Bookish

We've been waiting and waiting to delve into a literary theme and March seems like a good month to be "Bookish," so here we go! 

Karen and I (and millions and zillions of other people) are seriously attached to the pleasures of reading. We'll be devoting this entire month to the world of bibliophiles and bibliophilism.  Not to be confused with bibliomania, which apparently is a type of disorder presenting as the "collecting or hoarding of books to the point where social relations or health are damaged".  (I thank my lucky stars for Wikipedia every single day).   Throughout this month, if you find yourself as excited by book collections as we are, we ask that you conduct an honest self-assessment.  If you are concerned that you may suffer from bibliomania, please consult your doctor.  Contrary to what you might think, we are not qualified to give medical advice on this blog.  

While talking about our favorite authors and titles is great fun, we'll leave most of that up to you to do in our comments section or amongst your friends.  What you can look forward to from Little Yellow Couch is more a celebration of the book as object and a look at how we attach special significance to the stories we've read during particular times in our lives. 

Look for our "Readers Resources," which will include some fantastic avenues down which you can explore your reading passion.  We'll also share our interviews with people who've made super cool things related to books; and of course we'll have DIYs, bookish decor, fashion and libations, all related to the literary scene.  We're particularly excited about our party for the month, which we're calling a "Vintage Librarian Social".  If you proudly refer to yourself as a bookworm, this is one shindig you don't want to miss!

We're Crazy About ... Secret Valentines

Brrrrr…. Despite our best attempts at optimism during this dreary month, we could all use a little pick-me-up, which is what’s so nice about Valentine's Day.  To be honest, Valentine's Day hasn’t held my attention very much over the past several decades, once I realized that the teachers made every kid give everyone a card and I wasn’t nearly as popular as I thought.  And then there were those agonizing years in high school when you were hoping not to be publicly humiliated by sitting at your desk empty handed while the cheap gas station roses were passed out to the girls whose admirers had the forethought to cough up a few dollars the week before.  But I digress. 

Valentine's Day happens to be Karen June’s favorite holiday and her feverish delight is contagious.  This month, we are diving whole-heartedly (get it?) into V-Day with some quick and easy DIYs, printables, drink and dessert ideas to get you ready for the 14th.  Our goal for the next two weeks is to get you excited about dropping off an anonymous little gift for your closest friends.  Let’s face it, many of us don’t have partners who care much about this girly, throw-back holiday, so why not spoil the people who will actually appreciate it?   

For the second half of February, we broaden our "crazy about..." theme to share what we love, what we’re currently obsessing over, and what we’re simply, well, crazy about.  These things are what fuel our collections, motivate us to stay engaged in the world, and bring us simple pleasures on a daily basis.   Until next time, my sweet…

S.W.A.K.

Zandra (& Karen June!)

Happy New Year from Little Yellow Couch

Happy New Year!  It’s that time again when people start either making resolutions or dig in their heels and refuse them.  Which camp are you in?  At Little Yellow Couch, we’re going to turn the resolution tradition on its side and simply focus on refreshing our lives, without setting up soul-crushing promises or ignoring the opportunity to mindfully change a few things that could make our lives better. 

We’re looking at some ways to actively move our thoughts away from habits that bother us by focusing on what we’ll do instead.  One friend has decided that for a month, she’s going to say “yes” to everything that she’d normally turn down, simply to shake up her life.  Another friend is going to choose a goal-oriented word for the year, one that she’ll come back to when she needs help with a tough decision on prioritizing her time. 

For us, we have our monthly themes that allow us to delve into subjects we want to know more about.  By committing to a specific topic for an entire month, we are more likely to incorporate some of what we’ve absorbed into our daily lives going forward.  This month, our theme is REFRESH.  A fresh start, a clean slate.  We’ll be dusting off our homes and wardrobes and continuing to apply the principle that’s central to Little Yellow Couch: Own what you love and leave the rest behind.  We’re going to expand this mantra to include doing what we love and spending time with the people we love.  While we can’t always leave the rest behind, we can find ways to change our approach so that we’re living a life that best represents our core.  Here’s to 2014:  Let’s do this!!!

xoxo Zandra & Karen June

Cheers!

At Little Yellow Couch, we are excited to share some EXCITING NEWS with you!

Little Yellow Couch is offering INDIVIDUAL ITEMS for sale from each of the three boxes we’ve launched!  That’s right…you don’t have to buy a specific set of three items, you can buy one or more of ANY ITEM YOU CHOOSE!  We know everyone has particular gifts in mind for the people on your lists and we want you have the freedom to buy what you need.  

In keeping with CYBER MONDAY, for TODAY ONLY, we are offering FREE SHIPPING! Order from Little Yellow Couch through 11:59pm EST tonight and use the code “CYBERMON”.

Staring Tuesday, December 3rd, you’ll only pay a $5 flat shipping rate for one item and free shipping for 2 or more.  (Still a pretty good deal, don’t you think)?  

So Happy Holidays to all of our supporters, our readers, our friends and colleagues.  We adore you….truly!

Cheers,

Zandra and Karen June

1.  Paint-by-Number Art Block via Studio Liscious

2.  Pomegranate and Blood Orange Soy Candle via Witch City Wicks

3.  Fiber and Metal Statement Necklace via E Star Knits

4.  Crocheted Bloom Headband via Ladylike Handmades

5.  Beaded Porcelain Vase via Taylor Ceramics

6.  Austin Clutch with Exclusive Fabric by Heather Dutton via Lucends

7.  She Belongs There eau du parfum via Olivine Atelier

8.  Gold Leafed PAPIER-MÂCHÉ BOWL via Up in the Air Somewhere

9.  Rose Necklace via La Bonne Vie Designs (Available Soon)

Cozy

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It’s November and autumn is a favorite time of year for many of us, mainly because the weather encourages us to get cozy!  There’s something very satisfying about pulling out your sweaters from storage and reaching for a blanket while you curl up on the couch.  November is also the start of holiday season, which can be a crazy, whirlwind kind of time, sort of the opposite of what we think of when we say the word “cozy.”  At Little Yellow Couch, we’re going to try to combine the feeling of coziness with gearing up for the holidays.  In our daily posts, we’ll talk about ways to do this, so stay tuned!

We are delighted with what the artists have done for our November Box!  In it, you’ll find a hand-poured candle that infuses the scents of pomegranate and blood orange into a room, a charming bit of artwork for your mantle or wall and a gorgeous necklace that is both casual and feels like a statement piece.  All of them express ways in which you can cozy up your home and your wardrobe during this delightful time of year!  You can visit our Artist Pages to see more photos and learn a little bit about the people who have handcrafted these items.  And, as always, we only have a limited number of boxes for sale,  so make your purchases before it’s too late!

Looking forward to the month ahead,

xoxo Zandra and Karen June