DIY Photo Frame

On a recent trip home from my parent's house, G and I stopped at this fun consignment store and found a beautiful - but empty - ivory frame. I knew the perfect place to hang it but I had no idea what to put inside. The same day, we made our usual weekend Home Depot stop and the rolls of chicken wire were calling my name. Some staples, clothespins and Instamatic photos later, I had this:

It's a work in progress...I'll add some of my favorite inspirational images, some dried flowers and a few other sentimental things. This is, literally, the first thing I see when I get out of bed - perfect!

Some of my inspiration came from the following:

All images found via Pinterest: 

fig. 1 from taliachristine.blogspot.com

fig. 2 from craftjr.com 

fig. 3 from alovelyescape.blogspot.com

fig. 4 from blog.stylizimo.com

fig. 5 from diymaven.com

fig. 6  from stampington.com

 

Art for Sale

Need to de-stress? Look for cheap art on Etsy!!! It's downright ahhhh-mazing how many super talented artists sell entire portfolios on my FAVORITE SITE EVER. I start smiling as soon as I start scrolling - a little inspiration definitely helps me unclench my jaw and leave my cuticles alone. Here are some current favorite illustration series (which are all in the running for a large blank wall that is driving me crazy):

This lovely artist says (on his Etsy store description), 'My designs incorporate a mixture of childhood experiences, dreams, and daily inspiration from my two kids.' LOVE it. 

These just make me happy - what's not to like? I think framed (bamboo border, perhaps?) on a white bathroom wall would be superb.

 

 

 I'm a sucker for block prints, especially in two of my fave colors. These are lovely, simple and make me want to keep looking. 

 

 

 

 

 Artists shown: 

Circles and Squares by David B. Cuzick  

SeeChangeDesign by Amy TerKeurst

dekanimal

 

I've Been a Bad Blogger...

And, there are no excuses! BUT, between the tragedy in Japan, the chaos in Libya, the passing of Maddie James...it felt trivial to write about shopping or paint colors. I was down in the dumps, but a dear friend gave me a pep talk, so now I'm back at it.

We came home from a weekend in Toronto to one of my favorite things - Summer catalogs! A whole mailbox full of them! I love sitting down with a stack to rip out things I like to put on my inspiration board. Warm weather IS around the corner - I can almost taste the Skinny Girl Margarita now.

 A comfy nook from Anthropologie. 

 Maps as blinds? Genius!

I am completely enthralled by these glass planters from West Elm.

In the Country

I don't know if it's all the chatter about Colin Firth's performance in The King's Speech or if I'm just in the mood for a vacation (or maybe a Valentine's getaway???), but I've been loading up our Netflix queue with some of my favorite English romance movies. I've also found myself bookmarking images of adorable countryside cottages and toile patterns...

Can't you see whipping up a cup of tea in that kitchen or taking a nap (while reading Pride & Prejudice, of course) in that living room?

(Image from Pride & Prejudice c/o prideandprejudice05.blogspot.com; interior images c/o birdsinthegarage.blogspot.com)

Magnifying Sconce, Anthropologie, $48

Dresser, Wisteria, $699

Cast Iron Horse, Restoration Hardware, $109 

Settee, Ballard Designs, Price N/A

Antique Rug Pillows, Jayson Home & Garden, $225-$325

Silver Candlesticks, Pottery Barn, $24-$59

Something New to Love

Check out this new magazine that just launched, called Matchbook. It's ahhhhhhhhhh-mazing.

I love how they describe the typical Matchbook girl:

Scrub-A-Dub

I've spent the past few weeks working on several 'special projects' (top-secret stuff!) so a lot has fallen by the wayside, including this poor blog (this week I'm cracking the whip and will start redesigning the layout and logo - yippee!). I'm also going to tackle painting P's room and our guest bathroom (not so yippee)...does anyone have any tricks for painting edges neatly and quickly? Is that a totally ridiculous question?

At some point, I became obsessed with painting the bathroom a lighter shade of Tiffany blue...

Image c/o Cottage Living.

More inspiring bathrooms (somehow that seems like an oxymoron)...

 I love the idea of using a floor-length mirror against one wall. Image c/o Better Homes & Gardens.

 Maybe I could paint just the ceiling blue? Image c/o Junk Style (book).

 The small chandelier and distressed mirror over the tub are TOO perfect. Image c/o DecorPad.

 Great idea to put the claw-foot tub in front of the unused mantel, eh? Image c/o Luella Says.

 The turquoise light fixture and dark wood floors could really work in our space. Image c/o unknown.

The tiny dresser...mmm, sweet! Image c/o Vintage Simple.

A New Favorite for a New Year

One of my favorite birthday presents is the Domino Book of Decorating. I put it on my gift guide and I think I've mentioned it over one million times since starting this blog. The bad news...there are a lot of recycled images from when the magazine was still in publication. The good news....it's still absolutely inspiring and the editor notes are fabulous. I see a lot of florals, unexpected details and wallpaper in our decorating future. If you loved Domino magazine and still mourn it's death, this is a must-have.

Those are antler wall hooks with grosgrain...and it works!

The book breaks down every room by inspiration. Which, is inspiring :)

A fun way to organize a bookcase.

I'm always looking for new ways to organize art and this book is full of them.

The editors profile various styles for each room - you're bound to find a fave.

    

Easy As Pie

Everyone has a person (or two or three!) on their gift list who already has everything and present ideas are needed, STAT! One of my fave blogs found this fantastic seller on Etsy and their desserts-in-a-jar make the PERFECT gift for tough cookies (no pun intended) with a sweet tooth. For a dinner version, check out this post.

 

 

 

 

A Survival Guide

So. We're going on week four of 24/7 life at home with baby P, the big black dog and a never-ending list of errands (I never thought it was possible to spend an ENTIRE day grocery shopping. But it is. It REALLY is.).

I have talked about staying home with P since the day she was born and now - husband, if you're reading, I'm not saying forever - the wish has come true. I'm trying to enjoy every moment and I want to use this time to tackle some really huge projects. A few things help smooth over the rough days and make us all smile a little wider...

 Target, oh, Target. How is it that you made the most perfect jegging for only $25?!?!

 A good watch is essential to keeping our days on track. This one is adorable and comes with a bunch of different straps to mix-and-match.

 It's no secret. I love Keith Urban. I can't explain why - his music just makes me happy. I also love Oprah. It's pretty much the only time I turn on the tube during the day (other than the lovely videos mentioned below). Keith and Nicole were on the show Monday. HEAVEN!!!

 To be able to walk outside every day is a beautiful thing. We live in a place where conservation land is literally on every corner. Until the bitter cold sets in, we've been trying to walk at least 30 minutes a day.

 There comes a point during every day where both P and I need our alone time. These videos were recommended by a friend and work perfectly for some learning + quiet time. It also gives me at least a half hour to do laundry, prepare dinner or check email.

 Booger season is upon us and these miracle wipes work wonders. 

What would I do without Trader Joe's? It's affordable, offers a ton of organic options and our location has beer and wine (cue the choirs of angels singing).

A Quiet Place

IF we ever have the time/money/resources/guts to build on a new kitchen, we'd like to renovate the old kitchen into a library. I daydream about P going there after school to do her homework or curl up on a rainy day to read a Jane Austen novel...

(Photo credits courtesy of Apartment Therapy, Vignette Design, House Beautiful and BHG)

On a completely unrelated note, I love reading one of my favorite blogs every Monday when the author lists things that are on her mind that morning. I tried doing the same thing, but from right before I fall asleep. The idea sounds easy, but it's actually really difficult to allow a stream of consciousness while remembering what you thought to write it down later.

Here goes...

• Christmas cards - picture or no picture?
• I need highlights...and a cut...make that FULL highlights.
• Should I just chop it off? I hate when I have short hair. I wish I had hair like Kyle on RHBH.
• I hope P has hazel eyes. I think she'll have brown though. It doesn't really matter.
• When do babies have to start brushing their teeth?
• When do kids lose all their baby teeth? I wonder if we'll do the Tooth Fairy. Why WOULDN'T we do the tooth fairy?
• G and I need to go to the dentist. I bet I have a ton of cavities. What was that movie about the dentist who was really depressed and tried to kill himself? Wasn't Robin Williams in it? What WAS that movie???
• I kind of want to see the new Jake Gyllanhaal movie. But, I don't really like Anne Hathaway. I bet it's a renter. I'll watch it with girlfiriends. I need to call all my girlfriends...

And that's just about the way it went for, oh, about an hour. Sleepy Time tea might have to appear in my nighttime schedule once again.