Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Why I Love Saladino

Did you catch the cover story in the July/August issue of Veranda?


It features a Palm Springs house designed by John Saladino, and I do believe it has rekindled my love affair with his work.  I first fell in love with him in high school when I saw this article in the May, 1995 issue of House Beautiful:

The Great Room is uh...great.  

The Dining Room.
I continue to dream of a circular pedestal table with armchairs.  It's been sixteen years.

That's right, I subscribed to House Beautiful in high school.  So what?  It doesn't make me a massive nerd, it just makes me...okay, I am a massive nerd.  Let me show you more of why I love John Saladino.

1) He is the king of romantic luxury.
Photo: Veranda
2) He effortlessly mixes contemporary and rustic elements.
Photo: Veranda
3) I want to eat dinner at his house.
Photo: Veranda
4) He designs every surface to perfection.
Photo: Village Properties
5) He invented scratch-coat plaster.
Photo: Veranda
6) He can design a room with a thousand layers, without it ever appearing busy or unrefined.
Photo: Village Properties
7) He doesn't just make outdoor rooms, he knows how to make an outdoor space.  
Photo: Village Properties
Do you love Saladino too?  You're in luck!  If you have just $24,500,000 to spare you can still purchase his villa! Just please invite me to dinner!!!

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Monday, June 20, 2011

An Update

Some fun stuff has been happening for me lately, and thought I'd share!  I won these super cute blocks from DaySpring and the Nester!


It's been tough trying to explain to the boys why Mommy now plays with blocks and they can't touch 'em!

And, thanks to my wonderful readers, I also placed Second in a friendly guest-blogging competition over at Charlotte Mom Favorites!  (Click here to read my post about The Mommy "Dating" Scene, aka making friends with other moms).  My prize was a gift card to California Pizza Kitchen, where the Hubs and I demolished our celebratory BBQ Chicken pizza.  Thank you dear readers!

Love this bloggin' gig!

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Thursday, June 16, 2011

Yard Sale Nirvana

On Tuesday I showed you my giant 50-cent yard-sale frame, and with Nester's yard sale Linky party going on today, I realized I haven't shown you the rest of my loot.  It was an amazing neighborhood yard sale, and even though I didn't find any furniture, I more than made up for it...

Vintage egg basket, giant Fifties-era game-board, oversized carved wooden tray (I actually paid less than $8, but I don't remember how much now), old chandy.  Not bad for $20!
I picked up some smaller things, too, but these were the biggies that day.  The egg basket holds bags of chips in my pantry, for now.  I am seeing the game-board as wall-decor in a playroom.  The tray is, well, up for anything.  And I have big plans for the chandy...will share soon!  Love a good yard sale!

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P.S. Lovin' the Linky's at:
Nesting Place

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Old Glory

Did you know that today is Flag Day?  I don't really know where Flag Day comes from, but that won't stop me from flagrantly using it as an excuse to show you my latest fun project!

I have coveted this flag from Pottery Barn for roughly a thousand years , how about you?

Painted American Flag Wall Art
Photo: Pottery Barn
But...since I am frugal fannie over here...I was just gonna paint one myself until I stumbled upon an even easier idea.

Enter one huge frame I nabbed at a yard sale for 50 cents:


I know!  It was filthy and beat-up, but still...fitty cent aint bad, right?  And, with the Fourth of July just around the corner and visions of red, white and blue dancing in my head, I remembered an old flag I still had...


...and voila!  Me, my staple gun, and about 10 minutes was all it took to turn my old faded flag into Old Glory.

The flag and the frame opening were both 30 inches high, so I knew it was meant to be.  I didn't get all the flag's width in there but I think it's close enough.  I simply stapled the flag directly into the back of the frame:


I didn't iron it or anything because I wanted it to shine in all its faded beauty.

(I can't wait to have a fireplace without a baby-gate.)

Just in time for Flag Day!

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P.S. Lovin' the Linky's at:

Fancy This
Truly Lovely
Designer Garden Button
Designer Garden
Finding Fabulous
The Shabby Nest
The Shabby Nest
Fingerprints on the Fridge
Beyond The Picket Fence
Beyond the Picket Fence
HOG
House of Grace

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Sunday Thoughts

I'm putting Sunday Funnies on hold for today.

I learned yesterday that a friend from school passed away on Friday. She was an incredibly smart, beautiful and accomplished woman who lit up every room she entered.  And she was so young.  My heart is just aching for her family and loved ones.

So I am filled with sadness today. I wish there were words adequate for moments like this, but there just aren't any.  I am just praying for God's peace for her loved ones.

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:7

Thanks for hanging in there with me.

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Sunday, June 5, 2011

Sunday Funnies

I've been sharing some of those cute, unintentional mispronunciations lately.  But what happens when the mispronunciation is on purpose?

We have our friend Adam in town this weekend, which the boys love because it's like having a jungle gym move in for three days.  Littlest Boo, who is two and talks like it, has spent the weekend calling him "Edna."  Kinda cute, right?  So this morning Adam says, "It's 'Adam.'  Can you say 'Adam'?"

And LB says, clear as day, "Not Adam.  It's Edna!"  I sorta feel bad for Edna.  And I sorta plan on calling him that forever.

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Friday, June 3, 2011

My Little Farmers

This week is Farms Week in my house, and we've been having so much fun with it.  Biggest helped me track down all our farm-themed books, games, and toys and at one point said, "Mommy, I love Farms Week!"  It makes me so happy I decided to do weekly themes again this summer.

The highlight of the week was going to a local farm to pick our own strawberries.
Hard at work!

I think he was equally proud of his strawberries and having
a blue circle painted on his face!
We had so much fun, in spite of the scorching heat.  Scorching heat, it should be said, at 10:00 in the morning.  On the last day of May.  I know some of you live where it doesn't feel like August in Miami.  I might need to come visit.

In the meantime, we're moving on to Trains next week!  Woot woot!

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