A Red White & Blue Shopping Day

I woke this morning, after a crazy week,  happy that I had nothing planned and could do anything I wanted.

Looking at everyone's beautiful table settings on blogs is inspiring me.

I have been looking at my dishes and have decided I need more color on my table.

Living in a small house means limited kitchen storage space.

I gave away several sets of dishes when we downsized and of course I regret it.

Our main dishes are red, but we have a set of yellow and another of white.

So, my goal this morning was to find some simple blue plates to round out my primary color palette.

I headed first to T J Maxx - no blue dishes, but I did find some yellow place mats.

Next, stop was Cost Plus World Market.

The store was a riot of red, white & blue.

This banner wasn't expensive, but it will be fun to make one of my own.

I like the soda box and debated on buying it - red or blue?

I ended up not buying it because again, it is something I can make and I have an entire summer to create.

These little paper covered containers were cute, but I wasn't sure what I would do with them so, I passed on them.

I liked the display of US and British flags.

I didn't even look at the price of the American Flag pillow, but I might go back for it.

I really liked the star, heart and rectangle pillows in flag motif.

I might have to go back for one (or all 3) of these.

If our kids were young and still running through the house with friends all summer, I would buy this dispenser for lemonade

Since I really don't have room, I passed on it too.

I bought patriotic cupcake cups and decorations.

And, I couldn't pass up the red, white & blue chips.

I put them in the cupboard to save for our Father's Day BBQ.

Next stop was my favorite local antique store, American Home and Garden also decorated in patriotic swag 

and bunches of flags on shelves.

I picked up some fun stuff there - but will do a separate post about my finds later. 

I hit three more stores with no luck on blue plates.

I went home for lunch and Steve suggested Pier 1 so off I went again.

Pier 1 also was showing its patriotism.

I don't really have any used for patriotic glitter balls, but I sure like them.

In the front of the store was a great table dressed in red, white & blue.

I have square red chargers and white plates.

The blue bowl is pretty, but I didn't like the small blue plates that matched.

I did buy the red checkered napkins.

But, I remain plateless - at least in blue.

I set my table simply with my new yellow place mats, red napkins and white plates.

This coming week I have an appointment not far from a Home Goods.

The quest continues...

Catalogue Crazed

I have been catalogue crazed for as long as I can remember.

I think it began when I was a stay-at-home mom and couldn't get out all the time to shop.

I was into Americana and there was no place locally I could find fun things so I ordered from catalogues.

When the internet opened up I was introduced to a whole new world of shopping.

I receive this new catalogue in the mail the other day.

.....AWE.....

AT WEST END

I can't believe that I have never seen this catalogue before.

I found so many things that I want -

none that I need.

But, I have a final "extra duty" check arriving on tomorrow.

Here are the things I am contemplating :

 I REALLY want this set of 3 Round Baskets.

I can picture them in our front yard holding clay pots of flowers.

The trouble is, the set is $129 - not gonna happen!

But, those colors are beautiful.

My love of letters is spilling over to numbers also.

The Metal Numbers are 6" and $15 each.

 This Giant Paper Clip - on a stand is $19 - the price is right.

I have a thing for oversized office supplies.

I picture it in the living room on a side table holding different words or letters.



I would love to have this recycled kite because of the colors.

Since our home is also Steve's studio, I don't have wall space, but I am thinking of a space outside.

But, at $59, I think it will have to remain on the list.

The a to z Ceramic Bookends are high on my list mainly because I am into letters.

They are 11" high and are $39.

I have to think this one over, because as much as I love them, I'm not sure where I can put them to show them off.

Ignore the cigar -

I would use it to hold jewelry on my dresser.

I have to really think about this one.

I haven't had a new hand for my collection in quite awhile, but if I want to buy the paper clip and the metal heart box, than I don't think I can justify $39 for the hand.

Lately I have been into vases holding individual flowers.

I can picture this Fleur de Lis Bud Vase in three different spots in my living room.

Should I or shouldn't I?

Numbers, balls, and primary colors - this Pool Ball Candle Holder hits three of my favorites.

  I know just where I would put it, but at $59, I think this is just a wish

or

I will save the catalogue and ask for it for my birthday.

This Woven Wire Heart Box is only $12.

So, what did I end up ordering?

Just 2 things

They should arrive just about the time school ends so I will have time to play around with them to find the perfect resting place.

After I order something, I love the anticipation and knowing that any day there will be a package waiting for me.

And if there isn't a package, maybe there will be another catalogue waiting for me.

Color My World

On Sunday morning I actually remembered to take my camera along on our beach walk.

I had only passed one house when I decided to photograph flowers along the way.

I saw beautiful flower photos on a blog the other night and wanted to try my hand at some flower photographs.

I found all the colors of the rainbow.

Our walk out to the beach was slow as I snapped a flower or two at every house.

On our return trip I found so many more beauties I had missed.

Another rainbow appeared.

And, the color continued all the way home.
                           

Color me happy!

Flea Market Finds

We had full intentions of riding our bikes to the Flea Market this morning.

When we looked at the end of the lane we saw crowds of people and remembered there was a marathon running through our little beach community.

Obviously the operators of Seaside Park and the city don't communicate because marathoners mixed with Flea Market bound shoppers equates to traffic jams.

Just like in my blog browsing, I was looking for items I might buy, but mainly getting inspiration.

I have an old watering can that Steve found in my parents garage over 30 years ago.

It sits in my garden and I am thinking I might paint it yellow.

I also have a tin hanging basket sitting in the attic.

I just might paint it like the red, white and blue tins in the photo.

Or, I might paint my watering can red and fill it with flowers.

I think there are several crates in my parents' garage left over from the 'orange grove' days.

I will have to check into them when I visit my sister in a few weeks.

The old rusted chair caught my eye, but I really don't have any space for more chairs in my garden.

I love the old crib filled with pillows.

I need to make new pillows for my garden chairs and I am thinking of simple white because my colored pillows fade so fast.

I guess if I remembered to take them in at night it would help!

I like the basket filled with plants.

I have so many baskets filled with books, maybe I should try plants in one of them.

The yellow wheels are great.

I have no idea what I would do with them, but if I look at this photo now and again, maybe some idea will come to me.

Then I will have to go out and find wheels to paint yellow.

I have always had a fascination with letters and spell out words in little vignettes all over the house.

Just lately I have added numbers to that and have numbers on my mantle.

I love this pile of linen and would have spent much more time combing through it if Steve was not showing signs of fatigue - shopping isn't his thing - ever!

So what did I buy?

Not much.

I spent a total of $17.

Had I seen the letters and numbers at the beginning of our shopping, I could have spent more time and bought lots more letters, but I saw the letter bins right near the exit.

I found this little table runner in the pile of linens.

I am always changing the linen on the table so after it has a bath, this lacy runner will have a stint on the dining room table.

We eat outdoors a lot during the summer so this tablecloth will get a lot of use.

I have to launder it and hem the edges before it can grace our table.

I love the pattern and that it is my primary color palette.

I did not find a vintage clock face.

That just means I have to continue the hunt.

Two months of summer vacation to scour antique shops - 

I think I am up to it!

...............................

I am linked up at

Cherished Treasures
Sunday Blog Love

and

Her Library Adventures
Flea Market Finds

and

Southern Hospitality
Thrifty Treasures

Getting It Done

In April I read a very thought provoking post on Raised in Cotton titled "Blogging Is The Devil".

I am very new to blogging and it got me thinking about why I started blogging.

It might not be why I started, but blogging is making me get things done that I need to do, but don't always feel motivated to do.

This cabinet was beyond disorganized and getting inspiration from the projects of other bloggers took my cabinet from this

to this.

Whenever I took photos of my dining room windows, I was disgusted with the peeling stickers left over from a previous owner - 15 years ago!

I took photos of the dining room table the other day and asked myself why I didn't just remove the labels and "get it done".

It took all of 15 minutes to remove the stickers and now my window looks like this.

And, now this.

I can't take credit for this little change.

Steve does the dishes and he didn't know where to put the star plate after Memorial Day and he stuck it there - I like it!

Blogging is making me think about my house, not just when I am taking photographs, but when I pass through a room.

I look at my rumpled sofa and plump it.

I look at dead flowers in vases and replace them.

I see a vignette on a blog and think about how I can do something similar, and I do it.

I am taking more time when setting the table for dinner.

I am actually doing things on my decorating list that I have talked about for a long time.

If I wasn't blogging, I think I would probably say, "I'll get to that soon."

Now, I am constantly looking at what I can change for the better.

So, tomorrow I am off to the Flea Market at Seaside Park.

I don't need anything, but reading all the blogs I follow and looking at inspiring photos makes me want to find some new little bits for vignettes.

Steve says we have to ride our bikes - his plan is that I can only buy what will fit in my bicycle basket.

His job will be to take some great photos while I am hunting.

It will be fun to just look and get inspired to "Get It Done".