I Wish You Could *Smell* This Post

...because it smells like sunshine and summertime.  For as much as I've been complaining about these hydrangeas and telling anyone who would listen about how I'm going to dig them up the first chance I get, there hasn't been one day this summer that a blossom hasn't sat on our dining room table. They really are beautiful.

The Rain is Bringing My Hydrangeas Down

Apparently our hydrangeas hate rain.  We've had a couple heavy rainstorms come through and it has completely floored these flowers.  I know nothing about plants and landscaping so I googled to see if maybe they're going to die now and I guess this is a common issue because their blooms are so big and heavy.  Doesn't sound they're going to be able to lift themselves back up either so we have to build this support system thingy (similar to a fence) underneath them. Fabulous.

Master Bedroom Mood Board

You have no idea how much more relaxed I am now that we decided on a decorating theme for our master bedroom.  I'm one of those people that are consumed by something until it's finished and it's been driving me nuts that I had not even a single idea for this space. 

The color scheme will be eggplant purple, espresso brown and gold cream.  Three of the walls will painted in that creamy gold color.  The second wallpaper example from this post gives off the mellowest vibe so that will be put up on the fourth wall, behind the bed.  A simple espresso brown headboard will look the nicest against the busy-ness of the wallpaper and I actually have a couple diy ideas as opposed to buying a brand new (read: expensive) headboard.

Each side of the bed will be flanked with night stands and funky lamps with deep purple curtains on the windows.  Simple cream bedding (which we already own) can be dressed up with interesting purple pillows and I'm going to start thrifting especially for a collection of mirrors that all can be spray painted gold and then hung on a wall. 

The best part about choosing espresso for the dressers is that we can stain what we already have which reduces the furniture expense quite a bit.  I'd love to see sleeker, more modern closet doors and the lighting fixture will need to be replaced and that's going to cost a pretty penny so I'm definitely looking for ways to increase our buck.

I'm Actually Considering Wallpaper

Well we decided on the purple color scheme for our master bedroom and you're not going to believe this, especially when you consider how much I bitched and moaned about removing the previous owners' wallpaper, but I think I want to do an accent wall in wallpaper (I know you're not at all surprised about the accent wall though right?).  Look at these amazing patterns:

I'm considering it for the wall that the bed will be against and the three patterns pictured above are actually the exact papers I'm considering.  In the first two examples, we'd paint the other walls a light creamy gold color and decorate with gold accents; in the last example, we'd paint the other three walls a light gray and decorate with silver accents.  Which one is your favorite? I'm having a hard time picking mine.

Growing Like Weeds

The hydrangeas are growing like weeds (which coincidently, so is my daughter) and their blooms are absolutely lovely.

Nursery Curtains

Curtains are now hanging in Emerson's nursery and they bring so much softness and texture to her walls.  I fell in love with this fabric at Hobby Lobby and bought it after some initial hesitation. I thought maybe it'd be too much pink on the walls but the damask pattern is enough of a distraction to make it work. I sewed a simple hem and tab and the curtains were done; easy peasy.



Kitchen Cookbooks

I don't cook too much but I do bake quite a bit.  My favorite dessert to whip up are of course cupcakes and I have a few trusty cookbooks that I love.

I've been searching for a way to cutely display the cookbooks in my merlot-y wine-y kitchen that won't stick out like a sore thumb.  As much as I love the idea of a bookcase or shelves, there isn't the space for something like that.

I found an image online where the homeowner displayed her favorite cookbooks in an item - like this vintage truck - that fit well with her decor. Very shabby and adorable.

I also like the idea of finding an unusual open area and making that space into a book shelf although I'd be hard pressed to even find this much open space in my kitchen.

I think the best bet for my space is devoting some space in a cupboard or in the pantry for cookbooks.  There is some open area on my countertop where I may be able to put them, which coincidently is near the mixer so it'd totally flow, but I really hate the countertops cluttered up with a bunch of "stuff".  Help?



Pool Pity

Despite my last pool update, we have most definitely NOT been swimming our hearts out over here. It's been determined that there is a leak in the lining of the pool which lowers the water level to below the skimmer on a daily basis.  We called a man who can fix it, but he requires that the pool's chemicals be balanced for swimming.  Because of our leak, we're constantly adding water from our well to fill it (you need your pool's water level to be above the skimmer at all times for the filter system to work correctly) and thus we add more chemicals and we can't get them balanced because one chemical has to "sit" for 24 hours and in that time period all the water has leaked out.  YOU ARE KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW RIGHT?

And then last night one of the hose clamps snapped apart, again, for the third time, sending water shooting from the now unhinged hose and you guessed it, Clay and I are ready to deconstruct the pool and call it good. 

Happy Fourth of July

We had an awesome Fourth of July here at home.  We watched fireworks with our friends Saturday night and Sunday we relaxed, grilled some steaks, played in the backyard, lit sparklers and roasted marshmallows.

Bedroom Ideas

I've been looking through a lot of design magazines, watching design shows and browsing design blogs, trying to get some inspiration to start our bedroom remodel.  I know I want the space to feel sensual and sexy and even a bit glam without being too feminine. 

Initially I thought about a monochromic color scheme: black, white, gray with lots of silver and steel accents.  This is actually my first choice, but Clay is insistent that he doesn't want a black and white bedroom.  Trust me, I don't get it either, because who could resist these rooms:

My second choice would be a deep eggplant purple room, with accents of either brown, cream and gold or taupe, silver and gray.

I'm anxious to get a general plan for this room started so I can start thinking about furniture and bedding and curtains.  I've been thrifting a lot lately and thrifting is so much easier when you have a vision.

Pool Party!

Ok so maybe my title is a little presumptuous because our pool isn't quite ready for swimmers but HOLY GEES IT ALMOST IS.  Excuse my excitement; it's been hot here and mama's ready to swim.

This is what we started with at the beginning of the week:

And here is where we are now:

Yup it's cold, but it's clear and blue. We are in the process vacuuming up the last of the debris from the pool floor and we should be swimming (ok, floating in my case) by week's end.