Check!

I've almost checked everything off my To Do list - including picking up these two posters from my framer. While I have no idea where they're going, I figured having them framed would put me one step ahead considering they've been rolled up for nearly a year.

Ork's Manhattan poster with a 4" mat and simple frame:



1978 US Secret Service shooting range target in a bamboo frame [I found another poster on eBay here]:

Creepy Crawlers

When moving into this house last April, we immediately planted a Rangoon Creeper [Quisqualis indica] along one side of our fence. It's an invasive evergreen vine that covers a lot of space, which I love! Throughout the course of the day, the clusters of long tubed flowers release a sweet fragrance and change from white to pink to a bright, deep red. Hyper-colored flowers, if you will. If this creepy crawler can thrive with my benign neglect, anyone can grow this!


Over the long weekend, we finally got a chance to completely redo our front flower beds. Before they were lifeless and filled with half-dead Azalea bushes. While we still have a long way to go, we're off to a good start and I'm anxious for our little plants [especially the larger ones] to grow! 






The backyard has also come a long way. We no longer have ivy growing through the windows and into the house, and we now have grass instead of ground cover. Hooray for Spring and greener pastures!

My Turn Up To Bat

Paloma of La Dolce Vita has tagged me to share a bit of my past and a sliver of my obsessive to-do list.

What I was doing 10 years ago:
School photo of me in 1998 and I can't believe I wore lipstick that dark. I think it was Mary Kay's Toffee. Bad, oh so bad.

I just finished my Junior year of high school and was working as a graphic designer for a T-shirt company. I adored my job and continued working for them through college. I liked to do things like go to the movies 4 times in one weekend and visit my friends in Austin. I didn't have a care in the world! Although I should have been a bit more concerned about all that makeup.

5 things on my to-do list today:
• Pick up paint swatches for bedroom [Check!]
• Pick up pieces from framer out on Harwin [I'd rather pull my teeth out than drive to that area of town]
• Book flight to visit Erika and Chance
• Complete my expense report
• Clean the house

Snacks I enjoy:
I am the snacker of all snackers. I eat all day long, mainly fruit of any kind. Every now and then I will grab a few Goldfish or some Trail Mix. I'm also obsessed with Swirll, Houston's answer to the Pinkberry craze. I'm ridiculously addicted and have been known to make an appearance more than once in a single day. But right now, all I want are Cherry Sours.

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
I'd travel like the dickens, go to culinary school and also get my MBA, set our parents up pretty nicely, and slap a pretty little addition onto my house. Not sure I would immediately move or make any rash decisions; I'm a weeny when it comes to sudden change. Oh, and I would also start my vintage car collection by purchasing another, or two.

Places I have lived:
• Baton Rouge, LA
• New York, NY
• Houston, TX
• and a whole new place come '09 - more about that later!

People I want to know more about:
Dean from My Little Apartment and Michael from A Continuous Lean. Michael, I know you never do things like this, but I'm so interested to know your answers! No pressure.

I Want Candy

These make me absurdly giddy and lately they're all I can think about. Cherry sours are my vice.

[photo courtesy of Flickr member sea turtle.]

I'm Nuttier Than a Fruitcake

Last night in a barrage of emails between me and the lovable Erika of Urban Grace, she told me I must participate in Reclaiming Miss Havisham's Things We Save posts. Leslie wants to see your most sentimental possessions and what keeps your house from looking like another Pottery Barn showroom. So, come out of the closets and quit hiding your hoards - send in those pictures! It's a blast to see what some of us [apparently me considering I'm now known to be quite the crazy] are collecting and holding on to.

Erika's been to my house, so she knew I was a prime candidate for showcasing my awkward acquisitions. You can see all of my glorified trash and treasures here! The writing's on the wall.

The White House

Built in 1801, this 3 bedroom/3 bath 2500 sq ft house was featured on HGTV's My House Is Worth What? and is located in Gansevoort, NY on the Hudson River. The couple purchased it in 2006 for $350,000 and have since put a mere $200,000 into renovations, currently leaving the house worth more than $1 million! Complete with recycled brick and wood, plant based insulation and environmentally-friendly paints, they have replaced all the floors, molding and trim, as well as installed two fireplaces and completely overhauled the kitchen. They really stretched their renovation funds and the outcome is beyond beautiful. These blurry photos do not do the house - or the owner's hard work - any justice.

Before and after of the living area. I love love love the built-in bar behind the staircase and the newly added fireplace constructed from salvaged bricks.


The reclaimed wooden bookshelves located behind the front door are one of my favorite features, especially since they feature Circa Lighting's Boston Library lights.


Tiny family room located off kitchen. I'm obsessed with the horse print perched above the mantle.


Lovely kitchen filled with ample designer lighting, a hammered copper prep sink, and a fantastic mustard range.


Original staircase to the left, renovated on the right.


Cozy and luxe master bath.


Guest bedroom featuring harlequin painted wood floors and a plethora of natural light.


Guest bath with large found object used as main storage and vintage mirror.


And this photo is of the owners [on right], but really I wanted to post it because I'm smitten with her mittens.

All Eyes On

...a ridiculously cute metal trade sign that needs a good home, specifically mine. It's quite a spectacle, no? Available for purchase at Heights Antiques on Yale.


And while you're there, be sure to check out Carolina's booth full of goodies!

P.S.

Last night we watched P.S. I Love You. I laughed hysterically and cried uncontrollably, but most of all it warmed my heart. It's a darling film about self-discovery and living life, and I suddenly felt so foolish for the silly things that make me angry.

P.S. The soundtrack was lovely. Download The Stills' In The Beginning here.

Hula-baloo

This little ditty and adorable girl have been in my head all morning. Who doesn't want a Magic Hoop?

Sing Along

I'm loving the new summertime music feature on Anthropologie's website. I've spent my morning browsing sites and catching up on my favorite blogs while singing along to the likes of The Stranglers, The Zombies and DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. Happy Sunday!

On a Soap Box

My parents are embarking on not one, but two bathroom remodels. In order to get my Mom amped for the messy renovations to come, I surprised her with this vintage French soap hook. These chrome hooks are made by Pro Ven Di and were originally designed for French public school washrooms. The vegetable based soap screws on to the rod and spins as you use it. And while it's an ingenious way to dispense soap, I had no idea they would be so large and substantial in person. I'm now looking to mount one of these industrial beauties in my own home!

Pop Art

This is insanely entertaining and well worth the 7 minutes of video. I'm ready for a summer full of So You Think You Can Dance!

Label of Love

While appreciating the beauty in everyday things, here are two of my favorite labels that provide contstant inspiration for me:

I've posted about my love for Smidge wines before, and their jammy flavors are just one of the reasons for my infatuation. They know how to mix fonts like a master!



I could stare at Panna's bottle all day with its complementary color scheme and Italian hillside inspired graphics. Clean and refreshing - just like the product!

Pompeii Kicks Ash

On August 24, 79 A.D. the world's most infamous volcano, Vesuvius, viciously erupted above Pompeii, Italy and buried the entire fated city in ten feet of hardened, catastrophic ash.


Over the weekend we attended a PaperCity party celebrating the opening of the Pompeii: Tales from an Eruption exhibit at the MFAH. If you're in Houston, I highly suggest heading over to the Caroline Wiess Law Building before June 22nd to see the incredibly moving display of ruins, gold jewelry, found objects and 12 plaster and resin body casts of victims -- all perfectly preserved nearly 2,000 years later.

Hear Ye!

Erin of Element Interiors has recently launched her Etsy shop and I'm drooling over the rare vintage wallpaper. Be sure to check back often for more finds, refurbished furniture and handmade artwork. Erin's foolproof eye for color and design has led me to become a regular reader of her blog, Elements of Style. Now I can't wait to become a regular patron of her wares!

Everyday Italian

The Food Network is one of my favorite stations to veg out in front of, especially to watch Giada De Laurentiis' Everyday Italian. She always uses fresh herbs [score!] and mounds of cheese [double score!!].

If you're looking for a quick hors d'oeuvre for your next party, Crostini with Sun-Dried Tomato Jam seems like it would be a sure-fire winner. And incredibly easy to make!

But if you're craving something special for Sunday brunch, Giada's Carbonara is the humdinger of all recipes. Asparagus, basil aioli linguini, shaved pecorino and fried eggs - how can it not be perfection? Only downfall: I predict this recipe would most definitely put you right back to sleep!

Headbanger

Jennifer Behr is the fashionable talent behind Gossip Girl's signature over-the-top headbands. While I'm not into the wide, scarf-like options worn by most of the characters, I do love the ethereal, more vintage like pieces used on Leighton Meester, AKA Blair Waldorf.

I'd personally love a reason to sport the Art Deco Headwrap or the Overlapping Crystal Twist in smoke, à la Natalie Portman. An easy and effortless way to feel snazzy!

[via People]

Texana

I discovered Blood is the New Black via A Cup of Jo and I don't know how I ever lived without this T-shirt by Travis Millard.

And We're Off...

Perfect way to start the week with another Lil' Corn sighting. Happy Monday!

Happy Friday!

Wishing everyone a sunny weekend!

If you're looking for extra reading material, be sure to check out Black*Eiffel's darling MTV Cribs inspired post. It's by far one of the most unique posts I've seen in a while. Another favorite, Ruby PR's tribute to the evolution of the NYC Subway. Enjoy!

Apple Advice

What started out as an issue with iTunes has all but ended in the purchase of a new computer. When J and I moved "Inside the Loop" and prepared for our housing downsize, we decided to sell our individual PCs and purchase a MacBook Pro to share. We've never regretted our decision.

...until we decided to merge our iTunes. It doesn't work people. Apparently iTunes is not set up to be shared amongst multiple users and when done, complete havoc ensues. Case in point: When all of my Playlists were erased and half of my music no longer accessible. After four trips to the Genius Bar, I think we need to buy another computer. In all honesty, we've been toying with the idea anyway due to J's new work-related traveling. I’m getting my pick of the litter and I couldn’t be more stumped as to what I want. So Mac gurus, should I go for another MacBook Pro or opt for the 250GB MacBook? I sort of really like the idea of a glossy white laptop, but am scared of the smaller screen and slower processor when dealing with photos. Any thoughts?

[Polaroid via My Polaroid Blog.]