Subject: Why Onions Make Me Cry and Smile

Have you heard the news, Kara??  We are basically in the middle of a Southern blizzard.  The 5 plus inches in my neighborhood, have resulted in Hubby being off from work yesterday AND today AND probably tomorrow.  

We ventured outside yesterday with the dogs in multiple layers of clothing.  It was nice to get some fresh air, but it was also REALLY cold!  Here's a shot of the front of the house.

Once we got home, Millie relaxed on our new couch.  (Did I tell you about the couch fiasco?  I can't remember??  Did I tell you we got a couch from Restoration Hardware now??)

And while Millie was relaxing, I cooked up one of my FAVORITE winter meals - French Onion Soup.  Ina Garten's recipe is TO DIE FOR.  It's easy and delicious.  A little time consuming to let the onions caramelize, but well worth the wait!  And, I make Hubby chop the onions because they really do make me cry.  

The only change I make to the recipe is I buy a baguette, cut a few slices and stick them under the broiler for a couple of minutes until the toast up.  Do you have a favorite winter meal?  Something to warm you up during the cold, non-snow days in the Sunshine State?

Re: Chore Art

Melissa -

Hello and I love this post! My goal in decorating any space is unexpected details in unexpected places, so I love that you are considering artwork for your laundy room! First off, I love the color you selected. Seriously, can you go wrong with that inky gray-blue color? The answer is no, you cannot.

I have two thoughts on you art choice, with accessories to go with either decision (of course). I like the first option - the Keep Calm and Wash On - because it is a cheeky nod to the original poster that was Everywhere for a long time. And I agree - black background with white letters. And if you go with that option, here are some ideas for storage containers, both from Target.

The Target Trend Lab Versailles Fabric Storage Bin Set:
Or the Target Tote with Eyelet Handles:

I'm also torn because that limits you to only black, white and the wall color. You could always tie bright yellow ribbon to the handles on the second option or do some kind of colorful tags to label the contents of each container. I also like the idea of a washed-out photograph, especially something that's personal to you. If you go with that option, then I like the idea of some industrial-looking metal containers.

The Container Store Silver Mesh Handy Bin (great for a laundry room and sorting all your loads...plus it has wheels!):


The Container Store Platinum Elfa Drawers (assuming there is shelving):
And, for whatever you choose, I love it when people use jars like these to hold their detergent or other laundry accessories. From Target, natch:

Obviously if you use liquid detergent this doesn't really work, but I use Borax in addition to my liquid detergent, and if I had the space (see below), I would totally store it in a pretty container.

And lastly, a picture of my laundry closet. The pails are from Ikea and I love them.



Happy washing!
Kara

Subject: Chore Art

So, one area of the house that we added The House of Peach touch to was the laundry room.  Although, modest in size, it is an actual room, which I like, and has enough room to store everything laundry room-related.  Before I send you all the pictures of the makeover, there is one key element I need to make a decision on.  The artwork!

The floor is black and white and we painted the walls Faded Ink by Martha Stewart.  I am kind of in love with her paints!

 

 

Faded Ink by Domestic Goddess Martha Stewart

So, now I need to choose the artwork for one of the walls.

Choice #1:  I would do this in a black background in a black frame.  I think it would work nicely with the black and white floor.

Etsy Keep Calm Shop Poster

Choice #2:  I would also do this in a black background.

Etsy Aldari's Shop

Or is a fun photograph the way to go??

Choice #3

Etsy Heather Evans Smith's Shop

Etsy has a ton of photographs of clothes on a clothesline.  I think there could be a good chance that I have some of my own photographs like that from my trip to Israel a few years ago.  I will have to go find the disk and look though all the pictures.

Would love to hear your thoughts on the laundry room art.  Seems like making that room pretty would make the chore of doing laundry a little less painful!  Also, send me a picture of your laundry room when you can.  I remember you had those silver buckets.  I wonder if there is anything else I'm forgetting?!

Re: Re: Clutter

My friend Peach,

I totally hear you on the madness that is working from home! There are days when I have nothing to do and could sit and watch grass grow, and then there are days when I pray Suz sleeps an extra half-hour so I can cram meet my deadlines. Unfortunately, the lazy days are getting fewer and far between, especially with my ambitious 2011 Project List I am developing. Hopefully I can share with you next week!

Your (okay, Oprah's) picks for reading in 2011 are awesome! I even put A Tale of Two Cities on my reading list...which I also hope to reveal next week. Between your pictures and my lists, next week is going to be busy! Plus, I have my 2011 Goals that I also need to share with you. (If you can't tell, I LOVE lists. Mostly I love crossing things off, which is why on my reading list there will be a few books that I have recently read, just so I can cross them off. I think it builds momentum when you can cross a few things off right away.)

Wouldn't these postcards be fun to send out to your other reader-friends or to remind members of your book club of an upcoming meeting? If we lived in the same town, we would have such an awesome book club!





And speaking of classics, JCrew has a slideshow of their 11 New Classics of 2011. The highlights: a quilted jacket, pearls, sneakers, pencil skirs and khaki pants. I am totally on board!


See you here next week! I hope you guys have a great weekend and I can't wait to see your 'after' pictures!!


Xoxo,
Your friend Lass


P.S. And yes - Suz was into the ribbons on her packages and she would thoughtfully crinkle the tissue paper between her fingers - she loves that sound!

Re: Clutter!

Did you think I fell off the face of the earth?!  Despite the fact that I worked at least two hours each day of my vacation (The joys of being a business owner!) I have been SO behind on work this week.  It's like it would never stop!!

I finally feel like I can breathe, which means I can finally blog!!  Merry Belated Christmas to you and your gorgeous fam!  Your presents looked great, with each ribbon and bow perfectly in place, and I can't even imagine how much more fun this year was since little Suz was in the picture.  Someone I know who is a mommy, I can't remember who at this specific moment, but they mentioned that their child was more into wrapping paper than the actual presents.  Was that Suz's case?  

So, we are already seven days into the new year.  I, too, have so much that I want accomplish this year.  On the book front, I just want to read more!!  As an English minor, I took two classes in school where the assignments were pretty much read this great book and either write a paper on it or take a test.  All the books ranked among the classics.  And there is a reason that those books have that label.  Any there any that you are dying to read?  

A few weeks ago, Oprah announced that her book club selection was not one, but two great classics.  Charles Dickens, "A Tale of Two Cities" and "Great Expectations."  I'm interested in reading both.  I think I will add that to my to-do in 2011.

Besides more reading, I have my laundry list of home renovations of course and I'd like to grow and herb garden.  I also would LOVE to plan a great trip.  My dream would be to go to Italy.  (With a one or two day stop in Paris of course!)  

I think if I keep the list minimal I should be able to accomplish a lot!  I also look forward to seeing your 30 before 30 list.  I think I should work on mine sometime this year, too.  (Now that I'm an OLD 28 year old!) 

Well, that's all for now.  This weekend I will snap a few pictures around the house because Hubby and I, along with my wonderful parents, made a TON of home renovations!!  You'd be so proud!

Subject: Boring Mat Makeover

Dearest Melissa -

This is a project that took me no time at all to complete and one I wanted to share with you, as you are decorating your own home and maybe looking for some interesting wall art ideas. As you know, we took family pictures back in September to mark Suz's sixth month and these were the first professional pictures we'd had taken since our wedding, so it was kind of exciting.

Anyway, I got the proofs back and ordered two 8x10's, one of just Suz and then one of all three of us. I already had frames that I was going to use and they had mats in them, but the mats were a blah gray and I wanted to make them more interesting, and maybe even had some texture. I don't know that I can take full credit for this idea, but I am having a hard time remembering where I may have read about it. Basically, I had seen in the past where people used burlap as a cheap alternative to linen, and I'd seen in catalogues where they sold picture frames with linen mats...so maybe I put the two together and came up with it on my own? Anyway, all that to say I don't want to plaigerize someone else's idea, but I honestly have no idea where the original inspiration came from.

Without further ado, my boring mats:

I bought half a yard of burlap from Joann Fabrics and that was plenty for this project. I didn't save my receipt, but believe me: burlap is cheap, and even cheaper if you only get half a yard. (Keep in mind there is also outdoor burlap, which is more expensive and unnecessary since it is safely protected by the frame.)

I used clear packing tape to afix the sides of the burlap to the backside of the mat and then cut out a rought square along the inside. Then I cut the burlap diagonally in the inside corners to the corners of the mat, and folded everything back and taped it again. (Sorry if that doesn't make sense and also for not taking more thorough step-by-step pictures.) I wasn't concerned with perfection, as you can see:

Once I got the mats into the frames, I was able to pull the burlap even tighter. Then I used tape to afix my picture to the top of the mat (to the packing tape that was already there) and then attached the frame's back. At some point, when I have nothing else to do (which, according to my previous post, won't be any time soon), I could probably go back and tighten up the burlap, but for now, I am pleased with the result:

And here is a closer look at the corner, which isn't perfect, but who's looking for the flaws other than me? Exactly.

Burlap comes in a few colors, so you could get any color that you think would work for your pictures and wall colors. I think it adds subtle texture and warms up the stark black frames. This will definitely be a project I will use again and again!

Happy hanging,

Kara

Subject: Clutter!

Melissa -

Ahh...wasn't that a lovely week off! Now it's back to work on our respective houses. Here is how I'm feeling, both physically and mentally (I want to thank you in advance for not juding me):

I got the new issue of Better Homes & Gardens last week, and the whole issue focused on organization. So now I am feel inspired to get going with cleaning out closets and getting things organized. This upstairs closet really needs some work and I would also like to tackle the garage as well. I went through my closet and drawers and took out a few things that I no longer wear, but I really need to go through and rid of a ton more. I just love the feeling of shedding stuff that I no longer use or need. This is especially true after the holidays, when we get new clothes and gadgets and have to make room for them. I have heard of some people who will only allow themselves to bring a new item into their home if they get rid of one old item. I am not that vigilant, but I can appreciate the spirit behind it. Also, after Suz's first Christmas, I now understand how families can end up with so many toys! Ugh. I had to find a spot in her room for a basket to hold all her toys that don't fit in the buckets under her changing table.

So there is lots to do in my neck of the woods in terms of getting my house organized and also implementing some ideas I have been sitting on for too long, which means I will be recruiting you and your fabulous input and ideas for the following:

• To paint my kitchen or to not? I love the green it currently is, but is it time for a change? This April marks four years in this house and four years of a green kitchen, so maybe I need to move on with a new color? Also, I feel like I have to get this done while Suz is still taking two naps a day, so my deadline is March. Hopefully she will continue on with two naps way past her first birthday, but this at least gives me a target date to shoot for to complete a pretty big project. (Also - we have a first birthday to plan! More on that later.)
• Drapes for my living room and bedroom - it needs to happen, but I have been stalling on the living room because my fabric choice hinges on whether or not I paint my kitchen.
• My dining room chairs - they need a new coat of paint and some new fabric, especially if I paint my kitchen.
• My yard. It needs serious help. Every year I say, "THIS will be the year my garden is planted" and it never really works out. Basically I'm listing it here so you'll hold me accountable!

I think that is all. Do you have any New Year's resolutions or goals? I like the term goal better - it seems more positive. I don't usually make many, but I give myself to June to try and keep them and then I use the last six months of the year to start coming up with new goals for the next year! I'm going to try and read more, but limit myself to non-fiction (like biographies) and for fiction - only classic works. For an English major, I have not read many of the classics! I haven't decided if I will try to find a list of the top 50 or 100 classics to read (not that I would get them all read in a year, but at least it gives me some direction) or come up with a list on my own of books I consider classics but that I've never read. And there are some classics that I read in high school or college that I don't think I fully understood, so it would be interesting to go back and read them as an adult, given all my mature wisdom now! Speaking of classics, I got this shirt for my brother-in-law (a fellow English major) for Christmas:

Of course, these goals might get grouped into my "30 before 30" list (18.5 months to go!), which I hope to be sharing with you in the next few weeks as well. See, there's so much to do!

So, after some relaxing time off, it's time to get to work!
Kara

P.S. I remembered last week that it was two years ago that you called me while I was visiting family in DC to say you were engaged. Crazy that two years have already gone by!