Weekend Getaway

This weekend the wonderful Ryan K Browning and I are going to Charlotte, NC for some long overdo couple time. Since starting his new job at the Music Lab, Ryan has worked over 40 days straight! Crazy I know. I'm whisking him away to do a little shopping, I know this may seem kind of selfish, but we're going to look at house stuff for our future home together (Note: I like saying "future home together" it makes me all tingly). We are going to visit IKEA and I'm thrilled because there are so many things I'd like to buy, even with a tiny budget. I wanted to share with you a couple of things we'll be looking at while we're there. I've created a shopping list haha.

I love this Alvine Rand rug, not only does the pattern lend itself to tribal or global flair, but it's neutral and because I like to change things a lot neutral is a must in a rug for me.

I'm dying for new bedding and this subtle blue and white striped duvet set might just do the trick. I'm a sucker for super soft sheets so if this isn't super soft I may be walking away with nothing, for now though I'm lusting after it.

I love Ryan but I really hate his generic TV stand with all it's faux metal and black laquered top. Thankfully he's kinda sick of it too and when we were looking on the IKEA website together we spotted this red cabinet. We both like it a lot in the picture so I'm crossing my fingers it's as great in person and we carry this sucker right out of the store with us.

I have this fantastic little cabinet in my bathroom that is this exact shade of green and I've been needing a new window covering for awhile. Maybe I'll pick up this Dagny curtain to add a little more spice to my bland, cream bathroom.

When you're living in an aprtment everything is about storage, storage, storage. My liking to this ottoman is no exception. It's stylish, sleek and it has STORAGE! Plus the price tag doesn't hurt the wallet nearly as much as other ottomans this size and style at other leading retailers. I sound like an IKEA spokesperson haha.

After IKEA, who knows what we'll do. I'm going to try and do some research on yummy places to eat while we're there. Any ideas? big kiss, bekuh

Vintage Finds on Etsy

Because I am without a camera for awhile Vintage Finds this week will focus instead on some of my favorite vintage shops on Etsy. There is a plethora of unique old objects on that glorious website and though they aren't all within my budget I can drool over some of the gorgeous items to be found.

I adore anything vintage and French so this French Country Song Book is the perfect embodiment of that love. I want to paint my house using these colors, when I have a house. The shop this can be found in is called La Pomme, and the adoration continues.

I really love my Miss Piggy, piggy bank as is obvious from previous posts. But, I really  like this little Vintage Metal Piggy Bank from The Fancy Lamb. His little face is so cute I can almost hear him squealing.

These adorable little glass vials have stolen my heart, if only I know what to do with them. For all kinds of crazy vintage ephemera I like to go to Regina Studio. She's got this listed as steampunk, which I never thought I'd get into but I'm liking this.

This beautiful Folk Art Hand Painted Spoon is from Enhabitan, a new vintage favorite. I'm going to just copy, paste the description for this item because it's so perfectly true.

"Here is a vintage wooden spoon with sweet hand painting. I love the idea of an everyday person embellishing objects at home to make them beautiful and sometimes suitable for gift-giving."



I don't think the matches work but I'd just love to display this on a pretty tray in my living room, it's so fragile and beautiful. Vintage litho Italian Matchbox by 5 Gardenia's

I enjoy sharing these little vintage posts and I hope you like to read them. big kiss, bekuh

I was told it is spring

The trees may look like this but the weather is not quite so dandy. It's 39 degrees today. I miss the New Orleans spring from last Thursday.

Sad News

I have some depressing news to share this dreary Monday morning. Last Friday a horrible incident occured and my beloved camera was partially emersed in water for at least 5 minutes, so alas my camera is caput. I will mourn this loss greatly until I can replace my favorite toy.

The only glimmer of hope in this case is that I did take out an extra warranty on the camera and it may cover this sort of incident. Until I can replace my camera blogging will be slow and I will rely once again on internet searches for material. Please be patient and stay with me.

Friday Favorites the Movie Edition

I just finished watching the most marvelous movie, A Room with a View. It got me to thinking about how movies can influence a person so deeply it becomes a part of their make-up and in a superficial way, the way their houses look or the types of clothes they wear. To honor this deep impact Friday Favorites this week will revolve around movies that have had a deep impact on me. I'll start with the newest...






The details on her dress in this scene made me swoon. Everything about this movie is romance, secrets and forbidden passion. I want to live like a badly behaved victorian.



A Room with a View.

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I don't know a girl on this planet who hasn't been influenced in some way by Anne of Green Gables. She is the passionate, thinker, the endless dreamer, and an original ingenue. 

Anne of Green Gables

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There isn't a movie out there that has more influence on me as an artist and as a person than How to Make an American Quilt. Even at nine years old I felt a deep connection to this story that has followed me through life and into adulthood. There is no explanation I can give, except that it touches my soul every time I watch this movie or think about it. I have to share more pictures.

How to Make an American Quilt

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Ah, Amelie, a truly classic film about the mysteries of human kindness and self fulfillment almost missed. How I relate to her strange trains of thought and silly habits. I only wish my idiosyncrasies came off as well as hers.

Amelie.

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Fried Green Tomatoes is the second most influential movie I watched growing up. I loved everything about this movie and in particular Idgie. I was a bit of a tom boy from the age of seven to ten and wore boy clothes just like Idgie did. Come to think of it this movie may have had something to do with that. It also didn't hurt that my sister looks just like Mary-Louise Parker and I wanted desperately for us to have the relationship Idgie and Ruth did. We now do.

That rounds out the list, thanks for reading. big kiss, bekuh

Vintage Finds in the Closet part Deux

This is part two of Vintage Finds in my closet, for part one check out the Vintage button on the side bar or scroll down the page. This is a continuation of my favorite vintage accessories. Some of these items are priceless to me.

This was my Mom's High School ring, I highjacked it from her when I was in ninth grade. I love the sentimental quality to it and the fact that it tells a little about my Mom when she was younger.

I found these earrings in a tiny thrift store in Bedford, Va. They aren't real gold but they definitely doll up an outfit when I wear them.

This bright beauty is a scarf I dug out of a clothing bin. I'm not even sure if it's really a scarf, it might be a table cloth but I wear as one and therefore it is a scarf.

This last piece is a bit of a mystery piece from my past. A good friend of my grandmothers was wearing this at their house one day and I said it was pretty. The next time I saw Margaret she gave me the bracelet no explanation given as to why. I love it.

Vintage Finds in my Closet

For the vintage finds this week I'm posting some pictures of my favorite vintage accessories. I have so many, choosing just a few to share was hard. I guess that means I'll have to do more posts on this in the future.

I never imagined myself as a bag lady, until I found this beauty. This straw bag wonder is one of my all time favorite purchases. It's a little fragile so I've stopped carrying it everyday but it is definitely in a place of prominence whenever I decorate.

I found this gorgeous antique necklace at a thrift store near my mom's house, it's super long and I like to pretend a flapper wore it out to dance in.

I wear this belt with everything. The rainbow design is really faded but you can still make out the birds flying free in the background.

This leather handbag was a true $1.50 gem, bought years ago before I even liked leather bags. It is deceptively large.

Ryan Turns 23

The love of my life, Ryan, turns 23 today. I am overwhelmed with joy whenever I mention him and on this important day I wanted to share a couple of reasons why I love him.

1. His sense of humor and love of making things awkward; this is one of the most important things we have in common. He makes peeling an orange inappropriate in the best kind of way.

2.Our mutual love of condiments and how he just knows I'll need barbeque sauce "with that."

3. His ability to love people and his need to make people feel wanted regardless of circumstance and personal cost to him.

4. How he calls everyone "hey man" in greeting, even his Dad. It's a sincere term of endearment.

5. His affinity to hug everyone.

6. He texts me at least twice a day to tell me he loves me. This never gets old.

7. His musical ability blows me away and even though I know nothing about the equipment he shows me I find myself enthralled with whatever he shares because he's just so darn passionate about it.

8. His uncompromising love for his family.

9. His uncompromising love for me.



10. The number one thing I love about Ryan is that he has never given up on his dreams and pursues them evryday. When others would have given up the hunt Ryan held out until the right job came along and it did. I am so proud of him for not selling out and this inspires me more than I can ever say.

Thank you Ryan for being born today and for helping me recognize that good things come to those who wait. You are my best friend and I love you. big kiss, bekuh

In the Studio

Here's a peek into my studio. I've been working on these umbre chain garlands. i'll have a big reveal of them soonish.

Omelet for One

A couple of weeks ago I was scouring my kitchen for something to make for dinner. At a loss I decided to instead look at what I did have and hope for a miracle. As it happens a miracle arose and I created an omelet out of kitchen scraps. Here's what I did...

INGREDIENTS:

2 eggs

1/2 a tomato

1 cup curly leaf spinach

1/3 cup chopped onion

Crumbled Bleu Cheese

2 tsp. sun dried tomato pesto

DIRECTIONS:

1. preheat skillet on medium with 1 tbsp. butter

2. Scramble eggs in separate bowl

3. Once butter is fully melted and the skillet is hot, pour eggs onto skillet

4. When the eggs are almost done scatter veggies, pesto and cheese on top

5. Fold omelet and let cook for a minute or two more until cheese is melted.

Finally place your perfect omelet on a pretty plate and enjoy. I know I did!

Sunday Brunch with Friends

This morning Ryan and I enjoyed a lovely brunch with two wonderful friends, Christine and Lewis. We got a little our of their decorating in progress as they prepare for their May nuptials. So happy for them and so happy for a full belly!

The ol' egg scrappin'

the bacon sizzling in the pan. Yum.

Latte Art

My wonderful boyfriend works part-time as a barista, when he''s not off saving the world, and he made me latte art. I'm not even sure if that's the right term but that's what he called it so I will too. It's an adorable wonky heart.