Time Warp Poem

Four months truly came and went--
I thought my blogging days were spent.
Two brothers married within a month apart--
Ready for my own? I haven't yet the heart.

I continue to dream and crave to write--
But life's obstacles sure did put up a fight.
My dog fell ill, a week later ate a plastic bit--
My creativity is strong, but my wallet is unfit.

Here I return with this poetic intermission--
In an attempt to continue throughout my transition.
Where do I begin after all of this time?
(Fill in the blank here)

Textural Edification

Been poking around some of my photos I've taken within the past year. Thought these seemingly insignificant photos made a great assemblage of the texture that surrounds us. Enjoy!

Mission Steps, San Antonio, TX

Side of building, Main Street, Fredericksburg, TX

Graffiti art, downtown Austin, TX

Historic tower, Baltimore, MD

Exterior wall of decrepit barn, Somerset, TX
(all photos via Art & Facts, copyright)

How Sweet It Is

Experimented with a new cookie recipe today. After all, it is Valentine's Day. The dough didn't turn out to be quite the consistency as I was expecting, but I made the best of it!

Love Worms

An ode to the significant guy: VW Beetle towing a teardrop trailer...and a random buffalo in the way of its path

Yum.

Up in the Air

Significant guy and I have been working on remodeling our kitchen for quite some time. Coming up on two years of construction, to be exact. You're in it for the long haul when doing everything yourself, and that's a fact.

We have made much headway, and now are down to the final build-out and decor. Here's where I become truly indecisive. We live a beautiful late '20s/early '30s Moorish-design stucco home and very much desire to continue a similar style into our kitchen.

Exterior of our home (minus the latest trim work & landscaping)

Exterior entrance (photo via the amazing "London Calling." See her blog post here.)

We knocked out the wall to the right to open the kitchen up to the living and dining area. Significant guy (pictured here) has vaulted the ceiling and installed recessed lighting where the original portion of the ceiling was. We scored this amazing Arts & Crafts-style window at a building re-supply store. The walls will be painted Restoration Hardware's "Stone" paint color. 

I'm enlisting help from all of you amazing minds out there on some differing backsplash styles I've been deliberating over.

White subway tile has been a great friend of ours for years and is fairly inexpensive and above all--timeless. I am in love with this soft green glass and cracked ceramic subway tile as seen here with Country Living.

Although modern in nature, and more of a devil's advocate choice, this geometric glass tile catches light and draws the eye by way of uniqueness. I could see this tile in white or green in our kitchen, followed by a chocolate-stained grout. (photo via www.decodir.com)

And for a more organic spin to the previous idea, I have always loved the pebbled backsplash. And what goes better with "stone" paint color than...stones? (Image via www.islandstone.com)

I can't seem to get penny tile out of my head. Couldn't find an exact example in action, but think both photos above, combined along with black grout. I love the illusion of depth. (Image via www.flickr.com/photos/peachheights & www.mosaictilesupplies.com)

We are leaning more toward this idea by duplicating this look.  Inexpensive ceramic square tiles balance pricey Art Nouveau hand-painted tiles to achieve this look. This is my favorite by far. (Image via www.flickr.com/photos/samjudson)


All over the map and up in the air. What's your opinion?

Yes to the Dress

To elaborate on my previous post...I'm getting hitched! Yup, ball and chain. Husband and wife. Significant guy proposed in the most beautiful way on New Year's Eve...

I've never had 'The Big Day' planned out. I never imaged getting married for all that mattered. So this is new territory to me. It's kinda fun. Especially when it comes to the attire.

Given that new wedding dresses cost an upwards of $500 and tend to look cheap and unimaginative, I've decided to pull together two used thrift store/ eBay purchases myself. One-of-a-kind, resourceful, AND cheap! This is the start of Cheapskate Tip #4 ladies and gentlemen! Let the ideas flow!

In looking for some inspiration, I've tracked across some of these amazing designs. I heart these designers. They are my heroes and then some...

St. Vincent de Paul's Discarded to Divine's designers have shared some amazing ideas for wedding dress reconstruction. This dress is made completely of denim that was bleached white and assembled into this amazing detailed Victorian silhouette.

Again, another Discarded to Divine designer created a very unique bustle out of vintage linen handkerchiefs. To learn more and to see other amazing clothing re-builds from the Discarded to Divine fundraising and awareness movement, click here. (both images above via www.flickr.com, user St. Vincent de Paul Society San Francisco.)

Janay A Handmade's custom wedding dresses are drool-worthy. This dress had me at hello with this classically perfect design. Can't get any better than that. (image via janay-a.com)

The base dress I will be using is a halter-style cut. Designer Jenny Packham's halter dresses are the almighty being of halter cuts. (images via google.com images & www.jennypackham.com)

And last but not least, this bride looked flippin' fantastic wearing this English Dept's custom-made vintage inspired gown, from head to toe. (image via www.theenglishdept.com)


Stay tuned for the evolving dress under construction.

Happy Belated New Year

Here we are already. Marching forthright into a new decade...

This holiday season flashed by so quickly. In a matter of a few weeks came four birthdays, two deaths, one engagement...

Whew.

(Image via Lee Burridge flyer)

Happy Holidays

Happiest of holidays to all people and critters alike...

(Ziggy, Tobie and Junie getting in the holiday mood)