I’ve always been a fan of a great at-home bar. I strongly believe it’s a must-learn life skill to mix up classic cocktails, and as an avid host, it’s important to provide an array...
Looking back on Easter as a child, I remember how excited I was to dig through my Easter basket. Full of chocolate bunnies, malt ball Easter eggs, Peeps, golden coins, and my favorite Cadbury...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
Mint is everywhere these days; it’s cool, fresh and proving to be one of the season’s preferred shades. We just so happen to love every color variation that comes with it, too, from pale powder green to rich sage and deep emerald. So in honor of this feminine take on “the color of life”, we’re rounding up sixteen of our favorite mint green finds today. Cheers, Kat
P.S. And you know what goes perfectly with mint green? Pale pink. Shop our favorite pink-everything finds HERE. xo
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I am such a sucker for a pretty piece of luggage. And lately I’ve really, really wanted a new, but affordable carryon and maybe a stylish duffel to add to my collection.
I’m going to blame Instagram and MKR’s last travel post for that; everyone is always traveling somewhere amazing with a sharp suitcase in tow! And with all of my travel coming up this summer I’ve decided it’s time I invest in a few pieces that will hopefully last a lifetime.
So if you’ve been itching to upgrade your travel game lately too, you’ll appreciate this list of ten luggage pieces at every price point. Please note the affordable carryon options and the suitcase that can charge your phone!
The reviews don’t lie, and Samsonite, Away, Tumi, Bric’s, Mark & Graham and other brands are worth noting when it comes to dependable and stylish luggage. And how can I not mention Sole Society for their vegan leather duffel bag that’s a cult-favorite?!
And while I’m all for getting the most bang for your buck, luggage is one of those items that’s worth the investment. If you buy the right piece it will last a lifetime. Plus well known brands like Samsonite usually have a lifetime or at least multi year guarantee which is worth looking into.
Keep on reading below for a more detailed take on all of these great pieces of luggage, and be sure to share any of your personal favorites in the comments below. Cheers, Kat
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Here’s a fun and affordable option for a hard-shell carry-on. It’s easy to carry and has that awesome four-dimensional wheel capability that’s a game changer for navigating a busy airport.
Samsonite’s smart handbag was designed for travel; it’s so convenient to carry your laptop and tablet. The design easily slips over the handle of your suitcase and it’s hardy enough to hold all of your important belongings.
This cult-favorite duffel bag has classic lines, and is priced at the perfect price point to entice you to upgrade your weekend travel game. Love this vegan leather find from Sole Society!
The elegant feather embossing texture brings this hard-shell carry-on from Samsonite to a whole new level. The handles are also wrapped in leather for a stylish nod to the fashion-forward jetsetter. Oh, and it also has those all direction wheels that makes life a lot easier!
Away Luggage is killing it these days; I see this luggage everywhere. They’re unbreakable, so you can stop worrying about how your new luggage is doing on the tarmac. Besides the fact that there are great compartments for all of your clothes and toiletries, there is a built-in battery that can charge any device via USB cord. I repeat, there is a built-in battery. No more dead phones when you’re wheels-up!
Hello, Wes Anderson vibes! Very Troubled Child makes the most interesting and quirky pieces that are straight out of a movie. They’re really cool conversation pieces, and some that you’ll hopefully pass on someday. Can’t get enough of these!
Okay fancy pants, here’s your gorgeous heirloom suitcase if you can withstand the splurge! This piece is absolutely amazing. Almost a piece of art, really!
This is such an affordable option for a stylish, trendy carry-on piece. The material is a leather-like vinyl that is easy to wipe clean and keep looking fresh. It also features an optional foil-debossed monogram.
I wouldn’t have thought I was a big backpack fan when it wasn’t for a dedicated hiking/camping trip, but this one is so stylish that I’m a new convert. It’s designed so well; it slips over the handle of suitcase for ease of mobility. There is a ton of internal and external organization features, and compartments for your laptop and tablet. PLUS pockets for the little things like phone, pen and coins. Genius!
If you’ve been following my journey from the beginning then you’d know that I’ve been dreaming about taking Waiting On Martha the e-commerce shoppe to Waiting On Martha the brick and mortar for five years now.
I’ve been patient; doing my due diligence through four different pop up shops that ranged from one weekend to 8 months. Those experience have been priceless. They have helped me understand exactly what it takes to run a retail store alongside a busy e-commerce business. How much staff I would need, how much money it would actually take, what sells in store verses online, and most importantly if I really wanted to get in the retail game. And after many years and a very long pro/con list my answer is yes.
So without further ado, I am thrilled, nervous, but mostly just plain ready to tell you that Waiting on Martha Home will finally be opening in the Vinings Jubilee this June!!!
Truthfully, while this took four long years to come to fruition now it feels like everything is moving at lighting speed. There hasn’t even been time to pop a bottle of Veuve. The minute the lease was signed I had my inspiration boards pulled up and got right to work planning the design elements and making this dream a reality.
Where the Shoppe stands now is a completely destroyed demo mess. I’ve knocked down walls and tore up floors in preparation for all the pretty that’s to come. The team I’m working with has been a dream and for anyone in the Atlanta area I highly suggest Rob from Vision Construction, seriously he’s made this experience actually fun! I’ll of course be taking you all through each and every step until we open our doors, including an IG Story tour this weekend, but for now I thought it best to start with what I’m doing design wise.
The great news is my Shoppe is truly in the form of a home, so I feel like I’m designing a place where I would live. I’m bringing in soft, light and airy vibes in the form of grasscloth wallpaper, shiplap, custom cabinetry and four different paint colors from my friends at Farrow & Ball.
I’ve worked with F&B numerous times in the past and even visited England where all the magic happens this past fall. So when it came to this project I knew there was no other choice than Farrow & Ball. Which brings me to our signature color: Chappell Green. In the past our signature color has been navy, and while you’ll still find plenty of blue and white moments in the Shoppe, in my heart of hearts I knew this new chapter needed a new color and I knew that color was Chappell Green.
I mean Chappell Green is really where it all started for me; I’ve had a love affair with this green for years now. The cool, rich sage color is entirely elegant, while lending a certain femininity as well. And I just love its chameleon-like ability to go with just about everything. It plays nice with bold colors, while acting as the perfect neutral too.
In the Brick & Mortar, you’ll find Chappell Green in key accent places like our checkout station—made lovingly by my ever talented father—and our coffee bar and front door. Along with items such as bags, tags, tissue paper and a few other fun pieces we have our friend Jenn Gietzen working up some watercolor goodness for.
Along with Chappell Green, you can expect to see very soft paint tones. Think mint green, natural sand and white paint colors. Farrow & Ball’s Dimity is a very beautiful light natural color that’s almost like a smooth vanilla that we’ll be using on all of the custom woodwork and cabinetry. I needed a color that would make the beautiful custom cabinetry stand out, but allow the products we’re selling to really shine. Dimity also plays perfectly with F&B’s All White which will be used on all of the trim and ceiling.
Rounding out my paint choices will be Farrow & Ball’s Pale Powder. This pale minty-blue shade will painted over the shiplap my father, husband and I will be hanging in the back room. I love shiplap’s ability to add texture and dimension to a space, while giving it an older, almost historic feel.
And if pale powder shiplap didn’t make this room feel special enough, I’ll be accenting the shiplap with Mirth Studio’s hand-crafted wood flooring tiles in Sweet Cecilia. Available in various patterns and prints these show-stopping tiles are like nothing I’ve ever seen before and I’m thrilled to say we will also be the exclusive retail partner for Atlanta.
Finalizing the core design elements would be of course grasscloth wallpaper. You know I couldn’t do a space and not wallpaper. I mean I LOVE wallpaper. And since texture is one of my favorite elements, I had to, of course, go with grasscloth. I settled on the most gorgeous “Puka” jute from Bradley, a design showroom at ADAC here in Atlanta.
Lastly, I’ll be indulging my love of art with an Artist in Residency program. Every 6-8 weeks, I’ll be bringing in a new artist with original pieces to be displayed and sold in store. Since this all began in our first pop up with Atlanta’s very own Britt Bass, there really was no other choice as to who would be our first artist in residence for the Brick and Mortar. Britt really awakened my love for art, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have her kick this all off.
There you have it; the dream has become a reality. Thank you to everyone who has followed since the beginning, or is just following now. To every person who ever bought anything from my e-commerce shoppe, the pop up shops, or the warehouse sales. To all the full time staff, part time staffers and interns over the years, thank you. To my parents, husband and friends that have moved me more times than I can count and who will move me again this one last time, thank you. Just thank you. You are all the reason I’m able to do this and still love doing it. Thank you. Truly, MKR
P.S. Now to the biz talk! WOM has immediate openings for two-three part-time and possibly one full-time retail associate for the Waiting on Martha Home brick and mortar location. The ideal candidate will have retail experience, know how to hustle, have a knack for creativity and merchandising, and be a self starter to work with our crazy, but amazing, small business! Comment with any questions below, and please email all resumes to liz@waitingonmartha.com. xo
