Happy Birthday to Me!

It was my birthday Saturday. 46 years old. I don't feel that old. Seems like yesterday I was 32. Life was pretty good at 32. Life isn't bad now. Just not maybe 32 good. Does that make sense?

Anyway I bought myself some birthday presents. First off this beautiful 5"x7" painting by Kerry Steele. Isn't it pretty? My friendly UPS man delivered it today. It was packaged very nicely. It has wonderful texture to it. And I love the pink and orange. I am still trying to find the right place for it so this is the picture from Kerry's website and not in my home. I'll update you when it lands somewhere. I'm trying it out in several rooms and it looks great everywhere I put it!

I also bought myself a new watch. There are so many pretty reasonable priced watches out there it was hard to choose. I got this one from Overstock.com but in a navy blue color. It was a cheap $12.00 (but looks more expensive) watch but I liked its big face and the bling on the bezel. It's rubber band is kinda fun. So much better than the boring men's Timex I've been wearing.

My Brother and Sister-in-Law took me out for dinner on Sunday. It was so Yummy! We spent 3.5 hours in the restaurant just chatting and enjoying the delicious food. Such a nice present.  

All in all it was a very good birthday indeed.

Craigslist Wallpaper

I don't think its any secret that I absolutely love Craigslist. Look at what I found! OK, its a great little table and chair set for $300. But LOOK at that wallpaper in the background!! Foil Tigers! The ad references an estate sale on Sunday. I might go check it out. Because if they have this great table/chair set and fablous wallpaper I wonder what other goodies they have.

Sorry for the blurry picture. This is how it was on Craigslist but I think you can still see the awesome wallpaper.

 

Master Bedroom Bedding

Have you seen this Emily + Meritt Metallic Dottie Duvet from Pottery Barn Teen? I'm in love and would happily have it for my bedroom (even though its not meant for a middle aged women). However it's pretty expensive just to have something that my cat will throw up on. The queen duvet is $109 and the bed skirt is $109 plus pillows, shams, sheets, oh my!

My sheets were so old that the elastic was dead and they would no longer stay on the bed. So I purchased new ones. I found a new duvet and sheet set on Amazon the other day and ordered them.  They fit my super deep mattress and my existing duvet insert. They are dark and will show cat hair but not vomit stains. Ugh what a glamorous life I lead. Why does my cat ALWAYS throw up on my bed? I ordered the Clara Clark Premier 1800 Collection sheet set and duvet cover in eggplant. The sheets were $22 and the duvet cover was $32. They arrived the other day and are so soft and silky feeling.

And you'll notice I purchased purple, now the official color (along with black with gold accents) for the master bedroom. I've tried a sample of a purple paint on the walls but it is too dark and too Barney-ish. I was going for something more grayed purple and this didn't show that way on the walls. I have about a million sample chips to pick from. Back to the drawing board.

Do you have to decorate around your pets?

Ylvis - The Fox

Have you seen/heard this? I can't get it out of my head. It makes me smile and I want to dance in the  woods too.

Asian Fruit

I've been going to a new produce market for my weekly grocery shopping. Since I'm doing Weight Watchers (I've lost 25 lbs!) I'm eating tons of fresh fruit to fulfill my sweet cravings. I've been also eating fresh veggies. Although frozen veggies with cheese sauce is much more palatable. Anyway I've been trying new fruit. This week it was lychee fruit. It has a sturdy peel with a sweet, juicy fruit with a pit in the center. It's pretty good!

I had to Google how to eat it. While doing so I found a fun Asian fruit identification quiz for you. Give it a try. I missed one, but only because I watch Chopped on TV like the crazed fan that I am. They've had most of the fruit on various episodes. Have you tried anything new to eat lately?

Asian Fruit Identification Quiz

Last Days of Summer

My son left for college at SCAD in Savannah Georgia Monday morning. He's a Senior this year (!!!!) and working again as a Resident Assistant in the dorms. He was out of town with friends for a few days and only got home in time to wake me up, kiss me goodbye and head to the airport at 2:00 am. Luckily the friends he was traveling with dropped him off at the airport on their way home so I didn't have to get up and drive. I'm NOT a morning person, no matter how hard I try.  He'll had a wait at the airport until his flight at 7:00 am, but it worked out well. He'll be home in 10 weeks for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I miss him when he's gone. But I'll enjoy having only my messes to clean and my food budget is much smaller when I'm not feeding a 21 year old.

I'm happy summer is over. I glad to get back into a routine. I'm also looking forward to long sleeved shirts, boots and leaves crunching when I take my walk.

Stalking Craigslist

There have been some great items for sale on Craigslist lately. Check these out.

Great oriental soapstone panels $59 for all 4. If this was closer I'd purchase it and put them in my bathroom.

This light fixture was listed as art deco but is a wonderful late 1960s early 1970s pop art style for only $75.

Beautiful painted chest for $400.

Love this pair of asian nightstands for $350.

 Great pair of faux bamboo barrell chairs for $75 for the pair.

Pretty faux bamboo mirror for $25.

Love this pair of chiavary chairs for $150.

A pair of brass ginger jar lamps for $40.

This is a great chest. I'd use it for my jewelry $100.

This person had light fixturs for sale $35 for the five light one and $25 for the matching 3 light fixture.

 More lights $35 for the five light and $25 for the matching 3 light.

Another great oriental cabinet. This one was $250. There are always great oriental/asian/chinese pieces for sale in the Chicago area.

Lovely chinoiserie down couch. $350 each two available.

This mahogany secretary chest is only $250. I wish I had a place for one in my condo.

 This emerald green desk is $375. Not a great price but a very pretty desk! I even like the way it is styled for the picture.

 7 chippendale chairs for $420.

 I love the elephant stand for $100. If I didn't already own one I'd purchase this.

 

Blue and white lamps for $40 for the pair. 

 Glass table for $50. I'd love to get one and use it as a desk in my office/Son's bedroom. Anna from Daily Dose of Kevin has one in her office. I love the way it looks. But unless the sellers are willing to deliver I have no way of getting this home. Darn.

What an interesting curio cabinet kind of shaped like a pagoda! $300

Pair of blue and white large vases $50.

This is a fun shaped mirror only $75. It would look great in my bathroom (although I'm kinda afraid to mix metals and everything in the bathroom is chrome).

This is one of the most disgusting things I've seen on Craigslist. Its a taxidermy elephant foot stool for $1000. Horrible!

As you can see my love affair with all things Chinoiserie and brass continues. Have you found anything good on Craigslist lately?