Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself

Lately I've felt dead inside because summer has taken over.

By summer I mean kids schedules and the never ending cycle of activity.

My summer jobs include:
greater area water park tour guide, lifeguard, social coordinator, sleepover consultant,
ice cream social director and meteorologist.

All of which are add-ons to my regular duties:
driver, mediator, cook, house cleaner, therapist, and cheerleader.

Don't get me wrong.
I love staying home with my three kids...really.

But summer with kids home has me so busy running around
I don't have time/energy to bother with what I like.
Even reading others blogs seems like such a chore in the summertime.
I partly blame the humidity. It brings out my foul side.

Yesterday though, I had an epiphany.
My oldest girl asked me to play tennis with her.
And it was fun.
A great time, no place I'd rather be, fun.
We talked and laughed and chased tennis balls and acted stupid together.
I really saw her.

The years spent with loss of identity, personal time, personal space...they're for a reason.
I've helped grow a person I want to talk to and be with.
A girl who's funny and kind and wants to play tennis with her mom on a Wednesday night.
I mean, she sucked, but that's not the point.

I'm trying to stay focused on a bigger picture--raising confident, self sufficient, non-assholes.
So far so good.

More about this gorgeous room tomorrow.

{via Pinterest}

New Room for Large

I'm almost done with Large's room.

She loves how it came together and I do too.

There are small things left to do and I'll pick them up randomly as I find them.

The black and white fabric on her bulletin board is a major score from Ikea,

only $7.99 per yard.

It reminds me of Albert Hadley's Fireworks print.

Albert Hadley Fireworks {via}

Apple Green Rustoleum was exactly the color I was looking for in a desk chair.

It's the perfect mint green.

Frames are from Target.

Wall color is BM Ming Jade.

Bedding is from PBTeen and the monogramming is only $7 extra per monogram.

Last but not least,

the perfect finishing touch to the room is the decorative pillow I bought on Etsy from

Pearl Button Designs

at the wonderfully low cost of 35 bones.

Okay. I'll stop.

Exciting News

I was officially asked to design an office space for a friend who works from his home.
When I say 'official' I mean he offered me money.

I've helped numerous friends with their homes but always felt silly taking money from them.
But now I feel it's not so silly.
It's what I want to do with myself, hopefully more so after kids are older.
Also, reading this helped.

Large's room redo is almost complete.
Her new bedding and curtains came last week and they look amazing with the new wall color.

This is her new wall color.

Benjamin Moore Ming Jade

I also found a vintage bentwood chair for $35

that I'm painting mint green to go with the desk I scored on eBay for $99.

I love eBay more than most people I know.

True story.

And as long as I'm divulging everything, this is my new favorite table topper from Jayson

that I don't own but someday hope to.

{via}

New Year, New Rooms

Winter break is over
sending kids back to school tomorrow and I couldn't be more thrilled.

I've spent the last two weeks holed up with family...it feels like months.

I mean I love them, 

but I can't wait to get some time on my own and do whatever the hell I want.

Some exciting home projects will be starting and I can't wait to share them with you.

First off,
dining room wallpaper was delivered.

Hopefully it will look as awesome as this.

{via}

I'm also working on a room redo for my eight year old, Large.

She has outgrown the current room style that looks more nursery than 'older girl',

which is how she refers to herself.

Her room doubles as guest bedroom so I'd like it to be a bit sophisticated though still a girls room.

I've acquired different pieces here and there for the last few weeks.

An old mirror for $24 at the local antique mall.

A bulletin board that will be covered in fabric to hang pictures and stuff.

An antique writing desk for $99 on eBay.

Before.

After will be coming soon.

My entryway/living room/upstairs hallway will be repainted in a couple weeks.

I'm still thinking Chelsea Gray.

I was worried the house would look too dark,

but there's a lot of natural light throughout and also I always regret not going bolder.

Have I mentioned that we've lived in this house for four years and this will be the third time 

the same area has been painted?

Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray

{via}

Red

My favorite lipstick color is red.

It's always in style and in season.

It's confident, rich, fiery, exotic, hot--all words I aspire to.

I'm starting to feel the same about red in rooms.

It's glam, sophisticated, goes with every color, and immediately draws the eye.

My eldest daughter Large says it's her favorite color.

She may be on to something.

 

That Shit's Cray

In 1997 I met Hubs while working here.

He was my boss, he hired me.

Three girls later...everyday's Crazytown...I'm so lucky.

And no this isn't my house.

 Friday night was date night and we had so much fun together.

It was like back in the day...listening to music...talking...dreaming of futures
{now not ours but theirs}

and bouncing ideas off one another with all the new changes in our house 

since New York.

And alls we did was dinner and shop for furniture. 

And it was still the best.

15 years.

Crate and Barrel outlet

you are the wind beneath my wings.

Speaking of cray,

I snapped this picture from my car while driving last week.
Badass.

Avalon Blanket

I have three daughters.

At home we affectionately call them Small, Medium and Large.

My two year old, Small, is seriously in love with her blanket.
It's a 14x14 pink square thats silky on one side and furry on the other.
She carries it with her everywhere and gets comfort from holding it, stroking it, smelling it.

I was going to show you a picture of Blankie but then decided against it.
Theres no way to mask its dingy and unhygienic nature
as I'm sure you can imagine a blanket thats dragged around by a two year old would be.

If I were to pick a blanket, something that would give me comfort,
warmth and general happiness,
it would be an Hermes Avalon blanket.
How I covet it every time I see one folded at the foot of a bed or casually draped
on a living room sofa.
I imagine how one would look spread out on the back of my sofa.
I envision myself curled up with it
stroking its softness and smelling its wool/cashmere blended gloriousness.
Just like Small.