girl meets home

Lookalike: Frameless Mirror

2010-01-24T10:23:00.004-05:00

Home Decorators Collection Hovan Mirror -- $219
Pottery Barn Elise Frameless Mirror -- $179

Lookalike: Brickmaker Coffee Table

2010-01-11T18:00:00.000-05:00

Brickmaker's Table, designed by Mark Sage and Rudi Nijssen of BoBo Intriguing Objects, $1360

Durham Cocktail Table, Ballard Designs, $349

Green tag envy

2009-12-07T18:00:00.002-05:00

I suffer from complete and utter green tag (J.Crew) obsession.

This fall the green tag obsession has become increasingly strong. I don't know if it's me, the mystical powers of creative director Jenna Lyons, or plain old serendipity, but I can't get enough of this store.

Yesterday I headed to my local B&M store and found the latest object of my affection: The Vintage Fleur Tiered Cami.

Seriously? I love the tiered camis this fall, and the cotton black and white flower embroidery coupled with the black ribbon belt just send this cami over the edge for me.

Since it "sold out" online (who knows if it really did, part of me thinks they didn't want to offer it at 25% off this past weekend), I bought it. But it's black and white and wearable all year-round, alone in the spring/summer, under a cardigan or blazer in the fall and winter.

I already know what I'd like to wear it with, immediately:

Vintage Fleur Cami by girlmeetshome featuring J Crew

Items in this set:

Women's new arrivals - shirts&tops - Tiered vintage fleur top - J.Crew, $168

Wool twill club pant black - J.Crew, $98

Calvin Klein Cora at Zappos.com, $98

Women's jewelry - bracelets - Luxe cocktail bracelet - J.Crew, $70

Earth & Sea Posts - Anthropologie.com, $28

I think I just created my Christmas outfit :-)

New obsession -- Giant Angel Wing

2009-10-21T07:00:00.003-04:00

Maybe it's because we're nearing the holidays, or maybe it's because I'm currently in love with all things French-vintage, or maybe it reminds me of my maiden name and college sorority, but I am absolutely smitten with this 8' tall Oversized Carved Angel Wing at Pottery Barn.

Image courtesy of Pottery Barn

When I spotted it in the last PB Bed and Bath catalogue, I was hoping that it would be a new item...and here it is!

Image courtesy of Pottery Barn

Pretty steep price tag though ($675, yikes). I'm going to hope and pray that it goes on sale at some point and snag it then. Or keep an eye out for something similar at tag sales, antique stores, etc.

Before & After: Thrifty Jewelry Box

2009-07-31T16:12:00.000-04:00

Last week I found this plain-old jewelry box for just two dollars at a Goodwill. When I looked at the shape and size of the box, I immediately saw a solution to one of my annoying habits (according to my husband) so I brought it home and planned a makeover.

I have a habit of leaving random clutter on the kitchen counter and it drives Jared crazy. When I open the mail, clip a coupon, or deliberate over a paint swatch, I leave it out because I want to come back to it later... the problem is, sometimes "later" is actually weeks away. I figured this box might serve as a catch-all for my miscellaneous (read: mess) items.

The first thing I did was to rip out the lining and jewelry dividers. Next, I used a healthy amount of Goo-Be-Gone to eliminate the sticky reside that was leftover. Then I lightly sanding the entire outside of the box and wiped away the dust. Finally, I painted the top and sides with a few coats of Benjamin Moore's Buxton Blue. (I bought a $5 sample from the BM store.)

The new color looked good enough, but I wanted to make it better, and more personal. So I created a monogram using Word, used it as a stencil, and traced it onto the surface of the lid. Then, using some white paint (which I already had on hand) and a teeny-tiny brush I filled in the outlined letters and, behold:

A personalized storage box for under $5.00! I hardly count paint as an expense...it's more of a necessity... plus I got to test out the color in case I decide to paint another room!

I think Jared will be pleased to see I took his constructive criticism to heart and came up with an easy solution. And since I put both of our initials on the top, my mess is his mess but at least it has a place out of sight.

New Fall Fashion Finds at J.Crew

2009-07-30T07:00:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I was so excited to receive the new fall J.Crew catalogue! The August issue ushers in early fall fashions that include everything from smart staples perfect for everyday wear, to dainty delights reserved for more special occasions.

Here are just a few of my new-found loves for the season.

Denim pencil skirt

Silk Frances Cami in Deep Rose

Ruffle sweater in Snow

Cheetah calf hair belt

Refined silk cashmere wrap in Sea Spray or Wisteria

Campo Bag in Slate

Jeweled garland bracelet in Rosy Peach

(Sigh) I love fall!

Thrifty Shopping Spree

2009-07-29T08:00:00.002-04:00

The past few weeks have been so hectic that I haven't had time to finish a sentence, much less a project. {For example, the tile floors in the master bathroom are one step away from being finished... and I am going to get to that last step this week, cross my heart.} So I thought it would be fun to find a mini-project that I know I can finish in one sitting... just my way of getting back into the Girl Meets Home groove!

I found myself on TheThriftShopper, a website dedicated to helping you be as thrifty as possible. You can search for thrift stores near you by entering your zip code or address. I mapped out a few stops and came home with a trunk full of goodies.

The first stop was Goodwill where I found:

Wood jewelry box, $1.99
Set of matching glass coffee mugs, $.79 each
Decorative mirror, $3.99
Iron bench, $10.00

Next, I went to a Good Shepard Alliance thrift store. I didn't have as much luck there but I did walk out with this:

White footed serving bowl, $3.00
I have a few ideas in mind for some of my finds... including a solution to one of my bad habits. And the rest of my finds have a new life, one man's trash really is another man's treasure (or woman's).

Bargain Baskets

2009-07-28T08:00:00.001-04:00

Problem: I needed a place to store puppy supplies in the living room, out of sight but within reach.

Solution: Storage baskets with a lift open lid.

I saw exactly what I wanted at Pottery Barn, similar to the baskets in the photo below but with a lid. However, I was having a hard time spending $40 on a basket that was going to hold raw hides and Bitter Apple spray... plus I needed two and $80 on baskets, not happening.

So I found these look-a-likes at Home Goods for $12.99 a piece.

The lids keep the dog out and the mess in, and they fit perfectly under the console table.

Chicago Trip!

2009-07-14T09:58:00.006-04:00

Jared and I are heading to the "Windy City" this week for our friend Emily's wedding (she is actually one of the people who introduced us to each other during college.) Since Jared grew up in the Chicago suburbs he is psyched to be heading to the mid-west for a few days. My first trip to the city was in 2005 when Jared planned a vacation for us and we stayed with Emily while she was interning for the summer. Since then I've been back every year either with a friend or by myself for work or fun! I LOVE CHICAGO! I'd consider living there... if only it weren't so cold in the winter.

Can you be that skyline view from Lake Michigan? I think not.

We've also seen the Cubs play in various cities (Chicago, Washington D.C., Philadelphia) at least once every summer for the past 5 years. Unfortunately, the Cubs are in DC to play the Nat's this weekend... and we're in Chicago. So it looks like our record will be broken this year. What I wouldn't do for a Wrigley Dog at the ballpark!

Emily and Dave (the soon to be husband) will be exchanging vows at the Chicago History Museum on Friday. The CHM was founded in 1856 and is the city’s oldest cultural institution... what better place to say "I do!" We can't wait to see all of the lovely details I know Emily has put into the weekend.

If you don't hear from me for a while... at least you know why! I'll be walking the Mag Mile, looking down from the glass balcony at Sears Tower, or sipping cocktails at the Chicago History Museum on the day of the wedding. Have a fabulous week!

Here's the Plan...

2009-07-07T07:58:00.004-04:00

This morning I am sitting in the kitchen with a cup of coffee waiting for yet another contractor to arrive to provide me with an estimate for our patio. In the past month we've had four contractors visit and promise us a quote and drawing of plans. To date, we've received (1) drawing + quote, (1) email with quote, (1) quote, and (1) contractor who has yet to contact us with anything in over a week. I'm beginning to think these guys play games with people and I'm getting annoyed.

The first guy who came over was the uncle of a friend of ours who owns his own company. He was great. After coming over to do a site visit, he left and promised to fax us the plans within two days. The following day he called me, asked for a fax number and sent us a drawing (similar to below) and a quote. It was a little higher than we'd like to spend so we hung on to it while we collected more estimates.

As you can see, we want most of the yard to be consumed by the patio. That was our original intent, until the stairs on our pseudo-deck collapsed on one side last week. [The deck is more or less a 5x7 landing with stairs leading into the yard. No worries though, Jared got deck screws and bought us a few more weeks with the old stairs by securing them back into place.] I figured it was a sign from up above that we should look into replacing the deck while we're at it. So I called a contractor who specializes in decks and patios. He seemed promising and got me really excited about making the deck larger and moving the stairs to the far right side nearest the fence to provide more storage beneath the deck. He even talked about a track solution that can be installed under the decking to keep rain water from draining onto items we store down below. I envisioned a lattice gate hiding our lawn mower and storage box from plain site. Of course, this is the one guy who hasn't called, emailed, or providing any sort of quote or plans, even though he said he would email me last Monday. (Now I'm annoyed.)

Initially I'd heard that contractors are looking for work due to the slow economy and we'd have to trouble finding someone reliable. Now I'm beginning to think they are waiting for someone with a bigger house to request work and they don't want to bother with our townhouse. Maybe I'm being ridiculous, but I think it's reasonable to follow up on your word and provide a potential customer with the information you promised. Am I alone on this? Does anyone out there have any advice to share? This is our first outdoor project so I have no idea what to expect as far as budgets go, which is why I'm getting multiple quotes. I'd love, love, love to have the patio and deck done before the summer ends... but at this rate, I'm losing hope.

Riley is 5!

2009-07-06T19:25:00.002-04:00

Today we celebrated a little milestone at our house -- Riley Cash, the largest Cocker Spaniel known to man, turned five!

It seems like it was only yesterday that we brought the little Muppet home...

July 2004

August 2004

September 2004

May 2009

I can't believe how much our boy has grown...and how much his behavior has stayed the same (we should have known that eating and sleeping would continue to be his favorite activities).

Happy Birthday, Riley!
(AKA Rod Roddy, Riley Cashman, Mr. Jones, Cashman Jones, Roddy, Mr. Bud, Pretty Boy Johnson, Creepster McGee, Big Bob, Bobby Dog, Tiny Tike, Mr. McGillicuddy, Cuddle Pup Jones, etc.)

More Progress to Report

2009-07-06T12:33:00.001-04:00

Hooray! More progress has been made in this kitchen makeover! While I completely underestimated how long it would take to complete this project, the progress to date has been well worth the pain-staking attention to detail because this kitchen looks like a brand new room!

Here are a few more updated photos...

And just for comparison's sake, let me remind you what this room used to look like:

Obviously I still have some doors and drawers to paint, and hardware to install, but phew, this room feels so much better.

Before & After: Kitchen Cabinet Sneak Peek

2009-07-03T07:25:00.001-04:00

Kitchen Cabinet Overhaul

Install Crown Molding: Check!! (Thank you, Keith & Christian!)
Remove everything from cabinets, clean (inside & out), and sand cabinets: Check!!
Paint Cabinets: Check!
Sand & Paint Doors: Starts today!

Before:

After:
Before:

After:

(Again, pardon picture quality...I've been so busy cleaning, sanding, painting, and reorganizing that I've not had a chance to buy a new camera battery!)

Retail Therapy: Anthropologie Dresses!

2009-07-02T12:16:00.006-04:00

Yesterday during my lunch break I zipped over to the Town Center for some quality retail therapy. I wasn't really expecting to make any purchases but somehow I manged to leave Anthropologie with three adorable dresses, yay! I've mentioned before that Anthro is my "go-to" for bridal shower and occasional gifts ... yet I've never bought a single piece of clothing there. Since I was seeking retail therapy I decided to try on a few dresses. {I don't know if it's the new hair cut, feeling slim from weeks sweating at Boot Camp, or just the lighting the dressing rooms... but I fell in love with everything I tried on!}

I left with a flirty navy shirt dress (which I can't find online probably because it was a sale item, $50!) and two other's:

Carambola Shift, $98

Sweet Olive Shift, $168

Head over to Anthro for some retail therapy of your own... the dresses are just the beginning. I think I've discovered my new weakness!

DIY: "Vintage Flashcards"

2009-07-01T08:30:00.001-04:00

Inspired by a few Vintage Flashcard ideas I've seen out in blogosphere... I decided to use flashcards to display my affection for our four-legged friend for all to see. I started with an old Ikea frame that's followed me from my freshman dorm room all through college and into our current house and still never been hung on a wall:

First, I removed the current photos and gave the frame a coat of black spray paint.

Next, I wrapped the old matting with some leftover fabric I've been hanging onto.

Then, I printed out my own "vintage flashcards" on thick cardstock and trimmed them evenly to create the look of an authentic flashcard.

Finally, I arranged the flashcards beneath a photo of man's (& woman's) best friend:

They may not be authentic or vintage, but they get the point across and the whole project cost under two dollars. I paid around .69 for each sheet of card stock and all of the other materials were already in the house. If I ever see a set of vintage flashcards in my travels I will be sure to pick them up... check out some of the fun ways to incorporate flashcards into your home below:

WhisperWood Cottage: Flashy Ideas for Vintage Flashcards

Apartment Therapy: Look! Vintage Flashcards as Wall Art
Urban Debris Artlog: What to do with Vintage Flashcards

Outdoor Dining

2009-06-30T08:00:00.005-04:00

For the past few weeks we've been collecting estimates from various masonry and decking contractors for our backyard summer project. It seems for the past two years that we've owned our home, we get some sort of bug each July and just have to get something major done to the house. Last year it was the hardwood floors (I'm still gushing over them) and this year, we've committed ourselves to making over our backyard. Jared and I both love being outside and since getting the dog, we find ourselves outside constantly. We sit in our plastic chairs, plopped in the middle of the grass, drinking our Coronas, watching Kasey dig holes and chase bugs... and we love it... but we need an upgrade.

Our backyard check list is as follows:

A level place to grill, eat, and sit outside.
Room for a few flower beds.
Just enough grass to give Kasey a place to mark her territory.

I should be recieving plans and an estimate from one contractor today. Another is visiting tomorrow morning to check out the terrain... and I have a few estimates in my inbox already. Hopefully we can make a decision in the next few days and 4-6 weeks from now have a backyard living up to it's potential! Until then, I'll experience outdoor dining through the pages of my favorite home furniture stores:

Pottery Barn
West Elm

Another Crown Molding Update

2009-06-29T09:49:00.000-04:00

And so I have another crown molding update! I'm excited to report that progress has been made thanks to Christian and his Dad, who spent several hours working on my little brainchild yesterday. Please excuse the quality of the pictures -- I took them with my iPhone since my camera is still out of commission. All pictures are as of this morning.

This was the "easiest" (HA!) section since it's a straight cut end-to-end, so this was done first:

To see the "before", click here.

(Btw, Can you tell I am anxious to paint these orange-crush cabinets a much more pleasing white? I couldn't wait to take all the doors off, so I did it at 7:00 this morning)

Here is my drinkware cabinet, with "wings," just waiting for its front piece:

And this is my dinnerware cabinet -- molding is cut and ready to go:

Turns out one of the long 8' sections in the mix wasn't perfectly sized width-wise, so a few more sections have to be re-cut and nailed in to the cabinets today.

Darn you Big Box hardware retailer and your so-called "Quality Control!"

Will post an update this week!

Runners & Welcome Mats

2009-06-26T08:48:00.000-04:00

Last weekend I made a trip to Ikea to pick up a specific list of items for the house. Two things that snuck their way into the shopping kart even though they weren't on the list are below:

I guess you'd consider this black & white stripe runner more of a floor mat than a rug. My friend Alysa tried (almost successfully) to persuade me to buy the green & white or orange & white version of this mat... but I just couldn't do it! I love black & white. It's actually a problem. I know I need to embrace color, but it's scary! This mat made a home in front of my washer and dryer. The laundry room in my house is unfinished and not pretty, but this striped diddy makes it at least a little bit interesting.

Before I could exit the rug section, Alysa spotted this outdoor mat and recognized it as an "Erica pattern." She was right, I had to have this lattice-y, bristled mat for my back door. Even Kasey loves it. Now she can clean of those little paws on her way in from the yard.

I think each of these were under $15 a piece and you just can't beat that.

Artichoke Love

2009-06-25T09:53:00.003-04:00

Those of you who have read our blog for a bit know how much we love artichokes here at girl meets home. Recently I acquired two new artichoke items and I couldn't be more excited to share them with you!

First: Anthropologie's artichoke votive, which I bought in-store just in time because it's out of stock online (apparently).

So cute! It stands about 4" tall.

Second: I love grilling kabobs during the summer and had run out of bamboo skewers, so I decided to invest in a few of the stainless steel variety this season. As soon as I saw the sweet little artichoke "finials" on the Crate and Barrel Vegetable Skewers, I had to have them. Check out the link above...Sorry I can't take a picture right now...my camera is non-operational and I couldn't find a pic big enough elsewhere online to add.

I know that in addition to artichokes, people love all kinds of themes. Bees, cows, roosters, fleur-de-lis, etc.

So tell us: What do you love and collect?

Let's Play a Game: What's Wrong with this Room?

2009-06-24T08:25:00.005-04:00

Good morning readers! Today is interactive Wednesday. We're going to play a little game called, "What's Wrong with this Room?"

Here's how it works:

Look at the pictures below.
Leave a comment with anything you think is wrong with the room.
Better yet, make suggestions for how to improve the room.
Be kind.

I'll start by pointing out the obvious (save you the trouble) and by explaining some of the elements of the room that must stay:

Suggestions

Replace chairs and ottoman with furniture that is better suited for a small room. Smaller scale chairs.
Play around with furniture placement; are there any other arrangements that would work in the space?
Put something on the walls, try hanging prints or photos on either side of the TV.

Must Stays (Elements of the room that we can't live without)

Window treatments: We live in a townhouse and the blinds are a must! While we enjoy natural light, we have to be able to close the blinds at night so we don't feel like fish in a bowl!
The windows on the far right of the second photo are actually french doors. Only one of them opens but we do use it constantly to let the dog outside and to grill in the backyard. This makes a huge impact on where we place the furniture.
TV and console are brand spankin' new... we won't move them!

Alright that's all I've got... please, please, please... if you never comment on anything you read at Girl Meets Home, comment today! I live with this room so I need a fresh set of eyes to make suggestions on anything from colors to decor. I'd really love to hear your opinion!

Crown Molding Update

2009-06-23T09:00:00.000-04:00

Well, let's just say the crown molding project didn't exactly go as planned this weekend...who knew a mitre saw could be so darn frustrating! I'm going to spend a good chunk of next weekend with my awesomely knowledgeable in-laws who have generously volunteered to help me complete this project. (Christian's sitting this one out because he's hard at work studying for a Cisco certification -- CCIE Lab for the fellow geeks out there. We love geeks at girl meets home!)

Since I don't want to leave you empty-handed, here's a little kitchen eye candy above and below. Enjoy!

Hotel Goodies

2009-06-22T08:30:00.001-04:00

Now that vacation season is upon us (summer officially arrived yesterday!) I'm sure some of you will be spending at least a night or two in the comforts of a hotel or better yet, resort. I just wanted to remind you of one important thing to do before you check out: Stock up on hotel goodies!

You know those mini shampoo and conditioner bottles, tiny soap bars, and boxed shower caps? You might never use them in the hotel because you packed your toiletries in a zip lock bag... but bring them home with you. Next time you have company, set them on the bathroom counter to make your guests feel like they're on vacation.

Last week I picked up a rectangular white tray for $4 at Home Goods. Now my guests know just where to look when they realize they forgot lotion. Simple to do and looks nice on the bathroom counter top.

Project outline: Crown molding on cabinets

2009-06-20T07:00:00.001-04:00

At long last, this weekend I'm undertaking phase 1 of my kitchen cabinet makeover: Install crown molding above to the tops of the kitchen cabinets.

There is about a foot of space between the tops of our cabinets and the ceiling (much like the picture above). Rather than undertaking the much larger, more intensive task of rehanging the cabinets up higher on the wall, I think a strip of crown molding along the top of the cabinets will not only take up some of the space up there, but also add a more finished, refined look than the plain shoe molding that's currently up there.

After doing some research and initial measuring, I've found and purchased exactly what I need:

Mitre saw -- for cutting proper angles needed to wrap cabinets with molding

20' of 9/16" x 2 5/8" Crown molding

Finishing nails

Liquid Nails

Keep your fingers crossed that this project works! Will post "before & after" pictures next week ...hopefully Monday if all goes well!

Have a great weekend!

Ikea Shopping List

2009-06-19T11:15:00.001-04:00

I'm heading to Ikea on Saturday afternoon and since it's easy to get lost in that big blue box, I've come up with a shopping list so I can stay on track. (Or at least in the right "neighborhood.")

Ikea List by coffee22 on Polyvore.com

As you can see I'm looking for shelves, window coverings, picture frames, and pots. And it just so happens that everything on my list is white.

LACK Wall Mount Shelves: I'd like to pick up two of these to mount on the walls in our home office that doubles as a guest room. We've taken to stashing books under the day bed in this room and it's about time we gave them a proper home.

MERETE, OFELIA, and AINA Window Panels: I'm looking for a set of off-white curtains for our sun room and I'd like to compare each of these and walk out with one lucky winner.

LUMMIG & DAMPA Curtain Rods: Along with the curtains I'm looking for rods to hang them on, duh.

RIBBA Frames: I have a ton of empty walls and I want to create a gallery to display black & white photos from our wedding and such. I'm going to stock up on 8-12 of these frames in white.

KARDEMUMMA Pots: Last weekend we picked up 5 indoor plants to bring some green living into our home. I'd like to transfer them into something other than the plastic containers they're in now. Can't go wrong with white!

I'm also going to look for a small runner to put in front of the washer and dryer in the basement. I didn't see exactly what I was looking for online, so I'll have to scope something out in the store. Another thing on my mental list is pillar and votive candles. And possibly an outdoor citronella candle to keep bugs at bay. Hopefully I'll have a car full of loot come Saturday afternoon!

Need New Rug...

2009-06-18T09:05:00.003-04:00

Back in January I bought a new rug for our sun room from Crate & Barrel. It was after the holidays so everything was on sale and for under $200 I got a large brown looped wool rug. As far as rugs go... I liked it... served it's purpose and looked nice. Then in March we got the puppy. She cost more than the rug (but worth every penny). She also decided that she liked the rug... so she started digging. Or at least trying to dig... now the rug looks not so nice. Once we figure out a way to break Kasey of the digging habit, I'm going to order one of these:

Ballard Designs; Coventry Jute rug, $239 for an 8x10

Oh the joys of puppies! Good thing they're cute.

Before & After: Bathroom Cabinets

2009-06-17T10:00:00.004-04:00

A few months ago Erin updated her bathroom cabinets with a fresh coat of dark brown paint. Ever since I've been pea green with envy. So this past weekend I decided that it was time to give my cabinets the same TLC.

Enter the before:

Notice the honey oak cabinet doors... they don't match the rest of the color scheme in the bathroom which consists of browns and blues. On Saturday morning I stopped at the neighborhood Home Depot to pick up a quart of the new Behr Ultra Paint+Primer in One. I went with Espresso Beans... or was it French Roast? Eh, either way it was dark brown to me.

Before painting I cleaned the surfaces and then used Liquid De-Glosser to remove the poly finish on the doors and frames. This was much faster and less of a mess than sanding and I highly recommend it if you have any projects in the near future that would otherwise involve sanding.

Next I taped to avoid any mishaps... then painted and primed, in one!

Enter the after:

What a difference a coat of paint makes. I also picked up 4 simple knobs to further enhance the makeover. The entire process took a few hours between Saturday and Sunday (just had to give the paint time to dry) and it even inspired my husband to start thinking about the last project we've been talking about for the bathroom... tiling the floor. He is planning to do it the weekend before July 4th!

Early Summer Sale at Ballard Designs

2009-06-16T07:00:00.003-04:00

Hooray! Ballard Designs is offering 15% off all merchandise through midnight tonight (June 16)!

Like many of you, now that summer is here (well..almost officially here), Erica and I have had the great outdoors on our minds.

Here are some of my favorite outdoor items at one of my favorite retailers:

Outdoor chair cushion
Christian and I have a hand-me-down metal patio set from Christian's parents, which I plan to refinish in black! I'm loving blues and greens right now, so I'm trying to decide between one of the following patterns...

Indigo Batik (I must admit that right this second I am leaning toward this pattern)

Capri Stripe

Phoebe Green

And finally, who am I kidding, I also still love black and white damask, despite the fact that it is completely over-saturated in the market.

9' Auto-Tilt umbrella
Of course, I would need a matching umbrella for my new set :-)

Extra large Grecian Urn
Love this in all three colors. A girl needs something to contain all of her gorgeous flowers! For example, check out the pink dahlias I scored at a local nursery a few weeks ago. There are no fewer than 12 beautiful blooms on each plant right now -- they are thriving!

Bamboo Place Mats
Aren't these fun? Not only are they perfect for summer, they come in antique white and are on sale for $14.99. Only trouble is, I can't quite tell how many is in a set (1, 2, 4?).
What are you planning to buy at Ballard Designs during this sale??

Bootcamp: Workout Fashion

2009-06-15T09:45:00.000-04:00

Last weekend Erin and I started a boot camp program that meets every Saturday morning on the tennis courts in my neighborhood. The program lasts for 10 weeks and is pretty intense. It's actually called, Get What you Came for Boot Camp, because the instructor usually yells, "get what you came for" at the top of her lungs at least 3 times in any given workout. (I know this because I take her aerobic weight training class at the gym during the week.)

Prior to classes starting we were told to write down our fitness goals and at the end of 10 weeks we are going to reassess our progress. Of course we came up with a few personal challenges, but when Erin and I have an event on the calendar... one of our first goals is always finding something to wear! So we both put together a list of our top workout basics...

Erica's Picks:

Bootcamp Fashion by coffee22 featuring Nike shoes

1. I personally love the C9 by Champion collection of tops from Target for their price and style. I have several of these tanks including this green mesh tank with thin straps, crucial for those outdoor summer sweat sessions. Layer it with a sports bra that has thin straps for even less tan-line threat.

2. There's nothing worse than doing an overhead press and having your shirt ride up just enough to expose those unsightly love handles to the world. (Ok, maybe there are a few things that are worse but not by much.) For that reason I favor the Everyday Long Bra Top by Nike.

3. I can't get through a workout without a dependable headband to keep fly-aways from sticking to my face. Goody makes these headbands with rubber stiches that ensure your headband stays put, even during jump-jacks.

4-6. Shorts! Summer = time to show off those legs you've been hiding all winter. Find a pair you like and you might even find that you actually enjoy squats and lunges. My favorite running shorts are the Nike Tempo Track shorts and the Under Armour HeatGear Quick Step 3" inseam shorts. And yes, I am that girl who wears tight, short, spandex to workouts.

7. Polar F11 Women's Heart Rate Monitor Watch. Once you have one, you'll never go back. I love to see how many calories I just burned after a workout... usually I see a number and equate it to food. For example; 700 calories = 1 margarita + chips and salsa (guilt free no less!)

8. Shoes are so important to a workout. I'm still looking for a cross-trainer but something like these Nike Zoom Quick Sister shoes would probably work. Be sure to get shoes that are specifically designed for the type of exercises you're doing. Running? Buy running shoes. Indoor aerobics class? Studio shoes. Walking? You get the point.

9. Just for fun I'd like to start swimming laps a few nights a week. I saw this TYR bikini on MTV's The Duel and had to have one. In fact, I just ordered it from Zappos this morning. It's the sexiest looking sporty bikini I've ever seen.

Erin's Picks:

FItness by girlmeetshome featuring Nike

A few quick notes on Erin's picks; as you can see, she outfitted herself in the most stylish and flirty workout tank possible. Pair that with the Ultimate Shorts from Nike, and she is ready to hit the ground running, squatting, lunging, etc. Since we were told to the only things we needed to bring to Bootcamp were weights, water, and a mat, Erin scouted out each of these items and included them in her picks. I think she'd agree that one thing she would have incorporated had she discovered them sooner are Love Bottles. These glass bottles are perfect for anyone who is aware of the dangers associated with specific types of plastics.

I'm pleased to report that we've survived two weekends of Bootcamp and are feeling more fit and shapely already! Looking good while working hard too!

We'll be back soon!

2009-06-11T08:16:00.004-04:00

Hi guys, It's been a busy couple of weeks for Erica and I.

Between work, traveling, weddings, an anniversary, and birthdays, we are wiped out!

We'll be back with new posts by this weekend. Thanks for your patience!

Bridal Registry Top 12

2009-06-01T07:36:00.003-04:00

With the 2009 wedding season underway, so many of us are sifting through friends' wedding registries, hoping to buy something that our favorite couples will love and, most importantly, use often.

Both Erica and I married our husbands in 2008 and over the course of the year have found ourselves using a few more items than others (though all gifts are loved and much appreciated!).

From everyday cooking and dining to weekend entertaining, we've compiled a Top 12 list of registry items we've used most often over the last year.

Registry ideas by girlmeetshome on Polyvore.com

Clockwise from top left:

1. Everyday dinnerware: Who doesn't need everyday dinnerware? Whiteware, like the one above, is offered at any major department store and boutique retailer like Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma. Not only is it affordable but you are guaranteed it will be used absolutely everyday. Erica favored Williams-Sonoma's Everyday Restaurant Dinnerware; I picked Pottery Barn's PB White. We love them both!

2. All-Clad stainless steel measuring cups and spoons: I use these every time I cook. Not only are they pretty and functional, but they are also dishwasher-safe and have a lifetime warranty from All-Clad.

3. Platter or tray with handles: We love our platters and trays with handles! They are great for Friday evening cocktails at home, appetizers, and weekend meals. Check out some of our favorites at Williams-Sonoma here. Pottery Barn also has some great items.

4. Cuisinart Food processor: I probably pull out my food processor once a week, whether to make my favorite Italian-style hummus, homemade pesto, or to attempt another pie crust. Highly recommend this kitchen appliance.

5. Serving bowl: While I don't have this particular bowl (yet!), I do have a couple of plain white serving bowls and could not more highly recommend them. Whiteware is great because you can mix and match it with any solid or pattern. A serving bowl like this makes family-style meals a cinch. And, you can use it in a centerpiece when not entertaining.

6. Hotel napkins: Love this set from Williams-Sonoma, and at 12 for $32, the price is tough to beat. The great thing about these napkins is that they are solid white, so you can easily bleach any food stains right out them. I pull these out every time I entertain. Love them.

7. Calphalon Multipot: Oh my. I use this at least twice a week because we love pasta and steamed veggies in my house. Not only does this multipot come with a large pasta basket, but it also comes with a smaller basket that is perfect for steaming vegetables. And, it's dishwasher-safe!

8. Cheese knives and board: A must for every entertainer or entertainer-in-training. What's easier than slicing a baguette and displaying a great cheese as an appetizer?

9. Wine glasses: A nice everyday set of wine glasses -- that are dishwasher-safe -- will be imperative for those rough days at work or weekend entertaining. This Pottery Barn Caterer's Set is only $49 for a box of 12!

10. Table linens: This is one thing I wish I had registered for -- a nice set of hemstitched linens. Placemats are great for everyday, but a quality tablecloth will serve you well for years. Check out Williams-Sonoma hemstitched table linens, they are beautiful.

11. Santoku knife: This is my favorite knife, hands-down. It's so versatile, you can use it to slice and dice your way to domestic goddess status. Be sure to hand wash it: While a good knife is technically dishwasher-safe, your knife will dull more quickly than your brain at the new Terminator movie (no offense, Christian and Jared).

12. Apron: Who doesn't need an apron? Keep your clothes splatter safe and look super cute all at the same time. Erica has had quite a bit of success at Anthropologie, which has some adorable full and half aprons.

There you have it -- our Registry Top 12. What items would you also include?

Hope you find these selections helpful as you shop for your favorite bride, or as you create your own registry!

How To: Prepare for a Project Involving Sanding...Lots of Sanding

2009-05-27T18:53:00.001-04:00

Prepping for the big kitchen project this week was not fun, not fun at all. But I'm so glad we did because we hopefully will save ourselves a lot of unnecessary dusting by adequately preparing for the project.

First, we moved everything we could from the kitchen, dining room and living room, down to the basement.

Talk about feeling claustrophobic.

Then, we covered everything that had to stay upstairs with dropcloths of all shapes, sizes, and materials.

Finally, since our kitchen has two entrances and a cut out, we duct-taped more plastic drop cloths all three access points to keep as much dust in the kitchen as possible.

Finally, we turned off the air conditioning in the house. Thankfully it's been a cool couple of days in the DC area.

Here's hoping all this prep truly pays off!

Will post the new kitchen walls as soon as the house is put back together again. Anyone else in the middle of a big project?

Today's the day

2009-05-26T11:30:00.000-04:00

It's finally here -- today is "DT" Day, or "De-Texture" Day in our Kitchen. While I got a ton of fun things done over the weekend, which I can't wait to blog about, Christian and I spent a lot of yesterday evening prepping to have the horrid wall texture removed from our kitchen. I'll be back with pictures of the prep work tonight. For more information on the project, and a picture of just how awful the texture was, check out last month's post.

Summer's here!

2009-05-24T08:59:00.004-04:00

It's official, summer is here! This weekend I've spent a few hours outside, adding to the curb appeal of our home. The project's not done yet, so in the meantime, here's a sneak peek:

Have a wonderful weekend!

Louis: Latest Obsession

2009-05-21T07:00:00.001-04:00

Some day... when I have an dining formal room... I wish for chairs like these to surround my table.

Camille Collection Dining Chair, Arhaus - $449

Louis Chair, Pottery Barn - $349

Louis Leather Side Chair, Ballard Designs - $559

They work with so many styles and are so classic. And if your taste in colors change over the years, you can reupholster the seats and backs for an instant update.

Style Advice: Shoe-In Suggestions

2009-05-20T07:00:00.004-04:00

Yesterday Erica asked for shoe advice for a beautiful new Nicole Miller she snagged for an amazing price! Thanks to those who sent us your suggestions!

Last night I spent some time trolling around Zappos and Piperlime for metallic sandals for under $100. Because the dress is a dynamic saturated print, I think a light metallic sandal would work well as it's neutral enough so that it won't distract from the print, but will still add a little something more than the ivory peep toes. Besides it's summer -- what better time is there to wear a sexy sandal?

So, without further ado, here are my top picks for Erica's knock-out Nicole Miller dress:

Nine West Mushu:

Silver:

Light Gold:Nine West Mocha Notice I didn't pick any embellished sandals -- I think embellishment would take away from the dress and be a bit too busy.

Nine West's Mushu (in Light Gold or Silver) is my top pick -- I like the way the curvy straps compliment the flower print.

But what do all of you think? What should Erica pair with her fabulous find?

Style Advice

2009-05-19T07:00:00.002-04:00

I recently found this amazing Nicole Miller dress at Lord & Taylor and now I'm looking for some helpful style advice.

Poppy Print on Reverse Stretch Charmeuse dress, original price $355.

The dress fits like a glove thanks to the fitted bodice inside, no under-garments required. And, the day I bought it L&T was having a 40% off sale for card holders (lucky for me I have a generous mother who put the dress on her charge card and I wrote her a check). Plus, by some miracle, I actually found it on the sale rack in my size, which never happens, so I ended up paying $147 for a $355 dress. Score!

Back to the advice though... I can't find shoes! I bought a pair of these ivory peep-toes but they are too boring for a dress this fun:

Gordona Ivory Patent Croc, Bandolino - $68

HELP! I need to find shoes this week because I'm hoping to wear the dress on Saturday! If you have any suggestions, pretty-pretty-please send them my way!

ANTHROPOLOGIE: For the Gift Giver

2009-05-18T11:00:00.001-04:00

If you're a "girl meets home" kind of a gal, you might find yourself shopping for bridal shower and wedding gifts this time of year. I tend to stick to the bride's registry for most of my gift giving (ask and ye shall receive), but for bridal showers I like to supplement a smaller registry item with something flirty and fun. My go to store: ANTHROPOLOGIE.

My favorite bridal shower gift for a bride-to-be has to be an apron from Anthropologie. What nearly-wed doesn't need a cute accessory for the kitchen? Pair a full or half apron with a few cook's tools; spatulas (in a coordinating color), rolling pins, cookies sheets, etc. That way your friend can look the part as she makes something sweet for her husband, or herself (in most cases). Here are a few of my favorites:

Sunny Rose Apron, $32

3-D Toile Half Apron, $28

And, depending upon which apron you pick, you might find a coordinating oven mitt or pot holder... so cute!

Maude Oven Mitt, $12

And these Florist Measuring Cups ,$36 are too pretty to keep in a drawer... any bride would adore a set of her own!
So future brides, be prepared... chances are if I'm at your shower, you'll be opening up one of these beauties! Need more bridal gift ideas?... let me know and I'll see what I can do to help!

Waverly, Lovely Lattice

2009-05-17T10:53:00.007-04:00

Just got a package with three yards of Waverly's Lovely Lattice indoor/outdoor fabric:

I plan to use about a yard for some extra details on the hutch I just refinished. (Post coming soon.) And save the leftover fabric for future use... I might make pillows or place mats in a few weeks. This print comes in several other colors, check them out here. I ordered from HouseFabric.com because the price per yard was around $11 and shipping was a flat fee of $10. You might try Joann Fabric as well because they typically have online coupon codes (I've seen up to 50% off a yard before.)

Old Door - New Table

2009-05-14T09:50:00.002-04:00

How cool is this idea? Turning an old 5 or 6 paneled front door into a dining room table? It's perfect for a narrow dining room and lends itself to a ton of creative potential. Design Sponge featured this dining table made from a re-purposed front door sometime last year. I love how the designer used decorative paper in each of the inset panels. Who needs a runner or place mats when your table looks like this?For a step by step how to from Design Sponge, click here.

I spent some time looking for other examples of 'doors gone table' and found a beautiful old, distressed, white door on simple saw horses being used as a desk. Just think how much of a surface area you'd have to work with on a desk this long!

For more about this DIY project, click here.

I wish I had a picture of my dining room table to show you... maybe I can take one tonight. It's a pretty inventive little table and has really withstood the test of time. My grandfather crafted it for my parents out of a small drop leaf table and a large piece of plywood sometime in the early 70's. They used it for years and years before they could afford a grown up dining set of their own. Then they passed it on to Jared and I when we bought our house in 2007. We love having a table large enough for family dinners but since the top is plywood... it always needs a table cloth. So when I saw this dining door table idea... I thought it would be perfect for our narrow dining space. Now... where can I find a vintage door?

The Old Luckett's Store

2009-05-13T11:03:00.008-04:00

If you haven't been to The Old Luckett's Store in Leesburg, VA then you are missing out. It's almost too good to talk about but since I hope they are in business forever... I had to share this gem with you. You might want to start by visiting their website for a sneak peak at some of the "Fresh Off the Wagon" items.

The old house is jam-packed with vintage items at great prices. You can find everything from furniture to knick-knacks to vintage clothing and accessories. There is something for everyone! You might find a vintage piece that needs a little TLC, like Erin's $40 gold mirror that she updated with a can of white spray paint for an instant chic-ification.

I've bought a few decorative items from Luckett's including a set of four Italian dishes and a white ceramic artichoke. On my next visit, I plan to look for an old 5 or 6 panel front door for a DIY project I'm planning. Let me know what you walk away with!!!

Fashion Photography Tuesday

2009-05-12T07:00:00.000-04:00

This morning I saw a post at Paris Hotel Boutique about fashion photographer Tom Palumbo's work. Check out PHB's post here, and Tom Palumbo's Flickr photo stream here. Thought I would share two of my favorite Tom Palumbo images this morning.

What I always imagined summers would look like.

My idol Grace Kelly.

Have a great Tuesday!

Backyard Bliss

2009-05-11T13:00:00.003-04:00

Now that the weather is warming up... I am craving an outdoor space where we can eat, drink, and relax. Living in a townhouse shouldn't limit your outdoor experience but it can be tough to bring the indoors out when space is tight. We have a small deck that leads down to our small yard... but I'm determined to make our little plot of land an oasis for the summer. Here's the vision:

Backyard Bliss by coffee22 on Polyvore.com

It all starts with a new patio... stone pavers in alternating sizes will set the perfect platform for a dining, grilling, and drinking area. I've been trying (not so successfully) to convince Jared that we can tackle a patio ourselves... but the trouble is our sloping yard. It's definitely our biggest challenge.

But I won't let it kill the dream... a dining table for four, two Adirondack-like chairs that we already own (they sit right in the grass as of now, and it's good enough but looks a little trailer park if you ask me), a few new planters, lanterns, and a big ol' bucket-o-beer (with ice). I'd be perfectly happy sweating out the summer months in my own backyard.

My parents promised us their old wrought iron dining table (they just upgraded to a larger one) and I found chairs that would match perfectly for only $22 at Costco. Have any of you done a patio project? Is it something you'd leave for the pro's or would you fearlessly commit to building it on your own?

Goodbye, Gown...

2009-05-10T08:00:00.022-04:00

Yesterday I decided it was time to take my wedding gown in for preservation.

Since I won't be able to touch it or look at it outside of a box ever again, I took the opportunity to say goodbye and snap a few pictures before I brought it to the preservation specialists.

This was my dream gown -- A strapless silk satin A-line gown with a sweetheart neckline. Bodice and hem accented by Alencon lace from France. Alencon "eyelashes" lined the neckline of the bodice.

The hem also incorporated my favorite element -- a pleated silk satin ruffle. (I wasn't kidding when I told you I love pleats!)

I'll miss you, gown! You made me feel more beautiful than I have ever felt, the way gowns are supposed to make their brides feel. If Christian and I have a daughter some day, I hope that she'll want to wear you on her wedding day. Until then, I must bid you au revoir. I hope to see you again -- outside of a box -- in anywhere from 25-35+ years!

Window Box & Planters: Herbs

2009-05-09T08:00:00.001-04:00

I'm looking for a window box that I can hang from the railing on my back deck. Instead of potted flowers though, I'd like to stock this planter with herbs. Dontcha' just hate spending $2 for a handful of herbs at the grocery store when you could spend the same amount on a living plant and pull from it week after week?

As much as I'd love to DIY a window box, it would be easier to buy one that is ready to go. Check out this idea from Martha Stewart.

And here are a few tips for successfully growing herbs. Good luck!

A Little Reinvention Goes a Long Way

2009-05-08T07:13:00.001-04:00

So, here's the deal. Remember the tall chest I bought for my bedroom? Unfortunately, we ended up having to return it. I was so sad to see it go, but apparently it wasn't meant to be.

Because it took me 4+ years to find the tall chest that didn't work out, and I refuse to spend money on anything that I "like but don't love," I've decided to save our money and reinvent what we have with a fresh coat of paint and new hardware until I find "the one[s]." ("The one[s]" being the perfect tall chest and night stands or side tables.)

We already have two matching oak night stands and one oak bureau that dates back to the 1870s. If we just paint these pieces a creamy white and add new hardware, they will feel brand new. And, when I find "the one[s]" we can easily move them to the guest room.

I think I already know which white to use -- Benjamin Moore's Simply White. It's so pretty with just a hint of cream, without being too ivory (in person).

But that's not all I have up my sleeve -- I want to make fabric drawer liners for the bureau!

I've done a little research and I *think* it will only take mat board or cardboard cut to fit each drawer, a hot glue gun or other adhesive, and some pretty fabric.

These are the fabrics I like right now:

Drawer Liners by girlmeetshome on Polyvore.com

Our bedroom color palette is silver sage, beige, white and espresso. We have RH's Hotel duvet cover and shams in silver sage and chocolate, and PB Matine Toile in espresso.

Clockwise from top left:

Artissimo Stripe Robin's Egg
Jangle Silver Sage
Alsbrook Spa
Pindot Robin's Egg
Zebra Print** Right now, this is my front runner. I looooove animal print in fashion and decor and wouldn't a Zebra print drawer liner be a fun surprise every time a drawer is opened?
Garden Toile Aqua

So, that's the plan for now. I'll keep you posted on progress, but this project may not be completed until the end of June. I am DYING to paint the kitchen cabinets and the kitchen walls are scheduled to be de-texturized, skimmed, and painted after Memorial Day, so that's the immediate priority.

Do you guys have any big painting projects or furniture makeovers in the works? Do tell!

Before & After: Accent Table

2009-05-06T22:56:00.002-04:00

Inspired by Erica's gorgeous china hutch makeover, last night I grabbed my paint brush and refreshed a little pine accent table in my bedroom.

The tiny pedestal table was a freebie from my mother-in-law, and currently holds my bedtime reading...which includes the Domino book (oh how I miss you, Domino), plenty of Martha Stewart (what a surprise!...okay not really if you know me) and Real Simple, among other shelter pubs.

Before:
Three coats of Benjamin Moore Gossamer Blue semi gloss later, this petite yet shapely table feels like brand new, and for under $18 (the cost of a quart of paint).

After:

Powder Room Update

2009-05-06T09:00:00.003-04:00

Remember the five-paneled mirror I scored at Home Goods last November for a mere $60?

When I bought it I hoped it would replace the standard oval mirror that hung in our powder room on the main level of our townhome.

Unfortunately...the mirror wouldn't fit length-wise because the bulbs on the then-current fixture pointed down.

For a couple of months I searched high and low for a bath sconce that pointed up, rather than down, and was under $100.

Finally, I found exactly what I was looking for at Restoration Hardware -- the Vintage Double Sconce -- which was on sale for $64.99, and had the contemporary traditional look I like.

It ended up working perfectly! Because the powder room is so small, the much larger mirror makes it feel like a bigger space.

This powder room is a kind of like a little wall pocket, so please excuse the pictures -- it was really difficult to get a good one because it's so tiny!

Here's my Home Goods find:

Here's the sconce:

And here they are together (from the hallway...I'm telling you, this powder room is small!):

Not a bad update for under $140!

Italian Dishes

2009-05-05T07:00:00.003-04:00

The wall above our kitchen sink has looked like this since we repainted the kitchen last year:

Empty... until I found a set of four dishes with black & white paintings of Italian buildings. (And they were actually made in Italy too!):

I must have been standing on one foot when I snapped this picture... sorry it's crooked.

I saw these plates at the Old Luckett's Store in Leesburg and decided to buy them, not knowing what I'd do with them... I think they fit nicely in the awkward wall above the sink.

Before & After: China Hutch

2009-05-04T07:00:00.002-04:00

Back in February we bought this Ethan Allen hutch from a Craigslist seller for just $225, which we thought was a deal. At first sight I was in love with this piece but knew it needed a massive makeover before it would really feel at home in our kitchen. So I removed all of the old hardware, glass inserts, and took off the doors and drawers and got right to work. Here are some of the before pictures:

And after two weekends of sanding, priming, painting, and installing new hardware... the much anticipated after pictures:

It looks even better in person... so you'll have to just trust me! I am so happy with the results and love the clean white finish against the satin brushed silver hardware. I'll go into more detail later on the actual process and I have one more change I still need to make to really give this a finished look... but for now I'll be enjoying my brand spankin' new hutch and I hope you are too!

Some Like it White Hot

2009-05-02T16:18:00.002-04:00

It's probably pretty obvious that Erica and I are partial to a particular color scheme in home decor: Black and White.

While looking around my living room, dining room and kitchen this morning, I noticed just how prominent the black accessories are in the black and white/cream decor. While I don't think it's too much, it would probably be a good idea to incorporate a little more white/ivory for added contrast.

So this afternoon I checked out a few of my favorite retailers to see what's out there in white/cream, and put together a mood board with some finds. This is my favorite mood board yet, check it out!

White Hot by girlmeetshome featuring J Crew day dresses

Clockwise, from top left:

1. Diagonal Selvedge Pillow Cover, West Elm: I love pleats and these incorporate one of my favorite elements in a light summery pillow cover.

2. Great White Heirloom Serving Bowl, Pottery Barn: This bowl will add a little panache to your table while used for its original purpose, but I also like the idea of incorporating it into a spring and summer centerpiece. For instance, imagine it filled with bright yellow lemons.

3. Cordoba Mirrors, Ballard Designs: Wouldn't a large group of these hung above a bed be interesting? I really like the pattern and texture of these whitewashed mirrors.

4. Ceramic Artichoke Sculptures, Bassett Furniture: {sigh} I can't get enough of these ceramic artichokes. For proof, click here and here.

5. Emma Pitcher, Pottery Barn: I love the vintage appeal of this pitcher, particularly the beading. What a pretty way to serve an ice-cold beverage on a hot summer day. And when not entertaining, I would fill it with hydrangea, peonies, or tulips and use it as a centerpiece.

6. Stella Vase, Crate and Barrel: The texture of this vase really makes it pop. A friend gave this to me as a shower gift last year -- I love it!

7. French Chair with Slipcover, Wisteria: I just want to curl up in this chair with a latte and a Marie Antoinette biography. With the ruffle slipcover, it looks like it belongs in a quaint apartment in Paris...or my home in the U.S. Maybe it will go on sale some time this year and I can think about making it mine!

8. Balustrade Lamp, Circa Lighting: When Erica and I toured a local ($1.2M) model home a few months ago, a pair of alabaster lamps just like this sat atop the nightstands on either side of the bed in the master bedroom. Love the shape and contemporary/traditional feel.

9. Cutwave Dress, J.Crew: And finally, I'm throwing in this white dress just because...it's so pretty! Imagine it with pale gold heels, and large blue gemstone earrings. Love it! Will definitely keep my eye on it in case it hits the sale pages at J.Crew this season.

Girl Makes Shrimp Scampi on Couscous

2009-05-01T07:00:00.001-04:00

This week I'm bringing back a feature we used to post weekly here on girl meets home -- "Girl Makes [insert recipe]." In this economy, who isn't cooking at home more often in an effort to save money and be healthy? I thought this would be a neat little way to share our favorite healthy (or semi-healthy) recipes.

Last night this "girl" made Shrimp Scampi on Couscous, courtesy of Giada de Laurentiis. We have all of her books...I think the fascination originally started on Christian's end because he thinks she's hot. From my perspective, this woman can cook and her recipes make it so easy for us mere mortals to be superstars in the kitchen.

This is one of my favorite recipes right now. Essentially a three-part process, I recommend this for weekend dining, or weeknights when you're feeling a little more ambitious.

Of course, I began making this dish by prepping all of my veggies and gathering all other ingredients.

Then I heated a large saucepan on medium heat, and poured in 1/4 cup of olive oil. Once the olive oil was heated through -- give it a minute or two -- add the onion, carrot, and garlic. Saute for about five minutes.

Here are the veggies after five minutes:

Add the diced tomatoes (1-15 oz. can will work for this recipe), the clam juice and white wine. Bring to a boil and simmer on Low for about 10 minutes.

Here's the sauce after 10 minutes.

Remove the sauce from heat. Carefully add the sauce to a blender and puree.

The recipe calls for using a food processor to puree the sauce, but I used my blender; I figured it would be easier to pour once combined.

Add two cups of the sauce back to the saucepan. Leave the remaining sauce in the blender -- you'll use it later to top the dish once it's plated.

Then add one cup of water and a tablespoon of olive oil. Bring it the a boil.

Once it's boiling, stir in the couscous. Remove from heat, cover, and set aside until the couscous absorbs the liquid...about 10 minutes.

In a large skillet or saute pan, heat 1/4 cup of olive oil over medium heat. Add the remaining garlic and saute for about 30 seconds. Add the raw shrimp and saute until pink..about 5 or 6 minutes.

Once cooked, remove from the heat, add the freshly-squeezed lemon juice, red pepper flakes, salt, and parsley (optional if you don't have it on hand).

At this point, your couscous should be ready, and everything's ready to serve!

Scoop some couscous onto your plate, add shrimp (don't forget the scampi sauce in the pan!), and top with the leftover tomato sauce in your blender. Voila -- now you're ready to enjoy!

$$ Tip: Don't forget -- any leftovers will make a great lunch or two over the next two days.

Life's about Balance

2009-04-30T07:00:00.001-04:00

Last night Jared and I had a conversation about spending money.

Me: "I wish I made more money so I could buy nice things for our house."

Jared: "I think we should spend money on things we can do and experience and not on material things."

Me: "So you're saying we should plan a vacation!"

Jared: "Well... yeah."

Which makes me wonder: should I stop spending so much time, energy, and money on home improvements and decorations? Should we spend more of our resources on trips and be more adventurous? How do you strike a balance between the two?

I think Jared might be right... if our house burnt to the ground and all of our "stuff" was lost (God forbid... I realize this has happened to people so I'm not trying to make a joke of it) but we were fortunate enough to get ourselves and our dog out in time... what would be left? We'd have our experiences and each other... so maybe we should rethink our investments. I know Jared would be seriously disappointed that his new TV went up in smoke... and I'd be really bummed that I just spend two weeks of my life refinishing the china hutch that never got used... but we'd have all that we really need, wouldn't we?

So, Erin... remember how we were talking about planning a trip to Sonoma for Christian's 30th birthday this year? Let's really do it... and while we're at it... let's plan a local wine tasting trip too. I'm all about new experiences...

(And... still really into fixing up the home... but I think I need to find a new sense of balance)

Fun Fabrics

2009-04-29T13:55:00.006-04:00

I'm not sure why... but for the past few weeks I have been obsessing over fabric. I've been scouring online fabric depots just for fun and want to share with you a few of my favs.

Fun Fabrics by coffee22 on Polyvore.com

1. I love the solid stripes and am picturing a set of throw pillows on two white Adirondack chairs in my backyard. The navy and white stripes are so nautical and just beg to be outdoors. OK, so my "white Adirondack" chairs are actually off-white, and they are $10 plastic knock-offs from Home Depot last year... but work with me.

2. Depending on the repeat of this next green leafy print, I imagine place mats or a table runner.

3. If you like geometric prints as much as I do there's no limit to options with this silver sage circular fabric. I would love to exchange the red throw pillows I have on my stone colored sofa for a set in this print.

4. This Sungold/Stolkholm print is available at Calico Corners (one of my favorites!) and actually comes in a few other vibrant colors as well. Erin and I are both loving all things yellow this season I this one made my list!

5. I'm reminded of a Rorschach inkblot test when I stare at this print... but I love the turquoise blue and can picture this in any outdoor space.

6. Just because I love the fretwork and lattice prints.

7. Lattice + black & white = I'm loving it!

8. Itsy, bitsy, teeny, weeny, yellow polka dot ... pillow! More yellow, and who doesn't love polka dots!?

9. This Waverly print called, "Lovely Lattice" has been in my dreams. I am going to go pick up a swatch so I can see it in person... but I think it will be the perfect backdrop to a project I've been working on for two weeks now. You'll just have to wait and see how I plan to use it, so stay tuned.

I don't like to brag (OK maybe a little) but I did just so happen to win the "Clothing & Construction Award" in High School. And you don't win that baby by stitching up scrunchies! It's been a while, but once I remember how to thread the bobbin (always the hardest part in my opinion) the possibilities are endless. So now all I need is a sewing machine and an afternoon without distractions. I'll let you know if that ever happens.

Before & After: French Doors

2009-04-27T07:30:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago we decided to update the window treatments on our french doors. They were masked with a few sets of sheer panels and while they did provide privacy and diffuse some sunlight, I wasn't happy with the appearance. Here is a quick before shot:

Not really doin' much for me... in fact, I could not wait to (gently) rip them off of the doors...

We drove down the street to Home Depot to pick out plain white blinds that would be consistent with the rest of our windows. Of course the pre-boxed blinds were not available in the exact size we needed for the doors. However, the helpful orange bib'ed man in the blinds department custom cut two sets of blinds to my exact measurements. So I left the store with the perfect size blinds and was able to install them the same day, beat that Next Day Blinds. (And by me... I mean the drill wielding man in my life.) Here is an after shot of the new blinds:
I love sitting in the sun room with a cup of coffee before starting the day... I can open up the blinds just enough to let in some light and still block the neighbors view enough so they can't tell I am in my bath robe...
The set of blinds each came with a trim to hide the brackets above the window. Since we used blinds on doors in this case, we bought a few L-shaped brackets to drill into the door below the blinds and super glued them to the bottom slat so the blinds wouldn't slam each time the door is opened or closed. It was a super easy option to update and improve the look of our french doors and since each blind was under $30, it was pretty cost effective too.

Before & After: Front Yard

2009-04-25T07:00:00.008-04:00

Here it is: Our curb appeal before & after -- check it out!

Before:

After:

So what did we plant?

(2) Wintergreen Boxwoods on either side of the porch.
They are slow-moderate growers, and will reach a maximum of 3-4' in height. They're mound-shaped shrubs and evergreen. I love their light green color.

(3) Helen Curtis Azaleas in front of the bay window.
They are slow-moderate growers as well, and will reach a maximum of 3' in height. Like the boxwoods, the azaleas are evergreen, but bloom white double flowers in May, like the example below.

I can't wait to see our new pretty white blooms next month.

So what do you think? Quite a difference right?

I still have plans for the big empty space to the left of the porch, but that will have to wait a couple of weeks. With all the improvements to our curb appeal this month -- which not only included the landscaping, but also getting our exterior painted and replacing the molding above the windows -- we exceeded our monthly "home improvement" budget for April! Which just means there will be more planting in May. Can't wait!

Looking at Knobs & Pulls

2009-04-24T11:30:00.001-04:00

Knobs by coffee22 on Polyvore.com

I'm searching for cabinet hardware for the china hutch I bought off of Craigslist in February. It pretty much goes without saying that the cream colored ceramic knobs have got to go. They must have been trendy at some point in the past two decades but today... not so much. Last weekend I removed the old hardware (knobs, hinges, etc.) and began sanding the entire hutch to prep for fresh paint. Tomorrow I plan to finish the rest of the sanding and get started on priming and painting... my goal is a to have a made-over hutch by Monday!

We've already bought new hardware for the kitchen cabinets but have yet to install anything. I'd like to stick with a silver or nickel finish for the hutch since it is next to our kitchen table (and near the cabinets). So I've put together a quick board of options to get an idea of what might work. There are two sets of drawers on the hutch; the top set consists of four drawers each with two knobs and the bottom set of four drawers as a single knob. I'm not sure if I should use the same knobs on all 8 drawers, or if I should look for 8 smaller knobs for the top drawers. (ee photo of hutch below.)

I was considering the idea of using the cup-shaped drawer pulls on the lower four drawers and simple knobs for the top drawers. Then for the cabinet doors I could use the same knobs to keep a consistent look. I'd like a casual look and I think the drawer pulls look less formal. Decisions, decisions...

Happy Earth Day!

2009-04-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

I know it's a day late to wish you a Happy Earth Day, but I have been running around Washington D.C. like a mad-woman for work all week. (And Erin is on assignment in Miami; darn you day jobs, you are really getting in the way of our blogging!) It's never too late for Earth Day though, is it?

This is a close up of the tree in front of my house, ain't it purdy?

I don't remember it being this beautiful last year but maybe I just never took the time to notice. Standing under it is like looking up into a canopy of white.

Last weekend it was in full springtime bloom and looked breathtaking. (Especially for those with allergies.) All jokes aside though, I actually stopped in my tracks on my way out the door and took notice of just how lovely the tree looked, and snapped a picture. I know it won't keep these adorable white blooms for long... just goes to show you the importance of the phrase, "stop and smell the roses." Or... stop and look at the trees... whatever, you get my point. Here today, gone tomorrow. Don't let the opportunity pass you by. Yadda yadda yadda.

I even used a few branches in one of my Easter centerpieces a few weeks ago. Back then the branches had pink and white buds... what a transformation. Thank you Mother Earth.

Textured Paint: Do Not Try This at Home

2009-04-21T07:00:00.030-04:00

While I love our home for all that we've accomplished since we've been here, there's one room I can't stand to look at anymore, and unfortunately it's one of the rooms in which I probably spend the most time -- our Kitchen.

Our home's previous owners apparently had an affinity for texture, because they took it upon themselves to add a sand texture finish to the kitchen walls, which looks like stucco gone horribly wrong.

As if texture weren't enough, they painted the kitchen walls a semi-gloss mint green! It was awful. One of our first painting projects was in the kitchen, where we took the texture down a notch by painting the walls using a flat, light cream paint. But now with new hardwood flooring installed and a DIY kitchen cabinet makeover on the horizon, the time has come to get rid of the textured walls once and for all.

We're Bringing in the Professionals
I'm all for DIY home improvement projects (obviously!) but we're hiring professionals for this job. The painters are going to sand down the texture and then skim out the walls with a drywall compound until the walls are smooth. Then they'll apply a coat of primer and two coats of eggshell paint to seal everything in.

How to Prep for a Big Sanding Project
Thanks to our previously-leaky bay window, we have a lot of experience with sanding in the home. Nothing gets into every nook and cranny like sanding dust, so if you have a big sanding project to do at some point, I highly recommend the following:

1. Move everything that can be moved. From kitchen tables and chairs, rugs, home accessories, sofa cushions, and dishes, to cabinet contents, window treatments, lamps, books, small appliances, etc., move all of these items to another area. Displacing as much as you can will save you some vacuuming and dusting. Because believe me, you'll have plenty of that to do once the project is complete.

2. Drop cloth what's left behind. What can't be moved should be covered with drop cloths (plastic or fabric) before the work begins. Ideally this will keep dust from settling into what must remain in and around the project zone, but don't bank on it. Drop cloths will protect your large sofa or dining table, but be prepared to vacuum/wipe these things down once the project is complete.

Image courtesy of ApartmentTherapy.com

I just can't wait to see final result -- all the moving, cleaning, and reorganizing will be so worth it once we have banished the most noticeable mark left by our home's previous owners. Our kitchen will have fresh, smooth walls again! There's nothing like a clean slate for an upcoming project!

Make a Donation

2009-04-20T09:30:00.009-04:00

The other day I posted an article about spring cleaning... which is a great segue to my latest topic of conversation. More spring cleaning!

I for one am a huge fan of organizing and down sizing... it is the best kind of clean. And one of the best places to do both of those things is in the closet. While swapping out your winter wardrobe for spring/summer clothing, take some extra time to look for items you can donate. Everyone has clothes they keep and never wear so ask yourself this question: "if I saw this today in a store would I buy it?" If the answer is no, put it in the donate pile, chances are if you wouldn't buy it... you won't wear it either.

Once you've filled a few shopping bags decide on an organization to bring your donations. Or you can have them come to you. I regularly request pick ups from the Military Order of the Purple Heart. They are a congressionally chartered veteran's service organization and will accept donations of many kinds from clothing to electronics. They'll even schedule a pick up day with you and send a truck to collect your donation... how much easier could it be?

Last time I cleaned the closet Jared even joined in and between the two of us we must have donated eight large shopping bags of clothing. Most of it was really nice clothing that we just don't wear anymore (or in my case, all of my old shirts that were super short... exposed belly, not so much).

If scheduling a pickup isn't your thing, try looking for drop boxes in your area. Salvation Army has these set up in various parking lots and accepts shoes and clothing. It can simply be an extra stop on your way to the grocery store.

Another organization I have found success with is Habitat for Humanity. They will collect larger items like furniture. I discovered that some places do not accept furniture anymore but Habitat will gladly send a truck to pick up most pieces for their ReStores, which are retails stores that sell anything from furniture to appliances. Last week I had them pick up the "monster"/TV armoire that I have been itching to ditch for months. It's finally gone and we are on our way to redecorating our room off of the kitchen.

One last place I'll mention for taking donations (or recylcing old stuff) is Home Depot. Last time I was at HD I noticed a tall drop orange box near the entrance. These boxes are for two things; recycling old electronics like cell phones, and disposing of CFL bulbs (energy saving light bulbs should not be thrown out with household trash as they can release harmful toxins into landfills.) Technically this isn't really considered "donating" but it is helping the environment and if you're cleaning out closets you are bound to find stuff that needs to find a new home.

Don't forget to ask for a receipt after you make a donation. Save it in a folder for tax purposes next year. You'd be surprised how much you get back for donations. Helping yourself and helping others... it's a wonderful thing.

New Neighbors

2009-04-19T17:00:00.005-04:00

Alright, new neighbors just moved in next door and it got me thinking: What do most people do when a new family moves in on their street?

Do you ring the doorbell with a basket of homemade baked goods, Bree Van de Kamp style?

Or maybe you prefer to take the more subtle approach and wait until you catch them outside before going over to make an introduction.

This is what most people on our street did when we moved in two years ago. Everyone we've met since has been perfectly friendly and we absolutely love our quiet little street but as a first-time homeowner, I was surprised to learn that the only time your doorbell will ring... is when someone is trying to sell you something. (and luckily, they don't live in the area.)

Maybe things are different in other parts of the country. I'm guessing that Southern Hospitality just didn't make it to Virginia. Then again we live just outside of Washington D.C. in the suburbs of Northern Virginia. Between long commutes and soccer games, most people are just plain busy.

All that being said, I decided to pick up a pot of flowers to bring over today. Just some simple Gerber daisies to say, "welcome to the street." My thoughts are, don't wait for your neighbors to get a dog or have a baby before you take the time to get to know them.

In Search of a New Summer Sandal?

2009-04-18T08:05:00.001-04:00

With more consistent warm weather rapidly approaching, you've probably already begun your search for the quintessential summer sandal (like me!). I've been trolling Zappos and Piperlime all week in my quest, and thought I would share my top 10 picks for under $100. Because even in a bad economy, we can afford to splurge on just one pair of sandals that we will enjoy now through September, right?

Top 10 Summer Sandals (Under $100)

Nine West Hippie

Image Courtesy of Zappos.com

**Note: I purchased this pair from Zappos this week and absolutely love them. They work well with jeans, shorts, casual skirts and dresses. Imagine throwing them on alongside a white cotton dress, turquoise earrings, and a couple of gold bangles?? So pretty!

Seychelles Get Outta Town

Image Courtesy of Zappos.com

Seychelles Chemise

Image Courtesy of Zappos.com

Anne Klein New York Alontae

Image Courtesy of Zappos.com

Kenneth Cole Landing Zone

Image courtesy of Piperlime.com

AK Anne Klein Caldwell

Image Courtesy of Zappos.com

Calvin Klein Solanje

Image Courtesy of Piperlime.com

Ciao Bella Rae

Image Courtesy of Piperlime.com

Kenneth Cole Reaction Sun Dae

Image Courtesy of Piperlime.com

Nine West Rothschild

Image Courtesy of Zappos.com

Have you already purchased a pair of sandals for under $100 this season? Please share, we'd love to see what is catching your eye!

Curb Appeal is Calling!

2009-04-17T07:00:00.010-04:00

Thank goodness it's Friday, because I'm so excited about a curb appeal improvement project that Christian and I have planned this weekend.

We're going to dig up the original pair of ugh-ly Picea Glaucas -- or dwarf evergreen conifers -- that sit on either side of the sidewalk leading up to our front porch.

They look like these:

I'll take a "before" picture this weekend, so until then, you'll have to trust me when I say, it's bad. In my opinion, these shrubs really detract from our home's exterior.

Last week I took a trip to a few nearby nurseries to do a little research on appropriate shrubs for a townhouse and also to see what would catch my eye.

So far, these are my top choices for replacement evergreen shrubs:

Holly Compacta
Moderate growth rate, 3-4' tall, max (though we won't let them get that tall), low maintenance

Image courtesy of OilFieldNursery.com

Wintergreen Boxwood
Moderate growth rate, 3-4' tall (max), dense, hardy

Image courtesy of funkes.com

Not only do we have to replace the grisly Glaucas, but we also need to plant some shrubs in front of our freshly painted bay window.

Right now, Silver King or Queen Euonymus (sounds like ooo-oh-nih-muss) is a front-runner because it will add texture and a bit of color variation to our evergreen landscape.

Image courtesy of DavesGarden.com

Once we have the "anchor" shrubs worked, then we can move on to the front yard's "accessories" -- flowers! But that will likely have to wait until the middle of May when we're past the potentially frosty nights and mornings.

What do you have planned this weekend? Any one else working on a curb appeal project? Do tell!

Magnetic Spice Rack?

2009-04-16T16:45:00.001-04:00

I'm looking for opinions on these magnetic spice racks I've noticed popping up all over the place. Does anyone out there have these hanging around their kitchen? If so, do they work well? Did you label them? Or does everyone know the difference between dill weed and rosemary besides me? In case you've never noticed these small, stainless steel, clear top canisters here are a few images to introduce you:

Image from Ikeahacker.blogspot.com

Image from Flickr account found through Google search result.

Image from The Container Store.

What are your thoughts? Trend to buy into, or one to let pass? I will say that organizing spices is always a challenge and having them stuck on an easy to access surface would be a nice change to my current arrangement. I have an entire shelf of one cabinet dedicated to spices, in no particular order. So when I try to grab sesame seeds for my favorite stir fry recipe, I usually pick up 80% of the spice bottles until I find the right one. One thought I had was to add some magnetic strips to the inside of a cabinet door, that way they are out of sight but convenient to find. Another thing I'd have to do is create a label for each canister because I don't spend enough time in the kitchen to recognize each and every spice. Maybe fixing the labels to the sides of each canister would help identify them but not cover up the clear top. I'd love to hear what you think!

Spring Cleaning: 10 Hot Spots

2009-04-15T08:00:00.003-04:00

I apologize in advance because parts of this post are going to gross you out... but when I read "Wipe Out the 10 Worst Germ Hot Spots" (courtesy of Alyssa Shaffer, of Prevention at MSN.com) today, I had to spread the word. And when I say spread... I mean fast, faster than the laundry list of bacteria that are multiplying in my house as we speak. I can't get home fast enough to start cleaning!

For those of you who don't feel like reading the nitty-gritty, here's a run-down of the 10 Hot Spots that you must tackle when you start your spring cleaning this season:

Kitchen Faucet - namely, the metal aeration screen where the water comes out... full of germy germs that continue to live as a result of the constant moisture. Clean with a diluted bleach solution once a week, or as often as you feel necessary.

Garbage Disposal - the rubber stopper, seriously, we all know this is just teaming with unhealthy stuff. Clean with a diluted bleach solution since hot water and soap can't handle this kind of germ-i-ness.

Welcome Mat - the first things these mats welcome are bacteria from your shoes, which includes fecal bacteria, which makes me ill. If you've had your welcome mat for a while, you might want to think about replacing it. Or if it's new and you want to clean it, try a disinfectant spray that is safe for fabrics.

Vacuum Cleaner - you might think this is like a bar of soap, self cleaning... wrong. Think about all of the places your vacuum cleans, chances are the bathroom floor is one of them. Need I say more? To clean your vacuum, Alyssa suggests replacing the bag often or using an antibacterial bag and cleaning the bag cavity with a bleach solution. I have a tendency to be a germaphobe, so every once in a while I actually soak the attachments in a bucket of diluted bleach. Be sure to let them dry completely before running the vacuum on carpets, you don't want to accidentally bleach your rugs, etc. (Of course, don't soak any moving parts just in case.)

Dish Towel - basically these can contain a type of staph infection, which you know isn't good for anyone. So try to use them only to dry clean pots and dishes. Replace them often and launder frequently. To wipe up counter top spills, stick with paper towels.

Car's Dashboard - mold spores and bacteria can cling to the dashboard, yuck. I'm assuming your steering wheel is just about as dirty so you might as well clean them both with disinfectant wipes whenever possible.

Soap Dispensers - this one seems pretty obvious, it's the first thing you touch when you wash your hands... therefore it's the last place for bacteria before it's washed off. The article suggests that you use hot, soapy water to get your paws good and clean. I'd take it one step further and use a disinfectant wipe on the soap pump too.

Restaurant Ketchup Bottle - Luckily this isn't on my list of spring cleaning items so I'll skip the details.

The Refrigerator Seal - In a survey of 160 homes, 83% of refrigerator seals contain common molds which can be spread every time you open the door. Ewww! Double eww! To clean, wipe seals with diluted bleach (once a week if possible but who has that kind of time, or memory?)

Your Cell Phone - This one might be a surprise to some... or an obvious one. For most people, cell phones are almost a permanently in our hands, so germs are inevitable. But just so you know, they can harbor bacteria that causes skin, eye, and stomach infections. To clean, wipe your cell phone down with a disinfectant wipe once a week.

Starting to see a pattern? Constantly clean items that are frequently touched or often exposed to moisture with diluted bleach or disinfectant wipes. Happy spring cleaning!

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

2009-04-13T08:00:00.004-04:00

I think this refinished mirror might be the fairest one of all!

A little over a week ago, Erica and I took a trip to a nearby antiques store to pour over the new stock. One item that caught my eye was this ornate "gold" mirror from the 1950s. I've been seeing mirrors like this all over the place in recent months, refinished with glossy paint in everything from black, white, magenta, and fire orange.

I decided to bring this baby home and try my hand at refinishing it. It really is amazing what a little gloss spray paint can do!

I started by taking a toothbrush reserved for cleaning, and dry-dusting the mirror frame. Then I wiped it clean with a damp cloth.

Next, I took painters tape and carefully placed it on the mirror, around the frame's perimeter.

Then I tore a leftover Sunday newspaper, placed it on the frame, and taped it in place. Because the mirror is so shapely, I tore small pieces just to ensure that I didn't miss a spot on the mirror and accidentally spray paint it later.

Once the taping was done, I took the mirror outside, covered the area in newspaper, and began painting.

About three coats and six hours later, here's the finish product -- what a difference!

While the new glossy white mirror looks about a million times better than the dusty gold, I think I'm going to redo the process this weekend...with glossy black paint.

What do you think? Leave it white or paint it black?

Domino Subscribers: Here's the 4-1-1

2009-04-10T07:00:00.005-04:00

Like many of you I was devastated when Conde Nast announced that they were putting the kabosh on Domino magazine. Since I hadn't heard or seen anything from Conde Nast since the announcement in January, I decided to call them directly to get the 4-1-1.

According to the operator, Conde Nast is issuing post cards to all subscribers within the next couple of weeks to let us know we will receive Glamour by default for a full year (April 2009-March 2010).

However, we may choose from any Conde Nast publication if we're not interested in receiving Glamour. Options include: Vogue, Allure, Details, Conde Nast Traveler, Conde Nast Portfolio, Cookie, Lucky, and more. I opted to receive Vogue for a year, with the first issue scheduled to arrive in 4-6 weeks.

If you're interested in making your selection now, rather than waiting for the post card, call Conde Nast at 877-366-4665 to do so. Make sure to let them know you are a Domino subscriber with issues left on your subscription.

Here's hoping the former editors at Domino get together again to publish a new publication some day, or Conde Nast realizes what a HUGE mistake it was to terminate this beloved publication. (Seriously? Does anyone actually read/buy/subscribe to Portfolio? And, they totally could have combined Glamour and Allure into one.)

Before & After: Clock

2009-04-09T08:08:00.000-04:00

This clock is kind of a joke in my family. We call it, "the Loudest Clock" because it is just that, loud. When Jared and I were dating he was required to stay in the guest room at my parents house. That's how the clock got it's name. The first time he stayed over I woke up in the morning and opened my bedroom door to find this clock on the floor in the hallway. When Jared got up and explained that it was, "the Loudest Clock" he'd ever heard and it kept him up all night until he decided to relocate it into the hallway.

Well, after we got married my parents decided it would be funny to wrap this clock up and give it to Jared as a Christmas present. (Don't worry, they arent that cruel, he also got some real gifts!) So the "Loudest Clock" found it's way into our home and we, of course, put it in our guest room as well. The room is green and white and the gold didn't exactly match but I figured it's a nice enough looking clock and since we rarely have guests we'd just keep it for now.

The other day I decided to give the "Loudest Clock" a little makeover. Three coats of white spray paint later and I think it's looking quite lovely now:
It's amazing what a can of spray paint can do. I've already used it on several quick-fix projects including my dog food storage bin and a bunch of branches last Christmas.

Dogs & Containers

2009-04-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

As you can see I am a little more than puppy-obsessed lately, and how could I NOT be with this darling face looking at me all the time:

A few weeks ago I posted the making's of a DIY dog food storage bin and I hadn't gotten very far at the time. Well, as it turns out, one of Erin's very creative friends offered me a few suggestions to get the ball rolling on the project. Here is her much appreciated suggestion:

Hi Erica, I was checking out the blog and saw the doggy tin post and have a couple ideas. I think it could be cute to put paw prints in the sectioned off space between bone and lid, either in black or a stand out color like red, pink or even yellow. Another idea that came to mind was filling in the bone with color and then accenting the rest of the tin with the same color, in polka dots or another design. Oh, it could be cute to put some sort of grosgrain ribbon in the sectioned off space and the very bottom for balance. That might be a bit girly though! A combo idea that just came to mind was filling bone with color and then putting the ribbon (with some sort of polka dot or other graphic design) around the top and bottom Good luck with your project! Cheers, Lindsay

All of Lindsay's ideas were super cute and also super easy. So I decided to try adding a series of black polka dots around the tin. I would have done a color, but I had a black Sharpee and was actually too lazy to run to the store to find a cute color. But the black turned out really cute, and I am addicted to all things black and white so it works. Next I added the name, Kasey, to the inside of the bone. Finally, I drew a big paw print on the lid and still left room around it in case another flood of creative energy hits me. (Unlikely.) And.... as you can see, that is as far is I got:

I was thinking about adding polka dotted grosgrain ribbon around the side of the lid. However, it's a good thing I didn't get around to it because I think Kasey would have ripped it off immediately. She's into biting anything and everything. Including the dog food bin, already!

On a side note, I was at the Pottery Barn Outlet last week and picked up this huge glass jar to contain dog treats. It was a $30 jar (seriously, who wants to spend that much on a jar?) that I snagged for $10 (which is still a bit much if you ask me, but I saw similar jars at Target that were at least $15 and I know this one is better quality). I think it looks a little more decor friendly than your typical dog treat container and it's easier to access than the resealable treat bag.

Two more things: First, yes, I realize I need to stock up on more dog treats, the jar is running a bit low. Second, yes, I realize I need to work on my photography skills because I have none! Any suggestions on how to take better pictures? I'm using a Canon Power Shot SD750 with 7.1 mega pixels... so I'm guessing it's not the camera's fault.

Coffee Table Storage

2009-04-07T07:00:00.001-04:00

While working on the hubs' "man cave," I realized I needed a a container of sorts to corral his remote controls and a few coasters for the coffee table. Low and behold, while searching through Wisteria.com, I found a fun little "domino" box, whose measurements appeared to be perfect for storing these items.

I ordered the box when a 15% off promo code came through my email inbox a few weeks later (helped with shipping costs, at least), and it worked out perfectly!

Now that three remote controls and four coasters are stored, the coffee table looks much more organized.
What do you like to use to store your coffee table necessities?

Solar Pathway Lights?

2009-04-06T09:05:00.001-04:00

It could be that Solar Pathway lights have been around for years and I've never noticed them because I had zero interest in landscaping a home, but this spring I have been noticing them everywhere! Are these a new modern marvel, or are they old news? Do they even work?

(HomeBrite Solar Lights, Home Depot)

Ever since Jared and I got our puppy a few weeks ago we've been spending a ton of time in the back yard. (After every meal if you catch my drift.) And we realized that it is impossible to see the dog, who has a shiny black coat, at night. I'd love to add some pathway lighting to our boring back yard, even though we have no landscaping to spotlight. It would make those late night potty confirmations that much easier.

So I decided to start small and test out a solar pathway light to see if it could answer our dark dilemma. I found a $5 stick light at Target in the home and garden aisle and bought two of them. I couldn't find the online product so unfortunately I can't share a link but they look pretty much like any of these. And I noticed they were available in a few different finishes; oil rubbed bronze, black, and stainless steel.

(HomeBrite Solar Lights, Home Depot)

The key is to place the lights in an area of your yard that actually gets sunlight throughout the day. Obviously no sun = no solar power = no light, duh. So I found a few sunny spots and stuck the lights into the grass. That night when we took the dog out after dark we were greeting with a faint glow. There's a reason why these lights were only $5 a piece, you get what you pay for. They provide a subtle glow but it's actually just enough for us to see the dog. And by morning the light really needs more sun to soak up enough power to light it again the next night.

The pro's:

No wiring required; just plop it down and your ready to go
Cost effective; I saw a 10 pack for $45 at Home Depot this weekend
Eco-friendly; they are self powered thanks to the solar technology on top
Convenient; they provide 10 hours of illumination

The con's:

Not as bright as an ordinary light; but you might enjoy the softer glow
Sunshine required; pretty self explanatory

I can't really think of too many con's because I actually like these as an outdoor lighting solution. Can you offer any reviews? I'm sure there's something I am missing and I'd love to hear what other people are saying about these lights. Now that I've discovered the solar lights, I can't wait to spruce up the backyard with some landscaping that's worthy of being in the spotlight. I better start practicing my persuasive speech to get the husband on board!

DwellStudio - Pillows from Target

2009-04-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

I just picked up two of the Lattice decorative throw pillow by Dwell Studio for Target and I am loving them! The calming blue offset by the chocolate brown embroidery really sold me on these.
Or was it the crisp white and the chocolate brown? I can't decide because this baby is double sided!

As of today, these throw pillows have no where to be thrown, so I'll just keep them safe until I'm able to a) reupholster my plaid armchairs, or b) upgrade to the Arlington armchair from Pottery Barn. But since I can't help but picture what these gems are going to look like on my soon-to-be-new or re-newed, chairs, I polyvore'd my way to a mock up:

Chair + Pillow by coffee22 on Polyvore.com'

And I like what I see... the pillows will anchor the chairs on my dark brown area rug and tie my whole color scheme together. I have been staring at my room design for months now, so hopefully a few new purchases will find their way to our humble abode so my "room off of the kitchen" can finally be made over!

Here's the "to do" list:

Donate the "monster"/armoire
Replace said monster with console table (which is just begging to be moved out of it's temporary resting place in the kitchen)
Update or replace armchairs
Buy new overhead light to replace ceiling fan
Buy new flat panel TV to replace the also monstrous TV residing in the "monster"
AND FINALE!

So as you can see, we have a lot to spend...uhhh I mean... do. I have tasked the husband with finding a deal on a TV of his choice. He has been faithfully stalking his favorites on Amazon and other retailers in the hopes of finding a bargain. As for my job... well the rest is up to me.

Pleasing Pleats

2009-04-03T07:00:00.015-04:00

I'm beginning to think I have a serious addiction to pleats. I love them in fashion (especially fashion) and now in home decor. I love the structured yet feminine look they add to any piece, from a jacket to a chair to a quilt.

And I think I finally realized why I love it so much: Dentil molding -- the small tooth-shaped block that is used in a repeating pattern as ornamentation on cornices -- is one of my favorite architectural elements, and the pleated ruffle reminds me of it.

Below are a couple of my favorite pleats right now:

PB Savannah chair: I want to fall into this chair every time I look at it. So pretty!

J. Crew Atelier Jacket: This jacket reminds me of my wedding gown, which had a silk satin pleated ruffle all along the hem. I could also see one of my idols, Grace Kelly, wearing this today...of course Grace would have worn it with pearls and an Hermes Kelly bag...{sigh}, some day...

Ballard Upholstered Couture Chair Slipcover: I realize this could be over the top, but imagine six of these (with dark legs) in an all-white room with a dark farmhouse table, and vases of gorgeous white tulips.

PB Matine Toile Quilt: I actually own this one in espresso. I loved the toile but as soon as I saw the pleated ruffle, I had to make it mine.

So what architectural elements are your favorites? Have you noticed a repeating pattern of sorts in your purchases?

ER finale -- did I miss George & Julianna?

2009-04-02T23:00:00.002-04:00

OK this is totally off-topic: Did anyone watch the ER finale? I haven't seen the show in about 7 years but thought I would tune in to see George Clooney and Julianna Margulies in the finale, but I didn't see them. Were they on? Did I miss it? Let me know if you watched!

What a Steal: All-Clad Saucepans

2009-04-02T09:00:00.005-04:00

Last weekend I decided to hit up a local outlet mall to check in on some of my favorites, like Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, and Restoration Hardware.

Ever since I got really serious about cooking, I've wanted to upgrade from my starter cookware set to All-Clad Stainless Steel, which is made in the U.S.A. But I didn't want to buy a set or pay full price when buying one piece at a time.

So you can imagine my excitement when I walked over to the All-Clad section at the Williams-Sonoma outlet and saw the "50 % off" signs hanging on the racks!

Image courtesy of Williams-Sonoma.

I closely inspected each piece and ended up snagging two perfect saucepans -- a 1.5-quart and a large 4-quart -- for half the retail price!

1.5-quart
Original: $74.95
Sale: $37.45

4-quart
Original: $185.00
Sale: $92.50

Even at half price the saucepans were a pretty hefty investment, but when I considered that I would have these for the better part of 30 years (at least), and that they were made in the U.S. and this purchase would support American jobs, I was happy to make the investment.

When you're in the market for new cookware, don't forget to check out your local Williams-Sonoma outlet for steals!

Low Cost vs. Long-Term

2009-04-01T07:00:00.004-04:00

In my search for two slipper chairs for my husband's "man cave," I heard a lot of really great things about an inexpensive upholstered slipper chair at Target. The online reviews were great, other folks in the blogosphere seemed to like them, and they looked fabulous in pictures of real room settings.

So when Target offered an additional 15% off all furniture and free shipping on top of that, I thought, what the heck, took the plunge, and purchased two.

When they arrived I excitedly unpacked one from its box...

...And quickly realized it just wasn't going to work. The color was off, and the chair had a weird smell, which made it that much easier to decide to return the pair, instead of trying to find another place for them in the house.

Disappointed, the hubs and I loaded them into my car, and returned them to our local Target store.

Then, later that week, while out and about looking at bedroom furniture, I found a leather slipper chair on sale at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. Not only was the floor model on sale, but they had about 20+ chairs available in their warehouse for the same price. So we scooped up two!

I have learned quite a few lessons since we bought our house and began this never-ending decorating and improvement process, including, it's best to buy neutral and think long-term when in the market for big ticket items like furniture.

Buying neutral and thinking long-term may help you increase the likelihood that you'll get your wallet's-worth out of the piece because it will go with much of what you have and are likely to buy in the future, and, you can easily move it around to other rooms when you get the urge to refresh or rethink a space.

In the end, we spent more on the leather slipper chairs, however, because we spent a little more and kept our long-term philosophy in mind, we'll get more use out of them than the Target slipper chairs, in the long run.

Before & After: Bathroom Cabinet

2009-03-30T09:00:00.002-04:00

I finally finished my master bathroom cabinet makeover last weekend (yay!). It is absolutely amazing what a little paint, hardware, and new faucets can do!

Here is the ugh-ly before:

Here is the cabinet after the faucet replacement:

And here is the "new" cabinet: Freshly painted, and new hardware installed:

It feels so much better to get ready in this room each morning. So how much did this transformation cost? Just under $26 for paint and hardware.

Paint: For this makeover, I used Benjamin Moore Aura Paint (which includes primer) in a Semi-gloss. The color is Mink. I could not more highly recommend BMoore's Aura -- I've used it in a few rooms and for a few projects and it covers better than any paint out there. Plus you can't beat Benjamin Moore's color palette. The cabinet took about three coats of paint.

Hardware: I used hardware that I purchased at Expo Design Center's liquidation sale; each knob was $1.19. And we even used one of the hardware installation templates I found last month. However, I would not recommend using the template...it's far from perfect. While it looks fine in the master bathroom and the knobs are symmetrically placed on the doors, they are not perfectly centered on each door. We had already installed one when we saw where it ended up, so we had to keep going. When we install the hardware on the kitchen cabinets this summer, I will definitely not use this template.

Question: I'm still trying to decide what to do about the quarter-rounds. Notice they're still the same "honey oak" color of the former cabinets... I opted not to paint them right now because we're going to have to get new bathroom flooring at some point (sooner than later). But what do you guys think? Should I paint the quarter rounds now or leave them as is until we replace the flooring?

Bolster-ing the Day Bed

2009-03-27T08:00:00.002-04:00

Our home office doubles as a guest bedroom, thanks to a wrought iron daybed we've situated opposite the desk. My vision for the bed was to disguise it as a sofa so that it could be a cozy place to read in the office or a resting place for a guest. So far it has successfully accomplished both tasks but I'd like to bolster the sofa quality by adding more pillows.

I'd love to take it from just so-so:

... to so-so lovely and relaxing! I mean doesn't this just make you want to grab a book and get cozy for an afternoon?

As luck would have it, I found myself at the Pottery Barn Outlet in Leesburg, Virginia and happened to see bolster pillows on sale. I found two, 10 x 27" bolsters that were marked down an extra 30% off their already discounted price. I think they retailed for around $30 originally, but by the time I got my hands on them, they were just $14.00, yay for me!

Adding bolsters to either side of the daybed mimics the look of arms on a sofa, perfect! Now that I've found the perfect pillow inserts, I am in search of matching pillow covers. Why do I have the feeling this will be like finding a needle in a haystack? Anyone know where I can find simple, white bolster covers for a 10 x 27" pillow? Please, do tell!

Warehouse Sale: Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams

2009-03-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

Hey DC-area readers, we just heard about a Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Sample Sale happening this weekend at the Arts District Hyattsville. Details and address below:

Check out their furniture and accessories on their web site. I recently bought a tall chest for my bedroom and two slipper chairs for the man cave -- both on sale -- so I will definitely stop by this weekend to check out the available samples. Here's hoping they've got some great accessories at affordable prices!

Before & After: Shelf & Printer

2009-03-24T15:00:00.000-04:00

Printers are one piece of technology that are hard to live with, and even harder to live without. We have a massive multi-function printer that sits atop an unattractive old shelf in our office. It is entirely coincidental that our printer and the walls are a similar shade of blue, but even that doesn't make it less of an eye sore. Last weekend while blogging away at my desk, I couldn't help but stare at the mess we've created around the shelf. So I got to thinking... why not change things up a bit...
You'd think I snapped this picture in a college dorm room... sadly though, it's our home office:
There must be a better way!!!
Our books need a home, the floor needs a break, and I have got to do something to lessen the impact of our huge printer.

I turned to a can of white paint, and some rearranging:
I removed the backing from the rear of the shelf so that the printer would sit in the middle and still be plugged into the wall. I eliminated a good deal of the clutter and chose only a few books to display on the shelves along with a few Virginia Tech items. Until I can make a trip to Ikea to buy a few wall mount shelves like these, I'll have to keep the rest of our books in temporary storage (aka: under the bed!).
The home office is far from complete, but I think the minor changes I made over the weekend have make a major impact on this small area.

Furniture Upholstery

2009-03-23T07:00:00.000-04:00

I have a set of armchairs that are in serious need of an update:

They were a donation from my parents when we bought our house and while the pink and blue plaid was trendy in the 90's, it sure is killin' me now! I'd love to replace them but they are so comfy and were hardly used until we inherited them two years ago. Other than the upholstery and then skirted bottoms, I actually do love them!

My sweet little mom had matching pillows made for each chair; one of the pillows even matched their old bedspread (oh la la):

When it comes to the update, I think I have two options:

1.) Something New! - I would love to buy two new upholstered chairs with more modern lines than my current plaid chairs. I've had my eye on the Arlington Armchair from Pottery Barn, the tapered wood legs will give the illusion of more space in the room. It seems that the typical price for this type of chair (whether from PB or another furniture retailer) is between $600 and $1,000 per chair. I love the "Chunky Herringbone" fabric:

2.) Something Old! - Since these two chairs are practically new, I feel really wasteful replacing them with something new. Another option would be to reupholster them with a neutral fabric and pairing them with a set of throw pillows for a punch of color. So, I've done some research and here's what I uncovered:

Option A: The first option is to have the chairs reupholstered by an upholsterer. I did some shopping around and found that prices for these types of chairs range from $600 to $1,100 per chair. That price includes fabric, labor, and in most cases adding new cotton batting over the existing cushions. This option would allow me to choose the exact type of fabric for my furniture and save the time it takes to wait for new pieces to be delivered.

Option B: The second option is to have the upholsterer create custom slipcovers for each of the chairs. I was able to see an example of this at one of the fabric stores I visited and I could hardly tell it was a slipcover. The fit was nearly perfect. And the benefit of a slipcover is the ability to remove and clean it in the case of a mess. Ideal for a home with pets or small children. The prices for slipcovers ranged from $400 to $500 per chair plus the cost of fabric.

While both of the upholstery options would improve the look of my room, I just can't justify spending nearly the same amount on old chairs as I would for a new set. So I find myself back at square one. What is a girl to do?

DIY: Dog Food Storage Bin

2009-03-20T08:00:00.001-04:00

We've survived week 1 of puppy-hood with our little lady, Kasey. She has kept us on our toes and laughing, even while making a mess in the house. Kasey can't stay in trouble for long... at least not with me, those darn puppy dog eyes get me every time! This morning she went for her first walk on the leash; we made it around the block once, huge milestone!

For that past week, we've been keeping her dog food in it's resealable plastic bag. It works for now, the bag is only 8 lbs and it's small puppy food. But in the future I'd like to store it in something that can be easily opened or closed by a human, but impossible to crack into by a mischievous puppy. Rather than buy something new, I decided to go shopping in our storage area to find a free solution. Every year for Christmas Jared receives a huge tin of popcorn from his parents. The tins are always holiday inspired and too cute to throw away... so we have a mini stock pile in the basement.
My first step was to spray paint the tin bright white to cover up the Christmas bird scene. It took two coats to cover the dark colors and a third to even out the white. From there I decided to trace a standard looking dog bone on the front. First, I drew a bone on a piece of white computer paper, then cut out the shape and traced it onto the front of the tin. Next, I outlined the bone with a black permanent marker.I think the tin needs something more. That's where you all come in! Here's where the project stands now:
I know it is missing something... but between my lack of sleep and my attention being devoted to the dog lately, I am at a stand still. I was thinking about putting a word inside of the bone. Maybe the dog's name, or the word 'woof', something... anything? Another idea I had was to draw a silhouette of my little lady on the lid. I would have to take another photo like this one to use as a template for my drawing:
Help! I need your suggestions! This DIY project has been haunting me for days!

Art, by a Talented Friend!

2009-03-19T08:45:00.000-04:00

When it comes time to decide what to hang on an empty wall... I am usually pretty much clueless. Until I became a home owner and newlywed, my wall decor consisted of posters that may or may not have been framed. While I love my "Rosie the Riveter" poster that still adorns my bedroom wall at my parents house, it's time for some grown up art.

A few months ago while dining with a nearly-wed couple we are friends with, I discovered Andrea, the bride to be, is a seriously talented artist! She casually mentioned that one of her favorite things to do is to sit down with a pen and paper and draw whatever is in front of her. I asked to see some of her work and she pulled out a portfolio of black and white scenes she drew while studying abroad in Italy during college. I was so impressed by her work that I wasn't shy in asking for something to take home...

I need to ask Andrea again where she was when she drew this city street but I know for sure it was during her time in Italy. Can you believe how talented this woman is? As soon as I found a black frame ($10 on sale at AC Moore) I popped this gem behind a black & white mat and found a place in our kitchen to show off my new piece of art!
Andrea doesn't know it yet, but I am going to keep coming back for more! She is a bride-to-be by night, and a landscape architect by day. I've even seen some of her professional landscape designs (in magazines by the way) and she would put the crew of Curb Appeal and Yard Crashers to shame. Hmmm... maybe I can get her to sketch some ideas for my backyard this spring?!
It is wonderful to have a piece of art in our home that's not only stunning, but also a creation of an awesome friend. I'd love to see some of your 'out of the box' art ideas!

Necessity vs. Luxury

2009-03-18T15:00:00.001-04:00

I just read a column in the Washington Post about how consumers are economizing when it comes to wine in this recesession.

Photo courtesy of The New York Times

Not surprisingly: People are spending less on wine -- decreasing their price points by as much (or as little) as 25%. And, people are dining out less (thank goodness) and choosing to entertain at home much more.

Surprisingly: Wine is now considered a necessity, not a luxury, as demonstrated by the fact that people are still buying it, rather than foregoing it altogether. A sign, according to the folks at Wine Spectator, that it's finally made its way to our American dinner tables as a staple.

For the last couple of years, wine's been a staple on my dinner table. And while I still buy a bottle every week, I've gone from spending $15 or less per bottle to $10 or less, or 30% less than the pre-recession 2000s.

We also dine out much less frequently than in years past, in favor of saving more, and ensuring our money goes to things that endure, like a curtain panel here, a gallon of paint there, or a cute dress on sale at J.Crew(!)...

How about you guys: How has the economy changed your "dining and imbibing" habits? Spending less? Spending the same? Are you dining out less in favor of staying at home more?

Sundays...

2009-03-15T08:24:00.000-04:00

...Are always filled with a long list of "to-do's" in my house -- how about yours?

Today I hope to wrap up my bathroom cabinet makeover and install the hardware I purchased at Expo Design Center a few weeks back.

Here's a "before" shot:

Hopefully I can post an "after" tomorrow. It's amazing what a difference $28 (excluding the faucets) can make!

In addition to wrapping up the makeover, there's the more mundane but necessary stuff like laundry, dishes, and overall cleaning and vacuuming. Ugh. Ambitious? You betcha.

Hope you have a productive Sunday!

Annual Sale at Calico Corners

2009-03-14T08:07:00.010-04:00

I just received a postcard from one of our favorite fabric and home design stores -- Calico Corners -- which is holding its annual Spring Sale now through March 28, where you can save:

Up to 50% on fabrics, trims, and home accents
20% on window treatments, hardware, and bedding
15% on furniture, reupholstery, slipcovers, and more

When I was last there in January, I managed to score my lovely (and large) fleur de lis lamp for $85 -- it was originally $285!

I know I'm going to stop in this weekend. If you go there as well, tell us about your findings!

Meet Kasey

2009-03-13T08:00:00.002-04:00

The newest addition to our home has four legs and it isn't a dining room table... it's the sweetest little black lab puppy you've ever seen. Her name is Kasey:

We have been trying to adopt a puppy for a few weeks now through a rescue foundation in our area. A Forever-Home Rescue Foundation (AFH) is a non-profit dedicated to finding loving homes for otherwise homeless dogs and cats. Basically when shelters receive abandoned animals they contact foundations like AFH and ask them to pick up the pets. AFH then finds foster parents to care for the dogs and cats until someone adopts them. We had to go through an application process that included a home inspection and interviews. Luckily we passed both!

Kasey and her brother were living with a foster family nearby and they invited us over to meet everyone. The puppies were abandoned in West Virginia this December and rescued from the bitter cold. Out of the entire litter (not sure how many) only these two survived. AFH nick-named them "Teeny" and "Tiny" because they were so small. Kasey was about half as big as her brother when we met her and even though she's grown in a week... she is still pretty small for her age. She is a lab mix, but our guess is as good as any on what the mix includes. We've been told that since some people in West Virginia breed hounds for hunting, there is a good chance she has some hound in her but we can't be sure.

I love the white spots on her paws and chin, and the white "T" on her chest. I joked with Jared that she matches our house and my love for all things black & white! At some point before she was rescued her tail was injured and left her with a knubby-hook (so cute). Like all big purchases, she requires a slew of accessories. These white ceramic bowls were a match made in dog heaven. (Matching some of my kitchen accessories from Williams-Sonoma):

Kasey is a curious little lady and is making herself at home. She seems to enjoy watching TV, chew toys, and loves to cuddle any chance she gets. Jared and I are already head over heels for this little ball of fur!

Shh..."Secret" Sale...

2009-03-12T07:00:00.001-04:00

Any J. Crew fans out there? I just received an e-mail from my favorite [clothing] retailer about a "private" sale now through Friday.

To get 20% off your order of $175 or more, enter the code "SECRET" at checkout.

Now if I were to participate in this sale, this is what I would want to bring home:

Posie Patent Peep Toe:

Carmen Satin Peep Toe:

Cotton Sateen Gateau Skirt:

Cotton Cashmere Ruffle Cardigan:

Stone Bead Ribbon Necklace:

What would you pick? Do tell!

ISO: Upholstered platform bed

2009-03-11T18:24:00.002-04:00

(Sigh), I found the perfect bed for my "boudoir" makeover last weekend:

Thomas Pheasant Collection Paris Bed at Baker

Tufted headboard? Check
Upholstered platform? Check
Nailhead trim? Check!

The only problem is this bed is way above my price range (when I say "way," I mean about 5x more than I can spend).

When I checked in with a sales associate at Baker he was quick to mention that this bed has generated a lot of press and positive feedback since it debuted at High Point last year. And we all know what happens when something new gets so much praise...a less expensive lookalike is likely on the way. Until that point, my current bed will have to do.

Of course, if anyone sees an upholstered platform bed, with a tufted headboard and nailhead trim, please send a link my way! I implore you! :-)

Artichoke Talk, continued...

2009-03-10T18:44:00.000-04:00

Artichokes seem to be one of our favorite topics of conversation, lately! After Erica found her little guy for the amazing under $30 price tag, I decided to do a quick Google search to see what else is out there.

Here are a few of my finds. While two of them are over my artichoke budget, I'll be sure to keep an eye out for a sale price (or better sale price) soon.

From Bellacor, La Vie en Blanc Set of Two (on pedestals!):

From Bassett Furniture, another set of two on pedestals:Finally, from Fur Tub, a home decor boutique in Towson, Md., a short porcelain artichoke sculpture:

Has anyone else spotted an artichoke accent they'd like to share?

P.S. Erica, I think a trip to Fur Tub is in order this spring...

Welcome TYH readers!

2009-03-09T09:30:00.000-04:00

Thanks for clicking over to girl meets home from one of our favorite blogs -- This Young House -- to check out Erica's fabulous Medicine Cabinet Makeover!

She's also posted a step-by-step guide, in case you'd like to make over your medicine cabinet, as well.

Enjoy your stay and we hope you visit again soon!

This Just In...Ballard Designs

2009-03-09T08:45:00.003-04:00

At long last I found a Spring 2009 Ballard Designs catalog in my mailbox last weekend and immediately browsed through to check out the new offerings. Ballard hit it out of the park this time; I found several things that I'd like to bring home.

Queen Bee pillow: What else is there to say? It's just a great little accent pillow.

Hampton Braided Jute Rug: I've been waiting for Ballard to come out with a natural jute braided rug. Natural fiber rugs are a favorite in our homes because they are inexpensive and so versatile. (check out some new additions to our dining spaces)

Celia Outdoor Rug: Absolutely love it in Black or Natural.

Dog Bed Cover with Insert: I like it in Sand, and especially like that the cover is machine washable -- a must for any dog owner.

Capiz Mirror: Check out the measurements -- it's 36" x 42"! What a great size.

Elise Linen Panel: Could be to die for in Ebony. I would use smaller scale hardware than shown here, and let the contrast of the panel shine through.

Set of four Channel Stitched Placemats: Cream's my favorite, can be used in most color schemes.

These were my top picks -- did anything else jump out at you guys?

Before & After: Bathroom Improvements

2009-03-07T08:23:00.002-05:00

In case you haven't noticed, we've been spending a ton of time in the bathroom recently. (Don't we all?) Jared and I have wanted to replace the hideous lights and mirrors in our master bathroom since before we bought our house... and we finally took the time to make it happen.

Here's our before:
Note the poodle lights that make you feel less like a movie star and more like you're in a sauna with the amount of heat they produce.
Here it is from another angle... just as unattractive if you ask me.

And now for the after:
We purchased two $35 mirrors from Home Goods and two double sconce vanity lights from Restoration Hardware (on sale for $60 each). We also spruced up the medicine cabinet a few weeks ago by framing in the existing space and installing recycled shelves.
I asked Jared if he could install new lights when I found these on sale and he said he could figure it out. In the back of my mind I thought we'd have to hire an electrician but my handy man husband did figure it out and the light switch actually turns on both lights. (I was amazing and way impressed with his newly found electrical skills!)
I love how the separate mirrors and lights define the "his and hers" space in our bathroom. And getting ready under these cool lights is literally no sweat since we ditched the poodle lights! What's next???

Artichoke ...

2009-03-06T08:30:00.002-05:00

A few months ago, Erin and I toured a model home that was carefully designed and perfectly decorated. We literally fell in love with every design element in the four-floor luxury town home. One such element that kept repeating in various rooms of the house was a white ceramic artichoke. It's hard to tell, but in the photo below you can see four of them in the gray cabinets. (Look on the top shelf at the outer corners and you'll see two pairs.)
We saw them again in the basement on the built-in bar counter:
Ever since the tour I have been looking for something similar to use at my house. I found one option from Z Gallerie and I love the individual thistles and how it sits atop a pedestal. But, I haven't been to a Z Gallerie lately so I've kept an eye out at local shops and boutiques as I've traveled.As luck would have it, Jared and I stopped at a roadside vintage/antique store on our way back in town from a weekend get-away and I found this:
Behold, my gorgeous little artichoke! Atcually, it isn't so little... it's about the size of a cantelope so it defintely makes a statement. I haven't decided on the right spot for this beauty so for now I keep moving it from one room to the next. Eventually it will find a permenant spot in the house and be admired by all who lay eyes on it... or at least just by me!

Pillow Talk

2009-03-05T17:00:00.002-05:00

With Spring 2009 almost officially here, I thought it might be time to scope out the new pillow offerings at some of my favorite retailers. I don't think we're the only ones loving the classic black and white combination right now, as B&W pillows abound this season, as do royal influences and texture.

Spring 2009 Pillows - by girlmeetshome on Polyvore.com

Clockwise, starting with the crown:

1. King Crown Hook Pillow, Modern Dose

2. Link Needlepoint Pillow, Modern Dose

3. Sunburst Crewel Pillow Cover, Pottery Barn

4. Isla Pillow, Z Gallerie

5. Ziggy Pillow, Crate & Barrel

6. French Stripe Lumbar Pillow Cover, Pottery Barn

7. Labyrinth Pillow, Z Gallerie

8. Queen Bee, Limited Edition Designer Pillow, Ballard Designs

9. Queen Pillow, Modern Dose

Now I just have to wait for these to go on sale!

FYI: Z Gallerie Store Closings

2009-03-04T09:52:00.007-05:00

Maybe this isn't news to you, but I just discovered that Z Gallerie announced last weekend that they are closing 25 stores. For those of you who live in the Northern Virginia area, head on over to the Tyson's Corner location to get your Z-fix one last time, or just to take advantage of major discounts.

Yesterday I stopped in to check out some window treatments and overheard the store manager talking about a sale. When I asked him for details he clued me into the store closing and said as of now, all regular priced merchandise is 40% off. They haven't been told when exactly the doors will be closing so you still have time to shop.

When will the bad news start getting better? I will continue to support the economy in anyway that I can, but there is only so much shopping one woman can do. And to be honest, I only buy quality items that I absolutely love... maybe businesses should start producing them! And if they smack an honest "Made in America" sticker on the back, they will already have one customer lined up!

How To: Remove a Satellite Dish from the Roof

2009-03-03T08:00:00.006-05:00

On Saturday morning we turned our backyard into a satellite dish graveyard. That's because last week heavy winds knocked over one of the two dishes on our roof and ever since we've wanted to murder DirecTV. Of course the banging dish was just outside of our bedroom window so we've been sleeping in the guest room for the past few nights. You'd think the satellite company would have a service for removing unused dishes from previous customers... but if you thought that... you'd be wrong!

Our annoyance (and lack of zzz's) spurred us into action. We went to Home Depot at 8:00 am Saturday morning and rented a 24' extension ladder so that Jared could climb onto the roof to remove both dishes. Thankfully no one was hurt in the process and we had the ladder back an entire hour before it was due. (FYI: renting a ladder of this size cost us $28 for four hours which made more sense for us than spending $200 to buy one.)

I think Jared actually enjoyed tossing both dishes off of the roof. May they rest in peace.

Since removing the mount plates would leave a series of exposed holes in the roof we decided to leave them in place for the time being. Jared did some Google searches to see what people typically do to remove these old dishes and most sources suggested leaving the plates in place if they weren't a problem.

However, if the plate is loose or already missing some of the bolts, you will be better off removing them and patching the holes. In most cases the bolts used to secure the dish to your house will have punctured several layers under your roofing. Leaving them exposed will likely cause water damage in the future.

We used Henry Wet Patch Roof Cement to fill in the holes. It came in a caulk tube which made it easy to dispense (I assume, after all Jared was the one on the roof.)

Finally, the eye sore(s) are gone, baby gone. No more useless dishes on our roof and the rickety-rackety, pots and pans-like banging we've been living with are a thing of the past!

Room off of the Kitchen: Update

2009-03-02T08:00:00.004-05:00

Back in January I began planning what to do with the "room off of our kitchen" and put together this moodboard. From there I started shopping for items in the plan or like-items that would work for the space. While it's great to have a plan when shopping for your rooms, it's just as important to keep an open mind. For example:

Originally I planned to save up for the Ryhs Console table from Pottery Barn. Then one day I stopped by Target during my lunch break and saw this Tobias Console table on the floor during their Home Design Event. I snapped a picture with my phone and left the store but for the next few days I kept thinking about how perfect the table would be for our room. The long legs create an open feeling that won't eat up space in our small room and it has just enough room for storage in the drawer space. After a few days of thinking about it I went online to target.com and found an offer for free shipping on furniture plus 30% off of everything in their Home Design event. So, for $154 we were able to find a great peice of hardwood furniture that will really open up our room. We essentially saved ourselves over $500 by having a plan and keeping an open mind.

Bonjour, 30!

2009-02-28T06:00:00.001-05:00

Recently my dear friend Lisa said "au revoir" to her 20s and "bonjour" to her 30s! So a couple of friends and I huddled together to help make her 30th birthday dinner extra special.

Lisa has said for years that she wanted to go to Paris for her 30th, and unfortunately this year with the global economy the way it is, it wasn't feasible. So we decided to bring Paris to Lisa during dinner!

To help us pull together an interesting, elegant, and decidedly fun and French tablescape, I came up with a moodboard for the dinner party that incorporated all of the essential elements:

Anything French (fleur de lis and Eiffel towers, included),
Lots of wine (dinner was to be held at a local wine store),
And, the color green (her favorite color!).

This is what we came up with:

Lisa's Bday-1 - by girlmeetshome on Polyvore.com

And this is how it turned out:

Flowers: When asked what flowers she'd love to see, Lisa said her favorite flower was "surprise." haha, such a Lisa answer :-) Knowing how much she liked pink, we decided to pick up six bunches of 10 pink, white and aubergine mini calla stems at Whole Foods for $7.99 a bunch! Four bunches served as the main centerpiece in a glass container, and we used one bunch each for two smaller mini arrangements on the table.

Eiffel towers: We also decided to scatter Eiffel towers along the middle of the table, from end to end. Thanks to Ballard Designs, we were able to score two sets of three antique bronze Eiffel towers of three different heights that not only looked great on the table, but look great at home, too!

(My master bath)

Place setting: Each place setting included a menu, a name card, and a napkin ring. I'm happy to say each of these items were DIY!

Menu: The menu was my good friend, Rachel's, brain child. She purchased gatefold cards in green (Lisa's favorite color), and 5"x7" flat cards in cream, which fit perfectly inside the gatefolds.

I formatted the menu for a 5"x7" card using Word, and decided to include a fleur de lis watermark on the menu, which was super easy to do. To find the fleur de lis image, I Googled "fleur de lis," saved an image I liked, and imported it as a watermark on the menu. Rachel printed the menus and adhered the cream cards to the green gatefolds.

Then, because Rachel lives in NYC and has access to all kinds of fabulous stuff, she popped into a ribbon store and found -- how perfect -- a moss green ribbon imprinted with a dark brown fleur de lis! Knowing she would have to close the "gates" of the gatefold card somehow, she decided to use the ribbon to pull them together, and adhered them with a large round label, which she stamped with an "L" (for "Lisa," of course) using an alphabet stamp set she already had.

Here's the finished product, which turned out beautifully!

Place cards: Rachel and Courtney got together on this one. Courtney made the labels and printed them, using the same fleur de lis watermark, and adhered the printed name to an identical shade of green cardstock!

Then Rachel cut into the wine corks lengthwise, about 1/3 of the width of the cork, and we squeezed the placecards into the corks.

Napkin rings: Another product of Rachel's genius. Rachel took a wine cork, and hammered U-shaped ornament wire into it, so that it looks like this:

Then, she threaded a Fleur de Lis ribbon through the wire, and tied the ribbon, with the cork ornament, around the flatware-contained dinner napkins.

Cake: Our good friend, Halpin, played Martha and baked a red velvet birthday cake for the birthday girl! It was awesome -- rich, moist, delicious -- and beautifully decorated of course!

Here is Miss Lisa just after officially stepping into her new decade:

Happy Birthday, Lisa!

Shoe Polish for Furniture Repair? Really...

2009-02-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder how you can fix the nicks, dings, and scratches in your furniture?

I happened to catch a recent Martha Stewart Show (okay...maybe I DVR the series, so I "happen to catch" every single episode), that featured antiques expert Christophe Pourny, who demonstrated a couple of furniture care tips that every girl can handle.

Those nicks, dings and scratches in your wood furniture, compliments of your vacuum, your pet, a recent move, etc.?

They can be fixed with a little shoe polish, a steel wool pad, and wood filler as needed. Seriously! And according to Christophe, all you need to have on hand are three basic shoe polish colors to complement most woods: Black, Brown, and Red.

Here's Christophe's advice, as featured on Martha's web site:

Select a shoe polish that matches the piece you are repairing. Place steel wool over mark. Apply wood filler if spot is deep enough to warrant. Apply shoe polish over spot. Buff with a cloth to shine.

Sounds easy enough -- I will have to inspect my furniture for dings and try out this tip!