Pull Up a Chair

I was cruising around Overstock.com again--this time looking for patio furniture--when I came across a set of modern french cafe type chairs in several finishes.  The chairs looked so familiar.  After a little Google search, I realized that like the great knock-off light fixtures I wrote about in this post, the Overstock.com chairs were, well, nearly identical to the Pottery Barn chairs.  AT A FRACTION OF THE PRICE, THOUGH!!!

See for your self~

Meet the Pottery Barn Tolix (TM) Cafe Chair~

$245/each; $900/set of 4; $1470 $1170/set of 6

+ that expensive shipping and tax

And, now, let me introduce you to the Overstock.com version~



for sale on Overstock.com in silver, black, white and red

for $170/set of 4!!!!



If I had a million dollars...

I'd buy these things!  And, I'd buy some for you, too.

I have a love/hate relationship with Horchow.  I love all their pretty little things.  I hate that none of it is in my budget...like at all!!!  Horchow is the equivalent of a kid's candy store for me.  I just ogle the pages. I get so excited when I get the sale emails from them.  It's like they're just teasing me, though.  Making me think I might be able to buy something.  Even if I ever do see something I can afford, it's not something I need at the time.  Oh well.  Maybe someday the right thing will be on sale at the right time! 

Here are a few things I'm loving this week~ 

Dearest Husband

Dearest Husband,

The good news is that I don't even know where to find this piece of furniture.

The bad news is that it does exist, it would be perfect for our living room, and usually when something is this perfect, the checkbook doesn't like it. 

But, wouldn't it be perfect???

{via studioten25}

Friday Favorites-Make-Up Edition

Back before the days of homeownership and house decorating when I had more "fun money" to spend, my girlfriends and I spent plenty of time and money at the make-up counter.  I don't quite categorize myself as a product junkie, but I could easily take up that addiction.  Over the years, I've gone through lots of things that I loved and some that were just so-so.  Here are a few of my favorite products that I've stuck with for years:

Nars blush in Orgasm (did I make you blush??).  The experts says its the perfect shade to compliment any complexion, which is certainly true for me.  It's not very cheap, but it lasts forever.  I think I've had my compact for 3 years!  It gives my cheeks the perfect sunkissed touch!

Lancome Juicy Tube in Spring Fling.  I've been using it since Lancome started making Juicy Tubes, which is quite a while back.  It's the perfect color to put over lip liner or lipstick or to wear alone.  It has just enough pink in it to not wash out any color you have naturally or that you are layering it with.  A little goes a long way with this one, too.  A tube lasts a long time.  Plus, it smooth and not sticky!  I hate sticky lip gloss!

Loreal Double Extend Lash Tubes Mascara was introduced to me by the make-up artist that did my wedding make-up.  I wanted something that wouldn't run if I cried during the ceremony.  She steered me away from waterproof mascara and suggested Lash Tubes instead.  Before that I refused to use anything by Dior Mascara, which I still think is great, but the Lash Tubes mascara is a much more economical option.   I wear contacts, and I've never had any issues with eye irritation.  Lash Tubes coats your lashes and forms actual tubes around them, which makes it perform like waterproof mascara.  It still comes off easy by running/splashing warm water on your eyes.   You see the tubes actually pull/fall off!  It layers well, and at about $8/tube, I just don't think you can beat it. 

Those are my favorite for this Friday.  They can be purchased at Sephora, Ulta or your local drugstore.  Check back next week for more Friday Favorites!!

West Elm Love

I stopped in West Elm last weekend to kill a little time and see what new stuff they had in the store for spring.  I found lots of fabulous stuff--none of which I actually needed.  I managed to keep my purchases to a new set of cloth dinner napkins and this little ditty, which now lives in my living room built-ins~

Note:  I love how West Elm has no better way to classify some of their stuff than "Objects"!

Here are some of my other favorites that I would have loved to bring home with me.  How could a dining room be anything less than beautiful with a set of these great chairs (and they're comfortable, too) ~

 And, this duvet would be so fun in my guest room~

 And, this adorable ruffled shower curtain~

And, I'm not sure why, but I love this whale pillow!



Painted Fireplace - Before & After

My husband and I do a lot of home improvement projects together.  I guess you could say it's our hobby.  Before we met I purchased a 1400 square foot 1960s ranch style house that needed quite a bit of work.  I started by painting the entire inside of the house myself.  Fortunately, I met my husband shortly after that and our path to being weekend warriors began.  We've since sold that house, moved to Texas, and started working on our newer but less charming suburban home. 

Our first project of 2011 was to paint our fireplace!  We really debated making this change, but eventually decided to take the plunge.  Here is our before picture:

And, here's the after:

We used Sherwin-Williams Concrete & Masonry Primer to prime the brick.  We had some soot stains and wanted to make sure they didn't show through the top coat.  We hand painted the mortar and then used a roller to cover the brick.  We used Sherwin-Williams ProMar 200 paint in a low sheen finish custom matched to the color of our built-ins to finish off the project.  You'll notice that we've also painted the insides of the book shelves a fun lime-green (Glidden's Granny Apple Smith).  In total, I think this project costs us about $100 in paint and supplies.  Lots of impact for the money!  The mirror is from Ballard Designs and was a great find for $89!  The copper tub holding our firewood is an antique washtub that orignally belonged to my husband's grandparents!

Spring!

I love Spring and Summer.  Well, I really love warm weather, which we sometimes get during the fall and winter here, too.  What I love most about Spring, though, are the flowers.  I wish I could splurge on fresh flowers every week in the grocery store.  I only indulge from time to time when we're having guests, though.  I love to design the arrangements myself.  It's an outlet to be creative where you can't really go wrong!

Lots of girls like roses and tulips, which I think are great, but I really love peonies and ranunculus.  Both are delicate and artistic flowers that seem sort of old fashioned.  Sort of like old souls.  If I had gotten married in the spring, I would have used similar flowers in my bouquet!  Here are some of my favorite images!  What are your favorite spring flowers?

{Image via thebuzz.dianejameshome.com}

{Image via Southern Accents}

{Image via awaytogarden.com}

{Image via Real Flower Pictures}

 

{Image via Real Flower Pictures}

{Image via Real Flower Pictures}

The Light Bulb Went Off

As I've said before, I'm always on a budget.  A while back I spotted a light fixture on the Pottery Barn website, but I knew it was more than I wanted to spend.  So I waited. And I waited.  And I waited.  Then one day I got that email I'd been waiting for-- cue the Hallelujuh chorus --lighting was onsale at Pottery Barn.  Before I knew it, the fixture (at about 20% off) was in my "cart" and on the way to our house.  Fortunately, my husband can hang lighting, which saves us a lot of money.  I love my light fixture!

Recently I was browsing Overstock.com looking for a new fixture for our master bedroom, when the light bulb went off.  Many of the same/similar fixtures from Pottery Barn can be found on Overstock.com at much better prices.  About the only thing I love better than Pottery Barn is a great price. 

Check out some of these comparisons~

The Pottery Barn Veranda Round Chandelier at $349 + expensive shipping and tax

The Overstock.com version at just over $200--almost a 50% savings!

The Veranda Linear Chandelier at $329 + expensive shipping and tax

The Overstock.com version at just under $200

The Pottery Barn Celeste Chandelier at $299 + expensive shipping and tax

The Overstock.com version at just under $200

The Pottery Barn Gothic Lantern at $269 + expensive shipping and tax

The Overstock.com version at $140

The Pottery Barn Hundi Lantern in rubbed oil bronze at $269.

The Overstock.com version at $152, which has been featured by Emily Hewett of A Well Dressed Home as one of her Frugal Finds!

The Pottery Barn Hundi Lantern in ribbed glass at $299

The Overstock.com version at $168

*Prices on Overstock can change daily.

Friday Favorites

I'm new to being a blogger, but I've been reading blogs for a long time.  I wanted my blog to have a catchy but meaningful name.  In honor of this blog's namesake, Maizy, who is our two-year-old English labrador retriever, I want to share a few of my favorite pet related items.

First, though, meet Maizy.  Seen here in one of this year's Christmas card pictures~

And, a few of our must haves:

If you're not familiar with UpCountry, Inc., go check out their website.  I'll be here waiting on you to get back.  Ok-welcome back!  Isn't their stuff just adorable?  I've bought collars and "pet futons" from them for several years.  The company has a great backstory and produces great quality, chic products.  Check them out!  The collars below are a few of my favorite prints!

 {all images via upcountryinc.com}

The Furminator!  If you have a shedding dog, but don't have a Furminator, you are missing out.  Go. Get. One. Immediately.  It's a must have!  You can find them at Petco or PetsMart.

{image via www.furminator.com}

And, last but not least, good dog food!  We have three dogs ~two labs and a beagle~ and have tried lots of different foods.  For Bobbie the Beagle, a senior dog, I love Wellness Just for Seniors, a holistic dog food that boats real meat as its number one ingredient.  Like many beagles, Bobbie struggles with her weight and energy level.  Once we started her on Wellness, she was a changed woman.  She ran, skipped and hopped.  We didn't think she had it in her.  Wellness can also be found at Petco or PetsMart.

{images via http://www.wellnesspetfood.com}

Have a nice weekend!  I'll see you guys back next week.

Got the bedroom on my mind!

We've been in our "adult" house for about 18 months now.   When we first moved in, we purchased bedroom furniture as my 30th birthday gift, but we haven't really gotten any further than that with the progress of our master bedroom.  It's time to make this room look as good as I dream of it looking!  I want a master bedroom that is serene and dreamy and cool and calm--a place that makes you want to relax and forget about all of the stress of the day.  I'm on a budget, though. 

We've started our updates, and I'll be posting on their progress soon.  In the meantime here are a few pictures that are inspiring me.

{photo via http://www.houseofturquoise.com/}

{photo via www.ashleygoforthdesign.com}

{photo via www.ashleygoforthdesign.com}

{photo via decorpad.com}

 {photo via decorpad.com}

{photo via decorpad.com}

{photo via decorpad.com}