chair whoreder

i can't stop.  it's sick.  i don't NEED more chairs...but i just can't let a good deal pass me by!  i need a garage.  i need a warehouse.  i need a job shopping for other people.  regardless, my chair obsession goes on and craigslist provides:

today's $40 score.  gold, velvety goodness in PERFECT condition!

i had my madre pick this one for me via fresno craigslist.  not too many folks looking for plycraft there but they sure are in LA so this baby will be for sale soon. 

since my other friends were taking up too much space in the living room, my beautiful falcon chair is now visiting us in the boudoir. 

and this of course isn't a chair, but it's my latest project via some great inspiration from chezerbey's bathroom.  we've been saving toilet paper rolls so i can make this.  it's got a way to go but i LOVE it. more to come on this one in the future...

dirty bird

she was a dirty chair from the wrong side of town when we first met.

craigslist was our connection.  her online profile looked much better than in person.  i offered less money.

i brought her home because i saw she had good bones and just needed a wash.  $25 later, she was a new woman.  

it's amazing what a little upholstery cleaning can do.  

extending the holidays

it seems like time goes so fast lately. i feel like years roll into the next before i have a chance to enjoy the last. i decided to put up christmas decorations this year the day after thanksgiving. i've never been on it like this but i have to say i'm glad i did it. spending time in our living room is a true joy.

i've been a fraser fir advocate my entire life but after my mom kicked down this vintage white tree, i couldn't pass it up. a live garland is still going to be key to get that heavenly pine sent in the casa. between the white tree and the mirrored table...we're starting to look like a 70's coke den. i like. now i need to replace the jute rug with some furry number and we'll be ret to go!

when you don't have a real fireplace...well you make one. why long beach is notorious for these fake babies, i don't know, but i'm making the most out of mine.

two peas in a pod...that's us, and our first ornament as a mr. and mrs.

disco anyone?

the mirror is making plans with the tree

edit, edit then edit some more

well today my casa was featured on apartment therapy's small cool 2010 contest. some of us that live in limited space have entered a contest to see who's "worked it" the best. knowing there would be some serious competition i decided to throw my name in the hat for feedback on my efforts. and feedback i got.

mostly good...some overly generous...some great constructive criticism and some flaming bags of shit. the constructive stuff was useful. especially today as i drove to Hemet to pick up my new coffee table from the brick house. i was already planning on switching up the living room a bit once my mirrored friend arrived but also decided to edit the place down a bit after reading some comments.

design takes time. and it changes...sometimes constantly. those that have a decorator come in, buy all of their furniture at once and WA-LA! you're done! is not only boring, cookie cutter and no fun in my option, but not original. i collect pieces, i sell pieces. i try an item in one area and sometimes it sticks but mostly it doesn't. a picture of my house is a picture of it that day. tomorrow it's probably different. take the opinions of those you trust. don't be scared to edit.

that being said, i LOVE my table and i think it completely changes up the whole look of the living room. and the switch of the dining room rug for the family room rug is key.

now it's time take this table for a test run!
♥♥♥

spring has sprung

sunset dinner with my babe. after our adventure to the redondo beach pier fish market this past weekend, we've both had mussels on the mind. whole foods came through with these babies...$4.99/lb.

wild mussels w/ white wine, leeks, tomatoes, garlic
crusty bread
arugula salad w/ hass avocados and homemade vinaigrette
napa merlot

♥♥♥

in honor of my new banda corner......

ahhh saturday...

busy day on the home front. throwing a baby shower in san pedro @ noon which i'm ready and excited for..

but before then a little home improvement. we've been looking for a small desk for the guest room to house the desktop. while i prefer to work in our "dining room"...not so much a dining room right now...where the light is divine and the views are good, the bf finds his focus facing a wall with no distractions. to each their own!

when we first moved in we had envisioned one bedroom to be our sleeping quarters and the other to be a guest bedroom and office. since i work from home, the bf has let me be the main decision maker as to where that office is located in the casa. a couple of weeks ago we decided to use our dining room as a....DINING ROOM (which will also be my office sans bulky printer and file cabinets...thank you laptop!) so we can start having those dinner parties we've been dreaming of. (and secretly i'm double excited because you know what kind of shopping is on my horizon....CHAIRS! my fav)

i'll take better before and after picks of this $19 baby, but here's a sneak peak....

original lion drawer knobs and a possible ikea trade out....but probably not....

toodles!

my babe and his dusty self....

let there be light!

i'm on the hunt for an arc floor lamp. i just wish i could combine aspects of different lights to create my own.

If I were a carpenter, and you were a lady, would you marry me anyway? Would you have my baby?

ok, i'll stop.

check the gold one out in the background! ai chi wa wa.
.

Crate and Barrel's $299 Meryl Floor Lamp which is way more than i want to spend but has a solid arc width and a cool shade. but would i get sick of this shade after awhile? simpler is better?


the ol' Big Dipper from Cb2 for $199. i'd like a wider shade and a bigger arc.

so you ask where i want to put this baby...

well the base would go to the right of the tv, arc over the chair and land over the table in front of the window. you got me? i would be all over a ceiling lamp anchored above the table, but i rent this pad and there is no electrical in the ceiling of this room. too much trouble for now.

christmas @ the casita

even though it was 76* today, i'm trying to feel the christmas spirit. it's hard when you're wearing a tank top. i'm counting down the days until i go home, back to the land of tulle fog. i want to wear a coat, sit in front of a fire, go down christmas tree lane and check out the Dr. Suess exhibit @ the Metropolitan Museum which is sadly closing after 30 years in a couple of weeks.

here's my little slice of the holidays.....

disco balls are a must. my grandma had them and i do too.


wood snowflake




his and hers






recycled thanksgiving table decor (berries and pomegranates) on the mantel

evolution of a guest room

i'm ALWAYS moving stuff around my house. the bf comes home from work and is often puzzled where this or that went. he let's me "play". here's the latest and greatest from the guest room. it's already housed a few friends and family but is always open for more. UH HUM....you know who you are.....

my family of owls that hang by the window and will watch you while you sleep. what?! original native american painting (yet another thrift score from my mom) $2...holler!

"the long walk" etching by Albrecht Durer, given to me by my mom's best friend.

cool mid-century looking candle holder my mom scored @ the thrift store. very architectural and right up my alley. thinking man's number game for the high school math teacher bf, german clock from dad.

not the boy IN the bubble, the boy WITH the bubbles. and my child's shoe mold from the estate sale finally found a home....for now.

my $25 craigslist score of a chair! crazy, i know. that table has to go, but for now it stays. notice the two dueling tall ship skateboards.

my cinco de mayo

being of German decent, i take Oktoberfest seriously....well the food part. i've been craving sauerkraut for weeks so last night i put my dreams into reality.

my version:
1 package of Trader Joe's Chicken Spicy (ah hum Italian) sausages
1 bottle good beer
2 T. olive oil
1 c. chicken broth
2 onions sliced
6 red potatoes cubed
1/2 lg. jar of sauerkraut minus the juice
2 carrots gratted
1 apple cut up into matchsticks

-simmer the sausages in beer, olive oil and chicken broth for 10 min. remove the sausages from the broth.
-in a large pot, caramelize the onions in a splash of olive oil until the start to turn light brown. add potatoes and cook another 5 min. add sauerkraut, liquid from sausages and carrots. cover and cook on med for 10 min.
-add carrots and sausages back to pot as well as apple sticks. cook on low with the lid until potatoes are tender.
ENJOY!
(this recipe originated from the latest Rachel Ray mag but i altered it a bit)

and then came dessert:
Pumpkin Flan
(serves 10)
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 12oz. can evaporated milk
1 14oz. can sweetened condensed milk
5 lg. eggs
1 1/2 t. Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 15oz. can pumpkin puree

-preheat oven to 350*. in a medium saucepan over high heat, add the sugar and pour 2/3c. water around the perimeter. usinng a wooden spoon, cook, stiring until golden, about 5 min. lower the heat and cook until copper colored, (make sure it's nice and golden brown so the carmelized flavor is right) 1-2 min.
-i poured this mixture (all of it by mistake) into 6 ramekins vs. the one 10-in. pie pan as the recipe called for. next time i'll add less sugar.
-tilt to coat the bottom and sides of the dishes then place in a roasting pan.
-using a blender, combine the next remaining ingredients and poor into the ramekins (or pie pan). fill the roasting pan with enough water to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. bake until set, 45-60 min. **mine only took 45**
-transfer ramekins to a rack to cool completely, about 45 minutes. refrigerate until the carmel is set, about 2 hours. invert onto a place.
-i had about 3 c. of the pumpkin mixture left which i froze for another time so this recipe definitely makes more than 6 ramekins worth.

these were DAMN good and oh so fall.
(this recipe also came from the same mag but once again adapted by me)

security breech

i was recently inspired by Lovely Morning's security envelope crafting. genius. i too have been saving these babies for awhile trying to figure out what to make with the cool insides. i've also been staring at my two new "old" 4 drawer file cabinets debating on a color to paint them...or a stencil to tag somewhere. today 1+1=2. check it---->







WA-LA.