No Rush

Conversation with my 4 year old while riding in the car yesterday:

Carys: Mommy, when I grow up, will I move out of the house?

Me: Yes, you will.

Carys: But, I'm going to miss you! (starting to sound sad)

Me: Well it's not going to happen for a long time.

Carys: But what if I don't want to go (even sadder, tears are starting)

Me: You don't have to move out, its up to you, you can stay if you want

Carys: Really??

Me: Yes

Carys: OK, good because I want to stay with you. (happy again)

It was so sweet! Of course I might not feel this way in 15 years, but I am in no rush at all. 

And how about this segue...here are some awesome kids rooms!

What's better than antlers, but gold antlers! I love this whole thing, the fox picture, the wallpaper....

Dream room idea for my girls, white bunk beds, gray stripes...but of course we would need to add some pink and purple up in here

Check out Guiliana and Bill's modern nautical nursery for their boy, I adore that octopus picture and the white mirror especially

How about this play room? I love the chalkboard with those little hanging pails

Yes please!

(*All images via pinterest, please click on photo for the original link)

My Kinda Girly

I've said this before, I am not a girly girl, I love sports, I like to wear black, grey, and brown......but I am getting there! I mean, of course I love to shop and I love fashion, but I just never liked lots of pink and purple and flowery things.  Maybe it was the Barbie cruise ship Carys got for Christmas but something has got me in a girly kinda mood. What I do know is that there are so many kinds of girly, you just have to find your own way.

I also got inspired by these lace vinyl placemats from Pearl River. I needed placemats for the girls and these are perfect! So cute and girly...and super cheap ($2 each)! And they don't have Disney princesses on them...yay! Enough of Carys' stuff already does...

Speaking of lace, how sweet is this clock from Land of Nod? My kind of girly...

Phone Case from MadeByGirl...one of my most favorite "girly" bloggers

This chandelier from Amazon would look great in my girl's room,
girly cool.....

I know she is like size negative and hardly smiles, but there is something about Victoria Beckham's fabulous-ness that I just admire, she is always put together and looking good....now that's girly!

And this Etsy print....some of the best advice a girl can get!

                                                                           Source: etsy.com via Kathy on Pinterest

                                                                               linking up @:

                                                        

Step into my office...

Well, my imaginary office that is. Right now Charlie's crib is in the office/homeschool/baby's room but eventually I want her to share a room with Carys when she is big enough. Sometimes I feel bad because she really doesn't have her own space like her big sister does. Hopefully she doesn't develop a complex or something. Sooo anyway I am having visions of what I would love the office half of this room to look like. And starting my Christmas list in the process!

I must make a point to say that yes, that is a metallic cow hide rug that I came across and am completely OB-sessed with! Its just $700 is all, pshhh. And I could not decide between a cool Goonies or a cute Mama Bear mug, so they both win.

Office Swag by katnat on Polyvore

1. Macau Arm Chair, Ballard Designs, $269
2. Spotlight Desk, Crate and Barrel, $399
3. Geo Lamp, Land of Nod (only $69!)
4. Studio Clock, Crate and Barrel, $15
5. Metallic Cowhide Rug, Shades of Light. $729
6. Orange Boxes, Organize.com, $5-$25
7. Goonies Never Say Die mug, Urban Outfitters, $12
8. Art Grid Calendar 2013, Paper Source, $25
9. Adhesive to-do lists, Organize.com, $10
10. Mama Bear mug, Paper Source, $15
11. Rifle Botanical labels and stickers, Paper Source, $12
12. Metallic Sharpie Pens in gold and silver, $5

Little Master Bath.......the saga continues

Picture this: a small, but serene spa-like bathroom with graphic, modern style transformed in one weekend.

Reality: a half done bathroom with a mis-matched stripe on the wall that keeps 

getting put on the back-burner

We have been working on our little master bath for a while now, a sloooow makeover. I'd like to think this is a reality for people who really want to change things in their home, but don't quite have all the funds at once! So far we've changed the counter tops, the mirror, sink, and faucet, and painted the cabinets. The last step was painting the wall but we have a roadblock. I was going to wait until it was all done to post about it, but hey, why not just put it out there. 

Come on in, the water is shark-infested, but warm!

I had the idea to paint a big stripe across the middle in a light grey that matches the shower. The first lesson here is that you should always bring a sample tile of the color you are trying to match.

You would think that is common sense, but anyway I was there and very eager to just buy the paint!

Here are some before pics:

 This was one side.

 And here is the other.

Off white marble tile with blue accents...we weren't feeling it. I'm all for eclectic, but nothing was going together in this bathroom!

After (still in progress) pics:

 See, that roll of painters tape on the counter means that its not done yet!

The mirror is $30 from Ikea, the faucet is from there too. And the sink is from Kohler at Lowe's.

My husband did a great job with the counter. I love that it looks like white marble but is really just tile.

 Bath rug from West Elm

I kind of like it, but one of my friends said it looks like a hospital room. Ha! 

Now I am thinking of painting the stripe black.

What do you think?

I'm also planning to put up towel hooks instead of those old towel bars. 

Possibly these from Anthro?

Anyone know of a good place for hooks other than Anthro? 

I haven't been able to find a unique selection anywhere else.

Pins of the Week

Source: scrapbooksetc.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Jellyfish Craft...how cute!

Source: littleinspiration.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Large scale photos...could it be as easy as this blogger says? I think these are great in a kids room or a big blank wall

Source: nestegg.typepad.com via Kathy on Pinterest

I heart wallpaper.

Source: bhg.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Spray painting old filing cabinets....homeschool room idea?

Source: theorganisedhousewife.com.au via Kathy on Pinterest

20 ways to organize and clean your home

Pins of the Week

I love this outfit!

                                                                      

benches and armchairs at the dinner table...

                                                                          

I need a nook!

                                                                                

Duct Tape Pumpkins

                                                                           

Always good to have another side dish, and this one is so easy

P.S. I Love You

I've still been dreaming of Palm Springs style, especially inspired by the two hotels we visited....the Parker and the Viceroy. The Parker was like stepping into the 70's, and while I wouldn't personally go that literal in my own home, I was inspired by retro modern feel and the colors, like the orange door, the orange booths and light blue glasses in the patio, and the colorful pottery.

The Viceroy is a totally glamorous Hollywood regency style, with lots of black and white, and yellow. I especially loved the pool area with its yellow and white striped lounge chairs, white chairs with black cushions, cabanas with starburst mirrors, and lights hanging from the trees. It was pretty much my dream backyard...of course I did not have my camera with me. 

Sorry it was just not working with my outfit that night!

I found this pic of the Viceroy pool here, click on the link for even more images of this lovely joint!

the patio at the Parker

Here's a board I created with some affordable items to get you a 'lil P.S. style....
Those hanging lanterns are on sale at Z. Gallerie for only 10 bucks each!

• Yellow/White Fabric, fabric.com
• Outdoor Chairs, Ikea Hogsten
• Gold Votives, Z Gallerie Mira Collection
• Hanging Candle Lanterns, Z Gallerie Parker Lantern
• Ceramic Ball Planters, bkbceramics
• Orange Lacquered Tray, Z Gallerie Gelato Tray
• Blue Glasses, Pier 1 Hammered Drinkware
• Round Mirror, Z Gallerie Devon

Palm Springs Getaway

I haven't been updating the blog as much as I would like. Going on a long family vacation and then a weekend girls trip has kept me busy. Not that I am complaining, its been great!  But I do have hopes for my little blog, that include improving my time management skills and actually putting all the ideas in my head into action. I sat down this afternoon to do this post and within 5 minutes, my dining room table was pushed against the wall, baby Charlie was running around naked and Carys was spraying the hose all over the backyard. They are busy little buggers! Oh but I love them! So I shelved it and waited for them to go to sleep.  By the way, here is a picture of them. 

See sometimes they are calm...

Anyway, on with the post! I went on a girls trip to Palm Springs for a couple days. I just absolutely love it there! Despite the 115 degree temperatures and pool that felt like a warm bath, I was still happy to be there. Good company, beautiful views and retro modern design and architecture around every corner. 

Also got the chance to practice more with my trusty camera.

The entrance to the amazing Parker Palm Springs Hotel...this is a must stop if you visit this city! The whole place is designed by Jonathan Adler, and its just awesome. Click here for more info.

One of the lounges at the Parker

OK I didn't take this. That's me in the chair! My talented friend Andi took it while trying to explain over-exposure to me.

Colorful glassware

@Norma's in the Parker w/Cara

Palm Springs signage

the sky is so beautiful here...the Del Marco Hotel

there is a massive 26 foot statue of Marilyn downtown, its oddly realistic and human like for such a large structure.


Such a fun trip!

Kids Design

I'm back in Cali! 

Spent the whole day alternating between un-packing everything and re-enacting Rapunzel with Carys.  (Side note: its just a tad disconcerting pretending to kidnap your own "baby" out of her bed and lock her away in a tower. Love the movie, but man what a creepy story!) So anyway, everyone is asleep and I feel like watching gymnastics and looking at kids design. 

Why not?

I have a slight obsession with teepees. 

I'd like a large adult one in my backyard and one in the girls room please. 

Love how this one from Apartment Therapy has a little book organizer and sheepskin!

Source: lonnymag.com via Lonny on Pinterest

Bunting is such a cute touch to any kids room, and anyone with scissors and a string could do one!

Source: lonnymag.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Also from Lonny Mag, you can't go wrong with a big map in a boys room, period.

Source: blog.jelanieshop.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Striped ceiling, for the win!

Love  the idea of blowing up an old photo for the nursery, from Me Oh My!

I have plans to make a DIY canopy like this one, except maybe with more gauzy fabric. 

This one featured on Babble is so cute though, along with a tutorial on how to make it.

I'm participating in the Casual Friday Link Up on