You know what’s exciting!?! When Social Media turns into actual friendship.

Instagram has introduced me to - so - so many wonderfully inspiring individuals but, these gals… this tight-knit group has become my crew… let me introduce you to these sweet friends!

My Lovely Ladies!

Aileen Grodzinsky @homemadehappinest is a fellow Jersey gal; who is as true blue as they come. I was thrilled not only to follow and connect with her but, to meet in real life. The things that make this lady tick are anything and everything Lucy (her sweet 6 yr daughter) and Steve (her loving hubby), beautiful art, creating art, flowers, being with close friends and family, cheap wine, craft beer and amazing food. She’s passionate about creating a home that is cozy, happy, unique, eclectic, realistic for their everyday lives and oozes them! She, Steve, Lucy, Grover the dog and Henry the bunny moved into their new home in December of 2018, only 5 months ago! Aileen is having a blast making this house a home one room at a time. Currently having a major love affair with the color pink, all things floral and peel and stick wallpaper! She works full time in the promotional products industry creating cool swag for companies like Facebook, Google and LinkedIn! She has a BA from The New York School of Interior Design and although she’s never followed the interior design path professionally, it’s always been a serious personal passion. So, picture her on any given day painting a floral piece with Lucy painting her own masterpiece right by her side, moving the furniture around or switching up a gallery wall just because the mood strikes her or simply faffing about her home with all her knick knacks, because doing all that sparks some serious joy for her. Her tag is #eclecticallyspeaking and her Insta feed is about her awe inspiring home.

Alene Conner @aconnerhouse this fun momma is a thrifting maven - another jersey gal who’s originally from Wyoming, her family moved here while she was in High School. She says she’s a country girl through and through. She shares her thoroughly thrifted home with the man who swept her off her feet 15 yrs ago - they married after knowing each other 8 months. They are the parents of 4 sweet kiddos. When Alene is not on Mom-Duty you’ll find her hunting for treasures. In the last couple of years she’s discovered a love for interior design and styling using mostly thrifted finds. Alene says creating an Instagram account has allowed her to make wonderful connections with amazing people from all over and fueled her desire for a creative outlet. Her Insta feed is about her home and her thrifted finds.

Alison Sheffield @sheffield_interiors is an incredibly talented lady from Cohasset, MA. a designer who’s has spent the past 4 years turning her house into a wonderful home. To put it mildly, she LOVES her house. It’s the only one that could get her out of the city of Boston after 20 years. It’s a charming antique cape with a bow roof. She’s been designing homes for other people for about 15 years. Her style is described as youthful-traditional or updated-classic. She wants all the wallpaper, pattern, colors and rugs but, nothing fussy. And art. Always art. She loves her job and wouldn’t do anything else. She’s a mom to her two boys (11 & 14) and wife to Stephen. They have two cats, Otto & Puck and a rescue pup named Evvie. Her Insta is a little bit family, some client work and a lot of her gorgeous home.

Cameron Jones

Cameron Jones @cameronjonesinteriors is a delightful lady from North Carolina, who’s addicted to Mexican food and HGTV. Her happy place is with a glass of red wine in her hand but, nothing brings her more joy than her two young kiddos and her husband. Her family is her main job and her first love, interior design is her second. For as long as she remembers home design has been a huge part of her life. Growing-up she dog-eared hundreds of design magazines and home catalogs and still has notebooks filled with spaces and DIY projects that inspire her. Her grandmother owned beautiful art and furniture, much of which her grandfather brought back from Europe while he was serving during WWII. Many of those pieces are in Cameron’s home today. She loves the sense of history and authenticity they bring. One of her favorite aspects about interior design is the challenge of mixing antiques and sentimental pieces into the design while making them work for her clients modern lifestyle. She’s a huge advocate of mixing styles, periods, patterns and colors. Also, she loves the thrill of scoring a good bargain or a truly unique find - some of which end up in her shop @shopcameronjonesinteriors. To her, design should be meaningful, purposeful and possess the ability to evolve as your life does. She believes your home should reflect the things that make you happy. Her Insta feed is a mix of her home and client projects.

Cher Gumin @cgumin is a sweet thrifting soul from the suburbs of Cleveland, OH. She studied fashion in college and worked in the Visual Merchandising field. Once her son Cullen Michael arrived he became her focus - the center of her universe and she dedicates her days to him. IG is a creative outlet for Cher and her enthusiasm for interiors. She loves adding new items to her home and is passionate about shopping vintage before buying something new. She’ll take those thrifted finds - fix them up and use herself or she sells them. She flips furniture! Which I think is so cool! She has a deep appreciation for all design styles. Her Insta feed documents her ever changing home.

“Friend: a favored companion”

— Merriam-Webster

Chris Whitehead @green.see.home lives on the North Shore of Massachusetts. She’s a fan of all things hearth and home, with a healthy dose of organized and balanced living. She and her husband Greg bought their 120 year old farmhouse with the intention of renovating and flipping it within 3 years but, they are still there 20 years on. They became serious weekend warriors and DIYers over the years and are still updating it today. They are about to be empty-nesters when their daughter heads off to college in the fall and perhaps that has been the impetus for the serious refresh they’ve got going on right now…they just keep going from room to room! Chris loves layers, textures and mixing new with vintage finds. One of her favorite things to do is to style, organize and update her interiors by shopping her own home or doing the same for her clients. As a relative newbie to social media, what began as a creative outlet and an open mind to see where it would lead, has blossomed into endless inspiration and incredible connections formed with a wonderful community of creatives. And don’t worry she and Greg won’t be completely alone in September - their two pups, Monti and Joey will keep them busy. Her Insta feed centers on her home and it’s updates.

Jessica Rhodes @parkanddivision is the face behind the interiors and DIY Blog Park and Division - where she writes about her home renovations, inspiring interiors, thrifting and furniture refinishing. She hand-painted a faux runner down her staircase that is unbelievable and must been seen. She’s a married mother of two boys and resident of the Adirondacks region of upstate New York. Family and country living inform her antique meets modern design style. Her Insta feed is devoted to her home design.

Morgan Swenson @thehappycocoon is a mom who lives in Utah with her 4 kids and her best friend/husband Chris. Her IG account is a visual diary of the evolution of her home as she and Chris add charm and character while working within a small budget. Her design philosophy thus far has been that she wants anyone who visits their home to be able to say “my grandma used to have that” - and so far - it’s working friends.! She loves to thrift and is endlessly inspired by the magic people are able to create using second hand items. Her tag is #broughttoyoubythrifting Her passion for vintage and her cheapness is what introduced her to thrifting but, what has kept her going back is - the puzzles. If you like either of these things stop by and say hey to Morgan she likes making friends! Her Insta feed is about her home, her thrifted finds and a bit of her family.

Remy Kenney @honeyfitzyachtclub lives in Louisville, KY. with her husband Matt and two daughters Reese age 4 and Charlotte age 2. She started her e-commerce coastal decor shop Honeyfitz Yacht Club in October 2018. It specializes in vintage pennants, flags and other nautical treasures. She started her Instagram page as a way to promote the shop but she’s been surprised by the amazing community she’s become a part of on this little app! The support received from friends she’s never even met in person means the world to her. Her Insta feed is about her home and her Decor Shop.

I read this on Instagram:

Don’t Use Social Media Less. Use it More Intentionally. Follow People Who Inspire and Motivate You. Engage with Experts You Can Learn From. Create Genuine Positive Friendships!

Without this app - we would never have met - women of different ages, backgrounds and geographical areas across the United States! I so dearly hope you have a crew!

Go check these ladies out - on their sites and on Instagram and give them a follow!

Til next time!

A few weeks ago I went into New York City for day with my sister and my son - our goal to visit the Guggenheim and view the Hilma af Klint exhibit and meet my niece for dinner. Here’s part 2 of that day.

Liam took about 100 images on my sister’s phone that day!

Hilma af Klint (October 26, 1862 – October 21, 1944) was a Swedish artist and mystic whose paintings were among the first Western abstract art. A considerable body of her abstract work predates the first purely abstract compositions by Wassily Kandinsky. She belonged to a group called "The Five", a circle of women who shared her belief in the importance of trying to make contact with the so-called "High Masters" - often by way of séances. Her paintings, which sometimes resemble diagrams, were a visual representation of complex spiritual ideas. (from Wikipedia)

The minute I saw this image - I thought - Album cover!

These smaller almost monotone works draw you in - you must get close to take in all the details.

Click here to watch an 11 minute video by the Guggenheim’s curator regarding the exhibit.

After the obligatory stop at the gift shop we made our way along Fifth Avenue passing the Neue Galerie, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Frick Collection until we landed at the Boat Basin in Central Park. It was a glorious day!

We had a few hours to sit and relax, which never happens when we’re in the city, it was divine to just sit in the sunshine drinking a glass of wine and really savor the day before grabbing a cab to Herald Square to meet Christina for dinner at Stella 34 located on the 6th floor inside Macy’s.

The Empire State Building over the course of our evening.

After dinner we did a little shopping and we had to show Liam the wooden Escalator.

We’re so fortunate to be able to get into the City easily. It’s just over an hour and as the crow flies it’s less then 25 miles. How lucky are we?1? Next up may be The Met Breuer. Liam really loves modern art.

Til next time!