Wish List

This is just a random post about pretty things. Oh, look, that seems to be the theme of my blog. What a coincidence. Later this summer, we're planning on doing up the gameroom righty-tighty. I'll finally get some built-ins! (Something I've been talking about forever.) So, here's some pictures that I've been looking at to inspire me.

I have two windows that I would love to frame out with shelves. In fact, I would love to have shelves and cabinetry on every wall in the gameroom. Then, I would have a place for all of my Meg Cabot books.

I love built-ins on either side of fireplaces. But, I have windows on either side. Oh, well. I'll just settle for silk drapes.

Who wouldn't love a two-storied library in their home with a spiral staircase to reach all the books.

I love this small niche/bookcase. I'm thinking of it for a half wall I have in my family room.

And this is scrum-didily-umptious! Too bad it's fictional!

Cranford

Last night was the third and final installment of PBS Masterpiece's Cranford. And I have to say that I'm going to miss it. Would that this was a series and not just a mini one. These ladies were crazy and gossip-y, but sweet and giving. And doesn't that describe all of us? OK, well, doesn't that describe me?


Luckily, the BBC is continuing the drama with more episodes. So, will Mary Smith end up with Dr. Marshland, like the ending suggested,
or with Sir Charles (who I called Willoughby)? Though they had no interaction during the mini-series, I'm still holding out hope, because he's hot. I think that's a good-enough reason.

Will Miss Pole finally relinquish the term "spinster" by marrying long-lost, Indian-nabob Peter? Well, let's hope he's a nabob. Cause can you really carry off Indian-printed scarves wrapped around your neck if you're not rich?


And will Harry find his long lost mother in Julianne Nicholson?


I'm just sayin'!

But in all seriousness, my favorite scene of the entire series was this one. It's a true representation of the adage that if you want friends, be a friend.
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So, the BBC and Elizabeth Gaskell have done it, again. Another English drama that I'm in love with and I can watch over and over. Thank heavens for TiVO.

If We're Going In, We're Going In Full-Throttle

Is it just me, or does the world start going full-speed ahead when we get into May? I'm sure everyone is as busy, or maybe even busier than me. But, I'll just show you some of what we've been up to.

Through much research (does clicking on a handful of links count as research?), I found that Wisteria is based here in the DFW Metroplex.
So, hubby and I took a small trip to visit their warehouse that is open to the public. Oh, and our three kids. (I swear you could feel the eyebrows raise and the tension rise in the outlet when we walked in, but our kids are really pretty good in furniture stores, so nothing catastrophic happened. And, believe me, they're only good because of lots, and lots and lots of training. IE,
Me:Girls this is one of those stores where we...
Kids (in unison):DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING!)

Anyway, back to the purchases. This outlet ROCKS! I wanted everything in it. Hubby had to restrain me. He kept finding great deals, too. So, we got:

This was the piece that we were specifically looking for. Our finish is different. It's more green and uniform in color, but I still love it. I think the finish is probably why it was being sold at the outlet, cause otherwise, it's in perfect condition.

Hubby found this piece. It's perfect in front the big window in our dining room. Again, the finish is slightly different. Less rustic, more silver. Me likey.

And I couldn't resist these lamps. They were only $10, so we bought two. The birds were broken off, but I just glued them back on and saved $170, each!!!! ( I just looked online to see how expensive they were and almost had a stroke! I had no idea. If I had known, I would have bought more and sold them!)

So, a very successful trip, all in all. Everything we bought cost less than the original price of the bookcase. If you're in Dallas, I HIGHLY recommend it. I'll post pictures once I get everything in place.

*Update* I just have to say that I love my husband. When I called him to gasp at how expensive those lamps were, he was upset that I had blogged about it. To quote him, "But if you tell all your friends about it, then they'll go and buy all the good stuff and there won't be anything left for us." Gotta love a man whose looking forward to shopping for furniture! Oh, and apparently, as a favor to my husband, please don't go.

Did You Have a Pleasant Trip?

Why, yes, yes I did. Thank you for asking. Portland was gorgeous, as always, and my sister just plain rocks. I really wish that we lived closer together, but neither of us is willing to move to where the other lives. So, we're destined to only see each other after paying for an expensive plane ticket and arranging people to watch our kids.

We went to the Tulip Festival:


And saw strange things. Oh, and alot of tulips.


This is my sister's cute house:

Her camelia bush next to her driveway is to-die-for. This pictures does NOT do it justice.


She has all these secret pathways and benches and things. It's just so lovely.


This year, I went a little bit earlier than I have for the past few years, so I think that I was a little early for all the spring glory. But, it was a blast, and I came home to kids that appreciated me all the more. What a great welcome home present!

A Charmed Life

One year ago today my friends and I left for England. But I won't think about that. I won't think about that. I won't think about that. OK, self-hypnosis doesn't work.

What I will think about is how fun this past weekend was. Hubby and I went on a date. Yippee! And we went furniture shopping on our date, absolutely my favorite thing to do together! Double yippee! We went here:

And here:

And here:

And here:


We didn't buy anything, but it was still alot of fun. Then on Saturday, was my long-awaited (by myself, it was just normal for everyone else) bookclub. Ever since I saw the movie Marie Antoinette I thought it would be fun to have a party that celebrated her decadence. I realize that by admitting that I wanted to throw a party is tantamount to admitting that I didn't understand the point of the movie, (that Marie Antoinette's extravagant lifestyle might have lead to her death)but, honestly, I didn't care. So, I picked The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette for my book and never looked back.

This is what I was going for:


This is what I came up with:








I asked the bookclub members to wear fabulous shoes... (Mine are the pink plaid)


And some even went further than that.


But, I had a great time. It was so much fun to plan and execute. Hmm..maybe I shouldn't use that word while talking about Marie Antoinette.

Everything's On Hold...

...while I prepare for my Marie Antoinette bookclub! It's coming up on Saturday, so I'll let you know how it goes and take lots of pictures!

Off I Go...

...to Portland, Oregon to visit my ultra-hip, uber-fab (Do we still remember our German lesson?)sister.

I've been tons of times, since she's lived there for 17 years, or so. But this is the first time I get to visit her all by myself since I was 17!

We get to hang out, shop tax-free, and play like big kids.

And I might even get to go here:

And get this:

Because my quill broke and I lost her shield, I mean Pride&Prejudice. Which means that she's very vulnerable if any of my friends come over and want to fight me with theirs.

And speaking of Pride&Prejudice, I leave you with this, because it made me giggle. I have know idea who the girl is, but we think alike.

Except mine would look more like this:

Aren't I good at photoshop? Have a great weekend!