You heard me correctly, forget the Beatles, there is a carpets revolution going on across the pond and you might want to check out the buzz.  Apparently several flooring industry leaders have joined forces in the UK to start this carpet campaign.  The site is full of good information about various carpet options and styles (or carpets as they like to say), some great ideas and examples of uses of carpet, and they even have a design house in London using you guessed it, carpet!

Now I know us design-minded types over here are snobs about our wood floors..don’t you wish you had a nickel for every time you’ve either thought, said, or heard “if it was up to me i would not have carpet ANYWHERE in my house”..but the truth is, carpet is comfy and practical in some areas of the home like bedrooms and playrooms, especially if you have little ones on the floor constantly.  During this cold winter we can certainly testify to that…so check it out..they even have an expert panel and cutie spokesperson;;  I need to find her book..she seems very interesting!

I dont know about y’all but I am loving these stripes pictured above…I am thinking about moving our boys upstairs in the next year or so and we will need to carpet our wood stairs to be more comfy and safe..I think the big stripe  would be so cute and fun! Just look at this cute guy and his trains!

So what do you think about carpet?? What is your favorite type?  How has your view of carpet changed as you’ve had a family and little ones, etc???

Usually I read Melanie, Erin, Seleta, or Lisa for fashion tips and inspiration… I am sure there are MANY more fashion/clothing blogs out there, these aren’t primarily fashion blogs, but they    are on my radar for whatever reason and always inspire in big or small ways..

OK so I started thinking about this because we had a little event at my son’s school last night.  I knew I wanted to wear a plain black BR dress already inmy closet…very plain, sleeveless but not too short, no cleavage to wrestle with all night, something comfortable but classic.  I also knew basic black meant I had accessory options.  Have y’all seen ALL of the pearl and ribbon options out there now..i love those mounds of pearls!  But for today I will focus on the FLOWER! (this is dedicated to you Missy, great job on the flowers for the fundraiser last night!)

Option #1  The Kentucky Derby necklace from Anthropologie (only $10..I think was on sale..otherwise why would anything in Anthropologie be under $10 unless its a coffee mug or drawer know right?!) oh and I gave it the name because I sort of feel like a winning horse at the derby when I put it on my neck, in other words, an idiot..but it IS cute and it has cute rhinestoney, vintagey buttons in the center of the flowers, and it is grey my new fave color and its from Anthropologie, you get the drift..but my husband stifled a laugh when he saw it so probably not a good choice.  Maybe with a plain black tee and jeans or maybe I will cut it up and make cute shoe clips like these I saw on etsy. 

Option #2

Pearl and flower necklace from Target.

I really like this necklace in theory but with the black dress it was just too predictable and granny..I think it would look much more fun with a denim jacket and tee.  But that’s just me. Thoughts???  it is cute!

Option #3

plain Anthro “looking” flower from a cheap-o mall store.

How did I decide?? Well obviously I took my options out on my back porch or the “dining room” as I like to call it and I just tried everything on my mannequin friend?  A little crazy I know but it works.  And yes I know I need to get Mrs. Mannequin indoors. It is a goal to get her in my room as an accessory catcher or up in my office as a ribbon catcher.

Back to the outfit.  This is what I decided. The good ol standby chunky pearls, flower and shawl.  Safe and comfy. 

{please note: my mannequin has a smaller waist than I do..no fair, she looks better in things…oh well}

What fashion blogs do you read if any??  What trends are you excited about right now??  tired of…. ruffles, flowers, pearl/ribbon details??  Share in the comments!

We just used an old metal rod, fairly small in diameter, which I really dont like, I prefer chunky rods now but small diameter was good for this project. Then I simply used an old glass doorknob and some stray bobeches I had in a junk box.  Actually I probably bought the bobeches at Round Top (which is coming up soon you know..last week in March, first week of April…Marburger opens March 30th I believe!).  Yall do know what bobeches are right????  They are the drips plates that surround the base of the chandelier bulb. We used some GOOP glue to attach it and voila!.

{wall color is SW Urban Putty}

I still love the idea of fab resource books.  Even this amazing woman (pictured below in all her fab-ness) has them, she mentioned here, on the Skirted Roundtable..I imagine they are filled with elaborate drawings and beautifully scripted notes, not just tattered magazine pages and sketches on old birthday napkins! Maybe one day I will have the time to work on really great resource books!

Until then my version is much less sophisticated but very functional.  It is my blog.  If I post an image here of something fab, like this house I do NOT want to forget, then I have it here where I can find it..no more digging through my piles. Soooooo to those who might feel critical when you visit my blog or others and you think “all they post is photos of others’ work and never their own ideas”  well maybe that is because the function of a blog for many is a place to not only diary your life and work but also a place to highlight ideas and things that inspire.  Just a way of keeping track and we share with you in case you might be interested too… It is a great resource for readers and clients to be able to go to a “living with kids” or “paints” category and see several posts and images from myself as well as ideas from around the blogosphere. 

Like these frames from Classically Amber..I could post and repost images of frames I have hung empty in my home and others but I would much rather show this..fresh and new to me..something I just discovered ,via a friend! I love how tight this arrangement is hung on the wall!

So now it is your turn, how do you keep track of your ideas and clippings, whether in real life on online???

(image from Real Simple}

{image from Southern Living}  Practical? no.  My son would SO pick at the branches….he would have airplanes hanging from it..but so pretty..And the budding branches in the vase.

Not sure the source for the above but this illustrates the layering of frames, simply leaned and lanterns..boy the lanterns are getting popular…this is for you Melanie!

and i just love the white mat..simple but fresh.

hmm, I think I like white mantles..and white mats!

Feed the Soul is a really neat project. It was started with the notion that during these hard economic times, people should still be able to enjoy art that inspires. (This reminds me of  WPA art..not stylistically or even the same situation but it made me think of WPA murals which I adore..there is one in Hamilton, Texas, by the way!)

So ANYWAY, various artists have joined forces and put these images up on this site and they are available to print, for free. I love this. 

Many would be wonderful in a children’s space, really the possiblities are endless. Enjoy!

Drew is very interested in History and flags and battles and the military. I am really not sure why..I was a History major but NOT military history. I guess it is just a boy thing so we embraced his interests and took him to San Antonio last weekend. 

I love this picture of Drew..he was so excited to see the Alamo. He said “it’s awesome!  I can’t believe THAT is REALLY the REAL Alamo.”  Not everyone responds that way.  I am glad we took him at a young age so he could be excited.  TOO BAD THAT BUS drove in front of the Alamo right as I was snapping the picture!  Sort of funny. And then we made our way across the street and I told him that he needed to be quiet and respectful in the shrine.

We had sort of been joking during the drive to San Antonio, not exactly a romantic weekend…navigating the Riverwalk with two kids, actually going to visit the Alamo, the mediocre Mexican food we would be in search of…BUT I have to admit, as I walked into the Alamo with my little boy, my little Texan, it was a moment. He was so smart and interested..for a full ten minutes! (Hey, there really isn’t much to see) And then he wanted to sign the book, his entire name…that was really a moment…I was so proud of him.  And then we were off!  To the gift shop..to buy a gun! (what else?)….

And then he assumed this position for pretty much the remainder of the day until his Daddy finally put the gun away (this after we noticed him crouching behind rocks and shooting at poor ducks on the river).

At this point I was thinking “why did we buy that gun?” But then finally he settled down and listened to the tour guide.  Really listened. And I had another mommy moment.

Of course Henry slept the entire time.

We stayed at this wonderful place  and they were so kid friendly. When Drew saw the balcony he said “I can’t believe this, I feel like I am in Italy!”

Good thing we stayed somewhere with a balcony because we were ready to go to our rooms by 7pm and we were able to enjoy the river without being ON the river. He said the Riverwalk is “very romantic.” 

And yes he did wear his Davy Crockett hat (which he already owned) the entire first day..Daddy talked him out of wearing it the second day.  In fact, he wanted to wear the complete get up (because he was DC for Halloween)…leather fringe jacket and all but we left it at home.

I love having little boys..it is wilder than I ever expected but it is such an honor to be their mother.  To raise little men.

Although, I am glad we made it out of town without having to stop and see Shamu.

….this blog is the brainchild of Sara from one my favorite online shops, Sarah + Abraham!  I am really excited to be a part and just so impressed and inspired by Sara’s ideas, professionalism and vision.  Check it all out!

Oh and I just have to share this before it gets too far past Valentine’s Day…definitely file this one away for next year… Hearts punched out of book pages, I love anything made using book print..Like this wreath that made the rounds on blogs..so wanted to do this but when did I have time to do this?? I didnt!  So I was so excited when my sweet friend Christi made this adorable Valentine’s Day version..

Appears she covered a green foam wreath with book pages and then glued a gazillion hearts all over…Hopefully she will comment and let us know how long this took. I am going to leave it hanging in my kitchen window ALL month and then carefully store it for next year…I love it so much.  I did not leave it on the front door..too damp outside but it sure looks fun on the red door.  Just had to share.

Well she did it, and I am so proud.  Big Mama made her drapes (it was hard for me not to say curtains right then..why is that?? maybe the phrase “big mama and curtains” just go together, no offense Melanie!)  Anyway…she sort of made them..she mistreated them and y’all, they look great!  See for yourself.

I love that little stool. Great poufing Big Mama… and yes this was NO SEW project and dont forget, the Robert Allen fabric was only $1.99 from Fabric.com. I think she did the entire room for some insane amount like $28!.. here is a closeup.

Read more and see before and after pictures here.  I think she purchased the drapery rod at Lowe’s.  For mistreatment instructions go to the Nesting Place.

Oh, be sure and look…can you identify her husband’s “special object” on the mantle??  It adds that special “Texas Hill Country” touch to the room.

I will have more mantle inspiration later in the week…stay tuned!

{images from the Big Mama blog}