Curiouser and Curiouser

I have always wanted a Curio Cabinet, or 'cabinet of curiosities'.  I tend to collect a lot of shells, fossils, rocks and other natural elements. I have yet to delve into the taxidermy collection, but for now I think I will stick to being a 'rock hound'. I am always drawn to museums and little odd shops that house mummies and crystals...things of that nature.  So when my hubs brought home a free bookcase, I thought to myself...hmmmm this could work.  I decided to give it a fun chevron effect paint job:

I still need to tweak the items and add some height for interest, but not bad for free, eh? Not sure that I am in love with it yet and I would still like to find that 'perfect' cabinet, but for now this will do.

Holy Lampman

You know the feeling you have when you're walking thru a thrift store and you find an amazing item, for an amazing price and your hands begin to sweat? You look around wondering how the heck you got so lucky as to grab this one of a kind find and no one else is fighting you for it?  Well...I had just that.  I was cruising thru Goodwill, and lo and behold....ahhhhhh, this lamp.  An all wooden lamp for .....wait for it... $3.99!  Granted it had an ugly shade, which I re-donated.  So I did have to buy a new lampshade, a drum shape in neutral (Wallyworld) for $14.77, but come on.... this beautiful lamp for a total of $18.76!!?

Bathroom Ideas

Picture courtesy of Pinterest.  I am digging on the idea of adding this style vanity side by side to my main bathroom.. www.pinterest.com

Photo Displays

Looking for different ways to display your many photos?  I have 'issues' with displaying my photos, snapshots or pictures on my fridge... but get this:  I love gawking at other peoples' fridges to check out their pics!  I have pinned pics on large driftwood branches, randomly placed piles of pictures in  bowls and have also strategically placed an open photo album (opened to the most flattering pics..of course) on an end table.  I enjoy looking at pictures and think its important to incorporate them in my home.  It is fun to think of different ways to display them other than the usual frame...

How fun would it be to add sand and shells on the bottom of a glass jar from your last vacation.  Add your pictures you took of your family/friends on that said vacation.... hmmmmm, I might just have to do that.

Inspired

So my family and I just returned from a trip to Hawai'i, specifically the North Shore.  Loved it!   Unfortunately it has made me long for more sunshine...Spring, Spring...O where art thou?!  But on the flipside I have been rejuvenated, inspired to go a different route with my bedroom redo... lovin' the colors in this picture.



Grateful

"Never get so busy making a living

that you forget to make a life."

~Anony

I was reading a blog I have been following, http://www.housetweaking.com/, and found this quote on her latest post, Downsizing.  It really hit home with me...  I am grateful that I now have the opportunity to figure out what I want out of life...
Now if it would just come to me...hahaha

Bedroom Redo

I really wouldn't call this a 'redo', because this bedroom just happened to be a result of us shoving leftover furniture into it.  The room was never 'done', necessity just came into play when we needed a bed to sleep on, lamps for reading and a dresser to place our clothes.  All that without spending any money.   What got the wheels turning is after watching a show about a couple who go to a sex therapist to help rekindle the spark that is missing from their relationship (don't ask me why I was watching this, I think only because it was late and I was flicking thru channels and ended up on this one but maybe thats a whole therapy session in itself! )  I couldn't get something the therapist said out of my mind.  The therapist makes a point to visit the couple at their home and asks to see their bedroom.  She goes on to say that the reason she wants to see the bedroom is because it usually shows what kind of state your relationship is in. Messy, dishelved , neglected room = messy, neglected relationship. The couple she visited had a beautifully decorated home .... except...wait for it... yes, not the bedroom!  I then thought, does everyone know this?  Because my/our bedroom is not where I want it to be (design wise) haha.

Here is a picture of the room as it sits now. My thriftiness came into play when we needed a bed.  We already owned two brand new twin mattresses from another room, so I had the hubs build a frame that they would fit in.  We also made a headboard from found driftwood planks.  So the plan is to paint, get a new duvet, deal with the lighting and nightstand etc, etc.  So keep posted for the reveal!