OMG, OMG, OMG. I so wish I could justify buying a new couch right now, because this baby was posted to Craigslist yesterday.
to buy: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/fuo/2951325538.html
I immediately emailed the lady even though I knew full well I wouldn’t be able to buy it. I just had to know more. It is gorgeous midnight blue velvet. $1000 for the sofa and ottoman.
Here is the link to the posting: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/fuo/2951325538.html
I can’t get it out of my head.
xx
-h
6 months ago, I decided to rip apart the upholstery on a chair at my parent’s house. It needed help bad, and I figured, how hard can this be? Slap some fabric on it, good as new right? NO. WRONG. Upholstery is difficult, time consuming, and your husband WILL NOT help you when the Broncos game is on.
Here is a photo of the chair before:
photo: hh
Fast forward 6 months. The chair is still a work in progress, I got scared away when I started working on the cushion and it was very time consuming to sew the cording.
But guess what, I will finish this sucker. My new goal is to have it done by the end of April. Wish me luck, I will need it. Don’t make my mistake, sometimes hiring someone to do the re-upholstery job will be worth it. Although expensive, they would’ve had it done in at least 1/6 of the time it has taken me. And realistically, at the same cost that I’ve spent on this “little” project.
xoxo
-h
It’s no secret that bringing a little green into your environment increases the positive vibes. These terrariums from Score & Solder are breathtaking, the style is fresh – I’m already picturing one on the entrance table at our new house.
photo: Score + Solder
photo: Score + Solder
photo: Score + Solder
Bring on the succulents, tiny cacti, and miniature ceramic animals.
-h
I have been cruising a lot of second hand stores lately looking for pieces for our new house, while I haven’t been able to find any useful furniture or lamps, today I came across two tarnished silver cups. I was pretty sure from looking at them closely that they weren’t just silver coated and figured for $5, why not give them a second chance at shine.
Billy Balls remind me of our wedding because they were a big part of our flower arrangements and when I saw them today at Metropolitan Market, I was delighted.
I used a couple of techniques to shine the cups. To remove the majority of the tarnish, I lined a pot with foil and then poured a combination of 1 quart of boiling water, 1/4 cup baking soda and 2 tsp of salt, cover and let zest for up to 5 minutes – rinse with warm water. Then I used some traditional metal cleaner and finally a silver polish cloth. Check out the results of a little elbow grease on the silver cups.
-h
This time I’m bringing stripes to a bathroom near you with help from West Elm.
photo: West Elm
photo: West Elm
photo: West Elm
photo: West Elm
I think I love you West Elm stripes. Will you be my Valentine?
-h
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what makes positive and negative thoughts become reality. I have grown a lot in 2011, but can see that in 2012 there are changes that I would like to make. I think that everyone goes through phases in their life where they feel like things need to be truly re-evaluated. I’ve never done resolutions, but I’m into goals, so here is what I have planned for 2012.
1. Exercise with conviction. We all have days where we get to the gym and half ass our way through 20 minutes of cardio, while it may be better then doing nothing, it certainly isn’t making the same mental impact as putting your nose to the grind, and pumping out that 20 minutes as a high heart rate. My tool: the New Balance HRT Fit Monitor – it counts calories, your bpm without a dorky chest strap, and supports breast cancer if you get the Komen version.
photo: NewBalance.com
2. Accept where you are and be proud of what you are doing. My former job was fun, lots of hard work, and glamorous at times. I haven’t stopped looking for a new job, however, it is important for me to realize how much of a learning experience my current position can be, and how I can take steps to conjure more responsibility. My tool: local networking events to meet new people in order to feed potential business.
3. Save more, spend less. Easier said then done. I love shopping, eating out, fine wines, and I have an affinity for shoes. R and I have decided to spend some time this year looking at houses to buy which necessitates money saved for not only a mortgage, insurance, utilities and other things, but also furniture. I’ve never owned any piece of furniture larger then our bed so once we make a move, I guess we’ll have to buy a chair or something. My tool: inspiration.
photo: Sarah Richards Design
4. Bake, but with less butter. I love butter, it makes anything taste good. And that is what makes baking with it so easy. For Christmas I received a KitchenAid mixer and by golly I am going to put it to good use, however, I’m going to do so while learning about baking and cooking with less fat, recipes to come.
photo: bloomingdales.com
5. Take social chances. Meet up with old friends, say yes when I don’t feel like it, and have a friendly face. I haven’t lived in this area in 5 plus years, I miss my friends from Utah, but it’s time to step out of the ol’ comfort zone. My tool: the trusty iphone, no excuse to not find someone on Facebook, connect on Twitter, or just make a phone call.
photo: Apple.com
Lets do this 2012 and lets do it big. I’m ready for what you have in store for me.
What are your goals for 2012?
-h
What do you do when you’re feeling blue? From now on, I’m going to bust out my gurgle pot because it makes me smile.
photo: gurglepot.com
This pitcher doesn’t just pour liquid, it also makes a wonderful gurgle noise as you pour it. Maybe you’ve seen these before, maybe you haven’t. But for me, clever decorative items like this make me giggle.
-h
It has been almost a week since I left Park City and moved back to the Pacific Northwest. People keep asking me why and how the hubby and I came to this decision. And the majority of it is that, there truly is no place like home. In the past week, I’ve spent more time with my family and family friends then I have in a very long time. I already miss Park City, but I know that all of the amazing friends that we made while we were in Utah will visit us, and we will visit them. We will stay in touch, it’s pretty much mandatory in the digital age.
In the mean time, I’m soaking up all things Washington right now including wine country (this view is from Windy Point Vineyards in the Yakima valley).
photo: hh
Happy hour (we didn’t have those in Utah) – last night it was at Purple Cafe and Wine Bar in Seattle where I got to drink L’Ecole’s 2009 Semillon. I’ve heard that the spot used to be a bank location, now they use the big circle center staircase as wine storage/display and as the bar location.
photo: hh
And views of the water.
photo: hh
Change is good and there really is no place like home.
-h
I’m following up Sarah’s post with more stripes! I’ll admit that I’ve been obsessed with stripes since about January, my friends can attest (“You wore stripes yesterday, too.” -k). However, I can’t stop. And, when I saw the Island Stripe Bedding Set on Company Store, let’s just say, we’re lucky it’s backordered.
photo: Company Store
It’s the perfect amount of rainbow to brighten a dark bedroom. (I’m convinced whoever built our apartment complex was a vampire.) Accent with gray, yellow, or white pillow cases and it would downplay it a bit. Or go full out like in the photo and stripe it up! Whatever, you’re choice, pick fabrics like a light cotton for summer bedding, because no one likes to sweat while they sleep.
-h
Last week I was in hot pursuit of peonies. I love having fresh flowers in the house, simply because I think they add a bright element to any room. Peonies are particularly exciting because they trigger memories of the beginning of summer for me. I love that within a few days of having them they aren’t dying, they’re opening up and revealing their full glory of color.
Historically, the peony is native to Asia, southern Europe and western North America. Since the late 900s, the flower has been seen in Chinese art as a symbol of riches and honor.
photo: hh
Lucky for us, it is pretty easy to find peonies in local flower shops or specialty grocery stores this time of year. The ballet slipper pink, fuschia, and violet all caught my eye at my local Whole Foods. However, an all white bouquet can be incredibly breathtaking as well.
Whether you favor peonies or not, I have to say that any fresh flowers will add a surprising positive addition to your day and your space.
-h