HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

Wow! Where has this year been flying off to? Even though the first day of summer begins  in twenty-two days, today is the day (most) people traditionally kick off summer! American flags flying high, parades to honor our veterans, family picnics, cookouts & cupcakes, kids splashing around in pools, and all those classic outdoor games like kick ball, wiffle ball and badminton - will all be a welcomed break from winter, and even some cooler spring time hibernation. And for some, like the hubs, he'll be at work, and I'll be down south working on a project I've been involved in lately.



Sorry for my blogging absence last week. It was a crazy week from sourcing and thrifting for a homeowners bedroom makeover, re-nesting a little birdie who fell out of a tree, and even consulting and sourcing for a new client on a home makeover - we'll be starting in the living room. A part of me missed blogging. My hand was happy to have gotten a rest from the keyboard, but now my back is begging for one lol. It's all good. I'm busy, I'm happy, and I'm helping homeowners get happy too. Pictures and details to be posted shortly, so stay tuned!

In the meantime - wherever you are - get outside and ENJOY your day!



Blessings today to all the wonderful service men & women who helped serve and protect our United States of America!

Happy Memorial Day!

2011 ANNIVERSARY STAYCATION

Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I took a break from project working and spent some time with the hubs for our anniversary. To save on the expense of going away (like we usually do for our anniversary) we did a staycation. Although we were home, we did get out to two nearby areas, which made it feel like we were away. Rather than do an expensive dinner in a crowded resturant Friday night, we did a delicious late lunch at a cool hotel resturant in Ft. Lauderdale called Steak954. We both did light fish dishes: I had an amazing Mahi-Mahi fish sandwich, which wasn't at all what I was expecting - from presentation to taste! It was cut into thirds, and served with freshly made potato chips, seasoned with sea salt. Jeff had two fish tacos, and we shared a well chilled Caesar salad with an amazing dressing and fresh parm shavings. We toasted our anniversary date with refreshing margaritas served in stemless glasses - they too were dee-lish - and so was the view...



Steak954 is located right on the beach at the sleek & modern W Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale. After our meal, we took a little tour of the hotel...

I think Lady Gaga would really like these chairs!

Jellyfish wall featured at the inside dining area...

Lounge upstairs, just next to the lobby area.

That overhang suspended over the bar was made of all chain links...

In the Lobby...

Outside lounge area featured cool blue stripes...

a modern take on the ocean view, just around the corner.

Then we took a stroll down the Ft. Lauderdale Strip. We stopped at a place for more margaritas that were served in these HUGE glasses... so huge, we probably could have shared one...

Woops!



For our walk back up to the car, we walked along the shore. I don't know if it was the salty sea air or the Caribbean blues of the ocean, but before heading home, we pulled into an OLD movie theatre to see Pirates of the Caribbean. We're both Pirates fans, but not too much a fan of this version - we missed the rest of the cast.

Jeff doing his thing at the table...

 For the "rapture" on Saturday evening, we spent it at the Hollywood Hardrock Hotel & Casino where Jeff got to hit the tables (to try and win us our millions ya know) and we laughed ourselves silly from the comedy performance of Lewis Black.  When they dimmed the lights, the announcer said (in a deep voice) "Welcome to the Rapture!!"

Not wanting to go home right after the show, we walked around the Hardrock shops, pubs and clubs, sat at an outside bar, had a drink and did some people watching. Oh the sites we saw - including many girls wearing thi-high mini's or winter boots (and we're going into Summer??), while others seemed to scream "Yup. I'm a tourist!"

 Sunday we just did some grilling & chillaxing - Jeff read the paper, & napped, while I was clipping & organizing coupons - but to NO EXTREME! lol We also watched some on-demand shows, like Extreme Couponing, Dresscue Me, What Not To Wear and American Pickers... but that's a whole other post...

So even though we didn't pack-up and go to any destination, we made the best of what was around us and each other ;-)



DIY BEACHY BOTTLES FOR SEASIDE STYLE DECOR

Summer is just around the corner so it's time to uncork your imagination - and recycle those empty wine bottles to beachy decor treasures - with some of these items you probably already have: Caribbean Blue, Seafoam Green, or Simply White latex paint, water, old mixing bowls, mixing sticks, a funnel and an old cookie sheet. After you've already soaked & removed labels from your wine bottle collection, play around mixing the bottles into some of your beachy decor or vignettes. If you plan ahead where your bottles are going, then you'll know how many of which color you'll need and where.

Beach Bottle colors inspired by a recent walk on Hollywood Beach...

Clear an area to work (my fave choice - the floor), lay down your drop cloth, pour desired paint colors to a bowls, add water and stir. I already had these bowls & paint left over from another project (to be posted shortly) so it was really easy to knock this out within an hour. You definately want to use more water than paint to get a "washed" look. For a more saturated or opaque look for your bottles, use less water.

Using the funnel, pour some of your paint mixture into the bottle - White is good to use for clear bottles and I used last years turquoise dining room wall color for more blue-green glass bottles. I did all the white bottles first, swirling the watery paint mixture around in the inside to coat (wash) the bottle. I then poured the excess through the funnel into the next bottle (keep a damp cloth or paper towel handy to wipe drips). To ensure all the excess paint was removed as well as get a more even coat, I turned the wine bottles upside on an old cookie sheet and let the excess run out. (This should be down out sight & reach of kids & pets to prevent them from falling over. I set my cookie sheet on the kitchen counter next to the sink.)



After I felt the bottles had enough time to drain, I turned them right side up, placed them in their vignette, and cleaned up. Although there are quite a few ways out there to decorate a wine bottle, I kept a simple beachy look in mind. I not only adore home accessories, I love fashion accessories too ... so rather than have my summer necklaces and bracelets hidden in a jewelry box, I used them on my bottles. On the white washed bottles, along with the necklaces, I also used my starfish I had (used last year in A Coastal Summer Tablescape) and I also used the starfish inside of my white painted vessels in top of our TV / media unit (my mantel). Some turquoise beaded braclets worked great for a mix of ocean hues in blue.

While the carribean blue painted bottles turned out more saturated in color, the white washed bottles have a more vintage look to them (even the hubs noticed!). I might give them a second coat of the wash, but for now, this is a good start to transitioning our home from Spring to Summer. I've packed away the spring blossoms, and replaced some containers with seagrass. Tips for spring flower storage, sand &  shell storage and filling your containers to be in an upcoming post...

I used these recycled wine bottles in a seaside vignette on the living room credenza, paired with a small driftwood branch I found while walking on Hollywood beach, tied shell necklaces, and starfish from my collection. In the dining room, I used the carribean blue painted wine bottles, adorned with some of my turquoise beaded bracelets, and a thrifted wooden bowl with some of my turquoise beaded necklaces. TIP: Why always keep these pretties hidden in a jewelry chest? Add some of your fave jewelry pieces in your home to personalize your decor and tell a story.

Recycling wine bottles is a great way to add some freshness to your homes seasonal decor: Bottles kept clear for Spring with single blooms (like I did on an Easter Karets Tablescape), spray paint your bottles satin black for Halloween and attach faux labels (like I did for a Spooky Stairway display) and now just simply wash the inside of your bottles to display some Seaside Style in your home for Summer...

And just think how much fun you'll have emptying them!

Have a GREAT day!

LINKING POST TO:

Thrifty Decor Chic - Home May'd Paint Party!

DIY Showoff - Project Parade

Fine Craft Guild - Beach Party

Home Stories A2Z - Tutorial & Tip Tuesday

Coastal Charm - Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Very Merry Vintage Style - Share The Link Love Wednesday