Happy Little Elephant

Today I had something disappointing happen. I'm trying to look on the bright side and learn from it, but, still, it's raining outside and I'm feeling a little bit blue. Luckily the roses outside are blooming out of control. So I snipped some and filled this sweet little elephant to help get my spirits back up. It makes me smile every time I look over.

What do you do to cheer yourself up after suffering a setback?

Blue Kitchen

I love this kitchen. I love blue, I love a little mess, I love exposed shelves, I love little plants here and there and I love those jars. From Inger Marie Grini.

In other news, I'm still beyond sad and this grief seems to have shaken up a certain amount of dissatisfaction with the rest of my life. Advice?

Pink and Blue

Here's some lovely inspiration from Yarn Storm for pretty flowers with a blue backdrop. I love this idea for my garden! Thanks El Jinx for the link!

I just love pink and blue

but only certain shades will do.

From a Restaurant to a Kitchen

Wow. Just Wow.

Happy Monday

Perhaps this would be more fitting for Happy Mundane's Blue Mondays, but after scouring through catalogs for a project this weekend, this was the image that stuck in my head. It's the flowerburst tablecloth from Crate and Barrel and it has just the right crispness for a hot summer day.

Dwell for Target

Wow, thanks to Oh Happy Day for pointing out that Target has even more than just bedding from Dwell, they've got kitchen textiles too. And it's as though they read my mind. Look at all these perfect accessories in the color blue that I want to paint my backsplash. Awesome.

HGTV Inspiration

Hey HGTV has more going on than I thought. They've got great pictures to help inspire and I even found this one that is pretty darn close to the color I want to paint the backsplash in my new kitchen!

Welcome Home Sofa!

Look the sofa has its cushions and it's home! It's been months now that I haven't had a living room, just a bunch of chairs around a coffee table. It is such a joy to see the sofa and chair fill the room up. I'm really happy with the color I chose and only overbought by 2 yards.

I brought them in and had to run out to pick up e, and when I came back I found that coco approves:



Now it's time to invite people over!

At Home in Blue

Jamie nailed it when she got me this blue platter from Crate and Barrel. I thought it was vintage and nearly fell off my chair when she told me where it was from.

Thanks again Martha!

So Big Bear for the weekend. Normally we only do outdoorsy things but this year we actually checked out some junk shops to see if we could find some treasure. It was classic, the girls checked out the stores while the boys stayed behind in the truck. The diesel truck. Some stereotypes are like that for a reason I suppose. Well the long and the short of it was that I didn't find anything. There were some nice Bauer saucers and plates but not in great condition and WAY overpriced. There were a lot of really 'cabin-y' things that I had to talk myself out of getting too. I had to remember that I was only drawn to them because I was away from home and near a cabin, but that the rest of the time I do not live in a cabin.

Then on our way to the rifle range (I know, who am I?) we stopped at Big K to get some ear plugs. I used this as an opportunity to get my Martha fix and found, ta dah: this awesome ceramic vase on sale for $5.00.



They remind me a little bit of the West Elm Dynasty Vases but cheaper! And in my house!

At Home in Pink

So as they demolish my bedroom I can't help but think about what color to paint it since I wouldn't have to do it myself (silver lining!). And as you know I have a thing for pink. It just frightens me to think of it being everywhere. Here's some recent inspiration.

Woodson Rummerfeld via the scoop (find the WR link to the left in my favorites!)

I did some one stop shopping for images over at sfgirlbybay and found not only the greaqtest reference for pink but some ideas if I stay with the current green color pallette. Her new 'blushed' walls are the perfect shade of pink that isn't too much but is still very pink. Below are closer to my current color but with accessories that I really love. If I stick with the green in my bedroom I'll need to invest in a yellow chair like that. Anyone know where I can find a similar poster?

More Fall Accessories

So, yes, I am obsessed with Tim Gunn. And if he says to get a trench coat then by god I will get a trench coat. So I bought this one today from Tulle Los Angeles. I look WAY better in it than the model. Way. Trust me. Like I don't button it all up on my neck like that, I let it fall open like a regular trench.



I like that it's dark blue, the sleeves are narrow and it doesn't make me look like a linebacker, which can happen when you have broad shoulders. It reminds me of Paris. That sounds so cheesy. But it's true. It reminds me of just walking around Paris in a chic basic ensemble. Shoot me.

The Cure

It might be cluttered but there is so much potential in TommiAnn's studio. Her use of turquoise is amazing. And the emboidery circles work perfectly! See more of the pics here.

Snippets

Here are some images that I couldn't pass up. I'm still on vacation so more later...

New Thrift Finds from Paper Pony


Raya's House From Paper Pony (via Design Sponge


This kitchen vignette is exactly the inspiration I need. I've been looking for better ways to keep white as the strongest color in a room without it looking stark or sterile or entirely missing color. This nails it.

Lotus Lamp on ebay via More ways to Waste Time
Love this image because I've somehow ended up with a lot of this vintage/retro-y kind of gold (a mirror, a screen, these flower decorative wall things) but have been having trouble keeping them from looking too thrift store. It looks like white is one part of the answer...

Tilt Shift photography via Black Eiffel

I am obsessed with miniatures and was shocked (shocked!) that these are not models, it's the real deal. Magic's in the photography baby...

Let's review

I think, after going back and reading my own content, that this really is what I'd like to base my bathroom on color wise...or rather, this is already where my bathroom is going and i'd like to commit to getting it all the way there. yeah.

After spending time with the greatest hostesses of all time, I am beginning to like the idea of finishing projects. It feels nice to have a finished space...who knew?

Martha My Dear

I've spent the weekend hanging with my mom, my aunts and my other favorite cousin and reading a lot of Martha Stewart. My aunts also happen to be absolutely the best hostesses a girl could ever learn from (some pics from the weekend soon). In the meantime, why does martha have to have so much appeal? I might have to repaint my kitchen cabinets. She absolutely hits the nail on the head when it comes to my favorite blues. I also can't get enough of keeping it simple. I fall for it every time.

At Home in the Bathroom

Here is what it looked like. And here is the direction I'm going:

Bathroom Blues

So I mentioned last week I went to West Elm to get a new bathmat. Once I saw the blue in person, I needed more. But didn't want to buy a WEST ELM BATHROOM. If you know what I mean. Lucky me, I found a little 2 tone bowl that perfectly matches the mat at a thrift store for $1. I put this on my tiny sink and then filled it with these pink gerbera daisies which are popping up everywhere (wink). So now I want more blue and a little bit of pink. Anyone have a miracle for hiding or incorporating a litter box into your bathroom's design scheme? the best I've done is that it's blue and it has a cover. (You can see the corner in the first picture).

French inspired sailor bag

This isn't a fashion blog, but I can't help myself, I just found this bag made by Michelle Frantz. The navy blue with white buttons is so clean and crisp. A little retro, totally classic and just French nautical/sailor girl enough to sling over your shoulder and feel totally chic (and a little playful).