Where I need to be...(cozy reading nooks)

I am in stuck in a rut right now, its been a long week for me and I have had no outlet from it. All I can do is keep focusing on everything that still has yet to be done with  kids, sports, work, and home and none of them involve some relief for me, myself, or I! You know what I mean?!?!?!!!

I need a place to call my own... with no kids, no hubby (got nothing but love for them), no TV, no computer (no blog, hmm), no phone!  A place where I am able to curl up with a cozy throw and a good design magazine or book in my comfy PJs and sip on a cup of coffee/tea by day and a glass of wine by night. Just me getting some good old fashion WOOSAH!

So I have decided to put a reading nook as a priority on my To-Do's to become Tah-Dah's list! Here are a few good inspirations:

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What I need to achieve:
Large Window
Lounging (built-in or chaise)
Light Source(s)
Cozy Throw
Medley of Pillows
Table Top Surface

To my drafting table I go!

"To Be or Not To Be" (That is my Question)

Do you ever come across something you like and you have to have no matter what the $$$? Well, check this beauty out from Inside Avenue:

Its by Arteriors. This would run me two hunned and nineda-fy dollas! That is $295 on sale, regular price was $417 and free shipping.  Of course I have to have two of them.  Now I gotta be honest and say in Madea fashion "hell to the no!" I just can not do it, but I gotta get savvy shopping on this one!

So the conclusion or should I say the beginning to this story is...it is to be one way or another! I will keep you posted!

Savvy Shopper Files (3rd Edition)

Ok...this is probably the savviest shopping to date! I am constantly browsing different sites so I am always catching alike items or items that have the same look and feel.

I like to shop high, mid and low range dollar sites no matter what for inspiration or just to see what I can and can't afford! That is the great thing about having such accessibility at the tip of your fingers wit the Internet. See how the stats line up on these items!

Guess what made it home?

I got my diaper bag with my camera safely returned! YEAH! Remember what happened? I received it on Friday. I have to say the manager at Applebee's took good care of me. See what I was missing:

I wish we could go back!  My nephew was with us that day in the orange trunks, my two sons, two daughters and my hubby! We had so much fun!

And hey.....if you are ever at Applebee's I recommend the Crispy Orange Chicken!

Naima Throws Back

I have to give you my Naima, American Idol, update. Well...after finally watching the performance on YouTube, I gotta say I felt really good about her performance last week. She performed "Dancing in the Streets," which is a fun song. Its something that I would dance to if I am at a social party!  She was on pitch the whole song through, and on top of that she threw in her personality by doing adding some African drums and a dance to suit! I loved it because in "Naima fashion" it was just so different!

But she did a throwback to the 70s with her attire with the bells and the halter! I did not love it, but it looked good on her! I thought the color were very flattering because it could have gone cheesy if it was too bright and colorful.  I did love the wrists full of friendship bracelets. This is one trend I do not think will ever be out of style!

So how did I interpret this throwback outfit into interior design? Well, all I have to say you gotta love the 70s!

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Do you remember console TVs ? My grandmother had a HUGE one. Thinking of this, Naima's performance actually makes me think about what I use to watch on my grandmother's huge TV! Are you familiar with the famous Soul Train line? So much fun!

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How about those humongous mid-century vintage lamps?  My grandmother had one taller than me when I was young! I would actually love to find a couple of these to redo for myself! Like I said you gotta love the 70s!

And Oh! What about those huge modular living pieces. My grandmother must owned about 25 of them. I could remember bouncing from one to another all over her family room in them! And hey were even orange too!

You can not forget about he shag carpet! This is a staple of 70's interiors for me!  I love it!

Well now all this is out of the way, one modern day designer does come to mind when I think of authentic 70s inspired interiors throwbacks. Are you familiar with Amy Lau?

Her work is impeccable! I first came across her work about a little less than year ago when researching mid-century modern. You can not help but love the 70s! Her work is so relevant yet it screams mid-century. I love it!

Spring Inspired Interiors

Happy Friday to you! Here is something to get you going for the day! I just love the vibrant colors of Spring and how they pop in a room whether soft or bold! Take a look at how the colors of Spring come out in these interiors.

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10 Things (When I think of Spring...)

This Spring I want to bring in a new sense of revitalization because come this time next year, things are going to be different mind, body, and soul! This reminds me that this maybe the perfect time for me to see how I am progressing on new year's resolutions since a quarter of a year has already passed. YIKES!

Well anyhoo, I would like to share with you 10 different things that rushes through my head when I think of Spring...

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1. When I think of Spring...I think of Spring cleaning.  There is nothing like a clean house! I find cleaning as good way to meditate. Its so rejuvenating. It clears mind so you can focus on other important things. Check out Martha Stewart printable spring cleaning checklist here. I actually use it more than one time a year!

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2. When I think of Spring...I think of Organization. It is a fact that when you are organized life is alot easier. It keeps you sane. The important thing is that you maintain that organization. Once everyone is on the same page...it goes like clock-work! Two places I feel are key for organizing are my closets and my pantry. I am not going to dare show what they look like right now, until I have afters for my befores. Closet and pantry organizers are on my to-do list.

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3. When I think of Spring...I think of Pretty Blooms. I just love seeing the forsythia trees bloom at Spring. I have stopped traffic before looking at them. I can remember riding south down I-75 towards Punta Gorda and I saw these forsythia topiaries in yellow and pink. I had never seen anything like it. I just wish I had a camera with me that day!

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4. When I think of Spring...I think of Outdoor Dining. I cannot wait to create an outdoor living space on my lanai. Besides the kitchen it wast the main selling feature of our house. I currently have a craigslist table and chairs that I got for $25 out there right now that we often use. I love it most when the sun in setting and the breeze is whisking through, so refreshing!

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5. When I think of Spring...I think of Fresh Fruits and Veggies. I would love to plant a garden of herbs and lettuce. I just need to figure out where. Can't you imagine going to your garden to make a fresh Spring salad?  The array of natural colors of fresh fruits and veggies are so appetizing. Don't you love the taste and smell of fresh roasted vegetables? My mouth is watering, literally right now, where is the butter?!!

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6. When I think of Spring...I think of Old Southern Fashioned Fish Fries and Crab Boils. Who does not  love seafood? I know they are out there, but ain't no party like a seafood party. Just good food with good people, and good fun. I love the sound of the sizzle when you drop those battered fish in the hot oil and then crunching on the fish tails once they come out (that has to be a southern thing). Don't forget about the hush puppies and the bur!

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And if you are from the South you definitely know about dumping those crabs on newspaper in the middle of

the table with corn, sausage, potatoes, and eggs. I love it when the crabs are so spicy that it makes your nose run. How many of you know "Old Bay?" OK...really hungry now. Really,where is that butter?

7. When I think of Spring...I think of Fresh Lemonade. I love the idea of serving a tray full of lemonade to my kids. I do not make lemonade that often, but when I do...mm-mm-mm, especially since I learned about simple syrup on the Food Network. I sometimes like to mix Kool-aid in with the lemonade too. Very good, kids love it!

8. When I think of Spring...I think of Pretty Sundresses. Take a look at this one! You can find it here. There is nothing more easy than putting on a sundress. You can wear them anywhere from the grocery store to a Spring Fling! It's like instant beauty. I love them in all lengths.

9. When I think of Spring...I think of Flip-Flops. This is the time when flip flops come in a rainbow display of colors and sizes. The possibilities are endless. Since they are so cheap I always get the kids at least three different colors. I try to give them options you know!

10. When I think of Spring...I think of Spring Inspired Weddings. This is such a busy wedding season. Its the prettiest time to have an outdoor wedding because of all the fresh blooms. My husband and I were actually married in April. This year will mark our 4 year anniversary. I love to look at the wedding magazines this time of year also. They are always so pretty!

Master Suite (What if...)

I have had this on my mind all day and could not wait to get home to put it down in black and white. So what if...I designed my master bedroom and bathroom around my kids birth stones? Whatcha think?

They are February's Amethyst (oldest son 8), March's Aqua (oldest daughter 12), September's Sapphire (youngest daughter 10), and November's Topaz (youngest son 16mths)! Jewel tones are trendy right now.

Here is a floor plan of my master suite:

So this gives you an idea of how my room lays out. The sky is the limit in here because I own nothing that is staying except my TV and my king mattress and foundations.

What made me think of this idea are my hubby and I's wedding rings. We personalized our wedding to the "T," which I will tell you about next month (April will be our 4 year anniversary). Instead of a diamond ring we decided to get our kid's birthstones in matching his and her rings. So if you do the math we only have three stones in our wedding rings, gotta add the baby! Diamonds are not my best friend, I know some of you may gasp at that, but I do not have to have a huge diamond. Not saying I do not like them, I think they are beautiful, but my kids birthstones just have more sentimental value then a diamond.

See here is our love story in a nut shell:

Star (me) and Sleepie (hubby) sittin in a tree,  K-I-SS-I-N-G, first came love, then came "chillens," then came marriage, then came our home, then came another "chillen!"

I know, so backwards, but to me it's honestly the modern day love story! You are probably wondering how does a Star and a Sleepie end up together. These are our nick names which mostly everyone knows us by, mine was birth given, his was acquired!

Back to the birth stones...when I see the color palette of the kids birthstones I think of a few different things. I see a cool or stormy sunset (sunset is where I am going with my color scheme for my house). I also see the bedroom blues I was trying to accomplish in my bedroom. But as I was going through my archives, I actually dug up this image:

I have this in my archives of images, so I have no reference for it (sorry). It reminds me of a certain something! Do you recognize it?

Yes a peacock feather, which is also trendy. I am not saying I am going to put peacock feathers all over my room, but I am inspired by the color palette:

So here is what I am thinking, I know I want to do a blue upholstered head board (just do not know which hue). Whatever I choose as the headboard color will become the paint color for the master bath. I want to add dark masculine dresser and night stands, but add the feminine touch with accents and accessories. Here is a perfect example of what I am talking about:

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This is just stunning from the headboard to the wall treatment all the way down to the accent pillows.  And since momma luv da kidz this will make so much sense and have add  more sentimental value to our master suite.

About My Sister-do!

Everywhere I go , no matter who I see, people always say I look like Jill Scot because of my Afro! Trust me,
I love it because she is one of my favorite Neo-Soul Artists! What so you think?

 

She is pretty, right! I always refer to my Afro as my "Sister-Do!" Anytime anyone asks me how far I am going to let it grow out I always tell them that I am trying to get to where Erikah Badu is! But only she could pull this off! I love it, but I could not carry it. You go girl..she is one of my favorites too!

Check out Yaya's sister-do from ANTM:

And how about a Vintage look sister-do:

Well, I said all that to tell you about a project that I am looking into. I came across this beautiful Afrocentric black and white button art by Anouchka Potdevin, while looking for Afro wall art on the web.

I found it on Apartment Therapy, a article of the art of recycled junk.  Here this guy found a great way to recylce buttons. Very creative huh!

I found out that he even has a shop on Etsy. Check it out here. Really nice art and I love that it is black and white because it makes it trendy.

Well, regarding that project I mentioned earlier I wan to approximate this some how in my house. I have not delved into details as to how, but I  know I need to use recycled materials! This will stand as homage to my sister-do!