simple summer

simple summer by valori pagone featuring flower jewelry

Kelly Bergin draped top
$175 - net-a-porter.com

Current/Elliott cotton pants
$170 - net-a-porter.com

Seychelles open toe shoes
$161 - asos.com

Miu Miu top handle handbag
$1,450 - net-a-porter.com

Juicy Couture flower jewelry
$148 - nordstrom.com

Gucci leather sunglass
190 GBP - net-a-porter.com




Between Pinterest and Polyvore, I am having alot of fun in the blogoshere.  I just created this first sample set in Polyvore from their lists of sample clips.  I must say, I have really good taste in handbags!

I may never have to leave my computer to put together an outfit, determine and meet a budget for it, and know exactly which websites to visit to make the purchases!

Yard Sale time

As I get ready for having my first yard sale, I found this really great blog on yard-selling from The Nester.

Teacups!

During a trip to Anthropology I clicked photos of teacups! Better than bringing them home...I have no more room in my cupboard. :)

Love these new posters!

and this one!

You can find them at Super Rural!

Becoming Minimalist

I really enjoyed this new article from Becoming Minimalist.

Here are 15 Clutter Busting Routines for Any Family:

1. Place junk mail immediately into a recycling bin. Take note of the natural flow of mail into your home. Placing a recycling container prior to your “mail drop-off zone” can catch most of that junk mail before it even reaches your counter. And as an added bonus, you’ll begin to look through less of it too (think advertisements).

2. Store kitchen appliances out of sight. Toasters, can openers, coffee makers… they all take up space. And while it may not seem like much space by looking at them, the first time you prepare dinner on a counter without them present, you’ll quickly notice the difference. If you think it’s going to be a hassle putting them away every morning, don’t. It takes less than 6 seconds to put each appliance away… once you’ve found a home for it that is.

3. Remove 10 articles of clothing from your closet today. Go ahead. If you are typical, it’ll take you roughly 5 minutes to grab 10 articles of clothing that you no longer wear and throw them in a box. Your remaining clothes will fit better in your closet. Your closet will be able to breathe again. And if you write “Goodwill” on the box when you are done, you’ll feel better about yourself as soon as you drop it off. Most likely, you’ll find yourself inspired to do it again.

4. Fold clean clothes / Remove dirty clothes immediately. The way I handle clothes these days is one of the biggest clutter changes I have made in my life. Unfortunately, I used to be a “throw-them-on-the-floor” guy. But now I handle each one right when I take it off. Dirty clothes down the clothes chute. Clean clothes back to the hanger or drawer. That’s it. It’s really that simple. How do the dirty ones magically appear clean and folded in my closet you ask… I’m not sure. You’ll need to ask my wife.

5. Kids’ bedroom toys live in the closet. Not on the floor. Not on the dresser. But in the closet. And when the closet gets too full of toys, it’s time to make some room. Hint, it’s usually safe to remove the toys at the bottom of the pile.

6. Kids pick up their toys each evening. This has countless benefits: 1) It teaches responsibility. 2) It helps kids realize that more isn’t always better. 3) The home is clean for mom and dad when the kids are in bed. 4) It’s a clear indication that the day has come to an end. Gosh, you’d think with all these benefits it would be easier for us to get the kids to do it…

7. Fill your containers for the garbage man. Use every trash pick-up day as an excuse to fill your recycling containers and/or garbage cans. Grab a box of old junk from the attic… old toys from the toy room… old food from the pantry… old paperwork from the office. If once a week is too often, do this exercise every other week. You’ll get the hang of it. And may even begin to enjoy trash morning… okay, I won’t go that far.

8. Halve decorations. No seriously, I mean it. Grab a box and walk through your living room. Remove decorations from shelves, tables, and walls that aren’t absolutely beautiful or meaningful. You may like it better than you think. If not, you can always put them back. But I’d bet my wife’s old high school yearbooks that you won’t return all of them.

9. Wash dishes right away. Hand washing some dishes takes less time than putting them in the dishwasher. This applies to cups, breakfast bowls, dinner plates, and silverware. If hand washed right after eating, it takes hardly any time at all. If however, hand washing is just not an option for you, be sure to put used dished in the dishwasher right away. Nobody likes walking into a kitchen with dishes piled up in the sink or on the counter… and it’s even less fun eating in there.

10. Unmix and match cups, bowls, plates, and silverware. Uniformity makes for better stacking, storing, and accessing. If there is a souvenir cup or mug that is so important to you that you can’t live without it, that’s perfectly fine. Just don’t keep 5 of them. Mom, any chance you are reading this?

11. Keep your desk clear and clean. Drawers can adequately house most of the things needed to keep your desk functional. And a simple filing system should keep it clear of paper clutter. The next person who sits down to use the desk will thank you.

12. Store your media out of sight. Make a home for dvd’s, cd’s, video games, and remote controls. They don’t need to be in eyesight, you use them less than you think. And if you remove them from your eyesight… maybe you’ll use them even less.

13. Always leave room in your coat closet. There are two reasons why coats, shoes, and outerwear keep ending up scattered throughout your home rather than in your closet. The first reason is because your coat closet is so full, it’s a hassle to put things away and retrieve them quickly. Leave room on the floor, on the hangers, and on the shelves for used items to be quickly put away and retrieved. The second reason is because you have kids… but you’re on your own with that one.

14. Keep flat surfaces clear. Kitchen counters, bathroom counters, bedroom dressers, tabletops… After you clear them the first time, keeping them clean takes daily effort. Receipts, coins, and paper clutter just keep coming and coming… it’s just easier the second time around.

15. Finish a magazine or newspaper. Process or recycle immediately. If you’ve finished the paper product, process it and rid yourself of its clutter immediately. Good recipe in there? Put it in your recipe box and recycle the rest. Good article that your husband will enjoy? Clip it and recycle. Article that your friend will enjoy? Clip it, mail it, and recycle (or better yet, search for it online and send it that way). Coupon too good to pass up? Cut it out and recycle. Stacks of magazines and newspapers serve little purpose in life but to clutter a room.

And the link to the original article. Enjoy!

Red Velvet Cake Balls

This recipe and photos courtesy of Bakerella!

Red Velvet Cake Balls
1 box red velvet cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake)
1 can cream cheese frosting (16 oz.)
1 package chocolate bark (regular or white chocolate)
wax paper

1. After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl.
2. Mix thoroughly with 1 can cream cheese frosting. (It may be easier to use fingers to mix together, but be warned it will get messy.)
3. Roll mixture into quarter size balls and lay on cookie sheet. (Should make 45-50. You can get even more if you use a mini ice cream scooper, but I like to hand roll them.)
4. Chill for several hours. (You can speed this up by putting in the freezer.)
5. Melt chocolate in microwave per directions on package.
6. Roll balls in chocolate and lay on wax paper until firm. (Use a spoon to dip and roll in chocolate and then tap off extra.)

I also only melt a few pieces of chocolate bark at a time because it starts to cool and thicken. It’s easier to work with when it’s hot.

Want to see how good they look in white chocolate?

Pinterest is very cool

I am still researching on a way to better link and integrate my pinboard to my blog!  But take a look at some of  my favorite things here!

Waxing Poetic jewelry

I love these charms from Waxing Poetic.  You can find them in Mesa at Found. I picked out four pieces before Christmas, two for my Mom and two for my Mother-in-law.  They are thrilled with their charms.  I knew I should have picked one out for myself.  :)

Source: laylagrayce.com via Valori on Pinterest

Journaling Card

Rhonna of Rhonna Designs has this terrific journaling card posted on her blog.  I am linking it here for you!  You should be able to right click and save the image.  Enjoy!

Dreamy bathroom!

Take a look at this bathroom!  I LOVE the claw-foot tub in a cool turquoise.  Even Mark likes it!

Source: tolduso-tolduso.blogspot.com via Valori on Pinterest

Family pictures as Wall Art and Wall Decor

I found this awesome blog today at Laura Winslow Photography.  Her topic every Wednesday is wall art. I like to see how other people are decorating their walls with photos of their family.  Here is a beautiful, simple collage done for Christmas.  

This example combines an eclectic arrangement of photos and frames.  I fell in love with the daybed too.  Looks like a project that could be made with a trip to Home Depot and the junkyard!  I believe I just found the inspiration for Andrew and Noah's bed-frames!

Finally, I love this girl's room with the extra large portraits above her crib! This image via Laura Winslow, via Pottery Barn.

Don't hide your family portraits down the dark, seldom used back hallway in your home. The people you love the most should be front and center in all your wall art and wall decor!

Is it bad to still be working on December Daily in February?

Kinda defeats the idea of December DAILY, huh!

We spent the 26th at Eric and Dianna's house for the Pagone Christmas celebration.

We had all the cousins together for a photo in the backyard.

Thanksgiving, 2010

Click here to view this photo book larger