It may seem crazy,  but February is almost upon us. I swear I just put up Christmas decorations a week ago. You may recall from our post last year, that Valentine's Day is a bit of a controversial topic in our office. But, being in the business of home and lifestyle and blogging and creative gift giving, it would be irresponsible of us to completely ignore the fact that there are people who very much love this day and everything it entails. (Overpriced flowers, overpriced dinners, overhigh expectations, etc).
Sorry, there's that cynic in us coming out again. We know you love him/her and you want to buy him/her something special to show that SO, we went back to one of our favorite gift companies, Uncommon Goods to check out what, if we WERE so inclined, we might buy our significant other. I love this site not only for their unique products, but that they are created by artists all over the world. Anytime we can support independent creators and artists, we are totally on board. So, forget that $80 bouquet of flowers that will die in a week and check out these creative, innovative gifts. Oh, and all are under $50. So you can still afford that bottle of bubbly. 

For more gift ideas, check out our Gift Guide. And even if you aren't a V-Day gift giver, let that person know how much you mean to them. Life is short. 

This post contains affiliate links and we are compensated for purchases made via these links. 

Well, it's our first Friday Finds for 2020 and no surprise that one of the first retailers we go to to check out what's new is Anthropologie. Seems so odd that Winter formally just started less than a month ago, yet as soon as we are in to the new year, we have Spring on the mind. Fresh start, New Year, and all that I suspect. You'll notice that the earthy, desert tones we talked about in our Fall 2019 trend blog are still front and center for spring, although a bit dustier and more muted than their saturated Fall sisters. Yes, it's a nod to the 70s which I guess makes all of us Gen Xers happy as we are the ones with the biggest spending power. Ahh, the Avocado Green of our childhood, we thought we'd never see you again. Anyway, if you are looking for something to spruce up your room now that all the holiday decor has been taken down and it looks a bit naked, here are some of our favorite picks. Oh, and everything but the art is under $100. Click the images to shop. 

1. Angelle Shower Curtain $58
2. Handpainted Bird Mugs $14 each
3. Venezia Vases $28 each
​4. Kai Melamine Bento Box $14
​5. Olive Wood Cheese Board $88
6. Tufted Janina Bath Mat $54
7. Senna Flutes, Set of 4 $40
8.Fruit Dish Towels, Set of 3 $28
​9. Frida Wall Art  $178
10. Hand-Embroidered Rae Pillow  $88
​11. Woven Waffle Throw  $78

Looking for some bargains? Save an additional 40% on all Sale at Anthro. Good stuff, y'all. Limited time only. 

This post contains affiliate links and we are compensated for purchases made via these links.

Nothing like a brand new year to get organized, purge, clean, sell, donate, etc. Maybe it's the effort of putting away all the holiday decorations that motivate us to make that additional step to organize other things in our homes. I have to say, Container Store must do a bang-up business in January. But before you go all crazy buying up every size bin and box, we have some tips for surviving and actually completing your New Year Purge so you come out on the other side refreshed and organized. Not pulling your hair out and frustrated. 

1. Have an Exit Strategy. Before you even start purging, decide what you are going to do with everything you want to get rid of. The three common options are sell, donate, and trash. Being somewhat conscious of overflowing landfills, trash should be your last resort. Selling can be profitable, but time consuming so keep in mind that you might have to wait a while for your final "exit". If you are considering donating large items, the Salvation Army will come pick it up, but scheduling is usually a couple weeks out so do that first. Plus it'll motivate you to get everything done by that date. Otherwise, Goodwill takes donations during regular business hours.

2. Start Anywhere. Go big or start small. Either way, once you accomplish one project, say, your pantry, it'll give you the energy to go big, like the garage. Plus there are no emotional connections with anything in the pantry. If you won't eat it, or it's expired, or you don't honestly know what it is, time to go. For a great pantry purge resource, click here. ​

3. Going big. Getting rid of big stuff like furniture, lawn mowers, sports equipment, strollers, etc makes a huge impact in the space you are cleaning. If you haven't used it in at least a year, it's time to let go. Be careful about "just in case" items. Yes, you still may use that treadmill, but really. Walking around the block is free and gives you way less anxiety than looking at that damn thing you spent way too much money on every day. 

4. Put a Pause on Shopping. Wow! I cleaned out my closet and got rid of 6 pairs of shoes so time to go shopping right? Hold on, partner. As much as I love shoes, part of the beauty of purging is to pare your belongings down to just those things you need and love. Therefore, shopping should follow the same rules. Do you need it? Or do you love it? If the answer to either is yes, then bang on, go for it. But buying just to fill a space or because it's on sale may put you right back in the same spot next year.

5. Love your stuff. At the end of the day, your home should be full of the things you need AND the things you love. For some of us, that's a lot of stuff. For other minimalistic types, it's very little. There is no right or wrong, just what is right for you and your family. If you walk in to a room and it makes you happy, then that is what matters.

For design geeks like us, the announcement of the Pantone Color of the Year is akin to the Academy Award Nominations. It reflects not only on the direction of design trends, but the overall mood of the world in general. I know, some of you are rolling your eyes at that statement, but bear with me for a minute. Think of the 1970s with the emergence of the hippie, naturalist, conservationist culture. The first Earth Day in 1970 was the birth of the modern evironmental movement. What were the prevailing colors found in almost every home in the 1970s? Earth tones. Every single one of us had kitchen appliances in Avocado Green or Harvest Gold, and the earthy colors permeated throughout the home. Except maybe in the little girls' rooms where pastel Holly Hobbie bedding reigned supreme. 

The past two Colors of the Year; Ultra Violet in 2018 and Living Coral in 2019 were enigmatic, thoughtful, and expressive. They spoke to visionary thinking and optimistic, joyful pursuits. They were about what is possible in the world. Now, in 2020, the future of our world might not appear to be so optimistic, and therefore, we need a color that assures us that things will be ok. Introducing Classic Blue. ​

According to the Pantone Color Institute, "We are living in a time that requires trust and faith. It is this kind of constancy and confidence that is expressed in PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on."
Blue has always been an integral color in the aesthetic of Shauna Glenn Design. It lives outside of the core neutrals of gray, brown, black and white, yet it has a neutral feel all its own. It can be adventurous or conservative and we love this Classic Blue hue because it makes its home somewhere in the middle. For color fans like us, Classic Blue is the perfect color to build on; playing well with coral, teal, chartreuse and pink. A blue chair in the living room, or a blue velvet headboard in the bedroom adds a great pop of color without feeling like you are committing to something super trendy. We love a great blue wallpaper too to brighten up a bathroom. Need some inspiration? Check out some of our favorite projects. 

And check out our Feeling Blue shop for more inspo on how to add blue to your space!