Family Stuff

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Trust me, this is worth clicking over to (if you've got an invite.)

Perfection

I am happy to announce the arrival of this dress to my closet.

I saw it at Target and knew it had to be mine. Fully lined. Hits just below knee. A sleeve to show off my only truly admirable feature: my arms. Adorable ruffle along neckline. Perfection. And the price is unbelievably reasonable. Really.

Don't think I've forgotten about you, black and white polka dot. I will be back for you soon.

If either of these look remotely dorky in the pictures, I'm going to go ahead and blame it on a bad picture because trust me: to die for.

Let's play a little word association. Target Black Ruffle Dress is to J Crew as Target Polka Dot Dress is to Shabby Apple.

If you would like to see it live and in person, feel free to join me at church tomorrow. I may have to post a picture as well.

I Don't Know Whether To Laugh or Cry

It comes in pink too. Again, look beyond the lame picture: in real life, this is a salmony-reddish pink. Sometimes known as Carie pink (around these parts.) It is lame to own the dress in 2 colors?

Sigh*

*sigh that is completely appropriate for happily married middle aged (am I middle aged?) mother.

Just found out he is coming in concert to my city. This time I won't have to drive all the way to Minnesota to see him.

Welcome Back

Your (re)arrival has been greatly anticipated. It will take some getting used to, seeing you on Wednesday nights, but we are willing to go with the flow.

Never Say Never

I said I would never do it. But my friend did and follower that I am, I decided to do it too.

I broke down and bought a pair of skinny leg jeans. To tuck into my boots.

I love not having to battle with my jeans to tuck them into boots. Thanks for the idea friend.

Look More Books

Remember how much I love these books (did you know they sell these at Anthropologie?)

They are releasing another series:
I also found these:
Wouldn't this be fun for Valentine's Day?

Family Stuff

www.carie-list.blogspot.com

They're Mine! All Mine!

Finally checked out the dishtowels at Target. They were already on clearance.

They match my house perfectly.

I also found these on the clearance rack.

(I know me + sequince. I was surprised too. What can I say? I'm going for it.)

I Should Have Been A Great Proficient

"There are few people I suppose, who have more true enjoyment of music than myself or a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient." (This line is courtesy of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Genius that Jane.)

A really cool website once put together a really cool mix for Valentine's Day. A really cool friend gave me the really cool mix. It was a quirky bunch of love songs. I loved it. They called the mix iheart.

I made a Valentine's Day mix. In honor of the original iheart, it's quirky too. Some of the songs aren't even in English. Some of the songs don't have words. Most of the songs are old school because I am not very hip. But all of the songs are favorites. I named my mix iheart2.

Here are a list of my songs:

1. Love is in the Air by John Paul Young
2. Chasing Pavements by Adele
3. Let's Stay Together by Al Green
4. River Waltz from Painted Veil Soundtrack
5. The Girl From Ipanema by Astrud and Joao Gilberto
6. Do I Love You? by Aztec Camera
7. Need You Tonight by INXS
8. Con Te Partiro by Andrea Bocelli
9. The Luckiest by Ben Folds
10. Brown-Eyed Girl by Van Morrison
11. Fix You by Cold Play
12. Cupid by Jack Johnson
13. Try a Little Tenderness by Michael Buble
14. Mrs. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice Soundtrack
15. You Do Something To Me by Sinead O'Conner
16. Sweetest Thing by U2
17. My Man from Funny Girl Soundtrack
18. Best I've Every Had by Vertical Horizon
19. Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps by Cake
20. Secret Valentine by We the Kings
21. Claire De Lune by Debussy

If you live by me, I'll give you a copy. Just leave me a comment. If you're a sister, I'll send you a copy because you're my sister. Just let me know.

Click here to see which of these songs are on itunes. (my very first imix!)

Books

I just finished reading this delightful trio of books. Occasions, Manners, and Style. All by Kate Spade. I found them each charming and essential. I must buy my own copies. I think I will get extras to give as gifts.

I would love to read Manners with my older kids, just a page or so a night. It is full of so much good common sense and practical advice.

Love these from Dwell Studio at Target. Any of them would match my kitchen. Can't wait to check them out tomorrow in person. I also saw some place mats in with similar designs in my latest edition of Real Simple.

Family Stuff

I've been posting a lot of catch up over on the private blog.

Designer's Challenge

We are getting a new couch, soon to arrive. I could not be happier. One day I looked at our old, faded, torn sectional and thought "Really?" How long has it been this bad? We have owned it for at least 8 years. It's time.


My husband agreed and we ordered this:
It was by far my favorite option and in our price range. I picked a sectional again because it seems to fit our room better than any other arrangement. The furniture must face the fireplace, windows and tv cabinet, all at the same time. This is not a fancy or occasionally used room. This is where we gather. This is where we watch tv. This is where we hang out. Sectional it is.

Here are a few options for coffee tables. I want something fabric - linen is my leaning. What I have in mind is a tufted linen ottoman with wooden legs. This is all I could find, so far.

(JCPenney)

(Ballard Designs)

(JcPenney)

This is where I turn for help. My biggest challenge in this room is the sheer size of it. Two stories high. I say it like it's a bad thing.

Problem#1- Fireplace. I have struggled for as long as I have lived in the house as to what to put above the fireplace. What ever it is, it needs to be large scale.

This is the other side of the room. Beautiful windows. Again, large scale.


Just to give you the full perspective, this is the other side of the room.

Problem #2- This wall: What to put on the wall opposite the windows?

The sectional is not against the wall. Nor is there room far a table of any sort. So anything I put on the wall seems to look like it is floating.

So here are a couple of options I have thought of:

Option 1- Large framed grouping that almost go to the floor. These frames are maps of NYC I believe.

(Image via Pottery Barn)

Option 2- What about a (narrow depth but) tall and wide book case? I think we could have this built inexpensively and painted to match the built-ins around the fireplace.

(Pottery Barn)

Option 3- You have to use your imagination for this because I don't have any exact pictures of it just some to give you the idea. How do you think 3 large linen peg boards would look on this wall? This picture is from the apartment in the movie the Break-Up.

(Image via Hooked on Houses)

Here are images of the linen peg boards from Pottery barn.

(Pottery Barn)

(Pottery Barn)

And someone using it in real life:

(Image via Design Mom)

Anyone who can help me solve these problems get a thousand bonus points and a friend for life. (And I am a pretty fantastic friend, so that's really saying something.) Please forward this on to anyone you know and love who is remotely design savvy. Post a comment or email me carieskinner at yahoo dot com.

Nobody Gonna Break My Stride

There is no stopping the organization machine formerly known as Carie.

My closet is now organized by color and sleeve length and style. Pants are folded. Shoes are lined. (Please ignore the top self it belongs to my husband's bags and sweatshirts.)

In my organizing, I came across this shirt -with tags. I totally forgot I owned it. I am resolved to wear it as soon as it gets above freezing.

I tidied the top of my built-in dresser. I had to rearrange the jewelry board for some new long necklaces.

Folded contents of my drawers.

I decluttered my nightstand. It had become a dumping ground. I turned all the books around. I've seen it done in magazines and am trying to decide if I like it. (How do you know which book is which?)

Got a Lot Done Today

I got a lot done today even though we are having ANOTHER snow day and I've got 4 extra "helpers" on hand. We are having a snow day tomorrow too. Apparently they are not really keen on sending children to school with it is below zero.

I completely organized my laundry room. The pictures may not be that impressive, I probably should have taken pictures of the 7 bags of stuff I cleared out (3 bags of school papers for recycling and 4 bags of clothes for the Goodwill.)

I also managed to clean my kitchen, talk my children into cleaning their rooms, drive my oldest to a friend's house, peruse Anthropologie in person, shower, cook dinner, shovel our driveway, restock groceries at Target and run several loads of laundry.

And cook homemade cinnamon rolls.

Maybe I'll start with some of these

from Anthropologie . . .





(Sadly, total price tag upwards of $400. Not quite in the post-Christmas, post-car repair, post-new computer, pre-new couch, pre-basement finish budget.)