Thursday, February 28, 2013

Without Further A'Do

Okay, I swear this is the last post about hair where I use goofy titles with 'do in them. So, I got my hair cut yesterday and here's the result (to see a before, just look at my About Me page - it's fairly current) . . .
Excuse the one-eyed Veronica Lake look . . . I hate taking photos of myself and couldn't get a good shot of my whole head without doing the ole side-eye. 

I really like it. Now, I just need to become friends with these products to make it work on my own.
I'm notoriously bad at styling my own hair. I just lack that skill. I admit it. So wish me luck. 

Next up - preparing for this little lady's 11th birthday on Saturday. 
It kills me that she will be 11. She got her ears pierced on Monday. Another milestone that broke my heart a little a lot. I love you so much, my sweet girl!

I will return to design programming soon as requested (by Colette and other readers)!  
 


Monday, February 25, 2013

What to 'Do?

Why, hello. Yes, so I sort of neglected the ole blog last week. Sorry for my absence. Nothing really crazy or out of the ordinary happened. We had to get a new dishwasher because our old one kept leaking (not good for the hardwoods or my sanity or the dishes). I also started working with a new client who has amazing taste and was ready to get to work. No joke, she sold her sofa on Craigslist last Friday, picked out a new Lee Industries sofa on Saturday and had it delivered Tuesday. The rest of the week was spent helping her make decisions about what other pieces to add as she sold off other pieces in the room as well. Oh, and she consigned her antique dining set as it was totally not her. Next stop, dining room options.

However, my immediate issue is my hair - it's driving me crazy, but luckily I'm getting it cut tomorrow and am thinking of going shorter (this seems to be a trend lately, but I'm not above being a little trendy). I'm thinking something shoulder-skimming like this . . .
Or a tad longer like this . . .

Then I saw Giuliana Rancic on the Red Carpet last night with her short do and loved her look . . .


Now, I have a LOT more hair than Giuliana and that's my main problem. I like the sort of wispy, wavy look but my copious amounts of hair make it difficult sometimes. I think Kristin (my fabulous stylist) will just need to cut lots of layers to make it piece-y (sounds like I know what I'm talking about, right?).

In other news, we're starting to re-do the kids' playroom as it's the only room we really haven't done anything to since we moved in over six years ago. But, as the kids get older and have fewer small toys, their room needs some tweaking. First and foremost, it needs a coat of paint as the harvest yellow/gold in there is way 1998. Instead of their tiny play table, I decided they needed a bigger surface where they could do crafts, eat, do homework, play games, etc. So, I found this faux burled wood laminate table and chrome chair set at the flea market Friday and loved it . . . 
First of all, the fact that it's laminate and going in a playroom is a slam dunk. But, the faux burled wood look just ups the cool factor a notch. And for some reason, my kids love anything that looks the least bit modern . . . if it's chrome, it's good. Hmm. Where did they get that idea? Also, the table folds down to extend or to be totally flat and shoved up against a wall. Perfect for impromptu dance parties or sleepovers. Space-saving is always a good thing. Here it is opened up (as requested by my daughter) in the playroom . . . 
Of course, the upholstery will need to be replaced but that's an easy fix. I actually have some white vinyl and some other options around the house too. That's another project to add to the list.

I sincerely hope I will be checking back in more this week. If I'm really brave I may try to snap a photo of my new 'do tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Friday, February 15, 2013

Love

I hope everyone had a wonderful Hallmark holiday yesterday. That's what my husband calls Valentine's Day, and it's pretty much true. But, for me, it's more about the kids. They enjoy exchanging valentines with their classmates and friends (and mainly the candy and treats involved). I was lucky enough to receive this from my sweet boy . . .

I don't know about you, but I see a little doily with kid writing on it, and my heart just melts. So sweet.

And, of course, I got the kiddos a little packet of goodies, mainly iTunes gift cards and candy, but found some cute little journals at Target as well. 
Very Kate Spade, don't you think?

And probably the most romantic thing that happened to me yesterday was that I won this Scalamandre Zebra umbrella from Kim Macumber's giveaway! Can you believe it? 

It's even red. I've always loved this pattern (especially the wallpaper) and will feel super stylish walking around in the rain now. 

Hope everyone has a happy weekend! We're attending a Lunar New Year party tomorrow and I'm very excited as I've never been to one. 



Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Truths

I've found out some things recently. They may not be all that enlightening or earth-shattering, but they are what they are.

1. If you're wearing an air cast/boot thing on your foot in public, random strangers will talk to you.
Whether you want them to or not. Mostly, it's kind of nice. Or maybe this only happens in the South where people are chatty anyway? Regardless, I think people are generally curious (or nosy) about why you're wearing "that thing on your foot." Now I understand why Ted Bundy was so successful at luring women by wearing a fake cast. The corollary may be, for all you single girls out there, if you want to pick up a guy wear a cast and go grocery shopping. You can borrow mine (if you wear size 9/9.5) in a couple of weeks.

Oh, by the way, I can drive it's just a major pain because I have to do a Mr. Roger's changing shoes act in the car. So, I haven't gone that many places because I'm impatient.

2. I'm really liking things with arrows on them right now. I know this is a trend and will be over in about five minutes, but so what. I think it hit me when I saw this black and white arrowhead runner from Nate Berkus at Target the other day and thought a couple of these might look cool going up my stairs (the ones I recently fell down . . . see, it all comes back to my toe/foot right now).
 Here are some other arrow-related items I've pinned too . . . 

3. I love this cereal. Yum.

That's it for now. Hope your day was enlightened with my random thoughts.


Friday, February 8, 2013

Shop for a Cause

Just popping in to remind everyone that today is the last day to go shop Angela from the Painted House's Joss & Main sale. She has picked some beautiful things and curated an amazing sale with 100% of the proceeds to benefit Room Service Atlanta - a very worthy cause. So, if you're looking for some cool stuff, please do check it out. I found so many things I loved and rather than just list them I was inspired to put them into a mood board so you could see how they might look in your own abode:
 Click the board to enlarge to get a better look . . . 


Sorry, I'm just now reminding you, but yesterday I was visiting the orthopedist who put me in one of these things . . . 
Cute boot, right? It's the new style. For me anyway. Apparently, I have a crack in my toe but my main diagnosis was "turf toe," just like the NFL players.

Enough about my toe . . . go forth and shop and have a great weekend!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Istanbul (Not Constantinople)

On the same day, I found the tessellated urn/jar I also happened upon some really cool old posters at an estate sale. They were from Istanbul, according to their markings, and all three depict life in that ancient Turkish city or at the famed Grand Bazaar within it . . .
The second one of the Grand Bazaar is my favorite.


I just love the look of them and the saturated colors. They're obviously prints, but it looks like the originals might have been hand-colored  pen and ink drawings. Very cool.

I think they would look amazing blown up super-size and used as a wallcovering or mural like these inspiration pics . . . 



Hmm. My wheels are turning. Until I decide what to do with them, I'll leave you with They Might Be Giants' version of "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" because it's just such a fun song. I can't be held responsible if it gets stuck in your head the rest of the day. 
Although, my favorite TMBG song is "Birdhouse in Your Soul" (I think mainly because my husband put it on a mixed tape for me when we were dating in college - remember those, tapes?). So, I'll put that one on here too. Don't feel obligated to listen/watch either one, but I guarantee they'll make you happy. I know this is a random post, but I think my broken toe has made me a bit delirious.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Woe is My Toe

Okay, so everyone knows Mondays suck. They just do. But to add insult to injury or should I say injury to insult, I fell down my last two steps this morning and either broke one of my big toes or tore a ligament or something extremely painful.

I need a sign like this apparently. I didn't want to show a photo of my toe because it's gross.

So, I hobbled around getting my kids ready for school, etc. Then I was told by my husband that I needed to run a check to the bank. Immediately.  So, I threw on some jeans, my puffy jacket and my leopard house slippers (because they were the only shoes that wouldn't kill my toe) and ran out the door. After depositing the check, I thought to myself, "You have no shoes besides flip-flops that won't kill your toe." Seriously, I only own boots and ballet flats, no UGGs. I have running shoes but didn't think I could get my big fat toe in. And I can't wear flip flops in 30 degree weather or my broken toe would fall off from frostbite. So, I had the bright idea to stop by Target on my way home thinking surely they have some clearance fake UGGs I could shove my foot in. But, first, let me back up and mention that I'm wearing my glasses, have a huge tumor-sized zit on my chin, no makeup and no bra. I have hit a new low. So, I limp/shuffle into Target wearing these house slippers:
 They could pass for real shoes, right? Right??

I was certain that everyone I knew would be there staring at my house slippers. But I think I escaped detection. However, Target had no fake UGGs except for kids. Damnit. Nothing looked remotely comfortable. So I hobble back to my car, defeated. Then, I realized Marshall's was open. There laid my salvation as they had a cushy, easy to slip-on pair of loafer/driving moccasin type shoes that didn't hurt my swollen toe. Sold. Thank you, Cynthia Rowley. I knew I liked you for a reason.

I'm not sure what I did to piss off the universe today, but I'm sorry . . . I really am. Or maybe clumsiness is the only explanation. Either way, I'm going to be super good from now on. Promise.

And just to reassure you perplexed people out there who were wondering if I really still write an interior design blog and not a complaining one, here is some design-related bit of what-not . . .
I found this great Chin Hua desk from Century at an estate sale this weekend. While I was unsure of where to put it at first, a happy accident (meaning we couldn't get it through certain doorways without dismantling it) had me placing it in the corner of our living room. My husband loved it here and immediately dragged a computer up from the basement to put on it. Because we can't have a room without several electronic devices in it. Excuse the cords. I'm hoping to put some baskets or something under there to camouflage some of that soon. 

I hope your Monday is going well and doesn't involve broken bones.