St. Germain Elderflower Liquor

Look!  What is that pretty bottle hanging out next to my egg-basket-turned-garlic-holder?  

Ever since I read about it on Apartment Therapy/The Kitchn, I've always wanted a bottle of St. Germain at home.

So, I finally caved in and bought this.  At just under $40 for 750 mL, it's a GREAT deal.  It even comes with a recipe booklet(!)  Well, okay, a little black book of drinks.

This is a VERY sweet liquor (think ICE wine), floral with a faint hint of passion fruit quite possibly?

I mixed it with ginger ale.  I also mixed it in a shot glass with fresh squeezed grapefruit juice (yes, the lengths I will go to for a good anti-corn syrup drink) and a dash of bitters.  (I used angostura by the way...don't ask me how this differs from other bitters, I have not a clue).  

In both cases, the drinks were too sweet, but nonetheless intoxicating!  Next time, I will go for the recommended champagne or simple carbonated water.

I HIGHLY recommend this one to include in your collection.  Sweet, smooth, sophisticated, and unique.  It will WOW your guests, or keep this one all to yourself.  Whatever YOU *wish*

XOXO.

Little A's New West Elm Princess Bed!

Dear Mom and Dad,


I am so sorry but I have not had the time to post anything lately.  As a result, I have a high backlog of posts which I intend on sharing with you.  Although I am using a FIFO strategy to post (first-in-first-out, aka chronological order), my first of many is actually the LAST one.  This is Little A's new bed which we put together last night, while she was away at a special "parents' night out" daycare event.

Be prepared to be AMAZED.

Are you ready?

HERE

WE

GO

(!)

Here is our little SPECIAL girl...

Of course, after this moment, I was unable to capture any "still life" moments.

It was ALL a BLUR.

WHEW!!!  That was exciting!

Sources:

Bed:  West Elm, "2X2", full, white.  First one came damaged, West Elm promptly sent me a replacement and had UPS pick up the first one (luckily I only had to rip a little section of the box off to see the damage, so the first bed was pretty much packaged as it came).  Overall, for the price, I am happy with what I got (20% off bedroom sale!)  It is about a 3/4 step above IKEA  ;-)

Comforter/sheet set:  Style & Co. brand, (Macy's), VERY old design my Mom bought me at a clearance sale.  **Thanks Mommy**

Crochet Blanket:  Goodwill, similar ones can be found easily (yet more pricey) @ ETSY.COM

Pillows:  down alternative, 2 sets of 2, on sale for under $13/set at COSTCO!

Smaller blanket (on top of crocheted one): Goodwill/Dwell Studio for Target.  You can find similar mod designs still...

Mosquito Net Canopy:  OVERSTOCK!  $22 (with shipping).  WAY better than driving to *and having to deal with* IKEA.  My only complaint: product was described to come with a RATTAN hoop online, however came with a plastic one instead.  Still works fine, but I expect product descriptions to be accurate, and that people know what they are selling (probably not Overstock's fault...I believe the responsibility falls to the vendor actually supplying the product through Overstock.  DUH)  

Fashion Post: New Boots (!)

     I am really excited since to be doing my first fashion-related post!  I just got a shipment of ALDO boots I've been eyeballing for a while now.  Being end of season, they are on clearance so it was the perfect opportunity to stock up.  This is a short and sweet post as I am only posting the images for the benefit of other (prospective) buyers.  See below for my opinions on the shoes...

     Above is the Gremler style.  It's pretty comfy, but I really need to get used to wearing heels again as I've been in fat baby's since I started my current job about a year ago (most shop-appropriate boot with style).

     This black one is the Ocken.  Once again, need to get myself used to the HEEL!  Also, I'm a little afraid this low-cut boot is a little too "chic" for me...?  But cute nonetheless.  Where I would wear this one, I have no clue (not work-appropriate, and since I don't go out at all, where would I wear these?  COSTCO?!)

     This is the Curreri boot.  I'm not sure how I feel about the wedge heel being about ten shades lighter than the leather, but it definitely provides more support than the above two heels.  The one downside is that the boot does not hug my calves (too loose, and the straps are purely decorative - nonadjustable).  So, wearing this without pants looks funny, like the boots are just too big for me!  I had originally chosen these thinking I could wear them with a crisp summer dress.  I guess not!

FINALLY: The Eames Low Rod has ARRIVED

Hello Beautiful...what's your name?

Low Rod Pretty Chair, you say?

Yes, I talk to my chairs.  They are like my babies.  That Modernica Low Rod base I ordered FINALLY came in the mail.  Their shipping department was "backed up" so this teeny tiny little base didn't ship for a WEEK after I placed my order!!  Of course, when I called to inquire Ingrid was SUPER NICE.  And, it's Modernica.  So I didn't care.

Modernica is super careful with their shipping, the base was very nicely packed and it was sent via Signature Only through UPS.  (Total Bummer for someone who WORKS when the UPS truck comes by.  I had to stop at their DC in Fife to pick up the package in person).  I had waited SO long, but it was well worth the wait!

The new black Modernica base went on one of my OLD Herman Miller Shells in Elephant Hide.  Now it looks so hot and sleek sitting all low to the ground like that!

This chair previously had a vintage (Herman Miller) Eiffel Base but I needed it for a new Modernica Eames Wire chair TOP that I picked up off of Craigslist (with a $50 price tag, it was WELL WORTH the long-bum drive to Seattle, or as I like to call it "the smoky city that thinks it is cooler than it really is").  HA!

Anyway, enough grumping around.  See below for the little storyboard I put together of my bedroom.  It's missing all the awesome chairs (Bertoia Bird Chair + stool, Eames Wire chair, Grey *vintage* Eames Shell pair) but I think it paints a nice picture nonetheless...see below for all sources. 

Eames Shell, vintage from ebay; Pillow, Edie & Co from Posh 
Home in Tacoma; Black Low Rod Base, new from Modernica; Curtains, IKEA; Flokati rug, IKEA; Dresser, thrifted; Glass Carboy, thrifted from Goodwill; Basket, Rwandabasket.com; jars on windowsill, thrifted or IKEA; wall paint, Winter in Paris Olympic from Lowe's.

Exterior Paint Color: Valspar Fire Orange + Fired Earth

Valspar Fire Orange

Valspar Fired Earth

Please note the source of these paint chip images is Valspar's Colorbuzz blog, which can be found at http://colorbuzz.valsparblog.com  *a fun site to explore if you are in a bind for color inspiration, however I came up with my colors the old-fashioned way: going to Lowes with Callie Dog!

Yes, these are the exterior colors of the house.  They are a bit bright, but I want it that way.  The Fire Orange reminds me of Arizona, while the Fired Earth helps to tone it down a bit...

These are from the Valspar line, specifically Duramax...Lowe's paint ROCKS.  This is the second time we've used it, and it rocks!!  

I think it makes a nice statement against all those nice trees!  Also, much better than unpainted concrete as seen in the "before" pictures.  Notice the CB2 pendant hanging in the window (master bedroom).  When the hard work is all done I will have more time for the "fun", design-centric posts.  Watch for my CB2 product reviews...!

**No, I don't get paid for this...it is all me.  Just trying to share my passion for design with other like-minded folks online.  If there is such a thing as like-minded folks when it comes to me.  

Product Review: Evora Cork Floors

Okay, so here's the deal.  The house had a mixture of flooring:

• Oak Flooring throughout the main portion of the home.  We had to pull up a couple boards of this stuff, and it is NOT the crap you buy at the store.  These floors are solid oak BOARDS (probably reclaimed wood from a nearby pickle company after they went from wood to more modern containment systems).  It's almost an inch thick!!!  Although it was not refinished once in the 20+ years during its existence as a wood floor, this is solid material we would be crazy to replace.  It stays.
• Really busy linoleum in the kitchen/pantry/laundry.  It was probably cute in a "kitschy" way, but seeing its poor condition now, it is hands-down on its way out the door.  Sorry linoleum!
• Mismatched carpeting in the bedrooms.  Yuck.  I bet there was all sorts of skin flakes from the last inhabitants embedded deep is this stuff!  Gross!!  My stance on flooring is if you cannot wash it, it's gonna get gross over time.  I will stick to rugs and sheepskin.

Obviously, we wanted to keep the super awesome oak flooring, and ditch the gross linoleum and carpets. We choose a nice travertine for the kitchen (not sure what to do in the smaller areas such as bathrooms, pantry, laundry).  We would have gone for a matching wood floor in the bedrooms, but didn't feel we could match the current flooring within a certain budget.  We decided to go for:  CORK!!!  Specifically Evora Cork Flooring via Build Direct.

WELL...we ordered enough for all the bedrooms, loft, and stairs to get it at a discount price.  BUT, this stuff is SERIOUSLY hard to put down yourself.  Either we don't know what we are doing, or this material is just not well designed.  We've only done little A's room, and already have wasted about 15 sq ft due to pieces chipping, breaking, and not clicking properly. 

Don't get me wrong, the stuff is absolutely BEAUTIFUL once you get it down.  But it is a pain.  I guess that's the price you pay for beauty

Well, either way...if it really gives us more problems (i.e. we waste so much of it we fall SHORT) I am giving Build Direct a call to weigh my options (geez, I hope it doesn't come to that!)  I am sure I'm not the only one getting frustrated with this.  

Like I said, it is amazing when you can lay it down right.  Little A's room is a light Tiffany Blue color.  It looks gorgeous with this flooring!  Lucky brat!  All she needs is some kiddie-sized Bertoia chairs!!  I heard RoomServiceStore.com carries these; if I am lucky enough to get these, I will certainly do a post on them!