A Few of My Favorite Things... the ANTHROPOLOGIE edition

So I had the chance to go into an actual Anthropologie store for the first time in probably 9 years. The last time I was in one, I was right out of college, broke, and had no home of my own to put any of their products in. Flash forward to today, I peruse this store online constantly, waiting for something to go on sale that I can afford. My friend Becky sent me a gift card for my birthday, and I've been savoring it for just the right moment.  Well, last weekend, on my trip to Oklahoma, was that moment. And here are my favorite things I picked up:

I love that t-shirt. They're sold out, but here's a link to a similar one: click here.

This aqua kitchen timer is to-die for. It was only $12! I've been scoping out Macy's Martha Stewart aqua timers for a couple of years, but they have bad reviews. Bad news: I can't find the link to this Kikkerland one anywhere on anthropologie.com!

Cute little bracelet. "K" is for Kit. :)

Gee, I wonder who the owl pen and ornament could be for? :)

I'm suddenly obsessed with Foxes. Interestingly enough, a fox's baby is called a 'kit'! 

These knobs were 20% off $2.95. They normally sell for like $14.00 a piece!!! Score!

Needless to say, my trip to Anthropologie was long awaited, and totally met my expectations. Big-ups to my hubby and brother for keeping the kids under wraps in that non-kid-friendly store. Not an easy task. Another shout-out to my other brother and sis-in-law for driving all 11 of us there, so I could shop. 

Visit my other "favorite things" posts:

The GREEN edition

The BIRTHDAY edition

The URBAN OUTFITTERS edition

The FOREVER 21 edition

Aloha, Rebecca

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Antique Child's Rocking Chair

Say hello to the newest member of our household:

It came to me from a co-worker (who lives in an awesome plantation home) like this:

She said she got it in Carmel in the early 1990's. She always wanted to re-furbish it, but never did. I looked online for some type of database that would tell me when it was from, but could find nothing like it anywhere! 

Her daughter, Emily, is my student and etched me a great little keepsake in the arm rest:

No worries, though, cause I sanded it down and primed it with Kilz. 

Then I painted it Benjamin Moore's gorgeous "Hollingsworth Green." 

One coat in:

I had great plans for its new cushion. It came with part of one, but it was ripped and falling apart. I found a mud-nest thing in it, so I decided not to salvage it.

First I measured out the cushion area and the fabric and tacked on white pom pom trim and XL rick-rack:

Next I cut out foam from an old bed foam cushion thingy and made a pillow insert. I wanted the structure of the foam, combined with the cushion of the pillow. I made the pillow insert out of an old towel so it wouldn't slip around inside. It's filled with just basic pillow filler. 

It's got great quirky lines, doesn't it?

Ivy is obsessed with it. So am I.

I put a few new springs in it, just cause it was missing some and the old ones were really oily and dirty. 

Ivy loves to rock on it. I've caught her singing "Rock-a-bye-baby" quite a few times while holding her Sissy doll. 

 I had those two colors of XL rick-rack left over from the photo-booth backdrop I created in January. (See post here.)

Aloha,

Becca and Ivy

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GOAL ACCOMPLISHED: The Pottery Barn Table and Chairs

On Christmas Eve, we got an awesome table and chairs from a family I work with. It was from Pottery Barn Kids, and needed some help. (Click here to see the original post and read the full story.) This is what it looked like:

It needed help. 

In March I started sanding the chairs and put some primer and paint coats on them and set a goal to finish the set. I was inspired by Shine You Light blog's Before and After Party. (See that post here.)

The table was next. It took some time. I don't know what was on that table, but it had to come off. (See that post here).

After 3 coats of Martha Stewart metallic paint, I finally finished it in April. It's been done for a while, and you may have spotted it in my chair cushion tutorial (click here), but I had yet to do a true "Before and After" post. So, 5 months and 4 blog posts later, the Pottery Barn Table and Chairs is finished!!

For some reason Ivy is planking on it in her underwear. This photo was taken just moments before nap time...

One more "before":

And here it is in Ivy's room "after"! 

Here's some other fun shots from our outdoor impromptu tea party we had with it.

And finally, I can say, I'm linking up to the Before and After Party at Shine Your Light!! Check out the party. I love Before and After photos, and they've got plenty over there! 

Aloha, Rebecca

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Home tour - my Aunt's adorable little cottage

My Aunt has lived in the same 2 bedroom cottage in a suburb of Los Angeles for over 30 years. Just a freeway or two from LAX, we've stayed in her extra room many many times. This cottage has so much character, and I love what she's done with it in recent years. Enough explaining... let's just show some pics!

This is not my aunt. It's my best friend, Mapuana. She lives in LA now and met up with us for lunch. 

The couch she is sitting on used to be mine. It had striped upholstery that wasn't half-bad. I got it at a garage sale for $40 back in 2003. Then I moved away from CA, and gave it to my brother, who gave it to his dog. Then he moved away from CA and gave it to my aunt. She took it to get re-upholstered and now it is amazing:

I love the shade of pink on this mirror! So feminine!

How awesome is this vintage sewing machine?!

Two little reading nooks:

This is a photo of my grandparents: 

Here's the guest room, which used to be my cousin's room. I think when I was younger it even had a water bed. Gone are those days. Now it's a delightful haven.

What's crazy is a few years ago I had the matching duvet for the pillow on the left:

The bathroom is another adorable section of the home.

I love the knobs on the dresser. I also love that there is a dresser in the bathroom! Genius!

Vintage scale

The kitchen was done back in the 50s. Blues, yellows and reds.

What's crazy is my mom and I both have this clock. My mom's is also red, and mine is aqua.

She also did a little shabby-chic project. If you're interested in this door, done in a great blue with a vintage door knob, I think she's selling it! 

And here is what she's reading, if you're curious:

She's got quite a few of these vintage make-up boxes. She gave me one in a dark aqua!! Isn't her home great?! I love what she's done with it, and every time I visit, there's something new (but probably a little old) to see!! Thanks Aunty for letting me gloat over your home!

Aloha, Becca

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