That’s a nice way of saying that you must be under one if you haven’t been on Pinterest.  I’ve been meaning to post about this for a while, and took it as a hint when I read on Facebook today that someone was “so over Pinterest.”  I mean, really, I could spend hours a day on there (but don’t worry honey, I don’t).  I guess we’ll see if he reads this, huh?  I love that you can essentially  create your own boards to your heart’s content and constantly add to and edit them.  I thought I’d share some of my favorite dream house “pins,” and I strongly encourage you to hop on there and waste time, I mean get inspired!  Happy Pinning!

All images from my Pinterest boards

1.  Find my camera! 

This is a must, as you will see by my iphone pics to follow.

I figured since I’m in a rental, I might as well use it as an opportunity to jazz up some of the pieces that I already own.  I have some furniture that I planned to use in this space for the time being, and then buy new when we get in a house of our own.  However, I’ve really been inspired lately to paint some pieces, and who knows, maybe I’ll end up hanging on to them. 

First on my list, my dining table and chairs….a hand-me down from my great-grandmother.

I’m thinking of painting the table an off-white, and going more gray with the chairs.  I recently had this side table painted gray, and this is the direction I’m thinking.

See what I mean about the iphone pics.  3g  people.  The table is super cute, thanks to The Junkit in Abilene, TX!

I also had a successful Craigslist purchase last week!  So pumped!  I’ve been ogling campaign furniture lately, especially repainted like this dresser in Lonny magazine:

The bright color and brass color is clearly speaking to me!

So when I spied this dresser for $10 on Craigslist, I knew I had to have it!

I’m thinking of a creamy white so I know it will go with whatever bedding or color room I go with in our next home.  However, paint is paint, and it can always change!  I just can’t believe it was soooo cheap!  This stuff goes for more than 10 times that price at antique stores. (I guess they know what they have).

I’m hoping to get started on these projects next week.  I have a few loose ends to tie up at my husband’s office, and that decorating  job takes priority.

Have a great weekend!

I’m such a dedicated blogger!  No excuses, just living life and taking care of my family.  I’m really enjoying this “staying home” business, but boy, am I missing the paycheck!  Especially with the holidays approaching.  It’s a good thing I live in such a small house, or I would be one broke momma with all of the gorgeous fall decor I’ve been seeing lately.  I thought I would gather some inspiring images to get our creative juices flowing. 

Let’s start outside, remember to make a good first impression!

via Country Living

via Southern Living

Now for the inside…

You may not have an orange chair, but the arrangements on the table and chair would certainly be easy to recreate.

via Country Living

Again, you may not want to commit to paint, but what about adding some fabric to the back of those cabinets.  You could leave it up all the way through Thanksgiving!

via Country Living

Dining in style…I’m dying over this farmhouse table,

via Country Living

I think my own dining chairs are about to look like this…coming soon…

Country Living

Seriously people, just throw these ornaments in a container.  I just saw some yesterday at a store here in town.

Country Living

Hobby Lobby for the feather boa and wreath form, and wa-la!

Country Living

These two wreaths are on etsy, which is chock-full of goodies right now (and all the time).

twoinspireyou

smichellestanley

As you can see, so many of these ideas would be easy to incorporate, and some of them would even last for years, so think of them as an investment.  That’s my strategy.  Have a great week!

That’s right!   This is week is birthday week, or my personal favorite…”Festivus.”  That’s right, it’s my personal Festivus, so I decided to finally hop back onto the blogosphere.  Lucky you.  I am way beyond getting excited about turning a certain age, which I guess just comes as you get older.  It just doesn’t have the same excitement attached to it anymore.  However, for those of you who know me, you must know that I love birthdays for presents.  Although now I tend to shop for my own gifts, which is my preferred method. 

So, for your personal reading pleasure, here’s my “wish list.”  Mind you, this is pie in the sky, not actual things I could even afford or purchase for myself.  With that said, let’s go crazy.

1.  Handbag heaven

Audra Large Satchel by Tory Burch

One of the benefits of an August birthday is that new fall lines are out, and this bag by Tory Burch does not disappoint.  I would carry this every day.  At least that’s what I tell myself.

And while we’re at Neiman’s…

2.  Shoes to die for

Crisscross Snake D’Orsay by Manolo Blahnik

I mean, won’t those be the biggest hit at Bible Study.  They’ll probably throw me out.

3.  Jewels

Poppy Cocktail Ring in turquoise by Kendra Scott

Kendra Scott jewelry is so beautiful .  I would actually wear this all the time.  I do have a coupon to her website…..I hope you check her out, her stuff is so colorful and more on the affordable side.

So, what did the love of my life get me for my birthday?  I’m not trying to boast, but he is the best gift giver ever.  It’s one of his strengths, so I am super blessed.  First of all, he has organized a birthday dinner for me at my favorite restaurant, Rancho Loma.

I can’t find pictures of it online, but it’s been written up in Southern Living, amongst other publications.  The food is inventive and locally grown, plus we get to enjoy the beautiful ranch it is located on.  It will be a tremendous evening.  I’m also going to Dallas to shop with my girlfriends for the rest of the weekend, so win-win.

On top of all that, he knows that my favorite artist is Amanda Stone Talley, out of New Orleans.

image via Casa Sugar

And he let me choose one of her works on paper!  I am beyond excited to own one of her works.  I get to pick it up in her studio next month, when we take a fun trip with friends. 

So as you can see, my real life is even better than my wish list.  On top of all that, school is about to start, and I do not have to go to there. 

blessings

Hey ya’ll.  I wanted to share with you some pictures of my friend Amber’s house.  She has been working hard on updating her home for her husband and 4 adorable children, and she has been doing a spectacular job.  She asked me to help her find some accessories for her home, so she’s been sharing with me as she goes. 

For her bedroom, she was looking for a settee for the foot of her bed.  Something as comfortable as it is stylish, and believe me, she has phenomenal taste.  She found what she was looking for in the Eton Settee by West Elm.  She had to wait a while as it is a custom order piece, and she just sent me the photo of it in the room.  I love it!

Beautiful, isn’t it?  I love the mix of tones with her bedding.  I love how she has mixed Anthropologie, West Elm, and some Target pillows to make a custom look for her room.  I would have a hard time keeping my kids out of my room with that comfy place to sit. 

Amber also homeschools her older children, and has the cutest homeschool room, complete with teal blue paint and cozy corners to read and learn.  She had these sweet vintage alphabet cards and was unsure how to display them in the room.  I suggested she frame them individually and space them over her mantle.  I’m sure her husband was wishing I hadn’t made that suggestion!

Aren’t those sweet??

She also applied temporary wallpaper to the back of her bookshelves, and the effect is stunning, everything on the shelves just pops now.

Great job Amber!  As ya’ll can see, even little things can make a big impact!  If you are interested in having me help you with your space, just email me!  Have a great day!

That’s right, you came back for some more shameless plugging for my sister’s Stella and Dot boutique.  I’m hosting my first party for her on Tuesday night, the 5th, here at my house, so if you’re local, leave me a comment and I’ll email you my address!  If not, but you’d still like to order, just go to my sister’s boutique on the sidebar to the right, and look my name up as a hostess.  So easy!

So let’s see what we can get, shall we?

The Renegade Cluster bracelet is new and oh so modern:

As are the accompanying earrings…

They also have a bunch of cute pieces that are on sale, so if you’ve been coveting, now’s the time!

Of course, these are just a few of what they have to offer.  So even if you’re not in the mood to shop, come by anytime from 5-9 and grab a snack and come visit.  It’ll be so much fun.  See you there!

Hey everyone!  I just wanted to share a few things that I’ve been up to in our new home!  Slowly, but surely, I’ve been working on a few things here and there.  The first involved ordering this mirror, as a “I just quit teaching present” to myself, so I don’t feel bad about it.  It’s definitely a “forever” purchase, which I’ve been wanting since this past winter, so it’s all good:

Once it’s hung, I’ll take a photo of it in it’s new home.

I’ve also made this roman shade from Emily’s tutorial for my kitchen.  I love that it only took a yard of fabric, so I don’t feel like it’s a huge investment for a temporary dwelling.  Perfect!  My fabric is from fabricguru.com.  The whole thing has run me about $25.   Love that.

Sorry for the iphone pic.  Still looking for my camera.  Don’t you just love moving?  It’s full of fun surprises, like “where’s my camera?”  or “where’s my favorite shoes?”  Daily, it’s a blast.

I’m also really enjoying the guilty pleasure of Million Dollar Decorators.  Don’t tell me I’m alone on this.  My favorite gal, Mary McDonald, is really busy being fabulous and blowing budgets, but her clients don’t seem to mind too much. 

 Did you catch the floor she did on the last episode? 

 I die!  I’m telling you.  Did you know she was the inspiration for Karen on Will and Grace?  Someone once told me (in college), that I reminded them of that character, and I decided that I maybe needed to reevaluate the way I presented myself!  (I was also secretly flattered).  So chic!

Anyway, do you have any great ideas for summer projects?  What are you up to in your home?

Hi everybody. I probably have 2 readers left, but that’s ok, we’ve had so much life change, inwardly now where to begin. Sara Jane had her last day of kindergarten, I had my last day at work, then the next day we packed up and moved to the thriving metropolis of Abilene!

I’m blogging from the iPad, which is new to me, so I need to figure out how to upload images. Anybody good at that? Let me know!

So for now, until our house sells in Burleson, we are renters. Now, I’ve only been renting for a week, but I’ve taken notice of the positives.
1. It takes no time to clean! Like, at all. It took me an hour to dust, clean bathrooms, and mop ( with my awesome new Shark Steamer! Thanks Mary!
2. When things go wrong, you don’t have to pay for it!! Which is nice, especially when paying for a house you don’t live in!
That’s about it.
So we must be “content to rent.”. How fitting that the nester, has dreamed up a new blog, Content to Rent!. She has tons of great ideas. So here’s to making this place a little more permanent and a lot more “us.”. And tons more pictures! (working on it)!

Well, the time has come for me to take a little break from the blog.  Unfortunately, with packing, moving, the end of the school year, and my family, I just don’t have the time to devote to it that I wish I did.  I know once we get into the new house, I’ll have a lot to talk about–especially in the subjects of downsizing and being somewhat cramped, but I do admit that I’m excited.  I will also be staying home to take care of my family full-time, so I know that will bring many “bloggable” changes.  I may hop on here a few times in the next month, but I do want to say that hanging it up for a few weeks.  So enjoy your Spring, and I look forward to seeing you full time in the Summer.

Later…

While going through my hoards of magazines these last couple of days (trying to toss some, why is that so hard??)  I ran across an article from Southern Living a few months ago spotlighting this classy lady:

Catherine Fitzsimmons of Rikshaw Designs

As if the warm breezes, white jeans and bohemian style of summer calling isn’t enough, check out her site.  Her inspiring hand-blocked Indian Textiles just scream laid-back cool.  Here are a few of my favorites…

udaipur kurta

So cute with a pair of jeans, or shorts (if you’ve got some of those skinny legs I keep hearing about).

taj paisley gold kurta , just crying out for a pair of chandelier earrings and a long necklace…

Her tuxedo kurta is a little more dressy…

And if you have a little baby with style to buy for, be sure to check out their unique crib bedding,

For your little bohemian baby.

Their kurtas also come in baby and little girl sizes, so if you’re in the mood for casual, approachable cool for your closet or home, check it out.