With the mighty task of moving, comes the exhilarating and weight-lifting task of purging. I have been going through EVERYTHING I own, and asking "Do I really need this?" "Have/will I use it?" and if the answer is no, it is getting tossed to take to either friends or goodwill. I already went through my clothes and got rid of about 3 garbage bags of old clothes. During this process, I have come to have a new found love for some things around the house. Sometimes I don't really take the time to appreciate all the great pieces and things I have around me, before I think I have to have something new, or different.
This is my tribute and appreciation to some of those amazing things I have in my house...
This little bamboo plant and it's current home. This plant was something I got for my boyfriend right after his best friend died. After that, our cats got a hold of it and mangled and chewed this poor plant. We have been giving it extra loving since then, and it even has some new shoots! I love the way it looks in that basket with the brooch on it
My purple vases and how they hold my jewelery. Something about this makes me very happy
I got this lamp at IKEA several years ago, and it is still one of my favorites! I love the way it hangs on the wall, and isn't your typical lamp. It is one of the things everybody compliments in my house.
Carved Shelves. I posted a little about them at my old house here and then posted about a makeover here. I love the uniqueness of these shelves, and I love all the detail in them.
My owl friend here continues to be a pleasant thing to look at!
Mirrors. I got a huge one like this at homegoods, then found the smaller one at Ross a couple weeks later. The detail is amazing, and they go with anything and look good no matter where I put them!
The fish tank and the Zocolo table it sits on. My boyfriend found this table on the side of the road a while back, and it is still one of my favorites. I love the shape and the clean, crisp lines to it. The fish tank is always entertaining. We sit there and stare at it for hours! I love the snails and they are my favorite to watch circling the tank.
I'm obsessed with sea turtles. They are such graceful, peaceful, amazing creatures.
My mom and her boyfriend are quite the artistic couple! She does stained glass, and he does paintings (check out some of his work on his website). For my birthday one year, this was my gift! Kris designed the piece, and my mom created it! I love this thing more than words can say, and it will always be a favorite if mine!
When I was younger, I remember sitting at a table during recess and crocheting a blanket for my dolls. Ya, I was that kid. It was just such a soothing activity, and I love being able to keep my hands busy and watch a movie, or tv show, or talking with a friend and cup of coffee- its just fun for me. Anyways, I ended up stopping at some point in time and took a very extended break from it. That is, until recently...
I simply had a random craving to crochet. It really is amazing just how many cool projects are out there, and how many talented people are out there as well! I found a couple things that I would love to try to make...
Craft Stylish
Ring bracelet- easy enough!
Creative Yarn
Lotus Flower Cuff- Must learn how to make!
Creative Yarn
Headband with Flower
Craftstylish
Button-Bedecked headband
Craftstylish
Crochet flowers, and how to embellish them
Aprils Junk
Wrist warmer
And, a peek at what I'm currently working on...
It has been my complete obsession over the past couple days, and I have been working at it non-stop every minute I get. Simple enough, and extremely entertaining!
Hello all! I am just coming back from a nice, relaxing, romantic extended weekend and am feeling fresh, revitalized, and full of energy! Me and my honey went to southern California for a couple days and it was awesome! Its always nice to remember all the things that you love about your spouse and to feel the love back- very renewing.
Anyways, enough sappy talk! Over the past couple of weeks I have had a couple new additions to my house, and a couple new projects that I am excited to get to! Thought I would show you some of my amazing finds!
So, if you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you would know just how obsessed I really am with these Asian garden stools. I know that everybody has them and that they are beginning to become a little over-played in the design world, but I can't seem to get enough of them! Anyways, I toured Ross a couple weeks ago, and low and behold, I found a metallic brown garden stool! The best part? It was on sale for $20!!!! You simply can't imagine my excitement when I stumbled on this! I think I actually squealed out-loud with delight! Right now, this is the stools home- where I can stare at it from any point in the living room (which I do often).
The move that I have recently made has been VERY beneficial for me! In more ways than one, but a big reason is the area I moved to has TONS of people who simply put random things in front of their houses for free. It really is amazing when I look around my house and see several of my favorite pieces I have gotten for free, especially since most of them were found on the side of the road!
This white piece was found across the street from me just yesterday! I love the way the white paint looks, but I think that this pretty thing is going to get a makeover as soon as the weather warms up a little.
This piece was also just recently found on the side of the road. She obviously has some work that needs to be done! I already have plans, but like I said before, I need to wait till the weather warms up just a little bit. It is just too cold to be using spray paint right now!
I really love the lines, and the detail! Especially the legs! Anyone notice the big hole on top?! I think it used to be a lock, but I am going to have to fill that in!
I saw this adorable picture made out of buttons when I was browsing around Homegoods yesterday, and thought I would give it a try one of these days... Anyways, that got me to thinking about some other crafts that might be fun with buttons so I peeked around to see if anything caught my eye. I am always looking for something to help keep me busy, cause when I'm not in school I am bored and need something to help occupy my time. Right now I am working on a little something, but I think that will be done soon and I need another craft after that... 
Artful Parent
I know Valentines day isn't soon, but I just love the way this heart looks. This would be cute framed with a pic of you and your loved one
KiddleyIn love with this idea! Just might need to give it a try! What an adorable little project to do, and it can stay around forever!
CurblyThis would be a cute thing to do with the children I nannny, to give to their mom- she would be so happy, and the kids love doing anything with buttons!
Ellen Hutson
This card is adorable! Nothing beats a homemade card from the person who gives it to you. That was my sisters trademark! She would make these really silly, funny cards for people for their birthdays, and we all used to look forward to what crazy thing she was going to come up with next... Gonna miss that...
Craft Log
An interesting, fun idea. I love the layered way this looks! Although, I would need more supplies to do something like this than necessary
Button Coaster from Craft StylishWhat a great idea! You can use tons of different colors, shapes, and sizes for the buttons, and then there are many different options for the string color as well! Click on the name for tutorial
I love accessories, and jewelery!! Always have, always will! Over the years, I have accumulated lots of different pieces of jewelery, and as a result, I now have more than I know what to do with. Although, I have seen plenty of women who have more jewelery than I do ;)
Since I have so much stuff, I have been organizing my wonderful pieces for the past couple months. I am still not where I want to be with that task, but I assure you- it is coming along and will be spectacular! Meanwhile, I thought I would look around and see what other people are doing with their jewelery and how they display their stuff to make it look nice and function properly
Simplified Bee
I really like those clear shelves! The shoes and the jewelery look great together, and would make me want to dress up everyday!
Pottery Barn
More empty picture frames- can't get enough of them! I like how they function as an organizing tool, yet they also showcase the beautiful jewelery
Mustard and Sage
Using adorable knobs certainly does the trick!
Lonny
Just adored the pic- very glamorous!
Love the idea of using a paper towel holder for a bracelet stand! Perfect!
Asculon Says
I like how there are a couple different ways of display going on here- there are the cute hooks on the wall, the bowls filled with cute goods, and the frame thing that has earrings on it! This is more my style, and I am looking to achieve a look similar to this
Real Simple
An old drawer, decorated with knobs for hanging things, and then the shelves used for small containers for small pieces. Easy to make, and simple- very rewarding!
With more and more wall space available to me, I am finding myself being drawn to the idea of clustering all my pics together in a cute and stylish way. My very first apartment, I had a sheer curtain hanging from a bamboo rod on an empty wall, then hung various pics and things up on top of the curtain. I loved the way it looked, and have been keeping that in the back of my mind for my empty walls in the new house. 
Studio 193 Photography
That wallpaper is amazing! I love all the richness it brings into the space, and the colors are super fun. When I think about a cluster wall, I think about all the pieces having some distance between them, but I love the way this wall looks with the different sizes all close together. It adds to the richness of the room!
I am a total sucker for empty picture frames on the wall (or anywhere for that matter). I love the interest it brings without making the space feel cluttered and squished. There are so many different frames out there that are art pieces in themselves, and would be amazing showcased with members of its own kind
Living Etc
Keeping the frames the same color keeps a unified look, and the different textures of the different frames keeps the interest high as well.
Flickr
I like the idea of putting a small picture inside a bigger empty frame on the wall too. This pic is just adorable!
Casa Sugar
This is a super cute idea! Keeping the pics all together in some type of way is a little more visually organized for me- I can really see the space and the individual pieces better. I love the idea of drawing interest with a painted space just for framed pics.
BBC Home
What an adorable idea for a kitchen! A cute way to store things, as well as keep them on display and draw interest onto your walls!
Apartment Therapy
In an otherwise blank room, these pics really bring in color, and pattern. This is a cute way to keep a neutral palate but bring in any type of texture, pattern or color and the glory of all of it? You can change it out easily with pics, magazine clippings, postcards or any other things for a whole new look!
Apartment 132 Blog
I adore this picture frame! Its not exactly the same thing that I have been talking about, but I really like the way all the small pics look together. Cute!
A Beautiful Mess
A small, simple, yet fun gathering. Very retro, vintage! I have been wanting a table like that for years now!
I hope you all have a fun, safe, and peaceful new year!
I have high hopes for 2011, and am really excited about where this year is going to take me. I am ready to leave 2010 behind me, and work on figuring my life out, being a better person, and finish things that I started long ago. It is going to be a year where I am finally able to move on, and pick up where I left off when my sister died. I am going into this new year with positive thoughts, new skills, new friends, and a better attitude and I sure hope it's going to pay off!
These are my new years resolutions, and I am already feeling good about it and the new beginning this time brings! I hope you all feel the same way!
(sounded very cheesy, but spoken from the heart)
What are some of your resolutions?
Pics Decor
Inspiration for Home
House Beautiful
Decor Pad
Deco Dir
Elle Decor
Better Homes and Gardens
This little bamboo plant and it's current home. This plant was something I got for my boyfriend right after his best friend died. After that, our cats got a hold of it and mangled and chewed this poor plant. We have been giving it extra loving since then, and it even has some new shoots! I love the way it looks in that basket with the brooch on it
My purple vases and how they hold my jewelery. Something about this makes me very happy
I got this lamp at IKEA several years ago, and it is still one of my favorites! I love the way it hangs on the wall, and isn't your typical lamp. It is one of the things everybody compliments in my house.
Carved Shelves. I posted a little about them at my old house here and then posted about a makeover here. I love the uniqueness of these shelves, and I love all the detail in them.
My owl friend here continues to be a pleasant thing to look at!
Mirrors. I got a huge one like this at homegoods, then found the smaller one at Ross a couple weeks later. The detail is amazing, and they go with anything and look good no matter where I put them!
The fish tank and the Zocolo table it sits on. My boyfriend found this table on the side of the road a while back, and it is still one of my favorites. I love the shape and the clean, crisp lines to it. The fish tank is always entertaining. We sit there and stare at it for hours! I love the snails and they are my favorite to watch circling the tank.
I'm obsessed with sea turtles. They are such graceful, peaceful, amazing creatures.
Craft Stylish
Creative Yarn
Creative Yarn
Craftstylish
Craftstylish
Aprils Junk
It has been my complete obsession over the past couple days, and I have been working at it non-stop every minute I get. Simple enough, and extremely entertaining!
So, if you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you would know just how obsessed I really am with these Asian garden stools. I know that everybody has them and that they are beginning to become a little over-played in the design world, but I can't seem to get enough of them! Anyways, I toured Ross a couple weeks ago, and low and behold, I found a metallic brown garden stool! The best part? It was on sale for $20!!!! You simply can't imagine my excitement when I stumbled on this! I think I actually squealed out-loud with delight! Right now, this is the stools home- where I can stare at it from any point in the living room (which I do often).
The move that I have recently made has been VERY beneficial for me! In more ways than one, but a big reason is the area I moved to has TONS of people who simply put random things in front of their houses for free. It really is amazing when I look around my house and see several of my favorite pieces I have gotten for free, especially since most of them were found on the side of the road!
This piece was also just recently found on the side of the road. She obviously has some work that needs to be done! I already have plans, but like I said before, I need to wait till the weather warms up just a little bit. It is just too cold to be using spray paint right now!
I really love the lines, and the detail! Especially the legs! Anyone notice the big hole on top?! I think it used to be a lock, but I am going to have to fill that in!
Artful Parent
Kiddley
Curbly
Ellen Hutson
Craft Log
Button Coaster from Craft Stylish
Simplified Bee
Pottery Barn
Mustard and Sage
Lonny
Love the idea of using a paper towel holder for a bracelet stand! Perfect!
Asculon Says
Studio 193 Photography
I am a total sucker for empty picture frames on the wall (or anywhere for that matter). I love the interest it brings without making the space feel cluttered and squished. There are so many different frames out there that are art pieces in themselves, and would be amazing showcased with members of its own kind
Living Etc
Flickr
Casa Sugar
BBC Home
Apartment Therapy
Apartment 132 Blog
A Beautiful Mess
