bedroom redo

We bought our first home in August 2008. We love our little 1958 California ranch. He is just the right size and luckily required few repairs. Most the stuff we did in the beginning was typical - paint, refinishing the floors, upgrading electrical. We aren't totally done with decor as it is an ever-evolving process (as my husband says, "we are done, right?" No, honey. It will *never* be truly done. )

We just finished round one in our master bedroom, finally making it comfortable and livable.

It is small and tough to place furniture. Our original bed frame didn't fit. Most of our furniture didn't work. It was painted this crazy-person pink - ceilings, walls and all in semi-gloss. Yes, it felt like the inside of a bubble gum bubble. And the walls were dirty. Ick.

Here is a few photos of what it looked at when we first moved in:


We just hated being in there.

Now, after some help from my designer friends (who suggested the furniture layout), here is what we came up with:








What a difference. I took these photos while changing the knobs on the vintage dresser we got on craigslist. We bought two smaller dressers to maximize storage and create a collection of sorts.

Next - tension pole lamp for my side of the bed, actually hang the photos on the wall and change the ceiling light fixture. I hate it.

What do you guys think so far?

New Year!

I have a REALLY good feeling about 2010.

That same feeling that you have when settling in at the movie theater about to watch the next BIG film.

That same feeling you have when standing in line to see your favorite band.

That same feeling that you had when you picked your seat in that large lecture hall for your first class in college.

Excitement, that good kind of anxious.

Here is what I am working on for 2010:

Establish a routine.
With my chaotic work schedule, it is tough to settle into a good routine at home. So I try to squeeze in stuff when I can...and it never works out. I let the stuff I love slide to the back burner when the "absolutely need to do" takes over. I need to make time for the things that matter to me most.

Stop selling myself short. Follow my bliss. Damn the naysayers.
I don't have to be Berenice Abbott. I just need to pick up my camera and shoot.
I don't need to be an American Idol. Singing in car is fine with me.
I don't need to win the marathon. I just need to cross the finish line.

I have this tendency to think that if I am not naturally talented in something, I shouldn't bother. That type of defeatist thinking takes the happiness out of even trying.

Be happy and have fun.
I let too many things get in the way of being happy. Screw 'em.
I'm going to get a massage, have drinks with my friends and watch Glee more often.

tenacity and target

i have no idea why it is so hard for me to finish what i start. no problem at work...just in my personal life. here i start this blog, i like doing it, and sadly don't update it enough. wondering if other occasional bloggers out there feel the same way.

maybe i just need to plan my free days carefully...making sure i'm not wasting them roaming the aisles of Target. which is exactly what i did today. :)

i have a love-hate relationship with Target. it annoys me that we live in such a disposable/planned obsolescence culture, but i love how cheap and cute everything is here.

case in point...i am seeing these cutie-patootie boots everywhere:

they are steve madden and cost around $140. i've seen them in several different incarnations. all the cool kids are wearing them.

they look great with black leggings, dark skinny jeans, etc.

i may not be cool enough to sport these, but i am definitely smitten. i said to myself, a few more Etsy sales and I could swing those.




then i walk into target.
yeah. they totally knocked off those madden boots. they aren't leather, but hell...they are worth the $30.

they are comfy, cheap and cute. and will most likely go out of style next year.

can't argue with that.


so i scooped these up and walked out. before i bought something else.

then i thought, i should definitely blog about that today.

and here i am. back blogging...if it took a ridiculous deal at Target to do it, so be it.

ok! actually on thekitchn.com!

Yes, my dear readers!! This time, I was actually featured on Apartment Therapy through their sister site, TheKitchn.com.

The article is based on decorating a San Francisco couple's sad little kitchen. The author recommended my red canisters to brighten things up a bit!

YAY me!

Apartment Therapy folks REALLY like those little red canisters.

my stuff in apartment therapy!

Okay, not my actual stuff, but in today's Hot House Tour on Apartment Therapy, I noticed TWO things that Maven Vintage sells in the featured house.

Below, the kitchen of Lisa and Clay who are featured as the Hot House Tour today on AT:

On the shelves in their kitchen are the doppelgangers of my orange enamel teapot and vintage california pottery.

Seriously!

I love this house, but had no idea that Lisa & Clay should hang with Adam and I!

Well, they may be a bit too cool for us.

Here are my versions, available now on Maven Vintage:

need a mental health day...week...whatever.

I have working so hard lately...all I can think about is running away on vacation!

I interviewed a gentleman who was telling me about his upcoming trip to Paris with friends. They rented an apartment and they'll be touring the city for a week.

Just the thought made my heart ache. What I wouldn't do to just take off with my hubby to Paris...in a beautiful apartment...buying cheese and wine...sitting at the base of the Eiffel Tower making fun of other tourists....just like we did on our honeymoon.

Even on our honeymoon I was thinking about starting an vintage shop.

I didn't buy anything for the shop then, but on my next trip to Europe, I picked up this travel clock at a flea market in Bologna.

I carried him around Italy with me...along with a little coin purse and a few other small goodies that I couldn't pass up.

Okay...time to get my act together and head to work.

The entire time, I'll be thinking of this instead: Haven in Paris.

back into the swing of things

well, well.

I've been on a bit of a hiatus and now I am tan, rested and ready! I'm ready to Etsy like crazy, finally finish my master bedroom/living room re-decorating and blog all about it.

In the past few days, I've been swamped with Etsy love and most recently featured on The Storque, Etsy's blog. You can see the actual post here.

They listed my little green martini for two set and it sold in a matter of hours.

Soon after, FifthQuadrant including the super cool antelope clip in her Treasury!

All this attention made me realize that I have to pay more attention to my store.

I've posted a few new things and took a million photos. Soon, you'll begin to see all the treasures that have been taking up space in my garage.

Speaking of Etsy, I've decided to take the plunge and submit an article idea to Storque. I've been pondering this story idea for a while and haven't been brave enough to send it in.

It is high-time that I get back to my journalistic roots. Heaven knows I always have a lot to say.