Summer parties

getting ready for summer parties gets my creative juices flowing...

{Create your own cabana}

i love this cabana made from pvc pipe.

{Real Simple}

stringing twinkle lights and chinese lanterns add some magic to the evening.



{Real Simple}

an elegant way to deal with misquitos.



{How To}

love these lights covered in turquoise and chartreuse. pretttty.



{Garden Party}



{Outdoor Lanterns}

stay tuned for pictures of our outdoor space. we've been busting our heinies.

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Drool

Happy Saturday!




Misool Eco Resort featured on Desire to Inspire

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I spy

Now to show off some of my Ikeawares. Although they are not very exciting, I am so happy to have functional pieces in my home.




I am extremely blessed to know incredible photographers, one being a best friend, Jessica Mahady who took these beautiful pictures of Matilda. I wanted to display them for all to see and truth be told the bathroom is a great place for this! Thank you Jessica for the beautiful shots. We treasure them.

Speaking of incredible photographers...we spent the day with one yesterday. Mr Andy Lee took pictures of our family and sent me this little teaser. I can't wait to see the rest...



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It has arrived!!

My Christmas present came today. Thank you thank you to my wonderful parents. It is beautiful. Matilda enjoys it thoroughly.






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Birthday wishes...

So, my birthday is not until next month and this is just a dream wish....but I need a new rug. Need...ok maybe not, I want a new rug for my living room and for Matilda's knees once she starts scootin' around. I really want a pink and white zig zag rug, but Sambo said no:(.

If it's not pink it has to be stripes: chevron, bold, zig zag...



apartment therapy

I also enjoy lovely prints, my living room is full of pattern and why not add some more?



+



anthropologie

=GRAND

and the finishing touch will be my Christmas present, which is arriving in the morning...

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Alternative Christmas Lights

I love re purposing, taking an object that is so well ingrained as one thing and turning it in to another. Take for instance Christmas lights, known for trimming the tree and decorating our homes. Here are some other ideas from Apartment Therapy:



Brilliant and beautiful. These branches are transformed with shiny balls and ambient light.



These tube lights look like a modern art installation. Love the bathroom placement.



Can't afford a new light fixture? Disguise it with layers of lights. Delightful.



A little canvas and lights peeping through goes a long way.



My fave. A modern take on the Christmas tree. The only problem is you don't get that wonderful smell.

Cheers!

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Before and After

My Mama and I spent a lovely day together getting our nails done, having lunch with Rachel, and then surprising Sam with a new and improved office! I love decorating with Mama because we always end up with fun results. I'm thankful to have inherited a small chunk of her love of design. I am also thankful to have a Mom that is always there for me and always up for anything. I couldn't love her more!

So, without further adieu here are the before and afters of the office.

Center of Room
{before}

{after}

Inspiration

Reality



Desk
{before}

{after}


Bookshelves/Workspace
{before}



{after}


Inspiration


Reality


Bright file cabinet



Inspiration


Sam was so surprised and really loved the way things turned out. I tried to create a retreat for him and a creative space for his leather working! With Mom's help it only took a few hours and now I can breathe in there! Tomorrow I will be so satisfied because I plan on cleaning as long as my feet allow me to.

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Office Inspiration

I love my husband Sam, all of you know this! However, for a while now there has been something growing between us...the office! It is unorganized, undecorated, chaotic man land. This is why basements were invented! He has completely taken this room over and when we have people over I kindly keep that door shut:) Sam and I had a long weekend together, so I thought "What better time to tackle the office?". I want to paint, but feel overwhelmed by that massive project plus I don't want Sam to have to do it all alone. So, here are my inspirations, I'm pretty limited to just dreaming these days:



design sponge

Since painting is such an ordeal, I like this simple border. We are planning on doing a collage of old photos as well.



apartment therapy

We already have floating shelves, but I like this bohemian look with the maps.



casasugar

I love the color blocked book shelves.



Calendars, chalk board paint, succulents...yes please!



Love the bright filing cabinets! Sam had the brilliant idea to paint a metal filing cabinet before I saw this...

discover interior design, images: Pottery Barn

Stay tuned for before and after!

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Paint

Some people had asked me what color we painted Matilda's room and it is a historical Benjamin Moore color:



Wedgewood Gray

Happy painting!

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Sorry

Sorry for the lack of posting here lately. I guess this is the last trimester slump as they say. I have been overly tired and cranky lately and just trying to put on a happy face. I've also been really saddened by the tragedy that this family is going through...it put me in a funk quite frankly. You can get updates from Nie Nie's sister at c jane run. I just hate it that such a terrible thing would happen to such a sweet family. Please continue to pray for their recovery.

On a more positive note..I am loving the mustache mania that is sweeping the design world!



mustache tee



self portrait mirror



wood mustache on a stick



mustache key holder



mustache milk glass

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DIY couple

I found this article on the nest about a couple named Lauren Smith and Derek Fagerstrom who own a shop called the The Curiosity Shoppe in San Francisco which has an amazing collection of unusual gift and home products:

I love the mustache key holder:


$30

Wall Mounted bottle opener:


$34

Whale Chalk board:


$40

Wooden Bricks:


$20

Lauren used to work for designer Todd Oldham and Derek is the project editor for Ready Made magazine. Here is a peak at their crafty home, which sits above their adorable store. I love reading about couples that go in to business together. I think it is so inspiring and I would love to be able to do that someday...



Lauren and Derek



Entry way with original screen print by Charlie Harper and custom made peg board



The living room with a DIY console based on a Todd Oldham project



Adorable grouping of prints and photos, I love the bird house!



Dining Room



Bed room, complete with a homemade duvet made of Derek's old shirts



photos:thenest.com

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