The Cozy Urban Home

Today's Etsy!

2011-11-14T18:55:00.000-06:00

If you know me you know I love cats, so when I saw these on Etsy, I knew I had to show you. I will be getting one very soon!

I can't resist this one.

But this one is so cute too!

Or maybe this one?

I just don't know how people can be so talented. If I could do something like this, I'd wallpaper my house in them. I can't even draw a stick figure...

-Stacy

Today's Etsy!

2011-11-13T10:04:00.000-06:00

For the love of frames!

I love, love, love this frame. I can see it with a picture of someone you love sitting on your nightstand, can't you? At only $14 (YUP!) you can buy two!

The colors are so great together...I would do a whole room around just this frame!

-Stacy

Amazing Architecture!

2011-11-13T09:54:00.000-06:00

Okay, I know...it's been almost a month since I posted last and I promised a continuation of my Sunday Drive post. I'm finally back and I've decided to do a post every day this whole week. EVERY SINGLE DAY. You don't believe me? Watch me! In my defense I must tell you that I did break my foot and am wearing a cast. Life has been a bit challenging lately and while that is no excuse, I hope it's reason to at least check back this week and see what I have for you! I've missed you!

Back to the architecture! My husband went to a Lutheran college in Minnesota called St. Olaf. We drove through while we were out last month to look at the Fall color. In theory this was a great idea but the wind had blown most of the leaves off of the trees and I ended up being glad because it made me notice the amazing architecture! What I saw follows.

They even plant beautiful mums all over campus. I guess the hefty price tag pays for a few perks like this.

So while Jason sat in the car with Tinkerbell in tow, I went off to take some pictures.

The buildings are fantastic!

More colorful mums planted at the other entrance. I loved the combination of colors.

Did Jason have ANY idea how lucky he was that he got to see things like this everyday? I doubt it!

Can I live here?

Look at these fantastic light fixtures! They are huge. I would love a house with these outside.

The detail on these buildings is incredible. They don't build things like this anymore.

The entrance is grand and the fixtures on each side are, again, gorgeous!

This one is my favorite. Do you see this design in everything these days? From iPhone covers to wall stencils. All those years ago they were really onto something.

Beautiful!

So we drove around the neighborhood a bit and I took a few pictures of some of the homes and shops.

I love this one! The colors they chose are wonderful!

And who doesn't like the classic white with black shutters and red door?

The town is quite charming and I wish we'd had more time to shop.

This garden store was so cute. They were all decorated for Fall and I would love to drive down and see what they do for Christmas.

After all of that, we took our dog, our apples, and ourselves and went back to the city.

See you tomorrow with something new!

Thanks for hanging in there with us; we didn't forget about you!

-Stacy

A Sunday Drive.

2011-10-21T08:00:00.001-05:00

If you live in Minnesota, you know that Fall is a very big deal. With the leaves changing, the apple orchards in busy mode, and preparation for Winter, Minnesotans tend to make the most of this beautiful season. Especially since we all know that when Fall is over comes...SNOW! So in true Fall mode Jason and I woke up a couple of Sundays ago and decided to go on a drive. Yes, we're ninety. We enjoy these sorts of things and it was a good alternative to doing housework!

So where should we go? We decided to head to Jason's Alma Mater, St. Olaf College in Northfield. It's a short 40 minutes from the cities, they have a great apple orchard just off the highway, and the St. Olaf campus is beautiful. So off we went...first stopping at "our" coffee shop that we love for some coffee and sandwiches and then we headed out with Tinkerbell in the back seat!

Here's our girl! She's in love with Jason so she's smiling because she gets to go with.

If you're ever in Northfield, I hope you will consider stopping in at Fireside Orchard. It's exactly the way an orchard should be...very small town-like and simple. That said, this place offers EVERYTHING!

Want pumpkins? They've got em! We got two huge pumpkins for twelve bucks! I almost had a heart attack when I saw how cheap they were! These were some beautiful pumpkins.

The hugest pumpkin in this group was only seven dollars. Um, HELLO! We're not in the city anymore!

Since we had made a bunch of our own jam, we skipped buying any. However, I couldn't resist pumpkin and apple butter.

They had cheese too! We didn't get any because we didn't have a cooler with us, but I wish we had.

Of course there were apples!

All varieties perfectly sorted! We bought Honeycrisps and Haralsons. YUM!

And look at this great little seating area they had for you to sit and enjoy an apple, some cider, mini donuts or fudge. Loved this.

Then there was the orchard. Next year we will leave Tinkerbell home so we can walk through and pick our own apples. We've already decided that this will be our Sunday drive many, many more times in the future.

What have you done to welcome Fall into your life? Did you go to an orchard and buy two pumpkins, two 5 pound bags of apples, a dozen mini donuts, a gallon and a half of apple cider, apple butter, and pumpkin butter like we did?

I will post part two of our Sunday drive in the next few days so watch for it! Oh, and thanks for hanging in there for our month long break! It's been a crazy month and we appreciate you stopping by to see what we've got going on. We don't want to lose you so we'll get moving on the posts STAT!

Have a fabulous Fall!

-Stacy

Some of my current favorites!

2011-09-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

I try to share with you some things that I try, use frequently, and love. I'm sort of a product junkie and won't tell people about anything unless I really love it and it works for me, makes me happy, or makes my life easier. Here are some of my favorites right now!

I swear by Nivea Kiss of Moisture. I have it in every purse and use it all winter long. The air is much drier here these days and I am already using it. At just over two bucks a tube, it's super affordable and never lets you down!

I love a good pop of color on my nails when the summer is ending. Pretty soon I'll start using Essie's Geranium. It runs about $8 a bottle and it's a perfect red-orange. You can get it anywhere these days...even Target!

Have you smelled the Ikea Vanilla Candles? Alyssa started me on these and I have no less than six of them in my house at all times. I am not an artificial vanilla person, but I am in love with these candles. I don't know what it is, but it's a very CHEAP indulgence! The small is $1.99 and the large is $4.99.

If you have lots of fine, straight hair like mine I am about to tell you the biggest secret ever. I have found volume in a bottle. After trying (at least) hundreds of products on my hair, I have found one that works and it is completely natural and food grade organic! Go figure. It is Intelligent Nutrients Volumizing Spray and I have no idea how much it costs. I decided ignorance was bliss when she charged my debit card. I bought it and have never looked back. I'm thinking it's $25 or so and I am officially addicted.

I am also loving the new Marimekko socks that I just bought. I'm not going to lie, they set me back almost $20. I NEVER spend that kind of money on socks, but I had to have these and I love them!

Last, but not least, is my all time favorite winter hand lotion. It is made by Avon and is called Moisture Therapy. It is cheap at about $4 for a large tube or 99 cents for a small tube that you can throw in your purse. It is the best I've used! I always give it for gifts. It has saved my hands time and time again.

I hope you've enjoyed my favorites. Please feel free to tell me some of yours too. I'm always looking for great new things to try!

I'll be back soon with some fun home updates.

-Stacy

Today's Etsy!

2011-09-19T17:28:00.000-05:00

I'm sort of getting excited for Halloween and Fall decorating this year for some reason! I have to keep reminding myself that it's not October yet! When I found this, I just knew I had to share it! I think it's a great price for only $35 considering the work that probably went into it and the cost of the supplies.

Isn't it cute? I would probably remove the bow or change it, but I really like this. If I had a front porch, it would be mine! What do you think?

-Stacy

It's the little things. Right???

2011-09-14T20:36:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I've posted because I've been a bit busy with home projects that need to be finished before winter. My apologies for that! If you live in Minnesota, you know that we have very little time to get outdoor projects done. I thought I'd share a quick little thing that I did a couple of weekends ago just to tide you over.

I was really sick of the LACE (not a fan) curtain with hearts all over it that I had hanging on the garage window. I didn't look at it often, but I knew it was there and had been for 13 years. It was getting old, old, old! So I whipped up a quick curtain with some Amy Butler fabric I had for another project that I decided not to do. Here's how it turned out!

Old, ugly, heart curtains with lace:

Hotstuff!!!

Here's the new lime green with cream polka dots! Goes great with the new grey I chose for the shutters.

It's the smallest change, but it really is the little things in life! Now I need to paint the frame inside the window white. Have you discovered how one project always leads to another? I have!

How are your projects going? I have a few more to go and then I'll be sharing the rest of my home adventures with you. Check back often!

-Stacy

Today's Etsy!

2011-09-08T08:00:00.001-05:00

These need to be mine! They are some of the cutest boots I have seen in forever so if you buy them don't tell me...I'll be too jealous!

I told you!

-Stacy

The wait is over! Finally...my front door reveal!

2011-09-08T07:00:00.003-05:00

I guess I could've put this up a few weeks ago, but I wanted to get the whole front of the house done before I revealed the front door. I painted it a few weeks ago and then (slowly) the rest of the front came together. The awning went up, I spray painted the mailbox and the house number sign black, and Jason finished the shutters. Once we painted those and put them up I decided it was time to show you!

So you'll remember that the front of the house looked like this...

It was pretty plain Jane with a white door and forest green accents. I was SOOOOOO sick of that look so now the front looks like this....

Don't you love it?! See the front door? Oh wait, I'm sneaky...I saved that till last. So what color do you think I went with? What do you think would look the best with my cute new black awning, dark grey shutters and white house? And, by the way, did you notice the cute topiary cut-outs that my husband created in the shutters? I love a talented guy like that!

So the wait is over! I chose Benjmain Moore's Yellow Rain Coat and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it so much! It makes me happy when skies are grey...

See the cute topiaries?

And, finally, the "Hello" on the bottom of my door.

Did you guess right? I'm so glad I chose this color rather than the green, and I can't wait until February when winter is really depressing but I have this beautiful, happy yellow door!

Thanks for hanging in there with me while I got it all done! I'll be posting Fall pictures soon with all of my mums and pumpkins planted up in the front pots. I can't wait for that!

-Stacy

Cutest Wall Finish Ideas - Found in Eureka Springs, Arkansas

2011-09-07T15:29:00.000-05:00

These can all be found in this cute little restaurant named Local Flavor... kind of at the entrance to the historic part of Eureka Springs, Arkansas historic area.

Paper collage ceiling nook.... Love.

Who doesn't drink a lot of wine these days... I bet you could have enough corks to fill up a message board like this in 6 months or so. :) Just stay away from those screw tops and waxy corks for a bit.

This last one is a mural of a pear.. it was on a wall in a narrow passage way and the restaurant was busy.. so sorry for the weird angle... Who needs art when you can paint it directly on the wall! Love the colors and textures of this.

PS... this is a cute little restaurant and a yummy restaurant!

Alyssa

A Toilet Paper holder even the kids can change!

2011-09-07T10:59:00.001-05:00

Wow!

Love.

Want.

Photo Courtesy: Here.

Hello... Yes, I am back from a crazy end of summer a trip to Canada & Arkansas.

Looking forward to get back into the swing of things.... and thought I would start with a simple wonder. :)

Alyssa

Friday music...

2011-09-02T14:54:00.000-05:00

Lissie and Ellie Goulding. If you don't like this, I think you might just be crazy!

Have you had a chance to see either of them live? If you have, I'm sure it was the best concert ever! Whenever they've been in Minneapolis, I've been out of town. One of these days I will see them.

Enjoy.

-Stacy

Mini Pick-Me-Up: Mailbox Edition

2011-08-30T07:37:00.000-05:00

Hello. Meet my mailbox. He is white and somewhat rusty and only a year old. He was a cheapy... as the cash flow has been tight the last year and we needed to plug up the one built into the house due to mold issues in the winter.

So. I decided I needed a little pick- me up at the entry to tide me over until we can paint our house... hopefully next year. A little steel wool, a little left-over white spray paint and a little Hello (you may remember my cousin shared this...and I loved it just as much as she....) and Voila, a mailbox that will even make the mail man smile...

Enjoy the day! I hope I am here when the mailman comes....

Alyssa

Oh Me, Oh My... I need this dress.

2011-08-29T13:21:00.001-05:00

So... I get almost daily emails from Anthropologie. It is the only shop I allow to send me daily emails because I adore just about everything that is sent to me. Today, I received an email with this fabulous layered stripe dress and have a bad case of the needs... wants... no.. needs... no wants.... needs.. Oh, I am so confused and so sad I can't buy this dress right now on the spot. If I could buy it.. I would wear it every day. Promise. Okay and I kind of really love the sofa she is sitting on with the brick wall and the big windows that are looking out to an evergreen forest with a lake just beyond and the huge stone fireplace across from her with a roaring fire..... You see all that too, right? I am sure the bathroom has a fabulous soaker tub too.

Foodie Friday! A special birthday treat!

2011-08-26T07:07:00.000-05:00

Birthdays are really special to me. I always feel like people should be treated really well on their birthday with special surprises, gifts, and king/queen for a day attitudes. Some of us celebrate our birthdays for a week, while others choose not to celebrate much at all. Well, if you know me...I want your birthday to be special so we're gonna celebrate!

For my husbands birthday I decided to make him hamburgers. The cutest little cupcake hamburgers EVER. I can't even remember where I found out how to make them, but I decided I was going to try it and they turned out great. I'll show you some pictures and then I'll explain to you how I made them!

Here they are!

Aren't they fun? I will tell you that they are not hard to make. The only thing required here is some time. So this is what I did...step by step.

First I made a pan of brownies. Be sure to line the pan with foil or parchment paper so you can take the brownies out of the pan to cut them. I did not do this. Let me tell you it was a HUGE pain trying to cut them into circles after they cooled. That said, I made them the night before. Let them cool all the way and cut them into circles. I made the circles by pressing a small jelly jar into the brownie and it worked great!

Now grease a muffin tin REALLY well and bake some cupcakes from a white cake mix. Before you put them into the oven sprinkle some sesame seeds on the top. DO NOT use muffin liners for this. Put them right in the muffin tins that you have greased well. Again, I am telling you to grease them well, multiple times, because I did not. I lost some cupcakes because they stuck to the bottom of the muffin tin. Not so cool.

Okay while those are in the oven make some cream cheese frosting. We all have our own recipes for this so get yours out, look one up, or buy it already made. I made my recipe up that day and can't tell you exact measurements. Divide the frosting in half in two bowls. Die one bowl of frosting red and the other bowl yellow. You will be in shock when you see how much red food coloring it takes to die the frosting a true red. I was in a bit of a panic thinking that I was going to end up with pink "ketchup" but it turned out okay. I must have used at least 30 drops of red food coloring. Be prepared!

Now grab a cup or so of shredded coconut and die it green. Obviously, this is the lettuce!

Let your cupcakes cool all the way. I put mine in the fridge so they would firm up so I could cut them in half.

Now cut all of your cupcakes in half and spread one side with red frosting and one with yellow frosting. Stick the brownie "hamburger" on the bottom "bun" and press the died coconut onto the top bun where the frosting is. Put it all together and BAM! You've got cute little hamburger cupcakes.

WARNING: If you make these for a kids party, send the kids home with these or have them eat them at the end of the party. They are so sweet that the kids will be bouncing off the walls after eating them. Let their parents deal with the hyperactivity that will follow. If you don't like their parents, all the better since they may never speak to you again.

When my husband got home and I showed these to him, he had a huge smile on his face. I think the cupcakes, alone, were the best present ever. He kept asking me if I took pictures. Yes, honey, I have a blog! Of course I took pictures!

I hope you'll try these yourself!

Have a fabulous weekend!

-Stacy

A cute little Etsy find that I just had to post!

2011-08-25T20:39:00.000-05:00

I found this cute little necklace while I was looking at Etsy and I just had to share it. I think it would be the cutest little gift for a friend, a daughter, a mother...or perhaps all three since it costs just $12!

I LOVE starfish!

Now get shopping!

-Stacy

Cute for a cottage!

2011-08-25T08:52:00.000-05:00

I see these all over the place in the blogs that I follow and I really like them. They wouldn't look right in my urban home, but I can picture them in a cozy beach cottage or cabin! I'm curious what you think about canning jar lighting.

This one would be cute in the hallway of the cozy cottage by the ocean that I don't have...

I can picture this one over a big shabby dining table!

I would like to use two or three of these as pendant lights over a rustic island...

I'm not sure why I find these so charming, but I do. What do you think about them? Are you crafty, and maybe you could make them yourself? I might be tempted to try...if I wanted to level my house by way of explosion. I think I'll just keep dreaming of owning that beachy cottage and, in my dream, I will buy these lights off of Etsy.

-Stacy

A french song for today.

2011-08-24T09:27:00.000-05:00

Carla Bruni. One of my favorites. This song will make everything in life better it's so pretty. And to think she's married to the President of France....

Enjoy!

-Stacy

Autumn is in the air...

2011-08-24T09:04:00.000-05:00

After a really hot Minnesota summer, I'm looking forward to Fall. There have been a couple of nights that have had a chill in the air that is, unmistakably, telling me that Fall is coming. It's always bittersweet for me because it means Summer is over and Winter is coming...and I'm not looking forward to Winter. For now, though, I will live with my head in the clouds and just continue to look forward to Fall!

A drive up North to Duluth in the Fall is beautiful. The colors will pop right out at you if you time it just right. I love having a chilly picnic in the Fall with sandwiches and a glass of wine.

I look forward to mums and pumpkins on the front steps. Look at this beautiful porch! I wish I had a huge front porch and could do a display like this. I'm so jealous!

Take a look at these cute pumpkins too! I love them! Have you made pumpkins into flower pots before? I have, and it's easy. The easiest way to do it is to hollow out the pumpkin and stick in a little mum that is still in the pot. It makes a great hostess gift!

And what is Fall without having a group of good friends over for a big bowl of chili? I found this recipe and will have to try it in the next couple of weeks.There's no way I could use chicken legs so I will substitute chicken breast for that. Make some guacamole and get out the corn chips and that's all you need for a party! Well, a couple of beers would be good too!

It's going to be 82 degrees in Minneapolis today. I will get some weeding done, enjoy the sunshine, get a little tan and think of Fall.

-Stacy

Not with a guy in the house!

2011-08-23T11:09:00.000-05:00

I'd like to give a shout out to all of the single ladies out there. Why, you ask? Because you can still have things like this...

It's from Urban Outfitters, and it's quite fancy. If I had this in my room, half of the ruffles would be torn off in one night of tossing and turning.

You can have white rooms like this too. Never would you worry about coffee being spilled on it, or cereal slipping out of the bowl and making a big spot that makes you flip the cushion for the rest of the life of your couch. NOT that I'm saying this has happened to me...Mmmmm Hmmmm, it SO has!

Let us not forget about the single girl's kitchen! NEVER would you be harassed for your love of pink in a room like this if you were single!

So if you're bummed out about being single, go be a girl until you aren't! When you get married the girly house stuff will disappear and you will have to decorate more combined-gender-friendly! I just invented that term now. Pretty fancy, huh?

-Stacy

My beautiful new chandelier!

2011-08-23T08:00:00.002-05:00

Well, the boob light is gone. It had to be done, I couldn't stand looking at it for one more day!

Remember this? This 1980's style light with the lovely brass? It is no longer to be! Well, actually I saved it in case we move since I'm not leaving my chandelier behind!

So here's what I found! After a friend of mine saw our blog, she sent me an email telling me she had this wonderful chandelier that she was selling. And now...it's mine all mine!

Isn't it lovely? It's an 8 arm chandelier that is from (I'm thinking) the 1930's. I love, love, love it! I think it would be so cute with little shades on it too, but right now I will just enjoy it as is.

A huge thank you to my friend. Oh, and a small plug to the coffee shop she is part owner of...The Coffee Shop Northeast. Remember I featured them a while back? If you have yet to go for a visit, please do! You will not be disappointed. You will go for coffee and stay for lunch. This I can guarantee!

Oh how I love replacing out of style light fixtures!

Stacy

Let's hang some pictures!

2011-08-22T17:53:00.000-05:00

I have an abundance of pictures in my house...okay, okay...maybe and over-abundance! I love hanging pictures in groups because I find that it looks really cozy. As a matter of fact, I find it to be a huge compliment to me when people walk in my house and call it "cozy." Even if cozy means small, it doesn't matter to me. Sit down, relax, take a load off...I'm happy to have you over for a visit!

All of that said, the number one mistake that I see when I go into friend's homes, or homes that I've staged is their picture arrangement. Most of the time the pictures are WAY too high. I mean, no one that I know is 8 feet tall when they are sitting down! Lower your pictures, my friends! LOWER YOUR PICTURES! If you are sitting in a room, your pictures should be hung at eye level...not 3 inches down from the ceiling! A good rule of thumb is to hang your pictures 57" at the center. That means 57" from the floor to the center of the picture when it's hanging. THAT, my friends and followers, is the perfect height. In the living room (where you sit most of the time) I would go three to four inches lower than that.

I will warn you now...if you are hanging your pictures like you are Jolly the Green Giant right now, your pictures are going to feel really low to you when you bring them down a bit. I promise you will get used to it, and it will even allow you to enjoy your art more! After all, if you chose it, you want to enjoy it right?

Now onto the next picture hanging tip. Let's try hanging your pictures in groupings. A picture here and a picture there is very boring in my opinion. Please don't say goodbye to me just yet! I'm not judging you for not knowing how to hang pictures, and if you like them that way...by all means keep it that way! I'm just suggesting you try something a bit different!

Let me show you what I mean! Here are some groupings that I have in my house and I love them! Maybe you will too!

This one is a favorite. It's hanging in my kitchen. I have had these little prints for at least ten years. I put them away and take them out when I change things up.

Yes, this was 8:30 in the morning! I was up, I promise!

This is a very small wall. In all honesty, I'd probably do three pictures here if I had another one that I liked with these two.

Here is the red room. I love these two pictures with these two mirrors. I did this on a whim one day when I was bored and sick of a bare wall.

This grouping is above a section of my couch. It almost looks to small for the wall, but it is really quite perfect. Some people that I know would have hung just ONE of these pictures and it would've felt like something was missing! Not a good look.

This is above the big section of my couch. The picture is relatively big, and can you see how low it is? My couch is just 6 inches or so underneath the picture.

These are hanging in the "hallway" to my kitchen. They are higher because none of my guests will be sitting in this hallway anytime soon. I use the term hallway loosely. This house is too small for a hallway, really.

Here is my daughter's room. We have hung black and white prints in the corner. I love them en masse like this. They are perfect. I bet some of you are thinking, "WOW, that is too many pictures!" I invite you to come to my house and see how well this works!

These two are right outside my bathroom on a tiny wall. If I had one large picture that would have fit this wall I would have hung just one. I didn't have that so I hung two smaller ones and they work well here!

I'm sure you remember this wall from my house pictures. It's a wall of collections. A picture of our cat Sophie who we lost years ago, the card I got at my grandma's funeral, a few gifts, and a few that I got at antique stores. Each thing on this wall has a special meaning to me. I love it, and it feels cozy.

I hope this has helped you with ideas for picture hanging and encouraged you to try hanging your pictures a bit lower if you haven't already! I don't feel like these pictures of my pictures (get that?) do them justice. The lighting in my house is odd and I think it's time for a new camera!

Happy Monday!

Stacy

Our recent disappearance!

2011-08-20T11:21:00.000-05:00

We're sorry we haven't been on posting much in the past couple of weeks. Summer is winding down and both of us have been busy with chores, vacations, and naps. Alyssa left this morning for her annual family canoe trip for a week and I am working on urban home projects this weekend.

Please check back this week for some picture hanging ideas, the unveiling of my choice for the front door color (remember this post), and also a picture of the new light fixture we put up when we took down the boob light. I know I shouldn't call it that, but I really dislike that lighting style. I think I was especially disgusted by it because it was shiny BRASS!

I will have a few great posts this week so please check back often, remember to leave a comment or two, and have you "liked us" yet on Facebook? If not, please do! We'll see you soon...thanks so much for sticking with us this month even though we've been slow on our posts!

-Stacy and Alyssa

But back in a few days!!!

Etsy find of the day!

2011-08-20T11:04:00.000-05:00

This is for anyone who wants to give someone a little surprise. When I saw it, I actually thought it would be a wonderful way to propose to someone. Such a pretty little place to hide a great big diamond. If you're into diamonds. Any ring would work.

This beautiful origami lotus flower is made of paper and costs only $6.50. So the next time someone asks for your advice on how to propose...suggest this. I would buy six or seven of them and hide something fun in each one.

-Stacy

Summer is coming to an end, but not if you planted Zinnias!

2011-08-17T09:33:00.000-05:00

For the past ten years we have planted Zinnias at our house because of their wonderful pop of color. We line our walk up to the house with them and watch everyone walk by and enjoy them. I get lots of "What are these beautiful flowers?!" as people walk by. I see the neighbor kids sneaking a couple of them every now and then too. There are plenty, so I'm glad to share.

Here is how they look en masse...

Aren't they a great way to say hello and goodbye to visitors? I think so!

Zinnias are also a great cutting flower. I always combine them with greenery from my pots and they are an instant centerpiece....and free!

Aren't they pretty? If you have some little areas in your garden that need a color boost, try these sweet little flowers. The bang for your buck is enormous!

Hope you're enjoying the end of your summer!

-Stacy

Some days are just meant for lounging.

2011-08-16T19:26:00.000-05:00

I had to post this picture because we can all learn a thing or two from our animals. I caught my cats (minus one) and dog like this the other day and had to take a pic. Oh, the lives our animals lead...

Doesn't this just make you feel like taking a nice long nap?

-Stacy

Happy Belated Birthday to Stacy!

2011-08-16T11:01:00.000-05:00

So, last Wednesday was Stacy's 30th birthday ;) ! So exciting! Alas, I had no internet as I was touring Arkansas with my husband and daughter and was unable to post this birthday wish..

Although this birthday post comes a week late, this one is better late than never because I can now share with you that her fabulous, genius husband threw her a surprise party! It was totally amazing and she had no idea..... officially the best surprise birthday ever! The look of utter shock on her face was priceless.

Happy Birthday Fabulous Cousin of Mine!

The red door revamp!

2011-08-15T09:16:00.000-05:00

This is the story of a woman named JoAnna. She is a loyal follower of The Cozy Urban Home. Perhaps you've heard of it? JoAnna always comments with creative new ideas for things, witty comments, and stories of her own experiences. We like JoAnna!

Well, as all of us sometimes do, she needed a change. She wanted to paint her front door, but was wondering what color. As I know, this is a tough decision. Clearly, though, JoAnna is way better at making a quick decision than I am. She threw out the idea for a red door and I was hooked. Afterall, if my whole block hadn't gone red...that is what I would be doing too. JoAnna has the perfect house for a red front door. It is dark grey with black shutters. What color is more inviting than red? I don't think you can ever get sick of a red door. However, if you do...it's only paint! Go buy another quart and paint it a new color.

So here is how the story of a woman named JoAnna ends!

Posh Red by Valspar. Wonderful paint brand, I might add.

So let's take a look at the before pictures of JoAnna's home! Do you see how the door just blends in?

Here is another picture...you can hardly see the front door!

Now for the big change. This new door just says, "Come in! I baked oatmeal raisin cookies for you!" I am not making this up, people...JoAnna has two little kids and managed to finish painting her garage trim on Friday, paint her Posh Red door on Saturday, and make oatmeal raisin cookies on Sunday. I'd like half of her energy, please!

So let's take a look!

See how much more inviting this door is?

This picture shows the door open so you can really see the color. Look at JoAnna's son too! How cute is he?! We all know he had to be a super awesome helper while his mom was painting too. Actually, from what I hear, all painting happened while the kids were napping.

Way to go JoAnna! You gave your home a nifty little facelift in one day. I love the color with your house, and I'm hoping tons of good fortune and good luck flows into your home every single time your new Posh Red door opens.

Apparently there are more makeovers coming to this home! Hopefully, JoAnna and her husband will be kind enough to let us post them again.

-Stacy

Do you do Dahlias?

2011-08-13T09:18:00.000-05:00

When my husband and I moved into our house almost thirteen years ago we planted Dahlia bulbs a few times and loved them. For some reason I forgot about them until I was at my neighbors for a visit yesterday. She told me she had something to show me and I nearly fell over when I saw how beautiful her Dahlia bloom was. This is truly a dinner plate Dahlia! She measured it at just under a foot across! I wanted to show you how beautiful it is too...and it's my favorite color!

Isn't it beautiful? I think DeeAnn inspired me to plant a few Dahlia bulbs next Spring. I'm so jealous that she gets to look at this everyday! Soon I will do a tour of her yard. She has the most beautiful and lush urban yard I have ever seen.

-Stacy

A song for the weekend.

2011-08-12T15:22:00.000-05:00

If this song doesn't make you tap your foot, I don't know what will. I've liked it for a while and thought I'd share it just in case you haven't heard it. For my friends who are not hip to the young people lingo, "kicks" are shoes. Please don't ask me how I know this.

Enjoy! Oh, and get dance a little too!

-Stacy

A Laundry Room to Love.

2011-08-12T15:15:00.000-05:00

Yesterday a friend was asking me for advice about what color to paint her laundry room. I must admit, I am jealous of anyone who has an actual laundry room that can be painted and done up! My "laundry room" is in the basement of my 1941 1.5 story home. The walls are made of block and I have to plug a light in at the ceiling. I have (countless times) unplugged that light and taken off running up the dark stairs to safety late in the night. Yes, I am scared of the dark. I'm pretty sure someone has been lurking in our basement for 13 years waiting to kill me. Can you picture this laundry room I speak of?

I found a few laundry rooms on Pinterest that I have fallen in love with. Honestly, these look like rooms from a Martha Stewart set. Real people do not live like this do they? Well, I guess they do!

Look at this one by Hampton Design...I'm pretty sure half of my upper floor would fit in here. Not to mention that there is more storage in this room than in my WHOLE house!

This next one by Holly Mathis Interiors is probably my favorite. I love the pop of color (from fabric!) and it would fit in very well with my style of home. It feels very cozy and urban to me!

This one from The Painted Home (another great blog you should be following!) is so inviting I would gladly entertain in it! You know, invite the girls over for wine and laundry! Why not?!

The last one I found doesn't have a source. Sorry for that. However, the picture itself will give you great ideas. This laundry room feels like a trip to the beach. It's clean and fresh. Doesn't that seem like the perfect place to do laundry?

If you are lucky enough to have a laundry room, but it's a room that collects junk and has become a place you dread going, why don't you consider making a few small changes? Paint the room, add some functional laundry baskets, a couple of lined baskets for supplies, a fresh rug and some great art! I bet for under $100 you could make it into a room that you don't mind being in!

If you make some good changes, send us some before and after pics and we will gladly feature them on the blog! What can you do to refresh your space?

-Stacy

Cozy Urban Make-up favorites...

2011-08-11T15:15:00.000-05:00

I've found some great new products this summer that will probably be my new favorites for a while. These are not new products, just new to me. I think they probably work well for most skin too! I'm always looking for good make-up so if you have something you use that you love, please share!

My first is by Origins. I found it at Macy's. I have never used foundation in my life! I just turned forty and am searching for something lighter that will even out my skin tone. I didn't want a heavy foundation, but the tinted moisturizer wasn't doing it for me anymore. At $21, this is a super bargain! I got mine in Bisque and it covers fabulously. It's oil free but in no way drying.

Next is my blush. I have always heard about how great NARS blush is in Orgasm. Frankly, the name of the color was always a bit of a turn off to me. I decided to give it a try and am in love with it! It is the perfect peachy-pink color with a very small amount of shimmer in it. I think this would probably be great on everyone. It barely looks like you're wearing blush...very natural!

My third find is something I've actually used for years. I ran out about 6 months ago and bought a cheap version at Target and was hugely regretful. I went back to my old Bobbi Brown standby. If you have brows like mine, you probably need a brow shaper too. I use mine religiously!

Since we're onto eyes, I will now bring to you my absolute favorite color of eyeliner! It is called Crash by Urban Decay. I'm in love with the color. My eyes are pretty much green these days and it really is a great accent to the neutral shadow I wear. It is pricey at $18, but well worth it!

I've saved the best for last! I have found my new favorite summer perfume! It is a wonderful mix of green and floral without being too heavy or sweet. It is called Hampton Sun Privet Bloom and it is to die for. A light floral that I always get compliments on.

I really believe that when we find things we love, we have to pass them along. It would cost us a fortune to buy all of the things that people claim work! I love every single one of these products and will continue to use them. Really...if you have some favorites, please share!

-Stacy

Charming homes of South Carolina

2011-08-10T20:58:00.000-05:00

We recently took a trip to South Carolina and while driving around I decided I had to take some pictures of some of the wonderful homes there. Some big, some not-so-big. All of them charming in their own way!

I noticed this one because of the color they painted the ceiling in their porch. I love the style of this house, but the yard could have been cleaned up and it would have been ten times more charming!

Here is a closer view of the ceiling. Their door was also painted a coral color. It was such a pretty combination! There was a car further up in the driveway and I didn't want to look like a stalker so I apologize for the photo quality.

This house was really cute. I love the combination of brick with black shutters and a black front door. It's a small house, but it was so well maintained. I would love to see some bright flowers in huge pots on the front steps.

This seems to be the popular style in South Carolina. Many, many houses resembled this. The two story colonial. You really can't go wrong with a house like this. Again, bright flowers would be very charming here!

And another two story colonial. This house was really beautiful. They had a wonderful vine growing around the front door that I loved.

I loved this house! It is like a doll house. The dormer is so cute and I'd be sitting out in the porch all of the time. I really wonder if people just don't plant flowers in South Carolina like we do though. I would love to see some red, yellow and white blooms planted in big terra cotta pots in front of this house. Wouldn't this house look cute with a yellow front door?!

This house was absolutely darling! I am in NO WAY a fan of light blue, but this house was a pale blue and for some reason it worked. The setting was beautiful and I wished I could've gone up and asked to take more pictures. I am not that brave. Being there was a car in the driveway, I snapped a quick picture and we went on our way!

I could move right into this next house. The yellow is so welcoming and the style of the home is exactly my taste. I can only imagine the charm on the inside!

For some reason, I really like this house too. I would love to brighten up the front door with a fabulous red. They didn't have many red doors in this neighborhood so it wouldn't be overkill at all. They did a nice job with they window boxes too. However, see those pots out in front? How great would a topiary look in each one?

I wonder how people would feel about my critiquing everything about their homes? I think a pop of color would do us all a little good!

Hope you enjoyed the tour!

-Stacy

Today's Etsy!

2011-08-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

I cannot tell a lie! This is a very unusual Etsy find. I'm not sure what to say about it other than at a cost of almost $3000 (yes three-thousand-buckaroos) you and I will probably not be partaking in this very odd find of mine. I'll let you decide what you think of it...

That said, let me introduce you to the Mood Rocking Bed. I find it quite odd. Plus I often sit in rocking chairs and feel like I'm going to fall backwards so I really wonder how much sleep I would get in this!

Do not say that I didn't warn you! The seller says it is okay for indoor or outdoor use. Hmmm, okay, yes in the city my yard isn't even big enough for this! I find it very odd. Apparently you can allow it to rock, or keep it in place with rubber stops. I just don't know what to say. I love how it looks but I wonder if I would get a wink of sleep in this???

Sweet Dreams....

Stacy

Chicago, chicago! Have you been?

2011-08-04T08:00:00.001-05:00

I would move to Chicago in a New York minute! I'd move to New York in a New York minute too, but Chicago seems more attainable! My husband and I go every year to visit the Windy City. We love it there. This year we've decided to plan a vacation after Thanksgiving so we can see the holiday lights. We can't wait!

We always stay at The James Hotel. It is a wonderful, super modern hotel that is located close to everything and is right across the street from Trader Joe's...which means we bring wine, crackers, and cheese into our room and listen to the cars go by while dimming the lights and listening to music on our iPod.

Here are some pictures of the hotel...

The lobby...

The entrance, and bar to the left...

The elevator with the huge wall mural (which I love)...

The room with a view of the city...

The super modern, very clean bathrooms...

The James is a great place to stay if you visit. I especially love it because my house is not at all modern as you can see here, so it's fun to stay someplace so different.

Since we stay at The James, we are able to walk everyplace! How beautiful is this?

We walked all the way to the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and went to the observation floor to see the great views the last time we went.

What an amazing city! Beautiful Lake Michigan in the distance...

There really isn't a bad view...

You have to go in the skybox if you are there too. Once you get past the weird feeling of stepping out onto it, it's nothing. People were laying on the floor of it because they were too scared to stand up. I was, of course, laughing at that...

I took a picture when I was standing in the skybox of the people in the one next to us.

Be sure to go to The Bean too!

Maybe take in a Bluegrass concert in the park!

And then get on the plane and fly home after a wonderful vacation!

If you want to know some great places to eat and shop in Chicago, let me know! I'd be happy to share all of my secrets of the city with you!

When we get back from our holiday vacation to Chicago, I will share winter pics with you.

Safe travels,

Stacy

Well hello, time management! It's nice to finally meet you!

2011-08-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I have huge time anxieties. I feel like I never have enough time to get everything done and then I end up doing things at the very last minute. That makes for a very stressful life. I adopted a method called The Pomodoro Technique a few years ago without even knowing it had a special name. I would set my timer for 30 minutes and tackle one specific project for that amount of time. Most of the time I was shocked at what I could get done. I ran into the website for this technique a while back and decided to share it with you. It is a very simple time management method. I'm only suggesting that you get some ideas from this technique. Use what works for you and don't use what doesn't. I will tell you that if you use this technique, you will get things done. It's a great tool to use to stay focused on a project and not do too much multi-tasking. Do you know that multi-tasking is proving not to be such a great thing? While it does allow you to boast about all of the things you're working on, it seldom allows you to boast about what you have gotten DONE!

Do you wonder what a Pomodoro is? It means "Tomato" in Italian. You've seen these cute timers, right?

If you don't have one of these...you have no excuse. All you need is a timer! So go to The Pomodoro Technique website and start using your time wisely. You'll be glad you did!

-Stacy

Tunes for Tuesday...

2011-08-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

I decided to post a song that will make you want to get something done. Maybe that something is just dancing, but this Cozy Urban Home girl likes to listen to the song while cleaning and getting housework done! Try not to dance a little while you listen to it, and if you haven't listened to Ellie Goulding...you should!

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.

-Stacy

Dress up your animal day!

2011-08-01T15:46:00.000-05:00

Trouble. He looks so happy as a chicken!

Sneak Peak...The front of my house is gonna be a changin'!

2011-08-01T12:57:00.000-05:00

I'm leaving on vacation tomorrow, but we've been working to get some things done around the house. The front of the house to be exact! I finally chose a color to paint the front door. NO, I'm not telling you what color! I chose a color for the shutters too and we've gotten a new awning. Everything about the front will be changing after we get back. That, my friends, is when we will complete our makeover on the front of the house!

We will say goodbye to this look...

Mostly because my husband has been doing a lot of this...

While our cat is doing a lot of this...

What color door do you think I will choose? This one...

Or this one...

By the way, the above person is not me! I found the picture and the name of the yellow color while searching for door colors online.

So what color do you think I chose? I'm not giving you any hints. However, I bet I know what color most of you will choose....so please comment and let me know. I can't wait to hear what all of you think. Also, tell me what color your front door is and if you were nervous about painting it or not.

Stacy

Pinterest - DIY....Paperback Book Wreath!

2011-07-30T21:49:00.000-05:00

This is such a great idea! I would dress it up with some red and use it on the inside of my front door at Christmas time! Cute, cheap, and easy!

I found it on Pinterest, but it originally came from here. Check it out...the blog it came from is great. She has lots of good ideas on how to get designer looks on the cheap!

Stacy

Today's Etsy!

2011-07-30T09:36:00.000-05:00

Look at these fantastic die cutouts that I found! Great for a party and cheap! Here are my two favorites...

Eiffel Tower cutouts for a French themed party...

These mommy-to-be silhouettes are the sweetest little things I have ever seen. Whose having a baby? I'll throw the shower!!!

What a great way to dress up a party on the cheap!

Stacy

Foodie Friday!

2011-07-29T12:45:00.000-05:00

I love our urban little city yard! It's small, no doubt, but that means it's easy to manage. Every summer we look forward to our cherry tree and our blueberry bushes! We get a good crop and are able to make a ton of stuff. Jam, sauce, and pie filling. This year was no exception!

Our cherry tree went nuts on us!

See what I mean?

This was just one of about 6 bowls that we picked. We would head out in the morning to do our picking. This lasted about a week. We always save some for the birds and the butterflies too.

Along with picking means pitting. Jason did this...you can tell by the hairy arms. He literally sat in the living room on a camping chair and did this at the table while watching The Tour de France. For hours. Many hours. I'd say at least six!

Then he would cook them up over the stove and make jam. We usually follow the recipe on the Ball pectin box. We like that one better than the Sure Jell. Or maybe it's just a habit. We have used that one and continue to use it year after year.

Then we get the water going for the jars.

I love seeing all of these jars. The jam in the back and in the front...pie filling!

Beautiful!

Then the cherry sauce for ice cream. Jason made honey simple syrup and put the cherries in there. It is so good...I can't even begin to tell you!

We probably made enough pie filling for at least 4 pies. It'll be so nice to pull it out in the colder months and remember picking cherries on our 90 degree days!

We made about 4 batches of jam so we will have plenty for gifts. It's amazing!

At Christmas we'll bake homemade bread and give a loaf of that and some cherry jam to friends. It's such an easy thing to do and it all came from our tiny yard with the big cherry tree!

Have you canned before? If not, I really suggest trying it. It is very easy to do and if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them or help you in any way I can!

Happy Summer!

Stacy

{Update} : The 36" Planter.

2011-07-29T08:00:00.004-05:00

Remember this? The 36" planter we did back on May 29th. Fast forward 2 months...

Amazing how full & lush it has become and the grasses play so nice in the wind.... The daisies could use a little oompf to get them flowering again... something to be learned for next year!

Alyssa

New Dress.. I made!

2011-07-28T12:34:00.000-05:00

I like to sew.. Ok I love to sew and don't get enough of it...

So, I signed up for a dress class the other day at Sewtropolis and look what I made! Patty at The Snug Bug was the instructor..

Me in my new dress..

Avery in my new dress.

Who looks better? :)

Alyssa

A little of this and a little of that...

2011-07-28T08:00:00.010-05:00

Remember to snip some of your planted and potted flowers from your yard and put them in a vase. It doesn't have to be anything big. My flowers are so colorful and beautiful right now that I decided to cut some and put them in a new vase that I got.

See how simple and cute they are?

They were too cute to keep so I brought them to Briana at the pet food boutique, Bone Adventure, where we get all of our cat and dog food. She remembers what we need for our zoo...I don't know what I would do without her!

Here are three out of the four that she keeps happy...

Who can you bring a little flower arrangement to? If you can't share the beautiful things you have growing in your yard, what fun is it?! Just snip a little of this, and a little of that and throw it in a jelly jar that you have around...it will make someone very happy!

-Stacy

I Got Lucky!

2011-07-28T08:00:00.007-05:00

Clearly you have filthy minds! That's not what I was talking about. I MEAN I won something! I cannot tell you how excited I am! Remember when I featured the blog 33 Shades of Green here? Well, if you don't that must mean that you didn't see it...and you need to. Alissa's blog is fabulous. I have gotten wonderful ideas from her and I read her blog every single day! Sometimes blogs that have been around for a while get offers to do giveaways! How exciting is that? Well, 33 Shades of Green had a giveaway to 8 Petals the other day and I entered. I'm not, generally, a super lucky person. I usually don't even enter but I really loved this jewelry! Well, I won! How exciting is that?! I get to choose a pair of earrings and a necklace that I want and I can't wait. I will show you some of what they have....what would you choose?

I wasn't familiar with 8 Petals until it was featured on 33 Shades of Green. They have some beautiful things that I will be buying people for Christmas. It is all hand-crafted fused glass jewelry and it is lovely! The colors are gorgeous!

Look at the colors in these earrings! Great for summer...I picture them with a lime green cardigan and a white tank top and jeans. LOVE!

If only I could wear my shirt tucked in...I would wear this belt and buckle! I think this is gorgeous and fun!

This one is really cool....for those of you who are cool. Wear this belt and some fun cowboy boots.

I love this orangish coral color with turquoise. Such a great color combo!

I am in love with lime green so these are in the running for what I will get.

This is really cool because it's sort of tortoise shell looking and fun.

They sell hairpins too! Everything is a great price...especially considering that all of these things are individually handmade. This hairpin is only $5 and I would like ten of them.

So check them out and tell me what you would choose! I want one of everything so it's going to be so hard to decide. I'm so thankful that I won. Alyssa and I hope that sometime soon we will be able to do giveaways too...so stay tuned!

I hope today is your lucky day too!

-Stacy

Pinterest - DIY. Really Cute Lighting!

2011-07-27T09:39:00.000-05:00

Adorable. I can see this done in so many patterns. For the How-to click here then click the photo on the Halloween crafts. It is the second in the series. So easy. So cute. So smart. Love that.

Alyssa

Urban Style

2011-07-26T08:00:00.002-05:00

SUNGLASSES! Do you have a million pairs? I do. Okay, maybe not a million but I just counted twelve pairs. If I could find my RayBan Wayfarers, from about 20 years ago that are back in style, it would be 13. Those things are in a box somewhere...I know it! Go count your glasses right now...I need to know how many pairs you have!

I think sunglasses are those things we can never have enough of, hence Stunner of the Month. For $9 a month (including shipping) you will get a fun new pair of glasses every month until you cancel. No obligation, no hidden fees, no nothing that will drive you nuts! You just wait for them to arrive in your mailbox! I think these would be such a fun gift for a teenager, or just a fun friend. They are styles that go well on most faces. Remember...you don't have to commit to a year or anything! You could just give a 3 month gift! Fun! Did I say fun enough???

See? These are cute and FUN....

And these are cute and fun...

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this idea! Remember that if you get them and they are not your style you can stick them in a bag and give them as a gift to someone who would!

Stacy

Today's Etsy!

2011-07-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

I'm a big fan of picking up holiday gifts WAY ahead of time. In order to do this, you see, I must find things that are not "out of style" before the holiday rolls around. So today I show you these! I love them. Not only would I love for someone to get them for me as a gift (hint, hint, HINT) but I would also love to get a handwritten letter on one. I think they are beautiful...especially these days with all of the texting, emailing, and facebooking we do. I'm not saying I'm not guilty of these rather impersonal ways of communicating because I am. In the worst way. I am! However, on occasion, I do take the time to write a note to someone and put it in the mail. You should try it too. Do it once a month and you'll be surprised at how special you'll make someone feel!

There are lots of colors to choose from too! Now my only question is this...what if your name is not Jennifer M. Jackson? Kidding, kidding!

-Stacy

Oh, How my Garden Grows....

2011-07-26T07:47:00.000-05:00

The 5 foot tall Dahlia... (bloomed on Sunday)

This was 5x more full last year.. a bummer spring we had..

Hopefully it will be amazing again next year!

We did not plant monster sunflowers this year, due to the terrible spring... but this lone guy popped up anyhow.... we are trying to get him to stand tall and proud now. He was beaten down after a storm.

Compost tomato's. Yup. Crazy!

Now to wait and see what kind of tomato it is!

Also... because we used compost in the front pot, we have a tomato there as well. I will share that later.

Fallen Morning Glory.... we lost the vine trellis and our grape trellis in the same storm the sunflower was flattened... and have yet to get it up.. so these guys just grown all over...

How does your garden grow?

Alyssa

Okay, I'm REALLY moving this time!

2011-07-25T20:47:00.000-05:00

Okay I'm not really moving, but I want to. I really want to live in this house (that does not exist) that I came across on some architecture website. I want someone to build this house and let me sit in it and listen to music and read books for the rest of my life. I can dream big. Don't even tell me I can't! I mean, seriously, it could happen right? Just lie and tell me it could. Please.

I wouldn't be able to go to work because my boat would have a hole in it, the water was rising, and a million other great excuses. I know it would be expensive, but you wouldn't need to buy window treatments. See? Lots and lots would be saved on that. Since the outside is so modern I'd do the inside more cozy. I'd go swimming every. single. day.

Come for a visit,

Stacy

Eco-Monday. Tiny Houses, Tiny Imapct on the Environment.

2011-07-25T10:52:00.001-05:00

Cozy is a word typically used to make a space sound comfortable, warm and inviting. This is nice, but it may also mean that the space being described is small. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, small spaces are all apart of our lives at one point or another. Well, I bet you are wondering why I am talking so much about small spaces, although the title I am sure gave you a hint. Tiny Houses. Last night I was reading an article in the New Yorker about tiny houses. They featured Jay Shafer of Tumbleweed Tiny House Company.

He decided to downsize in 1997 to a tiny house he called Tumbleweed that was a mere 89 square feet. He grew up much like most of us in a 4,000 sq. ft. house with his family. Living large with a mortgage, stuff and busyness all around home life. Think about how much time you spend moving the stuff around your house, cleaning and getting rid of the stuff in your house. Now, I am a designer and have to say, I like my stuff, but it would be interesting to live with less, after all most of world lives with a lot less than we do here in the US. Living in one of these tiny houses comes with many perks, like no mortgage and small utility bills and stress/stuff free living. Can you imagine all the extra free time you would have for walking around the lake, going to concerts, hanging out with friends and basically experiencing life. Oh and the best part... these houses are on wheels so away you go... your house mobile. Amazing.

Jay in front of his tiny house Tumbleweed.

One of Jay's happy customers. Collin & Joanna.

Click through to this blog post and watch the video of how they downsized.

Amazing, intriguing and eco-friendly. I am not sure I could do it...my husband is very intrigued..so who knows what may happen! :)

Have a great day!

Alyssa

Our Hearts go out to the people affected by the bombing in Norway

2011-07-22T10:36:00.001-05:00

Photo: CNN

I just learned of a huge explosion at a government building in Oslo, Norway. Our hearts go out to the victims and families of that explosion. We have a fair number of followers and viewers from Norway.. Mostly in part to my meeting Veronika of Loppedilla at a bar in Copenhagen back in March and then she discovering our blog.....

Typically, I wouldn't use this site for news.. but this explosion came 1 day after a new follower joined us from Norway. I do hope for our followers safety... and with any luck there will be only the single death that has already been reported.

Alyssa

Today's Etsy!

2011-07-22T10:06:00.000-05:00

This one is for our women blog readers. Sometimes I think we forget to...

Hang this someplace where you will remember. Come on, we've all been to yoga...in through your nose, out through your mouth, 3 times. Now don't you feel better?

It's Friday, Just Breathe.

Stacy

Foodie Friday!

2011-07-22T09:21:00.000-05:00

Buffalo Pulled Chicken Sandwiches! These are really easy...great for summer or winter and it's a throw it in the crock pot and leave it sort of deal. When I say easy, I mean easy!

So here's what you need.

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 packet dry ranch dip mix

1 1/2 - 2 cups hot sauce, we like Frank's

Crockpot!

Once you have these things this is what you will do...

And then this....

It will look like this...

Set your crockpot on low for 5 or 6 hours, or high for 3 or 4.

It will look like this when it's ready to be shredded...

Now get shredding. Two forks works great and takes about 5 minutes.

It will look like this when it's all shredded...

VOILA! Done! How easy was that? Now eat! I serve it with chips and a salad. Throw a little more hot sauce on it to taste and sometimes I put some blue cheese on my sandwich too.

There will be leftovers so you'll have something for lunch for a couple of days.

Enjoy!

Stacy

A new book...possibly today's love of my life

2011-07-21T11:19:00.000-05:00

I wanted to share a book with you that I saw at a local gift store a few weeks ago. When I saw it, I quickly noted the name and author in my phone so I could go home and order it here for about ten bucks less! Plus, I needed to buy another book so I got free shipping.

The cover of this book, alone, spoke to me. I am not a minimalist in my house. I love stuff on my walls. I don't like stuff laying all over tables, but my walls are packed. I have pictures stuffed in drawers and closets just waiting to find a home. This book came yesterday and it is awesome. Don't get me wrong, they do have some walls ideas for the minimalist too. It just so happens that the pictures all over the walls on the cover made my heart flutter.

Think about getting this book...it's eye candy!

Stacy

Urban Style...inspired by Jackie.

2011-07-20T08:41:00.000-05:00

Today's inspiration comes from this woman...

Every picture that I see of Jackie could have been taken today. Her style was timeless, beautiful, elegant, and classic. We could wear any of her outfits today. Now that, my friends, is perfect style!

So we'll begin with this dress. It's from Ann Taylor and is $148 plus another 30% off right now. The brings it down to about a hundred dollars. I'd say that's darn good considering it's a dress you could wear forever.

For shoes we're going to go with a shorter wedge heel with an open toe. I found these on Amazon for $89. I love adding just a little bit of leopard to the outfit so it's not too overdone. Leopard print is a timeless classic too...don't be afraid to wear it!

We're going to keep the earrings really simple and just go with a freshwater pearl earring from Overstock. They run about $34. Again, pearls are CLASSIC. Are you sensing a theme here?

Last, let's not forget these. They're pretty much Jackie's signature style. These just happen to be from RayBan and run about $140. Again, you will where them forever so don't be afraid to spend this on them.

Now go and buy these things, or find some good reproductions of them and get your Jackie on!

Stacy

Today's Etsy!

2011-07-20T07:56:00.000-05:00

Today I have found more wall art! I love this family rules of the house in the form of a subway sign. You could probably make one yourself, but why not buy this for $49? It's cute!

My personal favorite? Be happy!

So for Wednesday...be happy!

Stacy

Remodel Monday.... Bathroom Style!

2011-07-18T13:01:00.000-05:00

So, I have this friend Eric. We'll call him Eric with the red car (even though he is driving a silver car right at the moment). He lives in a rental unit in a house in St. Paul. Very cool space. A masculine Pottery Barn kind of feel. My cats love it there because he has vaulted ceilings and ledges to boot. A climbing they tend to go when they stay with him for any period of time. Despite his cools space he has this ugly bathroom. Ugly may actually be an understatement for this bathroom but my mother always said if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all. In terms of this bathroom though, I think those words of advice should and can be disregarded. Well.. onto this wonder! Enjoy... (oh, ps... the story is that he worked out with the landlord that they would pay for materials if he would do the labor. I think he even got to have a few months rent free during construction.)

Egads!

To lovely.

Hope you enjoyed this first remodel! If you have one to share please send it on over.

Alyssa

Celebration...wedding style!

2011-07-14T10:14:00.000-05:00

I'm getting married! Wait, I am married. I'm going to get married again then. I'm going to make my husband ask me to marry him and have a second wedding. I mean, seriously, I have better taste now than I did the first time. It's gonna happen. Watch!

So since I'm having a second wedding, here is what it will look like. Don't even act like it's not going to happen or you aren't getting an invitation. I'm serious.

So here's where the dinner will be held. I have no idea where I found this picture, but let's pretend it's in the French countryside. Yes, I'll pay to fly you all in. Stop freaking out about getting to my wedding!

I'm going to have these mason jar candles all over the place. You see, it will be darker than the above picture at my wedding dinner. We'll need this lighting for ambiance! It'll make all of us look young and beautiful.

I will have these all over the table. I like flat stuff. No knocking it over and ruining the par-tay!

I will have these for place cards. You know I like birds! Instead of having your name on them they will say, "Sit where you want! I don't need to tell you what to do!" Secretly, I will hope you sit by people you don't know, and those people will become people that you are friends with.

I am going to have the chef make blue cheese burgers because I love them. It is MY wedding! We will eat these burgers on fresh buns from the boulangerie up the French path a couple kilometers.

We'll eat lots and lots of beautiful fruit.

Then we'll eat lots and lots of red velvet cupcakes. If you want to you can have more than one. I won't tell anyone. I just want you to be fat and happy!

Before you leave I will need you to step into the photo booth and pose with these. I need some laughs for after this shindig is over because I'll be depressed! I'll send you the pictures of yourself too. I'm a good sharer.

The above activity will be much more fun because I'll have you drinking lots of gin and tonics. You'll be thirsty after the blue cheese burgers.

After all this fun, you will all go home with full bellies and talk about how fabulous my wedding was. While you are at home, Jason and I will be here. It's our new house!

I'm not sure this second wedding thing is gonna work. Maybe I just need to plan a backyard party.

Hope you enjoyed my wedding!

Stacy

Today's Etsy!

2011-07-13T11:17:00.000-05:00

This is what we all wish, I know...

Hang this where you can see it for inspiration. We all need a little motivation to get things done in our life. I think this sweet little print is the perfect thing to glance at during the daily grind. It's $20 for an 8x10 and you can go get a half off frame at Michael's for it.

Have a blessed Wednesday!

Stacy

Pinterst Post... Fun, Colorful, Crafty Reuses of Furniture!

2011-07-13T09:49:00.000-05:00

This brings new meaning to relaxing in the tub. This piece is a want for me!

Alas.. I cannot give credit to this as I cannot find where it is! So bummed.

Hello Color!Love this reinvention of furniture. Fun vibrant and ready to party. The Designer is Zoe Murphy from Marget, (in England) . She participated in the Mid Century Modern Show At Dulwich College in London. Read more here. A bit behind this times.. this show was over a year ago.

Love this.. my three new/old favorite colors.

The Japanese firm Playmountain created this fun modular piece. You can see the modular part a little better if you click on the photo to see it bigger. Notice the multiple legs on the side. Read more here.

Enjoy!

Alyssa

Wouldn't this be nice?

2011-07-11T17:14:00.000-05:00

While doing a search of architecture a while back, I found this home in Australia. I was thinking that we could all put our money together so that I can live in it. Are you in? Why not? I will let you visit on occasion!

See what I mean? I would need a large slush fund if I lived here too because there is NO WAY I would leave to go to work everyday. Who can afford this stuff? I'd love to meet them... maybe they'll let me clean their house! I'm pretty sure that's the only way I'm getting into a place like this. Darn.

Wanna see more? Look here. When you get done looking, feel free to send me your share of the mortgage. I promise to keep the place nice and tidy! Wink, wink.

Stacy

A house I love

2011-07-11T08:32:00.000-05:00

I look forward to the house tours on Apartment Therapy every day. I love house tours and being able to get a glimpse into people's homes. I always know that if they are on Apartment Therapy, their house is a labor of love. They have poured their hearts and souls into making it fit their personality, sense of style, and design preferences. I can't say I like every home that I "tour" on the site, but I have a lot of respect for the people who have been selected to showcase their homes there. It would be a HUGE deal to have your house featured on Apartment Therapy. I will probably never be so lucky.

Last week I came across a home that I would move into in two seconds flat! I fell in love with it the first time I saw it and have gone back to get design ideas and drool over it about 5 times in a week. These people worked so hard to make their house a home and I want you to see it too!

There's my little tease for you. Now go here and take a look for yourself. I might like it more than you do, but I guarantee you that you will get an idea or two. This couple mixed so many different styles and made it look so effortless that I am jealous!

Happy house touring!

Stacy

Celebrations...creative cakes!

2011-07-11T08:00:00.001-05:00

I love making fancy cakes for any occasion. I've gotten out of it the past few years because I couldn't come up with anything creative so I went on a search, and here is what I found!

I would imagine that this cake would be considered a cake for kids. I, personally, would make this cake for anyone! It has all of my favorite candy, plus cake rolled into one! Could it get any better?

Oh how I love red velvet cake! I think this recipe is so great for a backyard barbecue with friends, or a picnic with the kids. Keep in mind that you could do this with ANY cake! Even a mix cake...

This cake looks so good and I love that you can make it in little ramekins. Remember, you can make it in a bigger pan so don't fret if you don't have a set of ramekins. I love the combination of raspberry and lemon and I think these would be great for summer!

Have you tried making cake balls yet? They are so easy! Look at this cute idea! Fun if you have kids or if you're just a big kid at heart. Be creative! I also like making cake balls and packaging them up in a little box and giving them to friends or neighbors just for fun. I love baking and it's nice to share so I don't do all of the eating...

I say if all else fails, make a cake or cupcakes from a mix, die the frosting a bright color and call it a day. Otherwise just use lots of colorful sprinkles like this and you're good to go!

Any effort you make to make a holiday special goes a long way. I don't think people in our generation do special things like this enough anymore. It's so easy to go out and buy something, but making it is more fun...and it means more to people too. It tells them they are worth your time.

Speaking of worth your time, my 30th (plus ten years) is coming up next month. I will gladly take any of the above cakes for that special, yet depressing, occasion. Feel free to get started on it soon! I promise I'll share.

Stacy

For the love of Bobs...

2011-07-09T10:28:00.000-05:00

I'm not talking about a bunch of men named Bob here...I'm talking about the timeless and classic haircut. Do you love it as much as I do? I've pretty much had a bob all of my life. I know that when you all come to my funeral I will be laying in a cheap casket with a really great bob. Please make this come true.

Here are some of my favorites.

How could you not love this! I even love the bangs, but I AM a bang person.

I would happily sport this bob as long as I can have the body to go with it.

Even Jen got her hair cut into a bob again...

It's a haircut for urban or suburban. If you have no idea what to do with your hair, get a bob! You will never regret it. How often do you look at pictures of people from 20 years ago with a classic bob and think their hair looks outdated? Never. It's a haircut that spans across many generations.

I've been growing out my hair to give to Locks of Love and am well past the ten inches I need to get it cut. For some reason I can't part with my long hair just yet. Maybe I'm holding onto my youth? Wait, I never had long hair in my youth. My hair is longer than it's ever been. Soon enough, though, it will be a bob.

Stacy

Foodie Friday...yes, again!

2011-07-08T09:19:00.001-05:00

I wanted to share a quick drink with you, before the summer is over, so today you are getting two recipes for the price of one. No that you pay to read this blog, but you know what I'm saying.

Last Fall I discovered this at Ikea. I knew I had to do something with it since pear flavored anything is my favorite! So I decided to make it as easy as possible. Hence, this is hardly a recipe, but more just something that you need to try at home when you're sitting outside in the heat.

I'm realizing it's hard to get a picture of a glass bottle. Sorry about that. I hope you didn't notice that my bottle of Absolut Pear is almost empty either. It's really not. That's just a weird reflection too. Umm, yes, let's just go with that explanation and leave it alone okay?

So all you do is mix a shot (or slightly more) of the Absolut Pear and the sparkling pear drink from Ikea. I won't even type the name of it because you know you can't pronounce it any better than I can! This beverage is like heaven in a glass. It's refreshing and light and I love it. If you don't like pear, you won't like this. It is slightly perfumey tasting. I love that. Also, if you don't have access to an Ikea, you can use any sparkling pear drink from the grocery store. I just happen to like this because it is less sweet.

Happy drinking!

Stacy

Foodie Friday

2011-07-08T09:03:00.000-05:00

Our first Foodie Friday is going to be a recipe that I originally found here. It's exactly the recipe that I use, but I use basil instead of oregano. Either one would work.

Baked Parmesan Tomatoes

4 tomatoes, halved horizontally
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano, or basil
Salt and pepper, to taste
4 teaspoons olive oil

Preheat oven to 450 F. Place tomatoes cut-side up on a baking sheet. Top with parmesan, oregano, and salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and bake until tomatoes are tender. I bake them for 15-20 until the cheese is brown and bubbly.

These are great served with a steak or chicken breast and about as easy as you can get. Tomatoes will be in season soon so you will have a new recipe to use for them!

For my next Foodie Friday I will have pictures of my own for a simple recipe you can make in the crockpot and eat for lunches and dinners for the week!

Stacy

Today's Etsy!

2011-07-08T08:00:00.001-05:00

I'm really in love with my find today. I want to have about twelve kids PRONTO so that I can have one with 12 little pendants. However, that is not going to happen so I will leave that part to you. These might be a little more expensive than the things I would normally show you but well worth it!

Did your parents have one of these made of your profile when you were a kid? Mine did! I think they are some of the most charming little treasures to wear around your neck. I am going to order a necklace with four pendants. They will be of Curtis, Chloe, Sonny and Tinkerbell...my three cats and dog. Okay, call me crazy I won't do that. BUT if my husband were to go through the trouble I would wear it every single day!

If you have already had 12 children, please email me ASAP. I will throw you a party at my house AND buy you one of these with twelve pendants!

Stacy

A Project for Later..

2011-07-07T08:12:00.000-05:00

Well, today I am going to share with you a fun little project... a little something for any celebration depending on the colors you choose. Here is the sneak peak.. before I run off to work for the day!

Backyard Update.... Stain adds a bit of warmth...

2011-07-07T08:09:00.001-05:00

Newly stained wonders of happiness. Stained to match the wood along the fence.

Pinterest Post. Creative Foody Ideas!

2011-07-07T08:02:00.001-05:00

Graduation Celebrations.. for the how-to click here.

Halloween Celebrations... for the how-to click here.

Halloween Celebrations...Mummy Dogs....

Who doesn't want to celebrate with an owl!

More creative wonders by Handmade Charlotte here.

Can you say no need for a celebration. Yum!
Find the recipe here.

Again. Yummy! I could eat this whole thing... with some milk, of course.
More fun ideas found here.

Enjoy these little morsels!

Alyssa

I might move...

2011-07-06T19:55:00.000-05:00

Did you happen to see this house on apartment therapy?

Well, I'm CRAZY in love with leopard print everything. Every house needs some leopard print. A pillow, a rug, a chair, a sheet, a towel...SOMETHING! This house is in Chicago and I am going to need to go knock on their door and tell them that they are rockstars. Leopard print rockstars from heaven. No, I couldn't go this far, but I completely admire the people who did. If it were in my neighborhood I'd have to walk by it everyday. With my pet leopard. Just kidding. Do they have pet leopards? I want one.

What do you think? Cool or crazy?

Stacy

Urban Style

2011-07-06T09:00:00.001-05:00

I thought I'd share some chic urban style to wear shopping, lunching, or barbecuing. Mix and match these simple pieces with other things you have in your wardrobe already...

You will find this tunic on Etsy for $40. It's one of those things that will never go out of style. It's just a cute retro-vintage sort of classic and the colors are so perfect for summer!

Pair the tunic with these slim leg jeans from Land's End. You can even roll the jeans up so you'll have a couple of wide cuffs...so cute! They are simple dark denim jeans and they cost $59.50. CHEAP for jeans and you can wear them all winter too. You'll be wearing them with some cute riding boots this winter!

Next let's throw on some comfy ballet flats in silver. These are from Nine West and they're on sale for $41.40. They still have a wide variety of sizes so get them quick if you want them. Nothing says comfort like ballet flats. I think they look great with jeans or skirts.

These earrings will go great with your new urban style and you'll be able to wear them with anything! They have gold (brass) and silver in them and we all know that a combination of the two means you can't go wrong. They are $24 and two and a half inches long. Go for big earrings!

These are just some ideas. Buy all of this for a great outfit or pick and choose things to buy and wear with what you already have. All of it will look urban and chic for a year or two...unless you live in New York where you are required to constantly update your style to look current. I think that in the midwest and other urban and suburban areas all of this stuff will look great for quite a while!

Remember to try different combinations of clothes in your own closet too. If you like how things look and it's comfortable there aren't many rules. Fashion these days is a great mix of fun vintage, crazy color schemes and hip new trends all thrown into one.

What's your favorite thing to wear these days? I'd love to hear!

Stacy

Today's Etsy!

2011-07-06T08:00:00.001-05:00

Today's find is one that I'll be buying as soon as I paint my front door. I'll be getting it in white. Such an easy way to welcome people and add some whimsy to your door! Love it!

You can buy this in a multitude of different colors for $7! Yes, that is it! How can you resist?

Stacy

Back Yard update #367.. With a steal of a deal!

2011-07-05T20:14:00.001-05:00

Yes.. the backyard is still under way... although we are getting closer! We now have stairs. Woot! Love them.. Love them.. Have I told you I love them? We also invested in an umbrella this weekend. We will soon have 2 because I ordered one from West Elm, but it hadn't arrived yet and it was hot, hot, hot yesterday. Now that we have the umbrella's we needed covers to protect them when they are not up.. and boy oh boy did I get a steal of a deal on these! (Note: the umbrella was a steal as well.. $26 with my discount at Pottery Barn and a $50 gift card I had. So happy! Love my deals!)

Digging out for the ground work.

Hmm. What next?

Yay!!!

What I found while he was working.. a wasps nest at the back door! Eek!

The boys (Eric & friend Ashley) enjoying the new stairs and watching the little white puffs float by.... I'll be honest. There were a few beers involved. A cape cod or two, some spiked lemonade and a margarita. Not totally sure who had what but those were our options that day!

The new umbrella... It kept 6 people well protected from the sun... treats on the ottoman.... and fun to be had! It was cute. We moved all the blue chairs under the umbrella and were huddled up together. Eating of course. Though with the new umbrella and my need to protect things.. I wanted to get a cover..

Can you sort of see that price in the blurry picture? $3.98! Thank you Target.

Fits Perfect!

Trouble.. watching the world go by.

Only the garden to finish moving and we will be done!

Alyssa

Vinaigrette - Every celebration and day needs a little Olive Oil & Vinegar!

2011-07-05T13:06:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my neighborhood! I live near the 50th & Xerxes shopping area. There are so many fun places to stop and peruse in that little corner of heaven.

Vinaigrette is one of my favorites of this area. Vinaigrette is owned by the super cute couple, Richard & Sarah. They opened almost 2 years ago and have been sharing with us fabulous olive oils, vinegars and recipes.

At Vinaigrette they provide you the opportunity to taste all of the olive oils and vinegars they bring in from around the world. It is so much fun to walk in there to mix and try their fused olive oils & vinegars. I think my favorite might be the Greek olive oil and raspberry balsamic vinegar.. then again there is the dill olive oil and 18 year aged balsamic vinegar.. oh and the Chardonnay vinegar .. oh and the pear infused vinegar... mmm.... I think you get the idea. I could spend hours in there trying and mixing and trying and mixing. They have something for every recipe and for every celebration. Oh and..their little bottles make great hostess gifts. They also make up the most fabulous gifts boxes for other occasions.

They also carry a line of olive oil based beauty products. The hand cream is by far my favorite. I have it sitting right here on my desk. Sarah recommended it to me for my daughters extremely dry hands during the winter. A few applications and the scalyness was gone! Amazing. The other fun find at this shop is the art, photography and pottery. They feature some fabulous artists in their shop. A must see.

Finally, if you need a place to host an event, they are even willing to share their space with you! The following photo is a shot of an event we hosted there about a year ago.

This is a must visit if you are in the neighborhood. If you can't make it to the shop and need something soon you can also shop online here. Need some recipe inspiration? Check out their recipe box here. Vinaigrette has so many wonderful things to offer that I hope you stop by soon to experience this little bit of heaven. Their knowledge of olive oil and vinegar and the growers they work with is amazing. There is so much to learn as well! Check out there website at www.vinaigrettemn.com.

Enjoy & Find something to celebrate!

Alyssa

Pinterest Post - Celebrations!

2011-07-05T11:58:00.002-05:00

I hope you had a happy, fun and relaxing 4th of July celebration. We had a nice impromptu party that ended in a walk around the neighborhood visiting other friends. There are so many fun things to celebrate in life. So today, I thought I would share some fun celebration ideas for the many other things we celebrate throughout the year. Enjoy!

Anytime is the best time for a backyard celebration. Celebrate anything from being done for work to a beautiful day. Collect vintage table cloths & dishes, have the kids decorate white napkins with fabric markers and some candles and fun people and away you go!

We all see the typical triangle bunting.. and here is a cute take on this old tradition with a soft rounded edge. Fun patterns and colors to add to the ambiance of what you are celebrating.

You can find out more at... Martha Stewart Weddings ..

Cute table scaping idea for a rustic celebration..

The ever dreaded kids table... needs to be dreaded no more! Fun is to be had at this little table!

You can find this and more here.

PomPom bunting... Can you say love.. and yours for $20.00!

Find it here.

I finishing with this cake because I am in love with the pompom decoration and red cake plate! What fun is this!! The garland can be yours for $18... and the cake you must make! Find it here.

Enjoy your celebrations!

Alyssa

Today's Etsy!

2011-07-02T08:30:00.000-05:00

I promised myself that I would take the weekend off, but then I remembered these and decided I had to post them. I was glad I did since they are on sale for the holiday weekend! They are the cutest most whimsical things I have seen in a long time. I wonder if it would be overload if I had one in every room?

At $32.99 these are a splurge for most of us being that they hold tissue! I'll take one in Green and one in Aqua, thank you very much.

Sayonara till Monday or Tuesday!

Stacy

Fourth of July Banner!

2011-07-01T11:20:00.001-05:00

I try not to buy a lot of decorations because they usually end up ruined. I "forget" to put them away and they get wrinkled and smashed and I feel guilty for wasting the money on them. I won't lie here...I am still working on my organizational skills! We usually make birthday banners for each other out of a huge roll of white paper we have had for 20 years! I like that better anyway!

This year I decided to make a 4th of July banner since I didn't want to buy one. I just went to the hardware store and stole some stuff instead! Works for me! Now let me explain...I made my banner out of paint sample cards. Technically those are free for the taking right? They probably don't expect that people would take 30 of them, but I did! I don't think they saw me taking that many so, in all honesty, I felt like I was being sneaky and bad. I got over that pretty quick and went to work.

Here's what I did, and it took me about ten minutes. I think it would be a fun kid project, but I'm not limiting it to just kids. I'm thinking about going and getting one sample of a whole bunch of colors and making one for a friend's birthday. These are easy and cute!

This is all you need! Some twine or string, a hole punch, and paint sample cards.

First I decided what order I wanted the colors in. Obviously this was easy...I just did red, white, blue, repeat! Notice I had a "helper" who wasn't such a big help. His "help" made this project take more time than it should have, but I don't mind.

I gathered up a bunch of cards and started punching my holes. Do two holes in each card. They hang better that way!

All of the holes were done and here's what they looked like. Nothing has to be perfect here, my friends! Don't stress yourself out over this!

OKAY! The hardest part for me was finding an end on the string. Seriously?! I looked at it for a fifteen minutes. Finally, I gave up and cut my own end into the roll. I like to play by the rules so I wouldn't usually do that....oh, and it's my husband's roll of string. He won't mind!

So with the end cut I got stringing! EASY as pie. Once that's done you will need to decide how close together you want your paint cards to hang in the banner. I like this look or further apart. It's a matter of personal taste here. Not a big deal.

I decided to string mine a little further apart so with that done, I had my helper chew on the string a little bit. Sorry for the dark picture...I'm working on that.

Here's the done deal! I think it turned out great. I hung it in the house quick to show you what it looks like done. When it's not a hundred degrees I'm going to hang it out on the fence for the weekend!

Now head to the paint store and gather up some samples! DON'T tell them I sent you!

Have a fabulous holiday weekend! Hope you spend some time with family eating good food, drinking fun drinks, and enjoying the sunshine and beautiful weather!

Stacy

Twin City Tidbit... Government shut-down got you down?

2011-07-01T09:39:00.000-05:00

Well. It is official. The wonderful State of Minnesota is shut-down. Can't go camping? Here are some ideas of what to do instead.

1. Camp in your own backyard. Run and get a fire pit (most likely on sale) and all the fixin's for s'mores. Do a little midnight walk around the neighborhood. Who knows you may even run into an urban raccoon.

2. Head out to one of the many fun lakes around town! Lake Minnetonka will most definitely be fun albeit it busy. Or you could go for a quieter out of the way lake. Perhaps look at a map, pick a lake, drive out there as an adventure. Who knows what you will find along the way.

3. Find a resort with an opening. I suggest doing this quick as many people have probably planned ahead aware of the potential shut-down. Check out Minnesota resorts here.

4. Check out the free entertainment on July 3 on the river: live music from local band Communist Daughter at 7 p.m., a screening of the movie Iron Man 2 at 9.15, both at Nicollet Island Pavilion. More info here.

5. Head to Delano. This city hosts the oldest and largest 4th of July celebration in the state. The events are too many to list. Find more information out here. This web page is solely for the weekend of the 4th! This just went high on my list of things to check out...

6. Sit at home and watch the entire seven seasons of The Golden Girls. Ha! Just making sure you are still reading.

7. Oh and we can't forget the fireworks.. For a listing of the fireworks shows in Minneapolis and the surrounding areas... click here.

Have a happy and safe 4th of July!

Alyssa

An urban bedroom.

2011-06-30T13:58:00.000-05:00

If you noticed here that you didn't see any pictures of my bedroom, it's because I didn't post any. My bedroom is in a constant state of upheaval. It needs to be painted and I need to decide on a color scheme. STAT. Things have come and gone from our room more than any other place in our house. I think I like something, I buy it, and then I get sick of it. The master bedroom is in the upper half story of our urban home and the only time we are up there is at night. It's not a place that I want to spend lots of my free time but I want to change that! Here's what I've been looking at for bedding. That seems to be my biggest issue, and the thing I change my mind about the absolute most. I could have sent our daughter to college with the money I've spent on bedding. Don't tell my husband!

I've found all of the bedding at West Elm. I think I'm in love with all of it. So here goes:

I would like these grey and white striped sheets. I am in love with stripes. They feel cozy to me. However, the little wrinkle in this bedding would drive me nuts. Couldn't they just have made it all smooth? They had to make it all messy looking? Sheesh!

I need this quilt. I love the masculine stripe with the feminine ruffles. This is shaping up to be my dream bed.

Next I will need 4 of these pillows. I will get them for my husband since he loves removing mass amounts of pillows from the bed before he can get it. I might as well make him happy! Toothy grin...

Then I will take the dark grey throw you see in the pile below.

Now for my pop of color, I will have some nice person buy this rug from Anthropologie for me. The size I want is only (just under) a thousand dollars. Go buy your lottery ticket and I promise this is all I will ask for when you win. I'm being very positive, too, because I think you're gonna win this time! I can just feel it!

So that is what I am thinking for our room. Soon I will post pictures and see what you think of it up there. It needs a mini-overhaul. I say "mini" because I am going to do it on a budget. I guess I'll be looking for a different rug.

-Stacy

Pinterest Post. Filed under: Made me laugh out loud.

2011-06-30T09:19:00.000-05:00

For all those traveling to Mount Rushmore for the 4th. Please let me know if you see this on the other side..... :) You can find more weird and wonderful ads here. When I have time I am going to be spending some time on that site. Too funny! Happy holiday weekend!

Alyssa

Strawberry Pickin'

2011-06-29T10:49:00.000-05:00

It is that time of year. Finally. I never thought we would get a crop of anything up here in Minnesota this year with the rainy, cold spring and summer we have had to date. Alas, summer is finally here, albeit at the end of June. :)

Yesterday, after the girls (Avery & Arianna) successful morning at sewing camp (at Sewtropolis of course), my friend Ilona and I took them strawberry picking. We went out to Afton Apple where they are growing more than just apples. They have strawberries ready for picking now, raspberries coming up and of course apples in the fall. What a fun few hours spent in the sun! Not to mention the wonderful smells in the car on the way home.Now I just can't wait to make some jam. Ilona is sharing her recipe with me... and I will be sure to share the process of making it with you later!

We couldn't miss it!

Tractor dude.. taking us out to the fields...

A picking we will go...

The fruits of our labor.. :)

The perfect berry. Yum.

Yum!

Now, off to make some jam!

Alyssa

Today's Etsy!

2011-06-29T08:53:00.000-05:00

Yes, you're very observant because I changed the name from "Etsy find of the day" to "Today's Etsy." Don't be surprised if I change it again because I'm like that. Alyssa and I have a good schedule set for posting so you'll start knowing what to expect everyday of the week. We're nice like that because we like you! We're pretty new to the blog world so we're still trying to figure things out. Thank you for stopping in to look at our posts!

Moving on to my Etsy find, I'm very excited to share this with you! Yellow seems to be the new "in" color and I have added it to my house where I can. Because of my colors right now I can't use too much of it, but I LOVE the color yellow. WAIT, my bathroom is yellow! What the heck am I thinking? It's a warm color that doesn't cast funky shadows on my skin when I'm getting ready. For my bathroom I chose Butter from Restoration Hardware. I digress! On with it! Here is today's find...

This listing is for TWO 20" pillow covers. The inserts are not included so go pick them up at Ikea for seven bucks each. I swear these are sent from heaven. Even if you sew, they are worth the price! The fabric is great quality and the color and print is to-die-for! Please buy these since I can't...I will happily live vicariously through you. They won't work anyplace in my house...believe me, I've tried.

Happy Wednesday! Just a couple more days till the holiday weekend!

Stacy

I think I like you.

2011-06-28T17:33:00.000-05:00

If you haven't heard Donora, you should! I love this song and video. We should all learn to hula hoop...the world would be a better place! Let's make it a summer goal...can you imagine the core muscles you'd have?!

This is the most simple video, but somehow it's hard not to like it. See for yourself!

-Stacy

Pinterest Post - Why should the door have all the fun?

2011-06-28T09:45:00.000-05:00

Ever since seeing the Walrus doorknob in Copenhagen, I have become a little obsessed with doorknobs. There are so many fun doors out there and yest somehow sometimes the doorknob gets forgotten. Which is really too bad as that is the first tactile experience you have upon entering a space.

So, today my Pinterest picks are an 'Ode to the Doorknob.'

A little Alice in Wonderland whimsy.

Color me happy.

(Was at Anthropology. Of course!)

Crystal in any color makes me happy.

A little vintage hand...holding a tomato?

Hello, My name is....

The informative doorknob. Anthro always has the best things..

Old School.

Enjoy your day! Happy doorknob hunting.

Alyssa