Happy Spring & Bird's Nest

It must be spring. Loving this great bird's nest in my apple tree.

Wednesday Inspiration

Just some Wednesday Insiration to get you thru hump day.

I love art. I have it all over my house. What I love in this room, is the step tables, and the creative couch. Is that 2 twin beds I see? Could be, not sure, but Love it. That's a capital Love.




I love leather chairs. They work anywhere. I also love a true white room. Just painted, okay a year ago, painted my whole house true white and love it.


The image below is from Sunset Magazine. I love the colors. I love the blue/green walls and the brown and leather. Here's the question, do you love or hate the really, really, really worn leather chairs? I am not sure, some days I love, some days I hate.

I love this!! I am still looking for inspiration in my guest room. This inspires me. Hmmm.

I love this look. Of course I would be the one on my hands and knees smelling it to make sure it didn't have any smoke, must, dusty smells. Come on laugh, haha.

Move around some furniture. Repurpose something. Be inspired.

Camping Cots - Beds - Coffee Tables

Years ago, wish I could remember when, there was a photo spread of Paul Mitchell and his lovely wife at home. In front of their big windows looking outside was an old fashioned camping cot with a feather bed top and a yummy blanket.

I really wish I had saved that pic. Anyway, in looking for some extra lounge type space I recalled that pic I had seen years ago, and went looking. I couldn't find it, but I did find a great idea from Martha Stewart using a camping cot. Use it as a coffee table with trays on top. How great would this be in a small house, then if you needed extra sleeping space, you are ready to go.

I love this idea. Must find somewhere to use it.

Two images below from Martha Stewart. Hey Martha, I don't Ipad or Ipod, but I would love an App to get your mag online, on my HP. Would love it. Just a thought.

Image below is a cot from Wally World (Walmart) for less than $34. I may need that for my guest room, so I can nap.

Cots, fun and functional.

Bees Nest

This huge bees nest was in our fruit tree. We didn't even see it until after all the leaves had fallen off this year. It was huge. Wow.

Kindle and Bookshelves

I got a Kindle for my birthday and Love it!! Love it!! Love it!!. Ok, that said, will it affect bookshelves? We have bookshelves in our house, as do most people. Ours has current as well as some antique type books. So, what do you think? Just putting it out there.

Pictures below via Pottery Barn.

I love the large platter with books under it.

I love the crates on the wall as shelves for objects and books.

I love a saw horse desk, and I love the magazine, and bookshelves.

Controlling Cord Clutter

I hate cord clutter. On my desk, there are 2 laptops and 1 monitor, so I have tons of clutter. Best way to control it, Free. Ha, ha, when I was browsing thru my garage I ran across this old apple crate that someone gave me apples in. It is perfect. And best of all it is FREE. Yay!!

Where do you blog?

Yes, this is the pleather desk from the post below. But, I couldn't resist a linky party. http://www.centsationalgirl.com is having a where do you blog linky party.

This is where I blog. It is in an L shaped part of our family room. and I love it. I also love the amazing view of our 3/4 of an acre outside the window. I not only blog here, (yes, I need to blog more), but I also do my Ebay and Etsy. I am trying to work full time on my Ebay and Etsy, to help my daughter with college. Yep, empty nesters, and way under 40. But, enjoying her in college and the empty nest thing too. We do have a room at the front of the house, but it gets such poor internet service that I don't use it. The Hubs home offices in the back of the house, shouting distance away. We are currently re-doing his office and pics should be up soon. We are also doing a wine room. Pics to follow. So come back, relax, and see what we are working on.

Fruitcake? Do you eat fruitcake?

Fruitcake. Do you eat fruitcake? I will admit to never eating it. Don't even really like the looks or smell of it. Hmmmm, very popular this time of year. I even had a family member send me one a few Christmases ago. Should that tell me something? Oh, well, do you eat fruitcake?

Halloween!!

A Halloween image to enjoy this Friday. Enjoy an early fall weekend.

Photo from Better Homes and Gardens.

Are you In? Project Runway Season 6 - Lifetime

Another guilty pleasure? Yes, I'm In!! Project Runway Season 6 on Lifetime. If you haven't caught it yet, totally fun. Love that lifetime airs it twice in one evening, and then again during the week. Love it, because it gives me and my College age daughter something great to talk about. Not retro, but fun. Catch if you can.

Route 66 - Albuquerque

Nothing better than living on Route 66 in New Mexico. Great food, great sites, great art. With the current economy, staycations or statecations are very popular. So if you are inclined, you can still get your kicks on Route 66, very reasonably.

Mad Men Style -- Retro For Today

Mad Men Style for today's woman. Retro style for today. What more could you ask for?

For more go to: http://www.bananarepublic.com

Mad Men Walk On Open Casting Call

I love Mad Men. The clothes, the sets, the stories. So imagine my surprise when reading another blog and I found a link to an open walk on casting call. So for all you wanna be Mad Men types, including Secretaries, here's the link. http://madmencastingcall.amctv.com/pages/styleguide

Enjoy.

Scrambled Eggs - New Joe's Special

This dish is from my husband's father. It is a fun retro dish. He called it the New Joe's Special. It is made with scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, or chopped potatoes, hamburger meat, spinach and a dash of vinegar.

This is my own version that I call the Vegetarian New Joe's Special and it has, scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, spinach, and green chile.

This is great for any time of the day you can add sausage, chicken, leftover roast, use your imagination.

Luminarias as Summer Decorations

Simple to make luminarias.

Luminarias at Christmas in Albuquerque, NM, Old Town.

Luminarias, not just for Christmas. Those cute little brown bags with candles can be used as a summer decoration for a porch or patio. Put them out to guide your guests, and as a great source of ambient lighting. Maybe as a table scape decoration. They are easy to make and fun to use.

Bags -- lunch kind or called the good old fashioned #4. Brown or white. Brown is traditional.

Sand for bottom of bag and candle drip.

Luminaria candles, which are cathedral candles. If you can't find them, tea lights work great and can easily be thrown away bag and all.

Now traditional luminarias here in the southwest are double folded. Some people choose to use a decorative shear and cut the tops. Totally up to you. The double folding gives them some top stability.

So, light up your summer with some luminarias.

1960's Mad Men - Interiors - Colors

In keeping with the Gimlet, Mad Men!! Season 3 set to start in August. What a great show.


Venitian Blinds, the desk the furniture, the beige with blue/green carpet. All that is back.

Love the blue/green sofa. Using that color in my bedroom. That color is everywhere.

What a great strong statement. The mid level walls with the high gloss white/cream trim. Very current even for today. So what goes around really does come back around.

Love the beige, the brown and navy of his clothing, very popular in interiors today.

Can't finish without mentioning the IBM Selectric.....need I say more?

Posture - Gloom or Confidence

Your posture says alot about you. So when you walk by those big glass doors at work, or on your errands today, ask yourself one question. How is your posture? Then stand up alittle straighter, it will take pounds of your figure, and you will smile more too. Enjoy.

Rock Fountain - Make in a day!

Here is a picture of an easy to make Rock Fountain. You can make this in a day. All you need is a large container for the rock bubbler to sit in, an inexpensive small flow fountain pump, and a great looking small rock. Drill your hole in your rock, insert your pump tubing, and place pump in bottom of container and place appropriately and enjoy. This is a great project to do with kids. Dig a hole and put your container in the ground and place small rocks all around, this is a great look at an entrance to a home, or as a surprise in your garden. Your birds and wildlife will love it.

Printable Candy Bar Wrappers - Great For Grads and Father's Day

Here is a great idea from Rachael Ray Magazine. Printable Candy Bar Wrappers. Go to Rachel Ray Magazine and search "sweet-talkers". Or you can experiment on your own computer and printer, any card making program will do, (it really is super easy). Maybe upload a photo of you and your dad with a cute message and wrap it around his favorite candy bar. How about little mini ones with a saying and picture of a graduate sitting around in bowls at a graduation party. Just, use your immagination. Enjoy.

Free Printable Chocolate Bar Wrappers

Picture From Rachel Ray Magazine.

From Rachel Ray Magazine. Free Printable Chocolate Bar Wrappers. What a great party favor, or Easter treat. What a great way to say thank you to a fellow office worker. Simply go to: http://www.rachaelraymag.com/party-planning/sweet-talkers---candy-bar-wrappers/article.html, all the instructions are there. She has such fun stuff. Now all you need is the chocolate bars.