Outside the Box

This is definitely a "thinking outside the box" approach for shoe storage!

Hamock Anyone?

In my online perusing I came across this great twist on the classic hammock. It's called the Wave . Designed by Swedish designer Erik Nyberg and Gustav Strome, the Wave is a sculpture as well as a luxurious piece of furniture. The idea behind the design is to have the user feel as if they are lying underneath the canopy of a tree, the fabric is semi-transparent which allows light in while blocking 85% of the sun's rays. Doesn't it look so inviting and relaxing? The shape reminds me of being wrapped up in a cocoon. And I could use that kind of comfort today.

Being Drunkenly Aware!

Sometimes it takes a lot of work for me to just relax and let life happen. Why is it so easy for us to get so wrapped up in our problems but so hard for us to see all the good things around us?

I think I get impatient in what I want to accomplish in my life that it makes me want to rush things and then when the outcome isn't what I had envisioned I just want to throw my arms up in the air and surrender.

Lately I have been more daring, spontaneous, silly and impulsive. And I am thoroughly loving it! I still get feelings of being rushed and unsatisfied but by trying to focus on the ride and not the outcome I am living my life the best way that I can. And that brings me satisfaction. So my goal is that I will be drunkenly aware of all my life has to offer!

Houndstooth Print

I just love, love, love houndstooth print.
in Furniture, in Drapery, Rugs,

Clothes,

Jackets,

Hats (I have one just like this one!),

Shoes,

Boots,

Purses,

and Pets, Just about anywhere really!

Wanting to be a Morning Person

I woke up this morning around 5am. I let my dogs outside and walked out onto my deck. The world is so peaceful and beautiful early in the morning; there are no kids screaming, cars blaring their horns, lawn mowers running, or people bustling about their day. There are a few birds singing and the sun beginning to peak over the mountains; the quietness is amazing. It was all very calming. And I have to ask myself why is it that when I am surrounded by this beauty and tranquility my bed still calls to me and lures me back into the house, as if I'm in a trance, it beckons me back to its soft, warm, dark comfort? My bed almost always wins over the peace of the morning. Sad but true I am a creature of the night, I can stay up for hours as long as there is the promise of staying in bed when the morning comes. I would really like to change this about myself but early in the morning sleep is just too tempting. However I do love a vibrant sunset and seeing the stars late at night.

I guess you can't have the best of both worlds, can you?

Wedding Bells

Don't worry the wedding bells are NOT for me! This past weekend was my little brother's wedding! He has found a wonderful girl that is perfect for him. Their wedding ceremony was beautiful and the day was perfect. It was so great to see two people so in love and so excited to begin their lives together.

So to Jeff and Zanii-

I wish you all the happiness and love and joy the future holds for you. Be kind and respectful to each other and remember this day and the journey you are about to begin as husband and wife. I'm so excited you found each other but mostly I'm relieved that you now have the pressure of having the first grandbabies instead of me!

Simple Delights

One of the best things in the whole world is Gelato! That's Italian ice cream for those who aren't familiar with that word. Its divine, cream, smooth and you can by it on almost any street corner... in Italy! Recently though I have seen a few Gelaterias (Italian for ice cream shoppe) opening up in the USA. But really Gelato has to be experienced while you are walking the streets of Italy, I mean seriously it just enhances the whole experience.

I'm craving Italy!

Much Ado About What?

Imagine if the most important things in our lives were wearing big poufy dresses and flirting with boys! Give me a cocktail and I might be able to endure this scene. I can't help but wonder if these people are really into their conversation or if they are fulfilling a social obligation they think they have to do or if they are really bored out of their mind!

Is it wrong that I have absolutely not desire to flirt these days? I think I am taking a much needed hiatus from the dating world and I feel energized by this decision. I feel like lately I have put so much effort and time and thought into dating that I am just exhausted by it all. I haven't given up on finding love, I'm just taking a break from the search . And when I'm ready again I'll be more optimistic about the whole thing.

The Most Amazing Aqua Color!

I would go skinny dipping here!

The Importance of Trying

Do you ever have days where you wish you could just start over? Have you ever said or did something that you just wish you could erase? Are there days you wish you had portray yourself differently, been more you or maybe less you? Have you ever just wanted something to happen and it gets completely messed up or made a fool of yourself and you wanted to hide!?

Is it comforting to know there is always tomorrow? I think it usually is; I know for me after I get a good night’s sleep the world looks brighter and my past mistakes don’t look so awful. I need to remember more often to have this kind of courage and hope tomorrow WILL be better!

I Wonder....

If trees could talk I wonder what this group would have to say! I bet it is very universe changing!

For Art

Here are some pieces of artwork that I like. I found all of them on overstock.com

I just think the medium used in this canvas is really cool.

I know it's just circles but I like the vibrant colors. I don't know what but it reminds me of starry night.I love the bright bold orange.

I use blue in my designs all the time. I find it refreshing and calming.

Ummm, this one is just abstract and cool.

Loads of Laundry Fun

I have wanted to do this to my laundry room forever now. And with the help of my really great friend Tricia Scheele (she is an amazing artist- check out her website) we have a great start. I love how whimsical and Art Nouveau-like it turned out!

This wall isn't all the way done. I plan on having more swirls stretch around the dryer and up the wall more.These pictures are going to go somewhere... I just haven't decided where yet!

I think the memories Trish and I made while painting are just as worthwhile as having this room be so bright and cheerful. And I smile every time I do my laundry now... which is always a good thing right?

It's a Lemon Kind of Day

This picture fits my mood today.

I know every now and again its normal to have a bad day. Well I think the last few days I have felt this bad mood coming on and so today I just want to be in a bad mood. And while I could think of a thousand reasons I shouldn't be grumpy and what a good life I really do have and I could think about how I should turn my lemons into lemonade; I just don't want to!

I want to be grumpy and solitary!

I want to let my 'to do' list overwhelm and stress me out,

I want to let things that I have absolutely no control over consume me,

I want to be left alone,

I want to look like crap and have no one tell me about it,

I want to curl up and go back to sleep for the entire day,

I want to throw things at the wall,

I want to eat more junk food... (wait I think I should avoid that one!)

I want to listen to sad love songs,

I want to walk down the dirt road by my house in the rain and get sopping wet and muddy,

I want to hide from all the demands,

I want to unleash some tears and have a good cry,

and I want to let my bad mood drive me crazy!

And then maybe tomorrow I will get over my bad mood and make some dang lemonade or better yet maybe I will just throw away the lemons all together! But on a happy note I really like this picture; I think it has a great artistic quality and it actually makes me smile. So thank you lemon picture for giving me a momentary lift in my spirits, HA!

A Little Paris History

Did you know when the Eiffel Tower was built it was only suppose to be a temporary structure? It was built as the entrance arch for the World's Fair in 1889 and was the tallest building in the world until the Empire State Building was built in 1930. The tower was the topic of much controversy; the french considered it an "eye sore" and were very angry it was going to be allowed to stand for 20 years (that was how long the architect obtained a license for the structure to stand). During the World's Fair the tower received so much praise and recognition and attention that it quickly became a symbol of France. Nearly 2 million people visited the tower in its first year which boosted the French economy as well.

I love at dusk how the lights come on and they twinkle on and off for the first ten mintues or so.

I think the Eiffel Tower makes Paris Paris! What a city!

A Very Important Formula!

What do you get when you take 1 adorable, silly boy

+

A pair of dollar store glasses (with the lenses taken out)

+ 1 super awesome Cavalier King Charles Spaniel???
=

You get a smart looking dog, lots of uncontrolable giggles from adorable boy and lots of laughs from the moms. I can just hear him thinking- "Seriously lady, do you really think this is fun? Seriously.... you need to take me hiking more... now that is fun!"
I think he could pass for the next Albert Einstein. But doesn't he look so awesome? What a good sport!

What's In A Headboard?

Upholstered headboards are really popular right now. I like how they have countless possibilities to make your bed uniquely yours and you can find them in any shape, design and size. Here are a few that I really like.This one is from KS interiors. I love the shiny cream color and the tufts. I also love the shape.
This one is from Ethan Allen and I love the sophisticated formal feel of this headboard. I particularly like the nail head detail around the outside. I don't really love this one but I think the scrolls on top could be cute.
I really love the shape of this headboard. I'm not sure what it is called when it wraps around the side like that but it feels cozy and intimate and very ritzy.Fun shape and good color.
This just feels like a revival of a classic; very feminine but simple. I could see Audrey Hepburn or Marilyn Monroe sleeping in this bed. This is a pretty simple upholstered bed.