I'm lovin it....

Here's what i'm lovin' in November...

Mumford and Sons...

I know lots of people say they like all different types of music...but I literally like all types of music. I've been known to listen to rap, country, rock, indie-rock, jazz (yes sometimes when I'm tired/stressed I listen to jazz in the car on the way home), alternative, and basically anything else. Mumford and sons really struck a cord with me though (get it..musicians..cord...). Anyways, I love their new cd...and all of their new songs. 

I think I'm finally ready to join this decade and purchase an IPad...I know, I'm behind, but I think it will be perfect to take to design meetings with me so I'm almost ready to pull the trigger on that purchase. So, I've been eyeing all of these cute cases on etsy:

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This one's my absolute favorite. I love the wood grain style with the heart...so cute

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Love the chevron, love the pink.

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Love the herringbone tweed...It's tailored style makes me happy. And I love that it isn't too feminine or too masculine, anyone could carry it.

This print:

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I'll admit it: I'm a huge Harry Potter fan...so obviously, I love this print.

These crocheted mug mittens:

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These make my tea drinking experience so much better. No more having to hold only the top or only the handle of the tea cup.

Chocolate Peppermint Coffee:

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O.M.G. This coffee is soooo good. Try it, please. And then stock up because it's only available around the holidays...

What about you guys? What are you diggin' this month?

Glass of wine, paint brush, and some frog tape...

So here's a post about what happens when you wait too long to do something you've been discussing for a long time, and then have a few glasses of wine, one night around 10.....and unfortunately have excess     paint-brushes, frog tape, and a plethora of paints in your garage:

I've written many a time about painting my front door....I definitely wanted to add some "not so factory build grade" character to our plain white door:

THIS IS WHERE THE BEFORE PICTURE WOULD GO...IF I HAD ONE...IT WAS LATE...

We went over a long list of colors. including: a deep peacock blue, green, and even yellow. The problem: resale...Not a big problem if you're moving in three or four years, by then you will probably repaint the entire door or might just replace the door altogether. But, we happened to know for a fact that this little gray house that we love will be put on the market in about a year and a half...sad face..Therefore resale value is a factor. Our doors are white builder grade and apparently magic doors that are impossible to paint back white. We know this because a year after we moved in, the door to my office got scuffed up (I don't remember how) and I tried to just use some touch up white paint that was left in the garage, it didn't match and you could definitely tell that it didn't match the rest of the door if you look closely, so I tried sanding and trying a different white, still no dice...It's not terribly noticeable and not a big deal on a small part of the bottom of the office door...big deal however, on the entirety of our front door. So we went with another/much more subtle route:

I apologize for the last picture, but it's really hard to get a good picture of the front door during the day.

We went with a neutral chocolate brown. Instead of painting the whole door, we added a little bit of character by just painting the insets. Now I'm deciding if I should paint around the glass too, it needs symmetry but I kind of think it could be overkill. What do you think?
 In the end, I'm very happy with it. It adds character without taking away from the rest of the great room that it opens to, or from my striped entry way wall that is directly next to it, and there shouldn't be any need to paint it again before putting it on the market, and if I do it will probably take 5 minutes. I think this project could be really fun though, with some bright colors, especially on all of your interior doors.
So, there you have it, a simple, quick and albeit probably a little boring project...although I promise it makes more impact in real life.
How about you guys? Any good painting projects out there? Any other magic front doors? Do tell...

Watch out or I might spray paint the dog...

So after this post and then this post, you may have already been in spray paint overload (especially metallic spray paint). Because of this I planned on waiting a week or so to share today's little projects (ya know give you a break from the gold spray paint around here) but I wanted to share it in the 151st Power of Paint Party over at Domestically-Speaking...which ends today, so that's my reason...oh well, get over it...And then go check out all the other great Power of Paint projects that are linked up here...

I saw this picture on the ZGallerie website and immediately fell in love...

hmmm....such a sophisticated space...I especially loved this:

But not so much the $169.00 price tag...Reallly, Z Gallerie?..Really?...Anyways I found this one at Hobby Lobby for $4 with a 40% off coupon:

and now it looks like this:

It's amazing what a can of spray paint can do, isn't it?

More photo love:

Yes, it makes me happy, and I like that it's faux...no need for real dead animal heads on my bookcase/wall...I'm not 100% sure if this will be it's final place (I literally just took down the picture that was hanging there originally, and hung the skull on that same nail). I would love to hear your opinions though...

During that same Hobby Lobby spree I found this for $3.00 because of a 50% off sale:

It reminded me of this one that I have been lusting over for awhile at Anthropologie for $20.00:

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Yeah, apparently I have a thing for elephants (evident here).

Of course it needed some help....Hmmm...what to do?...Oh, right what I always do. Spray paint to the rescue:

Yes, he will make a perfect perch for our keys and a light jacket, and he is a better scale for this space (he is a couple inches smaller than the Anthropologie one)...and quite possibly (when I buy some more) will be perfect for paint swatches in my office....

Now, I must go see what else I can spray paint...No worries, I was just joking about the dog...Maybe...

I'm sharing this over at the Homemade Ginger Jamboree Link Party! Check all of the other great projects out here!

and

Mission accomplished...

I'll keep it short. My husband is watching Frasier, and for whatever reason whenever I listen to this show, I read everything with an English accent..and say everything out loud with an English accent...it's annoying for everyone...Tell me I'm not alone..Really, just me? hmmm...anyways...
We've all heard the design mantra "have nothing in your home that you don't find to be useful or beautiful." Because, I can't go out and buy all new things, I've been on a self-proclaimed mission to find things I already own that I'm not completely sold on and make them into things I love. Enter these old Moroccan lanterns.

I had been hunting for some fun accessories to brighten up my living room bookcase, when I came across these, that honestly, I had forgotten about:

 They used to hang on our front porch...but they have since been retired/replaced. I don't love them. I don't hate them. They were in terrible condition. 

Ladies and gentleman, my favorite tool ever: metallic gold spray paint. Now I have these:

and because one picture just doesn't do it for theses brass beauties...here's more:

So now I have two brass lanterns, that look brand new, that I love, and didn't spend a dollar. What about you all? Any $0 projects around the house lately?

And yes, that was all with an English accent. You're welcome.

A little pottery barn kids shopping trip....

I'm going to just put this out there: I haven't always been the biggest pottery barn fan. Gasp. Don't get me wrong, I do like their stuff and their stores have the best displays, but we just don't share the same style. Zgallerie, world market, and crate and barrel...now they get me...there has always been a connection there...Last week, however, my little sister was in town, so my mom, her, and I went on a little shopping trip. Apparently, neither of them had ever been in Pottery Barn kids...weird right?...I was seriously excited for the first time in awhile by their merchandise. It's like Pottery Barn and I broke up years ago, but now it came back with a new haircut, job, and a car....and now we've reconnected and we're in lurve...

Here's a few of my favorites:

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Dear beautiful two toned crib with storage underneath,

I love you. I don't love this room. I don't hate it either.I truly wish you came in bright white like it looks in the picture, instead of just the cream, that you really look like...it's okay we'll make you work...

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Dear polished Nickel Pendant Light,

I love your industrial style and I imagine you in a little boys room, with navy walls and a white bed...ahhh..

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Dear Eli Fort bed,

I don't love the way they've styled you in this picture, but you are so fun. I imagine you in a rustic room for my future son with a white ceramic deer hanging somewhere in the room, obviously. And underneath you shelves lining the wall for all of his books, and beanbag chairs to read in. 

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Dear Red Retro Kitchen collection,

You pull at my heartstrings. How cool is it that you are retro styled and look so frickin' real. I love you and my kids will have you someday, even if it's for me to play with.

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Dear Tepee,

I wish you came in another color, or had stripes or something, but the idea of you is just too fun. Maybe I could DIY another version of you for my future kids someday.

Because of this new found connection, you will all be happy to know that I decided I should give the regular Pottery Barn store another shot. So I made Race take me out there and guess what? Another re-connection....I'm in love...I will share some of my favorites from there soon too...

How about you guys? Do you ever realize something you used to hate you now love?