Blondie 'N' SC

Kitchen Envy~

We re-did our kitchen a few years ago, and at the time I loved everything I chose. But of course as life would have it, our styles change and our love of one thing moves to a love of another. It is a never ending battle, but not one I am choosing to fight at the moment, as money doesn't grow on trees around our neck of the woods!

I found a few kitchens in which there are elements in each photo I would love to add to our kitchen either for aesthetic purposes or for function....Are you ready....off we go!

Get your "pinterest" fingers moving!

Hello yellow, pretty wood counters and rustic faucet...love you!

This picture has been one of my favorites for a while, something about the whole thing just draws me in...even the blue sap bucket with fresh flowers and the wood beam ceilings....nice and cozy!

For my fellow green lovers!

Two words....natural light...

Wait two more...

Baby girl!

{and loads of other words, but I will spare you...}

This kitchen has function...outlets in the island, loads of counter space, two islands, lots of room to move, natural light, a large farm sink, etc. etc. etc.

If you didn't know I might have a "thing" for natural light lately...Perhaps because our house lacks a lot of it, so I crave the sunshine and warmth natural light brings to a home...swoon!

Clever little pantry...chippy paint, loads of storage and, well here it comes a little confession...I don't like chalkboard walls!! I never have, for some reason I just didn't jump on that trend. I have seen some amazing things created with chalkboard paint like above but I think it all falls back to my need for things to look clean, and for some reason chalkboard walls just don't look clean to me...don't hate me, are we still friends?

I do however like the look of this, pretty, clever and useful pantry, and it doesn't hurt that the writing is oh so pretty!....and do I have to mention the sliding door?

no, I didn't think so!

This just cures my love of all thing vintage, you can't find charm like this without the vintage details!

I can't really decide why I like this one, something about it, the colors? the floors? the lighting?...someone help me gather my thoughts here...

puh-lease!

And, well this screams beach, fun, quarky, inviting...it remind me of something I would see in a house where my parents live...relections of the beach...but I know I would tire of the all that pretty turquoise at some point!

I think if there were one thing I could change out of my kitchen it would be our cabinets, they are that faux wood...I really want real wood cabinets, but those aren't in my future...{she weeps}...

I hope you are having a good week so far....

Things are pretty messy around our house, my mother can confirm this...but progress was made this weekend on our loft....once I get a card reader to download the photos to my laptop I can share...don't hold your breath as to when that will be!

Happy Tuesday..."Stay cool"...name that movie! :)

 {image 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 }

 p.s. I have a pair of Frye boots, these to be exact, they don't fit me anymore since I had my baby, if anyone is interested in buying them send me a note....I never wore them, they are brand spankin' new in the box! Size 7.5.... 

here is my e-mail: b l o n d i e n s c @ h o t m a i l . c o m

Pretties~

It was a busy weekend to say the least, and I still have one load of laundry in the washer, which will have to be rewashed, I still need to mop the floors and vacuum...it seems the house work just never ends.

 I am sitting at my big girl job this morning...reading a long list of work e-mails, thinking about the housework and how much I want to be at home to sneak in on my littlest as he sleeps and watch his chest rise and fall with the rhythm of his deep sleep...instead of being here....I also want to be the one to get the good morning hug from my oldest, he gives the best morning hugs...I love those hugs because it feels like a good way to start the day and I feel like anything I might have done wrong the day before got washed away with a good nights sleep and this hug, starts the day fresh and new...I need that today...but I don't get it, and instead of sitting here a'sulkin' I found some pretties for you!

Do you ever just look at a photo in a magazine, or on pinterest and something screams at you...like a great vintage sign, or a pretty baby blue ruffled table cloth, or an old weathered table you would know exactly where to place in your home if you could just find one like that? All of these photos have that "one" thing in it for me....If you feel like getting lost in these photos instead of doing your work, or thinking about the morning hugs you might be missing...I welcome you with open arms!

oh and I forgot to tell you....

He just wanted to pop in and say hello to you this morning...

And to see you if you wanted that morning hug?

{she snickers...}

 
 

 Happy Monday, whoops, I mean Tuesday {Ryan has me all flustered}!

 

xoxo~

p.s. I could also go for a day in bed watching "The Notebook", that movie gets my every.single.time.  

{all images {except the last one} from this sweet blog filled with eye candy}

 

Coastal Details~

Good morning!

Most of you that read this silly old blog know that my parents live about 45 minutes from me and I try to take my boys down there as much as possible to visit them. They tore down an older exisiting home that sits a few feet from the canals in Long Beach, California a few years ago and rebuilt their dream home where on occasion you can smell the scent of the ocean as you walk out their front door.

I admire the work they have put into this home to make it feel as warm and inviting as possible. Over the summer when I had 5 months off of work for maternity leave, the boys and I would find ourselves spending a lot of time at their home, trekking to the beach, sitting on the porch for "happy hours" and gathering in their front room for movies and popcorn.

{I want these lazy summer days back....and, I really like this guy by the way!}

Lately, they have changed out a few things, and added a little more of a coastal feel to their home, so I snapped a few photos to show you some of the changes.

A new couch was purchased from Pottery Barn, and instead of spending boat loads of money on new throw pillows, my mom got to work on her sewing machine and made her own custom pillows for the sofa...

 Some black and white ticking stripes were added to a vintage chair...for some reason black and white ticking just screams beach to me...not sure why!



 In the bedroom I share with my niece when she comes to stay at grandma's they purchased a new bedspread also from pottery barn, but again instead of using the standard pillows that comes with the bedding, my mom sewed additional pillows to add some layers to the bed...I really like the cut little one with a starfish!

A few vintage coastal details:

uh, yeah it is....it calls me every morning on my way to work....{she sighs...}

Here are a few photos of their bed...light airy colors and pretty layers...

 

The Seaside Retreat pillow was purchased...but fits in perfectly with their coastal feel...the sweet kitty doesn't mind the smell of the ocean all that much either...

I don't think I have ever shown the floor of their master bathroom...I am in love with the tile & my boys are in love with taking baths in the tub!

 Although my oldest punk has a really hard time keeping water IN the tub!

  A few more photos of some of the coastal treasures you can find here and there throughout their home...

 ok, there you have it! A few coastal changes to a pretty cottage!

Thanks for poppin' in!

muwahh!

 p.s. I am thinking my loft/office area needs a revamp...I started a board on pinterest for Office/Loft inspiration and this little photo just screams pretty to me:

but so does this one...

& this one...

So as you can see I am totally confused on what I want...if you want to contribute to my confusion feel free to direct me to your own office inspiration pins!  

 

ChristmasTime~

I honestly can't believe it is already time for Christmas. I was sitting on my couch on Sunday night and looked out my front windows to see the familiar red christmas lights our neighbors adorn their house with every year, and I said to the pool man, doesn't it feel like it was just Christmas? And he nodded his head as he usually does, as he is not one for many words.

And as I sat there watching my 4.5 year old zoom cars across my completely dung up coffee table, and watched my 8 month old with his newly sprouted two front teeth pull himself up on the edge of the table to see what his favorite big brother was doing...I felt like life was passing by way too quick, and I reminded myself to slow down...to take in the moments of each day, and stop for just one second and look at my surroundings and thank God as my blessing abound...especially for the blessings we have accumulated in the last year!

I was asked by my friend Jennifer Rizzo to be a part of a "Housewalk" she is doing during the month of December, and let me tell you, she has a wonderful, actually amazing line up of homes to share.  I actually don't know why she asked little ole me...but for some reason, I said "yes"...darn it... why did I say yes?

I don't go all out for the holidays, I never really have. I don't like to spend a lot of money on Christmas decorations. I have one, yes one measly little ole box of Decor...and each year I vow to only buy a couple new things...& donate things that i have grown tired of.

Therefore in hopes to have a decorated house on a budget, I have scoured websites & my favorite blogs to see what I can do with natural elements such as flowers, herbs and branches. I have tried to find inspiration in the simplicity of christmas decor such as burlap bows, old trucks, vintage bottle brush trees, old string lights we have had for years that make our tree sparkle...decorations that still make a statement but don't break the bank so to speak.

I guess you could say I have been trying to pull it all together on a measly little budget...hoping I can fake it to make it!

Yeehaw!

We have a dinner party at our house on Saturday, which has given me the much needed motivation to get things decorated and wrapped. Although this post just reminded me that we need to get a Chrismas tree asap!

 I will snap a bunch of photos and be back to join in on Jen's amazing "Housewalk"!  Ekkk, just saying that makes me a little anxious...ok, a whole lot anxious, but I am up for the challenge!

Did I also mention I have to cook a turkey on Saturday!

What?

Let me repeat that, I have to cook a turkey on Saturday...

{eek, just saying that makes me anxious....jittery to be exact!}

Me cook a turkey....?

I really need to stop saying "yes" to things....seriously!

{is anyone else thinking that those wood stocking are too close to the fire??}

Here is hoping you take a moment to look and around and thank God for your blessings this Christmas season!

Be back soon...unless I have burned the house down cooking a turkey...ahhh, I kid, I kid....

{she says with her fingers crossed!}

Muwahhh~

{photos 1-2, photos 4-8}

 p.s. The day after Thanksgiving, we found out that we get to keep our house!!!  After a few months of being on pins and needles and doing a whole lot of work, we can finally inhale deeply and rest assured that our house will be ours for a little while longer...a HUGE blessing...and it couldn't have come at a better time for our little family! {she sighs}

p.s.s. Our littlest slept through the night last night for the first time in a loooonnnggg time!

A HUGE blessing~

I feel like a new woman! Amazing what a full nights sleep can do~

Garage Pretty~

We for one don't have a pretty garage, as a matter of fact, I am quite embarrassed most of the time about the state of our garage. The pool man and I often bicker about the mess as well...

Now I understand that most garages serve a purpose such as parking your cars, storing your multitude of holiday decor boxes, housing the lawn mower and gardening tools or hanging up bikes. I  also understand that most garages are not worthy of mention, or create a"beautiful space" buzz throughout the blog world or home decor magazines....but sometimes, as I am finding my way through our garage, trying to find a paint brush or a cleaning cloth meanwhile tripping on various toys strewn about the garage or bike tires and miscellaneous pieces of wood.... I stop and ponder the possibility of a "pretty"garage, or is that a complete oxymoron?

Today I found some inspiring photos, which in turn made me create a new board on Pinterest, called "Garage Pretty"...because I vow someday to have a pretty garage and if you saw the state of my garage at this exact moment, you would probably gasp at the mess we have created in the 6 years we have inhabited our home...

Now our garage is not big enough by any stretch of the imagination, but I would love a space like this:

 

Via

Just a small corner of the garage would do to wash my freshly cut flowers & arrange them in fabulous vintage pottery.... a space to store my potting supplies, gardening books {if I actually had those} and a fabulous space to wash my littlest, because goodness that sink is baby washin' worthy!

Now I see many uses for this next beauty, and although the pool man would scoff at the idea, several of these in our garage would help organize our mess...and as i sit and stare at this, I believe the pool man might be able to build us a few of these...after all stylish storage like this is hard to come by & pretty pricey!

Via

I included a close up of the amazing storage ideas...just in case you thought your eyes were deceiving you!

{they weren't... it really is that amazing...}

Via

Simple and to the point...clean and organized...

And do you see those yellow wellies?

Those are on my "want list"..they have been for some time...!

Via

I think the pool man would go for something like this:

Via
 

After all, he is a kid at heart and all those projects he likes to do in his spare time, might actually get finished!

Here are a few more "Garage Pretty" ideas:

Via

via

Small work station/garden bench in the corner of the garage would be fantastic...

with painted peg boards for tools, labeled no less:

Via

And vintage lockers and  wire baskets for storage...

Via

All these images leave me thinking...perhaps one day we can have a space that is "garage pretty"...perhaps the pool man has some free time this weekend!

I hope you have a great weekend, thank you for the e-mails and the warm welcome back...

Makes a girl who felt lost for a bit feel like she found her way home so to speak!

xoxo~ 

White and Gray~

I know I know, we haven't even gotten to Thanksgiving and I am writing a post about Christmas decorating, but I saw this adorable house on Country Living and all the fun ideas for decorating for Christmas,and well decorating in general... I had to share! 

Of course as most of you know, i am girl that loves, wait craves me some color, but I can appreciate some whites and grays too, so all you fun loving, gray craving, white living girls,  you can thank me later for this special post just for you!

Enjoy!

  

Similar Stockings made from antique homespun linen can be found here~

 

You know I am swooning over this...simply adore the wings and the cane back chairs...**sigh**

{similar wings such as these can be found on Ebay for about 10-11 a pair}

And the different size trees in the background are a perfect combination for any dining table!

 

Combing natural elements  in the wreaths above the bed with the beautiful off white bedding is a compliment to the grey paint!

{paint: Benjamin Moore: Alaskan Husky}

{Bedding, shabby chic at Target}

{Bench available at Layla Grace}

GORGEOUS!

 

Adorable Christmas pillows can be found here, here & here....adds a little touch to any room!

 

 

Pretty amazing house, huh?

Have you started decorating for Christmas, or do you hold a stead fast rule that no decorating starts 'til after Thanksgiving?

Oh and before I go, make sure you check out this amazing shoppe for fun christmas decor and gifts!

Happy Tuesday!

Blessings,

 P.S. i am half way through my christmas shopping, hoping to be done soon! I will share some of my fun finds with you soon....

P.s.s. if one more person comments on how big my tummy is, I am going to scream, seriously it can be really annoying, and well it makes me feel a wee bit self conscious... *sniff sniff*

 

Sarah's house~

Happy Friday girlie Q's~

Can I just tell you how excited I am it is Friday, i have no real big plans, but the weekends are cherished around our nest lately...and it means I am one day closer to a nap...and that gets me all fired up!

 
{This is Sarah Richardson..isn't she darling}

A few weeks ago when I was feeling really poopy, I watched a marathon of Sarah's house episodes in my comfy bed sweating my booty off cause it was like oh I don't know.. 102 Degrees outside {it should never get that hot anywhere...never} on HGTV, now I am going to be completely honest, I watched the show a long time ago and I was not digging her style...but my goodness have I changed my mind...and she certainly has a talent with using beautiful wall coverings, as Sami Jo reminded me yesterday after my post on wanting to incorporate wall paper into my nest!

Here are just a few images from her three seasons on HGTV:

 

{yummie wallpaper to the left}

 

 
 

Sarah's house not only shows you how they saved in certain areas, but she takes you along with her and her design assistant Tommy Smythe when she buys her materials, so you hear her thinking and see her choices.  I personally love that....you know for my next house, my big girl house... when I can afford a personal assistant and all to help me decorate!

She keeps a realistic budget (albeit way higher then my thrift store budget) and she sticks to it and in return creates these amazing spaces, that even incorporate elements from Ikea and local auction houses!

 

{swoony lights...and I love the yellow cabinets below, ok and the polka dotted fabric on the bar stools}
 
,  

 

 
I have to say i am loving her contemporary style, with a modern twist. Her ability to mix and match colors and patterns is unreal. At times I am not head over heels for her choices, but she is not afraid to take a risk and she is certainly not afraid of color, and I admire that in a designer!

You can see more on her website and she even lists resources for where she finds her products.

Now I am left wondering what do you think of Sarah's designs?

Too much for you?

Diggin' her style too?

Inquiring minds want to know!

Hope your weekend is smashing, and everything you hoped it would be!

muwahhh!

 P.s. Does anyone watch the show Flipping Out on Bravo?

What?

Seriously, did you just say "no"?

Oh girl you are missing out...

Hilarious show, and that Jeff Lewis is a genious...genious in design I tell ya...

Check it out puh-lease...

The end.

 

Mod Green Pod~

When I thought about adding blue and white striped wallpaper to my son's closet, it got me to thinking....where can I find "green" wallpaper, the kind with no toxic chemicals and perhaps printed on Organic paper. I did some research and found a company called "Mod Green Pod" which sell organic textiles and wallpaper. I began to do a little research on their site and found this:

"Most conventional wallpaper is made from or is coated with vinyl, also known as polyvinyl chloride or PVC. This material ranks among the most environmentally damaging plastics. The production process of PVC releases highly toxic materials called dioxins into the air, and then again upon eventual incineration. At very low levels, dioxins have been linked to immune system suppression, reproductive disorders, a variety of cancers, and endometriosis. Why bring this into your home if you don’t have to?"

After I read this, I was glad that I didn't run out and by any old wallpaper to add to my son's closet...

Being that we have one more closet to go, and i am destin to have some wallpaper somewhere in my nest, I am thinking the next closet will include some Mod Green Pod wallpaper...

  

 

 

**love this one....**

 
 

They also have beautiful organic fabrics that are made with 100% certified organic cotton grown in the United States!



 

 

You can find out more information about Mod Green Pod and their products here...

And as for me, I am going to start saving my pennies so we can add some fun wallpaper to our little nest!

yeehaw!

Cheers to organic safe products we can use in decorating our homes!

Happy Wednesday!
 

{Pink}

Morning Snickerdoodles!

How are you today...being that it is Monday and all?

I probably won the "mother of the year" award yesterday afternoon as I fell asleep snuggling one of my son's blankets while we watched "Aladdin" for the 10th time...i am telling you, my eyes have a mind of their own, but I think I am getting pretty good at answering my punk's questions in my sleep!! And, I didn't even know he knocked the phone off the hook and it was off all night til I noticed it this morning, whoopsie!

Go ahead, you can send my award over at any time...I promise to wear it with pride as I am quite positive this won't be the last time i do this....

The pool man and I started the closet renovation, we started with my son's closet first, by pulling everything out and littering the whole upstairs. My son thought this was a lot of fun, and was a big ole help in making a giant mess...

But alas we are on our way, I sold the closet doors yesterday so there is no going back, much to the pool man's chagrin, as he didn't know we were starting the closet renovation this past weekend...and to be honest I didn't either until I started pulling things out left and right and ripping out old door tracks and makeshift cubbies for my son's things...i think it was somewhat therapeutic since i have hated those yuckie closets for way tooo long...

I promise to have photos of the finished product and the process which even means the mess, as soon as I can get "the Man" motivated...

But since it is Monday and you deserve something pretty to look at I found these over the weekend and I just enamored with all of the fun {pink}, not typical, totally unexpected and visually so soothing...!

Enjoy!

That Martha she sure knows how to pull it all together!!

Off to get some work done....

Ha, I just had to say that, it sounded like the right thing, I was totally lying!

muwahh!

{all photos from Martha Stewart}

P.s. sorry grandma you have no where to sleep on Wednesday as all the crap toys are littering your bed!

  

Open Spaces~

In our nest, we have some, oh how should I put it ugly spaces, which of course I neglect to add here, cause really who wants to see those!

{hey you, put your hand down in the back there, it ain't gonna happen}....

My son's room is not big, there is enough room to have his twin bed, a dresser and some totes for toys, and that is it! He does have a two door closet, that can hold a lot of stuff if organized properly, but here is where the problem comes in....the closet has mirrored doors, on tracks, that always find their way off the tracks and it drives me bonkers....

So, as i was laying in bed one night...annoying the pool man with my, honey what about "this" scenarios, it hit me, like a brick upside the head...we could just rip those mirrored ugly doors off my son's closet and give him open space, like a field with no fence...a place with tons of cubbies, and cute totes for toys, and yes I will admit it, hundreds of toys we have bought him. And a small place for his nice hanging clothes, that yes I will admit it, he does not wear that often.

And then as I was trying to find the pool man's foot with mine that warm summers night under the covers...it dawned on me again...why not rip the doors of the guest room closet and add some open space there too! I could live an ugly- mirror free life~

And so, this is our next project, albeit the pool man is not to happy to have to figure out how to rip tracks up and cover their ugly remains, or to listen to me complain about how things just aren't getting done fast enough...but I think by doing this, we will add some space and possibly make my son's and the guest room feel a wee bit bigger!

And bigger is better, right!

Ha, totally kidding....

Seriously...

[hey you in the back I heard you mutter something under your breath, knock it off...}

Here are my inspiration photos, and my vow to document the process, now don't hold me to a time line here cause with the pool man patients is a virtue...in which I don't have, but anyhow....

 

Love the rolling totes on the floor~

 

loving the shelving here and the curtain~

 

 
oh hello fantasticly organized!



How cute and functional are those fancy totes..la la love them!

 

ok and now, drum roll please...

Have you seen the adorable line of storage goods from Restoration Hardware?

What?

No....

oh goodness, gurl...

take a peek~



**swoony, no?**

Ahhh, yeah~



oh why yes, I will take three...

and of course every room needs some ruffles...


And sure why not, I will take three...

ok, so there you have it...what I will be doing soon...or not...better start baking some cookies to motivate "the man"...

Maybe over the holiday weekend we can start ripping things apart, as I am taking Friday off to have a LOONNGG weekend!

yipee!

BBQ's, swimming,  hide 'n seek, movie marathons, bubbles {cause how you can not have bubbles}

& Demolition!

Amen!

Cheers to a fab~u~lous weekend and wide open spaces!

Muwahhh!

{and apparently typepad doesn't want to comform to moving my signature center, so there it stays to the right, ha ha...you got me....to the left...a wee bit off kilter, kinda like me!}

 P.s. Holy moly I talk a lot, i just noticed there is a word counter on the bottom of this post and it says 604...what???

 No way...

ok I am gonna shut up now!

Seriously...