Master Suite...The Saga Continues

I'm getting quite close to putting the finishing touches on
my master bedroom changes. I have a handful of tasks left,
including accessorizing my nightstands. I really love the look
of pictures or a mirror hung over a beside table.

I took a ton of inspiration for my room from this photo. I just
love the mirrored nightstand.

Decorpad

I also like the idea of simply leaning a large picture again the
wall vs. hanging it, like here...


And this room is just stunning, period. But I especially love
the matching mirrors hung over the side tables.


And as much as I love the "assymetrical" quality of hanging
different sizes of pics like in the first photo, I also like the idea
of using the same size pic, and I love the mirror over the bed here.


So many choices.
I think this is going to take awhile.

Finale Season... Oh the Drama...

It's the season of finales on TV right now. Always makes me a
little sad. Even more so this year as a couple of my favorites are
ending.



The time has finally come to say goodbye to our favorite
time traveling plane crash survivors on Lost. To make
it even worse, they killed off two of my favorite characters
a couple of weeks ago. When Sun and Jin finally lost the
bid to be Jacob's successor, and drowned in that sub, oh the
tears began to flow. I agree with finishing up the show vs.
keeping it going, but still, I will miss it. Anyone else a fan?




And the clock will finally tick down for the last time on our dear
ill-fated hero Jack Bauer on 24. Although it seems chances are
pretty good we'll see a feature film version coming to a theater
near us sometime in the future. But still, I'll miss Jack saving
the world week after week with the help of trusted sidekick
Chloe. You know, everyone, including me, despised Chloe
when she was first introduced. But I think she was the best
thing to come out of the not-so-stellar Season 3. Alas though
I think it is time for Jack to hang up his bag of tricks and call
it a day.

*SPOILER ALERT*
And last night was the season finale for Brothers & Sisters. We
knew Rob Lowe was leaving the show, and I'm sad to report he
didn't make it out alive. That was just plain awful watching his
piercing blue eyes go still and fixed. SO Sad. But we'll look ahead
to a brand new start for the Walker family when they return in
the fall.

Premiere season will be here before you know it though, and
we'll start the cycle all over again. What shows will you miss
most over the summer?

TGIF

SO glad it's Friday. With all the work around the house and
deliveries and inspections I'm just plain knackered. And on
top of dealing with that, my new job is driving me nuts. I
know, as I've said before, I should be very grateful to have a
job. And I am. It's just that I guess I wish I would have had
a little say in my placement in said job. Backstory, my company
was acquired by another, and I'm struggling with the group they
placed me in. Actually, I think it's the whole corporate world. I'm
just getting tired of it. Note to self, start looking for something
that's more creative vs. corporate.

Anyway, after such a long and crazy couple of weeks I'm feeling
like I need a vacation. Maybe here...


Or how about here...


But alas, my vacation money was sucked up by all the
home repairs. So perhaps I'll settle for a soak in the tub.
This looks like a great bath for a soak no?


And throw in one of these...


Ok, better make it two.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Weekly Series - Etsy Finds

I think we would all agree that you could spend hours
scrolling through all the fabulous things on Etsy, no?
Recently, I noticed how huge my Favorite Items list had
become. So I decided to start a weekly post to feature my
favorite Etsy finds. So this weeks list is in honor of my slight
obsession with all things British.

Printing a photo on a map. So cool!

Little Bluebird Studios

Another fabulous cushion from Helkatdesigns.
I think I want one of everything at this shop.


And I absolutely ADORE the digital images from OliveRue.
I've got two and plan to get more, including this one.



And here is a neat new way to enjoy our favorite
Keep Calm and Carry On motif...

Tickle Me Pink Boutique

One day, I'd really love to get a dog. And when I do, I want this
tag for him or her...

Bow Wowzer Zs

And one of these days I hope to get myself organized enough
and find the nerve to try out my own Etsy Shop. Until then
I'll enjoy all the gorgeous goods from everyone else.

Calm, Cool and Collected

I'm thrilled to report that my new HVAC system was installed
yesterday. It's nice and quiet compared to my old system which
sounded a bit like a 747 taking off in a strong headwind.

Luckily the weather has been beautifully cool and dry here
for the past few days, so I hadn't needed A/C. Bright blue
skies and cool crisp breezes. But it is comforting to know
that A/C is now an option should I need it. And also nice
to be able to close up the windows as the pollen was choking
me. Anyway, in honor of my new found "coolness", I thought
I'd share a few pics of rooms and such that I thought were
really, well, cool. Enjoy...

This San Francisco loft that I ran across on a real estate
site is beyond cool, don't you think?

pacunion.com

And I don't think you could ask for anything cooler
than these cookie "shots". I so want to have a party
so I can serve these...


And I ran across this Paris cake at bhg.com.
It's truly inspiring what they can do with cakes these days...

And how could you not love this room. Cool grays, and that
chandelier! De-vine...

homesandgardens.com

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall...

My ever growing fixation of all things shiny and sparkly
definitely extends to mirrors. Except for maybe those
giant full wall ones of the 80's and before, I'd say just
about everyone loves a good mirror. And there are so
many good ones out there these days.

Here are a few that have caught my eye recently.

We'll start with the Audrey Mirror from Ballard Design.
Gorgeous!



Then there is the Elise from Pottery Barn. I so want this
mirror in my house.


I was looking for a small venetian style mirror to
hang behind the nightstands in my master bedroom,
and I ran across this one.

And I just love this mirror featured in Homes and Gardens.
So lovely!


Well, I'm sure hoping for a nice quiet weekend after all
the problems that popped up over the past week.
The a/c was not the only one.

So I wish us all a lovely weekend!

H-V-A-C

Sorry for my hiatus there for a few days. I was dealing with the
a/c issues and work has been pretty crazy this week. It was 90
degrees IN THE HOUSE all weekend and into Monday. I'm
sorry to whine about it as there were people in the South who
didn't even have houses after this weekend courtesy of tornadoes.
But it really was miserable. When the a/c guy came to give me
an estimate on the new system on Monday, he walked in and
said my place was one of the worst he'd ever seen, or felt actually.
It just wouldn't cool. Everything was hot to the touch. It was
really kind of freaky. But thankfully the weather has cooled a bit,
and with some good cross ventilation and fans, I've managed to
get it down to the low 80s during the day, and about 75 at night.

So after an inspection of my system, a series of questions,
and several thousand dollars later, I'm replacing my entire
HVAC system. Not looking forward to watching my savings
take a nosedive, but I do qualify for the maximum tax credit back.
And quite honestly, I opted to replace the entire system because
I didn't want to face the flipside of my current situation and
have the furnace die in the middle of January when it's 10 below
outside. So the "peace of mind" factor played a big part in my
decision.

And speaking of decisions. I must admit, I don't often complain
about being single. But it's during situations like this when I
really wish there was someone else around to help with those
choices.

So anyway, the new system should be installed next Monday. And
thankfully the weather is actually supposed to be cooler
as the week progresses.

So my motto for the week...