SPAHHHHH.....

I could use a HOT bath right about now. After a long day of work, what I wouldn't give to just read a good book and soak in a big 'ol tub! Well, I love all bath products! Anything that makes my bathroom smell girlie, I am all for! My one problem is that all of my items take up a lot of room in their packages, and in my bathroom which I share with a BOY is not big enough! So, I had to make do!

First thing I did when I moved into my new apartment, was buy a really pretty cabinet to house all of my stuff. I went online and found a barrister bookcase on Craigslist for $80. This was an AMAZING deal, because for anyone who doesn't know, barrister (or old lawyer's bookcases) are VERY expensive. Mine is old, and I have no IDEA why it was so cheap, but I am so happy I found one! You just have to keep looking for what you want. Richard's mom (Ann) and I went out this weekend and found a lot of these, but they were $900-$1500! NO way!

In this cabinet, I stock items I use everyday. Cotton Balls, Que Tips for makeup, bath salts, and towels are staples in this cabinet for me. But, since this is a cabinet people can see, I put all of my necessities in pretty crystal jars. YOU NEED TO GO TO MARSHALLS, ROSS, TJMAXX to find these. Even Target is too expensive! I bought some for $5.00! Antique stores have pretty apothecary jars- but these are really popular right now and you are gonna pay a lot. Put your items in these jars! Then, buy a few fun pieces to add to the decor! I bought a crystal cake plate (ROSS) to put an antique hand mirror on (Resale shop). Cute ceramic wedding toppers (Ebay from my wedding), a poodle lipstick holder (used now for toothbrushes) and a black vintage poodle planter (for Que tips) finish it off! Add some WHITE towels, and viola! What a pretty display- but functional too!

Here is mine:

Beautiful, yet functional.

 Here are some pretty bathrooms I found online:

His House, Her Help Blog

Flickr

Kutch Kraft

One more thing: BATH SALTS can be expensive and you use a lot when taking a bath. SO, I buy mine at Marshalls. They have really good salts, and aren't as pricey. If you want, here is a Martha Stewart recipe from www.marthastewart.com to make your own!

Turn a plain old soak into a real retreat with bath salts you make yourself. Start with about 4 cups of sea salt or kosher salt. Mix in several drops of an aromatic bath oil (available at bath and beauty stores) and, if you wish, dried fragrant plants, such as lavender or eucalyptus. Pour into a jar for yourself or to give as a gift. Use a few spoonfuls of salts per bath; to keep herbs from floating, spoon the mixture into a spice sachet (available at gourmet grocery stores).

 

YAY FOR BUBBLES!

BEE HAPPY!

One thing I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE is a vintage honey pot! I hit the jackpot when my mom gave me MY honeypot with the original spoon! I thought I would give you a "taste" of some cute ones I found tonight!

It has the spoon! YAY!

I guess this is highly collectible?

Love this little BEE!

This is JUST like mine. One on Ebay for $4 and one for $45!

New Silhouette

Okay, no more shopping tonight! See you in the morning!

New Silhouette- a big one!!!! Look at all the detail!

2 month anniversary is...?

What do you get for making it 2 months? Richard says a high five.

I GAVE IN...

I BOUGHT the pillowcases! BAD IDEA to online shop at 2:34 a.m...

Richard HATES them...oh well! :-) They make me LAUGH! I like his curly mustache. Kinda like Tom Selleck.

(Swoon!)

Dinner's Served!

Alright, another really good tip coming from the mom! When I was starting to buy things for my home, my mom gave me some good advice and I decided to share! When buying dishes for your house, BUY WHITE! I know, my mom tends to go towards white, but the more I thought about this, it makes perfect sense!

Me and the Mom

1. White is classic. You can go from formal to casual in a second, just by what you serve on the plate.

2. White is always in style. Although I love funky dishware, I may not like the pattern/color in a year and that is wasting money. With white, you can ADD a few fun pieces to make it unique!

3. White can be dressed up! Just depends on your atmosphere and table setting.

DON'T FORGET! Add some fun pieces to make the white unique! (www.etsy.com)

1925 Rabbit Bowl

Milkglass Cake Stand

Etched Wine Glass

Serving Bowl

Cute Tablecloth

WINTER BLUES...

I am starting to have the WINTER BLUES. No, I am not sad, I am just really starting to like the color! First my bathroom paint, now pretty rooms! Let me know if you get the BLUES too!

HomeGoods

Eclectic Revisted

Clarence House

Sweet Dreams!

If you are starting small (and on a budget) looking for cute vintage items, the one thing I cannot get enough of are... VINTAGE LINENS! Vintage linens are the BEST! I have over 20 pairs of vintage pillowcases (and counting!) and I just adore all of them. My secret? Antique malls and Austin's City Wide garage sale. If you have never been, it is a vintage collector's heaven! My mom and aunt (and sometimes my cousin-if she is not a party pooper and sleeping in) go and pick up LOTS of vintage pillowcases (for $3 a piece!) I ONLY buy hand embroidered ones. They are so pretty and we really like ones with animals/people on them. They make my bed so inviting and add that touch of vintage, exp. if you are on a budget. They were actually the first things I started to collect. My mom and aunt now buy vintage quilts, but I do not have the eye for them like they do. 

The only problem with vintage linens is that since they are old, some are stained. I don't usually buy them if they have stains UNLESS they are too cute to pass up and I think my mom can clean it. But, a lot of them are yellowed... soooo, we put them in BIZ or Oxyclean and it brightens them up!

Some of my favorites right now are: 

I totally should have bought these when I had the CHANCE! Never found another set.

My baby quilt..one day I might use it!

I know these aren't pillowcases, but tea towels are great for the kitchen too!

Just Add a Pillow! www.ebay.com

Cute Vintage Transfer Design

I LOVE the His and Hers!

Pretty birds are easy to find

Flickr

Poodle runner www.ebay.com

These make me laugh! www.ebay.com

WHAT DO YOU COLLECT?

 I am wondering- What do you collect? I seem to collect poodles. I found one at Austin's City Wide Garage Sale and after that- I was hooked! I don't like a lot of kitchy stuff, because when you have toooo much, I find you have to dust it...and I hate dusting. Every piece I find will serve a purpose. My poodle planter? It holds que tips. My poodle lipstick holder? Holds toothbrushes. No reason to have stuff around if you aren't using it.

I just love a curly poodle! Funny, since I have a Pom/Sheltie and two cats, but I really love them! What are you collecting? Let me know!

Handmade by Mother blog

Here are things I need for my collection!


I HAVE TO HAVE..........

Poodle Apron- how sweet!

Poodle Toaster Cover- etsy.com

Ebay.com- For my silhouette wall! Maybe next payday....

Poodle Pin Cushion for Embroidery- Oops...bought it!

Vintage Poodle Lamps $535 on Ebay....no way! But I LOVE!

Vintage Makeup Bag- Etsy.com

Jeanette Carnival Glass

One of my favorite things to look for is vintage carnival glass. Carnival glass is from the early 1900's and it always has an iridescent glow. It got the name "carnival," because it was given away as prizes at carnivals and fairs. It has been dubbed "the poor man's Tiffany." I think it is very pretty. My favorite are the Jeanette powder jars. They are not very expensive, but sometimes hard to find. The jars were used for ladies powder before the Depression. After the Depression hit, they stopped making these jars. Some of the jars have ADORABLE tops. I love the poodle. This jar only came in the marigold color. Others include the Westie/Scottie, deer, and elephant. I use mine as a catch-all for jewelry or bobbipins on my nightstand. They can be found in pink, marigold, clear, and sometimes green. :)