Around Here

I recently found some Persian rugs on clearance at Homegoods for $25!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6jpm1wl4P39yHu7rdIifHfvGYsba0600XYWFbwQb3QTdEapZsHPCQoSa_ofnL9hkJuZSGXt6GjzVo2kvaqqT2GBGMTlT-bcfEwDN2HSUKeVTs5LhP9pDwSVy3sK24pyuIl1inqnKEV8s/s1600/IMG_1329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6jpm1wl4P39yHu7rdIifHfvGYsba0600XYWFbwQb3QTdEapZsHPCQoSa_ofnL9hkJuZSGXt6GjzVo2kvaqqT2GBGMTlT-bcfEwDN2HSUKeVTs5LhP9pDwSVy3sK24pyuIl1inqnKEV8s/s400/IMG_1329.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0y-vGZYId92Kt6V0zrkUEfMcwfR_d26d1PwEmHNVd_lxKisCUlzwr5uB2rRlVRV9WwTIaLwp1cF0sDQbrxbyFKumNtp4YpX86ogFHQQOI0bEJInwVkme4A2R8zZrF-N5Nem-9UQOg1URA/s1600/IMG_1330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0y-vGZYId92Kt6V0zrkUEfMcwfR_d26d1PwEmHNVd_lxKisCUlzwr5uB2rRlVRV9WwTIaLwp1cF0sDQbrxbyFKumNtp4YpX86ogFHQQOI0bEJInwVkme4A2R8zZrF-N5Nem-9UQOg1URA/s400/IMG_1330.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, my hardwood floors are orange. Trust me, it's on the list.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmBvLf2sB1c_SKYk-VhCqzFIupnUarQnESP5VNA1rXM40r8VoacrtJqF0BfjUwdabIDCfuqxrNSM5iXjDTwPAaxT7nFGcyDFlSZWE6EDbP1RKTOiK1lAIA7KLllJC0Fe1SB0BJ6sSaGS4/s1600/IMG_1331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmBvLf2sB1c_SKYk-VhCqzFIupnUarQnESP5VNA1rXM40r8VoacrtJqF0BfjUwdabIDCfuqxrNSM5iXjDTwPAaxT7nFGcyDFlSZWE6EDbP1RKTOiK1lAIA7KLllJC0Fe1SB0BJ6sSaGS4/s400/IMG_1331.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Of course, I had to get one, and actually bought one for my friend Becky too (she paid me back). It now sits in my entry replacing this one that I bought for $20 at an estate sale . . .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbMVkQt2useXLUnmoqnV6oj84nZUnK43CIKlivb7ihPcCYWRsb20jm0rAR_X5QDdk0GCPdSegGeMRuVRnDbbfIqKlU5UT_vmGrAFMx82lanTnkXfPNIfUOwxSBrcxFSN5UL-rcuK6TBT2/s1600/IMG_0788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbMVkQt2useXLUnmoqnV6oj84nZUnK43CIKlivb7ihPcCYWRsb20jm0rAR_X5QDdk0GCPdSegGeMRuVRnDbbfIqKlU5UT_vmGrAFMx82lanTnkXfPNIfUOwxSBrcxFSN5UL-rcuK6TBT2/s400/IMG_0788.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">While I still love this rug, unfortunately, my puppy has had a couple of "accidents" on it, and it has a couple of large bleached out stains on it. Ugggh. I'm going to check into having it professionally cleaned (my amateur cleaning didn't do much good), but for now the new one is taking its place. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Speaking of my puppies, when I left the room for a moment to get something, I came back to my seat on the sofa to start my blog post to find this . . . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFA_Uo_OfubXK5mVvmimDPcPO692XaV3_BK4Lj48isWnKqrBNNpuiFjXi9SK63XCipFU2LRdBFKljyfjVuVndIagu-E8iA8FG2OxZL-cQpw9aXWNJ12HKzmOUfqIroj8FLXQmV_-gbEzQ/s1600/IMG_1333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFA_Uo_OfubXK5mVvmimDPcPO692XaV3_BK4Lj48isWnKqrBNNpuiFjXi9SK63XCipFU2LRdBFKljyfjVuVndIagu-E8iA8FG2OxZL-cQpw9aXWNJ12HKzmOUfqIroj8FLXQmV_-gbEzQ/s400/IMG_1333.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Seat stealers! And I think Zoe is trying to take over my blog as well. She's basically sitting on poor Piper. Aren't they the cutest?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And some of you (namely Nelya) have admonished me for teasing the painting of my basement room Hague Blue and not showing you at least a sneak peek. So, I ran downstairs and snapped a shot to give you an idea of what it looks like. So, without further ado, ta da . . .</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoNFISHdr5i9SAMRMpyqb1CuT6aOb3wvFVKInW9zK6vD6QyjbnzmPcH1AKgMtUyusQBKb_9Vo20k1XZu2EmHHtL76Nn0IGJkeXXEPkvr9xaURJ7pZkz8AqO6JlyBzdVX0xnb3-CJD5UYa/s1600/IMG_1339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoNFISHdr5i9SAMRMpyqb1CuT6aOb3wvFVKInW9zK6vD6QyjbnzmPcH1AKgMtUyusQBKb_9Vo20k1XZu2EmHHtL76Nn0IGJkeXXEPkvr9xaURJ7pZkz8AqO6JlyBzdVX0xnb3-CJD5UYa/s640/IMG_1339.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hung one of Matt's photos on the wall just to show you the contrast. </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">This is about all you're gonna get for now for several reasons. A. There's a bunch of furniture in the middle of the room. B. We need new carpet down there and C. It will be a while before the room comes together because we need to get a new sofa upstairs so we can move the old one (the one the dogs were lying on) downstairs. This will take time. But, I love the color. I may have mentioned this before, but this room has NO windows, no natural light, so rather than fight that, I decided to embrace it and paint the room a dark blue (Sherwin Williams color-matched Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue in semi gloss). It's very cozy and enveloping. I can't wait to share the final product, but it may be a little while so please bear with me. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So is there anything new going on around your house?</div>

Around Here

I recently found some Persian rugs on clearance at Homegoods for $25! Yes, my hardwood floors are orange. Trust me, it's on the list.   ...

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$20 Can Go a Long Way

So, what does $20 get you these days? Or more to the point, what did I get for $20? For starters, this 3x5 wool rug at an estate sale . . .<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLZlZ2Jm_aiL_odZvWTVrLJNYvNnyXwuqBLCEwhRrIuGcpm-YwkKOzHNoD6Qd6lcgD98WCncJAPXtPmogILLIwdwuDhLlw0ZcdOoML82shQQG2Ft2foeP0NunmlppbGK6IzMfPbNJZhJ8/s1600/IMG_0792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLZlZ2Jm_aiL_odZvWTVrLJNYvNnyXwuqBLCEwhRrIuGcpm-YwkKOzHNoD6Qd6lcgD98WCncJAPXtPmogILLIwdwuDhLlw0ZcdOoML82shQQG2Ft2foeP0NunmlppbGK6IzMfPbNJZhJ8/s640/IMG_0792.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I love it! It takes the place of a rather chewed-up rug my puppy got to. It adds a great vivid punch to my otherwise rather black and white entry and pulls in the blue of the adjacent dining room. I think it's a Gabbeh tribal-style rug from India (from my extensive eBay research), and the lady who sold it to me said she bought it from ABC Carpet & Home in NYC. I think I got a deal!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My next $20 purchase, a pillow for my sofa . . . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirMGckn1gsMvoEv3dcqun-vASWI5dTlO7yq1USTZCdeFkg95_ovmzV2m5g-p9y59l5yoW1XldB8Qr2ukWXdgIuuFOgYGIcQoypkzCMnZI5uDp79aJcBHJWyVcQ2TDjwmEgntlWUNiChm-/s1600/IMG_0790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirMGckn1gsMvoEv3dcqun-vASWI5dTlO7yq1USTZCdeFkg95_ovmzV2m5g-p9y59l5yoW1XldB8Qr2ukWXdgIuuFOgYGIcQoypkzCMnZI5uDp79aJcBHJWyVcQ2TDjwmEgntlWUNiChm-/s400/IMG_0790.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's the new <a href="http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11697464">Tokyo Garden pillow from World Market</a>:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVZSNagdeq7RNvVbOguqlUcumpoAreRMCY5i9YzD5W9HTmEdpyOTI_BGXnU-65E2VljFpnkM8fVxPnGmG8265xp5jt4KEB8OUsohjWlPoQ2gxh79F-T2fLIerp-IKoQxFtUWkO2BDg3gO/s1600/pCPWM-10445391v300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVZSNagdeq7RNvVbOguqlUcumpoAreRMCY5i9YzD5W9HTmEdpyOTI_BGXnU-65E2VljFpnkM8fVxPnGmG8265xp5jt4KEB8OUsohjWlPoQ2gxh79F-T2fLIerp-IKoQxFtUWkO2BDg3gO/s400/pCPWM-10445391v300x300.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, I actually went back and bought another one after I decided I liked it, so technically I spent $40 on two pillows . . . but I still think that's pretty good.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><br /> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHt8BkUMsJs7Ac2QRWJes5ZtsTBsRlmZdyp2mwEiS8WVjJD-1jjazpPc94zt4W9apdRTOADEPivqOiFA_PKMbJJQzuFFdq9FdwKNMuko2i1VZqevgrdemwR4AYACb-4GKmvjwhfY_5av1P/s1600/IMG_0791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHt8BkUMsJs7Ac2QRWJes5ZtsTBsRlmZdyp2mwEiS8WVjJD-1jjazpPc94zt4W9apdRTOADEPivqOiFA_PKMbJJQzuFFdq9FdwKNMuko2i1VZqevgrdemwR4AYACb-4GKmvjwhfY_5av1P/s400/IMG_0791.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><br /> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My home is not styled at all in this photo so there is crap on the table and in the kitchen. I'm keeping it real, people.</td></tr><br /> </tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">Here they are on my sofa. I've been needing a punch of color on my sofa for a LONG time but kept changing my mind about the fabrics I wanted for throw pillows. Now, these World Market pillows are not the best quality of course (rather thin cotton) and the inserts were pretty pitiful, but I changed them out for down inserts and I think it makes a world of difference. Of course, I don't think they match my rug at all, but for now I'm going on the <strike>delusion</strike> theory that all colors match. And yes, I know those columns in the background (that have to be there structurally so the house doesn't crash down) need to be painted. Once again, I was crippled by indecision for the longest time . . . that's a whole other post . . . but now I've decided to paint them to match the rest of the white trim in the house.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm loving my little $20 pops of color. Have you made any little changes lately that make you happy?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sources: <a href="http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11697464">World Market</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>

$20 Can Go a Long Way

So, what does $20 get you these days? Or more to the point, what did I get for $20? For starters, this 3x5 wool rug at an estate sale . . . ...

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Craig is Looking Good

Sorry, I was planning to post this on Thursday before I went out of town this weekend but Blogger had other ideas. During one of my recent Craigslist trolling sessions, I found some interesting pieces. First up, this <a href="http://nashville.craigslist.org/fuo/2382711837.html">Brutalist/Cubist-style mid-century dresser/credenza</a> . . . <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7i2NK1erdkvIXGSHoKqvlGdQ5YEFgxoWCdNxrg2n7JfqjzvWHDbhaaCpImJS0Mo-tNMzlO8K3V_eYdpybfvTyRAWlZ9xT7Ag9nseu0WvO_p3FrMy3qQmsHxlZvXLeeEwtylknzEvKnq_o/s1600/3n13kf3p65O25T35R2b57c464c02a7ea21ca9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7i2NK1erdkvIXGSHoKqvlGdQ5YEFgxoWCdNxrg2n7JfqjzvWHDbhaaCpImJS0Mo-tNMzlO8K3V_eYdpybfvTyRAWlZ9xT7Ag9nseu0WvO_p3FrMy3qQmsHxlZvXLeeEwtylknzEvKnq_o/s400/3n13kf3p65O25T35R2b57c464c02a7ea21ca9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">It looks to be a twin of <a href="http://completelytotallymadly.blogspot.com/">Nelya's (of Head Over Heels)</a> that <a href="http://designmanifest.blogspot.com/search?q=dresser">Naomi (of Design Manifest)</a> was lusting after . . .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZ6OV1PqRro3g5jJ4_M7f8iUii5MsqWFj3V8DzwQU-qRbe5eklYKIcIbNP6RVHO6w5CWTcEITTqHzcUerhy5UPRAbcU5F4zsWJof0B-tS-aUgC0nzG1IeDtEozteMgD8xgwkRae4tZFZy/s1600/nelya%252Bcabinet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZ6OV1PqRro3g5jJ4_M7f8iUii5MsqWFj3V8DzwQU-qRbe5eklYKIcIbNP6RVHO6w5CWTcEITTqHzcUerhy5UPRAbcU5F4zsWJof0B-tS-aUgC0nzG1IeDtEozteMgD8xgwkRae4tZFZy/s400/nelya%252Bcabinet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I alerted Naomi to its presence, but alas it's too big for her space and she can't truck down to Tennessee to get it anyway. So, if anyone out there is looking for a cool piece, it's still available. A slight hitch - they're only selling it as a set (with a bed, highboy and bedside tables).Why people refuse to sell things separately is beyond me. Here is one of the bedside tables . . . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJApSYHVBgvOOfbsPtKwSsK-dyShfLrsDq-cWQUs6PG5iYWGmXYuBIVy1EG-mTjj4aEncfP-zeWMfZ3MMLl3d47LcV_9He-xArSWjICYIeTgu45jr5smrKAg0SEpEfjKQWXNkUc3AJmI8/s1600/3na3p73la5V45W45R1b57d7656bb0e27c1e5c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJApSYHVBgvOOfbsPtKwSsK-dyShfLrsDq-cWQUs6PG5iYWGmXYuBIVy1EG-mTjj4aEncfP-zeWMfZ3MMLl3d47LcV_9He-xArSWjICYIeTgu45jr5smrKAg0SEpEfjKQWXNkUc3AJmI8/s400/3na3p73la5V45W45R1b57d7656bb0e27c1e5c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">And speaking of bedside tables, I also spotted a <a href="http://craigseasy.com/Home/PageViewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnashville.craigslist.org%2Ffuo%2F2381368553.html">pair of these</a> up for sale . . .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6_1TCEzIoqhTpbsR1TptUIvxEvhYog2n5g0sIuVr7BnxQLPlKgZAl4h3F0yNUMHiyRWctmsf0GuFU2xroeTerXIVJrvldb8V1LVbdz6G6KOkVlxnKdNyCZdqiu4YPquwOeAIIFPIsMZP/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6_1TCEzIoqhTpbsR1TptUIvxEvhYog2n5g0sIuVr7BnxQLPlKgZAl4h3F0yNUMHiyRWctmsf0GuFU2xroeTerXIVJrvldb8V1LVbdz6G6KOkVlxnKdNyCZdqiu4YPquwOeAIIFPIsMZP/s400/025.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">which bear a striking resemblance to these on <a href="http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=512908">1st Dibs</a> . . . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzzR7qfQ72HbXfBLVlPpthNdSHUViDLMzMHtKH4r2pQt0si7s-NxXIQi_szTe5z48eHiwxQkt9VKuRjdOI24A-ggDBSXGdW1HIVhr3Uk-g4dd1hFa5meKyrUQY7V62VJMp4eHxGxwvSyu/s1600/XXX_8671_1302619241_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzzR7qfQ72HbXfBLVlPpthNdSHUViDLMzMHtKH4r2pQt0si7s-NxXIQi_szTe5z48eHiwxQkt9VKuRjdOI24A-ggDBSXGdW1HIVhr3Uk-g4dd1hFa5meKyrUQY7V62VJMp4eHxGxwvSyu/s400/XXX_8671_1302619241_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">And while we're on an Asian kick, I thought this little <a href="http://craigseasy.com/Home/PageViewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnashville.craigslist.org%2Ffuo%2F2381381692.html">side table/cabinet</a> was pretty cute . . .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkBjTc7bQ12F9B2jYYBynjpP3j3D_H2DTvKUZD1tH3MybN_Kcjm8ylDAsIq3pZZgVY_kOmlyxqtdk3cnDmStV8KD7MayszLmF6hTsMBtqnmH8XLZ1xu_8x4YtOusV2D32bkYjzxL7DiAn/s1600/3n03p23lf5Q15P45X4b5efaea1674a8f11b94.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkBjTc7bQ12F9B2jYYBynjpP3j3D_H2DTvKUZD1tH3MybN_Kcjm8ylDAsIq3pZZgVY_kOmlyxqtdk3cnDmStV8KD7MayszLmF6hTsMBtqnmH8XLZ1xu_8x4YtOusV2D32bkYjzxL7DiAn/s400/3n03p23lf5Q15P45X4b5efaea1674a8f11b94.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I also saw some great mid-century modern chairs . . . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVpEOtmMrQmyqoms0whrKAHxVe34kOW9MkTdVguvICCmcAbHg6bht5_sONIwyWxu3fwlgcTlaM4q-K8dlP54St5R6FlbxsQ0deS-CGjmGvt680Ya91T_F4NwvfbGgnvZMvJstOWAAKHOb/s1600/3n93k33p25O05W35X2b5bdcd8640e66511863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVpEOtmMrQmyqoms0whrKAHxVe34kOW9MkTdVguvICCmcAbHg6bht5_sONIwyWxu3fwlgcTlaM4q-K8dlP54St5R6FlbxsQ0deS-CGjmGvt680Ya91T_F4NwvfbGgnvZMvJstOWAAKHOb/s400/3n93k33p25O05W35X2b5bdcd8640e66511863.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7Ha9JBuJj4eAsaH_VMUVkuwCvjhCcietSnm0sYfNDjqA2NfPGopwXB-9lCJi-frW1yhXXz0Eo6jR6xzc-g_ar7Ov8htmmUJGBHQpn2ILdkxNDXAIaXkN0MNvIjLi0-WGdMg71SZpLnUd/s1600/3n43m73p55V55U45R1b5f6a4640f6dceb1d27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7Ha9JBuJj4eAsaH_VMUVkuwCvjhCcietSnm0sYfNDjqA2NfPGopwXB-9lCJi-frW1yhXXz0Eo6jR6xzc-g_ar7Ov8htmmUJGBHQpn2ILdkxNDXAIaXkN0MNvIjLi0-WGdMg71SZpLnUd/s400/3n43m73p55V55U45R1b5f6a4640f6dceb1d27.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">and barstools . . . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-6rYQ5XRCENwAKs1nMAbPFRji8vSMzjYJPI3_SqFYvAghoCrU3yDLIye_v7czKOuVFkt_ys11zZxRVyFeAUOn-bh0nQ4hZBAHHBabOFv_zkptwphXNtZ5mJSqhvGpmINa2g7j9DAiPft/s1600/3n83m83o65V15T65U4b5b5ff99ef3837e1a41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-6rYQ5XRCENwAKs1nMAbPFRji8vSMzjYJPI3_SqFYvAghoCrU3yDLIye_v7czKOuVFkt_ys11zZxRVyFeAUOn-bh0nQ4hZBAHHBabOFv_zkptwphXNtZ5mJSqhvGpmINa2g7j9DAiPft/s400/3n83m83o65V15T65U4b5b5ff99ef3837e1a41.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Lastly, some cool rugs.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoBJHqWtMQ8DqWQKKDokXBbQD6xkdZRJ57R_1wmToFs-QfUsMVu6Rnn9CGvaqwanLXOeVWr8p8hx9puRgMDMoFe2TKDv01AoQlnA-0bTDGxHtqxC211-3p-3M5E64ju3W9sYsYQD0-l2K/s400/3k03p63l35T05U15X0b5b767bbe595a1f134a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love the colors in this <a href="http://craigseasy.com/Home/PageViewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnashville.craigslist.org%2Ffuo%2F2374877411.html">kilim rug</a>. Where could I put this??</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="goog_1929590984"></span><span id="goog_1929590985"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOmEc7a4JYFbKgU9AnLHq5YE-grALNUBtLOviZqqSJ3LESXtplxuCzEGuuvDvqhKRMI-Yt_f4VH1syUZha4haEdNTPR1n00hS-HUGv_uzjVqlKzwvnLrGyYfHmwr6ub4EMIhpjvvwRLMT/s1600/3m53p63la5T55X15S1b534a2b27d30b7d1e3d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOmEc7a4JYFbKgU9AnLHq5YE-grALNUBtLOviZqqSJ3LESXtplxuCzEGuuvDvqhKRMI-Yt_f4VH1syUZha4haEdNTPR1n00hS-HUGv_uzjVqlKzwvnLrGyYfHmwr6ub4EMIhpjvvwRLMT/s400/3m53p63la5T55X15S1b534a2b27d30b7d1e3d.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I usually see <a href="http://craigseasy.com/Home/PageViewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnashville.craigslist.org%2Ffuo%2F2361175445.html">these</a> in red, so cream is a nice change.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">And last but not least, this handmade <a href="http://nashville.craigslist.org/fuo/2382906909.html">Greek rug</a>. Just loved the colors . . . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQ5H9PE1SjbhtMFxKe37iO86kxoM9hlpM9DdBpiZHWQQv16fqHy7L7bPIt7IGfRSDeENXRWbsA0imID35f7KE166Ea1PFqBgnLEQBL1heAYGA3JKnnLFIOpRnOwmXqj2Lre6jQ8jbb4V0/s1600/3kf3m83o35Y65X25R4b5f4e3e33cf63b01fe5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQ5H9PE1SjbhtMFxKe37iO86kxoM9hlpM9DdBpiZHWQQv16fqHy7L7bPIt7IGfRSDeENXRWbsA0imID35f7KE166Ea1PFqBgnLEQBL1heAYGA3JKnnLFIOpRnOwmXqj2Lre6jQ8jbb4V0/s400/3kf3m83o35Y65X25R4b5f4e3e33cf63b01fe5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, have you found any great Craigslist goodies lately?</div>

Craig is Looking Good

Sorry, I was planning to post this on Thursday before I went out of town this weekend but Blogger had other ideas. During one of my recent C...

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I Spy . . .

<span style="font-size: large;">With my little eye, something in my house . . . </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4bdox0gb-sCGBQmPpXAOof3dqLN3ukVTZxqIk57T6QC0VOaW7ySB5NZHjmvBlnaI53W8WebIOZbPhFaEv5b1lBBp716KlUWHAg_iGqtuujvGoALckG5s_xQ4inWi2elld3We11hlDkk/s1600-h/IMG_4778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4bdox0gb-sCGBQmPpXAOof3dqLN3ukVTZxqIk57T6QC0VOaW7ySB5NZHjmvBlnaI53W8WebIOZbPhFaEv5b1lBBp716KlUWHAg_iGqtuujvGoALckG5s_xQ4inWi2elld3We11hlDkk/s400/IMG_4778.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">That bears a striking resemblance to this . . . </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjCwhyv5n_oArIcE2ZKN4zLw_6LC9IAwsLMrJcDpDOIz0IY-elkbc4zJ3olW-yXEXb9z-TyaUU3j4leUITn00naMR1dThGsHLKMgn6D8YGhE29gLeN8WIDMbZuessZincvMolN5tymJc/s1600-h/IMG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjCwhyv5n_oArIcE2ZKN4zLw_6LC9IAwsLMrJcDpDOIz0IY-elkbc4zJ3olW-yXEXb9z-TyaUU3j4leUITn00naMR1dThGsHLKMgn6D8YGhE29gLeN8WIDMbZuessZincvMolN5tymJc/s400/IMG.jpg" width="333" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This is "The Best" list from the April issue of House Beautiful.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was a bit taken aback that the humble little rug that sits in front of my sink is mentioned in one of my favorite magazines, House Beautiful.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">According to HB, "the ancient tradition of Shyrdak rugs -- handcrafted from felt -- dates back centuries, to nomadic yurts in Kyrgyzstan." </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xh8lGo4WUMp1ItnQ9rVMwf61PGZU6THJg7oPfaVNESq2d5MHrBmHw1b-CLaW0fzgxNkvsbtivA7w45_amxvDVRHvMCvWy5ZX96CmKBZ38Y78AemfTGEEruZmUMYSteBn-97TnKBtDcY/s1600-h/Kyrgyzrugbluered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xh8lGo4WUMp1ItnQ9rVMwf61PGZU6THJg7oPfaVNESq2d5MHrBmHw1b-CLaW0fzgxNkvsbtivA7w45_amxvDVRHvMCvWy5ZX96CmKBZ38Y78AemfTGEEruZmUMYSteBn-97TnKBtDcY/s320/Kyrgyzrugbluered.jpg" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm assuming that what I have is also a Shyrdak rug. If not, maybe it's just a distant cousin. Here's the illustrious history of my particular rug, as I know it. My dad went on one of his mountain-climbing trips (he started this particular hobby when I was 12) to Mongolia years ago and purchased two of these small rugs as well as a large wall-hanging. He believes he may have paid $10 for each rug. That's quite a bargain considering the one listed in HB was $500 (of course, the flight over there and back probably cost a bit). The rugs gathered dust in my parents' spare room until I rescued the one above from obscurity several months ago and brought it into its current incarnation -- as a kitchen rug.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, I realize Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan are not the same country but they're pretty close (I looked it up), and apparently in Mongolia they live in gers instead of yurts, but close enough (they're both tents basically).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwrSXVKsStOGjSUPCibu-crZzIFIuV5wWvU9TTUgwW_g2RtfCFBBJ5W3tnQnF2ECThXNMOSVtd8r6crfwdSpyHlRr9-vYyFEPIJUrJpoi2O1nrHV2ZpXGuwbJKsByc66c4RAsC86ul3I/s1600-h/asnewnew.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwrSXVKsStOGjSUPCibu-crZzIFIuV5wWvU9TTUgwW_g2RtfCFBBJ5W3tnQnF2ECThXNMOSVtd8r6crfwdSpyHlRr9-vYyFEPIJUrJpoi2O1nrHV2ZpXGuwbJKsByc66c4RAsC86ul3I/s400/asnewnew.gif" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whatever it's called, I love my soft felt rug with the fun pattern. I'm glad House Beautiful agrees. Thanks, Dad . . . you predicted a trend years in advance!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sources: MIL, House Beautiful, www.shyrdak-felt-rugs.com</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>

I Spy . . .

With my little eye, something in my house . . .  That bears a striking resemblance to this . . .  This is "The Best" list from the...

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Pet Peeve

<span style="font-size: large;">Does this look familiar?</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2VKeM-O4_hRIIAc9mtDQDQbeF9mlzBCn_fJhY6pBabeXrzHYlx8W6r_IIzJf0QHAOprCXeU1MRLBnQCEmJJzl1bme47T6kcWf-Jk9ZC6qaCVnWArpM8BegO0AfeH1Nsk7YmNC_4Zy5A/s1600-h/IMG_4717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2VKeM-O4_hRIIAc9mtDQDQbeF9mlzBCn_fJhY6pBabeXrzHYlx8W6r_IIzJf0QHAOprCXeU1MRLBnQCEmJJzl1bme47T6kcWf-Jk9ZC6qaCVnWArpM8BegO0AfeH1Nsk7YmNC_4Zy5A/s400/IMG_4717.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's my dining room rug. It looks eerily similar to this, no?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFkSEvIh4JZ9veTnLhBQSqtqew4ErqJjtLTbxXspYWzBevNHpzH4F4tVLZ6ANJPVeyCy_lIZ83HRz4sGvDffuJ8K6r_yrEvDdv-EKfrPS-yCvIFMRSSSLeZ714M6NZHDeWhiIPjvk3ls/s1600-h/IMG_4529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFkSEvIh4JZ9veTnLhBQSqtqew4ErqJjtLTbxXspYWzBevNHpzH4F4tVLZ6ANJPVeyCy_lIZ83HRz4sGvDffuJ8K6r_yrEvDdv-EKfrPS-yCvIFMRSSSLeZ714M6NZHDeWhiIPjvk3ls/s400/IMG_4529.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can read the whole drama <a href="http://myinteriorlife.blogspot.com/2010/01/bad-kitty.html">here</a>, but long story short, the cat did it. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjav7OLF1mKmko7W9yUaXVf59BLxTmkvjQvf2nwgfozWmx6qW9QKJwOzWC9Xv1j0YAayOg7Rum5as2xMnen8ZPpoL7nTVYzJLdXk4zAEa6ScG305q9AE8zuGQwi0FWLp-nCGkZ1sU9e9tk/s1600-h/IMG_4724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjav7OLF1mKmko7W9yUaXVf59BLxTmkvjQvf2nwgfozWmx6qW9QKJwOzWC9Xv1j0YAayOg7Rum5as2xMnen8ZPpoL7nTVYzJLdXk4zAEa6ScG305q9AE8zuGQwi0FWLp-nCGkZ1sU9e9tk/s400/IMG_4724.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This time the dog is responsible. I'm not sure why she started to chew the dining room rug, but the damage is done. Bitter apple would be a day late and a dollar short. So, I'm stuck looking at this until I can save up for another rug. I love my pets, but this is getting ridiculous. I'm not sure you can tell from this photo, but she also started chewing on the baseboard on the left. Bad dog. Very, very, very bad dog. Sure, she looks somewhat remorseful. But that doesn't buy me a new rug. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, for now I'm just going to dream about a future rug. One that might look like this one from <a href="http://www.westelm.com/products/r543/?pkey=crugs-flooring">West Elm</a>:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-Mv5HNzZjYXQK6sYG4eYd-h5oPVfnxNlNb0MPYGZCsWBT4u0h4CG3-lEVfOWQT4zXo4n6WHpepFTCWA3IvSIlo_Z1Gqsow2Zq8Jw7uWfg5og1HqnnktYRn4aIZ1R4vmGRES1ZEo8ZQM/s1600-h/img42l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-Mv5HNzZjYXQK6sYG4eYd-h5oPVfnxNlNb0MPYGZCsWBT4u0h4CG3-lEVfOWQT4zXo4n6WHpepFTCWA3IvSIlo_Z1Gqsow2Zq8Jw7uWfg5og1HqnnktYRn4aIZ1R4vmGRES1ZEo8ZQM/s400/img42l.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or since I'm just dreaming here anyway, maybe I'll go for one of these <a href="http://www.madelineweinrib.com/">Madeline Weinrib</a> rugs . . .</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5DkOw93tFHa9qKZw-ayTPWh0Nkmjo-BhXf2cTj4qRg47-fPwRy93TPsNx_UMFmcA1KZc6qmT5-17hj4JaOTirziO1OxH_fKhTRLCYUSCySC01wx3e_WtXnjlqENohSCMA0zJAfChOs4/s1600-h/Mandala_Chestnut_Chenille.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5DkOw93tFHa9qKZw-ayTPWh0Nkmjo-BhXf2cTj4qRg47-fPwRy93TPsNx_UMFmcA1KZc6qmT5-17hj4JaOTirziO1OxH_fKhTRLCYUSCySC01wx3e_WtXnjlqENohSCMA0zJAfChOs4/s400/Mandala_Chestnut_Chenille.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPfa6szbmmDh9DXUTFlepDpEzYIDrj5EtFrqCNH69nr_ClcWsNSnlZqmipUpyvETt5KuPZLUnAfbXYJ27dSFxAxB2OB4IzOrp-sn-Zifcpvo7_10NEtzq0dM7UOwdIn_z3wnBvYqOEFg/s1600-h/Brooke_Sand_Chenille.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPfa6szbmmDh9DXUTFlepDpEzYIDrj5EtFrqCNH69nr_ClcWsNSnlZqmipUpyvETt5KuPZLUnAfbXYJ27dSFxAxB2OB4IzOrp-sn-Zifcpvo7_10NEtzq0dM7UOwdIn_z3wnBvYqOEFg/s400/Brooke_Sand_Chenille.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOrp23rkOLVyaub73IItWPgnPjCTWkLSMSKd_BjAZOh-BwgW2tSzSLOUHP8Q1rxzaZaheHsAoQf-CDAtGGSPB3mTMazOijQtx092bhrMpLeo25WaRYgscjj6GLawXQ1hioNEW8GvNAoY/s1600-h/ZigZag-ChampagenWoolSilk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOrp23rkOLVyaub73IItWPgnPjCTWkLSMSKd_BjAZOh-BwgW2tSzSLOUHP8Q1rxzaZaheHsAoQf-CDAtGGSPB3mTMazOijQtx092bhrMpLeo25WaRYgscjj6GLawXQ1hioNEW8GvNAoY/s400/ZigZag-ChampagenWoolSilk.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />There. I feel better already. Now I just need to get some bitter apple.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Any pet peeves in your life?</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Sources: My Interior Life, West Elm, <a href="http://www.madelineweinrib.com/">Madeline Weinrib Atelier</a></div>

Pet Peeve

Does this look familiar? It's my dining room rug. It looks eerily similar to this, no? You can read the whole drama here , but long stor...

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Monday, Shmonday

Today was one of those days. Monday, Monday . . . can't trust that day. It was a string of unpleasant occurrences . . . I awoke with my head hurting, discovered the dog had peed on the rug again (see below) and then received some disappointing news (nothing earth-shattering, but still). Later in the day, the washing machine started leaking and the cat puked on our bedroom carpet. Seriously.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6Bqz0fwRlrKtvN_hcrSgAQbruPEIlDhCoTPzccBGTjiGz5K0_eQbYrJ7ADWnTzoMR7yZDR-3UlfBIHIsQarjwRSqZxNChsy6_WZKAGPZ_Ba84HJCZ-LT-7D2UQtrFAn2nH4keMFPWRo/s1600-h/IMG_4498.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425700891082131186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6Bqz0fwRlrKtvN_hcrSgAQbruPEIlDhCoTPzccBGTjiGz5K0_eQbYrJ7ADWnTzoMR7yZDR-3UlfBIHIsQarjwRSqZxNChsy6_WZKAGPZ_Ba84HJCZ-LT-7D2UQtrFAn2nH4keMFPWRo/s320/IMG_4498.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Exhibit A (can't see the discoloration? I can)</span> </div><br />In the grand scheme of things, I realize these are just minor hiccups, but overall I'd categorize this day as less than stellar. Not horrible . . . just not great fun.<br /><br />But then something miraculous happened. I got over it. Something simple changed my mood. Sometimes, thank goodness, that's all it takes. Was it chocolate? Or a new piece of furniture (an X bench, maybe)?<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OqAwPqsOcAK3bQI49efkDwkTjZp-IPKbxsjc_p_IvrzxSwK5FyLLkr-0atR4pGB4NhcnviA0LxLy8t36qA6VoKtggR2HyvkGsFHUe26Qv6LLh6VM6ilzUnH34g2w8G4evqZSWvNFkqw/s1600-h/imageproxy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425704641482166898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OqAwPqsOcAK3bQI49efkDwkTjZp-IPKbxsjc_p_IvrzxSwK5FyLLkr-0atR4pGB4NhcnviA0LxLy8t36qA6VoKtggR2HyvkGsFHUe26Qv6LLh6VM6ilzUnH34g2w8G4evqZSWvNFkqw/s320/imageproxy.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 315px; height: 231px;" /></a><a href="http://www.ballarddesigns.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Ballard Designs</span></a><br /></div><br />Nope. It was my 4-year-old son playing his Nintendo DSI so intently that he developed an inadvertent kicking motion with his left foot nearly clocking me in the face as I sat next to him. For some reason, my husband and I found this hilarious. Then he proceeded to coach his father -- in an uber-serious manner -- on how to properly play his Super Mario Brothers game (as if my husband had never played a video game before in his life . . . ha!). It was hilarious and sweet and adorable . . . kind of one of those "you had to be there moments." Which is exactly why it was so great.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVGkF5PR1gfuNrctytfRHZNS8u34b6uvAnbr_bXf44aBdl_opUnJ_8_ZTGMP59YnUOrpLIVoVEk6KPrFC6bsQee7qMTDMq9kBk37WVQg2vRJbUkQJ-DQ2MlUJgN8sCxOCofYhRoj_g54/s1600-h/IMG_4497.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425690385799086322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVGkF5PR1gfuNrctytfRHZNS8u34b6uvAnbr_bXf44aBdl_opUnJ_8_ZTGMP59YnUOrpLIVoVEk6KPrFC6bsQee7qMTDMq9kBk37WVQg2vRJbUkQJ-DQ2MlUJgN8sCxOCofYhRoj_g54/s320/IMG_4497.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" /></a>Leave it to a 4-year-old to put the whole day into perspective. Now, where's my Spot Shot?

Monday, Shmonday

Today was one of those days. Monday, Monday . . . can't trust that day. It was a string of unpleasant occurrences . . . I awoke with my ...

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