JC and I spent the long weekend apart. He had a boys snowmobile weekend up here and I had a girls movie and shopping weekend in the city. Mostly I had time with my mom and one of my sisters and I must have needed it cause it was completely satisfying. Sometimes you just need to go window shopping and not have an impatient spouse waiting for it all to be over.
I even took Bella with me for some one on one time and we went for long walks each morning in the hills outside my mom's place. She was a perfect travel dog. Just curled up and went to sleep while we drove and was ready for each and every adventure while we were there.

Of course I went to Anthropologie. I actually made it to two of their stores. One in Carlsbad and one at University Town Center in San Diego. I like seeing the variation in the displays and even though the stores carry the same merchandise it feels fresh in each location because they aren't cookie-cutter.
It was so nice to see green and there were flowers blooming on our walk and of course my mom's yard is busting out in bloom.

And it is just so great to see the ideas and inspiration. JC and I are on the verge of a big transition that potentially sends us into a panic so it is important to focus on the possibilities ahead - both little ones like projects and decorating - and big ones like buying a house.

I just love all the plays on trophy mounts that are out there right now... the ones made out of paper mache like this, plaster or cast ones like the these at Renovation Hardware:

By the time I get around to having something like this it will probably be passe, but that is the good thing about living in the sticks - nobody cares.

The folks at Anthropologie find some amazing pieces and every store has different salvaged cornerstone treasures. They are priced, but not anywhere near my budget. Only good for eye candy in my world. And ideas like paint finishes.

The windows right now are paint sticks. Painted and splatter with more paint, then hung with kitchen string. Do you think the folks at Home Depot would notice if I grabbed a hundred or so paint sticks?

I actually do think that this could make a wonderful window treatment in a home... and they would move in the breeze, make a little soothing clacking sound...

I'm sure there is a place to get bulk paint sticks and I'm equally certain they don't cost much.

One of the two stores had this in the front - is this a rickshaw? Or some variation?


The tilt of that seat does not make me want to go for a spin in this thing. I think I'd want to be the driver of this get-up. But more than that I want to be in the group that goes around the world and finds this stuff. Sign me up!

This metal gate I would have in my yard in a heartbeat. What a grand entrance to a little cottage. We are scared to death to move out of our comfy home but there is another one out there waiting for us. One of our own. With room for the horses.

We laughed at this since I had just purchased a secondhand leather sofa that needs to have the mesh fabric redone underneath... guess I don't have to really get stressed over it.

And these, these are just great. What patience to loop all this fabric and ribbon and seam binding. Again, there must be big warehouses where one can go in and buy this by the pound.

More great paint and detail.... just mounted on a wall...

Love the colors.

Even shower curtains become infinitely more interesting when they are hung like dresses on a rod.

And this beautiful piece was in the dressing room...
gorgeous, no?
Tomorrow, we'll take a little visual journey to Restoration Hardware.