Plates as Wall Art!

I've seen pretty plates at thrift stores and plates on crazy clearance from being missing from a set and have always wondered what could be done with them. Look no further!

Here they are layered in one grouping:




And I think this is my favorite way of displaying them. The plates in these pictures climb up the walls like bubbles floating:
















This one cracks me up. A school of fish plates!


Cute, huh?

Style A.D.D.

Lately I have felt a tad frustrated while dreaming up possibilities for our home. I don't like that something I should enjoy can leave me feeling, well, blah. It bothers me that I don't have a "style." It is evident that I have a color scheme -- blue, green, and brown as my neutral -- but what is my style? Cottage? Global? Contemporary? Modern? Or is it that wonderful word "eclectic," a fancy way of saying that you just throw it all together and hopefully it somehow meshes?

What don't I like? LET'S MAKE A LIST! (Don't worry, I'm limiting the list to home decor-related dislikes.)

1. Black. Nothing in this house is black. I don't usually go for pink, orange, peach, or yellow either. I definitely gravitate toward blue and green. Like seaglass. Or peacock feathers...

2. Delicate, dainty things. In most cases, I'm not into lace and ruffles or delicate glass vases. I enjoy feeling like I'm home, not in a museum, or worse, a Martha Stewart-esque home. You know, those houses that say, "You wrinkle my bedspread, you DIE!" or "Don't DARE bring your coffee cup near my white pillows, white carpets, white furniture, white curtains, and various other white textiles." (Oh yeah, did I mention that sometimes I have issues with white? Evidently I should have been a mermaid since blue and green are it for me. More to come on my issue with white later. Bet you just can't wait.)

3. Sloppiness and disorganization. I hate sloppiness, but I do know I contribute a fair amount to the mess around the house. I tend to throw laundry, shoes, and jewelry anywhere and everywhere, and I dread doing dishes so there is almost always something in the sink, just waiting for me. Oh, and don't EVEN watch me cook. You will cry. But I would like to have a place for everything. If things are messy, I don't really feel at peace.

So that doesn't say much about style. What DO I like, you ask? I don't know that I can list it all out. Some things "click" and other things don't. I do love vintage things that find a new purpose. Here are some examples.

Old flatware and serveware that now serve as hooks, storage, and memo holders:

Vintage screen doors, iron scroll gates, and coat racks that are now pot racks:

A vintage blue enamel kettle that is now a vase:

The end of an old rake that now holds jewelry:

Urns that have now become towel or magazine holders:

A dollhouse that is now laundry room storage: (I don't think I could handle this in my house now though. Thanks, Betty Ren Wright.)

Like the nerd that I am, I looked up "eclectic" in some online dictionaries. My favorite definition explained "eclectic in this way:

"Not following any one system... but selecting and using what are considered the best elements of all systems."

I think that pretty well sums me up. I suppose I'll just continue like this, grabbing ideas from all sources, no matter how different (from Pier 1 to Pottery Barn to thrift stores and yard sales) and just hope it all goes together!

No-Carve Pumpkins!

I'm loving the gloomy, rainy fall weather we are having right now! The only downside to it is this:

Millie the Mud-Puddle-Loving Dog

But Lauren got me pumped up for fall! Though I will not be doing much seasonal decorating since we're pretty strapped, I can't wait to put some of these inspiration pics into action!

Since sharp knives + Olivia= a trip to the hospital, I bring you No-Carve Pumpkins!

Funny Argyle Pumpkins:

Black and White Pumpkins:

More traditional Halloween-colored pumpkins:

And my favorite... Gilded pumpkins!

How gorgeous is that entry!? I love that they are sparkly and metallic but not gaudy (at least no to me anyway.) They are also neutral to go with any color scheme and just seem like a beautiful, grown-up way to decorate for fall. I love all the shiny doodles that some of the pumpkins have. Imagine a garland of them intertwined with twinkle lights! **Sigh**

Here are some instructions I found on how to get that look:

Project Info, How to Guild a Pumpkin, and How to Guild Video. (The video is annoying, but informative.)

How do you decorate for fall? And no one better post a pumpkin butt picture!

A Night of Accomplishments (At least a few...)

So the past few weeks or months -- who knows? -- my house has been a wreck. I was in school full time this summer, just as I am this semester, and I was planning and organizing a wedding on top of that! Well everyone, I finally took back possession of my kitchen/dining room! After the explosion of peacock feather wedding decor, the graveyard of wedding gift boxes and bags, and the week-and-a-half long demonstration against my sanity that the ants held, my kitchen is finally mine again! I will now reveal to you my kitchen area. It's nothing fancy-- we've not been here for even a year-- but I will hash out some plans I have for it with you!

The view from the laundry room:

The view from the living room:

The view from the bar:

The view from the hall:

And up close and personal with the dining room:

This area really is the heart of our home. I find that I spend most of my time awake in there and it is literally at the center and can be seen from every angle.
What do I plan to do, you ask?! I will tell you in LIST form! ("If you don't like it, you can shove it. But you don't like it, you love it.")


1. Paint the cabinets, and remove the doors from at least a few. Add shelving, customize...

• Layla at the Lettered Cottage has done some amazing things to her kitchen. Just like mine it began as a normal builder-grade kitchen and she transformed it into what looks like high-end custom cabinetry. I think this is a good link to show her Before and After...
• I LOVE the look of open, organized shelves showing off pretty dishes and baskets! Here are a few examples:

And I LOVE my dishes, so I would enjoy having them out in the open: (Best WalMart purchase I ever made!)

But then, what color do I paint them? A pale, dusty blue? White so that the dishes will pop? Espresso brown to coordinate with all my furniture? A later blog will discuss this further...

2. Re-tile the floors and backsplash and put granite on the counter tops.

• Our white counter tops are disgusting and stain so easily. And our tiles are okay, but I want slate (or imitation slate).
  

3. Add an island to the middle! I want something quirky like a vintage library card catalog.

4. Accessorize!

• As of now the kitchen lacks some personality. I do love my vintage tins, one of which is serving as a utensil holder, my bookends from New Mexico, my recipe box.

And I love that the tins are both of chocolate related products. The fatty inside smiles. :o)

And I need to hang my Pier 1 curtains up! And display by pretty Pier 1 glassware!

I also have a neat plan for the empty wall for our dining area, but I've packed this post FULL. Tell me whatcha think? Any ideas?

Honeymoon!

Josh and I have been back from our honeymoon for about two weeks now and I still haven't posted any pictures, so here they are!

We went to Puerto Morelos (basically Cancun) and stayed at an excellent all inclusive resort. It was beautiful, had so many restaurants and bars, we had a swim-up room right next to the pool. We did NOT want to come home!

Our room was beautiful! When we came in, they had rose petals out and kissy swan towels and some champagne chilling for us.

This was the view from our patio:


We ordered room service after a much needed nap, and it is probably the best meal I have ever had. Josh nearly cried because he couldn't finish his chicken fajitas. We pretty much did nothing but eat, swim, and lounge all week. This is a view of the beach our resort was on:


I got to meet Mexican Michael Jackson and the Thriller zombies. He performed an array of MJ music and he was actually really good! The Free Willy song took me way back....


And what is a honeymoon without arts and crafts time?! Okay, maybe most people don't see that as a priority... So while I did this:

Josh (Cute sleeping pool bandito) did this :



A man on the beach made us yummy coconut head drinks!

On our last night there (and yes, we're THAT couple):

It was a much needed break after a crazy summer of school, wedding planning, and various other unexpected happenings. We hated to go, but I hope we can return for an anniversary!

And one day soon I will post wedding pics!