Tobi Fairley, What's In Your Bag?

My guest this week for "What's in Your Bag" is Tobi Fairley.  If you are in the design industry, Tobi needs no introduction.  For those of you who aren't designers, many of you have heard of Tobi, but if you don't know her name already, you will soon because she is becoming a household name. 

This talented Little Rock designer has designed beautiful interiors which have graced the cover of most of our country's top shelter magazines.  She has created collections for well-known brands such as Soicher Marin, CR Laine and just announced a new collaboration with The Woodbridge Company.  She was recently named the new spokesperson for Thermador Appliances, which we all know I love.  Along with all these accolades, Tobi also leads a successful consulting business where she mentors interior designers and other industry professionals.  I was in her Mastermind group for a couple of years and cannot say enough about how it helped me professionally.  I value my relationship with Tobi as a friend and mentor.  When I say this woman works hard, I mean she works hard! Because of Tobi's work ethic and dedication to her business, I thought it would be fun to get her to spill the beans about what she does to relax and recharge.  This style maven gave me some great ideas of things I now need in my beach bag! 

 Let's go find out what Tobi has in her bag and what she loves to do during her down time...

1.  Do you like the beach or the pool?  If beach, what's

 your favorite beach? 

Seaside/Watercolor in Florida. Just got back from 2 glorious weeks there. Definitely on my bucket list to buy a house there. I also love the pool and have one in my own back yard. :)

2. What's your favorite beach /pool bag? 

Scout Bag

My new Scout beach bag is this pink and navy one that is super affordable but so great because it's waterproof, and sand just slides right off of it. It is this cute striped one from Scout. The side pockets perfectly fit my Kindle for beach reading and my phone for grabbing when I need to snap a cute photo of my family. 

3.  What are necessities in your bag?

Kindle Paperlight

 Definitely my Kindle Paperwhite. The screen is made for reading with no glare or reflection in the sun. Also must have my iphone. Even though I unplug from emails at the beach, I snap photos and often post to instagram in real time. Other things in my bag are Neutrogena sunscreen, Sunbum aftersun lotion, my Tory Sunglasses, my Madagascar sun hat or my monogramed Barbara Cobb beach hat, my sand spike drink holder and a plethora of sand and water toys. 

4. What's your favorite sunscreen? 

Neutrogena Wet Skin 70+

Neutrogena Wet Skin 70+ is the only sunscreen that doesn't make my 10-year-old scream. It's mild and doesn't burn but works great for sun protection. We also love their face stick. It goes on your face like a deodorant stick. 

5.  Favorite bathing suit?

Gottex Swimsuit

This black and white classic suit from Gottex is my favorite I have this year.  And since it's strapless I don't get any crazy suntan lines. 

6. What is Your Favorite Coverup this Summer?

Tory Burch Coverup

I am crazy about this Tory Burch animal print beach cover up! 

7 . Do you Have a Favorite hat?

  I actually have two favorite hats.  I love my Barbara Cobb monogrammed beach hat!

I also adore my Madagascar Beach hat that comes in lots of colors.

It rolls us for easy storage in my beach bag.

8. Sunglasses for Summer 2015

Tory Burch Sunglasses

These are my favorite sunglasses. I especially love anything from Tori with a "T" logo on it since it's my initial. And in orange, one of my favorite colors, these are perfect for me! 

9. What book(s) is in your bag?

Just finished reading a fabulous book called Carry-On Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton. It's a must-read for any busy mom who thinks everyone has it together but her! 

At the beach I also read both The Rhythm of Life and Off-Balance: Getting Beyond the work life balance both by Matthew Kelly.  

And now I am reading It Starts with Food...it's the book by the creators of The Whole 30 food movement. It's all about resetting your body with whole foods so you can optimize your health and stamina. 

Next up--The Element by Ken Robinson.

10. Favorite beach/pool shoes? 

Tory Burch Flip Flops

The Tory thin enamel flip flop is perfect for the beach. It's so comfy and easy to shower sand right off. I have them in black and I love that they are available in nude this year too! It's my favorite summer shoe! 

11. Favorite drink on the beach or by the pool?

When I'm at the beach in Florida, I often enjoy a "Stress Free". 

It's has the perfect name, right? 

Watercolor Beach Club "Stress-Free" Drink:

New Amsterdam Vodka, DonQ Coconut Rum, peach schnapps, pineapple juice, cranberry juice

And for my "Stress-free" to keep the sand out, here is my must

 have drink holder 

The Spiker drink holder is perfect for keeping your drink out of the sand as well as the sand out of your drink.  Its nice to stick your phone in too. 

And back at the beach house, I love a Jalapeño Margarita that I was introduced to by my BFF designer Denise McGaha.  To make it even more exciting, I love this recipe with my VERY favorite fruit Watermelon added to it compliments of Coastal Living Magazine...

12. Favorite summer activity. 

We love the Seaside/Watercolor because there is SO much to do. We love biking around the quaint town. It's beautiful and GREAT exercise. And speaking of exercise, I love going on my 5-mile walk with family or girlfriends every morning in Seaside. There's something about ocean air, the view of the adorable beach cottages, and girl talk that makes exercise feel like anything but! 

And while in the ocean at the Watercolor Beach Club, we love riding the ocean waves on this fun and delicious inner tube from Big Mouth Toys, my daughter's favorite of this 

season... 

Sprinkle Donut Ring

Of course we can never visit the adorable airstream trailer housing Seaside's famed snow cone site Frost Bites too much! I love the coconut cream flavor and my daughter's pick is Blue Raspberry. YUM! 

And my other favorite summer activity is cooking big family breakfasts each morning and also cooking fresh seafood and veggies each night (preferably from the Seaside Farmer's market) for friends and family. And of course a big ole yummy Watermelon for dessert.  It's even better when our beach house has Thermador appliances so, my dishes come out perfectly every time! :) 

Here is a picture of Tobi enjoying time at the beach with her family.

I'm so happy Tobi decided to stick her toes in the sand and share the details with us.  Follow this design powerhouse on her social channels to see what new and exciting things she has coming down the pipe.

Tobi on instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and twitter

If you are a designer looking for a Mentor program, check out Tobi's Mastermind program here.  If you want to ask me questions about the program email Lisa@lisamende.com

Thank you, Tobi, for joining the fun and participating in "What's in Your Bag" on Lisa Mende Design!

Fairley Modern - Tobi Fairley in Rue

   Have you seen this penthouse designed by Tobi Fairley in Rue Magazine?   It a real stunner!   Known for her bold use of color, Tobi really brings it to this project.  The foyer wallpaper custom designed by Tracy Hiner owner of Black Crow Studios wraps the walls in cobalt bliss!  This penthouse is off the chain gorgeous. I've included a few of my favorite photographs taken by talented photographer, Nancy Nolen. 

{Click Here to see more...}  

Studio 202 Grand Opening Winners Announced!!!

Traci Zeller and I had such a blast at our Grand Opening Party!  Thank you to

 everyone who came out and celebrated with us.  It was a packed house!

The only casualty was an unused overripe, pineapple which was discovered

 this week, in my client bag! Ugh!  Let's just say the fruit flies have had a

 feast and  I spent thursday chasing fruit flies out of the studio.  That's what

 happens  When you try to do the catering yourself.  At least my studio

 partner isn't angry with me!  Sometimes you have to laugh!  

We are so grateful to all of our family and friends who came in support of

our new studio opening.  We are extremely grateful to our studio partners

who donated items for our giveaway.  I know you have waited long enough

to hear who the winners are, so without further adieu....

The Studio 202 Grand Opening Winners are:

 Caracole "Mood Ring" Mirror - Melissa LeFevre

Taylor-Burke Home "Blake Accent Table" -

 Michelle McNeer

CR Line throw Pillows - Dori Luke

"Trees" by Harrison Blackford - Sarah Fisher

Painting by Susan Skelley - Amanda Kinney

Tobi Fairley Home "St Nick" Pillows - Cheryl Luckett

Shark Rocket Vacuum Cleaner - Bob Margies

Traci Zeller Home "Loophole" Pillows - Minerva Smith

Matters of Style vintage brass tray - Leslie Newby

NDI Pink Peony Rockbed Water Garden - Ashley Heischer

Thank You to Everyone!!!  If you live in the Charlotte area please

call Traci or me to make arrangements to pick up your prize!

Fair Warning...when you come by we want to take a picture of you

receiving your item, so look pretty!   Also, if you are on social media

we would love it if you give a shout out to the companies who provided

the items.  We can't wait to share photos of all the winners.  If you don't 

live in Charlotte, your items will be delivered to you so hang in there!

Thank you to everyone who has donated to our Ronald McDonald Goal!

We are 62% there thanks to our family and friends!  We aren't going to

 give up til we reach our goal!  One of our talented artist friends has stepped

forward to help us out.....

We have a huge surprise for you!!!   

Look for that BIG announcement the

 first of the week!!!

FIND OUT HOW TO WIN OUR GRAND OPENING GIVEAWAYS!!!

It's official Traci Zeller and I have opened our joint studio which we refer to as Studio 202.  

   Our design collaboration last year on the Gentleman's dressing room in Traditional Home show house "Adamsleigh" was responsible for the birth of a design friendship which has resulted in sharing joint studio space.  We love our new studio and hope you will come see us when you are in our area.  Give us a call and come by.  We welcome designers and consumers alike.  Our studio offers beautiful furniture, fabrics, wallpaper, lighting and original art from North Carolina, South Carolina, Colorado, Seattle, and Virgina artists.  We will be spotlighting the artist weekly.  

We had so much fun at our Grand Opening on Sept 10th.  Here are some photos from that night.

Our designers friends, Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loeke of Madcap Cottage, came for our Grand Opening!  We were thrilled that Cathy Austin of Bespoke Banter, Holly Hollingsworth Phillips of The English Room,  Randolph James of Magnolia Emporium,  Cheryl Luckett of Dwell with Cheryl

to name a few.  Thank you all for taking time to come out and celebrate with us!

Traci and I were thrilled to have Leslie Newby at our Grand Opening.  Leslie is President at WorkTheBrand, a division of Brand Communications,Inc and has become a dear friend.  She is an amazing person and represents many well known brands such as Caracole which happens to be a favorite line of Studio 202.  Caracole was so kind to supply this beautiful Mood Ring Mirror to give away in honor of our Grand Opening.  We have so many things to giveaway.  

Traci and I had planned to have the drawing at our Grand Opening, but everyone was having so much fun it didn't seem right to stop the fun for business.   The next day we had people who couldn't come yet, donated money to our Ronald McDonald donations page.  We decided everyone who donates or attended the Grand Opening should be included in the drawing.  

The purpose and goal of our Grand Opening was to raise money for Ronald McDonald.

Guess what!  We decided to extend the Giveaways to allow all of you who couldn't come to get involved.  Keep reading to find out what we are giving away and how you can enter to win!

Here is a peek at a few of the items we are giving away.  She the Susan Skelley Art on the Black stool?  Yes that is a giveaway too!!!!!  Sorry I don't have an individual picture of this piece to show but it is fabulous!  I'm out of town and not in the studio or I would shoot a pic.  I'll do it when I return tomorrow and post on instagram. 

Caracole "Mood Ring" Mirror  Have you visited Caracole's website?  This is a beautiful line designed by women!  Incredible designs!  Traci and I both style spotted this line when we were style spotters for High Point Market.  Can't wait to share more about Caracole.

Taylor Burke "Blake" Table in pearl  Go to their website and check out all the beautiful pieces Taylor Burke offers.  All their products are Made in the USA!  We can order any of these pieces for you in Studio 202.  We are giving away one Blake Table and we have another if you win and would like a pair or if you don't win and  want it badly!  

A Pair of Tobi Fairley "St Nick Pillows" in charcoal and daffodil worth $500.  I know it is hard to think Christmas but these are fabulous!   Traci and I are both members of Tobi's Mastermind Group and love everything Tobi!  If you are interested in Mastermind, shoot us an email we would love to discuss the value of Mastermind with you.  We love our Mastermind Group with Tobi!

Original Painting by "Trees" by Harrison Blackford 8" x 8"  We have lots of Harrison's painting in our studio.  come by and see more of Harrison's beautiful paintings!  She is available for commissions as well. 

Traci Zeller Signature Candle given to each person who donates a $100 or more while they lasts!

($38 value plus shipping).  These candles smell wonderful!!!

Shark 

 Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Upright Vacuum (worth $200!). We love our Shark in Studio 202.

This little vac is so lightweight but picks up like a heavy weight vac!

 Lovely vintage brass tray by Matters of Style   Traci and I have Sarah Fisher's beautiful vintage pieces in our studio!  We love the interesting layer vintage adds to our projects.  

There’s much more up our stylish sleeves, including the Pink Peony Rockbed Watergarden in Large Glass Cube by NDI  (worth over $500!).  This arrangement of peonies looks so real you will want to touch them to see if they are real!

 Several Traci Zeller pillows (worth over $150 each!) 

Also giving away a Lisa Mende Design Door Mat (Be one of the first to receive one of these! Can't show you yet because these were designed in conjunction with October Breast Cancer Awareness for Carpet One!)

Plus there are a few more items like CR Laine's
 awesome Pillows, ! 

Are you as excited about these prizes as we are???

 Traci and I are excited about Ronald McDonald and we want to do our part

So you are wondering how you can enter to win?
It's simple!  

Go to Our Donation page for Ronald McDonald
 and Make a Donation here!  

For every donation no matter what size
 we enter your name to win our great prizes!

  It is important to Traci and I to reach our goal for Ronald McDonald.  We can't do it without your help!  Please make a donation today and enter to win.  If you came to our Grand Opening please don't feel cheated,  anyone who came to our Grand Opening will be entered twice, so we are doubling your chances!

The Drawing will be on September 26th which is the day Traci and I return from  installing our room at Ronald McDonald.  We promise to post pics of our room install on social media.  If you aren't following traci or me on instagram do it now, to follow our Ronald McDonald install in real time!  

 To Read More about our Ronald McDonald Project click here.