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Tada!! {long post}

I can say our one and only bathroom is 95% done...we have some trim to paint and the door and I have to decide what window covering to go with{don't have enough fabric to cover this window} and most likely will change out the shower curtain depending on that the window covering, maybe bamboo shades.  So let me take you back in time when we first looked at this house to buy, back in 2010...

I was in love with this house the moment I saw it on one of my many "drive bys", but when we got to see inside and I saw the bathroom I was not a fan at all and especially NOT a fan with the this vessel sink..it was so modern which didn't fit with the rest of the cottagish type of house that it is. In my mind if we got the bid that would be one of the first things I would change out as soon as I got the chance.

This picture was the first we ever took of the bathroom so notice the wall color was a decent celedon green...that cabinet...horrible. The drawers were made out of particle board and would fall out if you pulled them too far, the particle board had disengrated.  The tile floor I could of lived with but we ended up replacing it with something I completely am in love with.

A few months ago the toilet started acting up so that led us into starting the bathroom makeover sooner than later, which haulted the yard work which was sort of our aim to focus first on our cottage projects. 

Here is Mr. Incredible deciding how and which design we should go with on the travertine.  Originally I thought I wanted a hexagon ceramic tile, we went to several tile stores in the Orange County area and when I saw this Silver Travertine rectangular stone, I knew immediately this was the one I wanted and he agreed!  We saw a carrera marble tile in one of the stores.

Here is the marble with white grout and looked very similiar to the silver travertine..I liked them both but with the travertine it had some tanish tiles that matched the tub tiles, so it would all tie in. Below is the travertine before grouting.

I liked that it wasn't white, white and wouldn't be a pain to keep clean all the time.  It also had some tiles that were a bit on the tanish side which would tie into the tub area tiles which I had no plan on changing out. 

 Remember my "design board"? You can see the grout table, I thought again about this being the only bathroom and it would get a lot of dirty shoes {soccer players and construction worker} so I didn't want to be a slave to cleaning the floor so I decided against a whiter grout and went with Delorean Gray from Home Depot.  I'm happy with the choice so far.

I think it looks great with the scalloped- crochet -gray- oval bath mat from World Market, I got it for 15% off online using my birthday coupon which was last month.

Originally I wanted to use my daughters shabby chic desk as the vanity but Mr. Incredible talked me out of it.  The desk is curvy and I wanted to get a piece of carrera marble to fit but he suggested I get a vanity that had it all together but I wanted it to look like a piece of furniture so I went online and found the Vanover Carrera top Vanity from Lowes. I'm so glad we went with it because the desk would of been too low especially with some tall people who live in this house {not me}. 

I'm in love with the Victorian goose neck in brushed nickel faucet from Signature Hardware.  LOVE it!  I wanted to use some of the fixtures that came with the house when we moved in, for example the towel bar, toilet paper roll holder, that's why I went with the brushed nickel faucet and what's to not like about her, her curvy lines.  Bliss.

It also matched my Southern Living Canisters.....perfectly.

Speaking of Southern Living...I've been using this tray that goes with my gravy boat to corral my Fleur de Sel soap and lotion from Williams-Sonoma.

Above the new toilet {which I must say I don't like,  I wanted another one but this was Mr. Incredible choice, I wanted one that had a crown molding lid and he wanted a better price.} I lost but I won the most battles in this redo.

The ivy topiary is happy with it...loves the sun it gets through the window, you can see a close up of the beadboard and ledge Mr. Incredible put in, I think it's perfect for our cottage on cullen.

We had another cabinet in the bathroom that I got on the side of the road, {it was from Target} but when I put it up, it looked too bulky then I was going to have one made our of old window I saw on my pinterest{I have a friend who makes great stuff out of old stuff, he redid my farmhouse table} but while browsing his shop the vender next to him at this little glass-doored wood cabinet.  I thought it would warm up the space a bit so I asked for it for my birthday.  Yes..I don't want diamonds or fancy jewelry, give me stuff for my house, that makes this girl happy.

Ok...let's talk paint colors, I vacillated between a gray, greige, greenish blue, or taupe. I ended up choosing Silver Fox by Dunn Edwards which is a grayish, greenish-blue.  I might change it out down the road to more of a grayish green or taupe.  The beadboard is painted Cottage White, so fitting right? So there you have it. We started this DIYer bathroom in December and now we are in April with it almost done.  Doing the happy dance...one project down...5 million to go. Ha!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From our Spring Table to yours..

Here is our Easter tablescape all ready for the good food to come........

I used a variety of things that were handed down from my mother and grandmother and some things I've had for several years.  The antique silverware was my Mothers' Mother and I use it for Christmas and Easter dinners.  The linen napkins were my mothers and I must say this is the first time I've used them and I have had them forever.  The plates I bought years ago from Homegoods...I wish I bought the whole set..but then again I like a mix and match table. The cloche has a little nest with my robin eggs from Homegoods too, I have had those for several years.  The mason jar wine glassess are new from Sam's Club that I got in December.  I think I'd like to get rattan chargers or maybe some silver ones to step it up a bit...don't know yet. I see them at the Goodwill from time to time but the Goodwill as gotten expensive.  I think rattan will give it a more rustic look that I like.

 These cute little ceramic baskets are new from my local grocery store, they were like $2.00 a piece...not bad.  I used some moss, added the Truffle Eggs from Willams- Sonoma and added the glittered ribbons for some sparkle.

The runner, which is actually kitchen towels from Willams-Sonoma a few years ago.  From our table to yours...wishing you and your family a Happy Easter !!!!

the inside of Roger's Gardens 2012

Is this not a gorgeous mantel....I love all the woodwork detailing on it.  I'm so sorry the pictures are going to be a bit dark, most of the inside is not near  windows to capture the light while I was taking pictures.

I really would of liked to take home this chippy boat full of shells to put some plants in it and have it on my porch or maybe a vintage-looking Santa inside with a boatload of gifts under the our tree. 

Speaking of trees at Roger's Gardens, each tree is in a room with a theme.  They have several room and several trees.  As always I'm always attracted to the glittery ones.....

or Under the Sea Ones..this tree was upside down {Madison has a Sealife tree in her room.maybe we should turn hers upside down this year...Hi ya Mary! 

This tree had a Toy Theme going on down to it's rusty toy cars at the bottom to the....

to the wooden toy boat at the top.  I LOVE that boat too...wouldn't it look great on my mantel?

Here is a Scandanavian tree with it's cute little knitted stockings with a paper garland and paper star at top...

I thought this was the cutest tree there!!!  It had the Woodsy Friends Theme going on with pinecones, mushrooms, feathers and nests...

This cute little Hedgehog wishing you a Happy Winter...

glamed and glittered up birdhouse made out of birch bark {my favorite kind of tree}...I loved this tree the best!

Owls are really popular these days as you can see some on the table for purchase to add to the outdoor decor along with some spotty mushrooms ornaments, they were super cute.

Would this not be great for a Travel birthday themed party.....or a going away party...Hot Air Balloons suspended from the ceiling...

All kinds of different lanterns also hanging from the rafters in another room. I love going to this "one of kind shop", the stylists are so wonderfully creative and I gleam so many ideas that I can take and incorporate into my own home.  Sometimes I manage to bring home a trinket or two....remember this post?

 

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The Coastal Christmas Mantel 2012

The Coastal Christmas Mantel 2012

Last Year I attempted to create a Coastal Christmas Mantel but it did come together like I was hoping, but this year it seemed to flow a lot better with the beach theme. Lots of burlap, shells, variety of blues, nautical rope, some greenery and a bit of sparkle was this year's recipe to create the coastal Christmas I was after.

I did not use a wreath like last year but used the topiaries from Trader Joe's and my German Glass glittered "Merry Christmas" instead...

yes..don't look at my dirty fireplace...it was clean the week before..but I did not clean it up to take pictures..yep I'll never hear Country Living knocking at my door to photoshoot homes for their magazine. The stockings I bought the last couple of years from the etsy shop Bella Inspirations.  They are HUGE and so very well made.  Super happy with them.

I got the two white glittery Santas at Roger's Gardens this year..they were very reasonbly priced at 12.00 a piece. 

With my pearly lighted garland that I have had forever...probably 20 years ago from a Speigal Catalog..do they still exist?  My favorite chunky candlestick holders, one in white with beading used as a pedastal for my aqua mason jars and the other two in Mercury glass from Kohls I bought several years ago 70% off  at the after Christmas Sale. The coastal tidbits I added to the mantel such as; the nautical rope ribbon intertwined with the garland, pencil/ knobby seastars and sand dollars plucked from around the house, some lantern ornaments on clearence from Target last year, the seashell frames with pictures of the girls to mark their stockings, the aqua mason jar with candles, burlap wrapped topiares and my Wendy Addison German glass "Merry Christmas"...that I've changed around every year since I bought it.  Sometimes it's on the tree, sometimes it's hanging in a frame, but this year it is taking center stage on our Coastal Christmas Mantel hanging from out shabby blue shutters that are always up on the matel from season to season. 

 Now head on over to The Lettered Cottage Mantel Linky Party for some holiday mantel inspiration. I'll be linking up and partying over there too.. 

Roger's Gardens

Almost every year we make the pilgrimage to Roger's Gardens.  I don't always buy something there because they are quite expensive on most of their items They do carry many famous artists such as Wendy Addison or Nicol Sayre that you will not find anywhere else so that does make it a unique item to collect.  What caught my eye this trip, where the super white Hydrangeas...take a look at the above picture to see what I'm talking about. 

This wall of gears and clocks behind the super white hydrangeas was an interesting display...

They have beautiful and sculptural topiaries and paperwhites...

I am forever attracted to succulants {my Mother was a big fan of succulants and California Native plants} in intersting containers, even pumpkins as seen in my previous post.

I have seen in my Better Homes and Gardens Magazine if you want a garden and you are short on space go Vertical.  This would be perfect on a wall for some interest in a patio.

I liked this idea, planting a variety of lettuces in small wooden containers, if you can find old soda boxes at yardsales or flea markets that would be a perfect idea to put in some plants.
or a BIG container full of lettuce....not sure you can find an old PEPSI container in that size...

Another rustic box but this time full of herbs.....

I loved this area over here with the think hedge and lots of galvanzized steel and wood.

Even rusty crusty makes me smile...the fresh greenery, a bit of ivy and kale...make for a great display..

Hanging flower baskets on a pergola....ready for someone to take them home..

This seasonal box with it's monocromatic theme of green...some red ornaments would look pretty or any color to match your decor.

Every year Roger's Gardens sets up this train in the woods...

With the many mini christmas trees and plants....it is the cutest thing...

I would love to have this set up all year round in my yard....why not?

Yes..the super white hydrangeas where my favorite......

That was the "garden" center of Roger's Gardens...in my next post we will go inside to see the place all decorated for the Holidays....and I did manage to bring home a couple of Saint Nick's to add to my collection. 

My home is slowly getting all decorated...the mantel is done and we will get the outside and the tree done this weekend.  Mr. Incrdible does not like to get a tree to early, he is afraid it will dry out and catch fire. {I'm having issue with my camera it is not unloading my pictures}

If you need some inspiration head on over to The Lettered Cottage's Mantel Linky Party she throws a good party and her buddies have more linky parties coming up...today I believe is the Christmas Craft decor linky party. 

 

 

A little trip to IKEA

After the yard-sale, cleaning and organizing the garage...I get in my "I-have-to-get-everything-organized-mood" and need to buy things to accomplish this.  Well one of the best places to find stuff is IKEA. I like the Container store too but they are a bit farther from my house and with Gas prices creeping up to $5.00 a gallon in So Cal I try to find the closest place. I don't just head on over to the Market Place in IKEA I have to hit the showrooms..for ideas...Love to see how the decorators use all the IKEA products and for very reasonable prices. 

Love this color scheme of grey and pink for a girls room.

I love this Linen slipcovered couch, I think it would be great in our family room...not sure my family would agree.

When I saw these white enamel buckets with black iron rod...I really liked them...

to add some greenery in the kitchen or bathroom or even in the living room. 

I did buy the long white enamel planter {only it not the rod} last time I was there and thought I could hang it from a regular curtain rod but nope did not work, so here it sits on my kitchen window sil all lonely it needed the iron bar for it to be hooked up. 

These enamel buckets are so versatile.  Flowers or bottles of oil or even kitchen utensils can be put inside them.  I'm going to use them over my stove to corral my aromatic oils that have beautiful labels on them. I'll post when I get them up.

So went on went on Tuesday I picked up two iron rods, 2 enamel buckets and the hooks that went with it. 

While I was there I saw this large size lamp shade....for $30.00 I have been looking for something to use over our dining room table and thought this would be perfect. 

 I might jazz it up with some crystal buttons that I bought years ago at French General. They were originally on a french ribbon board my Li'l One had in her room. I would put them where it gathers up on the shade, it would add a bit of bling bling.....

or maybe a variety of buttons in cream..I love mother of pearl buttons, wooden buttons clear buttons...that would add some texture. 

You might of remembered this petite chandelier that was in my Li'l Ones room in the old house.  I thought it might look cute inside that Ikea lamp shade lamp shade...because of it's petite size it has to be in a smallish room or area and it might be a bit of a surprise inside the shade and you would be able to see it light up it's silohuette when the lights are turned on.  What do you think, should I add the petite chandy or leave the cloth Ikea lamp shade all by itself?

 

Back to school, My Fifty Shades and Bean Sprouts..oh so Random

Well, our weekly beach day trips are over.....school starts tomorrow.   It is bittersweet.  Will miss the beach but will enjoy the quiet of my home during the day. 

The girls have shopped for new school clothes...for their upcoming school year. I can't believe I have a freshman! I did the shopping thing different this year than I did in years past.  I think my girls are a bit spoiled...maybe you mothers can relate but they seem to think "money grows on trees"so I gave each of them a set amount of money to spend {$200.00 in cash} for their back to school clothes which did not include school supplies; markers, binders, pencil stuff.  At first my li'l one was like Wow, LOOK at all this money, she thought she won big in Vegas!!   Well, she soon learned that $$$ does not go as far as you think, especially if you want to buy a pair of jeans at Hollister versus two pairs at H & M.  They begged me for Toms last year.....I really talked them out of them and they got the "Fake" Toms. This year if they so choose to buy Toms then they could..it was their choice. At the end of their shopping spree they didn't budget enough for a new backpack, my eldest was cool with using last years.  My Li'l one, well  is not too happy that she will be reusing last years, but it is still in great condition. It was a great learning experience for both of them and I'll do it again next year.  I want to teach them that yes.."Money does NOT grow on Trees" as my Daddy used to say while I was their age. 

Well, speaking of back to school shopping...I WANT these BOOTS {I DO have a slight shoe fettish, do you remember the Filipino Imelda Marcos?}...but since money doesn't grow on trees....it will be a loooooooong time if ever If I  can afford to buy them.  They are by UGG,  I was never fond of the traditional looking UGGS { you can see them in the left side of the above picture}, I thought they were UGLY to be honest.  Comfy and warm but not so attractive but these babies....mmmmmm, I think are mighty pretty.  Love the soft brown leather with the white fur inside, kind of cloggy- looking,  perfect size heel...I'll be saving my allowance for these babies...I can see them with a great pair of jeans and a warm sweater for the upcoming Fall season.

After shopping we always hit CalifornaPizzaKitchen and I always order My favorite Pizza, The Thai Chicken Pizza from CPK.....loaded with bean sprouts...but this time as I ate my sprouts I ate it without incidence...a few months ago I was eating an Asian salad at The Cheesecake Factory and a bean sprout got caught horizontal in my throat and I had the whole restaurant in a PANIC!  My waitress almost delivered her BABY early seeing me with my hands around my throat!!  In the end I went to the restroom and coughed it out...and no one had to do the Hemlick-maneuver on me....

Here they are teasing me.....Smart Aleck!

It took me all summer to finish reading my Fifty Shades....mmmmmm mmmm mmmm....Not because I didn't enjoy the book I SOOOOO did but finding the time to read them with teenagers in the house thinking my Mini Van is painted a sunny shade of YELLOW.  I LOVED THE BOOKS...LOVED THE STORY AND CAN'T WAIT when I can watch Christian Grey on the big screen.....I've been slightly obsessed seeing all the Fifty Shades' Pin boards on Pinterest and watching YOUTube-fan-based-movie-trailers..I found one that was really good and relatively tame, the one my friend sent me via my iphone is much more racier...what do you think, have you read the books, who can you picture playing Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele?

 

Without a doubt after seeing this trailor, Matt Bomer IS Christian Grey..

 

Our annual trip to Carp...

Every year we go to Carpenteria, i dream of retiring to a cute little beach house over looking the pacific ocean..just like this one.

I mean...who wouldn't want to live here right?  If you have never heard of Carpenteria, it is a very quaint, sleepy beach town just a bit south of Santa Barbara.   There are quite a lot of small beach bungalows to feast your eyes on, if you are like me and are content with the small and the cute cottage-style home.

...love her color...so calming...so robin's egg blue..so me!

Now...look at that fish sculpture..."give the neighbors something to talk about"....

this one with the cute picket fence has cute dormers and a brick porch..

tudor style with charming windows...

Last time we were here this was a Bed and Breakfast....now it is some lucky duck home...

this is the Linden House which was a charming store last time we came to Carp ..now it is a Vacation Rental..go here to see the inside.

petite and cute..

charming little shell gift shop...

the girls loved shopping in here, lots of trinkets to take home to remember their trip by...

lots and lots of antique stores....

this one had a cool looking abalone, shell chandelier...great for a beach house

this was the only store i bought anything in....but i did ask the owner to buy..

this Dutch Door too...she politely declined....boo hoo...

it came complete with a shelf attached to the back....

here is the other Whimsy store on the main street....

this was a really cool looking cupcake store...

it was decorated very industial chic with cement floors and lots of galvanized steel stools and pretty cupcakes..I wondered to myself if they have been on Cupcake Wars, do you watch that show?  We do!! 

So i do think if we ending up retiring to Carp {that's what the locals call it} I'll get myself a Vespa like this to tootle around town....

this is really, really small town livin'...this was all the traffic on a Saturday afternoon....Stores close early which my mini shoppers found out. 

 

the artsy town of Laguna Beach

After walking down the path..this is the beach that greeted us at the end of the steps.....just gorgeous...

going to the right and around the corner there are tide-pools..

the waves were a bit big that day so we had to be very careful, the girls came home with some cuts...

lots of Sea Anemones in the tide-pools.....

this castle-looking-lighthouse was really neat, there is an iron door but it was "glued" shut due to rust..

My girls with their good friend...they all play soccer together....

yep..it's the beginning of spring and they are looking mighty white....

It was a gorgeous day...loved seeing the dolphins swimming by in search of fish....for lunch

Looking behind us was this gorgeous home under some construction....all I kept thinking, what do they do for a living?  How lucky are they to live here..I hope they apprecitate it...can I be your friend?

Yep their property line ran from the top of the walkway all the way to the beach...

loved the landscaping....I would love to have that view!!

Loved that old fashioned light post....trudging back up the stairs....after catching a few "sun-rays" we headed into town for some Ice Cream...

the girls were watching a Violinest, I told them they should of brought their flutes and play for tips {they have had good training from a school that gets invited to play at Carnegie Hall} so they could pay for the ice cream, at 4.50 a scoop!

Isn't that picket fence sign a riot!   This town is a bit quirky...

Who needs to go to New YORK when we have the Statue of Liberty right here on the Pacific...

We went into the Wyland Gallery....LOVE HIS WORK, wish I could afford a piece....his murals are all over Hawai'i, he lives right above his gallery, come to find out.

After our ice cream we headed into town to shop....

lots and lots of cute shops...which the girls did not fail to remind me has signs that said, "no photography allowed"....I obeyed...I'm a good girl like that.

I bet this town gets a lot more crowded in summer, but with everyone being on a different spring break schedule it was not today.

all the parking on the streets are metered so bring your change...

we had to make sure we kept track of the time so we didn't go over.....

this store was the one we spent the most time in....it had "my name" written all over it...{no pictures of inside :( , sorry}....

It had everything beachy-cottage chic in there...trust me..I'll be back for sure.  I did buy one thing that I traded one of my daughters in for....it was so cute, I could not resist....

the cottage store is on the main drag like this Tommy Bahama restaurant.. I had no idea there was a restaurant.....

I liked this building beacause of the painted wood and brick....so I took a picture...

I liked this two kids so I took a picture..oh yea..I'm supposed to like them, they are mine...

follow me....

keep going....

Isn't that a nice {lots of work }piece of ironwork that overlooks this beautiful place with the most gorgoeous view....

Love that wall!!!  just a hodge-podge of brick and stone...

aren't they cute?  we are related...

Creative, Quirky and Beautiful....

is the beach town of Laguna Beach...

Easter Table

We interrupt the Laguna Beach tour with some images of our Easter Table...I did NOT cook a special dinner like in the past because as I mentioned in a past post Mr. Incredible recently had surgery on his lip for skin cancer and it is all stitched up about the size of a peanut. Thought it would of been cruel for him watching us eat a nice honey-glazed ham, mashed potatoes, asparagus, rolls and Carrot Cake. 

I set the table for seasonal decorating {for next year's idea} I waited really late to pick up the bunny dish towels, contemplated on the placemats too {I had been eyeballing them for awhile}.  I used them as a table runner instead of their intended purpose as dish towels.  I also picked up the small bunny taper candle holders when they went on sale and then went back and got a price adjustment when they went down to $9.99, originally marked at $19.95. 

The white taper candles from World Market, I had to cut them down to fit.   The large white cake-plate holder was from Pottery Barn Kids years ago and the floral wreath nest is also from Williams-Sonoma a few years ago.  they have another one that is very similiar to this one but not exactly.  I love mine and keep it out year round on my cake plate. The robin's egg blue plates where from Homegoods. 

 It has lost a bit of it's color and the truffle eggs that came with it our long gone but I reupped and ordered them for next year when they went on sale.  I actually like to use them on my Carrot Cake in the nest.

Here are a few ceramic creations that I have had forever, they were made by my ex-boyfriends' aunt, she had an Art Studio in Diamond Head and loved to create all kinds of things.  I've cherished them forever and will never toss them into the yard sale pile...

The plastic eggs are from TJMaxx and the nest I can't not remember where I got it. 

Here are a few of my other cloches decorated for Spring, the lavender egg is also from Auntie Clo{in Diamond Head}.  The large cloche to the left I love to fill with Lilly of the Valley but I can't find it anywhere, meaning the normal garden centers I browse this time of the year.  I used to pick it up at Trader Joes, but the last few years they stopped selling them.  Does anyone know why?   I think I'll have to try and grow them from seed or order online.  Anyone have a good resource?