Last week i went to IKEA with my dear friend for some much overdue girl time..we had such a nice time just gabbing and walking around IKEA…thanks Joy for not thinking i was nuts for taking pictures of various items;; (btw, they have some darlin baby things…stay tuned for more on that later…cute toddler beds and linens for wee ones) oh and yall KNOW to go to IKEA on a weeknight right?? NOT on saturday or sunday!

My trip to IKEA reminded me of the great Cote de Texas’ recent advice to me on this “decorating with photos” topic..first she said “you are kidding right?” ha! That joni is so hilarious…if you read her fab blog and listen to her on the Skirted Roundtable then you can just imagine her saying this..i could..anyway she did give some great advice..Besides the basic IKEA frame and shelf solution, Joni says USE A BOWL..yep a bowel..but not just any bowl..she says get a big fab oriental blue and white bowl..forget scrapbooking you overstressed mommies..just get a fab bowl! she blogged about it here.. she says “I suggest this to all of my clients, especially the ones with myriad tacky picture frames cluttering every table and shelf. I’ve discovered that loose photos placed in a bowl invites conversation. At family gatherings, inevitably, one or two people will sit by the bowl and go through the whole thing, picture by picture. When was the last time anyone really looked at all your pictures in their frames? Toss those frames, put the photos in a big bowl, and watch your friends actually look at your photos for the first time”….GREAT idea!

{image from Cote de Texas…Joni’s very own bowl and snapshots!}

SO where do you get such a bowl besides a super chic and expensive antique store?? you can find them in all price ranges in various places on the Internet..Joni got hers here, a division of Twos Company. I have seen them at Tuesday Morning, Marshalls/Homegoods/TjMaxx and even Hobby Lobby (1/2 off some weeks no doubt) and Garden Ridge (I hope Joni’s head is not exploding at the thought of Hobby Lobby!;;)

{another view of Joni’s photo bowl in her lovely family room]}

love it..unless you have little boys with sticky fingers..in that case Joni says “if you have to have frames (cant you just here her saying that all exasperated and Joni-like!)”then go to michaels and get all matching frames and hang them in a hallway. or get shelves from ikea and hang those and put the photos on the shelves – all lined up nice and neat.” so there you go..easy easy!

Joni also says “master bathrooms, bedrooms, and closets are good for silver framed photographs.” CLOSETS..that Joni! seriously, my house was built in 1941 and does not even have a light in the closet but many of your homes have nice closets with built ins and that is a great place for frames..i like these from Pottery Barn.

thanks Joni..her blog is HUGELY popular for a reason! and so is this place.

tomorrow we will say goodbye to photo week(s) with closing words from fellow blogger Melissa of The Inspired Room.

[oh and i realized i did not really discuss the IKEA frames..they are a GREAT price, but i have to confess i have never used them...i am more familiar with the Target and PB wood frames with white mats....if anyone has any experience with the basic IKEA frame please tell us about them in the comments..they look nice,,and like i said the price is great!]