First Quarter Starts

Yes, I know this is delayed
That the first quarter was over
LAST month.

But I thought I would show you
two of the newest "starts"
(aka around here "What are you collecting now")
to my hoarding collections.

Should I die an untimely death,
people will have a FIELD day
in this place.

Be sure to check the downstairs closet
the non-master closet upstairs
and the space under the stairs

Just. Saying.

Tea pots
Wicker Rounds

Man I have grande ideas

No more wire...

shelves.
Hangers, by the way,
are also my bane.

I adore those fluffy white towels

And I no longer have a love hate relationship with the scale

(fertility tracking does that to you)

Love the little brown basket of soap on the floor

love the glass cubes of stuff I don't use

because I don't take baths

yet I feel it necessary to have a bathtub.

So American of me.

That top basket...

eh

Those wire shelves

held up by the completely

functional

but not at all

stylish

center rod

those

are

the

BANE

of

my

existence.

Just saying.

Week 17 Random Pinehurst

On clearance.

Which means my new favorite color in the world

is probably going to be impossible to find

in two more weeks

Better go stock up.

Where are my gift cards (earned on points) already?



Repurposed | Master Bath Switch

I'm not sure if I want to use this ladder

or these hooks



to replace this undersized towel bar

in my master bathroom



What do you think?

Need List: Entry way rug

I need a rug
for this entry way.
It has become the puppy runway
which means the hardwoods
are nicely aging
in the same way that my dining room table
is "nicely aging"

I like the table
he does not like the table

He likes the puppy runway
I do not like the puppy runway

At the very least
I would like to
replace the rug by the door
(look closer)

But ideally,
I'd love a runner
that could run the whole length
of that hallway

Only problem?
I would need at least 2
extra long runners
(we've got about 20 - 21 linear ft there)
And that gets pricey

Thinking of maybe using some
Flor modular carpet.

What do you think?

As is

I think my housekeeper

is going to quit

once she realizes

a certain puppy

has taken to running

up and down the hall.

The other folks we almost hired

wanted to charge a premium

to clean our hardwoods

Does hell go with no?

Yes, it is pitiful that I have a housecleaner

No, it is not pitiful that I will do what it takes

to save this marriage

We're workaholics

so someone has to do it

and I'm too busy reupholstering chairs

to do it myself

I jest

But really

it was kind of embarrasing

to hire someone just to clean

my toilets

which is all I really wanted

So they clean our main floor

and bedroom

Yes, it is a bit embarrassing to note

that my housecleaner

comes as a "they" (it's quicker that way).

Don't hate the player

hate the game

I hate it too

housecleaners,

gourmet puppy food

and a non-sponsored

DIY blog

means I get to work

attrocious hours

for the man

to come out of pocket

Life's tradeoffs.

you do you

I'll do me

Till I get knocked up

and can justify

being a stay at home mommy

to more than just a dog.

These are the things I struggle with

on the daily.

Carry on.

Linking up to the Roomspirations blog hop.

Check it out! Entryways to inspire.

Thrifty, simple dining room chairs

So...I got the chairs off of craigs list

For free

With a huge table

that I really need to redo

but that I don't use in my dining room

because I already have a table there

that I love.

All said,

about 4 months ago

(maybe 5)

I took the chair seats off the chairs

I started to prime them

in white

with a brush

and I gave up halfway through

So I was a but dubious

as to whether

black spray paint

was really going to do the job

and it did

but that is no where near

the end of this here story

I took the seat cushion

and unpried about 974 staples



to get rid of

the hideous green

mini plaid checked fabric

that was pretty beat

Then I had to walk away for 17 hours or so

to contemplate

which black and white fabric

I was going to

recover the seats in

because you know the drill...

...if it ain't black

or white...

supposedly, I don't do it.

whatever.

because

from a distance

one of these bold print fabrics

looks a lot more black

than white

that's the one I went with



That I picked up 4 yards of this print

for 5.50 (50% off or it ain't coming home with me)

had me doing the happy dance.

I think I'll use the more white fabric

(which is actually a curtain)

in the place I bought it for

you know,

hanging

as curtains

in the yet to be unconceived

child's room.

Just saying.

I am starting to love prints.

In miniature doses of course.

Happy house frittering!

Check out the awesome furniture redos

at Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday 

(5/26)

Week 16 Random Pinehurst

My granny's nickname for me

when I was growing up

was Sweet Pea

She had an awesome green thumb

was very southern

and loved dressing up her grandbabies

for Easter

I miss her.

Happy gardening. Happy almost Easter.



Dining Room evolution

Because love is patient
and so are you
I promise to get up the post
on the great dining room chair
makeover

The table that came with the chairs
needs some paint too

I did the top
but need to do the legs

one day at a time

These chairs are in the dining room now though

and I LOOOOOVE
the paint job
and the fabric is TDF.

Just saying.

Quick Change: Puppy Toy Holder

I think this puppy toy holding basket

Had seen better days.
So I replaced it

with this more sturdy version
It should last a week

Especially if we don't get her
to the puppy part
on a daily basis
in that week

love
her
to
pieces

yes,
of course,
more than my baskets

Baskets are a dime a dozen
Puppies are priceless
Unless they only eat gourmet,
organic,
homemade
meals

In which case, they are actually
kind of pricey

Well worth it,
nontheless.

Week 15 Random Pinehurst

I have a thing

for pillows

lately

This one had to be repositioned

away from the puppy seat

on the couch

You know

the one

where she sits

on the couch

and naps

while we are at work

and then tries to turn away

when we watch her do it

on the puppy cam

each

night

Quick Change: Wine Cabinet

So we have this cabinet
that we store most of our wine in

Though I love the book wreath up top

the rest

was looking a bit sparse

So I took these



and clearly,

they are too beat

to be preparing food on

so their

practicality

went up top

Far better

as decor

And with some prep

and coverage

I can bring them down

for buffet style service

4 minutes:

1 to pull those boards out of the cabinet

1 to oil them down

1 to climb up on the chair

and my tip toes

and reach with my fingertips

and there we were

Mini Succulent Garden

So you want to learn
how to make your own
succulent mini garden?

It is super easy.
Here it is in pictures.

1. Gather your materials

2. Dump dirt into bowl

3. With biggest plant, broken into thirds - place your first third in bowl

4. Place rocks around base of plants

5. Continue adding plants

6. Voila

Hard to kill indoor plants. 
California succulent style = cool
Southwest = pass.  I prefer my thunderstorms
southwestern and my succulents western.

Picky.
I know.

i collect vol. 7: succulents

Ever since
we returned home
from California
I have been OBSESSED
with succulents

Here are some of my favorites

What are you fave plamts?

Week 14 Random Pinehurst

Due to no fault of my own

they are still alive

and well

3,489,746 bulbs later

Last November,
I was miserable

It was about 2 weeks
since I had learned about
our puppy dog Ashley's
terminal kidney condition

We were told it was a matter
of days, not weeks
and certainly not months

I had just stocked up on a ton
and a half
of spring bulbs
which I was looking forward
to planting
with my digger, garden-loving puppy

For weeks, I could not bring myself
to go out into my yard
I would look out there
I would see the garden
I would see her running excitedly through it
and I would
just
break
down

Finally, really way too late in November
I went out
with a huge tub of bulbs
and I planted Ashley's garden

I cried with every bulb I placed
She would help me dig them back up
(smile)
and I would refuse to get frustrated
just so sad that she wouldn't be around
to actually see things bloom
and grow
in our garden

it crushed my soul
I honestly thought I wasn't
going to be able to garden
this year

Melodramatic much?
She was my first puppy.
ever.
I vowed she would be my last.

what feels like 3,489,746 bulbs later
and maybe at least 78 inches of snow
and 932 days passed when spring should have sprung

I harvested these

From here

With help from her



Thank you Lord

for the beauty of this life

you gift me with everyday

Tapestry Love

One of my fave places
to head to
in any thrift shop
is the textiles/linen section.

In a post or two,
I'll show you the gorgeous
fabric
I got
and covered some dining room chairs with

I have enough to make a couple of pillows

I am really digging
black and white
in my gray and white
and beige
main level

We shall see

Anyhow

My most recent find
in the textile section
was this awesome tapestry

Handmade Tapestry

Photo (c) b3 home designs

Got it on sale

50% off of course

Used a very

scientific/preservationist

method to mount it

Scientifically mounting the Handmade Tapestry

Photo (c) b3 home designs

And hung it by the awesome powder room

New Home for the Handmade Tapestry

Photo (c) b3 home designs

That you can read more about

right at this post about the bow and arrow

that completed that bathroom.

Right before I got this tapestry.

My green thumb

My husband often says
that holding hands with me
is like holding hands with death

primarily
because my hands are always so cold

The other night,
I was going through my DVR que
and I watched Million Dollar Listing

The one where they do the seance
for Madison's client

Yeah. ok.

Anyhow, at the start of the scene
the psychic says to one of the ladies
"Your hands are freezing, spirits are all around you"

And I got a new take on why my hands are always so cold

You see, my grandmother's spirit MUST be around me
still
because ain't no one else in my family got a green thumb
and only through her grace could I possibly grow things like this

Happy spring.  What are you growing this year?

Around Pinehurst - April (Nap Time)

Sometimes,
I feel like just stopping where I am
pulling up a nice, soft piece of carpet
and taking a nap

Out of the sunspot, nap time - Lower Level Hallway, Pinehurst

Photo (c) b3 home designs

There are many, MANY things I've learned
from my beautiful, dying dog.
Aside from learning that you will go when it is your time to go
I've also learned that nap times are awesome

Bonus points if I could have dreams nearly as vivid as her's
because I would totally get a workout while I slept
(I don't know WHAT ball she is chasing in those wild pursuits).

Score!
Happy April!