wildflowers

While we are experiencing all of this blog silence I thought it would be fun to post some of the pictures from our trip that I posted over on my family site. I'll be back to regular posting after all of the babies are in school. 2 down, 3 to go.

Aren't those wildflowers so beautiful? They were all found in one spot at Fish Lake in Utah.

REPOST from the family blog:

It is very hard for me to sit still for too long. We had been at Grandma and Papa's house out in the middle of no where for a couple of weeks so it seemed that I had gotten to the point to where I could only go a couple of days of staying at the homestead before I had to just get in the car and go somewhere. The fact that I didn't want to wear out my welcome just fueled the footloose and fancy-free way that I already lean towards. Besides I like the freedom that a car provides and sometimes I feel my best when I am behind the wheel. I had long told the kids about Fish Lake so decided to pack a lunch and spend the day exploring. The first place we came upon was a grove of trees with the roots exposed. It looked like we were in some kind of enchanted forest. We then made our way over the bridge and that is when we came upon the most beautiful patches of wildflowers. I love wildflowers. In fact when I was married I wanted everything to be full of greenery and wildflowers. We picked a few to bring back to Grandma and hoped they would stay nice until the ride home. The flowers proved to be quite hearty indeed. I think hearty and beautiful make a great combination. Anyway we walked around and did plenty of exploring. I'm sure we were not hard to miss especially with those little flutes a tooting everywhere we went. Finally Maren and Maile gave the flutes a rest and they somehow made their way under my belt and when we went to the old store at Fish Lake again the old man selling the Smokey the Bear items inquired as to where the flutes went because he could not hear them this time around. We truly must have made our mark the first time around with all of our tootin' and hollerin'. I wouldn't classify ourselves as the quiet type anyway but sometimes I become a little numb to how noisy we (kids) really are. I am just glad that when we got home we had something to offer Grandma so that her senses would be diverted from her ears to her eyes and nose with the beautiful wildflowers.

We're back!

Hi there!!! We finally returned home. Just in case you were wondering we went to Utah, Idaho, Oregon, back to Utah and then to the mountains in Arizona. We were away from home for almost 6 weeks. Lets just say that I was a little nervous dragging the kids around without the big "W" and let us also say that I became very familiar with the noises that the kids made as we all slumbered away in 1 bedroom...I am tie-red. We did not have a DVD player in the car..in which I have heard is so helpful in taking long road trips with children. Looking on the bright side we did have a 50% ratio of passengers with outside plumbing..so that counts for something in the middle of no where or in the middle of a great big foreign city (either which one) if you know what I mean...lots of widdle breaks going on and desperate times call for desperate measures. Anyway, I am very grateful for all of the opportunities we had to see family, friends and for all of the new experiences we got to add to the memory card....I'm thinking earplugs might be a good investment for the next time around though.

On another note I must say that as of late I have not felt very quality in any one subject matter because I have been stretched out too thin...some of which is my by my own doing. I am hoping that there will be some of you all out there that will go easy on me for not being a very responsible blogger. The hardest part for me as a blogger is feeling like I am failing at not keeping up with the comments and emails. Anyway, I can't wait to see what the pending school year will bring in a couple of days. You better believe I am treating myself to a major tour de thrift treasure hunt when all of my babies are in school.

P.S. - The above balloon creations were made one Sunday afternoon by my brother-in-law. We were laughing so hard at the balloon hat that my little boy had on because he kept trying to catch the fish hanging off the end..with no luck...actually he kind of looked like a dog trying to catch his own tail.

P.S.S. - The best present of the whole trip happened when my husband flew into Portland for a last minute weekend meet-up. He loved Oregon. I am glad. My two sisters live there. Perhaps more Oregon trips in the future.....

Doesn't everything look as perfect as rainbows and cherries...well almost. Not pictured are all of the times I told my kids I was going to pull off the road to paddle their little hineys if they didn't quit the teasing, the whining, the kicking, the pinching and oh yes lets not forget the biting incident. Now I wouldn't want to go discounting any of the 4 different rainbows I saw in one day but we already know that life ain't no bowl of cherries, right? Ok great, because with that being said our life of summer around Grandma and Papa's small town overall hasn't been too shabby. Well if you don't count the fact that I can't find a House Beautiful, Elle Decor, Veranda or Architectural Digest. Seriously I scoured the town up and down Main Street and beyond only to find the likings of publications only put out by Better Homes and Gardens and maybe a Country Living if one was lucky. Finally at my last stop which happened to be the Big K I decided to use the money I would have spent on two magazines to buy a dress...and I feel good about it. I also feel good about slowing down and not really having any set plans. That is why if you notice we were some of the best dressed with flip flops on a hiking trail at Capitol Reef. I didn't know what I had gotten myself into but when we got to Capital Reef we just let the adventure unfold. It rained on and off but we had to see the Indian writings (that is what my girls call the petroglyphs). Before we had left I had purchased the girls their own disposable camera so that they could really get into seeing the beauty of our adventure..and it seemed to work. I love that we all were able to get out on foot and safely hike the two miles that it took to see things that were not right off the side of the road. I love even more that Maren thought the modern day writings into the rock were ancient petroglyphs..she was so excited that she busted out the camera to document. It was hard for me to break it to her that Eric + Monique were not ancient history..well probably they really were but you know what I mean. Anyway we are alive..even without much internet usage..I know hard to believe.

Hope you all are well and can't wait to catch up. Can't say when I will update the blog again but I will be back.

xx

real estate stalking

When I came upon the above real estate listing, I kept trying to guess who the designer of the above space was. In the end I didn't get it right but when I found out who designed the space it all made sense. To think that the above space is only cleaned up for real estate pictures. I can only imagine how the above space would look all styled up ready for a talented photographer to come in and take pictures for editorial purposes. If you are curious about the designer or to learn more about the above space then go here.

Also there is a good chance of finding some more beautiful interiors while real estate stalking over on the Elliman site if you want to check out more spaces. I also really enjoyed this space as well as this space. May help that many of the listings are high end spaces in New York City.

{above photos via Elliman}

{my new custom hardware knobs}

Well of course they make hardware base pieces so that one can make their own custom hardware knobs and pulls. You better believe that when I figured that one out I knew exactly what I was going to attach to those little bases. I have always been obsessed with natural curiosities..especially rocks and fossils. From a very early age I remember my Dad picking up and collecting rocks where ever our travels took us. I know that his fascination was definitely passed down. Now I smile when my little girl brings me a rock (on a daily basis) that she finds and thinks is the most valuable treasure. In fact if she could go to any store with me she would pick the mineral and bead shop. No doubt about it but nature brings about the best inspiration...I am in constant awe of it and its Creator.

To make the above you will need the following:

*Base for custom cabinet knobs, found here

*Epoxy

*Washers (opt.)

*Standard 8-32 screw

*Rocks or your choice or adornment (found my rocks at the Black Mineral Market here locally)

Just follow the directions of the epoxy and glue together. I used the washers because I thought it gave more flat surface space to work with being that the amethyst rock was not completely flat on the back.

I can't wait to show your where my new hardware lands..stay tuned. I am not mixing the two different rocks so now I need to decide what rock will look best with my newly lacquered piece of furniture.

P.S. - Every single morning we get this fantastic rainbow coming from the morning sun when it hits the crystal lamp in the girls room. It is quite the cause for excitement with the kids. Don't you love how kids find everything so magical?

O'verlays

I can not wait to use some of Danika and Cheryle's new creations. I think this product is just genius...and so affordable. Currently O'verlays offer a few different sizes but can also do custom sizing. Many of the stock sizes are meant to fit those IKEA pieces like pictured above. I am thinking of updating bathroom cabinets using these O'verlays. Can you just imagine all of the possibilities? Go here to get more info.

{painting techniques}

Just observing the paint in both the above scenario as well as the the below. It certainly has got me thinking about all of the possibilities. I love how the walls in the top image look dye-dipped. The above space was shown at the 2010 Hampton Designer Showhouse and was designed by Lisa Sternfeld.

As for the below nails I came across the below tutorial on Pinterest that shows a technique to create marbleized nails. Looks kind of fun to try for a change. Oh by the way, are you on Pinterest? If so come and find me here.

I still may be just a plain and simple kind of paint girl. What about you?

finials for my cheap lamps

Sometimes I buy cheap lamps at Home Goods or other establishments because they are in my budget and almost look like what I had in mind but there is just something that needs to be tweaked, ya know. Usually it is as simple as just changing the darn finials to give it a more custom look. For inexpensive finials go here....but beware you have to sift through a few finials that are equal to the ugliest Christmas sweater winner...but worth it because $6.00 for an agate finial isn't too shabby.

Hi, It's Monday!

Happy Friday!

{above photos via Interiors and Trad Home online}

Somewhere at the base of Camelback mountain exists a beautiful home with a beautiful yard and views of urban desert living at its best. Super star designer Jamie Herzlinger got a hold of the above place and turned it into something that I can guarantee doesn't look like every other home here in the valley...a real desert gem I like to call it.

On another note I apologize if I have let any of your dear sweet readers down as of late. The last time I decided to take off and not tell anybody, I came home to a couple of emails from concerned blogging friends. I didn't realize people even cared that much..Needless to say I realized that it was probably rude not to clue people in that I was stepping away from the blog for a bit. I mean after all if any of the dear people that I follow through blogging were to drop off the blogging circuit I too would certainly worry. Anyway thank you so much to all of you who have been so kind to me and my little hobby. I am not too sure what direction I am going to take with the blog but I do know that at this point some of the most satisfying parts have been to find others that share many of my same common interests. In the mean time this summer will have very spotty posts as I really enjoy all of my babies being with me at ALL times. I can fully feel that the day they are all in full-time school is just around the corner..AND then what..what will I do with myself..time will tell. One thing is for sure and that is that I've never been one to not have some sort of project brewing if you know what I mean;-)

Here in the next little while I will be loading my little turkeys and taking them out and about to experience things that can be offered at a much milder climate. Which means we will be gone for quite an extended amount of time and many of the adventures will not include that awesome dude that sacrifices on our behalf...apparently he has business to pertain to. Anyway, here's to hoping I can manage all our endeavors solo style. I realize I just may be part crazy but I am also excited to see what our adventures will bring us. I'll keep you posted.

In the meantime, HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

xx

Just a few additional shots from Christine d'Ornano's home that appeared in Elle Decor's Spain edition. To see more pics go here.

It appears as if Christine's likes to cluster a bunch of unframed photos in every room that she decorates. Do you like that look?

It's Summer!

The above photo was taken by the talented Nicole Hill-Gerulat for One Charming Party.

Summer and watermelon go hand in hand, don't you think? The above is a brilliant idea.....just put a stick straight into the source and call it good. Well we definitely had to ring in the summertime with something that included frozen on a stick so we went with a little mixture that of course included watermelon.

Have I told you how glad I am to have a camera? I may not always be the most Awesome Mom on the block but darn it my kids will at least have a huge assortment of pictures to look at when they get older;-) We are a little camera happy over here.

Don't you just love those cowboy boots with the shorts? They have been Well's choice of shoes all week long. He doesn't seem to be bothered by the fact that it is over 100 degrees.

watermelon popsicles:

In a blender add the following:

watermelon

1- 2 T fresh lemon juice

1 T cherry concentrate juice

raspberries

a little sweetener (opt.)

Blend, then strain while pushing the solids to extract as much liquids as possible. Pour the puree into popsicle molds and freeze. We used dixie size cups as our molds.

Anyway, on a decorating note I picked up a piece of furniture today that I had lacquered and I am so pleased with the results. I had received an estimate from another company and let me tell you the peeps that I ended up using were very fair and they really do such great work. I will share more on that later for all of you local readers who might be interested.

Happy Summer all of you love muffins!!