My New Shop + A Giveaway!

Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. Thank you, in advance, for helping to keep the lights on in the Tess & Ted Mudroom!

I've dreamed about opening a shop for as long as I can remember. First the dream was of a clothing boutique, then it was of a general store with everything from food to cool kids toys, and then a gift shop with jewelry and accessories. And now? Well, since about 2009, the dream has been of a textile and home decor shop.

And today, I'm one step closer.

It may not be my very own store, but I get to hand-select the items I want to showcase, and use my love of styling and merchandising by putting together collections. I am now a Minted Curator and you can shop my store right here.

Not familiar with Minted? Then get in here, because you are missing out! I've been a supporter of the company for years, both personally and professionally, often recommending their fine art prints as part of room designs for clients. The way I see it, Minted is the best kind of matchmaker...connecting great design talent with customers who want to support independent artists. The company's origin was in paper -- stationery, invitations, holiday cards (check your pile from this year...I bet you have a bunch designed by Minted artists) -- but its selection has grown to art, party decor, and most recently, gorgeous textiles and home decor.

Cool right?

To celebrate my store's grand opening, I'm giving away a set of luxury linen napkins. I love setting a pretty table...what can I say? The "On The Spot" napkins are designed by Hooray Creative and I have eight in the salmon colorway to give away to one lucky winner! The giveaway runs until Friday, February 5 at 5 p.m., and I will have them flying their way to the winner in time for Valentine's Day. Thank you, Minted, for providing me with these beauties at Alt Summit so I could give them away!

CONTEST RULES:

Enter using the widget below. Here's how you do it:

• Enter your email address (or login with Facebook)
• Visit my new shop at tessandted.minted.com, take a look at my debut selections (make sure you scroll all the way down...there are a bunch!), then come back and tell me what your favorite item is in a comment below or on my Facebook page. (You can also earn extra points for visiting my Facebook page, so make sure to click that button on the widget if you do!) 

All entrants must be 18+, and shipping is within the U.S. only.

Contest ends Friday, February 5 at 5 p.m. ET.

One randomly-selected winner will be announced on this post on Monday, February 8.

Thanks for your entry!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And thank you to Christine Koh for taking four of the five shots I used in the "about" section of my new Minted shop!

THE WEEKLY SESH: David Bowie, Jerky, Home Offices, and more

At my house, the abbreviated (and misspelled) word “sesh” is thrown around all the time. My kids are crazy dedicated scooterboyz, and they’re all “Hey Levi, want to do a garage sesh?” (when it’s raining), or, “Wessy, let’s go do a SCOOT sesh!” (like basketball's HORSE game adapted for scootering), or “OMG, Jake, that sesh was dope…let’s go make an edit and post it and see how many likes and follows we get!” 

Life with pre-teen boys.

Anyway, I’ve decided to have my own weekly sesh right here on The Mudroom. Each Friday, I’ll post links, videos, products, and other things that made me think, laugh, or want to kiss them on the lips. Look for it here each week, then take a few minutes for your “Mudroom sesh”. I promise it’ll be good.

And if you don’t want to have to remember to come back here each Friday, follow me here or here and I’ll serve it up to you each week. (DAYUM, I guess I’m more like my kids than I thought.)

SO…on to my first Weekly Sesh. Enjoy!

Video: I, along with the rest of the world, was wrecked when I found out that David Bowie had died. Earlier this week when I was catching up with a friend who I hadn’t seen since the news, he shared A Space Oddity from Choir! Choir! Choir! with me. You guys, this video is AMAZING. And once you watch it, be sure to play it over a good speaker, close your eyes, and just listen. And then, if you’re like me, cry your eyes out.

P.S. - I wish I lived in Toronto so I could attend CCC's open sings each week. 

App: Do you Instagram? Download A Color Story for whiter whites and brighter brights. Wait, that sounds like a laundry detergent. It’s not. It’s a really good photo-editing app from the gals at A Beautiful Mess.

Snack: If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen I was at the Altitude Design Summit (also known as Alt) in Salt Lake City last week. Those of us who attended had the good fortune of being some of the first to try Lorissa's Kitchen Jerky, and man, it is so good (my favorite is the Sweet Chili). I’m a really bad snacker (crackers, chips, entire wedges of Brie — all those things we shouldn’t eat), so it’s nice to find a protein snack that is delicious and not dry or overly-salty like other jerkies.

Must-Read Blog: I’m ashamed to admit I didn’t know of Awesomely Luvvie until I heard her keynote talk at Alt. Suddenly I’ve turned into a crazy fangirl, buying her t-shirts and stuff. She’s whipsmart and wickedly funny, with on-point commentary on everything from the State of the Union to the Oscars. NOT TO BE MISSED: Luvvie's annual Dumbest Tweets post.   

Room Design: I recently worked on a very special home office project, so I was immediately drawn to the 40 of the Coolest Home Offices for Creatives round-up from Creative Market. Check it out and then tell me which one was your favorite.

Lip Color: I don't wear lipstick usually, but some occasions call for a power color. I tried GloMinerals Suede Matte Crayon while at Alt (yes, AGAIN with the Alt mentions) and now I look for every excuse possible to wear this crazy pink shade.

Meal: In case you missed it, when you’re hunting for a lunch or dinner this weekend, try making my favorite salad as a base and adding something new to it. Some of my readers have swapped out Gruyere for Stilton or Boursin, added pecans, or topped it with grilled salmon. Bon Appetit!

Have a great weekend (and come back Monday…I’m holding my first-ever giveaway)!

All photos from Paige Lewin. Screen capture from Choir! Choir! Choir!

MAKE IT SIMPLE: Pear and Gruyere Salad

I threw together this salad a few years ago when I realized the Brussels sprouts I had bought for a holiday dinner had turned while they were waiting for me to use them. It was winter, and my fridge wasn't stocked with tons of fresh vegetables, so I grabbed a few things I had on hand hoping the flavors would work. They did, and now I make it on the regular for lunch, dinner, and parties.

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Ready?

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Get a bowl. Fill it with mixed greens. Add some sliced Anjou pear. Add some sliced Gruyere cheese. Add some Vidalia onion dressing (I use Braswell's). Toss. Serve. Revel in compliments.

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(Also, feel free to add steak, or bacon, or walnuts, or whatever else you think might go, but it's damn good just as it is.)

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My Work-from-Home Winter Uniform

When I started working exclusively from my home office more than a year ago, it was a huge adjustment. I had spent nearly twenty years getting dressed to the nines each morning (which I loved, by the way), and suddenly, if I didn't have a client meeting, the only person who was going to see me was me. 

It's true what they say about working from home...it's really easy to slip into the "I'm just gonna stay in my PJs and slippers today"-thing. But for me, I'm 100-times more productive when I'm showered, dressed, and made-up. Here's my uniform:

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The Sweater Coat: The perfect combination of bathrobe, blanket, and jacket...it keeps me warm and pulled together. My favorite is from Anthropologie (see above), but this one from Vince looks like a good stand-in.

The Tee: The sweater coat gets pretty toasty, so I keep it light with a fun tee underneath. & Apparel is a great site that sells limited edition embroidered tees (among other great pieces). I recently wore & Apparel's "Friday I'm in Love" tee at a conference and fellow fans of The Cure went kinda crazy over it.

The Jeans: For my body type, I need skinny legs and a high-waist. Dark wash keeps things looking professional should I need to run out to meet a vendor or colleague. The ones from Banana Republic have been my go-to this season, though I'm a huge fan of Pilcro, as well.

The Socks: Keeping the toes warm during a Boston winter requires serious weight. My favorites are Vermont-made Darn Tough. They come in a zillion colors and are super-soft and cozy.

The Hair Ties: Emi-Jay. You can't go wrong.

The Earrings: The Fireball Stud earrings from J. Crew Factory are a must-have. I wear them so often that I have a second pair just in case I lose one.

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Now, it may seem silly to apply makeup if you're the only one who's going to see you in a given a day, but for me, I don't feel fully dressed unless I've got some eyebrows and eyelashes. Other than that, I keep it simple.

The Lashes: Trish McEvoy's Lash-Curling Mascara is the only one I use. It's tube technology turns my stubby, blonde lashes into those worthy of a night out. 

The Cheeks: Bare Minerals' Pop of Passion is a balm, so it's really nice for the winter.

The Brows: I've had a love-hate relationship with my lack of brows forever. For a long time, I refused to add color to them, but once a professional makeup artist penciled my brows in, I never looked back. My favorite brow color is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow-Powder Duo (and Brush #12). It's super easy to apply, and can be more or less dramatic depending on the amount of color I use.

The Lips: I have a ton of pigment in my lips, so I rarely apply lip color. Rosebud Salve is all I use, adding a touch of pink and great moisture.

So tell me, do you work from home? What's your uniform?

All product images via linked sites.

Statement Rings for Winter

Anyone who knows me can tell you I'm a big fan of jewelry. (Styling and accessorizing has always been my thing -- whether it's for a room or for an outfit.) High quality costume has always been my preference, since the real stuff is a little too dear for my lifestyle (though I wouldn't turn down the Pure Alhambra ring if it showed up in my jewelry box). In the warmer months, I'm all about statement necklaces or earrings, but when winter comes and I'm bundled up to my neck, the statement ring is my go-to accessory.  Here are a few favorites on my wish list right now:

The Ice Twister from Bauble Bar is what I would consider a delicate statement ring. In rose gold and pavé crystal, it's gorgeous for night or day.

Looking down and being reminded that spring is coming is what Tory Burch's Fern Ring would do for me. I love those bright enamel leaves.

Statements don't have to be all sparkles and glitter. I love the simplicity of Madewell's Band Ring.

While I'm not generally a fan of snakes or snake-motifs, I'm kind of crazy about the Wrapping Serpent Cocktail Ring from Alexis Bittar. I think it would be fun to pair it with a slightly prim, classic outfit.

Holding tight in first place on my list is a ring from designer Megan Auman's Contra Collection. These rings are bananas...big and beautiful and every one is different. Megan's first group of Contra rings went quickly, but she's getting ready to restock the shop, so keep an eye out. (The also come in smaller stones for those who don't want to go so bold.)

While not on my wish list  -- because I already own it -- another favorite from Alexis Bittar is the Orbital Ring. Bittar is known for his use of lucite, and this one is a showstopper. Available in several different colors, the black and gold combination is my favorite and elicits compliments every time I wear it. It's no longer available on alexisbittar.com, but google it to find retailers!

So tell me, have you worn statement rings?

Last photo credit: Paige Lewin; all others direct from retailer sites.