Summer Table Setting in Gray, White, Gold

August 1, 2019 By Linda 7 Comments

Summer Table Setting in Gray, White, Gold – Table Setting Ideas for Screen Porch

Sometimes I’m so behind the decorating trends, that I often find myself ahead of them.

Does that make sense?

A decorating/color/craft idea comes along and I miss it. Completely. Whoosh, over my head miss it.

Summer Table Setting in Gray, White, Gold - Summer Table Setting Ideas

But then I get something in my head that I can’t shake.

Perhaps I was influenced by that trend I missed after all?

Perhaps it just takes my mind a little extra time to compute, appreciate and embrace that decorating/color/craft idea?

And when I say a little extra time, I really mean years … and even decades! 😉

Gold Lantern, Succulent Place Card Holder, Grosgrain gray white striped napkin, gold flatware - Summer Table Setting in Gray, White, Gold - Summer Table Setting Ideas

Take gray, for example.

Gray has been trending since the first day I started this blog eight years ago. And was probably trending before then (though I wasn’t paying much attention). And while everyone was painting everything within reach warm gray and greige tones …

I was slathering the very cool-toned and very dark navy on my walls.

Now, I’ve finally turned the tables and am embracing gray just as …

wait for it …

Gold Lantern, Succulent Place Card Holder, Grosgrain gray white striped napkin, gold flatware, faux eucalyptus centerpiece - Summer Table Setting in Gray, White, Gold - Summer Table Setting Ideas

navy starts trending.

For real!

Sigh.

On the plus side, navy & gray/greige do place nice together!

So am I very pathetically behind the decorating trend when I finally painted my walls gray almost a decade after everyone else?

Or was I ahead on the navy trend?

Am I decorating savant? Or perhaps I just sing to a different decorating tune? Follow my own way …

And will I regret my gray wall decision in a year or two when beige and brown (god forbid) comes back?

Hmmmm…

But as I was creating these gold paint dipped terracotta place card holders that I used in this summer table setting in gray, white, gold, I got to thinking …

is the paint dip trend still a trend?

Or has it landed on one of those evil lists that keep telling me mason jars are so not hot anymore?

And yet, here I am finally … finally … paint dipping something, just as paint dipping something is sooooooo 2015.

Maybe I can bring it back again?

And who knows? Next week this not-so-trend-setting-trend-setter might just be back here with a coffee filter wreath tutorial. 😉

I never made one of those, so I’m only about 10 years behind on that decorating trend! 🙂

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Easy Distressed Terracotta Pots

July 30, 2019 By Linda 5 Comments

Easy Distressed Terracotta Pots – How To Age Flower Pots Tutorial

Easy distressed terracotta pots - how to age flower paints with paint and sandpaper

Let me set the scene for you:

It’s a gorgeous summer day. Like a day you wish each and every day could be like. Like a day you want to retire to … and a day that has you wondering exactly what city, what state, what country, what island you could you move to that would guarantee you a full year of days just like this day.

Or at least 300 days out of 365 like this day.

It’s sunny (of course). Temperatures are in the mid-70’s. There’s a slight breeze; just enough to rustle a few leaves. Absolutely zero humidity.

Am I right? Did I not just describe the perfect day.

I’m out the back porch working on this easy distressed terracotta pot project, listening to the sounds of the city around me.

Birds are chirping. I can hear the garbage truck working it’s way down the alley. The dogs next door start barking when they see me. Across the alley I hear the little voices kids playing out on the second floor balcony.

In the distance, I hear a drumbeat. And not the tom tom kind. But a full on rock and roll riff.

And as I “paint’ these terracotta pots … and I use the word paint very loosely because I’m basically just dry brushing and cross hatching away … that rock and roll rift picks up speed and volume. So I start dry brushing faster and faster along with the beat.

And the little voices across the alley on the second floor balcony hear the drums too. And they call out for the drummer to stop.

But I’m digging it. It the perfect background music for this particular project. And in no time at all, I’m done.

And the music ends.

But now the little kids with their little voices on the second floor balcony across the way call out, “hello person.”

Are they calling out to me? Perhaps another neighbor is working in their back yard too?

I wave. And they wave back.

So yes, they were calling out to me! The perfect icing on the perfect day.

End of scene.

P.S. I add a little drum riff tune to the video tutorial to help set the mood for you too!

Easy Distressed Terracotta Pots Tutorial

Materials*

Terracotta Pots & Saucers

White Chalk Paint

Chip Brush

80 Grit Sandpaper

*includes some affiliate links

Start with paint. I prefer chalk paint because it’s easy to work with and dries incredible fast. But you can use an acrylic paint too. Just use a matte finish.

Using a chip brush, dry brush on pot in cross hatch pattern. Don’t worry, you can’t make a mistake.

Keep painting until you get your desired look. I went a little heavier on the paint, but made sure some terracotta color still shows through.

Don’t forget to paint the saucer too!

Optional: Distress with 80 grit sandpaper. I just hit a few of the edges around the top rim and bottom.

Easy distressed terracotta flower pots - age flower pots with chalk paint and sandpaper

Just add plants to finish them off!

Now back to finding the perfect city/state/country/island where I can find the perfect day, day after day …

I’d also like someplace that I can enjoy the sounds of the city in the background …

and little voices calling out “hello person.”

Rock and roll drum riff optional.

🙂

Pin It!

Easy Distressed Terracotta Pots - How To Age Flower Pots with Chalk Paint - DIY Aged Terracotta Flower Pots

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Screen Porch in Gray & White

July 25, 2019 By Linda 10 Comments

Screen Porch in Gray & White – Decorating Ideas for Screen Porch

I used to be all about the summer. The sun. The sand. The tan.

Not so much anymore.

But then again I used to be a size 2.

I don’t know about you, but I’m thinking there might be a correlation between the two. Or 2. 😉

But when I say I was all about the summer I mean I was All. About. The Summer.

I would spend the other three seasons of the year dreaming about the summer. Plotting and planning for the summer. Scrimping and saving so I could rent a house at the beach for the summer (typically with 10 or 12 other people, some of whom I would meet for the first time on that first day of summer).

And when summer would finally arrive … after so much plotting, planning and anticipation … I would spend the summer perfecting the perfect tan.

It was all about the summer tan.

But then I grew up. Had kids of my own. Discovered the dangers of tanning and the protections of sun block. And all that plotting and planning and scrimping and saving came to an end.

Oh, and did I mention the size 2 got lost somewhere in between the growing up and the having kids? Um huh.

And then one day I turned on the TV and there was the tan mom from New Jersey. Remember her? Scary stuff. And a total wake up call for this suntan chasing girl!

Now I’m more about Spring. And Fall …

and Spring and Fall sweaters to cover up that no longer size 2 suntan-less pale body of mine! 🙂

And our screen porch — all decked out in gray and white Cabana stripes this year — is perfect for keeping the sun out during the Summer.

And Spring.

And Fall. 🙂

Screen Porch Shopping Sources*

*includes some affiliate links

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Succulent Place Card Holders

July 23, 2019 By Linda 10 Comments

Succulent Place Card Holders – Gold Dipped Terra Cotta Pot Planters

I created a video!

I know, I know. No big deal, right?

Nothing to jump up and down about, right?

Nothing to phone home about, right?

I mean, let’s get real here: people have been making videos for decades. Just look at the success of YouTube. Not to mention all the videos flooding Instagram and Facebook feeds.

People have actually gained fame … and fortune … for their video creations.

As the saying goes, you can’t swing a dead cat online without hitting a video!

So my little video is really not a big deal. But then again (for me) it feels like a pretty big deal.

You see, I noticed some blogs started featuring “My Latest Video” videos as part of their blog posts. And I wanted to get in on the action. Only problem?

Where to start!

What I did know: I didn’t want to actually shoot video footage. Instead, I wanted to use still images from my blog posts and turn them into a video slide show with music and text.

Now, many years ago, I recall working with Windows Movie Maker with the kids on school projects. But, alas, Windows Movie Maker is no more.

After much Googling and watching many, many how to make a video tutorials, I settled on the Microsoft Photo app (which I used on my laptop, not phone). There are limitations when it comes to fonts and font size and font placement. And you need to find your own free music sources …

perhaps one day I’ll offer my own video tutorial on how to turn a blog post into a video slide show using Microsoft Photo app …

but at the end of the day. I’m pleased.

For the most part.

And if anyone has a better program or app I should look into, please let me know! Preferable something free that offers more flexibility with fonts and font placement!

For my first video, I turned my how to make a succulent place card holder tutorial (below) into a slide show with music and text (above) …

How To Make A Succulent Place Card Holder

Materials*

Potting Soil

Painter’s Tape

Alphabet Rubber Stamps & Ink Pad

*includes affiliate links

Succulent Place Card Holders - Gold Dipped Terracotta Pots Table Setting

Step 1: How To Make Gold Dipped Terracotta Pots

Use Washi tape (which is more flexible than painter’s tape on these mini pots) to tape off area to be gold “dipped” (which means spray painted).

How to Make Succulent Place Card Holders with Mini Terracotta Pots Gold Dipped

Use painter’s tape to tape off the top of the terracotta pot.

Spray with gold spray paint. Remove tape when dry.

How to Make Succulent Place Card Holder Table Setting

Step 2: Plant Succulents

Add a little bit of potting soil to bottom of mini terracotta pots.

Add succulent. Water lightly.

Using Craft Wire to Make Place Card Holder Succulent

Step 3: How To Make Custom Place Cards & Place Card Holder

Wrap light gauge craft wire around end of pencil three times.

Squash the rings together (yes, my very technical “squash” term is used here!

Use card stock paper and mini stamps to make place cards.

Slip into craft wire holder.

Add to succulents.

And that’s it!

And it feels like (to me) that I made two projects in one!

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Succulent Place Card Holders - Gold Dipped Mini Terracotta Pots Place Card Holders - How to Make Simple Place Card Holders for Summer Table Setting

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Cabana Stripe Gray & White Envelope Pillow Tutorial

July 18, 2019 By Linda 5 Comments

Cabana Stripe Gray & White Envelope Pillow Tutorial – How To Sew A Pillow Cover

I love me a Cabana Stripe.

Doesn’t it just scream summer?

And not just any old summer. The cabana stripe is so not the Seaside-Heights-Atlantic-City-of-Jersey-Shore-fame summer. It’s more like a Saint-Tropez summer. Or a Cannes summer. Or a Martha’s Vineyard summer …

in my mind’s eye, I envision lots of cabana stripes on the Kennedy compound, back in the day.

Cabana stripes can even be a Spring Lake, NJ summer.

In fact, I’m pretty sure I spotted a few of those distinctive wide stripes on an awning or two back when I was a Jersey shore beach bum.

I haven’t yet found the Midwest equivalent of the cabana stripe summer. But I’m pretty sure I could find some cabana stripes along the North Shore (just north of Chicago where our many of our local high society folks call home). I can’t confirm since I’m still awaiting my invite to a summer soiree at one of the many mansions dotting the lakefront. 😉

And Lake Geneva in Wisconsin seems ripe for a wide cabana stripe or ten.

All this talk of cabana stripes has me thinking about how different stripes can conjure different emotions.

Take pin stripes. They can either go buttoned-up corporate business suit …

or a carefree day at the ballpark cheering on your favorite team with a hot dog in one hand and a beer in the other.

Candy stripes remind me of my sister’s Candy Striping days.

And zebra stripes are … well … a whole different kind of New Jersey summer. One you would definitely experience in Seaside Heights and Atlantic City! 😉

But back to cabana stripes. I typically think of them in nautical colors (like the navy and white my screen porch sported last year) or summer yellow and white. But I think my new gray and white cabana striped pillows offer a similar summery vibe …

Cabana Stripe Gray & White Envelope Pillow Tutorial

The fabric used in this tutorial is Premier Prints Indoor/Outdoor vertical stripe in gray and white, with 3″ wide stripes for a 6″ repeat. You can find the fabric at this affiliate link ….

Let’s just start this envelope pillow tutorial with a disclaimer: When it comes to making pillow covers, I just wing it. No patterns used. Just me, my tape measure, my scissors, my pins, and my sewing machine. Oh, and thread too!

I start by measuring the length and width of my pillow form. I’m using a 20 x 20 Ikea down pillow inseert (click here for Ikea pillow insert found on Amazon).

So I cut a piece of fabric 21″ wide x at least 50″ long.

Now fold the fabric around the pillow insert (with right sides of fabric touching the pillow) and pull tight(ish) for a snug fit. On the back side of the insert, overlap the fabric at least 5″ and then fold back a layer to create a clean seam. Pin in place.

Carefully remove fabric from pillow form, keeping it folded in thirds. Lie flat, right sides together.

With right sides of fabric together, adjust your folds until the center piece of the fabric measures 19 1/2″ in total length. (I like a tight fit slip cover when using a down pillow insert, so I sew the seams a 1/2″ smaller than the pillow insert dimensions).

With right sides together, iron flat.

Iron center overlap seam (where the pocket insert for the pillow form will be) flat too.

Trim off excess fabric from center seam pocket.

Now refold fabric along the center seam, so the finished ironed edge is on the inside.

This will make sure when you sew the side seams together, the clean finished edge will be on the outside of the envelope pocket.

Pin right sides together.

Sew side seams together. I used a 3/4″ seam allowance on both sides for a finished 19 1/2″ width.

Turn right sides out and press. Here’s a shot of the envelope opening.

And now my back porch feels just like Saint-Tropez.

Okay, that’s a stretch. Maybe more like Lake Geneva.

Or, better yet, one of those North Shore lakefront masons I’m still awaiting my party invite to! 😉

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Cabana Stripe Fabric - Gray and White Cabana Striped Fabric - Pillow Cover Tutorial - How To Make and Envelope Pillow Cover

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Mediterranean Vegetarian Quinoa & Hummus Buddha Bowl

July 16, 2019 By Linda Leave a Comment

Mediterranean Vegetarian Quinoa & Hummus Buddha Bowl – Weight Watchers 6 Point Buddha Bowl Recipe

I’m done with dieting.

Done. Done. And Done.

I’m done with counting calories. Counting points.

I’m done with measuring. Done with weighing. Done.

I’m done with restricting. I’m done with grazing.

Now, this doesn’t mean I’m going to eat a Big Mac everyday. In fact, quite the opposite.

I’m going vegan. Ish.

My daughter calls me a fake vegan. Which, I suppose, is true.

Because I’m not exactly adopting the whole vegan mindset. I’m just co-opting the food.

It comes down to me liking to eat. A lot. And, with a vegan lifestyle you can eat. A lot. Of food.

I guess technically you could call my new “diet” (which isn’t a diet in the sense of the whole counting/measuring/restricting version) is plant-based.
99% of the time. With the Buddha bowl making up a large portion of my daily food intake.

And now, I digress ….

After my whole no more measuring, counting, weighing rant, I’m going to give you a recipe that not only includes measurements … but also includes Weight Watchers points.

I know, I know.

If we were on Twitter I’d say don’t @ me.

But, technically, Weight Watchers isn’t really a diet. Right? They call it a lifestyle plan.

But mostly I’m giving the Weight Watchers points for this Mediterranean Vegetarian Quinoa & Hummus Buddha Bowl because I’ve already built up … over the years … a pretty extensive library of assorted Weight Watchers recipes. They’re some of my most visited posts, so I don’t want to disappoint.

And let’s face it: just because I’m no loner counting and measuring and weighing and restricting, it doesn’t mean everyone else is. So for those counting and measuring etc. etc., I’ll offer some counting and measuring … and Weight Watchers points … for this Buddha bowl recipe.

Print Recipe

Mediterranean Quinoa & Hummus Buddha Bowl

Weight Watchers 6 Point Salad Recipe

Servings: 1

Ingredients

2 cups shredded lettuce
1-2 cups cherry tomatoes, halves
1 small carrot
1/2 medium cucumber
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
4 tbsp hummus (link for homemade hummus recipe below)
1/2 cup quinoa, cooked
paprika

Instructions

Add shredded lettuce to bottom of large bowl. Mix with 1 tbsp of fresh lemon juice.
Add cooked quinoa, tomatoes, cucumber, carrot. Sprinkle with second tbsp of fresh lemon juice.
Top with homemade hummus (recipe link below) or store bought.

Here’s the link to the homemade hummus recipe (click here). And, if I must say so myself, it’s the most delicious and creamy hummus. Ever.

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White Poppy Painted Mason Jar

June 13, 2019 By Linda 9 Comments

White Poppy Painted Mason Jar – Painted Flowers on Mason Jars DIY

White Poppy Painted Mason Jar - Painted Mason Jar Craft Ideas - Easy How To Paint Poppies - Easy Mason Jar Crafts - Painting Flowers on Mason Jars

My husband is frustrated with the weather.

In Chicago, of all places.

And he’s lived here all his life! He wants it warm and dry …

and Chicago is just not cooperating.

How to paint poppies - Marimekko poppies - white poppies - Mason Jar crafts - White Poppy Painted Mason Jar

Sure we get a throwaway gorgeous day peppered in here and there. A casual reminder of what we’re missing by not living in one of those warm climate states.

And, admittedly, he’s hankering for summer weather when, technically, it’s not actually summer.

But my biggest fears about his demands for warm and dry means my retirement dream of a downtown Chicago condo with spectacular city views from every room will remain just that …

a dream.

Sigh.

I do have one teeny tiny hold out sign of hope. And it’s called Uber.

We had a meeting with the IRS last week at their downtown Chicago offices (no, we’re not being audited; in fact, the IRS owes us quite a sum of money and we had to prove our identity).

But I digress …

Anyhoo, we took Ubers to and from our appointment. At off-peak travel times. And it was a very pleasant experience.

And during that very pleasant drive, my husband did admit that while he’s not the biggest of downtown Chicago fans, he would be up for exploring the Chicago Riverwalk area.

Hey, it’s a small sliver of hope!

So maybe on a warm and dry summer evening in mid-July, he’ll become as intoxicated as I with downtown Chicago as the sun sets and the skyline lights up … 😉

So, now you may be asking, Linda what do white poppy painted mason jars have to do with the weather in Chicago and my dreams of living downtown? Not much, really. Except despite the wet and temperatures vacillating from high 50’s to high 60’s, the flowers are a blooming! So I thought I’d get in on that blooming flower action with some painted flowers on mason jars of my very own …

and share with you all the tutorial on how easy it is to paint poppies!

White Poppy Painted Mason Jar Tutorial – How To Paint White Poppies on Mason Jars

How to Paint Poppies - Easy Tutorial DIY painted Poppy - White Poppy Painted Mason Jar - Painted Mason Jar Craft Ideas - Easy How To Paint Poppies - Easy Mason Jar Crafts - Painting Flowers on Mason Jars

Materials*

Aged Gray Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint

Linen White Rust-Oleum White Paint

Raw Umber Americana Acrylic Paint

Pint Size (16 oz) Ball Mason Jars

80 Grit Sandpaper

Paint Brushes

Clear Matte Spray Sealant

*affiliate links included.

Rustoleum Chalk Paint in gray - How to Paint White Poppies on Mason Jars - Easy Poppy Painting Tutorial

Start with two coats of Aged Gray Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint. Let dry thoroughly between coats (I tend to give them overnight, but chalk paint dries quickly so if in a rush you can add the second coat in a few hours).

Rustoleum Aged Gray chalk paint - White Poppy Painted Mason Jar - Easy Tutorial on How To Paint Poppies on Mason Jars

Once dry, use 80 grit sandpaper on raised lettering, numbers, areas to distress.

White Chalk Painted Mason Jars with Painted Poppy

Use Linen White Rust-Oleum Chalked paint to add poppies using a medium tipped brush.

White Poppy Flowers Painted on Mason Jars

Use paint brush to create six connected dots to form the base of the poppy.

Let dry before proceeding to next step.

Using Aged Gray Rust-Oleum Chalked paint and your medium tipped brush, add dots to the middle of the poppies.

Let dry before proceeding to next step.

Using Raw Umber Americana acrylic paint and a fine tipped brush, ad dots to the middle of the poppies, like so.

Using the same Raw Umber acrylic paint and fine tipped paint brush, add small stems to each poppy, like so.

Let dry completely before proceeding to next step (I typically give this an overnight dry before sealing with a clear coat – see below).

Finish with a coat of clear finish matte spray (this is my go to brand that doesn’t cause the white paint to yellow).

I also made a second jar using Rust-Oleum Country Gray Chalked Paint (which I refer to as greige)

And I made a third jar with a white base and gray and greige painted poppies …

Pin It!

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You can find all my mason jar projects at this link …

Neutral and Gray Living Room Makeover

June 6, 2019 By Linda 12 Comments

Neutral and Gray Living Room Makeover – Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray

Back in November I volunteered to host Thanksgiving dinner. We were a smaller(ish) crowd than usual. Now grown nieces and nephews were traveling out of state to spend the holiday with their own extended families.

It had been years since I’ve hosted any formal gathering at our space-challenged home.

Needless to say, I was a bit rusty.

But in the middle of it all, I decided to add a little mayhem to the madness …

and completely redecorate our living and dining rooms before that Thanksgiving feast.

That’s something a sane person does. Right?

But to be honest, I’ve been threatening a makeover of these spaces for months.

Okay, more like a year.

I actually bought this fabric in February 2018 from this Etsy shop. And then I just waited and waited and waited for …

I’m not sure.

I definitely needed a push.

To be honest, I work best with a deadline. And hosting Thanksgiving seemed a very logical deadline. And much-need push.

My husband and kids, on the other hand, thought it was completely illogical. And perhaps a bit insane … 😉

And these prints? These black and white botanical prints from this Etsy shop?

Yeah, I had been hanging to to them for close to a year as well.

The big question, though, was wall color.

I had paint chips of grays that I shuffled and reshuffled for a year.

I wanted something not to dark … not too light. Not too blue. Not too green. Not too purple.

Gray is tough!

And I was working with a self-imposed ridiculously short deadline, so there was no time for a do over.

In the end, I picked Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray.

Which is actually a lighter shade and a bit warmer than in the picture above. (See the first picture on this post for a more accurate shade).

It’s definitely more of a greige gray with warmer undertones.

Oh, and I forgot to mention the walls were previously painted a very dark navy (Sherwin Williams Naval) …

You can see more of my navy & white living room at this link …

Remember?

So before I even opened up my can of Agreeable Gray, I had to reach for the primer.

Followed by two coats of gray.

Sigh.

It was done in the nick of time.

And, as much as I loved my foray into the dark side with navy …

I’m really happy with how much lighter and brighter the living and dining rooms are!

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May 28, 2019 By Linda 17 Comments

Radiator Cover Simple Fantel – Neutral Mantel with Lanterns

Simple mantel with lanterns and eucalyptus

So a few thoughts on this rainy, thunder-stormy, seriously flooding (with occasional tornado warnings) end of May Memorial Day (well, here in Chicago at least):

#1 – I miss you guys. Well, it’s probably more gals than guys reading this but you get the point. But truly, deeply, I miss hearing from you. I miss sharing my life and my home and my crafts and my many ups … and my downs … with you.

The thing is, once I step away from the blog I find it that much harder to jump back in again. But here I am. Jumping ….

and hoping you’ll catch me!

#2 – Can I really call this a Spring mantel fantel? Technically it’s still Spring. So I guess technically I’m squeaking this one in under the wire. 😉

#3 – It feels really great to be behind the lens of my camera again. Seriously. I was having a really hard, depressing few weeks until I pulled out the camera. And just like that, everything felt right again.

#4 – My son graduated college on Mother’s Day weekend. We traveled down to Terre Haute to attend the event. It was long. The keynote speaker was meh. We were in the nose bleed seats.

On the day of the ceremony, my son had yet to get his final grades. So we crossed our fingers that this was really for real as we tried desperately to hear his name called out over various outbursts of cheers and screams that reverberated around stadium.

We are some seriously proud parents! Great job Sam! 🙂

Faux mantel with lanterns and Eucalyptus stems - Simple mantel

#5 – Sorry for that college-graduating-cliffhanger thing, but my son truly did graduate. Officially. The diploma and transcripts arrived last week. Again, so very proud!

#6 – My daughter graduates high school next week. And then it’s off to Colorado for college in August.

I’m already stressing about the logistics of moving her out there without having to make a 15+ hour drive (with + being multiple restroom stops because tiny bladder).

I suppose I’ll UPS some stuff. Buy some stuff there. Get a really big suitcase for her clothes and stuff …

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated!

#7 – Thank you for sticking around. And coming back when I finally, finally showed up in your in-box.

And now I fear I’ve left some of your comments and messages hanging for months. Thirty-three to be exact. Though some of those may be spam. After I finish working on my next blog post today, I promise I’ll finally get back to you all!

#8 – Last (and least, for now), during the time I stepped away, WordPress (the platform I blog on) decided to change up how I create a blog post. Which seems unnecessary. Downright confusing, in fact.

Perhaps it’s just me getting old, but I’m definitely in the if it ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it camp. You know the one. It’s across the lake from the you-can’t-build-a-better-mouse-trap camp and down the street from let’s-face-it-nothing-is-really-better-than-slice bread spa & resort. 😉

Hitting Pause.

March 1, 2019 By Linda 24 Comments

I’ve always found it hard to blog post-holiday season.

I mean, how can I top trees and mini wreaths and twinkle lights?

And then there’s all that cold and gray and early darkness that follows … for what feels like months and months on end.

I spent last weekend working up motivation to turn my back on that gray and cold and get back to the business of blogging.

But then tragedy struck on Monday night. Technically, Tuesday morning.

Don’t worry, my family is fine. But my friend who happens to live next door is not.

I won’t get into any details. I’ll just say it was a terrible, horrible, devastating sudden loss. And I was there as it all unfolded.

Nothing criminal, but it was traumatic. The emotions were raw — primal — as a friend lost her husband, and her children lost their father.

My heart breaks for this wonderful family. The best next door neighbors you could ask for …

And with that broken heart, I just can’t find any inspiration to blog. For now. So I’m hitting pause. For a week. Probably more like two. Perhaps three?

I don’t know.

All I can do it take it one day at a time.

The Mudroom. Ish.

February 7, 2019 By Linda 3 Comments

I never play the lottery.

Okay, I’ll amend that. I don’t play daily. Or weekly. Or monthly. I only play when it hits crazy super high jackpots.

You could say I’m a fair weather lottery fan. 😉

And as I play the lottery (usually online with a mix of hand-picked numbers and auto selected numbers) I immediately start house hunting.

Is that wrong?

Am I the only one?

And … most importantly … am I jinxing myself by “counting my winnings” before numbers are even drawn?

Because as I’m picking those lottery numbers, I’m toggling back and forth with Zillow and Trulia and realtor.com

My focus (these days) of those Zillow and Trulia and realtor.com house searches are on downtown Chicago (shhhhh, don’t tell my husband). Fabulous million dollar condos with must-have amazing views. Must-have spectacular kitchens and bathrooms. Must-have floor to ceiling windows so I can lie in bed at night and look out at Chicago’s amazing, twinkling skyline …

And … a little further down on that must-have list … a mudroom.

Oh how I dream of a mudroom. With hooks and cubbies and a place for everything …

Now, in our current house we have a mudroom. Ish.

Before we adding on a family room on the back of our house, this was the back door area. When we moved in, there were a few hooks on one wall and we had an egg crate to capture our shoes and boots.

During my crazed board and batten obsession, I gave this mudroom-ish area it’s own treatment. And, in doing so, was able to add even more hooks for the kids coats.

A few months back I gave this area a little spruce. Some gray paint on the walls (Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray). And the sconces got a coat of Rustoleum chalk paint in Charcoal.

Oh, and a few fabric wrapped cork tiles help to keep us organized. Ish. 😉

Oh my God, I just had a revelation!

Perhaps my furnace dying on the coldest day of the year (twice now) karma is because I keep dissing my house? I mean, hopping on Zillow as I purchase lottery tickets is a serious house diss. And I do frequently talk about how I’ll be selling her as a tear down …

Perhaps this is the ultimate punishment … or, more likely, revenge? Forcing us to keep investing $$$ in her that we’ll never recoup!

I think my head just exploded! 🙂

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Home Office in Gray and White

February 5, 2019 By Linda 9 Comments

Home Office in Gray and White – Gray White Home Office.

Welcome to my home office.

Where the magic happens. 😉

I know, I know. You’re thinking, “really Linda?” Really? Because that looks an awful lot like your living room.”

To which I respond, “Yes, yes, my eagle-eyed friends. You are correct. This is, in fact, a corner of my living room.”

Now there’s a logical reason I’m claiming this corner of the living room as my office space. You do remember how my home is spatially challenged, right? Which means there is no magical spare room in which I can make the magic happen. So my living room has to pull double duty …

This is where you’ll find me most days for most of the day. Tucked behind this laptop table, all dressed up in my yoga pants and over-sized hoodie with my hair pulled back in a pony tail and reading glasses firmly affixed to my face.

And this is where I edit pictures and write blog posts and answer your questions.

You know, all that magic making stuff. 🙂

The best part of this laptop table is this open cubby. Now I can keep this home office corner of my living room organized and clutter free by tucking away all my pens and notepads and notebooks filled with “to do’s” and future project and post ideas.

But my office isn’t just relegated to that one corner by the window. I’ve extended my reach over here …

This side table is not just a side table. It pulls double duty by housing all my blog and household files …

Clever, right?

I’m all about the hidden storage ideas. And the pulling of double-duty furniture and spaces.

So while I return to the magic making, I thought I’d share all of my home office shopping resources …

Home Office Shopping Resources:

Greige & White Striped Armchair from Wayfair

Jute Rug from Wayfair

Laptop Computer Table/Desk from World Market

Filing Drawer Side Table from Better Homes & Gardens Collection at Walmart

Drum Table from a long, long time ago from a distant relative (and here’s a link to how I painted the base & and here’s a link to how I stripped and whitewashed the top)

Painted & Distressed Mason Jars from My Etsy Shop

Pin It!

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