IKEA

I first had to share a few T Ball pics from Friday night!  I am having a hard time believing I have  a five year old???  How did this happen?  He looks so big!!!  

The cutest team (not the best vantage point)

I'm pretty sure anyone who knows me, reads this blog or follows me on Pinterest, knows how much I love IKEA!!!   As some of you know, we are due to move back home in a few weeks so I decided to take  a little field trip-minus hubby and kiddos- and head north to Charlotte.  On the way, I made a pit stop by my parents house and picked up my dad.  He had no idea what was coming-heehee.  Pretty sure I broke some sort of record for spending 5.5 hours in there...oops...

Favorite purchase #1.

Cowhide rug similar (slightly more tan-will share pics once we move back in) to this one below

Love this picture from Pinterest-how cool to paint a sailfish all white for hanging on the wall!!!

We actually have one hanging at Big R's office but it is metal with a bronze patina..may have to steal it back:)

Favorite purchase #2

Table + Chairs

Ikea Docksta table 

Tobias chairs

Favorite Purchase #3

Ikea Expedit bookcase

high gloss white-eeekkk!!!

(I am planning to flip on it's side under the windows of the playroom)

similar to this

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Favorite Purchase #4

Am loving these awesome Odby Frames!!!!!

What are your favorite things from IKEA??!!!

On my way to IKEA stopped by my parents house and had to snap a picture of their front walk...wowza...lush and green!!!!

Art + House Progress

Did I ever show y'all these two paintings?  

I can't remember and am being too lazy to go back through my posts to see:)  Well, they have found a beautiful home in my friend Lauren's baby girl's nursery!  I am loving the color palette going on here, don't you?

(That's her 1st birthday invitation-so cute!!!)

And a few progress shots of the house in case you are interested...

(Excuse the grainy Iphone pics)

Kitchen cabinet boxes going in

Pantry off the kitchen

Master bath tile

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!!  We will be heading to our first T ball game tonight...should be a good time:)!!!!

Peeping Tom

all pictures via Pinterest

Have you noticed a common theme running throughout all these pictures?  You guessed it, bamboo blinds.  Or woven blinds, if you will.  Big R and I were talking last night about moving back into our house in the next few weeks and we don't have any blinds or curtains for the windows!  And there is 0 in the budget for any "decorative" or as I see it "essential" items.  In an effort ot avoid any peeping toms, we are thinking of going with bamboo blinds-they are timeless in my eyes and add a bit of sophistication to any space.   My mom and dad have used them in their house for as many years as I can remember.  Another perk,  they are just not that expensive!  I remember Brooke's post about blinds last year and saved the link to Just Blinds.  You can get lined or unlined.  Or I may head down to Read Bros. here in Charleston and see if they still carry the sizes I need.  (we used to have them in our house until the cords popped after a lot of pulling and tugging from little hands!!!)

Now fast forward and this is what I'm hoping to achieve in our living and dining room in time! 

 Loving how they hung the rod as close to the ceiling as possible to add the allusion of height (even though the ceiling height in this room is probably 12-14 feet!!!!).  We have 8' ceilings throughout most of our house so this would be a genius way to give off the effect of taller ceilings!

And while we are on the subject of the house a few pics from our visit to the "work site." 

A boy's heaven!!!  They dig, run, ride bikes, dig, repeat..pure joy to be covered head to toe in dirt and sawdust!!!!

Tuesday Food Day

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Ahhh, the taste of a refreshing, ice cold greyhound + soda.  This is my latest obsession as well as this COLOR!!!  Can't get enough!  I used to be such a vodka+soda+cranberry type but I've  changed it up and I like it!  

Back to the drink though.  Have y'all tried the Rio Red Grapefruit juice at Trader Joes?  It is serious goodness.  The juice from my all time favorite grapefruit, the Rio Star.  The sweetest taste from an otherwise known as bitter fruit.  Perfect summertime beverage in my opinion!

So here's my drink:

ice-(not any old ice but ice maker ice is preferred)

Grey Goose Vodka

Soda Water-Trader Joes Brand is great

Rio Red Grapefruit juice

squeeze of lime

What's your drink of choice these days?  

Summer Style

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.

Oh My Gah I can't tell you how ready I am for summer!!!  Can you tell?  After my post last week about pools and this week about beach..I'm ready for some lazy summer days ahead!  Big R and I were talking about how we feel like April may be the coldest month we have had so far here in Charleston in 2012!  Isn't that crazy?!   Most of this weekend was spent cooped up inside with the boys due to a few rain showers, so I decided to focus on sunny and brights today so at least I can mentally go to this happy place:)  

*does anyone know where this great bag (7.) came from?  I had it saved to my desktop from long ago and can't figure out the origin??  

Splash

I'm a pool girl. 

 Always have been.  Always wanted one. 

 Never have had one.  

You think it's too late to add one?  Ha, I can hear Big R laughing now.  Ok, just a dream but seriously... I want one.  I can see it now..leisurely days of sun, sip and swim .... oh the life....who am I kidding???!!!

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*quick question-you think the homeowners with these pools ever use them? My guess is a big fat NO!  Is that not always the way-take for granted the things you have!  You can bet I would be splish splashing around everyday if I had one of these!!!

 And while we're playing make believe,  this would be my outdoor grilling area/kitchen and that would be me of course.

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Happy Friday!  

Hope everyone has a fab weekend...we're off to the beach for a few days!

Coral Obsessed

Coral.  There is something about this color that I am obsessed with.  All shades.  It can range from pink to orange to red and any which way I love it and it looks good with everything!!!!!  Feeling very inspired these days with my own works.  (2 i phone pics below)

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i phone

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i phone

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What's your color obsession these days?

A little Random

On Monday, we headed out to Lowndes Grove (one the most beautiful properties in Charleston) for a little photo shoot for my friend Brook's new website, Little Fish!  What gorgeous weather and perfectly adorable kiddos, puppies and balloons and look where this guy wanted to hang out-the parking lot:)  Go figure, missing all the fun -wah wah!!!

How adorable are these star pants?  My other good buddy in town has a clothing line called Lollipop Kids and she made them!  You gotta check it out here or here!

Boys have been little archaeologists in the back yard.  And much to my surprise, their "treasure" screams "tetanus shot" don't ya think? 

 Good ole rusty crooked nails!

Yesterday went marble shopping.  Here's what we found...kind of LOVING this first one!  What 's your pick?

Pick #1

Pick #2

Finally decided on a paint color.  

Body F&B 50% Lamproom Gray/ 50% white 

Trim, Porch, Shutters, Doors F&B 3/4 Downpipe, 1/3 White

And here's what I'm addicted to this week.  

Butterbean Salad 

Butter lettuce

Kubato Tomatoes (gotta try next time you go grocery shopping!)

Warm butterbeans

avocado

mint

basil

*lemon dressing

lemon dressing

1/2 lemon

olive oil-dash

salt & papper

crushed garlic

Tuesday Food Day

Thai Shrimp Enchiladas

(original recipe is  Thai Chicken Enchiladas but we used Shrimp instead)

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serves 2-4

8 flour tortillas (we used 4 wheat tortillas because I only had an 8"X8" dish and I like to fill them up!)

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded (original recipe calls for chicken but as you know I'm a non chicken eater so we used shrimp)

1 tablespoons canola oil (olive oil)

1/2 sweet onion, chopped

1/3 cup chopped/shredded carrots

1/2 cup chopped/shredded cabbage

4 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

4 green onions, sliced

1/3 cup chopped + crushed peanuts + more for garnish(cashews instead)

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro + more for garnish

2 1/2 cups light coconut milk

1/3 cup + 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce

(marinated shrimp in chili sauce + cilantro + sriracha and grilled first)

*added roasted sweet potatoes inside enchiladas

**added mint + cilantro + cashews for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

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Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add canola oil. Throw in onions, cabbage, carrots, garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt, stirring to mix. Let cool until vegetables are soft, about 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add in chicken, green onions, peanuts, cilantro, remaining salt and pepper, tossing to coat, and let cook for 1-2 minutes. Add in 3/4 cup coconut milk and 1/3 cup sweet chili sauce, mixing thoroughly to combine. Turn off heat.

Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Whisk together remaining coconut milk and sweet chili sauce. Pour about 1/2 a cup or so on the bottom of the dish. Slightly warm tortillas if desired to make them more pliable, then place a few spoonfuls of the chicken mixture in each, rolling up tightly and placing in the dish. Cover with remaining coconut milk and chili sauce mix. I usually take a spoon and cover every inch of the tortilla with the sauce, just to make sure it’s coated.

Bake for 20 minutes, then remove and top with additional peanuts and cilantro. Since sauce is not as thick as traditional enchilada sauce, when you remove them from the oven, spoon sauce from the bottom of the dish all over the tortillas. Additionally this can be done halfway through cooking too.

recipe and picture via

Y'all gotta make this recipe!!!  So darn good if you are a fan of thai food but very rich!!!  I think the sweetness of the coconut milk + sweet chili sauce could have been reduced by adding chicken broth or just less sweet chili sauce. All in all delicious though!  Big R went back for more!

And since I didn't get a chance yesterday, I thought I would share a few pics from our weekend.  

First baby turned 5!!!!

So proud to finally be a year older!!!  We celebrated at the bowling alley!

A little DIY project for the big day!

Dirtiest boy in America!!!  

Cousin Love

Boat Ride Sunday Funday!!!

My Sweet boys!!!

Cheers to summer on it's way!!!!

Exterior Input

All you designers and wannabe designers out there, I need your input!!!  I have waited until the 11th hour to make any paint decisions and now it's GO time!!!  I NEED to make these decisions, uh,  by today-UGH!!!  So help!  

We have decided to paint the exterior of our brick rancher.  What color????

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I want a cream color I'm thinking.   

I've looked into "Pointing" by Farrow and Ball

This is "Pointing" on our brick with that little bit on the bottom left painted in Benjamin Moore "Iron Mountain"-thinking of this for the shutters and exterior doors but may be too dark??

Benjamin Moore "Iron Mountain" 2134-30

Hubster loves this combo the best.

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Or moving in a different direction, something like this for trim and doors

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Benjamin Moore "Texas Leather"

Please excuse the mess I made above trying out all these different colors.  

The tan is Benjamin Moore "Clarksville Gray" but I think it's  a little too dark for me. 

 The top brown color is "Texas Leather" and the darker brown is "Texas Leather"-double formula + black- (got the idea from Darby over at Fly Through our Window-her sister is Erika from Urban Grace Interiors- if you did not already put it together.  This is Darby's House-love her color scheme, just not sure I can go so dark?  It doesn't look so dark here but in person it looks  a little darker to me.)

I don't know, the more I think about it, i'm liking cream and shades of gray.  

Thoughts???  

Would love some feedback!