A Stick-y Situation

Here's a shoutout to all those people who absolutely make their husband/friend/family member/ cab driver STOP THE CAR because you saw some really cool branches by that Bank of America ATM. 

I think I need to create new Pinterest board entitled "Things to do with sticks". 

Here are a few of my favorite nature-inspired ideas that really "stick". 

  via

 This is a super easy idea to DIY, and given that they're even tied together with string, you can remove as needed! I love incorporating natural elements like this into my seasonal decorating, especially around Christmastime and springtime.

Via

Driftwood hurricane idea courtesy of Anthropologie. I literally could put this anywhere, anytime. I may actually just carry it around with me.

I've got immediate plans to DIY this bad boy- just ordered some driftwood from this shop on Etsy and my hot glue gun is warming up!

And of course this Branch-o-lier from Mrs. Limestone at A Brooklyn Limestone in Progress. It's so pretty for the holidays, but wouldn't it be fun for Halloween, too? Maybe with some black crows perched ominously? As you can tell, it is barely summer and I am already jonesin' for Halloween. Just 5 more months, people!

I just love the impact that these few, and usually FREE touches make!

If you come across any more stick touches, you need to let me know ASAP. 

I'm not kidding.

I'm a bit of a fabric whore

and I cannot WAIT to put THIS gorgeous gray ikat linen ( found here on etsy)

 onto these:

This is about my 3rd fabric purchase in 1 week. Our little secret, k?

xo,

Margaret

I'm Blue da ba de ba da doo...

Do you remember that song from Eiffel 65? In case you're looking for something to get stuck in your head for EVER:

Hi guys, 

Thanks for bearing with me the other day. Perhaps I was taking out my "blue" mood is some subconcious freudian way this weekend, because someone *rasies hand* went a little nuts with the color blue in the master bedroom. Or should I call it the master BLUE room. No? Ok. Well- see what I mean:

 Here's a close-up of those curtains.

 I have been eyeing this fabric for EVAH and this weekend I stumbled upon it at my favorite discount fabric store, Boca Bargoons Fabric Outlet, on 20th street in Boca Raton. Where it was $21 a yard after their 40% off everything sale that they always seem to have going on. Sooo...  This is a splurge for me, considering that curtains generally require 6+ yards, but in my mind, sooo worth it. Our room was threatening to win the world cup in beige-ness.

Here's a peek before:

ew. 

Here's after I made my $10 DIY Headboard

 Ah, much better. Now to add some pops of color! 

I'm a sucker for indigo. I'm an indigo girl.

I made those drapes, BTW. With my buddy, Mr. Sewing Machine. You can see that only one has the blackout lining done because I am lazy, and that first one was a BIIIITCH. 

Also that bedskirt is probably one of the more genius thing's I've ever done. I was going to actually MAKE a full on bedskirt with like, measuring and adhesion and stuff,  so I tucked my fabric in and around the box spring bedskirt-style to see how I liked it, and guess what happened? It stayed there. New home. New bedskirt, no sewing. Bam! Which is just as well since I'm not totally sold on the fabric. Too matchy-matchy? 

Dirty secret: Only my side and the foot of my Cal-king size bed has a skirt, since I folded my 4 yd piece in half.  Zach's side is nekkid. Shh!!! I don't think he's noticed yet.

Anyhoo- temporary/easy-to-take with me and not getting locked into anything is the name of the game these days. Which is why I decided to make my purty fabric into drapes instead of locking into a piece of upholstery.

I even kept an extra 4 inches at the bottom of each curtain and just basted the hem so that if we go somewhere that needs longer drapes, I can just let out the seam! 

In any case I'm glad that we are no longer in the running for the "Bedroom that looks most like the inside of a milk carton contest".

Did I mention I like indigo?

House of Blues

Warning: 

 There is going to be gratuitous moping. Because this is my blog and I can. 

You don't want moping? Scroll down for some pictures of puppies. Go on.

Here's the thing. My penchant for home decor/DIY blogs is pretty masochistic at this point. As you might know, Zach and I have been under contract on a house. Our first house. The perfect first house. For about 3 months now. We are at the last step, which is actually securing financing. We didn't anticipate this being such a hurdle. We make a good living and the projected mortgage payments are less than we are currently paying in rent. But we've been rejected once already. Bummer.

We are experiencing first hand the ridiculous knee-jerk reaction to the banking meltdown, where once banks were lending to everyone, now they are lending to no one, and I'm writing now because I have been in such a funk just waiting for that next rejection that I feel is sure to come.

I've always been a journal writer, scribbling little thoughts and bits that weren't really meant for anyone else. And up till recently (aka when I met my husband almost 3 years ago) all these thoughts were about boys. Seriously, from age 12 onward. Get a grip, Marg. But, anyway, sharing this stuff is new for me. I know its not the typical post, but... it's what's going on.

I stopped writing for a while, and then when I resumed, (sporadically) my journal seems to have taken on a much more adult tone. What do I want to do for a living? Where will we live? 

Small questions, big implications. 

So I guess I'm just having a pity party for myself over here, because while I am thankful to have health, a wonderful family, a job and a place to live and food on the table, I can't help but feel so darn down in the dumps. Not that it's even in the same arena, but I almost feel like that if we don't get this house, its like a couple who can't conceive. It's something you want so much and you're just so ready and you want this next part of your life together to start, already!

So, after having gotten my hopes crushed at multiple stages of this home buying process, only to have them feebly inflated once again is really taking its toll on my spirit.

I hope I will look back on this post (hopefully someday soon) and be a little embarrassed about how melodramatic I'm being. I don't know, maybe you guys can relate?

Ok. That's enough of that. 

Here are some pictures of puppies. 

 

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My City by the Bay

Today marks the first day of our vacation back to San Francisco. We totally lucked out and got this amazing vacation rental from VRBO.com for waaay cheaper than staying at a crappy hotel.

Apologies for the lack of pictures- the ones I've taken (which include a view of the golden gate and palace of fine arts) from our apartment do not appear to be cooperating.

Cannot wait to eat some good food, see some good friends, and just have an amazing time!