Sparklers!

In the very most patriotic sense I am dedicating this post to the sparklers that grown ups love - diamonds (okay, I'm not that particular, all jewelry)!

http://www.maxandchloe.com/

www.ellableaujewellery.com.au http://www.masterpiecejewels.com/

I also really like the rings from this site (2 of their pieces are featured in the top photo).

http://www.laurenrosedesigns.com/

Ahh, Horchow...

Talk about a happy accident stumbling across these great finds from Horchow {www.horchow.com}! There are SO many catagories and great finds that this post has taken far to long to create. Here is a very small sampling of some of my favorites:

The "Virginia" tablecloth & napkin set.

Seems exactly like something my grandma Ginger would have used, beautiful & classic

Fleur-De-Lis Glassware

SO reminicent of the light patterns and colors of depression ware

State Table Linens & Dishtowels

I love kitschy stuff like this! The only thing kitschier than these are state souvenir plates!

Barbara Barry Barware & Plates - they look so fancy, but I love the whimsy of the chair prints

Room redo - HELP!

I'm trying to redo my family room. My husband and I just sold our family room furniture via craiglist and are now searching for that ever elusive perfect fit/color/comfy-ness new couch. The room is difficult to arrange/decorate because it is narrow with no natural lighting other than the sliding doors that lead to the sun room and because it has stairs and a fireplace to divide the room. Additionally there are vaulted ceilings in this room. Currently it has track lighting above the fireplace, flood lighting (yes, that's right...) above, maroon walls on 3 sides, and a tan accent wall.

When we bought the house I was so glad to have a seperate space to house the TV so that when we had guests over we didn't have to entertain in the same area as our casual space. Now one of my dilemmas in decorating this space is that I've decorated the rest of our house semi-formally - how do I relax my style without letting it look sloppy and keeping it pulled together?

I'm thinking of painting in a lighter color to brighten up the room. This is the color I'm looking at doing:

Nothing's better than cloth on the table

Some of my absolute favorite things are vintage table linens. I don't care if they are tablecloths or napkins, runners or placemats - I adore them! I especially love the printed linens from the 50's. Each one is so individual - and just plain spunky! I think that they make even the most ordinary table more fun to sit at.


Usually these tablecloths will be printed with fruit or flowers, but sometimes you'll luck out and find an interesting print or even a state souvenir cloth!

Everytime I go to a garage sale, flea market, or antique sale I'm scouting for one of these beauties. My husband doesn't understand the fascination at all, he really doesn't even like tablecloths, but at least he does love me so he doesn't say a word.

My new home.

Yeah, right - I wish! Chris and I stayed at the most adorable b&b in Santa Cruz. It was absolutly adorable - I wish that I could have folded it up, put it in my suitcase, and then unfolded it in my yard.

If you're near Santa Cruz The Adobe on Green Street is worth the visit. It is a great variation from the cookie-cutter hotels that are normally visited. {www.adobeongreen.com}

Oh, San Francisco!

While the hubbie and I were recently in San Francisco we had the opportunity to walk around alot of residential neighborhoods (I love doing this when we travel!). San Francisco is a very eclectic town. I snapped this photo because I think that it really sums up the style of the city. As you can see there are three very different styles of homes right next to each other - something that you don't really see here in the Mid-West!



All the homes have really interesting details. One of the things that I found really charming were these 'secret doors'. Of course I'm sure that they lead to a garage or basement, but they seemed tucked away - like they could lead to somewhere magical and mysterious.

White - that's it.

As some of you may have caught on to, I really love all white rooms. I am in the process of putting the finishing touches on my all white room. As I write this post I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of two white chairs and a bench to join my own living room any day now. Until I can post photos of my own home I thought I'd share some of my favorite ones from my inspiration file.

Just one of the things I love about my house

I love this time of year at my house because all the various flowers are in bloom. I especially love the peonies. When they first bloomed I dug out nearly every vase in my home and made arrangements for our dining room, our kitchen, family room, formal living room, guest room, office at work, and my boss's office. Okay, so I went a little crazy...I just really love peonies.