my goldilocks moment

This is how my little entryway has looked for +5 years. Simple and cute with one of my favorite pictures ever.

As you can see..it is what it is. Well it has come to my attention that my son and husband need a drop zone when they come home. From shoes to gloves to ipods to headphones to plastic snakes...I need something to collect stuff.

To me, this space needed something, but I was too chicken to try anything. It was easier to let it just be what it is rather than expand on any possibilities. But..in the end, I still needed something for the men in my life and their stuff.

And then one day at the Goodwill, and I saw this beauty. Lucky for me, my Goodwill is a cast off for Target goodies.

What is regularly about $72 {it is on sale now for $55}. I got for $25 AND it came assembled. No nicks, dents or scratches. How did I come across such a find? I must have been basking in the luck of my Elvis find.

I didn't even measure it. I was going to make it work. {Well I did kinda use my child as a height marker...you do what you need to do when you are in the midst of the hunt.}

And so I decided I needed to organize the little bookcase before it took over for "organizing my guys." So I added my Target receipt box {I highly recommend this to all loyal Target shoppers...saves your wallet & purse}and a basket to catch all -- but, it was too big.

I tried 3 baskets thinking I could use this drop zone too, but the edges stuck out..and that irked me.

 

So I tried 3 more baskets, but they were too small.  Look how tiny they are. What was I thinking?

 

Then I snagged 2 baskets I already had...and look...just right. I am thrilled with the results. This little station  makes my mornings when Thurgood & I are dashing out the door easy to get all his stuff ready for the day. And thanks to my little Target receipt box, I took all those other baskets back and relished in taking a risk that paid off. Happy take a Risk Day.

Cheers~

e

PS Interested in a little decluttering? How about a little shopping? How about where everything is free? Come to the blog hop/shop/swap.

Also check out my FREE nester inspired tchotchke. :)

adorable clutter

Clutter...we all have it and it can suffocate even the most darling rooms. Some of us create it..while some of us inherit it. I inherit my clutter...mainly as gifts.

Have you ever received something sweet and precious and NOT your style? I have and I do all the time. I find myself not wanting to part with the item because not only is it a gift, but also because it comes from someone who thought of me when they made the purchase.

As promised I wanted to share with you a few things that create the "clutter" of my home.

I received these panels from my cousin as a gift for doing her wedding flowers. I think these panels are oh so sweet...but oh so not my style. I have tried every nook and cranny to make them work, but it just doesn't.

I think everyone knows my love for wine. These wine glasses are one of many sets that I have received as gifts. As cute as they are...I am all about plain clear glasses. I have sets of 4 of wine sets all over the place. But, I am constantly breaking them so clear just works better for me..and my clumsiness.

My 1st ever experience with a PB gift that I was not all about. Maybe it is because of the red..or maybe it is the fact the glitter flies all over the place {hence why they are still wrapped}. I always seem to get candles as a gift and it is hit or miss {with smell and color}.

It comes with the territory I guess, but I have so many mortar & pestles...I love my clear glass one. Hmm...shock. But I have quite a collection whether I enjoy them or not.

 

OK...I LOVE this frame. I love it..no, I adore it. And the message behind  it...well it gets me each time. But this frame is huge. It is a 2 ft square which makes it hard to find a place for it. I know the picture I want to use...but I just need a place for it. I think we all gets lots of frames as gifts. I know I do. Ever have a frame you love but it just doesn't work? I love this frame but until I find a home for it....it is clutter.

Do you have clutter that you adore but it just doesn't work with your style? Do you have clutter with meaning and that in itself makes it hard to let go?

What if I have an idea for you for and that adorable clutter?

Join me tomorrow and experience a blogging experience like no other...who knows...you just might find a treasure.

Cheers~
e

when you buy what you love

The buzz word in blogland this year is all about decluttering. Aside of clothes and toys...the art of decluttering is almost synonymous with accessories. It seems like everyone is getting rid of "stuff." So much stuff...so little of it really needed. People love a good bargain and buy it...hence...lots of stuff or accessories.

Well I think I am the exact opposite and I feel like a complete weirdo for it.

purchased at Tuesday Morning 3 years ago {the blaring red is my IU sweatshirt}

I am the queen of buying from my heart and the princess of walking away. I only buy something if it is a good deal and it is meant to make my house more into my home. Yes..I fall in lust with lots of things and doodads...but those that make the cut and up to the register...well it is "to have and to hold."

purchased at Kohl's 2 years ago on clearance

Now that I am creating a home for my little family, I have no intention on spending money on something "just because"..I have a Sallie Mae student loan that is swallowing any chance of me being debt free. Every purchase I make is made knowing why that dollar is being spent.

purchased at Target oh so recently

Another reason why I have few tchotchkes, I loathe dusting..and I don't have much time for it. With less stuff...you have less dusting which means more time for cocktails and twitter. :)

purchased from my favorite beach shoppe in Pompano....10 years ago

I am also a creature of habit. I don't move things around...it errs on the chance of buying more stuff if something doesn't look right. I prefer to get the space exactly how I envisioned it...and keep it that way. To me...when you are constantly changing...you are constantly spending.

 purchased at Kohls on sale 4 years ago {I have 2 of them}

Bloggers right now are all about subtracting from their rooms and finding out how beautiful a room can be with less. Heheh...go me. I am finally ahead of a trend.

Even though I purchased these about a year ago from Arhaus. I have loved them since HS & always wanted them adorning my bedroom walls. They were worth every dollar

All the items photographed in this post you have seen in and around my home. They are accessories. They are all things I love.

Just think...when you buy what you love..it is never clutter. It is just buried treasure {way back in the closet}.

Cheers~
e

P.S. I do have some clutter..but I didn't buy it and neither did Mr. B. Can you guess? Stay tuned...

my gas station master bath

No...I can not even post a pic of it. It is THAT bad. I am gravely disgusted with my boring master bathroom. Mr. B & I have been in this house for +5 years and it is the same as it was the day we walked in...no, it was cleaner then. :)

After a long day on rotations, I want to come home to something that doesn't repulse me. Yes...my master makes me ickie inside. I feel like I need to attach a key to a hubcap to perfect the ambiance I have going on there.

I think I would like to go for something like this:

The way I look at it...if I spruce up the master bath: #1 I will FINALLY enjoy it and #2 it will show nicely when our little home goes on the market. I really want to just reuse the elements but add a dash of color/character.

I have been going back and forth between white or expresso cabinets. Yet in the end, I think expresso is the way to go because it will blend nicely with my master bedroom. And....I am curious as to using the new "cabinet transformation" product. Oh...and I LOVE the chrome pulls against the expresso.

There are many little aspects that play well in this bathroom..that I believe I could "knock-off."

Please....of course these babies had me at hello. But who needs the "found" prices starting at $69. I know I could make these. Would you buy some if I made some? :)

And I am sure I could Goodwill this darling. Can you not see Mr. B's stuff so nicely in this cabinet? {maybe even a friendly blogger out there would help me make one...ah-hem...you know I am winking at you.}

No...this is not my bath. I was too lazy to take a pic so I googled one as close to mine as possible.

The real question is what does one do with the garden tub wall? I don't even have tile like the above picture..but I think it will need something. Any thoughts? What could I do for super cheap but get super fabulous results?

So there you have it...my thoughts officially written in blog world. Now it is time to tackle it..I need to stop being lazy and do it. Anyone free this week to come help?

Cheers~
e

house hunters: can a house redefine your style?

As you know I am in love with the aspect of moving into a larger home upon graduation from pharmacy school. In my search..I came upon this one that might be perfect for my little family and my parents. It has 2 kitchens and lots of space...over +5000 sq feet of it and over an acre outside.

3010 Apache Drive

What I have thought about though with this house is that it really would not jive with a PB feel. It is more of a Jeff Lewis feel.

And let us not forget a fabulous Jeff Lewis kitchen

Between you and me....this is right up Mr. B's style. :)

I do think I would be daring in a home like this and go for a master bed like this:

 

I guess you could say I am a house whisperer....I just listen and see what the home wants. How about you? Is your style ever changed because of your love for the home?

I guess the most exciting aspect is we shall see what we end up with.

Cheers~

e

a room somewhere

I am at the end of another rotation. Only 2 more to go...June is fast approaching.

It has been quite a busy rotation with teaching and meetings and more meetings...and has left me thirsty for blog time and daydreaming of rooms like this:

While I slave away in a room like this with my buddy Chad:

Yes, that is my little computer and I figure a small picture gives you an idea of how small the room is.



Luckily Chad and I have been friends since pharmacy school began (we carpooled..and I guess you could say we are in a cliche..hahaha) and THAT made this rotation..cake. :)

I miss my blogs & blog friends. Can you imagine if we were on rotation together? How fun would that be? :)

Cheers~

e

salvation of the sake kind

Amid the trials of this past week, I found myself smiling when I came across this picture:



Some of you may remember the little decor arrangment my husband put together. It was his first attempt at decorating. He purchased a saki set and arranged it on our bar just so. :)

We both love sake and sushi....so Mr. B tried his hand at a vignette. I thought of it as a work in progress.

And then....I came across the opening pic in the Spring PB catalog. Maybe PB read my blog and knew I needed a little guidance. Maybe I wanted to make the sake set work and finally "saw" it.

All I know is that it made me laugh and I needed to laugh.

Now all I need is a buddy {ahem Gail} to help me bring those individual sushi plates to life because $50 for 6 is kinda silly.

Cheers~
e

PS I also want to thank each of you for your sweet words and warm thoughts. I am humbled by your compassion and empowered by your friendship.