pretty.

this makes me happy

I used old salt shakers and bottles for flower arrangements at our wedding. I've been collecting them ever since.

These French Market Sparkling Lemonade bottles from Trader Joe's are just too pretty to throw away. So, we enjoy the tasty beverage (I like to add a splash of it to my water), and then save the bottles to re-use as vases.

That painting in the background is one of the things I would grab if ever there was a fire. It is by the ever so talented Andrea Luna Reece.

Before.

After.

Nesting Eye Candy

Feast your eyes on all this amazing "nesting" goodness ...

I want to wash dishes in this kitchen. It is the creation of Kara Paslay, and her blog is filled with Do It Yourself ideas and inspiration. Like this. And this. If you look really closely at the kitchen knobs, you will see that they are all different. She needed to do the design on a budget and chose to get her knobs at the Habitat for Humanity store...the result is an eclectic mix of funky knobs that so work for me.

I cannot even begin to describe in words what these pictures makes me feel. This kitchen is the perfect balance of funky with a fresh, clean look. I want to have a long meal at that table, and I want to bake cookies in that kitchen. It is Ashley Anne's kitchen, and her blog is Under the Sycamore Tree. It is one of my daily clicks and I always have a little more spring in my step after visiting. I live where there is very little land, so our houses are stacked on top of each other. I absolutely live vicariously through her family and their romping around the yard. She is an amazing photographer and shares tips with her readers, which is very kind of her I think.

This is her daughter's nursery...

Yeah, I know - it is prettier than most of our master bedrooms. Love it!

And, for some more photo inspiration, you have to visit Meg Duerksen's blog Whatever. If you ever wanted an old house that you get to restore and tweak into your own amazing space, this is the blog for you. She is an incredible photographer as well, so her photos are amazing and inspiring in the same way that walking through Anthropologie is. Scroll through photos of her home here. But, be forewarned. It will make you want to paint, go flea marketing, hit the garage sales, and you will feel compelled to bake cake. Trust me, you will.

This is one of my favorites.

Happy clicking.

Kind of blue...

A while back I saw this picture, and wondered if I should take a color risk and paint my table.  My husband came home the other night to me impulsively painting it blue.

It is happy.  It is full of "spring".  I am still a little surprised by it.  And, I am sure it is not for everyone, but I am glad I did it.

I'm loving this...

Don't you just want to sit on that floor and soak it up?  I love this room.  Love the light, the colors, the funky letters on the wall, the mix of modern and aged pieces...love it all!

This is the family room of blogger Andrea, from hula seventy.  For the tour, go here.

It makes me want to paint my current dining room table (see below) a funky, chipping torquoise color.  What do you think? Do I dare?  The legs on this table kind of scream for paint, don't you think?  

This table was a gift from my dear friend, Tristen, for my 30th birthday.  She snagged it at a local garage sale for $25!  She is a cool bargain magnet!

I heart Ikea.

Oh how I love Ikea. It is one of my favorite places to go with my kids. On weekdays. Weekends it is way too crazy. But, weekdays are lovely. We can cruise the wide aisles of the store and take a rest on the couches in the middle when we get tired. We can eat breakfast for .99 and enjoy the kids' play area for free. It is always the place to go when I am planning a party, need candles or organizing stuff. But, today I love Ikea for another reason. It allowed me to make a table for my entry way for $45. I have been shopping for one and could not bear to part with $200 for a table from Target, Cost Plus, Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel. That is way to much money for something that just needs to hold my keys and fill a little space.
I found these desk legs at Ikea and I love the modern/vintage vibe to them. The stainless steel is sleek, but the curvy lines are feminine and funky. They are $10 each.

I got a 2 in x 12 in plank of wood from Lowe's that they cut to the measurements that fit my space for me. Took it home and beat it up with my hammer to distress it a bit. Kind of fun. Then, I stained it with dark espresso stain...only took 2 coats and about 5 minutes with each coat.

Drew and I screwed the legs onto the plank and that part took about 1 minute per leg.
Here it is... I dig it. It is one of my favorite pieces right now.

From the side, it has this curvy vibe going for it...

I love putting stuff together that is rustic/distressed and sleek and shiny. Kind like our lives, right? Oh, and the big lanterns were in the summer clearance section for $4 each. Score!

I have seen in the Ikea catalogue that they have the same legs in 17 inch height. How cute would they be on a rustic plank of wood for a bench? Maybe a vintage blue or torquoise color distressed a bit...

Nesting is fun.