A Real Gem

A few weeks ago I was asked to help out a close friend with her annual jewelry show. In exchange for my services, I would receive a sweet insider's discount. Um, yes! Little did I know 'helping out' translated to 'modeling' the goods. Oh mylanta! If you knew me in person, you'd know that I am one of the shyest girls in the world. So I swallowed up my timidness this past weekend and turned my clavicle into the lady of the evening.

I was ooh la la-ing over her amber collection all evening.

Aside from the array of gems, her home is beautifully adorned with presentations from her culture and her passion for the arts.

[ tinkle with the mermaids ]

Did I mention she is an avid thrift shopper?! Check out this dining room set she scored years ago at a second hand store.

Towards the end of the night I was able to take a quick snapshot while I was wearing one of her biggest pieces displayed that night; a Mediterranean coral necklace.

I'm keeping my purchases on a hush hush level as they will be Christmas gifts for some lovely ladies! 

K.I.S.S.

My motto during this decorating season is: "keep it simple, Sugar!"

Days ago, I spied a DIY 5 minute tinsel garland wreath and I thought, jeepers creepers! I could do that. So I moseyed myself down to my local thrift store one chilly night and found my essential props: an extra large embroidery hoop and a lengthy string of tinsel.

Carefully wrap the fragile metallic garland around the entire hoop, add a little pom pom* for extra cuteness, and whoomp! there it is.

Easy peasy right?! But it gets better...total cost? $3.98. And I have an extra loop of tinsel for future use. Say whaaaaat?!

Doesn't it just speak, wreath out and touch me? (I'm a sucker for puns. But who isn't really?)

[ *Instead of using wax paper as suggested, I made my pom with good old tissue paper. And it hasn't lost its puffiness yet. ]

Seating For Mew

Now that the cornucopias and turkey hands are safely packed away for another year, the "xmas" marked boxes can officially come out to play! Oh my goooodness. I have been dying to decorate for Christmas since the afternoon of November 11th. That was the day I came home from work and found a pair of sporty seats chillin' in our living room.

Perhaps I should have mentioned the fact that these are car seats. CAR SEATS! Chris replaced his S2K stock seats with a duo of red leather bombshells, leaving these two bad larry's stationed inside.

Uncle Kitty welcomed the newcomers.

As delightful as they were to look at on a daily basis (sarcasm), come black friday, the seats left the room. So instead of suffering barbaric-black-friday-checkout-lines, I was a mexican jumping bean, decorating away whilst covered in glittery goodness and head bopping to the tunes of Sufjan Stevens.

Yes. Much better. 

Stay tuned...more decorating goodies to come!

Bread Crumb Enema

Call me a weirdo, but every Thanksgiving holiday, I secretly pray for an over-cooked birdie. It's no secret to my family that I L.O.V.E dry turkey meat. So no matter what comes out of that oven, the cook knows there will be at least one happy carnivore sitting at the dinner table. It's a win-win in my book. :)

And now I leave you with a witty Thanksgiving poem Chris wrote several years ago for a work newsletter.

The “Turkey Day” is drawing near and I’m ever so depressed.

I fear that on that fateful day, I’ll be on your plate and dressed

With gravy, mashed potatoes and aunt jenny’s famous salad.

My roasted body on your plate confirms my fears as valid.

Last year the axe claimed Cousin Lenny, the year before t’was Larry.

His children left without a home, since Butterball took Sherry.

Now Brother Paul swears his numbers up, to your hunger he’ll succumb,

And face that awful enema, of onions and bread crumb.

Perhaps this year, might I suggest a different sort of meal?

Something that can graze a field, or something that can squeal.

Now look, I mean to be polite; and not ruffle any feathers

Please throw tradition out the door…heck, skip meat altogether.

Our claim to fame is sandwich meat and it’s terrible, completely.

Please hear my cries to spare my life before you choose to eat me.

I wrote this poem, and though you think it sounds a little quirky.

This year give thanks with “Ball Park” Franks… and make sure they’re beef, not turkey.

Love my silly man.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

For The Love of Liz Lemon

This is something I can definitely sink my teeth into...literally!

[via craftzine]

I make a mean Liz Lemon impression. Chris on the other hand, makes a mean Joey Potter impression. Two peas in a mean-crooked-smile pod.

:)

Shoe Party

I'm happy to say that our home is a relatively "clutter free zone". But! One current trend seems to be copious amounts of shoe pairs cluttered up in our living room. 

Um, I think it's time to give those Vans the boot!

Chris started this and I, for some reason, have followed suit. 

What kind of clusters do you (or your partner in crime) subconsciously create in your home?

Not So Sexy Hooter

Mrs. M.I.A. here. 

Crossing my fingers hoping I can keep up the Humble Ablog posts on a more regular basis, before it turns into 'no man's land'. Looks like my pocket-camera and I need to be joined at the hip once again. Having said that, I did manage to summon the old pal late last night, for a few pics, after Chris and I were completely cleaned out of candy by the plethora of trick-o-treaters gallivanting the neighborhood.

I'd like to say thanks to this tutorial, for the instructions on a DIY owl costume. Soooo it's suppose to be a kids costume...however I did the adult thing and stitched the "fabric feathers" in lieu of using glue as recommended. I also managed to prick myself more than a few times. Totally worth it. 

Operation Oscar's Room: Done! Well...Almost

After finishing all of the painting, molding, etc...some 8 months ago, I'm happy to report that "Operation Oscar's Room" (which was re-badged "The Kanye Guest Room") is about 90% complete! You can revisit its historic timeline, here and here oh and here. But enough of my mumbo-jumbo; lets get on with the show! 

I'd say its darn-tootin close to our original sketch-up idea. 

While some of you may have already spotted the photos of the room over at Apartment Therapy's Room for Color 2010 contest last week, there are still a few things left to do, including: installing floating shelves, doorknobs and new lighting.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

[Photos courtesy of Chris Johnson] 

Rolling With The Homies

Earlier this week, I engaged in a bit of small talk with an older woman sitting next to me at In & Out Burger, while we were waiting for our respective 'to-go order numbers' to be called out. Topic? Earthquake weather and purses. I know...sounds ridic but I somewhat believe in such a thing as 'earthquake weather' and right now, it's the talk of the town.

In my last post I mentioned the eerie summer temps hitting the southland, but this week, we were hit with rainy-chicken-pot-pie weather. I'll take that..with a side of hot chocolate...no, no better yet, champurrado! Shoooot..I even thought about pulling the snuggie out of hibernation. The rain called out for my fav boots (in the hunt for a new black pair...tips are welcomed!) So, the boots officially came out of the closet and I completely forgot about this neato tip I spied over at Deliciously Organized a few months back.

Rolled up magazines tucked in boots help these babies stand at attention! Another storage solution for my ancient magazines I just can't bare to throw out....just yet...cross my heart.

God Bless The Indian Summer

We peeps in the Southern West Coast are melting! It's officially fall but it feels like we are smack dab in the middle of a scorching summer heat wave. No bueno. While I had plans to try out some spanking new recipes for an upcoming theme party we are hosting, the thought of turning the oven on amid this indian-summer instantly generated beads of sweat down my temples. Again no bueno.

Buuuut then I spied this narly oven-free Oatmeal-Waffle cookie recipe, sure to make your mouth water, over at smiles from mel. All you need are your run of the mill baking staples and a waffle iron (and we own two!)

[Aside from the mini chocolate chips, we were fully stocked in our pantry]

Sure it may look like a poor man's cookie dough...trust me...its a-ok.

We had trouble deciding on a primo iron temperature and after a few jabs, we got it down to the perfect toasty setting...

...and Chris could not keep his sticky fingers away from them.

We personally thought they tasted BEST after a few hours in the fridge. Around this house, if the request for a couple of cold ones springs up, don't be surprised if I bring over a tray of waffle cookies.

I'm just saying.

[Pardon the low quality pictures....the itouch wasn't at its best in the heat either]

Face Furniture

I'm a sucker for a good hearty (clean-neck) beard on a man. Nothing against a spotless face, but there is something about a follicle face party that makes me weak in the knees.

For the past few years now, Chris has been quite the beardie (and a good one for that matter). I'd say 80% of the time he is fashioning a face warmer...which is why I could not wait to give him an early birthday gift.*

[The history of beards? Oh yes, yes; a million times yes!!]

Despite the fact that Chris hates to read anything, save for car magazines, I figured the book would make a swell nighttime reader for us. Dog-ear pages never looked so hott.

*It was between the book or a carstache. Tough decision but I think I made the right one. 

Kenny Rogers Roadsters

After a long and rested three day weekend, what better way to enjoy the last day of summer than a little topless driving.

As in convertible topless.

I'm officially ready for the fall solstice...particularly my fall boots.

You Are Cord-ially Invited

Half way through the summer, I started saving (some people called it hoarding) the cute 'lil plastic, green berry baskets often found at your local farmers market.

It got me thinking how dishy these day-to-day caddies would look dressed in an all white affair....

...and sitting in one of our desk drawers as little organizers.

[It's like a P. Diddy party in there!]

With the help of some leftover wire stems, my new containers are belted and ready for a wild cord ride.  Giddy up.

Food For Thought

I'm dabbling with the idea of throwing a halloween party this year. And if we do, I am definitely investing in some of these guys:

[via]

Cupcakes just got a little brainier.

Amber Alert

What are the chances I would find the exact pair of vintage* amber glass bowls, like the set I inherited, at my local thrift store?!

My pair were originally owned by Chris' grandparents...although I'm not sure how long they had them for, I fell in l-o-v-e love with the twosome instantly! 

And while I was trotting along the isles of the local thrift store last night, I perused the dishware section (hoping to score some vintage pyrex bowls) and hiding behind towers of appetizer plates, I found the darling honeybees.

Best $2.99 I've spent thus far...except for Mcdonald's chocolate dipped ice cream cone which Chris claims is the best $1.10 deal of the summer.

What were your thrifty finds of the summer?

*I'm not sure if the serving bowls are really vintage per se but any additional history or info on the item are welcomed! :)

Touched For the Very First Time

Christmas came a little early at the homestead this year.

Steve Jobs worked his apple-licious words into my fruit-less heart last week and prompted us to order a duo of the freshest ipod touch. Now that I have gobs of music space to fill (and gift cards to exhaust) what should I download (or is it upload?) to the newest addition of our apple family? What album(s) are you spinning on repeat these days?

The Cure For The Common Bike

I sit on my bum all day at work and the last thing I want to do is sit some more. Solution?

[via reform school]

For one reason or another, I see the cholo demographic making the leap first. 

Get outta my way, vato.

Damn Avocado

Its official; craigslist hates me.

I've been on the hunt for a used sofa, with a touch of razzle-dazzle, for the past few weeks and all craigslist has to offer are bulgy leather couches...and that makes me vomit a little in my mouth. But thanks to Project Runway, every time I think of the word, "leather" I turned into season 5 alum Stella Zotis and can.not.stop.saying "leatha". 

Leatha.

Why can't I just find a sofa like this for under 300 dollahs?

you+me=us...calculus!*

Not only is it almost as long as Robert Wadlow**, but I just love that damn avocado color!

Perhaps I'll get lucky tomorrow as I will brave through the Saturday morning crowds and crash some yard sales for some interesting loot. This looong weekend will also include helping my in-laws move into their newly renovated home (!!!) and squeezing in some kite flying time.

What's everyone else doing this weekend? Any travel plans or bbq-ing on the agenda?

*Remember 2ge+her?! Q.T. was my fav!
**Chris was gaga about the tallest man in the world at the tender age of 10. Teehee.

Hangin' With Mr. Cooper

File me under cuckoo bananas but I want a Chicken Crib!

how cute is this?!

From day one as an official homeowner, I declared a desire for a chicken coop in our backyard. Chris rejected the idea in a flash but I'm still for it. Not too long ago my in-laws found a homeless chicken in their backyard (and they live no where near farm life...nor do we). The chicken has since taken up dual residence in their yard along with their neighbor's yard. I guess you can say I've been living vicariously through my in-laws, er, squattin' chicken. Anyhow, last night I came across this landscape architect's neato coop design.

just a couple of hipster hens

Here's the thing, as a youngster I spent the entire summer (clap clap clap clap) deep in the heart of Mexico, with the fam. To keep my sisters and I occupied, we'd adopt a couple of baby chicks (sometimes ducklings). We'd raise the little guys, have them race against each other, hide them in the closet and scare the bejesus out of our aunts until it was time to fly back to the states. Oh the nostalgia is killing me!

How about a little game of marriage ref? Coop or no coop?

Neglected Nacho

Whenever I eat nachos, there is always that one funky looking tortilla chip I ignore and push around the woozy cheese mountain until it's the only one left on my plate...and even then, I won't eat it. Well that's exactly what I feel best describes our master bedroom in terms of design. Meet our neglected nacho.

eh. Nothing to write home about.

Chris and I spent the majority of our "tool time" hustling and bustling the main living quarters, but when it came to our chamber, we were completely out of design fuel.

Our bedroom isn't very big to begin with and I doubt I could ever fit a regular dresser in there. Thus, it leaves me no choice but to work with what Mr. Lusk built;  jam every article of clothing in the closet and improvise with the limited space we have.

Instead of hiding my everyday jewelry in a box, they are hung at eye level on a criss cross shaped wall shelf. Ten times out of ten, I pick a fun piece to wear off the shelf. 

And since every inch of floor space in the closet is stuffed to the gills, my homeless shoes are neatly stacked on wine racks.

But nine times out of ten, I have an OWL of a good time.

-d

No Boys Allowed

Like many early generation Y'ers, I spent most of my 7 year old days idolizing Punky Brewster...not only for her jazzy style or sunshine hair bands, but for her super-fly tree house. Alas, my backyard tree house days consisted of the living room and a queen size bed sheet draped between one end of a couch and a leather recliner.

But enough of my jibber-jabber, take a look at this itty bitty lodge.

I'd say that's a mighty fine example of a graduated tree house. 

Show of hands, who in blogland grew up with their very own tree house? Was it everything you (and I) thought it would be? 

Lackety Lack, Dont Talk Back

[Not sure if this constitutes as an Ikea hacker project- considering it didn't involve the use of any power tools, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that it does.]

As I was gearing up for the baby soirée, I realized my seating to tabletop ratio was lopsided to the point where I would find empty water bottles buried in between the couch cushions. Ok...not really, but it was getting close to that point.

Now and then we would use our 5 year old Ikea lack side tables as a temporary fix during movie nights, etc. but the ubiquitous cubed table stuck out like that guy who just got fired from Jet Blue at an employee of the month convention. To no one's surprise, paint called out to me as the perfect...and easy solution.

After a few minutes of online research, it was loud and clear that the secret to painting the lack series was to use primer. No sweat. This was going to be an easy breezy cover girl...until I noticed that the leftover can of primer stored in our garage was probably as old as the table. So, what the hay; I skipped the first, and most important, step and began to paint my primer sorrows away. Worst case scenario, I'd be out of a ten dollar table that I would have eventually tossed to the curb anyway.

Fast forward 2-3 coats of paint and approx 3 days of drying and there you are!

The painted tables alone were just alll riiight...that is until I went a bit further.

A little too predictable for our sake, but that's just how we roll nowadays. 

Gotta use up that box of  floppy disk somehow.