7 Days - 20 Photos

On Friday night, Handsome hid under the blue velvet couch in the sunroom

On Saturday, I went to see "The Help" with Katherine, Elizabeth, and Ellen. 

Seeing this movie just up the road from Jackson, MS 

in Memphis was really something. 

It looked an awful lot like my new 'ville. 

New Tervis Tumblers for the Dow Wards. 

Though our wedding day was nearing 6 years ago, it's still like a honeymoon. 

I'm addicted...get over it.

Something to celebrate with friends and drinks...

On Sunday my friend, Elizabeth graduated from The University of Memphis magna cum from the university honors college.  Yes, I like being around extra smart people who have good things to say. 

Hi...this is me in my Warby Parker glasses. 

They're awesome. 

An orange velvet chair in my co workers office. 

A late breakfast/lunch on my desk at work.

Don't worry, more food followed. 

Straws, like that of Kate Spade.  

A demi bev after work on Monday.

I'm loving our house. 

I switched lampshades. 

Orange silk for white parchment. 

This shade is silver on the inside, shhhh don't tell. 

You can see a little bit of the silver undercoat from this perspective. 

Elvis' vigil was on Monday.

Something to put on the ol' bucket list. 

A new Elle Decor arrived this week. 

That's always exciting. 

Lunch on Wednesday. 

Yum...Lean Cuisine

A Kate Spade print on the side table next to my desk. 

Can't forget my love for this guy. 

He's Handsome!

Now for the biggest event of the week...

My friends Melissa and Scott had a baby on Monday!

Welcome Clarabella!

This week was has flown by with not many words, just pictures. 

The weekend is nearly here! 

Take some pictures. 

Rug and Chair Desire

I'm prowling for a new rug.  

My instincts while I play "hunter-gatherer" tell me orange, green, or white...

My search started at overstock.com - great shipping, great options

Rug # 1

This also comes in grey and a tanish/green

Safari Orange Wool Rug

Rug #2

This rug also comes in white (which I will also show) and green 

Nimbus Handwoven Wool Rug

Nimbus in Ivory (would put in dressing room)

Nimbus in green-destination unknown

Rug #3

Going in a completely different direction

location-unknown

Black and White Wool Rug

Rug #4

This is a great rug...no doubt about it and is a 

combination of two colors in our master bedroom.

Bluish Grey Wool Rug

In addition to my rug interest, I am also looking for an office chair.
One with wheels, and in white. 

Thank you O for giving me some good options!

Manhattan High Back Office Chair

Butler's Pantry- Before

The butler's pantry has proven to be a very useful room, so useful that it is where all the piles and heaps seem to land.  This room is also yet another exhibit of the various shades of yellow throughout the house.  Since this room is filed under "high frequency use" it MUST have a little make over.  These piles and heaps aren't just going to fix themselves!

Here's what we are working with: 

3 door ways, 1 window

This table is fabulous to use as a bar for parties
but not so fabulous to sit at for doing work.

As the room gets cleared out a little, it is easier
to see what shades might look nice on the walls.
The chandelier is original to the house as is the gold
plaster molding.  It FOR SURE has to stay!

Plans for this room: EXTREME de-clutter and paint on the walls that will accent the gold plaster molding and trim around the chandelier.

Oh-Canada/Canadians

I've watched my share of HGTV in the past 10 years...early on it was in hopes that I would one day have my own space (other than a dorm room) to decorate.  Then I looked to it for cues about (what not to do) decorating my first apartments...then the Dow-Ward's first house...to our  downtown Memphis apartment, and now to our "my big fat Greek wedding" house.  All of these spaces have been very different.  One thing I'm now very aware of is purchasing pieces that could someday live in another space.  Early on, my plan was just to round up enough seating to accommodate a few fannies. Now, it's about the shape, the size, the style, the fabric, yadda, yadda, yadda.

One of the shows I've enjoyed watching on my computer is an oldie (season 2) but goodie...in addition to that I can even sometimes get the hubbs to watch with me....the show is none other than "Sarah's House"a show made and filmed in " O-Canada", the homeland of the hubbs. 

Season 2 is my favorite so far...mostly because of the interior decor she used.  I also liked season 3 but because of the exterior of the house.  Yet, another point to check out when you look at her web page!  Now as per season 2, check out these drool worthy preview photos!

If those bathrooms don't make you smile, 

I don't know what will!  They're beautiful!

The beautiful after photos of the living room. 

You simply  must check this out!

once again...work spaces

As cited in previous posts, I've been on the prowl for a desk/work space other than the dining room table. As of recently, the dining room table seems to have been cast in the roll of holding large piles of books and various pieces of music along with the casual table runner....that is not where I want those things to be!

Last week, a friend of mine on Facebook posted 3 photos of a desk that was FREE for the taking (gasp). I have no funds to buy a desk, that is the other flaw in this fabulous plan.  This seemed to good to be true. The hitch in this brilliant plan is that now I have to figure out how to get it home.  It weighs a TON!

I went to see the desk before my class on Thursday evening and took my trust tape measure along to check the dimensions to make sure it would be of suitable size for my space.  Naturally I will have to do a little work on this puppy to shine her up.  

In the weeks before I found this option, I had been looking for metal file cabinets on craigslist and had planned on buying a solid core slab door to put on top of them.  This just might be the best of both worlds because....it is free! 

In a dream world, it would be painted a glossy white...I'll have to see what I can negotiate with myself.  I'm an awful spray painter! I think I hold the can way to close. 

Additionally...In a dream world I would buy/find a desk chair that looks like this to pair with it. 

But that's the dream world....and I life in the real world and until those two worlds collide, I'll have to settle for something else. 

Weight Loss and Work Space Inspiration

Yesterday I completed weeks 1 of my high protein diet through University of Tennessee/Methodist Hospital.  And subsequently, today I began week 2.  This is weeks 1 and 2 of 26.  It is much more comforting to think of this in terms of weeks rather than days.  If you look at it in terms of days 182.5 days is a little daunting.  So I'd rather just go with "week 2" than days.  See what I mean.  Though I do feel as though this is working...did I mention I lost weight this week....so I guess thumbs up?

Tonight while I was reading some other blogs I started to reconsider the location for a home workspace.  Until about 7 minutes ago I was considering putting it in the butler's pantry, a room with suitable size between our kitchen and dining room. My new epiphany includes putting a work space in one of the closets in the downstairs bedrooms.  We have 2 bedrooms downstairs, 1 that actually serves as a bedroom and the other that is our tv room. I'm considering taking the closet door off the closet and using it as a work space.  There are really nice built in shelves and there would be room enough for a desk and chair below.  

To add to my inspiration of work spaces, I found a few more photos to throw into the mix....

I love these lacquer doors! Ce Bon!

This just looks inspiring to me, in a productive way. 

I love the X legs on this desk and all the orange boxes with the books creatively stacked aside! 

.

And now the pies de resistance...how would you like to have that as your view while working?

Nothing to sneeze at.

Last but not least I found this photo in a Google search for this wall paper.  

We are hoping to put it in our dining room.  It just so happens that we also have a chair like this and a 

kitty willing to pose in a similar posture.....

So here's to weight loss, wallpaper samples, kitties, X legs on desks, work spaces in closets, 

and a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower!  

Happy Labor Day Weekend, "All Y'all" (as I've learned to say in the south).

I'll eat, drink, and be merry....as long as it is on my approved food list of course.

(photos via various google searches)

Habitually Chic®: Chic at Work

I absolutely loved the blog post from Habitually Chic today, so much that I linked it below. I am trying to think about how to organize a work space at home for the Canadian and I.  Though our needs vary the fact remains the same that we currently use our lap tops on our, guess where, laps at whatever chair we can fall into. And there are books....EVERYWHERE!

These photos in the blog post are certinally some exceptions to the rule, and some exhibits of the rule. I love Jason Wu's desk, Anna Wintour (naturally) and Jenna Lyons.....The Oval Office is not to shabby! The Prez has a nice space to solve the problems of the world...LITERALLY.

Habitually Chic®: Chic at Work: "There are a lot of important issues going on in the world but the press is jumping all over the fact that President Obama had the Oval Offic..."