My flowers are blooming!

Just wanted to share something that makes me happy every time I walk in or out of the apt :)

Splurged for a new clay bowl and some flowers last week, so that both sides of the steps could have potted pretties :)

These are the pots that survived the hottest summer ever; they just started blooming again!!! :D (look for the tiny specks of purple and one or two pink blossoms ;P ) I'll take what I can get ;)

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Nifty Necklace Niche

Now that I got you with my catchy title ;) 

Here is a little project that turned out so well I wanted to share.

 I bought a frame with minor nicks at Hobby Lobby, 90% off, for $5 a while back. 

I decided it would be easier to incorporate in my decor if I spray painted the brown and gold a glossy black. 

I hung it in my new dressing area, and used small white nails to hang my necklaces. The nails blend in with the wall so they don't compete with the jewelry display.

Easy to see all of the jewelry, easy to take them on or off, and easy to keep organized! :)

Phone pics:

Still have some work to do but I love how things are coming together :)

p.s. Sorry I've been lax in posting. Planning a wedding and settling in to happily married life have taken up all my time :) More posts to come, asap.

Tschus!

Hummus - yes & no

Hummus with roasted garlic - YES

(the smell alone is wonderful)

Hummus with gobs of mushrooms - no :\

(this really thins out the hummus due to all the moisture in mushrooms)

I may try it with a small amount of baby bella mushrooms in the future...possibly sauteed first, to get water out.

Care to share any cooking experiments/lessons?

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

There's a new kid in town :D

Hey guys, I think you might enjoy a new blog called 'Styled' that I've just created. It's still coming out of it's shell, but I love it already :) 

I needed a place that was devoted to event prettiness and creativity.

Hope you all find bunches of inspiration in it.

Happy Tuesday!!!!

Spring sprung in my bathroom :)

Thank you to the previous tenant who planted a flowering bush out front :) I intend to pay that forward!

Happy happy Monday!

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Baking need appeased...at 10pm ;-P

Banana Spice Bread (just banana bread w/ cinnamon and ginger) :)

Oatmeal, cranberry and walnut cookies :) (made with ww flour and dark brown sugar-low guilt :D)

AHHHHH :) The piéce de resistance :) Porter cheddar snackage. It's pretty AND it's yummy!

Last time I broke the porter cheddar out we roughed it with this crude serving, but discovered it's yummy with crackers and honey dijon mustard :) Yay for bf's with sudden cravings for cheese and crackers :D

Last night I created this. It's a poor picture but that's a sliver of cinnamon and herb crusted chicken on a wheat cracker with porter cheddar and honey dijon mustard. Can you say 'good for the soul'?!?! YUM!

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Every time I go out my door...

This makes me smile. :)

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Valentine revisited

This is taped to the wall in my office ... because it's awesome. :)

A 5 year old friend of mine gave this to me and I LOVE that wishes adventure on me for Valentines Day :D

At the same time it's 'princess-y' and plenty feminine, but this must also be an intrepid lady. And that's just what I want to be :)

Thank you Kirsten :)

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Bits of happiness

One major reason to always have a flower garden

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Shoes at the office :)

Happy Thursday/End of the Week :D

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

The rest of the story ;)

Here it is folks, the final bits of assemblage in the saga of moving :) Enjoy, it's a lot. lol

The final view of the reading nook :) I'm planning to buy a clamp lamp and attach it to the bookcase for better lighting in the corner. 
The sign reads 'Adventure is worthwhile in itself' :D I wholeheartedly agree!





Magazine stack detail; Including all my Domino mags. Sad they went out of business but glad I kept these issues!





I love the ampersand as a bookstop :)





Again, these pics are just taken with my phone, :P

The wall :) Finally cleared of boxes, and sewing machine stationed, ready for a project :D





Detail of a wall shelf :) I like random btw :P I also restrained myself from completely covering the shelves with memorabilia. *pats self


(miss you roomie in the pic who now lives in Germany! muah! ;))





Kitchen/'Dining Room' peek :)





The bench seat by the fireplace!

Finally ready for Kenny D to see :)

She will have to come test it out soon ;)

Bathroom....not my favorite room, but it has some fun bits thrown in to liven it up :) 
The tiles and shower curtain 'happen' to match wonderfully, even though I didn't pick them out 

and now....

Kitchen and 'Dining Room' aka my first big furniture purchase, the cafe set :)

LOVE this huge old porcelain sink :)

Just big enough to not be cramped and small enough to make everything easy to reach :)


Those shelves used to serve as the legs for my desk, and what is now the headboard of my bed was the top of the desk. :) 


I added black upholstery tacks in a diamond pattern on the faux leather fabric and voila! See below for detail

*sigh :) So many culinary adventures waiting to be embarked on here. Already the spinach, egg and turkey wrap was a win.

Table detail. 'S' mug from my sister, Emily, makes a perfect gingerbread biscotti holder :)

Living room! I LOVE how spacious these rooms are!
The two chairs are getting slipcovers asap, probably in something akin to khaki.

Final arrangement of bedroom, view from doorway. 

Detail of headboard area :) LOVE how it turned out

'Dressing Area' on the left. Thats the $20 Craigslist ottoman I'm going to recover in cream cotton with big black satin bows tying the corners :) Maybe small cream tassel fringe...as soon as I brave filling a bobbin on my new sewing machine :P

Top of the dresser. Painted that old mirror glossy black :)

View from the bedroom :) Incredibly soothing to wake up to a clean and orderly apartment.

Thanks for stopping by to visit my new place! :) Hope your Friday is fantastic and the weekend is better than expected!! Love and blessings

Bits and Pieces ... :)

    Remember these? :)

Here's what three days of work have wrought :)

F says I've 'girlified' the nightstand he gave me :P I think that's a compliment in manspeak ;)

My Granddaddy's WW2 footlocker is still my favorite coffee table/extra blanket holder

The candles make a wonderful, cozy glow when lit

Current mantle decor is a result of random objects that were thrown up while unpacking... we'll see if it passes the test of methodical decorating that comes after settling in 

I always love interjecting random little bits of humor in decor =)

Thrift found vintage suitcase doubles perfectly....

as storage for DVD's and old VHS's :D So much better than a shelf  :P

My Scottie has been recommissioned to a doorstop post 

Jacque takes his job very seriously :)

More pics coming as soon as the cardboard boxes have finished throwing up all over the place :P

Have a lovely Monday!!! :)