Silly Target

Remember back in May 2010 when J and I moved to Florida and thought, "hmmm what should we do with our living room? We're kind of feeling brown, creme and vanilla... lets go with that and make it real romantickey with flowers and distressed everything and french looking things."

Quit trying to be me Target. Seriously. This is their most recent home add from my Lucky mag and I know its tiny but I took a picture with my camera phone because my mind was blown. Enter into any Target and you will see their lavender, brown and creme french-themed home collection. You can't make this stuff up folks.


Yes, this is an adorable picture of my dog but behind the cuteness you can also get the jist of what I'm talking about with without me throwing up a detailed picture of the insides of my house. That kind of creeps me. Sorry stalkers, jou don't even know me!


Anyways, apparently Target reads my blog. Or something. If I knew how to make money at telling people what is going to be "in" just around the river bend I would be swimming in dollar bills right now. I guess I'm just gifted ;)

Stupid Monday

Is it Christmas yet? It is barely back to school time and I am already exhausted... this is no good. You know what this means, right? Mental vacations. LOTS of them.

Have you all seen Sarah's Summer Home on HGTV? I am slightly obsessed and not ashamed to say that I dream of my own gorgeously appointed private island home on a Midwestern Lake close to a plethora of antique stores. OH yes, a plethora. YES, please please.

Take a looksee and you'll know what I'm talking about:





Did I mention the house is only accessible by boat and also has a tiny guest cottage? This is where I will be vacationing mentally all week. How about you?

I'm Seeing Signs

While browsing home the decor section of about 5 different stores recently (a weekly activity), I came across these two adorable signs. I definitely want to steal the ideas and try to make them at home, in some semblance.

I would have just bought this one as I think it sums the hubs and I up fairly well... BUT it looked kind of cheap and plasticy and I'm pretty confident I can make my own more "beach authentic" looking version. We will see, I have high hopes and big dreams and then when it comes to actually making things like this, but then I always avoid the work. I don't know why I do that to myself. Anyhow, I am in the SLOW process of converting our guest room from what we currently call "grandma's attic chic" to beach themed, so I am into this one big time.


Do you guys have Kirkland's? When we lived in California the only Kirkland's I knew about was Kirkland's Signature store brand products at Costco. That is NOT what I am talking about. Here in the South (and I'm assuming elsewhere?) there is a discount home good's store that I can literally peruse for hours. Some of the stuff in there is like, whoa! But generally there is a major score or two lurking around.

I thought these two framed pics were too great. Check the price on the one on the left! I should have just bought them but I have no use for them. I think they would be precious on the entrance to closet doors or on a double vanity but we don't really have those situations up in the Ford household. Good inspiration though, right?


Have a great day!

Handmade with Love

You know what's great about getting married (besides the being married part, of course)? Getting wedding gifts for months and months after! YES! Especially when they are handmade with love.

Imagine our delight when we received this incredibly beautiful crocheted blanket in the mail just a month ago. My mom's best friend Susan made it with her own two hands for us, isn't that the sweetest? She also helped with all of the set-up of our reception during the wedding itself and it would have probably been a disaster zone without her.


This sweet blanket is a special item we will have for the rest of our lives that makes me feel loved every time I snuggle up under its warmth. Getting this beautiful gift (accompanied by a beautiful note) reminded me how the act of giving with thought and purpose is such a huge blessing to others.

Thank you Susan, you inspire me to be more giving of myself everyday!

Cozy Home Library

Some inspirations just strike you and you can't escape the deluge of ideas...

This Dunhill chair from Crate and Barrel, for example, made me drool upon first sight... Then, it made me lust after a cozy home library with a fireplace. And a French Bulldog. And a cashmere throw blanket. And some hot cocoa. And a sweet sound system... Am I getting carried away?

Yea, now I am dead set on having a gloriously cozy home library to while away my hours in our next home. And I'm ready to move. I want my library.

Long story short, here's my two final design choices. I'll take either one, thanks. Just make sure you throw in a fireplace and we're all set. Oh, and don't forget my new Dunhill chair, k?

Artsy Glass

I'm off interviewing again today so please, wish me luck! I was looking through the interwebs for some calm and centering eye candy and I came across this...

Feeling very inspired by these gorgeous photographs of rainbowed glasses, perfume bottles and vases. Wouldn't this neutral palette be beautiful against a window where the light shines through? This mix of soft hues just kills me.

Also loving this sea glass-inspired collection for accessorizing a beach house. I plan on having one of those someday. ;)

{From Johnny Miller via Oh Joy}

Reading Rainbow

My book case is more fun than yours.

I Have a Secret Obsession

Blame my OCD, blame my type-A personality, blame my love of things smelling and feeling just right... Heck, blame it on the rain for all I care, but I have a guilty, unhealthy obsession... and it is with cleaning products.

It is sad really, how exciting shopping for cleaning and home fragrance type products is for me. Do ya'll know of The Laundress? Well, you should. Unless of course you prefer to enjoy a healthy hobby like, say, coin collecting or mountain biking or any other normal fun activity that doesn't involve household chores...

Seriously though, what is wrong with me? I haven't bought a new pair of shoes (and I desperately need a new pair) in over a year, not kidding, and yet... here I am lusting over a $45 bottle of rose scented laundry detergent (oh yes, that is Le Labo laundry detergent, WHY do they do this to me?!) and $18 All-Purpose Bleach Alternative.

WHY, world, why?!

Since The Laundress doesn't take bartering or brownies as legitimate forms of payment, and I don't have a money-tree growing anywhere near my home, I generally use Mrs. Meyer's lavender products, which aren't exactly cheap, but they are tres luxurious, eco-friendly and smell delicious. Plus, what fun is a secret obsession if it doesn't involve spending money you don't have on things you don't need?! Oh, and they're having a sale...

More Lavender and Cream Color Inspiration

Z Gallerie Purple Interior Accents

Have I inspired you to redecorate with lavenders, creams and browns? Are you at least thinking about it? I came across some very nice living room accessories in all shades of purple at Z Gallerie the other day and thought the lot was worth sharing.

Lavender can be seriously scary if overdone as an accent, but all of these would make great living room accessories if done in moderation. The pillows in the center would add a nice touch of texture to a more simple couch and the ones at bottom right are a touch more sophisticated if you are a more understated type lavender-user.

How awesome are those geode coasters? Very awesome. I wish they weren't $10 per coaster, although that is a decent price if you are gifting them to someone, say as a hostess gift. The rest of this table is a little bit way intense for my style (something about having purple dishes makes me think about grape flavoring and that just isn't enticing) but I think the purpley mother of pearl vase is just gorgeous and even has those lovely cream and brown hues.

Have you spotted this color combo in any other home decor stores lately?

Understated and Muted Home Decor in Browns and Creams

Decorating an empty home from the baseboards on up is a grand opportunity to use your purchases to make your own world and the world at large beautiful all at once.

Shopping through fair trade and ethically minded global home goods companies provides elegant and unique home items, and a do-good-glow for you. Dia Living Handcraft sources textiles from Morocco, India and Turkey and Ten Thousand Villages provides international exposure for third world artisans to sell their handmade goods. Not only do these sites provide an economical option for you (items are generally direct from artisans to your door) they also make it possible to fill your home with handmade, gorgeous, unique items that can be as of-the-moment or classic as you please.

Moroccan woven wool rugs and linen pillows from Dia Living.

From Ten Thousand Villages...

Handmade silk pillow from India.

Wooden handmade candle holders from Pakistan.

Woven table from Bangladesh.

Dreamy Grey, Cream and Peach Color Board Inspiration

If I had a little girl's room to decorate this color scheme would totally be my inspiration...

SO sweet.