All Dolled Up!

One out of nine

Thank you for all the kindness regarding my last post.  I was quite the grumpy pants wasn't I!  Well, I just let it all hang out here at "All Dolled Up."  Ironic given the title of my blog!   
Anyhoo...it occurred to me the other day that I am basically, "merchandising" my house.  You see...I worked in retail for farrr too long and I was a merchandiser.  I think that mindset is forever ingrained in my brain as I take over what should be functional spaces and "merch" them with totally nonfunctional tidbits.  Poor Hubby, only one out of nine items on the kitchen counter is functional.  Can you guess which one? 
It's the little aqua sugar bowl.  And my dear Richard doesn't even use sugar. (He's sweet enough already.)   
But at least he can find solace (yeah right ;) in knowing that our kitchen counter always looks cute.

   

Happy Friday everyone! 
Guess what I'm doing this weekend?  Not working, that's what!  For me that is quite exciting.  I may be scrubbing the floor or working in the yard but I am not going near that sewing machine for a full 48 hours.  Well, that is the plan anyways.  We'll see if I can make it. 

Fancy Nancy

So, yesterday when I should have been home working I went on a little one hour drive to Hillsborough to get "the chairs!"  Yep, I went and got those $65 French made ladder back chairs that I had found on craigslist that I made a big fuss over in my last post.  Craigslist rocks by the way.  I purchased our dining room table via craigslist last month. 
I had heard of Hillsborough but knew nothing about it.  So, without any preconceived notions, driving along to get my new chairs, I start driving by homes like this. 

And then this nice little house...holy smokes!  Total Daddy Warbucks house, right?! 

When you buy some chairs on craigslist from an estate in a town you have never been to and this is the driveway you pull up to, it is a very good sign.

Um, yeah...not too shabby.  I felt like such a bumpkin.  I mean, I grew up in a very nice area but lets just say we did not have a live in gardener and the butler was nowhere to be found!

The homeowner, Nancy (who I referred to as Fancy Nancy in my head) was so nonchalant and nice.  Why was she even bothering with selling chairs for $65 a pop?  Who knows, but I scored that's all I know!   

What an adventure!  And, to top it all off, there was an estate sale going on next door! 

I really wish I had taken photos of the home hosting the estate sale but I was feeling way too sheepish with people everywhere.  I already felt like such a bottom feeder. 

The stuff was amazing.  Too amazing in fact because I couldn't even afford their estate sale prices.  I did however find some goodies in the garage where they had left things that they were probably going to donate.  I got a few pieces of milk glass, some vintage linens, and these cuties. 

Darling 1960's nursery wall decor!  Now all I need is a baby! 

After all of my huffing and puffing about it, I'm sorry I am not showing a photo of the chairs.  I want to wait until the dining room is all fluffed, buffed, and shined and presently it is anything but.  But, soon very soon, promise!   

What should I do?

Girls, as far as problems go, I know this is trivial but I need advice. This is tearing me up inside a bit actually. My husband is an absolute dear (boy did I search far and wide for him!) Anyways, he really is a sweetie. His happiness is really really important to me.
So, my dilemma is this...I collect vintage everything. I like a cozy home that is to me welcoming and warm. I've always taken great pride in being able to take a thrift store find and make it look fabulous. I'm the kind of girl who literally lays in bed at night pondering our dining room decor. Silly perhaps but that really is how much it means to me. I've actually done this since I was little only now I actually have a home and not just a doll house!
Basically, I like French Provincial style furniture, and my husband is very modern liking all straight lines and no ornamentation at all. That feels so cold and depressing to me. For our first couple of years of marriage we compromised with mid-century modern. The clean straight lines the mister likes but at least it is vintage for me. Well, that did not work out so well because it turned out that than neither of us actually even liked our decor which seemed kind of stupid.
So, I'm decorating the dining room. I can't wait to show you! Well, assuming it all goes as I have been envisioning in my head. But, I know it is not in Richard's taste and it is very me so I am being plagued with guilt. I wish I was the cool modern hipster I know he would prefer (he would never say that but that is how I feel.) But, despite trying, I am not.
I've found these fabulous vintage French dining chairs for only $65 a piece! But now I am aprehensive to purchase them.
Girls, what do you do?
My parents have both always collected and appreciated antiques and have basically the same taste so I have no experience in this area.
I'm thinking that maybe two rooms in the house can be solely Richard's taste? Oh, and he has this modern grey sofa in the family room that I would not dare touch. Oh, and our bed too is this modern metal number that he loves. ugh
Am I being fair? What shall I do! Help!
Oh, and on a lighter note, I've recently purchased some darling vintage embroidery on ebay, 50 pieces! I can't wait to show you once it arrives on my door step!

My job is never done

One of the best parts about having my own business is being able to make my own schedule.  But definitely, the worst part about having my own business is making my own schedule. 
I'm finding it super challenging to budget my time.  Actually, most days I don't feel like I even am budgeting my time I feel like I am spinning my wheels doing this and than doing that.  Even though I am very productive I always feel like I am not getting enough done.  Likewise with managing my house.  You know how it is, maintaining and updating a house is a constant. 
I am not organized by nature and I seriously envy those who are. 
So, this is my little cry for help.  How do you gals do it?  Do you have set days for certain tasks?  Like, Monday is paperwork day for example?  Or Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are sewing days? 
I've looked into books on time management but ironically I don't have time to read one.  The ones I have found are generally a couple hundred pages long and full of rhetoric.  No thanks.  I just want to cut right to the chase and find out how other's make it all work. 
I'm quite tired of feeling like I am chasing my tail.  I seriously need to work on this. 
No matter how crazed life gets I really try and take some time for myself though.  Just a little each day for some exercise.  I think it keeps me sane while it is getting me more fit too. 
Here is the view from my morning walk. 
 

This is such a modest and sweet little lavender house that I pass on my morning walk.  I just adore it.  I wonder who lives in it.  I mean, what kind of people paint their home lavender?  (It looks much more lavender in person.)

Ok, well back to work for me.  As you know, I am trying to work on my time management! 

Spring-y inside!

Yesterdays spring like weather turned out to just be a preview of what is to come because today we are back to cold and clouds. But, it is springtime in my house! Actually, it is always springtime in my house. I like happy colors.

Hope you have a happy day!

Colors after the storm

After days of rain and wind today is...calm. Calm and light and bright. I've drawn all the curtains, opened all the windows, and we are taking in the crisp breeze of January and new beginnings. I'm thoroughly enjoying my day off today. Just puttering around the house, drinking tea and listening to Carla Bruni.

Tea, a great new gardening magazine, and the prettiest botanical print calendar.

Smiling faces peering out of the pantry. I remember when I purchased those cups. I was a college girl and I saw them at the market; they were a gift with the purchase of Baileys. I had to ring my boyfriend to come purchase me a bottle of Baileys because I was not 21 yet. I could care less about the Baileys, I just wanted those cups!

You'd think with all those cook books I'd be gourmet cook! I'm not too bad in the kitchen, simple homey food is my favorite.

The pansies on the front porch weathered the storm. I bet they are appreciating the sunshine today.

I adore my new flower cart. I purchased it from a local antique store with Christmas money from my Mom. Despite it's lack of flowers, I still think it looks sweet on our front porch.

Back inside, I lingered in the dining room awhile and perused two of my favorite books. Great color inspiration in those books!

Well, I couldn't resist stopping in again. Now I'm off to work on tidying and cleaning. Tonight, after dinner I will sew aprons and perhaps, if there is any time left after that I will work on my dresses.

Take care everyone and thank you so much for stopping by!