Potty Talk

While playing with indoor lighting and a lens on my camera the other day, I used my bathroom as my photography playground. I did not get a shot of the whole bathroom, it is tiny with a funky 1960's retro style vanity, mismatched white paint on the walls, and peachy-pink shower tile~ you aren't missing much. But when I downloaded the photos I realized that despite the hodge-podge design of the bathroom itself, there were some cute simple touches that I've added.

I have a small white nightstand in the bathroom to hold overflow. Lots and lots of white towels, hair products, and a numbered zinc can filled with cotton balls.

I use a wire basket underneath to store rolls of TP.

This nightstand is old and chippy and I've had it since I was a little girl! I love the scroll detail.

On top of the nightstand I keep a box of Kleenex, a candle-holder-turned-make-up brush storage, and a blue vintage clock.

I have to wind the clock for it to keep time and honestly, I've given up!

This bathroom doesn't have a toilet paper holder installed on the wall, so I just use a planter pail on the back of the toilet. I recently switched to this chicken wire pail, which had been for sale in the shop for months but didn't sell. I brought it home and found the perfect place for it!

I recently acquired this sign at a thrift shop. I adore it's vintage appeal and it reminds me of the ice skating I did over Christmas. Oh, and the blue color ties in nicely with the clock!

I have a jewelry obsession (we'll have to chat about that another time....) and as I have shown in the past, I hang necklaces on a shabby metal candelabra on the wall next to the mirror.

I don't have a lot of storage in the bathroom, so I hang a straw tote bag to house my curling and flat irons.

As I'm a renter, I don't have a lot of options for re-designing the layout or painting my bathroom. However, that doesn't mean I can't add interesting details that make it practical, peaceful, and personal!

~michelle~

The Joy of Wanting to Be A Cook

My whole life, I have been a cook-wannabe.

When I was ten I cut out advertisement recipes from my mom's Woman's Day and Family Circle magazines. I would glue them onto construction paper, creating a "recipe book" as her Christmas gift.

I love photo cookbooks. The photos are alluring and inspire me. I page through my cookbooks and Post-It the pages of recipes I want to try. Last year I was inspired by The Pioneer Woman Cooks. I have recently been inspired by The Farm Chicks in The Kitchen.

But the truth is, I really only cook when I try something wonderful that someone else has made. Then I am obsessive about getting the recipe from them and trying it myself! I am not bad in the kitchen. I have a lot to learn. I get by.

Whereas being a good cook is a pipe-dream for me, I do love to bake, and can bake fairly well. My baking is something I share with others which makes it more enjoyable.


 This is one of my recent favorite snacks. It requires no baking or cooking! So really, it's quite perfect for me. Farmboy's mom introduced me to this over Christmas.

Buy a small pack of smoked salmon from your grocery store's seafood department. Put it in a pretty bowl (everything tastes better from a pretty bowl, right?) Then make it like you would tuna fish. I add pepper, basil, and mayo. Mix it up well. Use a pretty spreading knife and eat it on your favorite cracker (I use Keebler Multi-grain Club crackers.) Yum!

Now, about all that snow I've been watching and waiting for??

Let it snow, let it snow!

Well, it is still not here. I have been checking out my window religiously. And by the time it gets here I'll be asleep, and when I wake up they say it will be raining. I was looking forward to a cozy day at home tomorrow, working on Jazz projects, watching movies, going for a walk in the snow, then coming inside and "making" soup~




~you know, opening the can of Campbell's can of split pea and ham.....breaking up the Saltine's on top....

Happy "cooking" everyone!

~michelle~

Whirlwind Weekend

I had a fun weekend, did you? I had to work part of Saturday. Then I watched an "on your feet screaming and stomping" football playoff game with my father that made me believe dreams can come true when you believe they can.

Farmboy sold his first barnwood frame and mirror to my Auntie Jeanette. Her home is emitting fabuluous rustic charm these days and I know they will be well-placed!

I took a few items to the shop. I did not have much time to putter around. One of these days I need to devote a whole day to puttering in our space. It is so fun and relaxing. A wonderful creative challenge. I think I could teach a course on space management after trying to add more merchandise to our space!

Here are some of the goodies I brought in~

vintage barnwood frames and mirrors

chalkboard

burlap signs

numbered platter

 old childrens' books

numbered cocoa mugs

wooden spools

vintage floral apron

gold Syroco shelves

This week is going to be interesting. They are saying we might, just might, get a big snowstorm mid-week. Which means I could get a snow day, and possibly tackle a couple of Jazz projects (make burlap feedsack pillows) and watch the DVD's my cousins loaned me. The titles? Marie Antoinette, Dangerous Liasons, Sense and Sensibility, (the only one I've seen before) Young Victoria, and The Age of Innocence. Sense a theme here?? Any recommendations of which one I should watch first?

~michelle~

Green With Envy

I typically have two color themes throughout the year. Red in the fall and winter, and a sea/sky blue in the spring and summer. I use these colors in my accents and accessories, such as pillows, throws, flowers, etc. I always keep the base colors neutral (creamy white slip-covered couches, lots of rustic wood tones, chippy paint, and both silver and gold accents.)

However, recently I have been loving green. I am not typically a green person. But after hitting a great antique mall over the holiday break and then browsing through pictures online, I found my decor inspiration for this spring! Vintage farmhouse chic with green, here I come!!

I have a basket addiction~

I want that green wooden box the basket of apples is on top of!

Another pic of this awesome kitchen~

I'm diggin' cattle stuff these days...
 

.....campy ranch dishes with brands!

Fun vintage collection~

above photos source
 

I love everything in this photo! The way they used green in the artichokes, chippy stool, and canister on the bottom of the island.

photo source: 100 Ideas Flea Market Style magazine 2009

Part of my green obsession started with this old window I bought from my cousin in our own Jazz space last summer. I saw it and loved it but didn't buy it. I couldn't get it out of my mind (that is typically how I know I really want something) so I went back and scooped it up!

If you add color to your home, what colors are you gravitating towards these days?

~michelle~

Welcome 2011!

It's hard to believe Christmas vacation is over. It is 2011. New years are all always such exciting times. It's a time for change, to clean out, re-do, re-organize....set new goals. I have many goals in several areas of my life (you know- the old eat better, exercise more, blah blah blah) but I also have big goals for myself and this little blog and shop adventure we have going on here at Jazz!

I had a wonderful holiday with family and friends.

It included plenty of beautiful snowy mornings~

Holiday bow dog-wrestling~

Sledding with the kiddos~

Watching kids in puffy winter snowsuits navigate stairs (yep, he made it to the top!)

I received so many special gifts but one of them which you might already have or should quickly head out to get is The Farm Chicks Christmas book~

 

 I would curl up every afternoon with hot cocoa next to the tree and pour over all it's vintage goodness from cover to cover.

Like this campy porch, so simple and festive!

And this kitchen, isn't it amazing? You see so many white kitchens out there these days, but the rich tones of this black and wood kitchen with vintage touches are just too cool.

I had limited computer access over my vacation so it will be great to be back online this week catching up with your blogs and holiday adventures!

Happy New Year everyone!

~michelle~