I bought these two indoor/outdoor ottomans for our sideroom. They haven’t been used properly. Instead, they’ve recently been a holding spot for laundry that needs to be hung up,

Nutella to go. There is a god.

I bought this queen flat sheet at the TJMaxx in Cool Springs and stumbled across a king fitted at a TJMaxx while on the road. I’m not sure how I’m using the fabric yet but I have some ideas.

I bought this brass tray at Goodwill for $3.99. I’m using it under a plant I’m keeping alive.

I originally bought two of these as I had plans on making them lamps. However, they looked too rigged/DIY. So, I saved one and just leave it sitting out. A girlfriend wanted the other because at $20 this owl vase is a great buy. It called Jonathan Adler to us.

This is my luggage. It’s by HEYS. I buy all luggage at TJMaxx as I go through it quickly – usually a bag a year. It’s always orange and medium large sized.

Yes, it’s a toilet brush. I bought it at Atlanta’s IKEA. A girlfriend was working on her Halloween costume and a Price is Right theme was discussed. The brush was an excellent microphone option. She didn’t use it so it’s on standby for potential usage next year. More than one person looked at me at IKEA when I held it up to my mouth and looked at myself in a mirror. I had to make sure it looked right.

I still wish I bought these at Tuesday Morning. There was also a cake server and a set of salad servers. Very MacKenzie-Childs.

This is something else I wish I bought. It was at the flea market but knew I had nowhere for it.

Yes, this is a rug made of jean pockets. It was worse in person. Let me show you another photo.

Why would you give this 99% used candle to Goodwill? Who buys it? People are ridiculous.

Creepy lady masks at TJMaxx

I liked this bust planter. It was around $50 at the flea market. He’d look good with succulents.

I found this pair of lamps at a Goodwill while on the road. They had large potential but too large for my luggage.

I assume everyone takes photos of items while they shop. If not, that explains why some people look at me at the grocery. However, that’s usually for Fooducate. You need that app. Trust me. Now, if you’d like to check on the jean pocket rug let me know. I’m not going to find out if it’s available but I will ask you some questions.

I hate that I goofed and scheduled it for today. In my defense (excuses) I didn’t feel well on Monday. Plus, I was distracted with getting ready for another week on the road and bird parenting. We (pretty much just The Mister) tried to keep a baby bird alive this weekend. Shim (she/him) fell out of the nest. Sadly, baby bird died Monday afternoon.

RIP Baby Bird

If you want my stuff, let me know. It’s gotta go. Now that the kitchen is almost done, I want everything cleaned out. More projects!

All photos are from here. There are some other photos to gaze at here.

BAM! That coral is the best. It makes one think of Dorothy Draper. The Mister wasn’t surprised that I liked the coral and he didn’t say anything about it except that he wasn’t surprised. So, we’ll take that as a “I love it. We should definitly paint something that color.” Obviously.

That’s what she said.

Part of my issue with decorating our home can be that I like so much stuff. I become paralyzed by the options. I can tell and help you with what you should do all day. However, for myself it can be difficult. I see too much and have too many ideas. I want to try too many things. I’ve heard this is common with actual decorators or people who get sucked into decor. It makes me feel much better that occasionally Miles Redd doesn’t know what the f he’s doing either in his home.

Currently, global or world textiles are becoming a trend. I’m seeing it a lot in bedding, soft goods and accessories. Just in the past three weeks I’ve bought two pairs of shoes that would fall under this category. I believe part of this, especially in soft goods, is the evolution of people’s love of ikat. Here are some bedrooms with global textile bedding.

here

here

Anna Spiro is genius.
here

here

West Elm is offering hand-embroidered quilts from India. They all made from recycled saris and vary in size and color.

here

I bought a handmade Indian quilt from Spruce, a boutique in Brentwood. This is it.

I had a $15 credit and it still cost me $150. Yeah. Now, I realize comforters and other pieces of bedding are in this range and the West Elm blankets are smaller and $99. Still, I feel guilty. My plan was to bring it home and test it in the space. I didn’t know that linens were nonreturnable or I frankly probably wouldn’t have purchased it. You should make me feel better and tell me how pretty it is in the comments.

I do really like the black background and the mixture of blue, green, pink and yellow. I have a plan of attack on using it. Unfortunately, that plan included some curtains from IKEA but the one I was near this week was going through a renovation and had only 3 curtains in the marketplace. It was weird. So, as usual, I’m working on it and this holiday weekend is just the right time for me to do so.

I use the ice machine bag, the clear bag that is inside the ice bucket in your room, to cover the remote. I use it almost like a doggie poo bag. I wear it like a glove and grab the remote. Then, I flip the bag around it and tie the ends.

I realize this sounds and looks weird at first, but you’ll start doing it too. It’s well-known that remote controls harbor a massive amount of germs, many of which I’m not going to discuss. I don’t like saying I’ll “never” discuss it but not now. You know what I’m talking about.

Covering the remote gives me peace of mind and I’m convinced it protects me against stuff on/in/around the buttons. Though I think it’s a good idea, and encourage you do it, I’m still self conscious about it. So, I’m always sure to take the remote out of the bag before I check out of the room. I’m weird like that.

So enjoy your summer, take a vacay and don’t touch the remote with your bare hands. You gotta use protection.

I had the pleasure of being able to catch up with a friend/sorority sister while I was on the road last week. She was getting her hair did and the window front of Charming Charlie’s told me they’d be a good place to kill a couple minutes while I waited for her to finish up.

This place is bananas, but not necessarily in a good way. First, they quickly welcomed me and asked me if I had been there before. I said “no” and their only advice was “Well, we’re organized by color.” I could figure that out. What I couldn’t figure out was where to start. I have a large threshold of tolerance for shiny things and digging for treasure, but even I was overwhelmed.

Basically, there are tall table displays with shelves underneath that hold jewelry, purses, tops, belts and knick knack patty whacks. Each table has a common color. There are multiple tables for each color. I picked up a purse or two and quickly realized they were not something I’d purchase, but I could see someone younger carrying it. For example, there was a rattan clutch that looked promising. However, you noticed when you picked it up that it doesn’t line up or close well. Plus, it had a silver chain in it to carry it not as a clutch. They shouldn’t encourage that type of behavior style. You really have to search for the good eggs within their store. It took a lot more time than I thought it would and I definitely found more bad than good.

They try hard to be trendy.

More lime than Chippendale

Kind of mint colored

There we plenty of the Claire’s staple – cheap prom jewelry.

However, there were some winners.

This was also in red.

These are my purchases:

The bracelet set was $7.97, the blue bracelet was $9.97 and the earrings were $12.97.

My friend, Bethany, agreed that it overwhelmed her and she had to come in looking for something specific. She also told me there’s one in Green Hills mall. Once she said it I realized I had walked by it a few times but never ventured in. Now, that I know what it is I am surprised it is in the mall. I don’t know if I’ll go again. I currently have no plans to revisit. You need to commit some time to it in order to appropriately dig, go for something particular (certain color or type of jewelry) and go without any high expectations. 

Have you been to Charming Charlies? Does is always seem overwhelming? Any good finds?

here
Originally in Rue’s holiday issue 
Photo by Emily Johnston Anderson

Of course, I quickly looked up Rachel Reider as she’s the interior designer of the space and it was on.

Let’s do a lil’ zebra rug on the floor with some beams on the ceiling. Mix some Chippendale chairs with banquette.

Is this permanent folding screen with a mounted television and fireplace for real?

The side table action is a yes. I claim that side of the bed.

You better mix new and old.

A little vintage bathroom inspiration.

I’m a fan.

We’re in the home stretch (it’s hard to believe) of the kitchen reno and my mind has been wandering to other projects for weeks. I’ll have an update for you next week of the kitchen and where we are. It’s been a long road and fairly bumpy but we’re almost done. Now, it’s time for me to think about our bedroom.

Silly cat.

I’m coming to see you tonight.

I have to say the closed cabinet in the middle and on the bottom is likely not going to stay in our home. However, I have plans for the others. First, they’ll need to be painted. Obviously. Still, I understand if you still think it looks bland, outdated, potentially a problem. So, let me help you.

here

here

This picture of the dresser below is all over Pinterest.

here

here

These make me want to smack my mother even though yesterday was Mother’s Day.

The two colors I’m leaning towards are bright shiny red or dark shiny black. It’ll be shiny. Duh, it’s me we’re talking about.