HOSTESS GIFTS for Style Maniacs

You can't help but wonder ... did Jonathan Adler create these Zebra Coasters just for Style Maniac?  After all, I'm wild about animal prints and have used zebra and yellow as identifiers for my Style Maniac "brand" since the beginning.  And just last month I finally designed a logo based on these elements that's been twirling around in my head for quite awhile (look for it on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, the website, the footer of this blog and more).  Well, truth is, I doubt Jonathan Adler knows a thing Style Maniac.  And his little plates are not cheap.  But the perfectly boxed set and colorful prints seduced me the moment I saw them at the new Jonathan Adler store in Old City, Philadelphia.  Plus forget the coaster idea, they'd be adorable canape plates ... or little dishes to hold jewelry ... or a pretty accent for my desk.  So I bought them as a hostess gift ... for myself.  I can think of a few more style maniacs who might like them as well ....

KICKING OFF MY ONLINE SHOES THIS WEEK

I'd like to tell you I'm heading off to Santorini or St. Barths or the shores of Trancoso.  But I'm really just kicking off my online shoes for a little break from the virtual world.  Taking time to delve into offline projects and unglue my eyes from glaring screens.  Next week I'll return, oh so ready to welcome Spring.  In the meantime, I leave you with this link to some lovely sunny locales ... and a few archive posts shared on the Style Maniac Facebook Page.  Hope you all have a wonderful week.

BY THE WAY ... To be alerted of new posts automatically, make sure you have subscribed to Style Maniac via email or RSS, or Follow via Google Friend Connect/Blogger Follow. Links in the sidebar.


Oscar de la Renta shoes via Oscar PR Girl

IT's A GIVEAWAY!

We've had fun celebrating Style Maniac's recent Blog Birthday -- and now it's time for (one of) you to get a gift!  And what could be better than choosing your own?  So, as a thank you for your support over the past two years, I'm offering one lucky subscriber a chance to choose something you love ... books, movies, music, whatever! ... with a $50 Amazon.com Gift Card.

Yes, that's right:   Fifty bucks to spend as you like at www.amazon.com. Here's how: 

(1) Follow or Subscribe Via Email to Style Maniac (options in sidebar).

(2) Leave a comment about what you might choose if you win.

That's it! 

For EXTRA ENTRIES leave additional comments if you:

"Like" the Style Maniac Facebook Page  | Follow @thestylemaniac on Twitter

Enter by midnight EST on 2/14/11. If you Subscribe Via Email make sure you activate the confirmation link sent to you.  One winner will be chosen at random and announced 2/16/11.  Gift card sent in email format and valid only on www.amazon.com; other Amazon restrictions may apply.  Note: Amazon did not sponsor this giveaway.  It's solely my gift to one of you.  Good luck!

Image via LensEnvy on Flickr

BLOG BIRTHDAY: Style Maniac Turns Two!

It's hard to believe that two years ago I had barely read a blog, didn't own a digital camera and couldn't have told you SEO from XHTML.  Most of all I had no idea that the joy of creating something that combines my  love of words and images, planning and serendipity, style and soul, could be made ever so more amazing because it's shared with each of you--a community of smart, fun and stylish women around the world.  So, on Style Maniac's Second Birthday, I'm tossing virtual confetti your way, releasing bundles of balloons and raising my glass in a toast of thanks and appreciation for stopping by here and making my days brighter.  Cheers!

(For one lucky reader there will be an "in real life" gift as well.  Stop by next month to enter Style Maniac's first ever Giveaway ... it's a good one!)

Vintage beach photo via Rainbow Armour on Flickr

CHIC TREAT: Stylish Blogger Award

What a wonderful way to start the new year: a Stylish Blogger Award bestowed on Style Maniac by the charming mother/daughter team of Beth and Kristy at Design Chic and also by the sweet Danielle of Fresh Quince!  Thank you, ladies, this is truly a chic treat.

Along with the award comes the request to pay the compliment forward as follows:  {1} Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award. {2} Reveal seven things about yourself. {3} Bestow the award on ten great bloggers you have recently discovered. {4} Contact those bloggers and tell them about the award.
And so ...


7 THINGS you may not know about me: As a little girl I kissed anything purple ... Sappy commercials, cheesy TV moments, sad movies, poignant novels: I cry at all of 'em ... When absorbed in a book, blog or design project I can go hours without food, drink or sleep and not even notice ... Often when I smile I have lipstick on my teeth ... A career test once advised "General in the Army" as my ideal profession ... I'd rather eat French Fries than cake ... I'm continually surprised and delighted to find my obsession for words, images and all things lovely shared with so many fabulous women  around the globe.

10 STYLISH BLOGGERS all highlighted on Style Maniac for the first time and each with her own unique sense of style.  Listed in no order other than how the photos looked pretty one after the other.

You all probably know of The Decorista. But I'm giving this award to 

Ashlina's Decorista Daydreams on Tumblr. Chock full of glamour.

Preppy + Hippy = The Prippy Handbook. TG's always smart, always fun.

Oscar PR Girl.  Can you say dream job?

 The pretty posts by Beth & Kristy from Design Chic would have put them on

my list if they hadn't sent me the award, so I just had to include them.  

{don't expect you ladies to repeat the post, though!}

Danielle at Fresh Quince.  As above already on my list, for her knack at 

uncovering stylish treasures at rock-bottom prices.

Maria at Design Elements imbues modern design and
dramatic travel shots with warmth and soul.

On Pinterest, my newest way to spend a snowy Sunday,
Eve Wang curates the most fabulous photos.

Eleni of My Paradissi always features something fresh and lovely under that gorgeous logo. 

Plus she lives and works on the isle of Crete. Le sigh.

Elizabeth is an event planner whose own wedding is one of the prettiest I've seen. 

The definition of Boho Chic ... just like her blog, Peacock Feathers.

Jessica at My Vintage Vogue has gathered an incredible collection of vintage fashion images.  That's where I found the 1960s Mark Shaw/Vogue photo at the top of this post.

Hope you enjoy visiting all these Stylish Bloggers and exploring their lovely sites.

A GLORIOUS MESS

"One of the most glorious messes in the world is the
mess created in the living room on Christmas day.
Don't clean it up too quickly."
- Andy Rooney 

After all the planning ... buying ... wrapping ... rushing ... it all comes down to spending time with those you love and enjoying every small moment.  I'm off to do just that and I hope you are as well.  First, just want to thank all the bloggers and photographers who have brightened my month--and year--with beautiful inspiration, images and words. And thanks to each of you, dear Style Maniac readers, for visiting, commenting and sharing here.  It's a wonderful gift you give me every day.  

See you just before New Year's Eve.  Merry Christmas.

Quote discovered on Belle Maison. Gold Glitter image by Shandi-Lee via Flickr.

DESIGN REFUGE

Style Maniac has joined Design Refuge, an international directory and meeting place for decorating and lifestyle bloggers.  Check out www.design-refuge.com  for a dazzling array of design delights.  WARNING:  Highly addictive.

Also, a warm welcome to the many new readers who have stopped by lately.  Thank you for visiting and joining our conversations on books, fashion, decorating, entertaining, music, life, laughter ... and living with style every day. To make sure you don't miss a word, I invite you to Follow Style Maniac via Google Friend Connect (Blogger follow) or subscribe via email or RSS. (Links to all in the sidebar.)

Here's what one regular reader had to say about last month's post "BEFORE & AFTER: Vintage Furniture Rescued & Revived."  

 "Oh me oh my...my 2 favorites...before and afters and reusing!! Awesome post!" ~ Danielle@FreshQuince 

Danielle writes often about vintage furniture and fashion finds on her own blog.  Check it out at Fresh Quince

STYLE MANIAC's NEW FALL WARDROBE

Perhaps you've noticed: Style Maniac has a whole new look for Fall.  And by Style Maniac I mean the blog! She's dressed for autumn, inspired by the fiery russet of a velvet jacket, leopard boots, bags and wallpaper, my favorite coffee cups and the touch of magenta in an October leaf.  Her signature yellow color now shows up as gold and toffee in the text links.   And she has a few lil treats for you: scrolling updates from Twitter, Facebook and the website; an extended list of Links I Love (both in sidebar), plus a showcase of great reader quotes (scroll down to footer for this clickable link).

And this is just the beginning.  Just as the blog posts--and my own home and wardrobe--celebrate the change of season, so will the blog design.  So, dear email & RSS subscribers, don't forget to click through every so often and enjoy the full pretty picture. And to all of Style Maniac's smart, fun and stylish readers: thank you for visiting, commenting and letting me share my mania day by day and season by season with you.

Special thanks to my friends Andrew & Lee.  Our recent Media Bistro Cocktails chat helped focus so many plans for this blog. Stay tuned ...

Leaf image via Backgrounds.  All other images by Doreen Creede. 
Leopard boots: Wilbur Vintage. Leopard wallpaper: Ralph Lauren.  Gold wallpaper: Donghia. Gold coffee cups: Marc Blackwell New York.

STYLEMANIAC.COM

Psst ... in case you didn't know, Style Maniac has a website!  Stop by www.stylemaniac.com for monthly highlights plus one-stop shopping, with links to the world of Style Maniac:  Facebook, Twitter, the Blog, Polyvore, the Amazon Boutique ... and more to come.

BLOG NOTES

Just a few notes to all my new blog readers:  if you have subscribed to Style Maniac via Email, you need to activate a link in order for the subscription to begin.  Sometimes these links get filtered.  If you need help, email me at thestylemaniac@gmail.com. 

And if you haven't subscribed, why not do so?  The links in the right column will send free updates of Style Maniac posts to your email inbox or RSS/reader.  By choosing the "Follow" button you also show off your affection for Style Maniac (and of course, I love that!).

Also, here's a tip:  clicking on the "Style Maniac" masthead at the very top will bring you to the most current post AND the entire blog.  Happy reading!

MERCI, GRETCHEN RUBIN, & BONJOUR

Thank you, Gretchen Rubin, for mentioning Style Maniac on The Happiness Project this week--and for bringing so many new visitors to this blog.  And welcome, new subscribers, followers and fans.  We have a great group of smart, stylish and fun readers here and we look forward to having you all join the conversations about books, music, fashion, art, decor, entertaining, style icons, maniac finds, music, life, laughter ... and living every day with style.  Enjoy! 

Image via Thornwillow Press

STYLE MANIAC TURNS ONE

One year ago I began Style Maniac as a way to get back to writing, combat the dour economy and finally realize, in online form, the magazine dreams that had been rattling around in my head for so long.  What I never imagined is that it would be so satisfying and oh so much fun.  Or that I would learn so many things about technology ... social media ... using lemon yellow as a neutral.  Most of all--best of all--I had no idea that this blog would strengthen, revive and bring new friendships to my life.

As a writer, you sit alone facing a blank screen, often wondering if you are the only person in the world to have a particular thought.  Through a blog, you discover that an entire community shares not just a thought, but a similar interest and passion in books, movies, music, fashion, humor, decorating, entertaining, living ... with style.  Even more amazing, that community encompasses ages 13 to 76, and includes women around the globe whom you've never met and probably never will. And yet you are all connected through this amazing, crazy medium.

So thanks to each one of you--readers, subscribers, followers, fans, family, friends, contributors, guest posters, photographers, artists, fellow bloggers and, especially, husband--for opening my eyes, brightening my world and letting me share my mania with you.

Photo courtesy Stefan Janeschitz, discovered through the magic of Flickr.  Many thanks to Stefan for the perfect image (a single yellow&white candle--exactly what I wanted!). Check out his photo website,stefan-janeschitz.de.

STYLE MANIAC's VIRTUAL GUEST ROOM

Style Maniac has been on a bit of a building spree lately.  The first addition, now ready for visitors:  Style Maniac's Facebook Page.  If this blog is the heart and soul of Style Maniac--the living room, if you will--the new Facebook page is like the guest room of our virtual home.  Come visit for awhile, meet and make friends who are crazy about style; contribute your own photos, finds, links and events; check in for style alerts and local happenings; and let me know of any suggestions you have for the Facebook Page or the Style Manic Blog.

WE'VE GOT MAIL

It only took 40-some days and 40-some nights but I finally found a simple way for you, dear readers, to get Style Maniac via email (thank you, Feedburner).

To subscribe, go to the new "Subscribe via email" box in the right column, enter your email address and voila! A confirmation link of your request will be sent to your email inbox. To activate the service simply click on the link. From that point on new posts will be sent to you automatically via email. (All for free, of course.)

This is a brand new venture (with this blogging stuff isn't it all?) so please let me know how it works.

I DIDN'T HATE FEBRUARY

A post originally planned for Style Maniac bore the title "I Hate February" because usually (thanks to lousy weather and sunlight deprivation) I do. But this blog and the amazing support from my family and friends...and their families and friends... and their families and friends ... made February 2009 a very different month. A sincere thanks to all who emailed, commented and most of all visited Style Maniac in the past weeks. I look forward to getting to know many of you and hopefully continuing to delight and inspire all of you.

p.s. In response to several inquiries, here is how to Comment on the blog: Click on the word "comments" beneath any post. A form pops up where you can type your message and either sign your name or choose "anonymous."