morning's light

corners of my home: walls

 

Two corners of my apartment. Pardon the photo quality *sigh*  Cell phone cameras are not made for blogging, I'm afraid.  

 

additional closet photos

sooooooooooooo
I did take more closet photos.
they're posted on my other blog and flickr

 
 

Ingrid Eroy's whimsical, colorful 1926 home

 

Ingrid Erøy and her family live in a 1926 home that started out (for them) needing a lot of work - as in they had to renovate the entire house.  

Happy colors characterize also their home. Neutral walls and floors in white and light gray are quiet background for the green chairs, orange pillows, floral lampshades, and red stools. bowls, vases, jars, cups and saucers in all colors standing around like little, delicious candy. Many of the items purchased used, but either Ingrid or Remi's rabid flea commuters.

In the kitchen, the family gathered around a rectangular dining table as they came up Finn.no. The light above the table was Remi bought one day he accidentally walked past a hair salon that was to close down, where they sold out the inventory. The shelf on the wall is from the house's former kitchen, the chairs are purchased on the used market.Much old, something new.*

 
 

     

 
  

*text from this interview with the family. I used google translate to be able to read it in English.
images via Green Is the New Black for Mamma

what's in YOUR bag?

 click photo to see a larger version

Was double-dog-dared by nicole to reveal the contents of my bag without editing or cleaning up the bag!  What's missing is the spaghetti and veggies I had for lunch (yum!) and my camera (uh..using it).  

Here's what came out of the big green tote:

• sheet protectors holding a project by sally of shimandsons.  I need a great idea for a welcome-to-the-8th-grade-girls-group for my church girls this fall.  Sally's gift idea may be just the thing!
• keys (was challenged by a teen the other day about the use for each key..and was impressed that I use every single key on there.  nothing extra.  I'd much rather have two keys on the ring, but that's not happening soon).
• pen
• lipgloss
• lipstain
• sunglasses
• wallet (UK Designer is: ZPM.)
• checkbook cover used to hold two spending categories: gas and groceries
• marimekko makeup bag
• gum
• laura bennett's book. loved it and will buy a used copy soon.
• water bottle

now...what's in YOUR bag?  feel up to revealing the stuff you lug around daily?

image by sunnygirlwi

a "before" kitchen that needs the Kitchen Cure!

BEFORE: the coffee corner with some funky artwork, originally uploaded by sunnygirlwi.

I'm participating in my first Cure - the Apartment Therapy Kitchen Cure for 2010. Here's a photo of my counter that needs help along with other photos of my kitchen.  I did not have a need for all the cabinets in my kitchen, so upon move-in, items got tossed into cabinets and drawers without a real system set up.  Two years later, it's time for a thorough cleaning and not even a redecorating stint...more like "decorating for the first time". 

Anyone else participating in the four-week Kitchen Cure?

My rental kitchen (definitely a "before" photo!).

 
BEFORE:  The kitchen before completing the AT Kitchen Cure including the cluttered refrigerator, the counter full of mish-mashed items, a counter still wet from a quick wipe down, and some random objects above the cupboards. 

 images: sunnygirlwi

orla kiely + dominoes

Who knew dominoes could complement an Orla Kiely tablecloth from Target so well?!!  this is taken from my phone (much apologies for the quality) in my apartment last night. 

.

photo by sunnygirlsf

a sunny kitchen

 

While my guest for the week, Sharona, is curled up at home on my loveseat, working on her laptop in comfort, I'm viewing this sunny kitchen and wishing I could work at that table.  

images: design*sponge

Here's Sharona at my apartment - we had to call tech support for my wireless router and were walked through the corrections needed - step by step.  Lovely!

 image: sunnygirlwi

babysteps to order + brightness

The Bill Murray film, What About Bob, has been on my mind lately.  So many great lines in there [Baby step to four o'clock. Baby step to four o'clock.]  plus I've seen it so many times that I now recognize the very moment in the film where Bob begins to seem normal and the doctor starts to seem a bit.....intensely focused (to put it nicely).  

This flu/cough is finally ending - I can breathe again between fits of coughing but to make sure all is well, I'll be sticking pretty close to home this weekend.  That means that I can bring order to an apartment that has gotten a bit untidy and perhaps tackle a few other projects as well.  I have a plan to baby step my way to success + use some inspiration photos to guide the way.

1. Clear the clutter from my bedroom + actually make my bed. 

2. Put up artwork on the three magnetic boards above the dining table.  (Inspired here by the simple, pretty touches in the dining room.)

 

3. Add bright splashes of color as seen on this gorgeous couch and the green and pink pillow on the left.

4. Watch Grey Gardens + Twilight. 

5. Read The Prairie Girl's Guide to Life: How to Sew a Sampler Quilt & 49 Other Pioneer Projects for the Modern Girl (by Jennifer Worick).

Photos 1-3 from Apartment Therapy

instant thrifting

photo: pixeljones on flickr

instant thrifting...A stack of items for the thrift store sits by my front door, waiting patiently, I think, to be taken to the thrift store.  I could go after work or at lunch, but I seem to wait for a minimum of ten items to be in the pile before I take a donation in.  I should be more like the guy who seems to have perfected the insta-donate action.  I was helping the thrift store employee unload items from the backseat* of my car once when a young guy drives up, hands the employee one sweater, and then drives off.

*note... Normally one would put items for donation into the trunk of a car but the trunk of my car is 90% full.   Quite embarrassing at the grocery store parking lot when I want to load groceries and look around to see if anyone sees my full trunk.  I glance over with envy at people who open a trunk, pop in their few cloth bags of groceries into a clean trunk, shut the door and go merrily on their way - no guilt hanging over them about needing to clean out the trunk.  

Sophie...When my little Honda sedan is clean, her name is Sophie.  When it gets a tad messy, I apologize to Sophie while I pat the dashboard for the car not looking perfect.  When the car trunk is full and there are items out of place in the front seat?  Then the car has no name.  

{three wrapped frames}

Hello. I'm not crafty, but last night, I created something new out of something old - which I think qualifies as "crafty".  I have had a set of frames from IKEA's "as-is" section and a roll of pretty wrapping paper - and all has just sat in a closet for two years. Last night I grabbed the frames and in ten minutes had covered the frames with wrapping paper and hung them on my dining room wall which had been barer than bare.

The set of IKEA frames had been $5 because two of the four paper-covered-frames had tears on the front.  No matter - the wrapping paper covered those nicely.

Then I discovered the World o' Coupons - a new savings that I had ignored, not thinking about the benefits. I picked up a copy of the Sunday paper but will get two copies next week for duplicates on the coupons.  This morning was an immersion into saving money.  I spent $18 at Walgreens but had a recorded amount of savings (through coupons, Walgreens coupons and store savings) of more than $21.

OLD SCENARIO:  At home I run out of toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, and dish detergent all at the same time.  "Crapola!" says I, "Now I need them all!" and thus plan a trip to the store where the items are bought at (gasp, I know) full price.  No longer. 

NEW LIFE WITH COUPONS: Today I picked up items for cheap (most less than half price): plastic cups for my game night this weekend, Ajax, Reynolds wrap, chicken stock, paper towels and my favorite lipstick/lipgloss (via Nothing But Bonfires): Covergirl Lipslicks in "Daring"  ($1 off one, and buy one get one 50% off) and my shampoo and conditioner ($3 for both AND I get a free haircut too for that $3.  not bad). 

Yes....I'm going on and on.  Like no one has ever used coupons before or been thriftily crafty at home before.  Any hints/tips you could share?

rummaging rewards

The weekend flew by but was full and happy.  How was yours?

FRIDAY  Left a comment on Chez Larsson's post to do a casual swap with someone.  I'm in the U.S. and love Scandinavian style decor magazines and French magazines.  You can still get in on the swapping by leaving a comment on this Chez Larsson post.    Then went out with FreakyBlair to play cards at a local cafe.  By relaxing there for three hours, we were witnesses to quite a bit of drama.  Didn't know my little city had that much drama in it.

SATURDAY Met up with Kirsten to visit a private school's annual barn sale/fundraiser.  I found a few French books and a wire basket while Kirsten found an antique rake (a little hand-held one). We checked out a public school's sale across the road and I found this adorable little desk for three dollars.  Not yet sure how or where I'll use the desk but am happy with the purchase!

 

At a craft festival, Kirsten and I each bought a ring from a local artist. The rings were adorable and quite the bargain in the ten dollar range. 

SUNDAY  Church then lunch and a movie with a friend.  Saw the Simon Pegg film How to Lose Friends and Alienate People.  I saw Simon Pegg months ago in Run, Fatboy, Run and enjoyed that movie a whole lot more. 

i can see clearly now....

have you ever been in a mind fog...where you simply can't think clearly, you view the world around you and everything in it through a distortion?

I just lived in a world of haziness for the past nine days. part of it was fever induced thanks to the flu.  but a remnant was from spending time with a critical friend who is now more of an acquaintance.  she used to pounce on everything I said and did, until I withdrew into myself and was unsure of everything I'd done.  (this happened two years ago).  I spent time with her recently for a bit, and felt transported directly back to the time when she influenced my thoughts and actions.  I felt paralyzed by my thoughts and got enough work done to meet deadlines - but no extra.  emails took extra thought and numerous drafts and even then, I'm sure recipients were singing to themselves..."AWK-ward!!!"

when I figured out today what the problem was and the control one person was having over me, I was able to let the haziness lift and for the first time in forever (or nine days), the fog lifted and I had a clear mind.

that clear mind led to a peace of heart and a cleaner house!  I got more done tonight than I have in two weeks:

• worked late to complete a project
• grocery shopped
• cooked dinner + will enjoy homemade food this week!
• thoroughly cleaned the kitchen
• unloaded, loaded and ran the dishwasher (no mean feat when you can't think straight)
• unclogged the tub
• cleaned the tub until it sparkled!
• organized some paperwork
• did laundry
• caught up with a friend and was able to be darn cheerful on the phone - without trying!
• watched american idol and the end of biggest loser (the person voted off is so sweet.  the comment at the end about "let's all be healthy TOGETHER" was the sweetest thing
• read a bunch of blogs in google reader - since I'm so far behind

The photo above is a shot of the new shelves over my desk... the office has become my favorite place in the apartment. 

no more tears! [my apartment has grown up!]

I love the K family!  They spent the middle portion of their Saturday at my apartment putting up shelves, assembling a table and some boxes, hanging artwork on the walls and keeping me company.

This photo sums it up...(click photo for larger version & to read the text)

As the the official photographer....it's my duty to bring you more photos from the afternoon:

G jumping on the couch to make sure the slipcover fit perfectly.

S posing again. "Take MY picture..... Can I SEE it????"

far away friends + flowers

suzy + mindy + sharona ----- in a favorite photo of mine

home office aglow

photos by sunnygirlwi

sorting + more sorting

I woke up early this morning and remembered how I'd had to look through a big box of "stuff" to find my checkbook so I could write that one-check-per-month for rent. (and when will my rental agency accept online payments?  they said no one wants to pay rent online.  really? have they asked the numerous people who drive to the office and drop in payments in the drop box?)

I drag the box to the living room and sort through the contents.  Here are the results shortly before I disbursed the items to their appropriate drawers, containers, and recycle bin.

 

Ten pounds of rubbish and recycling?  Why was I holding onto that?  Lesson learned.  Let things go.

so I should take them out of my car then?

A few items have taken up residence in my car.  I'm thinkin' that they'd look so much better if I'd take them up to my apartment, unwrap them, and put them to use. Here's a selection of my IKEA purchases this weekend:

Once the items are gathered together then put into place, I will post some photos!  I still have to finish two "IKEA Closet Makeovers" and document that as well!

Anyone watching American Idol, Miss America: Reality Check or Project Runway?

the office corner

a view of my office.

drinking caffeine in an attempt to be alert and productive today.

worked a concert last night and didn't get home until 11 PM.

practically counting the hours until the five-day-holiday-weekend.

(shopping + movies + church + family + friends - not necessarily in that order!)

what Christmas weekend plans do you have?

newness

new water glass, originally uploaded by sunnygirlwi.

my new seasonal water glass for the desk.

thirsty yet?

sunday evening lights

no christmas tree yet but here are the outside lights on my deck that are making me smile tonight. I keep taking glimpses through my patio blinds to see the pretty lights. 

I keep hearing from friends who may have had plans to go out tonight but changed their minds and stayed in..and are in turn having cozy evenings just like I am.  I watched a film, made dinner, enjoyed the lights and am now watching the second of the first two Project Runway episodes.  I do have some favorite designers and some that are making me laugh out loud. 

Saw August Rush this weekend and loved it.  It's a clean movie and includes such beautiful music.  I might have to see it one more time.

photos by yours truly.  was playing with the camera settings and it turns out that the "evening portrait" setting takes a pretty good photo.  it was dark outside but look how clear the table and chairs turned out!

cozy sunday evening

baking chicken + roasting potatoes

installing christmas lights inside + on balcony

listening to jazz

clearing spaces simply to have open space to enjoy

resting before the start of a new week

3 ingredients for sunday night

corn nuts

+

cherry slushie

+

the amazing race

=    

happy sunday evening at home!

{in the cupboard}

1. colorful magnet clips, 2. glasses + polka dot mug, 3. blue - yellow - yellow, 4. dishes + stripes

images by sunny