Obsessed with Liberty

My name is Sophia Charming (not really), and I am a shop-o-holic. Usually, I am able to keep things under control, but in the past three days I have made over fifteen trips to various Target stores scouring the aisles for Liberty of London merchandise. Any Target shopper worth her salt knows that Target almost always starts putting merchandise out on the floor before the release date. Liberty has been no exception. In fact, I saw Liberty in Target as early as Tuesday.

It has been 34 minutes since I last set foot in Target. I have purchased: five neckties, three mens shirts, a jumper dress, two bathing suit cover-ups, six storage boxes, two lampshades, a picture frame, umbrella and two pairs of gardening gloves. I desperately want to purchase a a quilt and marching pillows, but my husband has temporarily put a hold on all further Target purchases. Target has not even officially released the Liberty collection yet and I already own a significant number of items, and will certainly purchase more (teapot, teacups, tea tray, PJs, wallet?, large handbag, flip-flops, gardening tools, large canisters?).

My saving grace, bizarrely, has been the fact that most of the womens clothing is polyester, which I detest. I may be further saved by the percentage of melamine kitchen items (because I just have to draw the line somewhere). At this rate my entire home and person will be covered in Liberty print, I am in serious need of an intervention.

I'd also like to note for those of you thinking of buying stuff online that the watering cans are a little disappointing, the print is oddly warped at points of attachment (e.g. handle, top). Also, the black planter is not a true black, it is more of a brownish gray. In terms of clothing the mens items are far and away the best deal of what I have seen so far: silk ties with contrasting lining and 100% cotton shirts with collar stays!

Images from Target.com

Southward I go (want to buy my condo?)

So much exciting news! Well first off, I'm moving from Boston to Washington DC. In fact, my condo is now on the market. Anyone interested in moving to Jamaica Plain (Boston)? And second, I finally found a job! So exciting, right?

Bedroom fireplace...sooooooooooooooo romantical.

Office/Dressing Room next to the bathroom...Note fabulous inlaid wood floor!

My Muchas.

Living Room with spiral stairs and fireplace.

My card catalog and kimono.

Fabulous picture window.

Amy Butler window treatments, 1950s table and brand spankin' new stainless appliances.

Did I mention that I live across from a huge, beautiful park?

Hello Kitty Ipod Nano Cover

I just purchased this iPod Nano (3G) cover from Sanrio. I am such a nerd, but I totally love it! It comes with a cute little cloth for cleaning and a protective cover sticker for the screen. I especially love the heavy duty clip, because I am always dropping when I take off a jacket, put down my purse or do something with my earphones. Now I can clip it to my jeans or purse!

Literary Lust

At least five of the latest collection of Penguin Classics cloth-bound books are available for advanced order (March 10) on Amazon, and they are an amazing deal at $13.50 each. I hope they list the rest soon because I really adore The Woman in White and I would LOVE to have it in a beautiful hardback (I think they come out Sept. 28). I'll be sure to let you know the second I see them online. The link also shows you last year's set, in case you haven't yet splurged on them like me!

Image from Design*Sponge

Neutering my condo

Image via Wikipedia

So, a little over a year after moving into my adorable little condo I must leave it behind for a new city, hopefully a job and a new home. I feel as if I was just starting to get things set up the way that I like them! The saddest part is that tomorrow I will finally be able to show ya'll pictures of my little slice of heaven, but the pictures will be "censored." I've spent the last few days feverishly packing off little bits of personality into boxes to be stashed away until our condo has sold. So, sadly there will be no stained glass, no chandeliers, no Liberty print inspiration board covered in pictures of Eva Green, Marilyn Monroe and Rob Pattinson. But fear not my lovelies, you can still admire my homemade Amy Butler window treatments, darling spiral staircase, huge 100 year old picture window and two marble fireplaces (all in 730 sq ft)! Stay tuned!

Christina Hendricks ...

I think Christina Hendricks is the most beautiful, sexy woman alive! I am so buying this magazine!

A taste of things to come...

I've been diligently working on the new chic and charming blog design. I'm going to give you a little taste of things to come by sharing my new logo with you! What do you think?

Kirtsy Takes a Bow

I'm published! My article "How to Own the Sidewalk" was published in Kirtsy Takes a Bow. Pick up your own copy (for a great price) on Amazon and read a diverse collection of articles from across the web written by women!

Vintage Lipstick Holders are Fabulous!

My latest obsessions are vintage lipstick holders. I love discovering new items to decorate my vanity, and from crystal ring holders to powder jars, I've amassed quite the collection of beautiful items. That said, I don't know how I've gone through life not knowing about lipstick holders! I especially love "lipstick holders" or "lipstick caddies" that look like vintage head vases or that are decorated with adorable littler mermaids. Here are a few of my favorites, a few are obscenely expensive:

"VINTAGE JAPAN LADY LIPSTICK HOLDER HEAD VASE HEADVASE," $285 at ebay.com

"Vintage LEGO Lipstick Holder" $55 at antiqueheadvases.com

"VINTAGE JAPAN MERMAID GIRL LADY VANITY LIPSTICK HOLDER," $265 on ebay.com

"SALE Vintage Four-Tulip Lipstick Holder," $19 rubylane.com

Martha Stewart Online Invitations

The Bride's Guide just announced a collaboration between Martha Stewart and Pingg.com to bring you Martha Wedding Images on Pingg's online invitations. The invites are beautiful, but does anyone else see something a little bit wrong with a wedding guru endorsing online invitations for wedding related events? Engagement Parties, Wedding Showers, Weddings and Rehearsal Dinners should all have written invitations, online invites to such important events are just kind of tacky. So, who, oh queen of wedding etiquette, is supposed to use these online invites?

Image from The Bride's Guide

Note the Lipstick

Zac doesn't just match the lipstick to the sunglasses, he also matches it with the dress and socks.
I die.

Image from Fashionista and Target

Headscarf Handicapped

For the past fifteen years I've been obsessive compulsivly tearing out my favorite pages from magazines and saving them in scrapbooks...a fact that I've shared with your before. Now you too can appreciate the fruits of my labors. I've scanned some of my favorite images into my computer and annotated them to share with you here on chic and charming. When possible I will give attribution to the magazine the clippings came from, but that is not always possible.

The above picture was clipped because I've always wanted to be one of those chic women who can pull off a headscarf...alas the look does not really work for me!

Image Source Unknown

PS. It drives me a little crazy that I wrote "a eastern" instead of "an eastern" and I probably should have thrown some capital letters in there somewhere...but I'm too lazy to fix it :P.