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DIY Industrial Shoe and Coat Rack (Inspired by Urban Outfitters)

When I saw this industrial storage rack from Urban Outfitters I knew it was exactly what we needed for our entryway. It's got the simple, masculine, industrial look that I'm always attracted to, and it's the perfect size to store our favorite shoes and jackets.

But, I couldn't see spending $500 on something I could make myself with a few boards and pipes. Especially since, as Ryan pointed out, we'd probably have to assemble it out of the box anyway. So, this past week, Ryan and I picked up some supplies at Home Depot and put together one of our own.

The supplies cost about $200 and the whole project took about a day including shopping time and drying time. Home Depot cut the boards and pipes to our specifications. The best part was that we could customize the rack exactly how we wanted it. For example, I spray painted the connecting pieces gold to match the gold accents in our front room.

We used black iron pipe, but you could also use galvanized steal or copper for a different look, or you could spray paint the pipe another color.

Supplies
Two 3/4" thick 18"/46" boards, one cut in half crosswise (If you can't find these exact detentions, don't seat it.)
Four 10" pieces of 3/4" pipe (At Home Depot these were pre-cut pieces called "nipples.")
One 43" piece of 3/4" pipe (for the short side)
One 42" piece of 3/4" pipe (for the top rail)
One 65" piece of 3/4" pipe (for the long side – We bought this one on a separate trip, first measuring the mostly-complete rack to determine the exact length we would need.)
Ten 3/4" floor flanges
Two 3/4" iron elbows
Four large casters with locks
Screws to fit the floor flanges and the casters (Make sure they're short enough not to go through the boards.)
A power drill with a drill bit slightly smaller than your screws and a screw bit to fit your screws
A can of matte clear spray paint or another wood finish, sealer, or stain
A can of metallic gold spray paint

Instructions
Start by treating both sides of the boards with the matte clear spray paint. This will protect them somewhat from the water and mud you track in on your shoes. Spray paint the flanges and elbows on all sides with metallic gold and let dry.

Attach the casters to the underside of the long board with screws, drilling first to give the screws something to dig in to.

Starting at the bottom and working your way up, attach the 10" length of pipe with the floor flanges first to the bottom board and then to the other boards. You will need to rotate the flanges slightly so that flanges on opposite sides of the same board each have room for all their screws.

Use the final two flanges to attach the short-side pipe to the top board and the long-side pipe to the bottom board. Use the iron elbows to attach the side pipes to the top rail.

Stand back, admire your work, and Instagram the shit.

What I wore today: 04/26/2015 (Over/Under)

I love overalls. When examining my style, recently, I realized that I must have a subconscious desire to dress like Tom Sawyer, and overalls definitely fit that bill. So do straw hats, simple button down shirts, worn ankle boots, and high-water pants that hit at awkward lengths. Sign me up.

My sister-in-law gave me this shirt for Christmas. It says "Célflie" like a mock Céline logo, and I think it's perfect for me, because my name is Célèste (with accents!) and, as a blogger, I take a lot of selfies.

"Célfie" striped shirt – Forever 21

Overalls – Asos

Kicks – Converse 

What I wore today: 04/11/2015 (Bien)

This spring, I've been wearing my denim jacket like crazy. It's just so easy to pair with everything, from dresses to t-shirts and black jeans.

I got these J.Brand jeans from an outlet a few weeks ago, and I've worn them basically every day since. They fit beautifully, look amazing, and haven't stretched out at all. I'm a total J.Brand convert now. I love that these only cost $20 (because they were from an outlet), but in the future I think I'll willingly shell out for the hefty J.Brand price point with the confidence that their jeans are totally worth it. 

High-waisted black skinny jeans – J.Brand
Bien t-shirt – Madewell
Metal necklace – Madewell
Denim jacket – Pilco, Anthropologie
Flats – Dolce Vita
Belt – Madewell

Easter Inspiration

I loved Easter as a kid, mostly for the color palette, but, as I gold older, it's significance dwindled. Then, I married into a Catholic family and learned that Easter doesn't have to be just for kids. Now, I make homemade pretzels, spend the day with family, and daydream about chic ways to decorate eggs. 

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Bloody Mary Bar

Yesterday, I hosted book club at my house and put together a Bloody Mary bar. Everyone brought a little something special (bacon, shrimp) and I provided the basics. It was a lot of fun. 

Booze

• Tito's handmade vodka

Bases

• V8
• Bloody Mary mix
• Clamato

Sauces

• Tabasco
• Sriracha
• Liquid Smoke

Garnishes

• Gerkins
• Garlic-stuffed olives
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Cocktail onions
• Lemon wedges
• Cheese cubes
• Bacon
• Shrimp

Salts

• Chipotle
• Smoked paprika
• Grippo's BBQ seasoning

What I wore today: 03/14/2015 (Rhymes with Orange)

Last week, I got a small section of my hair buzzed off. I've wanted to do it for so long, I had to finally take the plunge, and I'm really happy with how it turned out. It makes me feel like a total badass. Plus it's subtle enough that it's really easy to hide for those more conservative days (like Monday to Friday). Props to my amazing stylist Ivette for suggesting to make the section not too high so I wouldn't hose volume and could wear it in a variety of ways. 

I guess something about my new haircut and the warm weather we've been having made me wear orange and mix prints. Sometimes you feel quiet and sometimes you feel loud. 

Ankle boots – Target
Pencil skirt – Anthropologie
Silk blouse – Anthropologie
Cardigan – Anthropologie
Necklace – DIY

What I wore today: 02/22/2015 (Snow White, Rose Red)

I love wearing simple items with special details. When I saw someone wearing this coat in the elevator of my office building, I immediately started searching for it online. Luckily, I found it at an outlet for a third of the original price. I was so excited! I love how it looks clean and classic, but the asymmetry and the placement of the leather details also brings a slightly sic-fi sensibility. 

The Marc by Marc Jacobs bag is also a recent outlet find. My favorite thing about it is that there's a hidden section behind the clear front so that I can achieve that transparent look without having to display every single thing in my bag. 

High-waisted black jeans – Gap
Furry/Feathery-textured "Guimauye Top" – Anthropologie
Asymmetrical wool coat with leather details – Calvin Klein
Wellies – Hunter
Double-pearl necklace – Anthropologie 
Transparent handbag – Marc by Marc Jacobs

What I wore today: 02/13/2015 (Purple People Eater)

I don't usually get so match-matchy, but, when I saw how cute this sweater looked with these pants, I couldn't help but throw on my favorite sliced-agate pendant and my new purple geode ring. I bought this sweater right before our wedding last year and wore it a lot on our cozy, snow-covered-cabin honeymoon, so I think it'll always make me think of those wonderful memories. 

Ankle boots: Target

Ikat-print pants: Madewell

Leather peplum top: Urban Outfitters

Fringy cardigan: Anthropologie 

Sliced-agate necklace: Etsy

Geode ring: Nordstr0m Rack 

Valentine's Day Reading List

In the past, I've enjoyed making and sharing playlists for holidays. This Valentine's Day, I thought it might be nice to share a reading list instead. Whether you're in love or heartbroken, romantic or cynical, you can find something to enjoy. 

Classic Love Stories: The Pursuit of Love, Pride and Prejudice, Gone with the Wind, Romeo and Juliet, Breakfast at Tiffany's 

Real-Life Love Stories: Charles and Emma, American Wife

Rock and Roll Love Stories: Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, The Girl in the Song

Erotic: Erotic Poems, The Tropic of Cancer 

Funny: Lysistrata, Bridget Jones's Diary, Just the Tips, The Last Girlfriend on Earth

Heartbreak & Anti-Love: Le Divorce, 101 Poems That Could Save Your Life, The Woman Distroyed

Beyond Romantic Love: Much Loved, The Empathy Exams

December Ins and Outs: What I Bought and Read Last Month

All three books in the inbox this month were Christmas gifts from my dad. He knows me pretty well and is good at picking out books I haven't even seen myself. He also likes to encourage my pie making for somewhat selfish reasons. The candy apple pie I made at Thanksgiving was a particular favorite of his. 

I read Made to Stick for work. It's got really great ideas, but it's definitely overwritten in that way business books often are. Maybe some people needs eight parallel examples of one principle (half of which they've already heard somewhere else), but I'm not one of them. I'm glad I read it, because the ideas really are sound, but it could have easily been condensed down. I understand now that some books are made to be scanned, rather than read closely.

Fictitious Dishes is a fantastic art project, one of those things that so perfectly rings all my bells that it makes me wish I'd thought of it. Dinah Fried styled and photographed all the images in the book based on memorable passages about food and drink from literary classics. 

Everybody's Baby was classic Lydia Netzer fun. An e-book only novella, it didn't have the depth of some of the her novels, but was enjoyable nonetheless. 

Station Eleven was absolutely breathtaking. I read it for book club, and it was unanimously beloved. It's one of those epic stories that mesmerizingly weaves together plots and characters across decades with stories encircling a virus epidemic, an aging actor, a production of King Lear, a reformed paparazzo, a cult leader, and a gorgeous sci-fi comic book. Somehow all the disparate places and characters share similar themes and work beautifully together to tell a universal, human story. 

Claire's First Birthday

On January 1st my favorite girl celebrated her first birthday. My niece Claire is a such a joy to our whole family. She's obviously beautiful, but she's also incredibly bright and very sweet. She smiles and laughs a lot. She loves sharing and hugging people. When she eats, she makes delighted "nom nom" sounds the whole time. 

Our 2015 Back to the Future Themed New Year's Eve Party

For years and years I've known that when 2015 finally hit, I wanted to celebrate by throwing a Back to the Future themed New Year's Eve party. 

Of course, as the actual date approached, I wasn't exactly in the best situation to host a party. We bought our house this year and we still haven't bought all the furniture we need or hung any or our art or even made curtains for all the windows. I don't know if you know this, but it turns out houses are a lot bigger than apartments. 

I knew that I had to pull it together because 2015 only comes once. Not even once in a lifetime, once. Ryan was a huge help, and together we got the house in order (enough), bought a sofa (we still need a dining room table, but hey, more room for guests to stand), and threw the party of my dreams. 

I made parmesan and herb flux capacitors, DeLorean cupcake toppers, and two themed cocktails, and we all rang in the new year with noise makers and a champagne toast. It was such a joy to host some of my favorite people on such a special day.