One Rare Bird

A Mexican Summer

I saw this mug at Goodwill last week and knew it had to be mine. Not only am I obsessed with collecting mugs but I have a major soft spot for brightly colored things from South of the border....  And speaking of South of the Border, wouldn't this dress from Hell Hound Vintage match my mug perfectly?

Which would also make a fantastic cover-up for my new J. Crew swimsuit....

And nothing says Mexico like a little siesta. I think this awesome hammock from Anthropologie will do the trick...

Not to mention some light summer reading....

Now all I need is for Summer to arrive! Until then I'll be enjoying a cup of liquid sunshine in my new mug - Cheers!

Read To Me

Kristy Bee

 

"Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it."  ~P.J. O'Rourke

Matou en Peluche

 

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.  Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."  ~Groucho Marx (Attributed)

Little Sonrisa

 

"You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend."  ~Paul Sweeney

Parada Creations

 

"To read without reflecting is like eating without digesting."  ~Edmund Burke

Majali

 

"Never judge a book by its movie."  ~J.W. Eagan

Belafonte

Smart Girls at the Party

Dear Amy Poehler: I knew you were awesome the minute I watched you and Tina Fey do a spoof of Hilary Clinton and Sarah Palin, and your awesomeness was reaffirmed in last years January issue of Bust Magazine. But now? Now this? A  new show you host with your best friends Meredith Walker and Amy Miles called Smart Girls at the Party, where young girls are encouraged and celebrated!?! Who are you? Where did you come from? And most importantly, will you be my mommy? Did I also mention you are awesome and my daughter loves your show?

Welcome Video

  Rachel the Engineer

Cameron the Writer
  

Carry Me Away

Kaitlyn Sullivan

"The air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious.  And why shouldn't it be? - it is the same the angels breathe."  ~Mark Twain

Cassia Beck

Marcene Perry

The Light Fantastic

"The desire to reach for the sky runs deep in our human psyche."  ~Cesar Pelli

Antonia Rios

Alice B. Gardens

Kid's Rooms

Now that we're settled into our new home I've been going from room to room creating ideas for how to arrange and decorate - with Haven and Brannock's rooms a the top of the list! Of course I can only do as much as our small budget allows, but that doesn't mean I can't go searching for inspiration. So, today the focus is on little girl rooms - with all their sugar and spice and everything nice, I can't not love having a girl.

Mallory Greenlee

Frillie Designs

Joy Thigpen

Xenia Taler

Emily Henson

John Murphy

Sandra of Feinedinge

My Words Fade

"When bright flowers bloom, Parchment crumbles

my words fade, The pen has dropped."

-Morpheus

April Showers Bring May Flowers

{Cassia Beck}

"The earth laughs in flowers." -E. E. Cummings

{un arc en ciel dan le lavabo}

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to bloom.” -Anais Nin

{Tina Crespo}

"I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck."  -Emma Goldman

{Cassia Beck}

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." -E. E. Cummings

{L. Grainne}

"Grow where you are planted." -Proverb

{Minna}

Friday Ride Day

Elle Moss

Magalerie

Bomobob

Raceytay

Bomobob

Irene Suchocki

Franchoise Rachez

"And the seasons, they go round and round

And the painted ponies go up and down

We're on the carousel of time."

~Joni Mitchell

Crush of the Week

A few weeks ago I stumbled across the very talented and crush-inducing awesomeness of  The 10 Cent Designer (aka: Lori Andrews). I don't know what I love more, her amazing photography skills, interior design genius, her love of food and cooking, or her I Lost My Head Again series. Though to be honest, it's not just one of these things that has me crushing big-time, she's the whole package; and if I possessed one ounce of Lori's eye for style and design I promise I wouldn't be sitting here now- I'd be off in a snowy meadow wearing scuba gear or staging ariel scenes of me and John laying lifeless on the living room floor. Swoon. 10 Cent Designer, thanks for being my Crush of the Week. It wouldn't be the same without you.

And she  looks fan-freakin-tastic in a Wonder Woman costume! Told you she was awesome.

Before & After: Dining Room Chairs

I've been on the hunt for a Duncan Phyfe table for weeks, and my efforts finally paid off the weekend before we moved. I found the perfect table with 8 chairs (2 kid's chairs included) and a leaf.

The table and chairs will probably need to be refinished at some point, but for now I decided to just recover the seats.

I can't remember a time when I didn't absolutely love cobalt blue. It's not a color I use or wear much, so when I thought about what color/fabric to use for these chairs I immediately knew this was my chance to use my fave shade of blue without it going terribly array. So I made a trip to my local fabric store and picked an awesome Electric Blue velvet.

I can't even tell you how happy I am with the results. I love how the blue velvet compliments the dark wood of the table and chairs, and adds a funky touch to the otherwise too-pretty formal dining room.

I plan on sharing more Before & Afters as I get further into making this house a Home, so stay tuned...