blackberries

it's weird when you write a blog about frivolous, mostly meaningless things and poop, to try and write a post about said frivolity after a tragedy has struck.

i could talk about how shitty it feels to have been complaining about hand cramps from painting when children were buried alive under their school.

because that truly does feel ridiculous and perspective-y.

or about how weird it is that not too long ago a young man walked into a school and murdered 26 children and yesterday mother nature took out 20?

i'm sure someone somewhere is tallying up the randomness of that one.

or how everyone is probably at this point asking...

what fucking next??!!!!!

only the reality of that is probably really fucking terrifying bc no, really...WHAT FUCKING NEXT?!!

i don't read or listen to the news anymore..

how can i?!

it's a horror show out there and the media thrives on it.

plus it's a giant waste of time and energy.

the truth is i'd rather be painting tiny window panes, freehand until my fingers bleed.

there is an area of my yard that i like to call "the deadly snarea" (snare+area).

yes because i will always be a nerd but also bc it's a patch of yard next to my house where nothing safe grows.

there are hornet's nests, endless, creeping ivy, winding, woody vines and thorny, fuzzyprickled (prizzyfuckled?) leaves PLUS SPIDERS FOR DAYS...it's a place you don't want to go near. 

all you can do is cut it back and then run in fear.

but every year in the spring...there are blackberries.

wild, blackest purple, sweet, delicious blackberries.

they lay gently on top of all the scary stuff as if to say..i won't give you cancer, i am not a tornado and i don't own a gun...i am sweet and delicious and i will come back every year to remind you of that.

here's to focusing on the blackberries.

 donate.

bathroom inspiration

i am painting my bathroom slowly.

i decided against showing you any sneak peeks bc it's a bathroom.

what am i going to show you?

a piece of the baseboard with the toilet sitting beside it?

ok if you follow me on instagram you actually saw that.

i'll tell you this..

it's dark but not black and it's everywhere.

i painted everything but the crown molding and the ceiling.

i thought i'd go ahead and do the bathroom before the living room bc i needed to pop my paint-the-molding-the-same-color-as-the-wall cherry in a smaller space first.

i will also tell you that if you are painting yourself go ahead and splurge on the farrow and ball.

you know you want to.

it is a dream to work with.

better than benjamin moore.

waaaay better.

use an inexpensive paint as an undercoat in the same color if you have to cover up a dark color.

or if you have a large room to cover.

bathrooms are tiny and i was going dark over light so i didn't really need an undercoat.  i only needed one gallon of the farrow and ball. 

but in my living room i will need 2 gallons of paint so i bought a cheap undercoat in a dark gray and then the farrow and ball black blue on top, just one gallon.

anyway..

i can't wait to show you.

it's pretty awesome.

but it will need styling and i still don't have a mirror bc i can't figure out what i want and i have about as much as a gallon of farrow and ball paint to spend on one.

in the meantime, here are some awesome bathrooms to get your bathroom juices flowing (gross)...

via pinterest.

the reveal is scheduled for this week.

brought to you by sandwich. and rosé.

it's hot and summery and that means it's time to open up some fucking rosé.

i would marry rosé.

it's so delicious.

it's also pink which helps it to be more delicious.  and beautiful.

and it's cold which helps me to drink more of it at breakneck speeds.

i don't know very much about it other than it's delicious.

and that maybe the best versions of it come from the south of france.

i think i heard someone once talk about bandol.

that's a region probably.

fuck it! i don't care.

because it's soooo delicious.

if someone told me it came from butts rather than grapes i would still drink it that's how delicious it is.

do you know what goes good with rosé?

bbq.

do you have a crock pot?

well you better go get one bc a crock pot is fucking magical.

making bbq in a crock pot is great for lazy busy moms who like to eat delicious food.

my friend anna made some pork bbq in her crock pot and told me to do it too.

so i did bc that's what friends do. friends who like to eat.

and now i am telling you to do it.

 it takes about 20 minutes to pull together unless you are missing fingers or a hand.

i began the prep at 7:00 am while i was toasting fiona's waffles and had that shit wrapped up by 7:24 am.

dinner done.

now it's just a waiting game.

plenty of time for more rosé.  

go here for the recipe.

a couple of notes from my kitchen-

1. i didn't use boneless.

i used a bone-in boston butt/shoulder.

2. i didn't dump the other half of the vinegar sauce in bc my pork was super saucy and didn't need more liquid.

3. i got bbq sauce from our local bbq joint.

if you love it i suggest you do the same.

 4. i made some alabama white sauce to go with.

if you've never had alabama white sauce on top of your bbq you are missing some seriously delicious shit.

i use this recipe for the AWS.

a note from my kitchen-

i did not use horseradish bc i didn't have it.

it doesn't need it but would be an interesting kick.

 and finally..

that "bun" you see there is an amy's gluten freen sandwich round.

and the best GF "bun" i have found.

they are also exquisite toasted with salted butter and nutella.

you MUST toast them within an inch of their life for a wet sauce (that's what she said) otherwise they crumble (that's what he said).

all i need now is some jersey housewives.

and bigger pants. :(

country house again. also art.

when i'm not busy making moodboards and art for clients i am busy making moodboards and art for you.

country house:

i couldn't help myself.

i want to make at least 4 more about my country house.

and..

i went crazy and painted some 16" round canvases.

and then poured high gloss epoxy on them!!!

it was deeply satisfying.

junebug 

16" acrylic on canvas

so shiny!!

and..

dixie

16" acrylic on canvas

i also painted on not shiny paper...

little hooligans

mirage

a boat face

heavy headed

love letter

all available here.

(if they are not available when you get there it's bc someone is faster than you. which is why you should contact me and commission your own painting. it's as easy as saying.." hi...i'd like a painting.")

the country house- aiming low enough for it to be obtainable.

sure i could dream about giant estates in upstate somewhere..but that's honestly not my bag.

i like small. 

just enough room.

i couldn't imagine the stress i would feel upon arriving to a large house with several bedrooms and bedding to clean.

or just sweeping through the house to rid it of spiders and bugs and shit.

 everyone wants a country house right?

a weekend house?

a place they can escape to?

but where?

are you a beach house person?

a cabin person?

a lakehouse...a farmhouse?

i am undoubtedly a farmhouse/country land type of person.

though i often have lakehouse dreams too.

but i think if we are seriously talking about the reality of a second house somewhere...it's got to be a house in the country.

sprawling, open grassy fields.

a pond somewhere.

a giant tree with a tire swing attached.

a farm nearby that sells their eggs...that kind of thing.

and we are like 20 minutes away from some of the most beautiful georgia countryside you've ever seen.

it seems ridiculous to talk about owning a second home when we don't even own the home we live in.

or does it?

mike and i talk about buying our "second house" first and continuing to rent in the city.

something i think more and more people actually do these days.

around here it would actually be more affordable.

so let's talk interior.

for me i like the idea of simple and clean and free of clutter.

i don't want it to be a tchochke drop off.

all the shit you can't find space for in your city house.

not too many rugs.

not too many layers.

dear god...a MINIMUM of pillows. 

the kitchen would be small-ish.

the rest...just comfortable and clean.

 i think the fun of the country house is working with what you have.

not gutting it and starting over.

just some new lighting, fresh paint, new hardware.

you get the idea.

the kitchen: 

 

as i said earlier i like the idea of just working with what you have and only ripping out if shit is actually broken.

though i think if it were me i would splurge on an oven.

either a big ol vintage beauty in mint condition or an aga or something.

the idea is to cook and bake shit that i don't at home bc i am too busy.

that kitchen up there is big.

perhaps too big for my country kitchen needs.

but i do like those cabinets.

solid and simple.

and just white everything.

you can't go wrong.

i love this one because it seems to me that the before was probably super dated and they added a new counter, some fresh and bright white paint and changed some cabinet hardware.

 also that jumble of spices is just happiness to me.

the counters are my favorite.

so beautifully shiny. 

and the cabinetry is of phenomenal quality.

and so tiny!

i love it.

i love this!

the black stove, the palm wallpaper...those cane benches!

this is what i am talking about.

it's not fancy but it's fun and interesting.

rip that shit down to the studs and whitewash the walls.

stain or paint the floors black, or don't.

hang some art and a skirt around some shelves to hide your ugly plastic dishes.

(but then go buy some better dishes anyway)

the living area:

it's funny..but when i was gathering images for this post they all ended up having a few things in common.

they were mostly painted out white, several of them including the floors, the beds all seemed to be 4 poster which if you had asked my what kind of bed i wanted in a country house i never would have said a 4 poster..and yet the majority of them do.

i think i get why i like it though.

i'll get to that in a bit..

back to the living room.

again, i like simple and clean.

the image up there seems like it's a big, open area and i think i like the layout and modern touches most of all.

plus those beams.

and the art gathered up top.

plus is that a loft?

i dunno...it screams country house to me and i like it.

a fireplace is a must.

this modern one is my favorite.

i think bc i live with 2 fireplaces (non working don't hate) that are full on 1920's antiques i am drawn to the more modern lines of this fireplace and others.

but i think this room here belonging to miranda brooks is precisely what i would be after in my country house... 

i love that they made thier city house look like a country house.

the floors, the wall color, the light, the beams, the fireplace, the furniture all sprawled out like it doesn't need to be told what kind of room it is.

sit in it, nap in it, dance in it.

it's so peaceful and laid back.  

 the bedroom:

this one is awesome, no?

the modern, retro and antique touches are what sells me.

i don't like shit to be too decorated. in real life or pretend life.

it just looks clean and comfy.

 same here.

everything seems practical and useful and yet it's not cluttered, just pulled together and pretty.

this room is one of my favorites.

i think if i was a rich person and i wanted someone to actually decorate my country house it would be isabel lopez quesada.

the decorator behind this bedroom.

it's just decorated enough to feel fancy and yet perfectly underdecorated so as to make you not feel like an asshole for getting baby poop on something.

 

a cowhide is always a good choice in a country house.

most durable rug out there.

this would be a great guest room.

love the blue and red.

so here's the thing about the beds..

i believe that i subconsciously liked the idea of a 4 poster because it's off the floor and that means no dust ruffle and that means i can see to clean under the bed.

don't mind me...just my OCD at play.

 the bathroom:

 i will always be a sucker for a rustic, euro-country house with modern fixtures and furnishings.

like beams + concrete floors.

or that sink and a basket filled with towels.

 and this one painted all white with a big armoire outfitted with a sink!

i mean that's just awesome and exactly what i mean when i say work with what you have.

this would be so easy to do.

also that rug is everything.

another ILQ room.

she is the queen of modernizing an old structure and then filling it with antiques.

homegirl knows how to juxtapose eras.

for the guest bedroom:

 that is some whimsical shit right there and i love it.

simple linens and stars.

done and done.

for fiona:

i think this...

combined with this...

or even this...

i think for the kids a magical place is a must.

something they remember forever. 

the house itself:

this is kind of ideal, right?

i mean it's what you probably think of when you think of "country house".

or this..

 

 both amazing and not too crazy huge or unobtainable.

but still...both out of my league and budget at this time.

besides..

i rather like these better anyway..

ok those are more cabin than house.

so maybe just somewhere in the middle of all of them.

i mean the house itself is another post entirely.

and honestly if we are talking reality here you first have to pick the area right?

assuming it has all you need..

lake/pond

sweeping grassy plains

a tire swing tree 

some martha stewart like neighbor with chickens and jam n' shit.

and you'd be lucky to have all of it, let alone one of it.

and then what if there is no house near that that suits your needs?

i.e. 3 bedrooms/2-3 baths.

still...it's something i aspire to all the time. 

so, what kind of weekend house person are you?

p.s. oddly enough, bailey wrote a similar post on her blog this morning.