Inspiration

I love my tiny digital camera.  It’s not fancy but it’s tough and small which makes it perfect for taking everywhere with me!

While in Oregon last month I took a ton of pictures.  Most of them were random-no family, no landmarks-but all things that I wanted to remember when I got home.

For example:

A picnic bench at a scenic lookout.  Why?  I love these colors-the grey cement, the black rocks, the weathered wooden bench and of course, those greens!  I have no idea where I can use this color combo, but believe me, I’ll be looking!

These were the adorable centerpieces at the reception.  It reminds me how much I love red and aqua together but my favorite part is that mossy wood slice in the middle!

These windows were on one entire wall at the Deschutes Brewery.  I’m now obsessed with finding a bunch of these multi-paned windows to put all the way around my laundry room.  The best part though, was that the middle section of each one opened (see the tiny, tiny knobs?) so you could still get some air moving around.

Oh these lights!  They were strung over a brick patio at the reception.  Now I’m glad I obsessively bought a bunch of boxes of the round Christmas lights when they went on clearance.  You better believe that next summer I’ll be enjoying my backyard under a canopy of pretty, pretty white lights!

I took a million other pictures but these are the 4 I keep coming back to.  They’re now in my “Inspiration” folder so when I’m stuck for ideas or looking for a project I can dig them out and get started!

-A

Can’t Stop!

Sometimes I look around my house and think, “I wonder if Lowe’s has gotten any new succulents?”  And then I think, “I do not need anymore!”  And then I go see if there are any cool new ones.  I can’t stop.

This container was my first shot at a terrarium.  Remember?  I didn’t plan the planting very well and this guy outgrew everything else.  So I moved the smaller plants to their own containers and let this guy take over.

 

 

I painted and distressed some Mason jars and put the plants that were forced out into them and stuck them on the windowsill.  They both seem to be happy!

I found this great silver bucket at a thrift store for $2 and knew exactly what I’d do with it:

This group was only planted last week but I’m hoping it fills this bucket and overflows!

This one has moved from the guest room to the kitchen to my room but it seems happiest here, in the laundry room.  Also, that basil is the only non-succulent plant in this house!

This basket is in my bathroom and this succulent seems like it’s doing okay, it’s putting out new shoots, which makes me think it’s happy…the one I planted with it didn’t make it.

So far I’ve only lost two and both deaths were due to too much water!

My friend sent me this pin:

It’s about dying succulents with food coloring so now, you know, I need to go to Lowe’s to get more!

-A

Someone Else’s House

I went to the big city on Thursday and finally got to see the adorable house my brother and his girlfriend live in.  It is also old and its owners over the years have kept the woodwork unpainted and in great shape.  I could have taken pictures of every inch of this house but chose my ten favorite things to share with you:

 

Oh that beadboard ceiling!  And that frame on the end of the porch that used to hold windows.  I loved this whole porch!

 

A transom window!

 

 

Amazing stained glass!

 

Pocket doors!

 

Great detail on the baseboads!

 

A built in buffet that nobody ever painted!

 

A picture rail in the dining room!

 

Every door had this cool old door knobs!

When I first got to the house I just walked around looking at everything.  I’m so glad that they’re not renters so I can see what they do to make this charming house even better!

-A

Help me choose!

I have been searching for a duvet cover for the guest room.  What I originally envisioned was thick stripes of yellow and white.  What I want isn’t out there (at least at a reasonable price.)  I’ve toyed with making my own but so far haven’t.  During my internet browsing I’ve come across a few options that I think I would like.

Here’s where you come in:

Should I get this one from IKEA

Or this one (also IKEA)

Or this one (yep, IKEA again)

Or this (H&M)

Or do I break down and just make one?

Honestly, right now I’m leaning towards the one from H&M and the only thing stopping me is the pattern.  I know I want something geometric in there but will it be too busy to have this pattern with my chevron curtains?

Please let me know which one you think I should go with!

-A

 

Hooked

Remember waaay back in March when those geniuses at Young House Love announced they were selling a line of hooks at Target?  Also remember when I said I bought some?  Well Target took forever getting them to my doorstep and then I took even longer figuring out where to hang the hook.

Since I finally found a spot I took some pictures to give you a quick update:

 

I got the Bee hook and two of the hexagon hooks (I think they intended for them to attach to the rail they also sell.)

 

The bee hook went between my bedroom and bathroom doors in the hallway and is now holding my aprons.

 

And those hexagon hooks went in my guest room.  You might remember I had piddly brass hooks holding up those two smaller frames before.  I still can’t get these guys straightened out (even though I meticulously measured before I hung these hooks!)

 

 

This room is slowly coming together….now if I could just get that bedframe painted!

Barkbox

First, I know it’s been a while.  I have a bunch of posts ready so you all can see that I really have been busy!  This post is not house related at all but in March I tried Barkbox for the first time and I wanted to show you what I got and what Henry thought of it.

 

 

 

Treats were the whole reason I decided or try Barkbox.  Henry is the pickiest dog ever and I thought this was a good way to find some treats that he likes without spending an arm and a leg.

 

Jackpot!  Henry LOVES these treats!

 

Henry will eat these but the first ones are definitely his favorite!

 

He also loves that egg ball.  It bounces in an unpredictable pattern (so it ends up under furniture most of the time) and Henry will chase it all over the house.  That newspaper though?

 

Mmmmm, no.

 

This chew was stinky.  It grossed me out.  But not Henry:

 

(love those whiskers!)

I paid $19 for just one month just to try it out.  I don’t think we have a need for a box a month but I can see doing this a couple of times a year.  My only complaint was that Duck Chew-I signed Henry up as a big dog and he had that thing shredded in less than 10 minutes.  This dog needs things he can chew on for hours!

-A

Craft Table

Why have I been lugging my craft stuff in and out of the guest room?  This table in this place is PERFECT!  I can’t wait to start making stuff there!

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This is my 81st post!  That means you only have 19 posts to comment on before I do a drawing for an awesome 100th Post prize!

Why I Love/Hate Etsy

I love Etsy, except that it messes with my mind.

For example:

I see this

and think, “yes, a cool country kitchen that’s kind of rustic and kind of weird.”

Then I see this

combined with these

and I think, “oooh, what a cool idea for a travel wall in the kitchen”

Then I see this

and say, “Yes!  That’s it!  I’ll do a cool kithceny kitchen with fun quotes and kitchen art like this!”

So basically Etsy has convinced me that I need a bigger house with three kitchens.

Don’t even get me started on the other rooms!

-A