Saturday, April 30, 2011

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

Thursday, April 28, 2011

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.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

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?


Friday, April 22, 2011

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?

Thursday, April 21, 2011

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.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

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
(5/26)


Tuesday, April 19, 2011

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.


Monday, April 18, 2011

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.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

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.

Friday, April 15, 2011

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

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

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

Monday, April 11, 2011

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.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

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?

Friday, April 8, 2011

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

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

Monday, April 4, 2011

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
that completed that bathroom.

Right before I got this tapestry.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

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?

Friday, April 1, 2011

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!