RH NYSE

You may have noticed the posting be a little light here recently.  

Things have been pretty busy at work.

You can see why in the news today.

Restoration Hardware is listed on the New York Stock Exchange!

Working in finance at Resto, this is about as exciting as it gets! 

Well, and the sample sales, of course. :)

We're already trading at more than 30% than what we priced at. {Also, very exciting!}

Read more about it on Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal.

Or if you're less into the finance side and more into the shopping side, click on the new holiday sourcebooks below.

LMF

P.S. This is not a sponsored post, I just love my job :) Happy Friday All!

It's all in the details {Restoration Hardware - Fall 2012}

I've been a bit m.i.a. this week at a 2-day conference for work in San Francisco.  We were lucky enough to be there on some of the most gorgeous days the city has had.

We were also lucky enough to get some pretty special gifts.

{iPod shuffle in the invitation!}

But of everything that we were given, I think my favorite items were the Fall 2012 catalogues that don't drop until September 4th, along with a presentation from the exec's on all the new pieces and how they came to be; from Paris flea markets, to late night concept meetings, to repainting until just the right design was reached.

Now since the catalogue isn't dropping for a few more weeks, I can't discuss the new collection, but I can show you a few pictures of my new RH pen.

Pretty nice pen, huh?!

On a side note, there's been a lot of talk about branding here in blogland.  I've read a bit about it {here} and {here}.  I think Resto is such a great example of branding.  It really is all in the details.  {All photos are from the 2-day conference.}

 {afternoon snack}

{our chandeliers brought in for the conference}

 {RH journal and pen in the background}

{concert at The Fillmore}

I guess it's been a week of shameless plugging!  Check out my early post {here}.  Thanks for humoring me.

Have a wonderful weekend!

LMF
*all photos original to champagne reveries

Packing for Hermosa Beach

We're heading to Hermosa Beach for the weekend.  A friend's turning 30 and having an awesome boat party with about 50 of his closest friends! I cannot wait.

I'm not sure I've mentioned it before but I'm an accountant. {Please keep reading.} There is a bit of a coolness factor though, since it is for Restoration Hardware.  But other than that I'm kind of a numbers girl and quite fluent in financial reporting jargon and excel formulas.  I know, I know it really doesn't get any cooler than that.

Also, I love making lists.   So with all that combined and the fact that I sit in front of a computer all day, whenever I'm taking a trip someplace I usually create a packing list. 

Anyone else make packing lists? 

I make mine in excel {I told you I was cool}.

I thought I'd show my list for this weekend.  

I don't always make one, but it's especially helpful when I'm confined to just a carry-on and I'm trying to get as many outfits as possible out of it.  Using excel I can just copy / paste things into new outfits.  Luckily, this is a road trip so I'm only limited by what the car can hold :)

At the top of the list I put where I'm going and the dates of the trip.  I usually list out the days as well and add any significant things we're doing on those days so that I can make sure I have an outfit for those things.

For each outfit and list out just about everything I need for it, shoes, pashmina, bag, etc.  It helps me to remember all the little essentials that I wouldn't have thought of.  There's nothing worse than having the perfect white maxi dress to wear and only having brought black bras. {I think this is referred to as a first-world problem.}

For jewelry, I usually pick it out while I'm packing.  I like being able to see it all once, but I really try to ask myself what I would wear it with before I put it in the bag.  I've lost pieces before so I try not to overpack it.

I usually list miscellaneous items too: things I know I want to bring but don't specifically fit into an outfit, like pajamas, or, like this time, we're bringing puppy treats for Caper {Pacino's cousin}.

What's funny, is that I rarely remember to print out the list of made.  But somehow, just the act of consciously thinking about it and making the list is helpful for me. 

So am I a complete freak, or does anyone else make packing lists?

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Road trip!

LMF

A Table Miracle!

I discovered this great little home remedy last week and had to share.

A few months ago I got this gorgeous table on clearance from Restoration Hardware.  And with my employee discount, it was seriously a steal!

Here's a photo of it the day it arrived (please excuse the iPhone photo and half-decorated room).  That teeny tiny table in the back corner is what I had been using for 6 months before I found a table that I liked and could afford.  It's a bistro table and fit 2 people.  My new table seats 10! yay for parties!

A few weeks ago, I got an awful water stain on it and I was so upset.  I called the vendor and they recommended sanding down the spot and re-finishing - much too much work for me.  So I googled "remove water stains from wood".

It said there are 2 different types of stains, white rings which is when water is trapped in the finish and black rings, which is when water has made it down into the wood.  Luckily, mine was only a white ring.

Apparently mayonnaise is the fix for white rings.  Totally bizarre.  But I love my table and was willing to give it a go.  First step, buy mayonnaise - definitely not something I keep on hand. (BTW - if you're ever making yourself a sandwich at my house, don't use the mayo in the fridge.)

To remove white water rings from a table:

1.  Spread a small amount of mayo on the stain.
2.  Cover with paper towel and leave 15 min.
3.  Check stain, if it's not gone rub a bit more mayo and cover again.
4.  Use damp paper towel remove all mayo.  Stain should be gone.  It said if the stain is rather old and persistent you can leave it over night

Here's the before and after:

Not perfect, but pretty good, right?  It was my first attempt and I'm thrilled.  I read that if the stain is rather persistent you can leave it overnight or just rub it in a little more.  I'm definitely going to work a bit more on it.  But I am thrilled with the results!

If anyone else has any tips or a good wood protectant I'd love to hear about it!

LMF

San Francisco Restoration Hardware

I had to work this weekend, but I'm not sure I really get to complain since I got to do it at the Restoration Hardware Design Gallery in San Francisco.  It was my first time there, and unfortunately my sad iPhone photos do not do it justice at all.  The place is amazing.  I was ready to move in on the spot.

  This sofa belongs in my home.

 As does this chair.  So perfectly gorgeous.

 I love the huge, open clock on the wall.  I'm still trying to decide if I can pull it off in my house.  (FYI - I lack the cathedral ceilings that this space has.)

 I may have a small obsession with chandeliers.

LMF