Something Pretty For Your Cuisine

I'm a total Missoni lover. I registered for it for my wedding. I gladly entertained the thought that no one would buy it for me and I would have to buy it for myself. I am high class, my food though, is not - visit my food blog here. At Macy's, they're having some sort of a sale. Missoni may or may not be on sale, but my plan is to eventually outfit my formal dining room table with it. Somehow.

On the other hand, my mother is in love with Fiestaware, which is on sale NOW (AS IN TODAY) at Macy's too. She has a variety of colors - yellow, cobalt, red, orange, teal and who-else-knows. We also have a large family so there's enough colors to go around.

Picking out dinnerware is hard - like me, I move all the time so I just have plain white from Pier 1 that are really maybe 2 - 3 dollars a piece (I would send the link, but Pier 1 doesn't have a online store anymore, dang it!). Now, if we moved to a house, I would get Fiestaware. Cobalt, orange and white maybe. I would definitely pick a variety of colors!

My current mission is to pick out new drinkware for the mother-in-law... good, dependable and reliable heavy drinkware... We'll see how this one goes...

Next on the blog: Couches, sofas, davenports (my gramma's term) - best places to shop???

PSH

GAIAM Online Coupon

Get $20 off Orders of $100!

Coupon Code: SWST

Grab it before it expires!

PSH

B-Town Happenings...

Artistic events for your decorating inspiration.

These events take place in Bloomington, Indiana. If you have any events in your area - feel free to submit a comment and I will post the inspirational event!


First Friday Artists’ Reception - Wandering Turtle Gallery February 1, 2008
Times: 5:30 – 7:30 PM
http://www.wanderingturtle.com/
Location: Wandering Turtle Art Gallery, 224 N. College AvenuePhone: 812-330-1990
Admission: Free
“Spirit and Image” Photographs by Darryl Jones & Wood Carvings by James Alexander Thom With Special Music by Curtis Cantwell Jackson

Bloomington Photography Club Member Exhibition February 1, 2008
Times: Monday-Friday 11-5 and Saturdays 11-3
http://www.artlives.org/
Location: John Waldron Arts Center, South Walnut StreetPhone: 812-334-3100 x 111
Admission: Free
Photography takes over the walls as the Bloomington Photography Club holds a Member Exhibition at the John Waldron Arts Center in the Rosemary P. Miller Gallery. It runs from February 1st - 29th with an opening on Friday, February 1st from 5-8pm. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 11-5pm and Saturdays 11-3pm or by appointment. For more information visit http://www.artlives.org/ or contact the gallery director at (812) 334-3100 x. 111.


The Irish Lion - Bourbon Tasting EventJanuary 31, 2008
Times: 7 pm
http://www.irishlion.com/
Location: The Irish Lion Restaurant & Pub, 212 W. Kirkwood
Phone: 812-336-9076
Admission: $25 ADVANCE RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
The Irish Lion and Big Red Liquors present a Bourbon tasting event. Seating is limited. Tickets are $25 per person + tax, includes tasting and complimentary appetizers.


SoFA Gallery: MFA Metals, Sculpture + Textiles Area ExhibitionJanuary 22, 2008 - February 2, 2008
Times: 12:00 - 4:00pm, Tuesday - Saturday
http://sofa.fa.indiana.edu/
Location: Indiana University, Fine Arts SoFA Gallery, 1201 E. 7th St., Bloomington IN, 47405
Phone: 812.855.8490
Admission: FREE!!
These exhibitions will highlight artworks created by graduate Metals students in the Master of Fine Arts Program, and Sculpture and Textiles students in the Masters and Bachelor of Fine Arts program at the Henry Radford Hope School of Fine Arts, Indiana University. Events are free and open to the public.


The Kinsey Institute Gallery - "Women of Pleasure" exhibition
January 18, 2008 - April 4, 2008
Times: 2:00 to 4:00 M-Fhttp://www.kinseyinstitute.org/
Location: The Kinsey Institute Gallery, Morrison Hall, Indiana UniversityPhone: 812-855-7686
Admission: FREE
The Kinsey Institute Gallery presents an exhibition titled “Women of Pleasure,” which explores the depiction of women in 18th and 19th century European erotic art. The exhibit contains paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, books, and other materials from the Institute’s extensive collections. Highlights of the exhibit include a pair of engravings by British satirist William Hogarth and several rare editions of "Fanny Hill; or Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure," John Cleland’s 1749 erotic novel.


Ok everyone, I'm sure by the LARGER font you can tell that I might be seen at the bourbon tasting... haha... Actually, I'm more prone to end up at the Sahara Mart's Wine Tasting events that take place in a tent in their parking lot with plastic cups...

Enjoy and be inspired!!!

PSH

My Bathroom Went to Shit

But at least I scrub it with Method Tile Cleaner!

Haha! If there's one thing that I've always hated to even think about decorating, it's the bathroom. I shared a one bathroom house with 4 females in college. Dirty, nasty, gross. Those three words sum up the bathroom perfectly! I mean, we had a clear shower liner, which I couldn't even bring myself to step into without my dormitory shower shoes, mismatched rugs that I didn't even want to walk on and the smallest mirror ever.

Oh yeah, and everyone but me had a problem cleaning it. Try having 17 people in your family growing up. You gotta do what Momma tells you...

Try organizing all of your fun stuff with the shower caddy above. It has room for razors, shampoo, conditioner, a scrubby thingy for your feet and more stuff. Today it's on sale for $12.99. Original price - $21.

To go green in the bathroom, try a teak shower mat. It's great for your feet and it's also a non-slip surface. Find it at Bed, Bath & Beyond for just under $40. They also have more teak bathroom accesories - though they are spa-like, they are also an environmentally friendly product for your bathroom and things like this are hard to find that are actually stylish.

All the accessories are plain enough that you won't have to worry if your towels aren't bamboo or natural colored. Teak is a great wood for a bathroom, durable, easy to clean and slip-free.

Another bathroom organization tool that you can use in the kitchen OR in the bathroom is an under-sink organizer. It's easy to put together and easy to sort through all of your stuff. I happen to like hiding my accessories under the sink, but if you have a pedestal sink, you're out of luck! This one is $17.99, but I bet if you want to skip for paying the shipping, you find this at your local Bed, Bath & Beyond or something similar at Target.

Good luck and happy bathroom organizing!

PSH

Decorating Green - Air Purifying Plants

Who wants to spend money on an air purifier and use more energy when you can have some green in your life? Here's a list of some plants that help purify the air. Green living is not about just changing your light bulbs, it's also about making your living environment safe and livable for your family too. Give them as gifts, as hostess presents, get well presents, whatever you can give them away for, please do!

A good rule of thumb - one plant for every 100 square feet of living space. Personally, I could only NOT kill one. But these plants are also pretty easy to take care of too!

Aglaonema sp. Chinese Evergreen

Aloe barbabensis Aloe Vera, Burn plant

Chlorophytum comosum Spider Plants

Chrysanthemum sp. Mums

Dieffenbachia sp. Dumbcane

Epipremnum sp. Golden Pothos

Ficus sp. Ficus

Gerbera sp. Gerbera Daisy

Hedera sp. Common English Ivy

Philodendron sp. Heart leaf philodendron

Spathiphyllum sp. Mauna Loa

Some of these are poisonous, be very very careful of your pets and your small children. Aloe is a great soothing plant for cuts, scrapes, bruises, etc...

Aloe can be grown in your bathroom (we used to do that when I was little on a shelf above a window), ficus can sit in a corner and you can spread your plants throughout your home. Or you can bunch them up together so you don't forget to water one! Whatever you decided to plant, please choose something that will help you live better and make you feel like you've chosen the right plant for your home and family.

Enjoy!

PSH

Wine Racks

The other night I was enjoying a glass of cab, it was Three Blind Moose for $6.99. A little grapey, sweet, but not bad for $6.99. I would buy a case of it. The only problem - storage. Help me now, please, God, give me just one more closet to put my crap.

Or a wine rack.

A cart ($160.23 for above) would be fine - I could keep it where we have our pot rack. Or in the living room or in the closet or in the bedroom and just wheel it out when we need it.

A buffet would be nice in a house. $836.50 if you're looking at something a little more pricey.

Another cart ($799.95) and a side table ($142.80).

And of course, a wine lover's curio cabinet ($1,520.00).

All of the above wine racks and furniture can be found in abundance with MORE wine racks at the Wine Rack Station. If you do purchase, remember that the shipping will be what'll ruin your budget! Try and find some online coupons for free shipping, I won't list any here, as I will probably forget to update with *new coupons every couple of weeks. Hey, another idea for a weekly post! Thanks!

PSH

Workspaces - What A Girl NEEDS

See Jane Work

The fun and fabulous site where you can order your fabulous office supplies. At work, I call my office supply catalog my "bible." I look through it everyday and wonder what else I can order for my desk.

Flip no more - only clicking is required here (along with your company's credit card)!

Another aspect that I love about work areas is your mousepad. I was a freshman in college when I stole my first mousepad from the University of Minnesota. It said, "Do Not Remove. Property of the University of Minnesota." Well, technically I still lived on campus. It was still on University of Minnesota property. So that's not stealing, right???

The mousepad shown is only $7.50. I would buy that instead of steal it. But now, if it said, "Property of Indiana University, Do Not Remove" I think that I would use it at work - that's still Indiana University property, right???

Click on over to See Jane Work. I think you'll enjoy the humorous office stuff along with all the girly products. I need a little pink in my work life and this is definitely the way to go!

PSH

Pin-Ups - Worth It or Not???

Pin-ups remind me of the time I found a 1979 Playboy in my dad's desk at home.

Gross.

But I guess they're coming back in style - the retro look is in. Kind of like the black sweater dress I'm wearing today, if I don't wear it today, I'm going to have to pray to God that I have a daughter who will wear it in 30 years.

to be quite honest - how in the world do you decorate with them? In the boudoir, yes, I can see that. In a bachelor pad? Yes, of course! In my home... I have no idea where I would put them or what I would do with them.

Maybe make postcards and frame them? I don't think I'd actually blow up an image to poster size, most likely because I'm an art freak and would want an "original." I don't know... they're so, timeless in a way, that they're hard to gauge exactly where to decorate with them. If I had my own dressing room, I'd bet my garter belts that I would decorate with pin-ups.

But, I don't want one of these posters in my living room for my husband's frat buddy friends to jack off to, that's for sure! These pin-ups are way too retro!

How To Find:

Google "pin-ups; 1940's - 1950's"

PSH

The Crate & Barrel Online Outlet

'Nough said.

Enjoy!

Crate & Barrel Online Outlet

PSH

The Walls

Storage. Design shows usually tell you to build up when organizing and decorating small spaces. Most people don't think about it. It's not a natural feeling - who the heck wants to stand on a step stool to grab a book that you probably haven't seen in three years???

Me!!!

Try this pot rack, where you can see all of your lovely pots and pans. At $79.99, this is kind of a steal, unless you get lucky at your local Tuesday Morning or Marshall's.

This plum rug for Horchow is another favorite for fall/winter decorating. Or even for the bedroom or family room. It goes well with black picture frames with thick white mats (and of course, black and white prints). At $739, you can't beat that price for a large area rug, this is so fabulous that I don't think that I could purchase any size smaller than 5'x7'.
I do also have to admit that even though I'm not a huge fan of painting ceilings (literally, I've been dripped on before), I am a huge fan of accenting what you've got. With this ceiling jewelry (ok, ceiling bling bling), you can really set the mood for fabulous entertaining or a night in with your sweetie (imagine candles, wine, strawberries, for me it would be chicken pot pies & Mich Golden Light). Ceiling mirrors are coming back like the leaves on trees in spring.

So, Happy Thursday... only one more day before the weekend!!!

PSH

Pet Friendly in Every Way

The Liveable Home Store. The Solution. The Expensive Solution.

I have absolutely loved all of my pets in the past. They are a part of you. But they seem to be a part of your furniture too! The furniture from the Liveable Home Store is just that, liveable - with fabric made to withstand your pets and your kids, you'll never shop at Ethan Allen again.

With the price range of $954 to just under $2,000 for their "accent chairs," you'll be pleasantly surprised for the quality. Honestly, I thought they'd be more, but with three choices of fabric for each chair, you have a range of options to choose from. I like these, they're not too contemporary and yet they're stylish enough that you know they'll last through at least 8 grandkids, and probably 4 - 5 pets too. Maybe 50 or so years.

If I had more space, I would be purchasing one of these. Okay, more like a few chairs for all over the the house (or small apartment). My current pet situation is nil, but the Mother-In-Law has two dogs and two cats, this would be a perfect solution to her non-declawed kitty-bitch's needs. (Yes, we call the cat Kitty-Bitch, because it really is one, I think it's real name is Gramir).

PSH

Coming Up Soon...

I have a list of things for your small home that I just don't have time to remember because they're so cool...

• Plants for decorating, yes, that's right
• Wine racks we love
• Pet friendly armchairs, who knew???
• Shelving because everyone needs more
• Missoni - gotta love 'em for your dining table
• See Jane Work. Organize your home/work space.

Coming soon!

Easy, Simple Green Things All Can Do

To go green or not? That is the question. Here's simple things you can do that most people don't think about.

1. I bring $20 to the farmer's market and purchase all the groceries I need for a week. That's a local thing you can do. Even if you just buy tomatoes (which is what I did for two weeks until I discovered the corn, peppers, potatoes and flowers).

2. Buy soy or beeswax candles. They don't emit toxic fumes like paraffin candles do.

3. Shop at thrift shops and flea markets, whether it be for fabrics, furniture or fun stuff! You're recycling other's peoples unwanted goods.

4. Decorate with plants. They help clear your air of carbon monoxide. I particularly like just about anything that flowers or that I can cook with. I also like bamboo and also the winter bulbs that you can plant in the spring.

I can usually come up with more stuff, but today my brain is stuck. Oh well, tomorrow is another day!

PSH

August = New Rental House

And wood floors. And not enough seating. The big green dream machine can only fit 3 - plus with the really nice Amish rocking chair we have, that only seats 4. We're screwed if we have a couples night with more than 2 couples!

These floor cushions might do the trick!

I've been to Pier 1 Imports so many times and I'm mad as hell that I can't shop online there anymore! Thank God I had my bridal registry there before they took away the online store! I've seen their floor cushions so many times, I just can't bring myself to buy any of them. When I walk in and stand in front of all the pillows, I can feel myself frowning and slowly backing away and out the door. I'm always disappointed now by the Pier 1 pillows...

The cushions shown are actually from West Elm, my favorite modern but cheap(er) store. The cushions are $59 each but they don't come in a huge variety of colors. You get what they have. I would definitely get the ivory, but Ikea sells floor cushion covers, so maybe that's a possibility if someone spills red wine and the dry cleaners can't get it out!

We'll also have an actual kitchen with space for a table. I NEED A KITCHEN TABLE. My BMW man loves to sit on the couch and eat from the coffee table so he can watch the Simpsons. My plan is to get a 13 inch television for the kitchen so I can watch FoodNetwork and cook my ass off.

And sit at a table to eat like a civilized person! I would like dark wood, maybe some cheap chairs if I can find any at the flea markets around us. I think I'd like the chairs to not match. And be around $10 each. Maybe less!

When we move this August, my plan is to have the rooms already layed out in my sketchbook. I want to move in and know what I want.

And yet I still haven't seen the inside of the cute little historically restored little yellow bungalow with a porch swing in person!

PSH

Why Should We Ignore the Bedroom???

Oh, hell no... The bedroom is my sanctuary. Kind of.

Amidst the clothes piles and piles of towels and crappola, and my husband's dead father's ashes (Yes, gross, I know but I'm not sure how to explain an urn in our bedroom and if we had it in the living room I feel like we'd get more questions) I have an amazingly wonderful bed where I can fall asleep at any time. Seriously, I'm known for taking naps at 11 in the morning and even at 6 at night. It's all because of my wonderful bed.

Ok, it's because of the down featherbed, the flannel sheets, the Laura Ashley pillows and my soft blankie from Target. Nothing really matches by labels, but that's ok - you gotta take what you can get and let me tell you, I'm giving that Shabby Chic blanket from Target to my mother-in-law for her birthday. I "let" her use it when she stayed for Thanksgiving and I seriously thought she was going to steal it from me!

PSH

Valentine's Day...

Decorate for Valentine's Day? I don't think I will, my husband's birthday is the same week. So romance will probably be thrown out the window to beer pong and Guitar Hero.

I do have red sheets in the bedroom and a fabulously scented "romance" candle, but with my husband and scents, I don't really know what he likes!

At Crate & Barrel, you'll be able to find some sweet things for your loved one. Try out Barefoot Contessa's chocolate cupcake mix for $10.95 or the sweet mini baking tins for $2.50 each. You can make your sweeties chocolate dreams come true! (Or in my case, yellow cake with chocolate frosting...).

They also have heart ramekins - in which I could try to make chicken pot pies, but I'm not sure how the pie dough would be able to fit. That I would have to try to make BEFORE Valentine's Day!

PSH

Save Energy! Save on your bills!

Try using these insulated curtains from Gaiam. There's several different colors to choose from - they're also currently 20% off! I personally like the sage or sienna, but most everyone's style is a little different. We also have the big green dream machine (read: big green leather couch that DH has had since he was living in his fraternity) and I think that greens are calming, which I use quite often to decorate for my crazy life!

Also, for something soft on your feet, try this recycled sweater rug. It may be $169, but that's totally worth using recycled products in my opinion. One of my friends back in Minnesota has a recycled pop tab purse. Her's is silver. I like that too!

I tend to go to Gaiam for the earth saving power of their checkout, buy a tree for only $2. I usually buy 2. It's worth it.

PSH

New Pottery Barn Catalog

When I got home from work yesterday I had a pleasant surprise waiting for me on the coffee table.

A new Pottery Barn catalog. Normally I don't exactly look through them because everything is way too expensive for me to buy. Also, living in a small space, their furniture won't fit into my 625 square foot apartment. Plus, how in the world would I get their furniture up three flights of stairs? (That's right, there's no elevator).

And so I decided to look anyway when I saw that they had some Eco friendly stuff. Looking more closely, no, it's really not that eco-friendly when you spend thousands of dollars when you could go garage sailing and looking on craigslist for cheap to free furniture.

But they also had a small spaces section. I looked found a few things that might be able to fit into my teeny tiny apartment. Not too bad... But if you look at the specs, these are still pretty large pieces.

Also, when living in a small space, you want to be able to store as much stuff as possible.

The tv stand wouldn't work out for us (with the PS3, PS2, tuner, DVD player and about 8 speakers...), but it would work out nicely for me if I wasn't living with a gadget freak.

The couch, that just looks hard and uncomfortable, but think of all the throws, DVD's and other stuff you could store underneath in pretty baskets!

The computer office closet, yes, I want! You can shut off your mess when you have friends over, or you can keep it as organized as you want to. For me, I'd love a MAC, but with laptops, the pull out unit for the keyboard can be used as extra work space (I'm thinking off all the Law School work my husband can do...).

So for now, just enjoy the new Pottery Barn stuff. It's too expensive for me, but you can also find knock offs at other places like Ballard Designs, Ikea and even sometimes at Home Goods.

PSH

Small Space Organization

Ever wish you had just another 10 square feet for your shoes? Your clothes? Your kitchen?

I do all the time! In fact, my kitchen is only about 10 square feet. I have a teeny tiny stove (four burners and only 2 pots can fit at a time), an actual icebox for a refrigerator (open one door for everything and then another door inside of the fridge for the freezer) and NOT ENOUGH STORAGE. We bought a butcher rack at Target and I still can't even find time to organize that. Talk about me trying to organize everyone else!

I finally stumbled upon the Container Store's fridge and freezer section of their website. Absolutely awesome ideas. Who knew that me, the world's most lazy organizer could possibly actually use some of these things???

And so now I'm off to shop online and get some great stuff to organize my fridge.

At least one thing that I use daily will be organized, right???

PSH

The Decorator Goes Green

Right now, I've decided to be a greener person.

I've always been pretty green, but as the new year is here I realize that my husband is NOT very green at all.

Here's some tips of mine that I (yes, me) do on a daily basis. They're all pretty easy and most are money saving too. Remember, the less you buy the less you throw out.



1. Buy Energy star products for your home. Less emisions equals more time on our planet. I particularly like this chandelier. Totally chic, ready to plug in and save you some money!

2. Use glass canisters for storing your food. Plastic leaks chemicals into your food, glass doesn't. Isn't that enough to be said? Oh yeah, and you can also wash glass canisters and reuse them. Most people just throw plastic away.

3. Buy Method cleaning products. Or make your own. Either way, you're not dumping chemicals down the drain (though I always think, isn't bleach better than human feces??? Answer that one green do-gooders!!!). And don't forget the microfiber cloths. They're useful for EVERYTHING and ANYTHING. Especially in the bathroom. (I still can't get away with using anything but paper towels while scrubbing the toilet, I like to know that I'm throwing away the bleach with germs stuck to it).

4. Buy an old phone. Get a restored one instead of hitting up your nearest Target or Best Buy. In fact, if you want a cordless - I have one in my closet that someone can have. Message me about it and you can either a) pick it up or b) I can ship it to you.

5. Remember to bring reusable bags with you to the grocery store. I bought some animal print ones at Pier 1 for $1.99 each.

Yeah, I'm slowly turning. I'm a treehugger. I'm an earthlover. And I like snowboarding and being organic. It's hard to start new habits when you're so used to doing old ones. Start off easy by picking up the cleaning products. You'll first notice that there's no harsh chemicals, then you'll notice that you don't need as much lotion on your hands. You'll feel super dorky with the reusable bags, but that's ok - it's better to be an earth lover than it is to be an earth hater and getting those plastic bags that you'll never reuse!

Next on my list - organic sheets and towels. I want to be healthy for the new year!

PSH