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Tuesday, March 30, 2010

I Would Like....

My living room to look like ....

This. I love every cotton-picking thing about it. The yellows, the blues, the grass cloth, the fish pitcher. Curtains like these would bring me hours of joy. Did I mention I would need about 60 - 75 yards of fabric? Yes, giant windows across two sides of the room that let in fabulous, enormous amounts of light are great. Until you need curtains made. Small problem..I'll shall overcome...


Another inspiration room with blues and yellows and little Palm Beach thrown in for glamour.

Yes, I am definitely leaning towards blue & yellow.

Do you have a favorite of the three? Know where I can get the blue zebra fabric for a steal?

Monday, March 29, 2010

House or Home

Quick post today. I was up late with Peanut watching The Blind Side. We loved it! I laughed. I cried. I cried some more. It got me thinking about family. What makes a family? What makes a house a home.


It reminded me of this growth chart I saw on A Perfect Gray last week. She was talking about this very subject. What makes a house a home. What makes your house different from everyone else's? I wish I had thought to make a growth chart as fabulous as this...maybe it is not too late. I love that it is so simple and easy, but so special.
So no growth chart to show you..yet...

But here are a few of my favorite things. My great grandmother's biscuit making bowl. It now hold our wands from MagiQuest.

Peanut's and Cricket's artwork from kindergarten that now hangs in Butterball's
room.



A cricket for Cricket.


And two of my all time favorite paintings. Peanut & Cricket's self portraits. If you have kids, you have to get them to paint self portraits. Oh, the joy these bring me!!! They painted them 2 years ago when Butterball was 6 months old. I decided I would paint his self portrait. I know, technically not a self portrait, but come on, he couldn't even sit up! Guess what? It was hideous!! Lesson learned. Let the kids to it themselves. When he is 5 or 6 I will drag him to the backyard and force him to paint just like I did his brother and his sister. When it is over we will all be happy!!

So what makes your house a home? And have you seen The Blind Side? Did you love it? Do you want to punch Jesse James?

Friday, March 26, 2010

Dark Tommy - Light Tommy

Do you know Tommy? Tommy Smythe from Sarah's House?

He's Sarah's hysterically funny sidekick who has an awesome sense of style.

Example # 1. Dark Tommy. His old apartment, all 180 square feet. Yes, 180 square feet!!


It is amazing how much style he can squeeze in a tiny space.


Loving the dark walls....


With pops of color.


Here he is on his bed/desk/sofa. As great as his place looks, the small space must have worn thin because he has moved to a bigger apartment...

Example #2 Light Tommy. What a difference white walls make!!


It's fun to see the different ways he has used furnishings and accessories from the first apartment- antlers, lamps, wooden boxes...

They have a whole new life against the white walls.

And now his bed is just a bed. I love this guy's style!! Which do you prefer? Dark Tommy or Light Tommy?

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Craig's Bamboo


Twice this week I have seen great bamboo furniture makeovers on some of my favorite blogs.

First, Grace from Grace Happens, found these side tables and with a little paint turned them into...

These amazing tables. Love the color!!

Isn't it amazing what a little paint can do?


Then Sarah from Flourish Design & Style repainted this magazine rack and turned if from blah to beautiful.

Of course all this led to bamboo envy, so I decided to see if I could find something for myself. I like to be productive while Butterball is napping, so I headed over to Craigslist.


All these pieces could be fabulous with just a coat of paint. See, Craiglist does have good stuff. It is just hard to find and time consuming. Want a tip for finding awesome stuff in a hurry? E-mail Jenny from MFAMB - My Favorite & My Best. She is willing to help you find the best Craigslist has to offer. Just e-mail her the items you are looking for, the city where you live and sit back and wait. You will be amazed at what she comes up with. She is charging next to nothing, so go now before she charges what she should!!! Doubt me? Check out her blog and see some of the stuff she has come up with. Want more info? Click here.

P.S. As much as I love all the items featured from Craigslist, I don't need any of them. However since they are great and only need a little paint, I want one of you to buy them. If you live in Wilmington call the sellers now!! Let me know how it turns out!!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Good things Come to...

...Those who lose on Ebay. Last April I blogged about this vintage Lotus Pendant Lamp. I bid on it on Ebay, but didn't win.

Some fool paid $455 for it. God bless them. Hope it has brought them lots of joy. I thought I was going to get it for $100. Maybe I'm the fool. I have thought about it on occasion and hoped to find another one some day. Last week I stopped by a new consignment store in Wilmington, A Perfect Find. No, I didn't find the pendant but I did find...

This. It is a giant candle holder that I think looks just like the lotus pendant. Or pretty darn close. Close enough to make me a happy girl. Do you think I snapped it up the minute I saw it? No. I don't know why. I got all excited then decided I didn't need it. Later I panicked. I went back a week later. Thank you god of shopping bargains, it was still there and for $20 it was mine. Welcome home Lotus candle holder. I think we will be very happy together.

Pretty close match don't you think?
Have you gotten any good deals lately?

P.S. If while out shopping you see a match to this candle holder, holler. I would love to have a pair but doubt lighting will strike twice in little ole Wilmington.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

70's Styling

Do you have a favorite picture of yourself? One where you think "Dang, I look good!" I've got one. Want to see it?

This is it. Me in second grade. It must have been 1972 - 1973. Bill said I look like a boy...that's O.K. I think I look fabulous!! I loved this denim dress. I wore it with knee socks and saddle oxfords. What's kind of funny is when I recently found my favorite photo of all time it reminded me of...

Anthropologie Chambray Tunic

This. I got this tunic back in the Fall and have loved it. I try to be somewhat in touch with fashion, so I am not sure what it says about me that I am wearing the same thing I wore almost 40 years ago!! On a happy note I am wearing it with J Brand Black Jean Leggings and flats. No knee socks.

J Crew Selvedge Shirt

I am one of those people who think you can never have enough denim/chambray. This is in my "for consideration file". As I buy some Spring clothes I need to remember it is going to be 100 degrees here this summer and all I really need is some bathing suits, cover ups and sunscreen. I should be looking for clothing with the least amount of fabric that is still age appropriate. Instead I seem to be drawn to clothing more appropriate for Fall.

What about you? Do you have any favorite outfits from your childhood?


Monday, March 22, 2010

Your Turn

Last week I did a post on my husband's girlfriend from Modern Family. It sparked a lot of debate. Seems most people prefer Gloria. At least to-date. So I started thinking....what about their houses? What do their homes say about them and which one would you choose?

Phil & Claire - Interior
Traditional Family Home
Warm and cozy with a Pottery Barn feel.


Phil & Claire - Exterior


Jay and Gloria - Interior
Modern Masterpiece

Look at me. I'm having a mid-life crisis!


Jay & Gloria - Exterior

Of course if you can't decide what about.....


Mitchell & Cameron
Stylish Spanish Abode
This house has the most personality of all three.
As do the home owners. Cam cracks me up!


Mitchell & Cameron - Exterior
Even the exterior is charming. I could stand on that balcony and scream for my kids to come home. Wouldn't the neighbors love that?

So who's it going to be? Claire, Gloria or Cam?
I would be Claire in Cam's house. I'm happy, my husband's happy!

Friday, March 19, 2010

Flash Back Friday - The 80's

There is just so much good stuff from the 80's, so here is a small sample...
Let's start with what we were wearing...


Seems like everyone had the same uniform....white t shirt, Guess Cowboy Booties, and


Guess jeans. These are my actual Guess jeans I dug out of my attic yesterday. I can still remember the day I got them. I LOVED these jeans and true love never dies, although it may fade a little, as it did yesterday when I tried them on. Yes, they still fit. Sort of. But they looked hideous!!! That's O.K. I will remember the good times and forget the fright I gave myself yesterday.

Of course the outfit wasn't complete without a Swatch watch.

When we wanted to dress up we turned to Laura Ashley. British Puritanism at it's best.


Yes, there was life before Diet coke. It was called Tab. Introduced in 1963 it hit it's height of popularity in the 80's.


At the movies...Caddyshack

And E.T. Which would led to Reece's Pieces.
Did all the kids in your neighborhood run around saying "phone home, phone home"


On T.V. we were watching Solid Gold. With the Solid Gold dancers. That is about the only time in my life I wanted to be a dancer. It was just so 80's. Spandex, headbands, gold lame' and sequins.


Friday nights were saved for Dynasty.

And week days for General Hospital. Mainly Luke and Laura's wedding in November 1981. Did Luke not creep you out? For the love of God, cut your hair and lighten up on the perms!!!

Remember when we all wanted our MTV. And when it was actually music television. Not reality shows. They actually played music videos.

And the best of the best was Thriller. Don't you remember being glued to the screen?


Another monster album of the 80's was Purple Rain. Purple Rain.

I never meant to cause you any sorrow
I never meant to cause you any pain
I only wanted to one time see you laughing
I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain

How can you not love an album with:
Purple Rain
When Doves Cry
Let's Go Crazy
I Would Die 4 U

I saw Prince at the Greensboro Coliseum sometime in the early 80's and he was awesome. Awesome but strange.

Hope you enjoyed the 80's flashback!
See anything from your past?

P.S. For the reader who wanted clarification on my husband's girlfriend: No, they are not really dating. I frown upon him dating. It just gets messy. And yes, he really does prefer Claire over Gloria.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

I am loving...

This. Tunic, belt, beach. Perfect. If you see me at the beach this summer and I have on a big leather belt, you'll know why.
Picture from Urban Sardines


I am also loving the blog world. I was reading a post on one of my favorite blogs, Belles-Lettriste:Uncategorhetorial, and she was listing all her favorite blogs. As I read along I was so impressed by the descriptions she wrote about each blogger. She made them all sound so interesting and cool. And then it happened. As I scrolled down I saw Blue Hydrangea!!! I could not believe it!!! I don't know how I got on the list but it totally made my day. Check it out here.
What are you loving?

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