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Odyseaco Large Baja Beach Bag Waterproof Canvas Tote

May 29, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Odyseaco Large Baja Beach Bag Waterproof Canvas Tote

I’m not one to travel light. Ever. So for these lovely almost-summer weekends that are a combination of running errands and leisurely brunching, I’m on a constant search for a quality tote bag that carries all my stuff but is comfortable and looks good. I’m quite happy with my new Odyseaco Large Baja Beach Bag Waterproof Canvas Tote.

While this good looking tote is made of ripstop canvas but feels more like a soft and durable cotton weave. The colors are summery but saturated enough that dirt won’t show obviously, and a smudge I did get on it wiped off easily with just water.

The tote is quite generously sized (16.5″x14″x7″), but because of the design, it doesn’t overwhelm smaller women visually. I had a tote in college that was fantastic regarding how much it would carry, but it didn’t have much form to it (despite being a sturdy canvas), so looked too big. This tote has a flat bottom to it so it keeps structure and looks light. I really enjoy the straps: they have a ten-inch drop and is made of a thick, textured rope. It is both comfortable on the shoulder and quite cute!

The side pockets are big enough to hold an iPhone securely, though it is easy enough to reach into the inner pocket for your phone. The zippered inner pocket is large enough to hold ID, keys, phone, and anything else you want to keep a little more secure than in the open tote. Since the pocket is made of the same water resistant material, your valuable items will be safe from any water bottle incidents (of which I have had plenty.)

This tote is quite versatile, between being a weekend bag, a gym bag, a beach bag, or all of the above. I’m planning on using it as a reusable grocery bag: I have some excellent ones, but since those bags don’t fit over my shoulder it is cumbersome to carry. This tote will make for a stylish and comfortable grocery bag!

Find this lovely beach bag at Amazon.com.

I received this product in exchange for my unbiased review, and I was compensated for my time and effort. However, my experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.

NOVICA Floral Reverse Painted Mirror Best Gift Ideas

May 1, 2016 · Leave a Comment

REVIEW:

I am a huge fan of jewel tones. Rich, vibrant, saturated jewel tones. This is one of the reasons I love this small mirror from NOVICA.

What is the Novica Handcrafted Reverse Painted Mirror Purple Summer Garden?

Purple Summer Garden is an intricate and whimsical piece. It employs the reverse painted glass technique where the design is painted in reverse on the back of the glass and then displayed from the front. This technique makes the colors seem more vibrant, combining the visual qualities of painting and stained glass.

Why is Novica Handcrafted Reverse Painted Mirror Purple Summer Garden a good gift?

I find the versatility of this piece fascinating. I recently moved some art out of my office as were in the middle of construction and I didn’t want anything to get accidentally damaged.

As I looked around at the bare walls I started considering a decor reboot and wondered if Purple Summer Garden would fit in somewhere. I realized that it would work with any direction I chose to go, as the colors fit with both lighter and darker schemes.

While the purples and coppers are deep and saturated like autumn colors, they also take on the beautiful colors of a summer sunset. It wasnt until I realized that did I recognize how well named this piece is: it truly is reminiscent of a Summer Garden under the August sunlight as it ebbs towards twilight. Light blue dragonflies dance around the blossoms surrounding a clear and true diamond shaped mirror.

The back has a sturdy hook to securely hang the item and comes with the artists story and his thoughts on the piece in a lovely NOVICA booklet.

This is indeed a small piece: My biggest problem with this mirror is that people are so captivated by it that they inevitably touch the glass so you may have to clean some fingerprints off of it every once in awhile! But that is a small price to pay for a piece that garners so much attention.

About the Artist

The artist, Gelacio Giron, is located in Peru and trained as an accountant, and started pursuing his craft during school. He enjoys sharing Peruvian artistry with the world through NOVICA, and enjoys the thought that you and I are decorating our homes with his pieces. He works with his brothers in his workshop to bring us his stunning works.

NOVICA Handcrafted Floral Reverse Painted Glass and Wood Framed Wall Mirror, ‘Purple Summer Garden’

IDGIRL Jewelry Crystal Vintage Collar Choker

April 25, 2016 · Leave a Comment

This is a piece that looks more expensive when it is worn than it does in the photos. Not a dupe for a Harry Winston diamond necklace by any means, but it does resemble a nice vintage piece as the stones are faceted to reflect a very nice sparkle and it is a vintage style pattern. I got the JM014 style because I thought it had a nice art deco type look and would really give a simple line dress some sparkle.

This is a collar style choker necklace and I like that the pieces are chunked as seen in the advertising photo so that it has better movement and is more comfortable to move around while wearing it than many collar necklaces that don’t have much give to them. When the necklace is actually worn, though, these pieces lay flat on the neck. The brass clasp is secure and snaps shut with a click. The widest part of the necklace is about 1.34″ inches. The size of the rhinestones varies within the pattern which is attractive. I have not had any skin reactions to the base metal used on the back of the necklace.

Upon arrival, one stone had become loose but it was in the box and it easily glued back into place with a tiny dot of crazy glue. So I would recommend checking the necklace before wearing it to make sure that all the stones are secure. The stones were otherwise secure and the back of the necklace is well made, but I did take a star off for this issue because I would be reluctant to give this as a gift without fully inspecting the piece first, and I intend on inspecting the necklace to check for loose stones before each future wearing. I do intend on using and enjoying it, though.

Of note, these are not actual rhinestones, they are faceted acrylic fashioned to look like rhinestones, and they fooled me. That surprises me since I have several modern and vintage rhinestone jewelry pieces, and I REALLY didn’t know they were acrylic until I re-read the item description. I didn’t even realize it wasn’t real rhinestones when I held that rhinestone to glue it back in. But this is a good idea because the necklace is much lighter with the acrylic which does make it easier to wear.

The gift box is attractive and holds the necklace well. With the proviso to inspect for loose stones before giving it as a gift, this would indeed make a nice gift for prom or bridesmaids or a vintage jewelry lover. It really does appear to be a more expensive piece, this is a nice deal.

NOVICA Mohena Wood with Bronze Leaf Round Starburst Wall Mirror ‘Cuzco Sun’

April 24, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Are you looking for a showstopper of a decorating piece? NOVICA’s Cuzco Sun Bronze Leaf Round Starburst Wall Mirror is your shining answer.

NOVICA Bronze Leaf Starburst Wall Mirror ‘Cuzco Sun’

Its worth a few words as to the sizing of this mirror. This is considered the Medium Size of the design at 18 However, the depth and striking appearance of the mirror draws the eye far more than a larger and less detailed mirror would. So if you want to place the mirror as a centerpiece among other items, the Medium is the right size. If you want a stand alone large piece for a wall, then you might consider the larger version. But truly do not underestimate the impact of this mirror. As with all decorative pieces, think about the impact more than the specific size.

This gorgeous 18 mirror comes from Peru and is made of Mohena Wood, a Peruvian hardwood, and is intricately covered in bronze leaf. One of the things I love about this mirror is that the bronze leaf is a definite bronze color with indirect natural daylight, but takes on the most beautiful gold color at sunset, just as the sun does itself. The artist has truly made a study of light!

I chose to put it on the mantle above the Living Room fireplace as we have other bronze items around the fire and because the vibrant color of the piece is so striking against the dark wood. The mirror would look good against any background, but I think the depth of the detail especially lends itself towards a darker, richer wood background. It was a bit of a toss up for me between the Living Room and the smaller Dining Room fireplace mantle, but the grain of the wood in the Living Room and the grain of the Mohena Wood looked sharper to me.

The mirror itself is 7.8 but appears larger. It is an exceptionally true mirror and shines vividly. If you are looking for a central vanity mirror you might want to look for a piece that has a larger mirror, however the reflection is excellent and stands by itself as a good mirror apart from the incredible craftsmanship of the frame.

The ARTIST

The piece was made by Jose Marcos Luzalde Rosales, who taught himself his craft starting at 17 in his neighbor’s workshop. At the ripe age of 18 he decided to go out on his own and became known (with good reason, as you can see) for his incredible work. He has delighted in preserving Peruvian Woodwork Artistry for 35 years now, and thanks to NOVICA, we can delight in his work as well!

I absolutely adore this mirror. It adds light and depth to the room and has drawn gasps from anyone who has seen it.

Find this incredible piece at Amazon.com.

NOVICA Bronze Leaf Starburst Wall Mirror ‘Cuzco Sun’

I received this item at a discount for review purposes. If you have any questions about the mirror, leave me a comment below!