I've been looking for some art to decorate my space for the last few months and came across this cool sit called Minted. It's basically independent artists selling their amazing photos and artwork in a way that's simpler than searching through Etsy for pieces because it's not as overwhelming.

I'm really into clean lines, open spaces and love using white, gold and silver together so when I saw these foil art pieces I was in heaven. I think it's a great way to pay homage to where you're from and where you are now, or to give love to a place of some kind of significance to your life, without worrying about it clashing with everything else in your space.

I didn't make an effort to decorate my last two apartments in LA because I still felt like a long term visitor up until now. In this new place, and after 3 years in SoCal, I'm finally ready to set down some roots (in a decor sense) and am looking into ways that I can make this and any future home reflect me as best as possible. I love the NYC foil print by Alex Elko Design but my only complaint is that it cuts off Manhattan so that my neighborhood isn't shown which kind of sucks but I does show my old hood in Astoria and the rest of the island which is where I made my mark so it's kind of a win.

I've been into photography for as long as I can remember and was really excited to start taking pictures with my iPhone to make things a bit easier to save and share. Unfortunately I've never had a super top of the line phone (read I still have an iPhone 4!) that produced amazing photos.

So you can only image how glad I was to get Photojojo's Phoneography Starter Kit to try out. It really did help push my phonography game to the next level! Not only is the wide/macro lens a super cool feature to have pretty much built together but I'm able to attach a magnet to the end of my iPhone so that my photos come out perfect without having to spend time making sure their lenses and my phone camera match up perfectly!

In addition to the lenses the kit includes a cool filter that looks like an old school slide which lets you take pictures with cool filters from the start by just moving the filter around the lens. It's pretty cool and I like that it forces me to commit to one fun filter and take a chance!

Everything needed comes in a really cute pouch where I can store everything that came in the kit along with my phone and it also came with this super cool dinosaur that let me test my lenses out as soon as I got them!

I'm seriously in love with this kit and am constantly on Photojojo's site looking for the next great product to buy for my iPhone and iPad. Their products are really innovative, fun and super cute to carry around!



***I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Hello,  I'm Jen from Craftic and I'll be writing my very first guest post today!

Since Fall is around the corner, I thought it'd be fun to share what I'm planning on making these next few weeks before it gets chilly.

First up is the Knitted Neck Scarf by Martha Stewart.  It's a light alternative to a cowl and kinda perfect for the cooler months until it gets downright cold and you have to switch to something warmer.  The pattern is pretty easy to follow and this doesn't take much yarn at all.  You could definitely finish this over a weekend and have it ready as a gift in no time!


The next thing I'm planning to make is this super simple cowl.  I made up the pattern as I went for this one.  On size 10 needles, cast on 90 stitches and increase 2 stitches every 2 rows for 10 rows.  I prefer this structure since it's snug around the chin and then spreads out and sits well on the chest.  The pictured cowl is made from 2 yarns - one wool, one alpaca - knit together.  This is without a doubt incredibly cozy and warm.

Hello world!

My name is Jenniffer and I'm a new contributor to this site. I'll be writing on various topics. Diane came over to my apartment and was in awe of how I decorated my kitchen and said that I had to show it off. Living in a NYC apt means there's little to do in terms of remodeling but I found that adding small items let me transform this old fashioned kitchen into a cool French Country style cooking and eating area.

Every party goers has had to deal with the loss of their drink at least once in their lives and it's a really sad experience. We never want to waste a good drink but we also don't want to share one with a complete stranger.

That's where a product like Splash Tags comes in. Unlike wine charms, Splash Tags are reusable stickers that can be placed on any type of cup and not just wine glasses. They come in nice themed designs such as worldwide cities, words to identify ones personalities in a funny way and designs.

A great thing about Splash Tags is that no two designs per pack are the same and when you remove them there is not sticky residue left on the glass. Aside from using it for wine glasses and cups I've already put one on the back of my iPhone so that I never grab the wrong one at home or when I'm out with a group of friends. For $2.75 a pack and multiple uses this product is a must have.





***I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I've been a fan of World Market since I had to furnish a tiny Astoria apartment back in 2009. My goal at the time was to furnish it with pieces that were affordable, stood out quickly and could be placed in different types of rooms since that's how my apartment was set up. Now that I have a much larger place and work across the street from one of their retail stores I've fallen more in love with it and am constantly picking things up.

Here are some under $50 pieces that will give your space a fresh new look and help lighten it up for spring.

1. Nathan Carved Wood Wall Panels, Set of 3- $45
    This set of 12"x12" carved wood panels are a great size and will fit perfectly in an entryway or accent wall.

2. Black Vintage-Style Magnet Clock- $15
    This magnet vintage style clock is an affordable and useful way to add some flair in your kitchen and have a time telling device at the same time. Most smaller kitchen walls are taken up by cabinets making it hard to find a place for a clock so the fact that this is magnetic makes it really handy.

3. "Life Does Not Have To Be Perfect" Wall Decor- $35
    A daily motivational reminder is never a bad thing to see when you're leaving or re-entering your apartment. This thin 3.5' distressed plank is a cute way to give yourself a much needed boost without being overpowering and cheesy.

4. Klara Antique Candlestick Table Lamp Base- $50
    The Kiara Antique Candlestick Table Lamp base has enough detail to not look plain and boring but is subtle enough to fix a range of lampshades. It's a versatile piece that can be on display all year long.

5. Aqua Embossed Ceramic Canister- $8
    Let's face is, us girls have small boxes, trays and containers full of small items like hair pins, quarters for laundry or small pendants that we can't afford to lose. This canister is a cute way to keep all of your small items in plain site.

6. Castelbel Fresh Cut Lavender Bar Soap- $6
   This gorgeously wrapped lavender soap serves two purposes: before it's used it can be on display on your bathroom counter and then as a soothing body wash with lavender and shea butter. It's heavenly.

7. White Round Bath Mat- $13
    Bath mats are usually square, oblong and boring but not this one. It's got detailed rings all around and a crochet edge that is really cute and fun.

8. Milk Bottle- $6
  Vintage milk bottles can be used in every area of your apartment and the print on this ones is a nice alternative to plain ones. You can fill it up with bubble bath salts if you place it in the bathroom, with a flower (real of fake) to be displayed on a bedside table, windowsill or coffee table and in the kitchen it can be used to store freshly made nut milks or juices.



I seriously can't get enough of this store and urge anyone wanting to add some changes to their home, without everyone knowing which Target or Ikea line it came from, to check it out!