Outdoor holiday decorations

13 Monday Dec 2010

Posted by Karen B. in DIY (do it yourself), Gardening, Outdoor living, Traditions

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When I think of decorating for Christmas, indoor decorations get more of my attention than outdoor…until this year. 5^th and State, a blog site I recently stumbled upon, featured a DIY on planting outdoor planters for Christmas. If you’d like to see more visit HERE.

I live in Southern California and let’s face it we’re simply NOT going to be celebrating the holidays with freshly fallen snow.

left & right images via 5th and State

image via Country Living

That said when we entertain friends and family they will pull up to the curb and the first thing they see is the entrance to our home.

image via 5th and State

I’ve always done wreaths, sometimes fresh sometimes fake faux. I don’t have a bias since I’ve seen beautiful versions of both.

This year I will attempt to go a little beyond the front door wreath. (By the way, we do hang a string of lights across the front of the house but due to the design of our roof line it would be suicide for anyone to get up on the peak of the roof to really do the Griswold Family Christmas version of Christmas lights).

I picked up some Ilex berries from a local floral supply store and added them to the cone shaped boxwood in the urn by the front door.

The berries are faux but festive!

I also planted some cardinal ivy geranium in the planter on the right side of the door but, sadly, they are not in full bloom right now.

There will be more red blossoms later in the year, probably after Christmas but maybe in time for St. Valentine’s Day.

image via Martha Stewart Living

I put a bow and some holy on the lantern that sits by the door, I guess that will be a good start to branching out beyond the front door wreath.

I used a wax battery-operated candle so that I can turn it on and not worry about it catching anything on fire.

Welcome to our home!

image via room service

Maybe next year I’ll put a pre-lit garland around the door!

With all of the options for incredible wreaths I will have to try a new one each year! {just kidding} What are you doing to welcome guests this year?

Hard copy vs. digital

18 Monday Oct 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Trends

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home, library

For as long as I can remember I’ve loved perusing magazines and books on the topic of interior design/decorating (I’ve been told there’s a difference; I think some RULES are involved with design).

This room looks comfortable and inviting for an afternoon of reading.

With the inevitable continuation (yes, there was a time I thought, “surely magazines and newspapers will always be around”) of digital media I’ve pondered, “Can a self-proclaimed home decorating enthusiast ever find happiness with digital magazines and books?” I confess the answer for me is a resounding NO, with some qualification.

Reading about room design is such an escape for me. I have often said that feathering my nest is my artistic outlet, my hobby and my passion. I know from reading my favorite blog sites and design books that I am not alone in this. In fact some of my closest friends share this passion. So with the loss of magazines such as Southern Accents, Cottage Living and House & Garden, I felt the blow. I kept it to myself for fear that most would wonder what was wrong with me—after all, they are only magazines!

I love the ease of viewing images of rooms by the hundreds (thousands even) from all over the world on the World Wide Web, with just the click of a mouse. That said, spending hours in front of my computer fails to give me the same enjoyment as curling up in a favorite reading chair with a stack of magazines or design books and a cup of tea, or glass of wine if it’s after 5 p.m. is pure bliss!

I don't own an iPad but I've heard they are wonderful.

The Analog Sherpa, a site that features news and opinion on the rapidly changing marketing/advertising world recently had a thought-provoking piece on this topic. While THIS article focuses on newspapers, it’s a trend that seems destined to take down some of the publications I cherish.

I’ve visited Nesting Newbies, a digital magazine that has gotten lots of recognition since its first issue late last year. And don’t get me wrong, the magazine is very attractive and has a lot to offer readers, including some wonderful recipes, BUT at the end of the day I want to wind down instead of boot up for a visit to a favorite magazine.

This toile-covered ladderback chair and ottoman has given me hours of comfort while reading.

I am an optimist by birth and choose to believe there will be new shelter magazines to replace the ones shuttered and that IF they all go away I’ll get used to sitting in that comfy chair with my iPad (which means I’d have to purchase one) and be eagerly flipping pages of my favorite digital magazine. I’d love to have you talk me down on this—what do you think? Will you be okay with digital media?

Is it me? Am I trying to hold on to a archaic ritual?

Bloom where you’re planted

10 Friday Sep 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Uncategorized

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home

Making the most of where you live is something I’ve never had trouble doing—maybe it’s the Nester in me (or the optimist). I have enjoyed each and every place I’ve lived, but this became especially true once I was able to do what I wanted in the way of decorating. My first apartment was a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom place on Alamitos Bay in Long Beach. I shared the apartment with 3 other girlfriends who happen to work at Disneyland with me. This only whetted my appetite for decorating my living space.

I soon moved into a 1 bedroom place on my own—it’s an only child thing. One of my best friends, Linda, shared my love of creating a comfortable living space and we used to shop weekly for decorative accessories and items that might make a future first kitchen as a married lady (trousseau).

This was one of the first pans I bought and it has lasted me 37 years.

I must have been a child bride!

This is one of the items we used to shop for when my girlfriend and I were anticipating owning our own kitchens one day.

Having lived in my current house these past 28 years (which have flown by) I marvel that I can still think of things I’d like to do to the house but most importantly, I still love where we live.

Part of the reason I’m happy here is the neighborhood itself. For a tract of houses the surrounding area has lots of rural charm. There are plenty of sidewalks to exercise on (walk or jog) and bike trails but there are also some walking trails—Madison, our terrier mix, loves this route best.

Madison is telling me it's time for our weekend walk with Debbie and Jane.

Does she look impatient? Yep!

We have this little stream that runs through a community park---I've been told it's runoff from a neighborhood reservoir

I wonder who carved this chair from a tree stump.

We have fun getting our exercise in this community and I’m thankful I can make time stop to smell the great outdoors once in awhile.

I hope your life allows you time to get out and walk around the neighborhood, smell the roses or sage brush, as the case may be. What do you like about where you live?

Things on a List

23 Friday Jul 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, Renovating

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home, list making

Because its Friday and we’re headed into the weekend I thought we all might want to work on our respective “list of things to do”—even if #1 on the list is 1. RELAX! Here is what has been on my mind/list and I hope to get a DIY project done this weekend. I’ll keep it (the project) a secret in case it doesn’t turn out and I can just casually say, “Oh, my DIY? No, I ended up relaxing all weekend.” 🙂
Happy Weekend and enjoy!

I’m an avid list maker—I often have more lists than I can keep track of. That pretty much defeats the purpose of a list, right? Originally my list making was strictly of the variety commonly known as “Things to Do” list. But over time I have started making lists of home improvements, reference list (such as blog sites that have tutorials that may come in handy in the future), blog sites I love to visit list, and things we’ve done to our home list.

The prettier the paper for making a list the happier I am.

What I discovered is that lists, in addition to bringing order to chaos {when you actually fulfill your list}, can be a journal of sorts. When I review my lists they help me recall what I’ve been doing.

Finding a mirror where this framed picture is hanging is on my "dream" list of future home improvement projects.

This comes in handy where our home is concerned. In fact, I discovered that if a home-improvement project makes it to the “things I’d like to do to the house” list there is a pretty good chance that even some of the larger projects will get done sooner rather than later. Is it that whole “positive thoughts produce positive results” thing?

Okay, I realize I don't have this view but one of the things on my list for a few years has been to create a stone pad in our backyard...we have a natural canopy of ficus trees that would be the perfect spot to have some comfy chairs.

Another thing on my list is finding a fountain that cascades the water instead of sounding like someone using the restroom (if you know what I mean).

I also found that the list of “things we bought/done to the house” serves me well when it comes to things like—why does this sofa fabric look so worn? Oh it might be because its been 10 years since we’ve reupholstered! Time does fly and we often forget that it was some time ago that we replaced/repaired something in the home.

This is inspiration for my "remodel the guest bath" list. It may be awhile but having it on the list helps.

I believe lists help me feel less stressed about the things I’d like to accomplish. I do believe my list, where my home is concerned, is an unending list! What’s on your list to do to your home this year?

The Ultimate Home Accessory

14 Monday Jun 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Uncategorized

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Dogs, home, pets, Pets in the home

I know for a fact that there are plenty of really nice people that don’t care for dogs. Or they have allergies or they don’t like the clean up involved or they believe their home is too small to have a dog. I truly understand and my philosophy is ‘live and let live’.

My husband and I happen to have 2 dogs and 1 cat and we love them. We live in a “cottage” of 1,725 square feet. We raised 2 wonderful sons in this home and have enjoyed the company of the following pets during our 28 years in our home: 6 cats (sadly the first 2 were taken by coyote, 1 ran away when we got a new puppy, 1 was hit by a car and 1, a shelter cat died of old age—we learned not to allow our cats outdoors after dark due to the coyote problem), 5 dogs, 1 desert tortoise, 1 rabbit, 1 canary, 2 mice, 1 hamster, 1 lizard and a partridge in a pear tree (not really on the whole partridge deal).

Maggie has resorted to high places to relax since Madison likes to chase her, she'll have none of it!

"Hey Madison, we look pretty good in this house!", said Winnie

In my humble opinion I feel pets enrich our lives and add entertainment value to our home. I admit there are times when I curse the dust bunnies that develop as a result of shedding and I go through lots of Swiffer cloths. But at the end of the day I am so happy to have those enthusiastic little friends greet me when I arrive home and are happy to rest near me while I read or watch television.