Recycled Furniture Heaven

I am so incredibly into recycled furniture right now.  At every gem of a store or flea market I wish I had a box truck to load up all of the amazing finds...if only I had a huge space to fill with all of these lovely items!  The best part is that typically these pieces are not very expensive and you get such a unique piece and at a higher quality than what you may find at some of the larger brand name stores.  Not to mention there is a story with every piece and who doesn't love a great story to have to tell their guests as the gawk over your incredible design sense!

About an hour and a half south of Washington, DC in Compton, MD you will find The Vintage Source.  Designer and owner, Michelle, has an impeccable eye and her space is absolutely charming.  Open the third weekend of every month and never a disappointment.  Try to get there at 8 am when the door opens as there is sure to be a line and well worth it!  Michelle's pieces are all truly special and lovely but to help you understand how the pieces may work in your own space she finds magazine tears of similar items and how they are styled in a room to hang next to her own recycled pieces.  I love this as you not only get new decorating tips and ideas but you may realize that something is perfect for that one spot you weren't even shopping for and tada you have the best furniture cart coffee table that you didn't even know you needed!  Leading up to the weekend she posts images of what you can expect to see at the next sale.  Below are some of the items for this coming weekend!

This bench is one of my favorites.  Imagine throwing a funky printed cushion on this and putting it in your entry way or kitchen.  So chic!



A few weeks ago a friend of mine told me about this Barn Sale about an hour north of Washington, DC in Buckeystown, MD.  This was also a GREAT find.  The Barn Sale in Buckeystown is slightly different than the Vintage Source as it is host to a variety of vendors who set up spaces within the barn.  You can find vintage industrial, cottage, rustic, vintage chic and everything in between all at very reasonable prices!  Oh, and some new stuff as well such as Christmas ornaments, cute note cards, candles and other great personalized items that would be perfect for gift giving.  As I walked into the chicest barn I have ever seen I was happily overwhelmed with Christmas spirit with all of the Christmas decor and carols playing in the background!  It is so great to see some really talented people doing what they love and making everyone happy while shopping and looking through their furniture, vintage treasures, etc.   This is what you could expect to see this weekend!

Yesterday I was looking through the November issue of Southern Living and was surprised and elated to see an article on the Ultimate Antiquing Tour from New Market, Maryland to Paris, Virginia.  Second stop on the tour was none other than Chartreuse and Co. which runs the barn sale!  So fabulous.  This place is so charming and has some amazing finds and I was glad to see it get some notoriety in Southern Living.  So be sure to pick up a copy and check it out.  Now I am just excited to take the additional road trip to check out the other stops along the way to Paris, Virginia.

 Go check out all of these amazing spots and support the incredibly talented people doing what they love.  You will undoubtedly find something you love and be completely inspired to start some of your own projects!

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Happy Monday!

I hope everyone has had a fun and relaxing weekend and is ready to take on another great week.  My weekend was my idea of being perfectly balanced- fun, productive, relaxing and rejuvenating.  I started a handful of easy DIY restoration projects with my Mom which I will share as soon as the paint dries and I can snap the 'after' photos.  Spray paint is one of my favorite obsessions as it is so easy to transform even the tiredest looking pieces into something new and modern to fit into your space.

As for the fun, relaxing and rejuvenating part of the weekend my fiance and I went on a hot air balloon ride in Loudon County, Virginia and it was absolutely stunning.  Thanks to our friends at Who Will We Will we were gifted these tickets and have finally had the chance to use them! 

It was a very early wake up call Sunday as we had to be at the launch site by 7am.  It is about an hour and a half drive from DC to Loundon County but a drive worth taking, often.  Virginia has some of the most beautiful country side I have seen and the winding roads leading you through endless horse farms and rolling hills keeps you excited to see what is around the next bend even at 6:30 am!

We arrive at the launch site and get the balloon ready and this is what happens next....

Firing up the balloon...

The owner of the hot air balloon lives on a horse farm as well.  We have left the ground and so far so good.  The ride is pretty neat and fun and then we get up a little more and see this

WOW!!! It is so stunning, majestic, inspiring and any other adjective you can think of.  You can see for miles and you cannot take in enough of this picturesque landscape. 

This is the photo I have taken for my personal inspiration board.  I absolutely love the privacy and grandeur of this estate.  Talk about a fabulous vacation home...one day! 

There we are! 

Could you imagine living here?  Well what if you were a horse?  Yep, this is not a family's home but some pretty nice living quarters for some regal horses! 

Despite the chilly morning temperatures this kept you nice and toasty.  The top of the inside of the hot air balloon is about 200 degrees.

 

We landed in the front yard of a lady's house which is apparently no big deal for a small town where everyone knows Bob and if he happens to land in your yard you have a good story to tell and pictures to share. 

We stopped and had some brunch at Red Fox Inn in the charming town of Middleburg, VA.  Adorable shops and tree lined streets are two things I can never quite get enough of and I cannot wait to go back!

Style File

For those of you who are not familiar with Polyvore you must stop in and get acquainted!  If you relished in playing with paper dolls and dress up as a kid this site is your all-grown-up fashionista dream.  Take some time looking through countless fabulous posts and then get creative and build your own inspiration board.  I always look to Polyvore for design inspiration as it is a great way to not only see some of the hottest trends but to really see what pieces women love and how they would style an outfit to make it truly unique.

Unfortunately I cannot take credit for the chic fall fashion post below by deeann but I had to share as I bought a similar maxi length gray skirt a couple of weeks ago at Zara that I absolutely adore.

Faux Fur Meets The Maxi.....street style! by deeann featuring blue tops

Eternal Child blue top
hfm.co.jp

Alice by Temperley fake fur vest
$620 - net-a-porter.com

A L C chiffon skirt
$425 - net-a-porter.com

Miss Sixty wedge heels
$379 - misssixty.com

Proenza Schouler shoulder handbag
$1,225 - lagarconne.com

Wendy Nichol black bangle
$225 - barneys.com

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner Nm Beauty Award Finalist Spring...
$21 - neimanmarcus.com

NARS Galion Nail Polish
$17 - narscosmetics.com

The A L C skirt is amazing but a true splurge at $425.  I was able to get this Zara version for around $60 and it is worth every penny as I know I will get a lot of wear out of this truly versatile and fun piece. 

You get a very similar look for a fraction of the price.  The next time you want something to spice up your wardrobe check out different websites and take notes on what will be most versatile in your own closet then look for the deals....or if you want to splurge go right ahead, YOU completely deserve it!  I will post my own photos later after I treat myself to a pair of Seychelles grey wedge booties I have had my eye on!

Fall has arrived!

I took my dog Sadie out for a walk this evening and there is that crisp cold smell in the air introducing the arrival of fall.  The weather has finally allowed me to pull out a cozy oversized sweater and my next favorite thing to do is curl up and peruse countless home decor magazines and blogs to see all of the new and exciting ways to bring my love affair with autumn indoors. 

Above photo from BHG is a simple and sophisticated way to bring the outdoors in with autumn leaves and flowers.  Looking to see what is in your own back yard is a simple and inexpensive way to dress up your home for the season.

Below, white pumpkins offer the perfect contrast to the rust mums and large red hurricanes making this home so incredibly inviting.

Country Living offers up some really fun and unique ways to decorate pumpkins as well as some gorgeous table settings.

 Whether you want to be a little more decorative or hold true to the spirit and spookiness of the season these painted pumpkins are a great way dress up a space and you don't even have to get your hands dirty!

These table displays are really lovely.  After picking up some extra pumpkins and gourds at the pumpkin patch just look around your house for cake plates, platters, etc. and you can get the same look with little effort and loads of impact!

Welcome to Marie Rae Vie!

Welcome to Marie Rae Vie!  I am so excited to begin writing my style and fashion blog and am happy to announce my very first post!  A brief introduction - I am Jessica McLaughlin, the creator of the feminine and sophisticated clothing line Marie Rae.   I have worked in the fashion industry for over seven years, and have always known that I wanted to be an entrepreneur and create my own lifestyle brand that empowers women to be their most confident and stylish selves!  My motto has always been to do what you love and do it with style.  I find that if you optimistically follow your passion and stay true to yourself you can't go wrong.  And don't forget about style!  Who doesn't feel better walking into a meeting in a fabulous pair of shoes or hosting a dinner party with all of the special touches that your guests deserve.  Looking and feeling great gives us all the confidence and boost we need to take on the world everyday!
At Marie Rae Vie you will find everything you need to empower yourself personally and professionally, from fashion and home décor trends and tips to party planning ideas full of inspiration .  As women I know we feel like we can juggle it all, from a busy and stimulating career to being the perfect mother, partner and friend.  Marie Rae Vie will be there to help you find that balance along the way.  I would love to hear from all of you as well as there is no greater way to help us reach our dreams than by having the support of other positive, like minded women!
Here’s to fabulous women everywhere and be sure to stop by often to check out what were are up to!  Looking forward to a fun adventure with you!
Xoxo
J.