Hooked on Phonics

I was in California for work all of last week and when we had a work luncheon, my efforts included running to the local Walmart to grab cookies. Not very creative, but I get an E for effort since the local Walmart is anything but safe & friendly;) I'm close to East Oakland people! They try and sell everyone watches, purses, and dvd's out of the back of cars as you try to walk into the store!

Anyhow, I about died laughing when I saw what I'm about to share. Thank goodness I had my co-worker there to help document the hilarity. Without further adieu, please enjoy the wondrous signs of the East Oakland Walmart:


HAHAHAHAHA - it still makes me laugh. Somehow, "potatoe" chips just don't sound nearly as appetizing!

Chinoiserie and Azure Skies

Earlier this year, you may recall that I posted about the inspirational pictures I had gathered for our front entryway. Well...I think we're about done! It's missing a little thing here or there, but the pieces I have in mind I may not find this year or the next (I'm on the hunt for a vintage clock, preferably gold...obviously!) so for now this is it!



What do you think? It's interesting to compare my inspirational picture to the final product. There's definitely some clear similarities. Clearly the blue and white chinoiserie influence came through loud and clear, but there's definitely a twist to the whole look, a bit of CLD (Camp Little Deer) influence if you will...



Also, important to note: Ty picked out the table! Isn't it perfect? That's all Ty right there. I was concerned that it was too much white, but nope. I stand corrected, it's just right!

AND...just so that you don't think that I never get out given my recent bout of interior decorating blog posts: This is what it looks like outside my door right now! AGH, CAN IT GET ANY PRETTIER?



Oh, Tennyson...This is exactly what you must of had in mind when you wrote of the "azure world." Who didn't obsess over his poem "The Eagle" when they were younger? Oh, just me? Weird.

Home Project #543 and Counting...

So...are you sick of the home decorating posts yet? Well, in case you're not - here's another! This project was super easy and quick to do, though it's definitely a two-person job - thanks, Mom!

Here's the deal...some time ago while perusing other home decor blogs (and my heavens, are there so many wonderful ones to choose from! I thought it was bad when I was wedding planning with all the wedding blogs, home decorating/interior design is on blog overload and boy do I love it!) I stumbled across this post.

In particular, I loved this picture, everything about it except for the pink:

(Country Living)

Then I thought...I can do that! So I did. But only after checking with fellow future HGTV design star, to make sure I wasn't crazy and that this was in fact a good project to undertake:)

So, I kept my eye out for a good deal on wallpaper. Because let's face it - wallpaper can be expensive! Then two weeks ago, while Ty and I were home dreaming at some stores in Rice Village (we call it home dreaming because we're not really shopping, just dreaming!) we stumbled across these discontinued bins of wallpaper! Amidst the rolls of seashells and other nautical motifs, there it was - the most perfect damask print wallpaper you ever did see:) And for only $13.00 for the entire double roll, home it went! Mom came over that week and in an hour the project was done.

Bookshelves au naturel:

All done!

And here's one more shot, just so you can see the wallpaper a bit better:

Now, I know they've still got a ways to go till they look like what I envision, but thought I'd share where we are now! I'm on the hunt for stacks of vintage books plus some other decorative pieces to really get the look just right. But for now, this is a step in the right direction!

We'll see if it all comes together in the end:) Hope you all are having a great week!