Fan Club

About a week ago, I became the official member of the 'Fan' Club. Sortof like The Babysitters Club but for girls over the age of 15.

I was able to pick up a few things for our master bedroom and this fun little fan, well, he was begging me to take him home...dirty little thing. No seriously. He was a hot mess. I broke out the Clorox wipes and got to business cleaning him up. Soon his soft turquoise finish and shiny red nose (hence the name Rudolph) were spick n span.

But that isn't the only thing I picked up on my travels. Oh no sloppy joe! I also found a lovely starfish at HomeGoods for $3 and a Pottery Barn Design Bedrooms book at the outlet for $6.


A little stacking action on the dresser across from our bed makes for a nice little vinette. Plus the PB book is a perfect little treat before bed - afterall, isn't eye candy better than real candy?! (jury still out on that one!) And after seeing the delish photos for a little bedroom inspiration...I went directly to Amazon to order the other Pottery Barn Design books which all have the loveliest shade of cream and brown to their uncovered binding.


Now to come up with something beautiful for the other side of the dresser. Maybe a big basket with a beautiful shade-loving plant. Or a lamp and a cake plate for all of my perfumes. What do you think? Any ideas out there?


Aww - Rudolph looks so cute perched there. He is such a classy kinda guy. And you can take one of these home with you too - via ebay. Just search for 'GE antique fan' and a bunch of different kinds come up. And when you bring your new guy into your bedroom...I have not a doubt in my mind that he will blow you away :) heehee! Happy Shopping!

Wanna see who else is a member of the Fan Club? Click here! (clue - have you voted today?)

Shade Shape

If all decor items were part of a jungle, then lampshades would be hippos. Keep with me here.

Hippos are silent types, right? So are lampshades. And if the hippo isn't in it's happy place...everybody knows about it...if a lampshade isn't sunny...people also can tell. Plus there is a christmas song about hippos...which makes me smile...there is also an entire aisle in Walmart for lampshades...which also makes me smile. And get this...that aisle...yeah, it's as wide as (you guessed it) a Hippo.

So anyhoo. The hippo...err...lampshade that was in our den alluminating our little storage dresser had a beige lampshade on it. But the pink undertone of the shade was not getting along with the green undertones of the paint color. I know you can't tell, but trust me...the clash was bigger than Kristi Allen's chinese takeout box.



After a little research I ran out to grab a square empire shade from Target. I wanted to get a square shade because the basement door could open and hit a round shade. Plus the linear shape accented the squares of the mirror and the squares of the birdcage and the squares of the books. Yes, lots of squares here. So that's when it hit me...maybe I could share my lamp shade research with you.

So here are the six main shade shapes that I found and some info on each of them. After reading this you will be well equipped to choose your shade, and all of the calories you consumed today will not count. Cause that's how I roll :)

First up is the bell shape. The bell shape is the most popular of the lampshades and also in my opinion the most traditional and formal. The features of a bell shade are that the top ring of the frame is smaller than the bottom ring and the vertical lines of the shade are curved rather than straight. The curved lines create an arc or a bell shape. (duh Katie.) This flared design allows the light to travel down rather than up...which is good if you are using this shade for a reading area or a spot that you want the attention to be on what is below the shade...such as a buffet or a desk. Or in an area where space is tight...like a stray corner or a bookcase.


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Next we have my personal favorite - the drum shade. The drum shape is evident with a frame that has both the same sized upper and lower rings. Although some drum shades have rings that are slightly different size. The drum shade is great for general illumination areas such as sidetables, nightstands, and even bathrooms where you want the light to spread up and down. I like it because it looks the most clean and classic.


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Up to bat is the empire shade...not to be confused with umpire shades...or vampire shades...which do not exist :) The empire shade is the BFF of the bell shade. Both have upper rings that are smaller than the lower rings, but the empire shade does not have the flare of it's friend. It has straight lines that make it a more casual and less stuffy. My favorite spots for empire shades are in laidback family rooms, sunrooms, and even in the kitchen.


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Ovals are fatties from the front and Posh Spices from the side. The oval drum shade below is a perfect example of how to pair this shade with a base. The fact that they take up visual room without actually taking up space makes this shade a perfect piece for sideboards, small nightstands, and any other place that your furniture real estate is tight.


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Usually paired with a rectangle lamp base, the rectangle shaped shade is masculine and contemporary. The oval and sexy recty are one in the same for uses. If you decide that this is the shade for you - make sure you keep an eye out for a loose harps (the doohicky with two arms that you can clip shades into) as this puppy is easy to get askewed. Those horizontal lines always need to be level with the furniture!


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Lastly we have the square. Yes, currently the shape that I chose for my den. Like I said before, the clean lines help this geometric shade retain a manly feel as well as appeal to the masses. It is hip to be square :) yes, the cheese flows through my veins.


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So there you have it folks - a tutorial on shade shape. Hope this was as helpful to you as it will be for me after I forget everything. One thing I won't forget - drum shades are my bacon. They are so delish. So what is your favorite?

Oh - and boys...if your wife starts singing "I wanna hippotomus for Christmas"....yeah...here's a tip - she ain't talking about a water buffalo :) Us women are so shady...heehee!

Bird Herd

Obsessed. That's exactly how I feel about birds. Here's the evidence. I sketched a crapperific little brown thrasher for my den. I drooled over my mom's christmas bird decor...well not literally because it would ruin the ornaments. And I even bought a little white ceramic birdie even though it gave me the stank eye. So I am officially obsessed. Therefore, you can bet your bottom dollar that when I saw a trio of birds at my local antique store, I was flyin high. They were so cute, I think I even mumbled 'cock-a-doodle-doo-hoo-hoo-hoo!'

Wanna meet my chicklets? Ok - introducing Mr. Blue...Mr. Blue Bird. Yes. He is white. Let's not let racial prejudice get in the way here.


Say Hi to Lady. Lady Bird. Yes, she likes wildflowers :)


And finally Larry. You guys can figure that one out :) He can really fly for a white guy.


Their tiny little birdie bodies are perfect for just a smidgen of chic (or chick) accent in our den. And because they are all white, they really pop against the dark grain of the bookcases as well as stay well within the bounds of non-gaudy animal sculptures guidelines. C'mon. This ain't the Neverland Ranch.


Even scattering the little feathered friends around the room allow the trio to seem less like a set of triplets and more like individual accent pieces. And don't parents of (coughJohn&Katecough) multiples usually want their own space anyway?

Larry is taking centerstage on this stack of neutral bound books over on the other side of the room. And speaking of having birds on every side of the small space, let's talk about themes for a moment. Even though the den definitely has a theme of birds throughout...the birds aren't overwhelming because they are subtle in size, with very little color variation (they are all white) and they are now reached their max in number.


And if I ever get tired of the avian theme - I could remove them without changing the basics of the room such as furniture, major art, or color scheme. I am also sure that these three would be never get stuck in the yard sale pile - seeing as how they would be a cinch to store and would be just darling used as decor at an Easter brunch buffet or a ladies tea party. Definitely $5 well spent for the trio.

Going along with the birdie theme is this structural little white-washed birdhouse that I also picked up for $5. Seeing as how I didn't need to do a thing to it (love the patina), I thought that the cutesy little thing would be a perfect way to play on the theme without adding another bird into the room.


I love how the clean lines of my bird 'church' seem to bring out the best in the reflective mirrors hung above them. And how Larry appears to have escaped the cage and looks to be taking flight...GO LARRY GO!


Well, there you have it - one trio of birdieboops and one birdcage. Dontcha just love getting new pets that don't poop, eat or die? I do.

So what do you think? Good purchases or too many hens in the house? Also, I thought I got a pretty good deal but do you think the price was fowl? Also, my dear bloggie friends (Anon that means you!), pray with all your might that my mom will sell me her bamboo birdcage....this good egg wants it for above the fridge and I am sure that with a few extra prayers, God will change her heart. (Sorry Mom...I can't help but play dirty. P.S. You are one hot spring chicken!)

White Hot

It was an accident. And smooches to God for not letting our house catch on fire.



Needless to say...grease fires are dangerous. And apparently my chicken marinade is really oily. My boyfriend is usually on top of keeping the house, the cars, and the grill in top-notch cleanliness. Yes, I married a mutant. Love you baby! But we had forgotten about the time we made 70 lbs of grilled poultry for the ladies at our church. So it was a complete surprise when we were firing up the grill to find that it got hotter than a latin dance competition. Muy Caliente! Before we knew it, smoke was pouring out the back of the grill. And even though the grill was away from the house, our siding got the brunt of the Kenmore's temper tantrum...and was loaded down with grease & soot. But no matter how much we scrubbed, the white paint still looked dingy. So I have been dreaming of a new paint job.



The picture above is the original...pre-photoshop version. Kinda like American Idol's Bikini Girl during Hollywood week. And then the next ones are when she returns to sing horribly....oh...was I the only one listening while gaping at Kara's abs? Boys - you need to learn how to multitask that way you could oogle and hear the trainwreck for the finale.










So which one do you like better? Is the blue-gray too dark? Is the brown too dirty looking? Is the green like a third nipple and just weird? Or do you think that maybe we should just stick to white?

Repainting our house isn't in the hopper right now - but a girl can dream, right? I mean, the Bikini Girl probably had Pussycat Doll dreams about growing up. Well world, exterior paint color is my version of tah-tahs. (boys everywhere are disoriented and confused right now, huh?)

Paneling Plans

It's not on my goal list....but I really would love to add faux paneling to our dining room. Then I saw a photo that really pushed my urge over the edge. Check it out:


Look at all the purtiness! Yes ma'am. It's cozier than siamese triplets in a sleeping bag! But as much as I wanna wrap myself up in that rouched quilt and lean back on that greige ornate headboard, the center of my attention is that faux paneled wall. The white on white paneling is just so stately and classy and well, hotter than "the Rachel" in '95.


In my twisted mind, the perfect place for faux paneling is in our room dedicated to eating bacon. Currently, we have the trim painted in Benjamin Moore's Pastel white base. Above the chair rail is Valspar's Dusty Trail. Below is Olympic's Stony Creek. Yes, I am playing a little menage a trois on paint brands...they understand, I just can't be tied down.


Bada boom bada bing. Here you go - the photoshopped version of what my dining room could look like with some non-silicone enhancements. What do you think? If I added some trim and painted it all white to make it look like paneling on the lower half of the room, is it too contrast-y? Eventually I want to stain the buffet to match the table - so take that into account when you make your decision. Is it too light, too white, too bright, too (quick, what rhymes with ite?) - I really would love all twenty of you guys to give your input...and I quite possibly think that this decision could change my life. And yes - it is the bacon that makes me melodramatic :)

Rug Protection

There has been an outpouring of questions about my kitchen runner and I am here to answer each and everyone of them.


Two months ago ABP hosted a little opportunity for you to decorate my kitchen floor. The uber-fab company Shades of Light generously offered to adorn my woody kitchen with whatever rug won the vote. The results were tallied and the winner was #1 - the Happy Trellis Rug. But considering the beautiful options that the Shades of Light design team came up with, I would have been one lucky dog either way.

But let's "Adam Sandler it" and hit the rewind just a bit, shall we?


Before, our kitchen was sportin a yellow wool rug that was just begging for a spill or stain faster than you can say "NOT CHILDPROOF". We snagged this yellow Pottery Barn rug up for a fraction of the cost at the nearby outlets and hoped that it would survive in the kitchen till we could find a decent replacement. Not only was it the wrong size for this space but since the kitchen is very high-traffic, it started to pill and we were holding our breath when doing the dishes. Which is never a good idea for a time-consuming chore. One accidental slosh and it would have been 'siyanara suckas'.


Enter Shades of Light. (just pretend I am a damsel in distress) Oh Shades of Light, you rescued me! Oh oh oh! Smooch smooch smooch (a little tongue...not too much though). You need air? Ok...let's get this binding plastic off ya, shall we?!?


OH yeah...look how long this sucker is! Perfect for in front of the sink AND the stove...since that is where I stand the most, it makes sense to have something comfy underfoot.

And now that I received a beautiful new rug, I went into mother-mode and knew that I had to do everything in my power to protect it. After all, a rug this nice is an investment...not something you test for kitchen survival skills.


So I did a bit of googling and found that I could use a standard Scotchguard fabric protector on it....it works for wool rugs too! First step - a once over with the vacuum. And let me tell ya, it had already gotten dirtier in one week than Mickey Rourke's rug...and I ain't talking about the one on his floor.


Next I got down and dirty...err...clean. I did a thorough job checking each and every square inch to see if there was any itty bitty bits left behind from the quick sweep or any oreo crumbs that were imbedded.


I noticed a couple little spots where 'sloshing' had occured. So I flipped it over to see if there was a small area that I could do a color test on the rug. I sprayed just a tiny bit of water in the corner and blotted away...seemed okay to me. Seriously...I don't know anything about color testing but this seemed like the logical process.


Color testing stage 1 complete. I moved on to color test my favorite carpet cleaner. SUCCESS! So I went to work dabbing just the tiniest cleaner fluid on the spots and blotting away. Since the fibers of my new rug were so tightly woven, it really wasn't easy to blot...but eventually my paper towel showed evidence of the brown smears...gotta love brown smears :)


After all the cleaning/prep work was finished, I got to work with my protective topcoat of Scotchguard. The key was to use a sweeping motion about 6" away from the rug to get a very thin layer. The back of the bottle said - 2 thin coats is better than 1 thick one. If you plan on doing this - be sure to have a paper towel in hand to wipe up the bits that get on your wood floor!


And there you have it - doesn't it look like a completely different kitchen? I think so. It is amazing how it not only breaks up all the wood, but it really draws you eye to see the yellows, greens, and reds that are in the rest of the room.


The best part is that now the sink area is no threat to my new pride & joy. I have total confidence that any little spills will bead up and can be whisked away before their staining power takes affect. My boyfriend likes it too. Especially since he does all the dishes. Not as much screaming now...

Warning - I kinda got loopy off the Scotchguard. Man, that stuff is powerful! That or I am a total wimp. Either way, I was flying real high as I cut a rug next to my brand new & protected yummy green runner. That ever happened to you guys? Or do you only Scotchguard smaller items? Any tips for the amateur Scotchguarder? Or any questions about the runner - let me know! Gotta go satisfy the munchies...like always!

Big Day - Small Hall

In general, our first floor is void of photos of me and the boyfriend. There are some exceptions. But for the most part, I don't like people coming into our house and seeing us sporting last year's Halloween costumes or half nakey on vacation. Side note - call me a nudie-aphobe but I don't like naked pictures of anyone...like girls boobs or crazy naked man statues...sorry Michaelangelo...sure, you shmancy portrait people can call it a cherub but I still spy an exposed peepee and a stray tahtah. Eww. Moving on.

So when I was confronted with the issue of decorating a small hall leading from the dining room past the bathroom and into the kitchen, I knew that it would be prime real estate for a photo gallery. I love photo galleries. Hence a compromise.



I decided that if I was gonna post personal photos for all to see on our first floor that they needed to have a sense of uniformity. Also, since this was a large space and could hold three large frames - the photos all needed a central theme and I needed a lot of choices. So I decided upon our wedding photos.


I found three large frames at Target with inner foam boards covered in a neutral yummy linen. They cost about $9 a piece. I love the black frames because I have black elements in the adjoining kitchen and the bathroom across the way.


First I took all my photos into Microsoft Office Picture Manager - I didn't download photoshop at that point, don't judge me - and minimized the amount of saturation and played around until each photo was linen-toned. Just changing the colors really uniformed the photos. Armed with some scrapbooking adhesives and the pins that came with the frames, I got to work arranging and adhering the various photos to the foamboard.


And because I know you guys love before & after pictures - here is the view from the kitchen looking at the new art/wedding photo gallery.


The view from the bathroom is now prettier than Ashley Simpson's new shnoz.


And looking from the dining room into the kitchen is now an intriguing little spot instead of a big blank wall.

Oh and because you voyeurs love looking at the closeups (yeah - my name is peeping Tom too!) here are the three groupings from left to right...note that the center frame is jammin out with a different layout. Yay for breaking free from complete uniformity :) And even though the theme for all three frames is our wedding, each one has a different feel.


This first frame boasts photos that have a bit more masculine feel. The groom - my boyfriend, the ring bearer - my little cutie mushroomie, and all the boys from the hood...err...from the wedding are big pimpin this collection.


The second frame is more about the details, the feel from the day, and the overall celebration that screams "I JUST GOT MARRIED!". Its like Jeremy & I got sandwiched together & out popped this fun wedding day collection.


And lastly we have the girly frame. And yes - this one contains a little lip action (gasp!) but for the most part it is more romantic, more sentimental, and a little sweeter than the others. It might be just me but for some reason, taking the kissing photo and turning it the same color as all the rest makes it a little more like art. It's like the sepia tone took the 'ick' out of the pic!


So there you have it...a small hall sportin the memoirs of the biggest day of my life. So how bout you - do you display your personal photos loud and proud? Or do you save em for the bedrooms? Are you a random picturer or a gallery type gal? Are you like me and think that the color of a smooching photo really matters? And lastly, do you like nudie pics? That came out wrong....