New Shopping Territory {Cost Plus}

I was a little restless this weekend after being in the house for too long and had about an hour to kill, so I went for a quick shopping trip.  Usually, if I have only a short time to shop, I’ll head to the old standby, Target or Home Goods, but this time I was in the mood for something a little different.  Sometimes you just want to see something that you haven’t seen before.  Enter Cost Plus World Market.  Although the store is close to our house, I always forget about it!  It’s a cool retail store that sells home decor goods and furniture inspired from around the world, as well as a little grocery and wine. 

In the past I’d say that Cost Plus isn’t my style, but I’m learning that my decor style is evolving and I really enjoyed just looking around and seeing what I was drawn to.  I restrained myself and just bought a baby book and a table runner that I’m using on my closet island.  Here are some other items that caught my eye.  All photos from Cost Plus.

Antique Book Journals - $12.99.  I could look at pretty paper, journals, stationery and cards all day.

Suzani Table Runner - $24.99.  I never embraced the Suzani trend before, but suddenly, I really like it.  Table linens are an easy way to enjoy the look without making a big commitment. 

 

Paisley Scented Candles -  $12.99.  I’m always drawn to candles in a pretty jar, but almost never “splurge” on them.  I’ve seen candles for as much as $50 before, so these prices are more doable for me. 

 

Portugal Bar Soaps - $5.99.  The packaging is so cute.  I’d like to gather a bunch of these to display in the bathroom in one of my large decorative glass vases.  And again with the good price when I’ve seen much, much higher.  p.s. the soaps I sniffed, smelled good:)

Ikat Toss Pillow - $19.99.  The dark red and aqua in this pillow really appeal to me.  I guess I’m digging this color combo since I’m doing our guest room in orange, white and navy too. 

Floor Cushion - $39.99.  I’m starting to see these everywhere.  Do you like them?  I’m thinking one would be good for all the time I’m spending on the floor with James.  And it would give him something big and soft to climb on. 

Alpaca Wool Blanket - $112.  Looks like winter to me.

Striped Throws - $14.98.  Notice how you can buy the “cool” or “warm” color palette.  But at that price, I say buy both if you can’t decide! 

 

Batik Paisley Voile Curtain - $19.99.                          Savannah Curtain - $29.99

Do you have a Cost Plus near you? Where do you go for a little shopping change of pace? 

HWH Featured {September 2010}

Here’s some blog love to those who featured HWH last month:)

Centsible Savings- September 8, 2010 {Custom Wall Art}

I’m an Organizing Junkie- September 9, 2010 {Jewelry Storage Solution}

Nikki’s Nacs- September 10, 2010 {Mudroom}

Under the Table and Dreaming- September 13, 2010 {Framed Monogram}

Worley House- September 13, 2010 {Blog}

The Hillside Home- September 15, 2010 {James}

Under the Table and Dreaming- September 21, 2010 {Mudroom}

Serenity Now- September 22, 2010 {Guest Post- Fabric Lined Bookshelf}

 

Fun Friday’s – September 22, 2010 {Blog}

Worley House- September 22, 2010 {Blog Award}

Remodelaholic- September 23, 2010 {Mudroom}

Simply Handmade by Paige- September 23, 2010 {Mudroom}

 

The Shabby Nest- September 23, 2010 {Mudroom}

New Nostalgia- September 27, 2010 {Office Inspiration Board}

Finding Fabulous- September 29, 2010 {Mudroom- No Sew Bench Seat}

My Kind Of Girl

I have decided that Lizzie Carney and I need to be friends. One look at her house told me all I needed to know....Images and additional information Country Living

baby james {7 months}

This kid is killing me with his cuteness.  And his eyes.  And his smile.  And is joy.  And his laughter.  And his just. being. a. baby.  He’s the best thing in the world.  Keeps delighting me by delighting himself.  Sometimes he laughs so hard, one of those deep belly laughs, and then I’m laughing too and I just want to record it and save it forever.  Those wonderfully sweet sounds.   Everything is new.  Everything is wondrous.  Everything is explored.  I wake up so excited for each day because I know I get to spend it with him and I can’t wait to see what he’s up to next. 

In the afternoons, we typically go into his room for some play time.  Sometimes I play too, but mostly I just try to take it in.  Seeing what he wants to do or where he wants to go.  And what will he do when he gets there?  Tiny little fingers reach for toys and chubby hands grab everything.  Slobbery lips and drool on the chin are a constant these days and occasional squeals of delight or frustration abound.   When he makes his way over to me, he loves to put both of those puffy hands on my cheeks and give me a big, open mouth kiss . .  . or he’s trying to eat my face.

And in the last month, while he was 6 months old, he’s been:

Crawling . . . He’s so got the army crawl down (and closing in on the real crawl).  If he spots something across the room that he wants- he’s there in .5 seconds flat.



And he pulled himself himself up- already?! *um, how cute are babies in footie pajamas??!!



Is that his inner decorator going for the Restoration Hardware catalog? 



It’s a little hard to tell here, but he’s pulled himself up and is STANDING (10/1/10)!  He stood up in his crib too! Aye, aye, aye!!!!!!!



Playing with new toys and trying to sit up . . .  He still doesn’t sit up very well on his own, just for a few seconds.  (dimple like Daddy)



Composing a few songs on the piano . . .



Driving around town in his new car that Grandma and Grandpa gave him . . .

see his two little bottom teeth:)

Hard at work on his laptop . . .



His first time swinging at the park . . .

 

I think he liked it- bare little feet and toes swinging in the breeze.

Bedhead . . . (the “mommy’s little man” shirt is a favorite of mine- I actually bought it for him as a newborn and the bigger version he’s wearing here:)

Getting his first haircut 9/28/10 (just a bang trim really)



No more hair in the eyes.  The sides are still long, but mostly behind his ear in this photo.  He REALLY wants the camera now when you go to take his picture.



Here he is on the day he met his new little niece.  When we were all sitting around the hospital room and the new baby started crying, James started trying to talk to her, “ahhoohhaaahh”.  It was like he was saying, “It’s okay girl, I’ve been there too.” 

Thank you Lord for blessing our family with this sweet, sweet baby.

Quiet Time

Today I want to do a special Quiet Time post for all military families and anyone out there who might be feeling scared right now. Last week someone very special shared this verse with me and it seemed fitting to post it today:

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your sheilf and rampart. Psalm 91:4.

Good Times

This weekend I am going to Oxford to see some of my favorite people in the whole world and I can't wait. Speaking of wonderful people, I spent last night with some of my favorite bloggers thanks to Doug and Paige who hosted a charming garden party.From the left: Paige - Tracery Interiors, Megan- A Life's Design, Me, Brooke- Blueprint Bliss, Paula- Two Ellie, Jennifer- The Newlywed Diaries, Doug- Tracery Interiors

Hope you have a great weekend!

Our Home Featured at 6th Street Design School

Earlier in the week while I was writing the post about the blogs you liked and sharing some of my favorites, Kirsten of 6th Street Design School emailed me and said that she recently found my blog and was interested in featuring our home on her blog.  Whoa!  Seriously?!  It was so funny because her blog was one of the blogs I listed as a new daily read for me.

When I got the email, it was pretty late and I was on my computer in bed, trying to type quietly while my husband slept.   But after I got Kirsten’s message, I HAD to share!

**********

Me:  (in a hushed voice) Honey . . . are you awake?

Him:  No.

Me:  Really?

Him:  Yes.

Long pause.

Me:  Well, one of my favorite bloggers who is an actual interior designer wants to feature our house on her blog!!!!!!!! 

Him:   ZZZZZZZZZ

**********

Well, I knew YOU’D be excited!  Thank God for blog friends!

The next day, I got busy cleaning the kitchen, went and bought some pretty flowers, and did a little photo shoot of our kitchen so I could send them to Kirsten for the feature.  I hadn’t yet featured our kitchen here because I was waiting for the stove hood to be redesigned and installed- which just happened.  Here’s a preview of our kitchen, one of my favorite rooms in the house:

 

You can see 6th Street Design School’s feature on our home here.  Kirsten, thanks again!  I’m very honored.  And I had to give a shout out to our builder, and my personal friend, Chris Bolio of Bolio Custom Homes.  We collaborated closely on this project and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results.