one thing (or more!) in your house that drives you crazy -- whether it be the plastic containers always falling off the kitchen shelves (Jeff's pet peeve for sure!!) or the shoes that pile up in the entryway -- and fix it for your family. Or the mish-mosh of tattered towels collected over the years in the linen closet - organize it before family guests arrive. Then sit on the couch with a cup of tea and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment.

 7. Get a Head Start on Holiday Correspondence
It may only be September, but it won't be long before it's Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years Eve - and POOF! The Holiday entertaining season is over! One task you can accomplish ahead of time is organizing your stationery, cards, and writing supplies (yes - people do still send hand written cards, invitations and thank you notes). Make sure your address book is up to date now. Plan ahead for buying stamps and any cards or invitations you may need - or may be inspired to create your own you pinned last year - although I'm really loving the plaid holiday party invite (shown above) you can order at elli.com - plus see their thank you's and note cards too.

8. Get Started on Fall Entertaining
As patio party season ends, the time for more formal indoor entertaining begins. But don't hesitate to throw a few last al fresco parties if the weather holds up! Why not start testing some of those pinned  recipes you saved and then work on invitations for your next dinner party? Also- take stock in your stemware, dishware, and silverware. Check for chips, hard-water stains and missing silverware - donate odd numbers and watch for sales on replacements. For extra tips on entertaining, be sure to also visit Hadley Court blog where I have contributed a few posts such as:

Top Tips: How To Set A Formal Table

 The Gracious Dinner Party – Top Tips For Making Your Guests Feel Welcome

Top Tips: Table Manners For Gracious Living 

Etiquette Top Tips: Formal Dinners and Business Luncheons

 9. Start Your Fall Garden Clean-Up
After a long summer of enjoying your pool, patio, and garden, it's now time to start preparing it for the winter chill. If you live in the southwest, many plants may have already suffered from a summer drought. Purging this loss now will help in your Fall garden clean up. For more suggestions, visit Style at Home's Mid-September Garden Chores, and then set aside a few hours on a sunny afternoon to get started. Maybe even plan on working in a few hurricane candle-lights into your fall containers for entertaining, like the one above from apartmenttherapy.com

 Build a banquet to customize your eat-in kitchen.

 10. Plan Your Next Project
From a major kitchen reno to a paint projects (moldings + stair railings + doors) or refreshing the guest bedroom, any home project will go smoother if it's well planned. Even if you are still in the dreaming stage (or hoping to move!), still pull together your vision and a plan. Visit a book store (remember those?) order a pumpkin spice latte and flip through some new design books plus  September issue magazines for inspiration... and if that isn't enough inspiration for you, spend a morning with a cup or two of coffee (or tea) flipping through design books you already have - and when all else fails, there is always Pinterest for a plethora of home design and decorating ideas!

 Two additional tasks to Do This September 

(that can get you off line and out of the house!):

11. Support Local Venues

When the heat of summer dies down (especially here in the southwest!), it usually brings out some wonderful Fall concerts, wine tastings, farmers markets, and even art walks. Look up your local parks, cities, and even universities to see what's happening in your area. Who knows - You may learn of a new-to-you wine which becomes your favorite, you could hear a new local band with a sound you can't find on the radio (and live music without a stadium crowd), or you may learn of a new Fall food truck gathering that becomes part of your family Friday routine (plus a fun way to try new foods)!

12. Travel

If you're fortunate enough to live in an area with beautiful Fall foliage, even if it's an hour or two away, take a drive to experience the Fall splendor. The new sights can create some beautiful new images for your family, of you and your spouse, or even create seasonal art for your walls and picture frames. Not to mention, the beautiful memories you can capture with the time shared experiencing different surrounding, fresh air, and getting off line. If your family lives across the miles, and you can't be together for the holidays in November or December, book a flight and celebrate during September (or even October!) Living here in Arizona's east valley, September is a nice time to take a drive up to Sedona. 
  Visit my previous series post - Sedona in September: 
Vistas & Views
Chapel of the Holy Cross
Area Artisan Finds & Shops

 The leaves will be changing before you know it - it's already getting darker earlier - so take the time now in September to make your Autumn Resolutions. Also, stop by Hadley Court blog to read my guest post: Top 5 Organizing Tips for Back To School Families. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Welcome September!

Not only has summer flown by, but it seems the year is flying by too. Thankfully though, we're all headed into the "most wonderful time of the year"... even with a few hurtles to overcome. For us, we're still dealing with recovery after Jeff's back surgery last month. Going through that ordeal made us both take a second look at what matters most to us, and that living out here in Arizona - with only each other to count on - made us re-evaluate our priorities, as well as take note of... we're not leaving here any time soon. Things are so much different living here in Arizona than they were when we lived in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Although in Florida we risk the possibility of a hurricane (which at least you have warning and a few days to prepare), here in AZ, a dust storm, with ZERO visibility can creep up out of no where at any given time during the summer months. Not to mention - living here in a rental home (with a little more square footage than we had in Florida) we've accumulated a little bit more "stuff" (probably trying to fill the void we're missing being away from the lifestyle we once knew). But a new season does bring on that "urge to purge." I know Fall doesn't officially begin until later this month, but stepping out of August (the last full month of summer) and into September, it just feels like Fall has already begun (even-though the temps here in September are 110+). And somewhere in that feeling, is the hope of renewals, new beginnings and a new coming season...

Hello September!

Time to plan your festive front entry...

 Time to style your home with spicy, warm tones... 

 Go darker, more dramatic with hair color... 

 Do some Fall closet organizing... 

 Get ready for layers: Fall leather & sweater weather...

 

 Take long walks, on leafy trails in the crisp Autumn air...

 

Go for Fall picnics in the park...

Delight in the scents and taste of cinnamon plus hot apple cider...

Cleanse your palete: Change wines from sweet summer blush or crisp whites to heartier reds for Fall...

 

Farewell long Summer days -Welcome September and short Fall days...

Thanks for stopping by...

NEW FOR FALL - DESIGNERLEBRITY TALK @TheDesignNetwork

 

Check out this sneak peek of Designerlebrity™ Talk, a new design show to debut this Fall on The Design Network! Just what is Designerlebrity™ Talk? It is just one of the new DesignTV shows I mentioned coming to your new source for design television at The Design Network (click to read previous post here). Designerlebrity™ Talk will be hosted by Barbara Viteri of Style Management. On the show, Barbara will sit with her guests for straight talk with some of the interior design industry’s most notable designers, during a five episode season. The designers who will be a part of the show have been featured in national publications and television programing. The Designerlebrity™ Talk series will include a project of the designer’s choice for a detailed discussion, plus a viewer’s Q&A session, what Barbara calls a “Hashtag-Alert”.

 "She is smart, bold, quick witted, and doesn’t mind being underestimated. Barbara Viteri is the founder and owner of Viteri Style Management, a consulting firm that provides business management solutions to interior designers and creative support services to the design industry. She made RISE Magazine’s first cover and now has sealed a deal with The Design Network to executive produce and host her own talk show called, Designerlebrity ™ Talk with Barbara Viteri." - Read more about Barbara and her new show - Designerlebrity™ Talk on her feature in Women Who Rise.

 And Barbara Viteri is surely a woman on the rise - Check out where she's been featured at just this past year - and the year isn't over yet!

Mon Oncle Picnic by Design August 2014

Interior Design Community Google Hangout August 2014

Women Who Rise
August 2014

NY Spaces Magazine July 2014

Interior Design Community July 2014

Close Crop July 2014

RestonicJuly 2014

ASID NJ Keynote Speaker June 2014

Editor At Large May 2014

The DecoristaMay 2014

Showcase Kitchens Newsletter April 2014

Mathis Interiors BlogTalk Radio Show April 2014

Art of Hustle April 2014

Social North March 2014

Mod City Magazine March 2014

ASID Industry Partner
February 2014

New York Spaces Magazine
January 2014

RISE Online Magazine 6 Page Feature
January 2014

RISE Online Magazine Launch
January 2014

Interior Design Community Founder and owner of CustomizedWalls.com, Laurie Laizure, hosted a wonderful video interview with Barbara for an exclusive First Look at Designerlebrity™ Talk with Barbara Viteri. You too can watch this exclusive insider scoop from Laurie and also catch the infectious energy of Barbara by watching the video above...

The new TDN channel logo for Designerlebrity™ Talk with Barbara Viteri!

Literally hot off the press: it's Designerlebrity™ Talk's custom made Step and Repeat in print from CustomizedWalls.com!

 Most recently, Barbara met with The Design Network creator, Jason Harris Executive VP of Furnitureland South to discuss the planning of Designerlebrity™ Talk.

"Thanks everyone! TDN is a fantastic network that is taking the design industry to a new level. I'm very happy to partner with them!" -- Barbara Viteri, Style Management

I'm super excited to see Designerlebrity™ Talk with Barbara Viteri! Barbara is filled with the upbeat passion and drive it takes to host your own show - and not just 'any' design show, but one engaging designers to share their real-life experiences with projects. 

Be sure to visit: The Design Network and subscribe to the Designerlebrity™ Talk channel to stay tuned for further information. When the show does air, you'll also be able to watch it on Time Warner Cable in the North Carolina Market, just check your local listings. Who knows, while you're at TDN, start your own channel and maybe you too can get discovered and have your own show too!


Thanks for stopping by!