Use it or lose it...

I had big plans for a piece that I bought about a year ago.  When I saw it I fell in love and knew the piece had to come home with me. 

Standing tall and solid and looking very rugged and masculine was the ultimate nuts and bolts sorter.  It was tucked away in a small antiques store in Bulverde and was an amazing price.  It came out of an old warehouse/factory and was used to sort screws, washers, nuts, bolts and other mechanical parts.  I was immediately drawn to it because it was used for a purpose, had great patina (age) on it, and had lots and lots of math scribbled on the side of it in pencil from the factory.  You can't get anymore authentic or cool.  Perfect.

As I brought it home I knew exactly where it was going to go.  I immediately thought of the craft room that I had seen on houzz months before and loved.  Inspiration was going to come to life!

 

Houzz

My new piece would fit right into my craft/laundry room.  Although I don't exactly sew, I knew it could be filled with fabric pieces used for projects, ribbons, and embellishments.

Josh shook his head.  I was going to disgrace the piece he said, only half joking.  Men would weep to see their functional nuts and bolts sorter with ribbons hanging from it. Oh well...one man's nut sorter is another woman's ribbon holder.  Use it or lose it, guys!

I just had to get Josh to hang it for me along the big blank wall in the middle of the room.  No problem.

It was going to be perfect. 

It was going to be darling. 

It was going to be the piece that organized my chaos and brought a rustic touch to a pretty feminine and crafty room. 

It was going to be fabulous. 

You were going to ooohh and ahhhh over it. 

And so the story goes...it sat.  For a looonngg time.   

Life got a little in the way and hanging it got delayed.  I got distracted and moved on to the next project.  Don't judge. 

Hanging and organizing would happen.  Just not today.  Maybe next weekend. 

And then it happened...during my naptime time of meditation and reflection, Josh had an idea. And being a man, he acted on it. 

Yep, it's now filled with bullets.

No, not bullet holes. Josh didn't go crazy and shoot it for sitting there for so long.

It's actually filled with bullets.

 

And my precious fabric organizer...my chic and rustic ribbon sorter...that was going to be darling...is now sitting filled with metal bullets and shotgun shells and being used again for function and purpose only. 

Somewhere I have to think that the old warehouse/factory workers would get a kick out of this and thank the Lord that there isn't a single darling piece of ribbon hanging from it. 

Use it or lose it, girls. 

XOXO

Escaping...Part II

Ok, back to our escape to Virginia. 

A few more tourist photos...

Here I am at the World War II Memorial. 

My grandfather fought in WWII so this was special to see.

As you can see, I immediately went to the Texas memorial.

 

 

 

 

Cory and Magen, our gracious hosts and tour guides...

and introducers to the train game that we fell in love with. 

 

Josh winning the train game...because "he's a winner!"

 

 

Ok, onto the shopping photos that I just had to take while touring. 

 

The antiques and decor items in the area were pretty fab.  It made me a little sad that everything in the area was approximately 30% cheaper than the Texas equivalent.  But, the area is just older with way more history and cool stuff.  Thank God I didn't have a UHaul...really. 

Josh was VERY thankful for this.  VERY.

 

These pieces were all found in the Lucketts Design House at the Old Lucketts Store.  The design house was gorgeous.  Perfectly decorated with new and old pieces.  It's open once a month and everything is for sale. 

 

The Design House is on the same property where Miss Mustard Seed features her milk paint line inside the Old Lucketts Store. 

 

Um, yes...of course I purchased some milk paint.  Can't wait to try it out!

 

Ok, onto the shopping pics...

 

I loved this gray armoire that was featured in the hall of the Design House. 

 

The Design House Mudroom

 

 

Armoire that Josh loved and would have been perfect in our home.

 

We also hit a few old barns along the way to Lucketts that were fab. 

They were filled with old and new pieces that should have come home with us. 

 

I loved these numbered locker shelves.

 

This old card catalog from a library had been converted into a great entertainment piece. 

 

The trip was SO much fun and a perfect escape!

 

We loved getting to hang with Cory and Magen and tour our nation's capital. 

 

It could have been a much more expensive escape had a UHaul been available.  I did bring back an old seltzer bottle which TSA at the airport really appreciated...ok not really appreciated...but it made it home in one piece after a small body search.  I'm not sure why the TSA patted Josh down when I was holding the seltzer bottle, but whatever.  We made it through. 

 

Alright, back to reality and Texas. 

You're welcome for the cooler weather...be brought it back with us.  

No furniture...just weather.  It'll have to do.

 

XOXO

 

 

 

 



DVR set? Check!

It's Monday, September 10th, and I am excited. 

Why on earth am I excited about a Monday? 

Well, the latest premieres are starting.  Hello.

Josh and I aren't too caught up in a number of tv shows, thankfully, but we do have one that will have our full attention this season...The Voice!  My DVR is set and ready to record each second so that we don't miss a single beat of it. 

Why are we so excited!?  Well, we were fans last season and became hooked.  Oh and yeah...I happen to know one of the contestants.  No, it's not my hairdresser's cousin's neighbor's friend...it's my real cousin.  And she is a badass!  Suzanna Choffel is a mega talented singer and songwriter.  She's a Texas girl...Austin born and raised.  Her music gets you moving.  Her voice is smoky cool...sultry, sexy, and fun. 

The rhythm's gonna get you.  Be prepared.

You can find her here or here.

 

So, here's what we know...she auditioned for The Voice and is able to share that with everyone now.  She's AMAZING so I'm betting she makes it and a massive fight breaks out as the 4 judges fight over her.  I'm just hoping that during the fight Adam Levine happens to lose his shirt.  Just saying. 

Ok, I digress...we know she received an email from NBC saying that her blind audition will actually air next Monday, Sept. 17th.  So, she'll be on next week, but we've seen clips of her in the promos. 

Here's a pic of her blind audition...obviously Ceelo is loving it and thanking God for the voice he's hearing!

Suzanna Choffel on The Voice

 

Ok, you've been warned and prepped.  Go set your DVR now.  You aren't going to want to miss this. 

 

Happy Monday!

Escaping, family and a lot of wine!

Josh and I got to escape a little of the Texas heat and head to Virginia for the Labor Day weekend to visit my bro, Cory, and sis-in-law, Magen.  It was a fab trip filled with a lot of walking, eating, and wine.  Total perfection!

Cory and Magen live outside of Washington, D.C. in a newly renovated house that they have been remodeling by themselves.  It is so darling and definitely inspired me to get my butt in action and get our place a little more completed.  C and M were the most gracious hosts and showed us all of the highlights of D.C., northern Virginia, and Maryland. 

Since most of my vacation photos consisted of inspirational design ideas for the house and all of the antiques and fabulousness I would have bought if we had a UHaul, I thought I should start with a few highlights from our day in D.C.

This way at least I don't seem quite as obsessed with decorating and materialism...I'll start with my cultural side. 

Washington Monument

Taking in the sights as true tourists...minus the fanny packs.

Reflection pool...which just makes me think of Forrest Gump?!

Josh embracing his inner tourist

 

Honest Abe

Air and Space Museum

 

Emerald featured in the Natural Science Museum (I think!?!)

Perfect anniversary gift for a girl that's born in May...hint, hint.

 

More to come soon.

 

Happy Friday!

 

XOXO