Anthropologie play date

I had the great good fortune to visit the Rockfeller Center Anthropologie store again recently and to my  surprise, they allowed me to take photos.  So if you are not able to visit this store, one of my favorite Anthros, here's a peek at the creative genius at work there...

These two photos are not particularly crisp because they were taken from outside the store on a rainy day.  They do show the displays with leaves painted on the inside of the glass and flowers hanging from green streamers on the inside.  All very springey.  If you look closely, you can see that the painted leaves seem to jump right off the window and become part of the display in 3-D.  Clever!

This was taken from just inside the door and features a bunch of rusted gears, 70's lamps and a water sculpture (there was actually water flowing through it) made of cut up garden hoses.

This display was by the other door.  It's made of paper flowers shaped like a wild sort of coral reef with, of course, a pair of pedal pushers in the middle of it.  Or is that petal pushers?  Because, I mean, what's a coral reef without a mannequin and casual clothes popping right out of the middle of it?

This is in the housewares area (sorry about the unsuspecting shoppers there).  If my house looked like this I'd think it was a big mess, but somehow it looks bohemian and lush in Anthro. 

Do you  love the clothesline tied to the chair at the top? 

I liked the arch with the "A" on it.  Much of this display was rough linen fabric with white paint kind of blobbed on it, giving it that 'Shabby Chic goes dump picking' vibe.  Note that this also has chairs parked up at the ceiling level. 

And finally, this simple arrangement with watering can and a little outfit. 

 I swear half of the reason people buy stuff there is the merchandising of it.  Kind of like you want a souvenir of some exotic place you visited.  The clothing and shoes are certainly different and fun, but really, getting humonstrously expensive.  I think Anthropologie just hits people in their emotions and bypasses the brain altogether.  

One way or another, the whole thing is enchanting and such fun to visit. (Not to mention the generous gift certificate my husband gave me to spend in there.  That doesn't hurt at all...not at all!)

Girls Day in the City

Yesterday my daughter and granddaughter, Ava, and I went into the city and visited American Girl Place.  It's three floors of complete doll mania.  Since Ava's doll (she's not really an AG, but the much more lovely Robert Tonner doll I got at their factory sale...shhhh!) had hair like a red-headed floor mop, we took her promptly to the salon for a styling.  Ava picked a lovely braided "do."  Ava watched closely so that she could manage Nataly's hair at home herself (no easy task.)

She was very happy with the result!  I'm not sure who is more stylish, Ava or her doll, but they are a cute pair, that's a definite.

Here's a photo of Ava and Mommy.  (And dolly)  We really had a terrific time.  And Ava took home an outfit, a hair kit (including brush and rollers), a pet dog for her doll and some new eyeglasses, so that dolly can see how beautiful she looks!  I spent the past two weekends sewing outfits for Nataly and she had a lot of trying on and admiring to do when she got home.

And for the grand finale, we went home and Ava treated us to a musical performance, complete with guitar, dancing and goofy faces.  She is a bundle of energy, but so much fun.  We had a great day and then I got in my car and drove home, which is over an hour away. 

The older I get, the more I really appreciate time with family and I am reminded of how quickly it flies when I see Ava's little head bouncing along in front of me on the sidewalk and remember that it seemed like just a week or so ago that I was holding her little self and rocking her to sleep (ha!) when I baby sat.  She is ready for kindergarten and is learning her letters and additions now.  Huh?  In about 3 days whe will outstrip my abysmal math ability. 

Shopping (sigh!) again

I had some time this week and stopped in to visit my lovely friend, Heidi, creative proprietress of HiHo Home. She had her trusty sidekick, Humphrey with her to greet all comers properly.  (With a bark, yip and a scamper, once he is sure you are properly frightened.)  I have to say that Heidi is a dynamo of a woman, filled with helpful ideas for any business and the energy to stay up until midnight helping friends with their online dilemmas and hauling home her latest auctioned find.  In short, she's a peach! 

This is the outside of HiHo Home, which houses both antique and new items, displayed in the most enticing and creative ways. 

Here is my favorite room, a sort of Shabby Chic area filled with a pastel palette and all sorts of feminine lovelies. Heidi even has her own line of bath soaps, lotions and bubbles in several yummy fragrances!

She also has a kitcheny room done in greens with local honey products and other funky decorative things. Then there's the baby room! Heidi's got an entire collection of "Little Golden Books"...remember them? The Pokey Little Puppy and the whole gang are here. If you know someone who has a little one, there is plenty of nostalgia and fun in this little room.

You'll find this fireplace at the top of the stairs.

 

And just in case you want to get a jump on next Christmas, she has this homey ol' fashioned shop/room set up 365 days a year. It's very twinkly!

This is just a quick tour of HiHo Home, one of my favorite places.  I'm really a sucker for environments that are fun and creatively done, and Heidi is one of the best at it.  Plus, her prices are entirely reasonable.  If you are in the Gardiner, NY area and want a really special experience, be sure to check out HiHo Home...you'll leave inspired.  And just in case you have a need for an occasional dog "fix" you can get that there with Humphrey, too.