Purses, the final frontier for organization

27 Wednesday Apr 2016

Posted by Karen B. in Misc, Personal Information

I don’t typically write posts about personal products or fashion, although I love reading sites that do! Inspiration to break out came by way of Polished Pebble, a blog site written by the very talented Kelley.

Early this year she published a piece about New Year’s organizing. You know what that’s like, second only to spring cleaning, it’s such a great way to start the new year. She covered the essentials where her winter wardrobe (enviable) is concerned and mentioned in closing,

Will someone please write a post about purses and analyze why we put so much stuff in them…it’s truly amazing. It’s as if we women were taught at an early age that the ability to cram your entire life into a smallish bag (which you will then carry around your neck until you need surgery, is part of growing up

I have loved purses since I was a child. I’m sure that there are a lot of you who share similar feelings for the essential handbag most women, and a few men, carry. But

I do wonder sometimes why I feel the need to carry so many “what if” items. Yes, I was a Girl Scout, and their motto [Be prepared] must have stuck. Or maybe it’s because I’m a mother, albeit of adult children with their own children, but maybe that’s when it began.

I carry this Coach bag when I trade off on purses (a favorite) but it weighs as much as the other one when loaded with my stuff…heavy.

So I just couldn’t resist the temptation to pare down my handbag contents. I’ve successfully pared down most of the closets, drawers and cupboards in our home, why can’t I do this? It should be easy, right?

First of all, here is an inventory of what I carry in the current ~~suitcase~~ purse I lug it around (the items I’ve lined through I’m going to try to eliminate). {By the way, I’ve never managed to be organized enough to change purses for different outfits. I tend to carry a purse until it dies, or I tire of it, and then buy or switch to another to start a new cycle}

Mobile phone
7” x 4 ½” makeup bag that includes lipstick, magnifying pocket mirror (don’t ask), ~~sewing kit~~, nail clippers, small blush, ~~highlighter, eyeliner~~ maybe I’ll switch to a smaller cosmetic bag
Tissue and a couple of band aids – you never know when you might get a blister from a new pair of shoes.
Pen & Field Notes book
A few coupons keep the coupons in the car?
Hand lotion smaller size?
Gum maybe I don’t need this
Small tape measure
Travel sized pill box, filled with antacid, allergy and headache pills – I rarely use these items, but when you have a headache, you know how important they are.
Comb
Smallish wallet
Travel sized sunscreen maybe make sure the sunscreen is on before I leave the house?
Reading glasses / Sunglasses
Keys
Superfluous items ie. the dozen or so frequent buyer cards, promising deep discounts and the like. keep these in the car?

I weighed my purse and it’s 5 1/2 lbs. Seriously? Why am I carrying so much stuff.

So I received a bag like this a couple of years ago from my sweet daughter in law—in black. I don’t think I can manage it for daily use, but I love carrying it to evening affairs.

I’m going to make it a goal, pare down the handbag, try really hard not to need some of the items I’m used to having on hand, and start shopping for something that will be more manageable—any excuse for a new purse!

What’s in your purse? ♥ Karen

A few changes around the house

20 Wednesday Apr 2016

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, House and Home, Misc

≈ 25 Comments

2016 is well underway (What? It’s April?!) and I was determined to make a few changes in the house.

#1. I changed out a chair that had been in our family room, with a chair that lived in our reading room. [It’s the little things] The energy to clean, organize, and maybe mix things up a bit around the house hits occasionally and I have to take advantage of it. That’s the fun of making changes with items you own, no harm, no foul if it doesn’t work out. 🙂

BEFORE READING ROOM: This is the chair and ottoman that was switched to the family room. {The reading room gets its own little pre-lit tree each Christmas}

BEFORE FAMILY ROOM: This chair is oversized and while it looks comfortable, the upholsterer overdid it with the wrap on the back cushion and it feels like you’re being pushed out of the chair when you sit on it. I plan to have this corrected with our upholsterer.

AFTER FAMILY ROOM: The toile chair and ottoman provide a little more space in the room and I was able to move one of my ceramic garden stools indoors and use it next to the chair.

AFTER READING ROOM: I sit in this room to read during the winter. The room’s south facing window provides me with plenty of light and warmth when the weather cools.

#2. In February I reupholstered the red check sofa in the family room. I’ll be shopping for some pillows and hope to eventually have a variety of cushion covers that I can change out for the seasons.

BEFORE RED CHECK SOFA: I took the pictures for this post when I first changed out the chairs.

AFTER: I purchased the khaki colored fabric from Dorell Fabrics for the sofa. {If you live in Orange County, it’s a great source for upholstery fabric} While I shop for new pillow fabric, maybe something more spring/summer like, I was able to switch the reading room black and white pillows with the red pillows. The red pillows are now in the reading room. Isn’t it great when you can make changes without spending any money?!

#3. The final change for this particular post is my header on the site. Kevin, younger son, changed it for me. {Thank you Kevin!}

Future changes in store are mostly aimed at the yard. This year I plan to start small. The first planting area I’ve tackled is the flower bed that surrounds the patio. Stay tuned, I’ll share other updates as they happen.

Have you been busy around the house this year? I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to. ♥ Karen

Repeat favorites from blogland and beyond

13 Wednesday Apr 2016

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, House and Home

≈ 24 Comments

One of my goals this year was to post more about goings on in my garden and home. That gets a little more challenging as I share all there is to share that’s new. So today I’m sharing images of some of my all-time favorite rooms. You know, the ones you go back and look at time and time again and they still make you smile? You do that too, don’t you? 🙂

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This kitchen is perfect to me. I love the design work of Marianne Simon and this kitchen is one of my all-time favorites. Not too big, not too small.

I first discovered Christy Ford on and George blog site (I’m not sure the site is still up and running), and her publication The Scout Guide. I absolutely love her style.

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The rustic touches in this room and its overall loveliness are attributable in part to Bethany Puopolo, Architect. Do you ever find a common theme when you’re admiring a room, or that many of the rooms you love are designed by the same handful of designers/architects over and over?

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This corner of a room (which is all I can find ~ source unknown) is so charming as a small library / desk space. The books look like a collection of some kind and I adore the painting (wallpaper?) on the wall. Details like the lantern are icing on the cake for me!

Instagram introduced me to Trinity Holmes of c.1934. I love all of her images and wish, oh how I wish, she had a blog site. This kitchen vignette is absolute perfection, in my humble opinion. 🙂

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Are you noticing a theme? Buffalo check fabric? I do love it, especially when mixed with other prints. Francie Hargrove designs some of my favorite rooms.

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Ever since I received Gil Shafer’s book, The Great American House: Tradition for the Way We Live Now I’ve been in love with each and every project I’ve seen that he’s had a hand in.

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Wendy Posard is another talent that I seem to be drawn to. Her work for clients always seems fresh, less formal, more comfortable. A deconstructed kitchen at it’s best.

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I even find certain retail sources provide inspiration and are wish list worthy, like Williams Sonoma and Pottery Barn. This isn’t the old Sears Catalog, my friends! 🙂

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I’m certain you have favorites too. I’d love to hear of a few of your ‘go to’ designers. ♥ Karen

A book recommendation – Lies and Other Acts of Love

05 Tuesday Apr 2016

Posted by Karen B. in Misc

≈ 12 Comments

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Lies & Other Acts of Love review

It was only 1 year ago that I reviewed Dear Carolina, written by my talented friend, Kristy Woodson Harvey. Dear Carolina is Kristy’s first book, a wonderful story with characters that are easy to love.

So I was thrilled to be asked, once again, to review Kristy’s latest book, Lies and Other Acts of Love, released today!

I confess, I found this story even more riveting than Dear Carolina (and Dear Carolina was fabulous!) The multiple viewpoint of the story, woven between Lynn “Lovey”, the matriarch of this family, and Annabelle, Lovey’s granddaughter, kept my interest and made it difficult to put the book down.

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Like Dear Carolina, this book takes place in Kristy’s beloved North Carolina. After reading both books I feel a deep kindred spirit with the women of the south. I’m not trying to over-generalize, but the women are often strong, highly principled and well bred, these are characteristics I’ve always admired.

In this story “Lovey” is a woman of wisdom, due in part to her 60 year marriage to the love of her life, Dan, and raising 5 daughters. You don’t bear 5 children and grow older without getting wiser along the way. With that wisdom there are nuances to truth, and the occasional white lie can be beneficial to all concerned.

Annabelle is a beautiful and caring young woman, with what she believes to be a perfect family. Her life becomes a little less idyllic when she breaks her engagement with the man most would consider her ideal mate, to marry a musician. Annabelle is convinced Ben, her musician husband, is the love of her life, much like her grandmother [Lovey] and grandfather’s [Dan “D-daddy”] devotion to each other. Her youthful idealism is inspiring, but as most of us know, maturity teaches us that live isn’t always black and white.

There are some unexpected events and an exciting finish makes this book a favorite story of family, love and life lessons.

If you need an extra something for someone for Mother’s Day, this book would make a wonderful gift. In any case, I believe you will enjoy Lies and Other Acts of Love. ♥ Karen