classic tortoise shell {Happy weekend}

When I was in Utah last weekend I met up with a friend of mine who was on the hunt for a watch. As we made our way to the watch counter I gave her my opinion as to why tortoise shell is one of the most classic, timeless and neutral pieces one could own. I really had to drive home the fact that it goes with everything. So today I stand by that and in fact have a whole pinboard devoted to the very classic tortoise shell.

As far as the week goes, it has been a flyer. The transition from being out of town and then back home has not been as smooth as I would like...which then translates to the fact that I can not get on top of the laundry (amongst other items) but I did find the time to ride a camel (also not so smooth) which must mean I am feeling good.....historically I have never shelled out the money to let all of the kids ride so Woohooo.

Happy Friday!!

for all of the sources to the above go here.

Guest Post {Eagle's Nest}

Do you think my little fish is weird..because I kind of do.

I do not however think the painting is weird. I quite like it. It is by Lee Porzio and I picked it up for a song.

Besides posting pictures of my new finds I really do have a point to this post and it is to let you know that I was over here on Jess's blog...something about organizing but with an acrylic spin. Why don't you soar on over to see Jess in her Eagle's Nest...and say hello why you are at it. Do you remember this hardware that she designed?

ALT Design Summit

The last week has been a whirlwind that started out as a thought but then made a reality after the gracious Caitlin Creer offered to host me at her home as we ventured to ALT Design Summit. Scrambling, I phoned for a plane ticket and made arrangements for my little minis...not always an easy feat. Good thing for nice sisters (Hi Liza and Whitney). Anyway I have to note that every single time I walked into the above space I felt welcomed and so happy to be in such clean, pretty and well thought out space. Caitlin has mad designing skills.

Overall I feel very satisfied about making the decision to go to ALT because I made some very nice friends and felt inpspired. In fact as I sat in the plane to go home I messaged one of those new friends that really should have been an old friend. Text as follows:

"Mara it was really was so great to connect like we did with such ease. I like you mucho. Pls. stay in touch.

Do you still feel good about all of your thrifty purchases? I'm about to board my plane and I can't stop thinking about flight attendants gone bad...I'm holding on tight to all of my electronics."

Yes there is a story to the above text. In fact, that Mara girl has many life stories that you may want to follow along with over on A Blog About Love. Anyway the thing that I loved most most about ALT was connecting with other people. Sure there was some real treats when it came to people watching and sure there was inspiration and things to learn but the best was just observing that everyone has a story. I even got to learn about a few of them. We all are kind of in this together and we all have so much to share. Of course one of the stories that everyone fell in love with was that of Ben Silbermann, the founder of Pinterest. I think it is safe to say that his passion was inspiring.

ALT was a great and uplifting event to be involved in and I'd go again.

A few notables:

Imitate your spiritual master (Gretchen Rubin).

My heel broke off within the first hour. I had to faux walk so that I'd look like my normal self. Good thing for extra long pants.

Lots of buns, red lips and sequins.

A fun thrift tour with Jaimee, Sarah and Samantha in my car. At the end the most magical snowflakes erupted. There was some great treasures found.

Was reminded that one of the keys to happiness was to get enough sleep. Funny thing though I was most happy sitting up with friends at wee hours of the morning.

Some of the most fashionable girls at ALT told me they loved my squash blossom necklace and that made me feel good.

The reactions people gave when I told them I have five kids...twins and triplets in 2.5 years.

Jenny said 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.

Sitting in the corner of the loud Gibson Girl Lounge with Jenny and Mara but feeling like we were the only ones in there because we were so wrapped up into our conversation.

Thinking I was sure glad I didn't have to speak on a certain panel after the spirited and passionate Jasmine Star. She was inspiring.

I need to become a little more technologically savvy. Note to self: Learn more about videography.

One of the best ways to be happy is to serve others (Gretchen Rubin)

There is lots of great blogging stock that comes from Arizona. I had no idea until ALT.

Discovering Caitlin's beautiful Salt Lake City neighborhood. Had a great dinner at Trio.

I was really excited to meet the very kind Rachel from Black Eiffel and Jen from Rambling Renovators. Well actually there were many more that I should add to that list but I'm afraid I might miss somebody.

Stop talking about it and just do it. (Ben Silbermann)

If you are interested in more recaps of Alt then go here for the links.

More pictures of the events can be found here.

{Below photo credits go to Justin Hackworth, b.a.d. photography & Moss & Isaac}

dreeeeems..AND the coolest treehouse ever.

Apparently they are doing a great job teaching the kids at school about Martin Luther King Jr. because I have not said a word to my girls about the holiday today and Maren brought this little piece of art to the table that she had just whipped up before breakfast ...simply brilliant.

Speaking of dreems..how about the below treehouse. I have a dream that my husband would be a copycat to the below husband's brillant act of building the coolest treehouse..

OR in true Martin Luther King fashion I should just muster up the strength and pick up a hammer after I get myself some wood...or something like that.

Did you notice all of the design detail? Love seeing the house at night too. The makers of this treehouse can be found over on Eilas blog. There are also pictures of the different stages as the treehouse was being built. Well done.

Happy MLK Day!

Brass kick plates for your weekend!

Happy weekend! Today I am thinking about brass kick plates again as seen in the above kitchen that I am sure I have already blogged about as well as half of blogland..it is one of my favorites still.

See you soon!

{all above photos by Michael Graydon}

Oh and I heart heart tights like I heart all of you...and that is a lot of heart.

Lately I been really loving the heart shape for some strange reason.

I want to put a heart sticker on everything.

Like the below room.

Can't wait for March issue of Lonny.

{custom slipcovering}

Don't you love it when people give you good advice on something and then you actually use it? Well I want to share the same love in hopes that if you have the task of custom slipcovering something that you will better know how to get the results that you want. Well first off I had considered having a slipcover made for a settee that I had because I felt it would be a good option with having kids. I did not want it to look like a frumpy run of them mill slipcover that I may or may not have bought at a discount shop right after I was married (bless our poor ugly sofa). Anyway about that point I came across a very helpful blog post from Naomi from Design Manifest. After that, I solidified the decision to go forth with a slipcover. Want to see her slipcovered sofa..

Not too shabby...eeeh.

Truly because of her I was able to really convey to the upholstery shop what I wanted. Like for example would you ever think of telling them to put the zipper on the side rather than down the middle...just in case it would ever be a floating piece of furniture and you needed that zipper to be much more conspicuous? Anyway I thought it would be fun to pass along Naomi's advice in case you missed it the first time.

Without further ado here are Naomi's words of advice that I used when having my custom slipcover made:

Tip #1 Get a custom slipcover

Custom slipcovers may cost a little more, but will fit your sofa like perfection and the quality will show through. They come in pieces: a fitted section that covers the body and arms, and then separate covers with zippers for each loose seat or back cushion. A better fit means less shifting with daily use.

Tip #2 A single skirt adds casual elegance

This is purely my opinion, but I love the look of a straight skirt across a sofa. I didn't want any added seam definitions. Sometimes I'll run a seam along the base of the sofa (where the feet begin) to help hold it in place, but for my own sofa, I wanted more of a flowing feel. I also did NOT want any pleats. Many slipcovers have a pleat at each cushion, or one in the middle, but I wanted a single piece of fabric across my base. I thought it looked cleaner, and thus kept the sofa more modern.

Tip #3 To welt or not to welt

Adding welt (cording) to the cushions, arms and back can help add definition and be a nice tailored look. Naomi said that she opted for no welting on her sofa because it was more modern and wanted to soften the lines up a bit.

Tip #4 Don't ignore the back

If you don't specify, your slipcover fabricator may put the zipper right down the middle of the sofa back. The horror! My sofa floats in my room, so that would certainly not be OK. I have my workroom put the zipper in the back corner every time. It's a nice clean look and it gives you flexibility. Your sofa may be against a wall now, but it doesn't mean it always will be.

Tip #5 Choose the right fabric

Cotton and linen are the most common slipcover materials. Cotton can be thrown in the washing machine. White cotton can be bleached. It's hard to beat that in terms of practicality. For families with young kids, I like to have two made. This lessens the wear and tear on the slipcovers and allows one to be on while another is being washed. For my own sofa, I was less concerned with practicality and more concerned with look and feel. Fact of the matter is that linen just has a classier look and feel than cotton. I spot treat any stains and find that it's held up great so far.

*********************

When I went to drop off my sofa I actually brought in a couple of inspiration photos and really tried to specify that it needed to be as fitted as possible. In the end I am mostly satisfied. I still wanted to do the slipcover in a different color but went with a white indoor/outdoor fabric because of the 10 hands and 50 fingers that would assault the sofa. You would never know that it was an indoor/outdoor fabric because it is not stiff like many others are. I am really happy because it has been so easy to clean up being that it is an indoor/outdoor fabric. I am assuming that if there were ever a time that I needed a little extra help getting a stain out that I could bleach it since it is white. NOTE: Before I bought the fabric I took home a swatch a poured ketchup and grape juice all over it, let it sit then washed it off with a little soap and it all came clean. Well how about I just show you it already.

In the above pictures I am playing around with some of the detailing..like adding a fun trim to the slipcover. I also have yet to find a fabric that I want to use for a large bolster pillow so of course I pulled out the fabric that I always pull out (hope you aren't sick of it yet). Also I am seriously thinking of making new drapes out of that coral-ly salmon color. ..kind of all depends on what my new commissioned painting will look like when I get it...I can't wait to share it with all of you. You may even know who the artist is.

There you have it. I am just a Mom who excessively appreciates home decor and design but also has lots of jr. bacon cheeseboogers around the house so it is a good day when compromise can happen and I don't feel like I have to totally sacrifice my style.

Thank you Naomi for your advice. If you all want to be inspired you can visit Naomi at Design Manifest right here...yes the same Naomi that recently had her home featured on Design Sponge. You really should go to her blog to check out her lovely color infused home.

Would you, or have you ever had a custom slipcover made?

Oh my Stars!! {a star projector}

{above star projector found here}

I love lights which also includes twinkling stars. My girls recently had a birthday and I purchased the DIY Romantic Star Projector. We have yet to receive it but when we do I may have to snag it for a few nights in my bedroom. Doesn't it look so magical?

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

{Having a Mondrian Moment}

Sometimes I get on these little design kicks. Lately I keep having geometric shapes and primary color tones flashing through my head which then easily translates to the designs of Piet Mondrian.

What is flashing through your brain...hopefully something funny...and something you would like to share.

Image 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.10

Simplicity, New Year, Casa Olivi & scenes from the weekend

{credit to above photos to Hannes Henz and Gaelle le Boulicaut}

When I came across the Casa Olivi I instantly was attracted to it because it looked like a destination that would prove relaxing in part due to its simplicity...I mean just look at that pool. Again and again when I think of traveling somewhere I often dream of a place that is both warm and modern. Also Casa Olivi is located in Italy and is limited to housing no more than 21..what a quiet getaway for a family...probably a family with lots of dollars in their wallet I am thinking. To see more about Casa Olivi then go here.

As each New Year seems to pass by and the older I get I really seem to crave simplicity. Which means I don't want as much stuff around because for me I have figured out that a) "stuff" owns you & clutters your mind AND b) when aquiring things that it should be a matter of quality over quantity (I've learned this one by experience..bless my early 20's). Don't get me wrong I still like stuff but I am just learning to be better at editing. Overall simplifying makes quality of life so much better when managing a home and family. Things really just don't matter as much as all of life's experiences...and stuff sometimes just gets in the way..ya know?? You know, stuff and things....

Along with simplifying, there are ongoing goals that always seem to make the list every year as well as a few more. This year my list is not long but it did include a few goals that might seem not very noteworthy...such as switching out all of the plastic containers in my pantry for glass storage containers. I also got a head start on another small goal of having more plants around the house and patio by bringing a Meyer lemon tree home. It's funny how something so small can bring so much joy. After church on Sunday we took a few photos that included my new tree...oh and a sequin skirt that I decided to wear..it was a hard decision but I went with it being that it was New Year's Day. I usually would not sport heavy sequinage to church. We also made it to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, had a family New Year's Eve party, and a craft extravaganza out of pipe cleaners. Those pipe cleaners kept the girls busy for hours. They also felt it would be a great idea to peddle their new creations to friends and neighbors. One of my girls even thought it a good idea to price one of her pieces at $78 even though the sale sign said .05 or $2. I'm so glad she thinks her crafts are awesome...she'll be set if she still thinks the same way at 22.

So there you have it. Life is good. Here's to a very happy happy New Year to all. I double dip flip heart all of you for your kindness last year.

Loves.