Sunday, November 19, 2017

ѕpell and тнe gypѕy collecтιve ѕιren ѕong


ʂıཞɛŋ ʂơŋɠ ῳıŋơŋą 


ʂıཞɛŋ ʂơŋɠ ɬɧɛ ɖཞɛąɱ ɱąƙɛཞʂ ɠཞą℘ɧıƈ


My new favorite color in berry with gold lurex threading that when the light hits it looks so stunning.





Love this graphic tank, has a shorter cut but I sized up by accident so not as short, this is a L I should have done a M but either way I love it.  My skirt is a size S and plenty of room, its mid length so meant to not touch the ankle length wise.



ѕнop мy ѕpell and тнe gypѕy looĸ нere: Shop.spelldesigns.com

Camisole styled with matching Winona skirt in berry, looks good tucked in too.


Friday wore the Winona skirt and camisole in Berry loved it and looks so good with my pastel pink, peach and purple tone hair.


I'm excited because Nov 20 in US and Nov 21 in AU is the second drop of the Siren Song collection. I love the new styles and colors, planning to order the mermaid mini dress, skirt or off shoulder top, baby blue graphic tee and then my top item is the marigold mid length dress with ruffle front.  I may even get the kimono in the mermaid love it and would look good with jeans with the blue tones.  Please if you plan to order the second drop use my link located in my side bars, banners all over my blog, link located in my blog posts, and on my social media pages.  All of your support means the world to me.  Have a Happy Thanksgiving, we will be in our new home tome and celebrating our oldest daughter, who was born on Thanksgiving Day in 1999,  18th birthday this Saturday.  Can't believe I have an 18 year old daughter who will be in college, so blessed and this year have so much to be thankful for.  Peace, love and light always XOXO  ~Melissa 



Dream Home Final Design Accents

Dream Home Details and Design Finishes 


Our exterior paint will be a darker gray with creamy white trim and until I get approval from the HOA for my blue door paint our front door will be black.  If you have followed me for some time you know that I have owned my own design business, so interior and exterior design is not only my first career and job, training but passion.  We selected a stacked stone for the Craftsman style pillars on the bottom with the dark gray, light gray and earth tones.  I like the dimensions and tones versus all grays or whites.  We did a dark gray roof which we only had two choices in this style shingle roof with a 3 dimensional look and the other was a brown.


I'm thrilled with the backsplash they found for me, I previously selected a stacked thin stone and glass back splash in marble and gray tones but I felt it was too busy to go with my dark gray stained wood cabinets.  Our cabinets are a fancy shaker style and doing the 5 piece drawer fronts versus the flat fronts.  This tile is so me and has that moroccan quatrefoil design I so love for decades now.  I went with a dark gray grout to really make the white tiles pop.  Our kitchen has under cabinet lighting so this will be a focal point for my kitchen and I know to some of you it may seem some plain, but it is the shape I wanted you will see more as it all comes together the design plan I am shooting for with lots of texture and dimension to my look.  

I also had asked them to find me a high quality vinyl plank wood look flooring, we had selected a few porcelain tile wood look styles but I didn't want tile or grout how ever we have had laminate and wood flooring, it scratches and can't get wet, if you drop something on tile it cracks and laminate dents or also chips.  I know with the laminate and wood flooring if you dragged your chairs or furniture it would leave scratches and scuffs.  Vinyl flooring has come a long way, it is softer to step on and not as hard as wood or laminate, it has a cushion between the vinyl and subfloor that helps with a little bounce to it.  Also I can't rave enough from designing other homes for clients and working with flooring designers, brands and contractors, Vinyl wood planks are the most durable wood like product on the market.  Water proof, scratch, cuff and stain resistant.  You can't beat it and depending on the level you go with even more affordable, and best of all the easiest to clean.  It has the texture and more realistic look to where most people can't tell the difference between this flooring and real wood.  I was in love with wood look tile but having had tile in a few of our homes grout is the worst and hard to keep clean.  Having OCD I have to have easy to clean flooring cause my home has to be clean I want my floors shiny and spotless without a lot of work.


Our master bathroom was one room along with our master bedroom that I told my hubby when we decided to design and build our dream home, I was not scrimping on.  In prior homes we always had big dreams for our master retreat but it always came last after the rest of the home and never was finished or to the level I really wanted.  I went with blue glass listello trim in the shower, my fave feature is my pebble white flooring in shower, shaving corner shelf or seat, large gray and white floor tiles that are the largest floor tiles I have ever seen with matching wall and tub surround tiles.  Our vanities are not one long double vanity but we have separate vanities, both are dark gray stained like kitchen but without the 5 piece front drawers I ordered the same drawers but the ones with the beveled edge instead of 5 pc fronts.  I felt it had a more bathroom look where the 5 pc fronts are a must have for the kitchen.  We upgraded to comfort height toilets, under mounted sinks, quarts counter, wide spread faucets, seamless glass between shower and my huge tub, I am having a chandelier electrical box replace the recessed light over the soaker jet tub to hang a chandelier then I have already been looking into a wall mounted tv and those cool wall fireplaces with blue sea glass pebbles to match my tile listello at the foot of the shower under the window for warmth and ambiance.


We didn't plan to upgrade or add much to the second bath upstairs but I went with the old accent listello tile trim in a stacked glass and stone small tile from our old master bath choices, slightly smaller floor tile in a simple color with matching wall tile, we have same cabinets in the gray dusk stain and silver pulls, I have my lighting already picked out for this bathroom will find a stock photo to share cause I didn't have room on my phone that day and hubby forgot his.  I am excited to finish selecting lighting and fans.


More photos of the selections and finishes, I am doing a dark Gray stain like my cabinets for the hand rail in stairs in a matte finish, dark gray high level carpeting and our gray wood plank vinyl flooring by Floorte in Pola.  Will have more photos soon to share.  




I was so excited to see huge table size blue prints of the home we deigned, primarily myself with hunny helping me some and the contractor/building manager.  Love the extended lanai, triple slider instead of double slider then we added lots of windows cause the builder normally only does front and back windows, being into photography and an indoor plant lover I had to have as much natural lighting as possible, it just makes me happy when the house is simple and bright.


Side elevation to see the side windows we added and front/back porch/lanai.



Some interior stuff to get an idea of the bottom floor, I don't think I am using the area between the kitchen and gathering room as dining room.  We are considering but waiting till the framing walk through to see the sizing and may sell our long table with maybe top to get a round table but it is so hard to know what the rooms will look like a sizing when we just have drawings and never been able to walk a model like most people do, only down fall with deigning your home but the builder is amazing, he loves our design and after having all Spanish, mediterranean and farm style homes in their collections he is excited to do a craftsman style like this one, they do have 4 or maybe 6 similar looks on exterior but none like mine with the dormer windows and porches.  

Stay tuned going to have my top picks for lighting, paint, decor, accents, furniture and more.  If you love home and interior design, decor you will really enjoy some upcoming posts as I share my design in person, photos of the progress and my passion for interior design, landscaping and anything related to our dream home.  Have a great holiday week ahead, Happy Thanksgiving to all so many things to be thankful for with the biggest life changes we have had in over 7-8 years.  Life is good and enjoying purging all our old stuff donating to those who really can use it, to the VA and to a women's shelter.  Happy designing and decorating, cannot wait till next Christmas to go all out in our new home, I already went all out in our smaller home with 2 large trees and 4 mid to small trees.  I am silly lol but I love the holidays as a designer because you can be bold and try things you may never try.  Peace, love and light always xoxo.

Ishani Designs

                            






I recently connected with this amazing Australian designer, Ishani Designs.  I am loving her designs, the details are amazing, quality block print fabric, and normally mini dresses or skirts are a little shorter then I normally care to wear but all her shorter styles are knee length which is perfect for this now 40 year old blogger.  I like to keep it modest and I totally am in love with the Mala Short dress in Periwinkle.  It has a lovely crochet neckline and my favorite design feature is the lace up back.  It is a great detail and perfect for ladies that are larger busted or have a curvier frame, you can adjust the lace up back straps that tie into a pretty corset look style but while adjusting the length of the straps and cinching the bust, waist area perfectly.  It leaves you with a perfect fit dress from the bust to the bottom.  This is hard to find being a larger busted but smaller waisted lady.  I paired it with a crochet and lace detail kimono since it is mid fall and a little cool here in Florida but still rather warm compared to other areas where some of y'all have already begun to deal with snow.  Link for my dress is below and be sure to check out the same block printed fabric and color in other styles as well.


Second Ishani Designs piece I am featuring on this post is a lovely kaftan dress.  This is the Kamali Kaftan in Wallflower.  It has open cut out cold shoulder style with a lovely vibrant purple trim, this block printed light weight fabric is beautiful on and has a great flow, perfect for a kaftan style dress.  I love the cinched matching purple waist tie with coordinating tassel details.  Has a beautiful boho luxe look and feel.  I cannot wait to wear this when spring and summer come because the fabric is so soft and light weight.  This beauty is on sale for $59 AUD which is an amazing price.

I'm excited to be able to collaborate with Ishani Designs and hope to be able to bring you more styles soon.  She has tops, skirts, short and maxi dresses.  All of her block printed fabrics are vibrant colors with beautiful details and unique design styles.  Her price points are affordable and International shipping was very fast.  Please be sure to check out her IG page @isanidesigns and follow.  If you decide to place an order please be sure to tell her you found her website and details on her collection from Melissa of Dliteful Trends or Cr8tivewanderlust.  I like to try to bring you some of the brands I come across that have styles I love and that inspire my followers to build their bohemian wardrobe.  Bohemian style is not only fun to wear but comfortable and easy to wear, I love that I can throw on a dress or skirt with top and look so put together, just add the right shoes and jewelry you can go from a casual everyday, street style look to a more put together event or evening look.  I can't wait for all of you to visit the Ishani Designs Instagram page and website to see more of her designs and pieces because there are so many amazing styles.  I created a wish list and its very long, I literally love every pattern, color way and style.  I hope you enjoy these designs and please if you own any Ishani designs please tag me on IG or feel free to message me below to share.  Happy shopping, sending peace love and light always, xoxo.

Some of my Wish list items and fave styles:


Photos from www.ishanidesigns.com/au


I am in love with this cute short dress looks so comfy and stylish with beautiful colors, colorful pieces are my fave cause they make me smile. 


Skirt and matching blouse that look so good together, also love the other print in this wrap skirt with super cute lace up camisole.  All items on my wish list and directly from their website and photos on their IG page @ishanidesigns.  



Where to shop:

For all Ishani Designs 


My top dress and retails for only $89 AUD


Bottom Kaftan Dress in Wall Flower on sale now



Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Little House on the Prairie Vintage Inspired outfit...


Inspired by the prairie looks of the 1970s, when I was born my mom told me my older brother liked the name Melissa which was one of the actresses from the show Little House on the Prairie. 


This vintage find was a good one finding not just the skirt, but matching top and sash tie belt.  Love the details and lace, very high quality and in excellent vintage condition looks like brand new.


Kept it simple wearing the outfit how it would have been worn many years ago and adding just a simple Lacey Ryan blue tassel gold bangle.  


Hope everyone has a great week and Veteran's day weekend. Peace, love, and light always xoxo Melissa ~

Monday, November 6, 2017

ѕand coacнella & elecтrιc weѕт



Graphic tee from Electric West based out of California.






My skirt is from Sand Coachella, found the designer who shipped to me direct and love this skirt, it has pockets, elastic waist, the most lovely soft fabric and vibrant fall/autumn tone colors.  This skirt is really everything right now especially with fall in full swing...


Yes, my tee is correct but I'm a kind Bad B@*ch.  I had to change my shirt this day to another one that says Babes Build Empires before I picked up my youngest, whom is only 10, from school and later I went trick or treating in this skirt.  Was perfect to steal some candy from the kiddos and hide away in my pockets lol.  As soon as I get more details on how to order these skirts I will add the link below.  xoxo

1970 Vintage Fall inspired Outfit Style

νιитαgє fαℓℓ ѕтуℓє


Photo edited to have that vintage yellowed look.



My skirt is circa 1960-70 brown, floral print with lace details.



Went with a vintage inspired lace off the shoulder top, vintage scarf that was handmade I believe, and some lace up back boots.



Tried to capture the back of my Madden FreeBird back lace up boots I have had for a few years now that have a distressed vintage look.  I will have a lot of vintage features and inspiration coming up because I have finally come across some of my vintage finds while trying to organize from our move as we prepare to move again in May.  I also have scooped up a few awesome styles and pieces to add to my already amazing vintage, rocker boho chic closet.  Hope y'all have a great week sorry I am so behind I had these posts sitting for a week or more...  I have been insanely busy but I promise to be bringing you lots of new product reviews and brands for bohemian and vintage style.  

Peace Love and light always xoxo ~ Meli

ʄąƖƖ ƈƖơųɖ ɖąŋƈɛཞ ცყ ʂ℘ɛƖƖ & ɬɧɛ ɠყ℘ʂყ

Spell and the Gypsy Collective

Cloud Dancer


My beautiful blue, green, tan, ivory and brown tone skirt is by my favorite of course, Spell and the Gypsy collective.  This is from the Cloud Dancer Summer resort wear line, it is summer in Australia right now.  



Skirt is light weight and has a crochet trim about a quarter of the way down from top, the peacock print has the most beautiful tones of blues and greens like the ocean.  Mix in some creamy ivory and a beautiful amber tone with brown, you have Cloud dancer.  


I wanted to find the perfect top for this skirt and was inspired by an Instagram post Spell shared prior to the launch.  I didn't want to copy the look to the exact style but I really did love the way they had chosen a neutral fall tone top, then the cinch front really added a little something extra to the look.  I completed my look with silver and turquoise jewelry to pull out some more of the blue.  I didn't feel this outfit need much cause the top and then the print on the skirt was all very eye catching.  


My cinch front amber top is from American Threads, I will add a link to where you can find it below. I also purchased it in black to wear with boots and jeans for concerts, has a total rocker chic vibe.


Of course you can shop Spell and the Gypsy Collective using the link here:  or in the side bar of my blog.  Thank you to everyone for your continued support.  I was so excited to see Spell featured one of these images on their website, always makes me smile to see my photos featured by brands that I love.  Hope everyone had a great weekend, and bare with me while I play catch up today because I have a couple medical procedures this week and will be laid up, then the holidays are quickly approaching so I really need to post a bunch of stuff I started but needed to review, add photos, links and edit or proof read.  Keep an eye out for my Holiday gift guide I do every year, can't wait to share some of my favorite gifts for all your friends and family.  XOOX

~ Peace, Love and Light always,  Melissa ~


~ Where to Shop ~

Shop Spell and the Gypsy Cloud Dancer;


American Threads ruched or cinched front top:






Our Future is so bright and excited for new path in our lives..


Bright Future, Always Dream big and never limit yourself...

Photo taken by Melissa Septien in Murphy. NC 10/2017


I wanted to get back to my roots and do a post about something I'm totally passionate about, what I started my career path in and had dreamed about from early childhood. Interiors and architectural design have always been a huge love of mine, my father was a drafter and designed nuclear submarines but in his spare time he loved to sketch. He would sketch cartoons and scenic nature stuff but he would always draw houses and homes. He eventually retired from the naval base and followed his dreams of moving our family to south Florida to pursue his love for landscape design. He purchased an already established lawn service and landscaping company which is where my love for the outdoors and gardening began. 

I always loved interior design and would always enjoy helping my mom or grandma pick out decor for their homes and holidays. As I got older I enjoyed decorating my own room, and eventually my mom and dad saw the talent I had allowing me to voice my opinion when they would redecorating or shopping for new furniture. I have always had a love for the arts, if it isn't sketching, design, painting, photography then it is landscape design, crafting, ceramics and pottery, you name it. I originally had set out to attend Florida State university and major in nursing. It seemed like a great career path with a steady good income and lots of jobs all over the world. I soon learned that hospitals weren't for me and not long after getting married my father fell ill, he was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia and was in the hospital for a little over a year before passing away. During that time the scars and pain of watching my father become more frail and sick really took a toll on me, I'm glad now I didn't pursue the nursing career path because I can't step foot into a hospital without painful memories and emotions flooding my mind. 

Not long after I moved out of my parents home and into my own apartment that wasn't shared with my room mates I realized how much I truly loved interior design. I not only enjoyed shopping for design and decor accents or furniture but I was always having these ideas come into my mind to improve the space, or what I would if I owned the space and was able to gut the space and start fresh. I was very lucky to land a job at Home Depot which many will laugh and be like really Home Depot but my time spent working at Home Depot really taught me so much beyond working customer service and sales. I was able to work in the lawn and garden department then cover for lighting and electrical, work in their home design center where they remodeled kitchens, bathrooms and did flooring installation. I learned so much about home design in that few years that it only proved even more how strong my passion for home design and decor was.  I went on to start my own business many years later doing interior design, assisting in full Home remodels and design, party/event planning and decor , etc. 

Our first home we purchased was new construction, a small townhouse 2/2.5 with a garage. Cute corner unit brand new house with all brand new appliances and accents. We went to the design center and I remember being able to pick out our flooring, cabinets, counters, tiles, etc., once the house was finished we started with paint colors, picking out lighting and fans, adding window coverings , etc. I had such a great time I was sold that our next home would have to be a fixer upper. Sure enough we sold our townhouse during the rise in real estate which fell perfectly in a personal time in our lives when we had to sell the house but luckily we made a good return on the sale. Because of the rise in the market we ended up renting for several years and kept looking for the perfect fixer upper in our price range. 

We finally found the perfect house with the bones to be our dream home. It was a 4/2 with 2 car garage, circular driveway, pool, and on the lake. We put in our offer and haggled a little but got the house for the price we had set so we would be able to invest in fixing it up. We spent a month after closing doing the demo work ourselves, tearing out walls, opening up the space for a more open and light living space. We took down the old popcorn ceilings, tore out the many different flooring from marble, tile, laminate, and vinyl to install realistic hand scraped wood laminate, new molding, base boards, door trim, and of course all new kitchen, updated some of each bathroom because the tile wasn't old, we invested a lot of time, sweat and money to fixing up the house and making it our own. The funnest part was the new kitchen I fully designed myself not just picking cabinets, back splash and counters but I fully changed the layout and design. I also enjoyed picking out paint, to me paint is the first and most important part of decorating the home because even if you don't have money to get new flooring and update your kitchen or baths you can use paint to make anything look clean, new and fresh. To put your stamp and the place adding your own unique style. 

We just recently sold that fixer upper after living their with our family for the last ten years to make a huge change in our lives. I have been wanting to get out of south Florida for about 8 years since we visited Tennessee not long after we bought our house. My husband has an amazing job that he loves and he has been with the company for many years now so he didn't want to leave his job to have to start over again so we had to compromise so he took a job in northern Florida with the same company but in an area we love. I ended up loving it more then I ever expected. When we originally set out to sell our home I was planning on renting for the next 9-10 months then when my oldest daughter graduated this coming May we planned to find a comfortable rental in the new area and purchase our dream home in the mountains. I planned to spend my most of my time in the mountains home schooling our youngest so I was able to travel. We want to be able to travel and have money to be able to enjoy life versus being strapped to bills and a mortgage. Funny thing happened though something I was totally not expecting at all because I had my heart set on NC or TN as my future purchase of a home, I fell in love with the area my hubby took the job and we began looking at land and builders. 



If you have been following me for some time or since the summer then you know we recently went into a contract for our new home. After discovering that not only did I love the area but finding out the school district is one of the top in the state, the crime is like non existent and the value of the homes only continues to increase every month.  I started with land, then we went to some model homes for new communities being built. I really wanted to be able to have input on the design and layout of the house. I didn't want to just purchase a model and then customize it in the design center. I wanted to be able to pick the exterior design, interior floor plan, window placement, etc. We found a builder and still continued to look for a place to build the house, then when we were a couple weeks out from having to lock down the contract with the builder in order for our new home to be completed by June 2018 they called us and told us if we decided to build on one of their sites they would wave the fee for the lot. We go very excited about this because as part of our back up plan if we couldn't find land we loved was two lots in one of their communities. We saved ourselves thousands of dollars which is being put into the interior upgrades we have been dreaming about. 

In the months ahead I will be posting many posts about interior design tips from selecting paint colors, flooring, window treatments, lighting, carpeting, adding your own unique touches from antique accents, decor accents and furniture. I'm going to start with the basics and move up as my own home is being built. We have just begun the process and have our final design center 5 hour appointment coming up Nov 8. I can't wait as this is when we make all the final exterior and interior choices for the colors, materials , etc., up to this point was designing the exterior and interior floor plans. I have chosen a craftsman style exterior with a front porch and extended lanai. We added windows, triple sliders, a theater room, changed the upstairs floor plan, honestly it has been so fun to design my own house. 

I picked a floor plan I liked and then just improved it with my own ideas, which was fun because now the sales man told me that he has suggested the additions and changes I made to other families looking at the same model and many have really loved the ideas. You can scroll back a few pages and see photos of the exterior I have not selected my exterior stone and paint we do that in the next couple weeks but it will have a similar look, then we have a good idea of the colors we will be going with and a lot of the upgrades we want. I will be adding photos or final choices, then I will be posting up dates of my home from the concrete foundation, to the block going up, interior walls, exterior progress and more. 



I will also start posting about selecting paint colors, picking a theme or decor style, bargain shopping for decor, accessories, furniture and lighting , etc. I can't wait to share this entire process with you all, and giving my own tips from years of experience with my own homes and working to design, decorate and improve clients homes. I hope you enjoy and would love to hear opinions, thoughts and suggestions from everyone. Please don't ever hesitate to comment below, I get all the comments, they do have to be approved but only because of issues I sadly have had with two women who have spent years wasting their time stalking me and copying me then harassing me. I read all comments, only ones not approved for publishing or rude comments or spam. I even sometimes post negative comments because I like to be able to answer the writer back and voice my opinion. I never back down from a challenge and I am strongly opinionated but open so I enjoy challenging others also. Just please no negativity or drama it isn't welcome here. I'm at a stage in my life where I'm all about positivity and empowering others, being supportive and encouraging to others. Life is too short for petty drama and I do not compete or try to keep up with others, I do what I love and post things I love or I am truly passionate about with the hopes of inspiring others the way many bloggers and social media influencers have inspired me. 

This is such a truly exciting time for our family with my oldest getting ready to head off to college, with my hubby and I building our dream home and making a huge move for our family to hopefully get a fresh start and maybe shake up the path life had us on to start new adventures or open new doors. I can't wait and I'm excited to share here with those who have supported me and enjoyed my blog. Thank you for passing by, and I will still of course be posting my love for graphic tees, vintage fashion, bohemian style, bargain shopping, photography, reviewing products and much more just going to have a lot more home design and decor posts which I am so excited to be able to share again since it is a life long passion of mine. 

Everyone have an amazing week, below some photos from our long weekend we just got back from another perk of selling our home and making this change is we can now take even more vacations as a family. We have always loved to travel and taken multiple family trips or long weekends but now we do it monthly versus a few times a year. I believe being together as a family and creating memories is far more important than having material things, fancy cars or whatever it is that many invest their money in. I would rather have a old car paid off and a no frills lifestyle to enjoy traveling or spending quality time with my family any day. 

Cheers to the future and following your dreams. Peace love and light always,

Melissa xoxo 



Photo taken by Melissa Septien