Where Has This Been All My Life?

Oh good heavens, go here:

http://beachdwelling.com/

My China

When I got married, I didn't register for any china. I registered for Fiesta Ware (persimmon) and after two wonderful showers I found myself with 12 full place settings. I (at the time) thought I wouldn't ever want china. I was so so so wrong. A year later, I was working in a Hallmark store, drooling over the gorgeous china patterns I was forced to work around, yet could not afford to buy. Woe was me.

Later, my grandmother moved out of her home into a retirement community. My dad came back from the move with a box full of china. He said, "If you don't want it, that's fine. We'll just stick it in the basement." GASP. I loved it immediately.

I found this picture on flickr... I confess... my camera isn't this good. But this is my china. I inherited it from my grandmother, who inherited it from her sister. It's Creative China, Regency Rose pattern. According to someone (cant remember who told me this) my great aunt collected it from stamps she accumulated at a gas station. I love love love it, obviously because it's gorgeous. But, I love it more because it came from family. I keep little scraps of paper in all my bowls and dishes that came from different branches of my family, so I can keep all the stories straight.

Organizing

Organizing. Ahhh... music to my ears. Am I the most organized person in the world? No way... but I try. I think it's the idea of organization that appeals to me; paying things on time, less stress, less mess. So, whenever I see things that just scream to me "Hey! I'll make your life easier," I have to buy them.

I found this metal bin at a flea market this weekend for $14. I liked it immediately, and now that I have it on the wall, I like it even better. Plus, I have stainless appliances in the kitchen, so it matches them. Of course I had to include something old/vintage, so I hung my plates. Now I just have to patch the holes that I made before. They're everywhere... I really should measure before I whip out the hammer.

A Woman Possessed

Office Before: Chaos


Office After: I can think in there now

My office really gets me. It's not that I don't like it.... but something has just never really clicked in there. I have a mish mash of furniture; slip covered sofa, inherited shelves, knick knacks from my childhood bedroom. I have shuffled and reshuffled that room at least five times (and my swiss cheese walls can prove it), but I've never really been satisfied. Well, this weekend I finally struck gold. I actually really like the furniture arrangement this time. Please excuse the badly lit, blurry pictures... my strength was sapped by the time I got around to taking these.

Jeannette Pink Milk Glass

I love buying things on the cheap. I love it even more when I find out I've bought something collectible on the cheap. This past weekend I found the cutest pink milk glass fruit bowl. I eyed it a while, put it down, came back, picked it up. You get the idea. Finally, I decided that I could spare the $4.00 they were asking. I looked up pink milk glass on ebay on a whim, and found out that this is Jeannette glass, made from '57 to '59. I don't think its worth a fortune or anything, but it was exciting to find out the maker's name. I finally decided to put it to good use holding my makeup (and please ignore the unmade bed/mess in the background... I'm telling on myself with these pictures).

Rachel's Big Weekend (Oh Yeah, and Me Too)

This past weekend my baby sister, Rachel, came to stay with me. We began the Harry Potter journey together, and we were determined to finish it together. After four hours at Barnes and Noble, we finally got our books. In one long ten hour session (we both read pretty fast) we finished it. It was good, overall I really liked it. Is it my favorite? Nope... nothing can touch the Goblet of Fire. I wont give any spoilers away for those of you that haven't read it. Anyway, as you can tell from the pictures... we had a really good time.

Spoke Too Soon

And just when I think I've run out of things to blog about... R. Kenton Nelson saved the day. I should first begin this story by explaining that my dream home is the set for Something's Gotta Give. I love it for the obvious reasons; beach front view, Hamptons chic decor, big windows. But... I also love it because of the paintings. For years I have watched this favorite movie of mine and wondered who painted those marvelous, brightly colored works of art hung around the house.

Well, I finally put a little effort into finding out. His name is R. Kenton Nelson. I Googled him, and found that his other works are just as beautiful (if not unaffordable for me, sniff). But I still wanted to share him, perhaps someone else out there can buy one. And then invite me over so I can drool in front of it.

http://www.rkentonnelson.com/

Stumped

Forgive me all... I am momentarily stumped on creative posts. Partly because its summer time, and I'm outside every chance I get. Partly because Harry Potter's final journey looms next weekend and I'm biting my nails in constant anticipation. So, I leave you with some pictures of Carole Lombard in all her summer fabulousness.

(for more pictures of her or other classic stars, go to www.turnerclassicmovies.com and search the message boards where people post them)

8 Random Facts

I've been tagged by Sophie Honeysuckle to list 8 random facts about myself... this is a brain teaser for sure! Here goes...

1. One of my favorite books is Something Wicked This Way Comes. I wasn't very happy about The Thief Lord... the carousel was a copy of this book!


2. I woke up during two surgeries. It was pretty macabre.


3. It would seem that the only men in my family marry in. I am surrounded by aunts, sisters, cousins. It isn't a bad thing... but sometimes estrogen overflows in certain situations.


4. I love love love old movies. The "I cant believe someone your age has seen those" old movies. Some of my favorites are The Thin Man, My Man Godfrey, Life With Father, True Confessions, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream Home, the original Father of the Bride, and Rose Marie. The list could go on and on... please hire me Turner Classic Movies. I could host, really I could!

5. When I was learning to drive, I crashed my own car into my own house. You just never live anything like that down.

6. When I write, I have to take off my shoes.

7. The only trip out of the country I've ever taken was to Jamaica. But I HOPE to see these places before I'm 30 (well, maybe not all of them... but at least two).

8. I love Freddy Mercury. He was the greatest.

The BHG

I adore www.bhg.com. They never fail to disappoint w/ their slide shows and decorating tips. I found these two beauties today. I love the kitchen, although I have WAY to much junk to take all my cabinet doors off. And that dining room. Someday.

Oh Boy

I am a big fat dork. I admit it. I am a rabid Harry Potter fan in my late 20's, waiting impatiently all day to run to the movies after work. I have been with this guy since the beginning, since my youngest sister Rachel demanded that I read the first book. I have shown up for the midnight release parties (albeit I have never dressed up, I draw the line there). I have even, in my enthusiasm, been guilty of yelling at a man who stole my space in a parking lot before the release of the Goblet of Fire. I took a half day of vacation to watch the first movie (which was in December, I miss that Christmas release) with Rachel. We even saved our plastic movie cups with a picture of Hogwart's Castle on the side.

So here we are, almost at the end of the line. I have mixed emotions about it (again, because I'm a dork). I love the movies, and it is somewhat comforting to know there will be two more. But the last book, the end, is making me very sad. Good luck Harry, in whatever happens to you. Good luck JK Rowling... you are a great author no matter what ending you have chosen. And good luck to all the other dorks that love Harry as much as I do... we're going to need it.

Wishing

OK, I want the top of my dresser to look like this. I know, I know, get rid of the TV. Sigh.

The Old Switcharoo

When left to my own devices, I'll move things around in my house at least once a month. The upside? I like change. The downside? Lots of nail holes.

I finally hung something on the walls of my guest room. I really really love old photos, so I started a big arrangement above the guest bed. It has room to grow, and I like that.


I also hung some plain shears on the window, I like the cleaner look of them. Eventually I'm going to paint the side tables and the dresser (you cant see in the picture) red. I stress the word eventually.



I made several flea market rounds as well, and came home with a couple of old mirrors. I found this one for $33. It is very heavy and beveled, so it was a pretty good deal. The frame was very gold, which just isn't my thing, so I painted it to match the dresser. This area will take some sprucing, although sadly, the TV will stay. It is such a necessary evil, but I do hate the way it looks.

I found this mirror for $30. It isn't as big as the first one, but I loved the flower carvings in the wooden frame. It has an old Made in Mexico stamp on the back. I painted it turquoise and hung it in our tiny hallway. It opened things up, plus added some light.

I moved my favorite Doris Day poster from the bedroom into the breakfast nook. I also took down the lace curtains for now, and hung shears as well.

Well, that's it. Enough little piddly projects to choke a horse as mom says. I used to look forward to the day when I would get 'finished' and be done with a house. Ha.

Why I Want a New Couch, Part II

The cushions and pillows are as flat as pancakes. She just wont stop. She's like a machine.

Interview With Daniel Radcliffe

TODAYshow.com: With the final book coming out, do you ever get a sense of impending doom? Do you think you will survive "The Deathly Hallows"?

Daniel: I think I might die in it, but that’s just my prediction.

Daniel, you better be wrong my friend. You better be wrong.

Excited to See This

Office Idea

I'm not normally a fan of animal prints. Ever. In fact, I spent the most part of the late 90's shunning them while my friends insisted on cheetah prints and fur collared coats. But... never say never. I've been thinking about this rug in my office.

It is completely out of character from what I normally like, but I think it has a certain "Hemingway" quality for an office (please don't hurt me Angela, I'm just talking about ambiance here). I have a lot of dark wood furniture that I cant really get away from, so I have decide to run with it. Here is a photo of Hemingway's library in Key West. I find this totally inspiring.

Sorry, Angela, again for mentioning the H word. Twice.

New Blog Find

I just stumbled upon this site...

http://www.becoming-home.com/

This is my favorite kind of site, someone renovating an older home. It is absolutely fascinating to me to watch other people be brave and rip out cabinets and replace floors. I myself am somewhat of a renovation chicken. I break out in a sweat just picking a paint color. But my courage is higher today, I think I'm ready to part with that gold color in my kitchen!

Ariana has such wonderful taste, everyone should go see!