i knew there was something about you

although i am currently biased towards disasters right now (i love my beach!), i still have a heart for them all. especially the sweet city of nashville. i've been only a few times but i've always found a homey feel to it. i've heard horrible things about the flood recently and its unfortunate that the gulf spill has overshadowed its underwater southern treasures.

on the radio, i heard amy grant (nashvill dweller) talking about her involvement with flood relief and the arrival of fema. she said the man in charge made a small speech saying that of all the cities fema had been sent to for disaster relief, nashville was the best. while most cities cuss, bad-mouth, and demand help from fema upon arrival, "nashville baked us cookies."

way to represent southern hospitality, nashville! i'm glad at least one southern city can keep its cool during crisis. i know the south has its faults just like any part of the nation, but i am so proud to be southern (most times). we know how to cook, make good music, keep family close, build a dang good front porch, and (hopefully, but not always) show kindness to others. every city should take example from nashville.

roll up that old stuff

and slap down a few of these:

FLOR carpet tiles, for the home. insta-rug. re-configurable. less mess. less measuring. less wondering what kind of disgusting particles are hididng in your carpet. carpet is so disgusting. when i had wood floors i ran a swiffer over them twice a week and waxed them every few months--my floors always looked great. now that i have carpet, all those disgusting particles and creepies are hiding in your carpet fibers, creating a faux cleanliness. And when i vaccum every week, i fill one of those bagless containers half-way full of dog-hair, dirt, other unidentified particulates...gives me the heebie geebies.

when i have a choice, i'm swearing by hard floors and rugs for the rest of my life. these would be good. they can meet all budgets, tastes, and colors. check it out.

so i guess i'm going eclectic?

in terms of my own living quarters, practicing what i preach is hard when you are an underpaid young designer (i could make more working at a department store). i've heard the comments and seen the faces when people enter my abode and think "it doesn't look like you're an interior designer." I'M POOR, OK?! my money instantly goes to rent, bills, food, etc. or lately, the money-devouring process of applying for the ncidq. don't these people know that 2 years into the practice, handing out that many benjamins for licensure is not exactly easy? give us a break!

however, i've become a great bargain finder lately. ikea, target, craig's list, and thrift stores have become my good friends. the number one thing i look out for is chairs. i love chairs. in the past couple of months i have aquired a circa 1880 french fauteuil, and (my most recent addition): 2 danish modern chairs!

i found them on craig's list for $25 each! can you believe it? i don't know how much they're worth, but they're in perfect condition, minus a few scratches on the wood that could easily be sanded and re-stained with one of those cool pen stain thingies. they are JL Moller Chairs and more info can be found here.

of course, this creates a problem because it is no secret my design preference is international/ post-modern. but if i keep collecting chairs like this it won't fit into any kind of design niche. so, in that case, i've decided eclecticism is ok with me. everyone else just has to understand that i can't have a mult-million dollar looking home, because i don't have that many benjamins...i rent a 30 year old apartment with carpet, vinyl, and a slight roach problem (hey, its florida) and the smallest bathroom next to european ones.

but one day...just you wait. this will all come together.

open kitchens, wood frames

two kitchens very reminiscent of each other. two equally great layouts, finish selections, and use of natural light. i'd take either one of them. don't you just love the warmth and hominess of wood ceilings?

first one is here. second one here. check them out.

my deal with cutsie

a great professor i had in college used to always say "let's not get cutsie" about almost everything. i'm glad there are other people who share my distaste in cutsie.

i've noticed a popular trend in cutsie around beach towns, and in non-beach towns that cater to the soccer mom, "i have my daddy's card", or "i need this to fit in" groups. you know what i mean--the stores you only browse in unless you have a last-minute gift to buy and you're out of options. now, don't get me wrong. i'd love to be a soccer mom, have a no-guilt credit card, or belong to a distinct group, so some of my resentment comes from hidden jealousy.

continuing: there is a trend among cutsie shops to name the store adjective (usually color) + noun (usually animal). examples? pink pelican, emerald turtle...let your imagination run wild. i know my mother shares a dislike in this as well. often times, besides just having a cutsie name, the cutsie name is a lure. that's right, a lure into their store of overpriced cutsie things.

the lesson i've learned is to stay away from these stores. and let me tell you, my life is no worse off. if its your can of beans, then by all means, go in the cutsie stores. but the only favor i ask, is that if someday you happen to open a store of your own and sell a bunch of stuff, pick something original (and don't just re-color a perfectly God-made creature, i.e. "jade elephant"--ain't no jade elephants walking this planet, son!). or else your lure won't work on me!

victims of humidity

take charge.

i live in florida. on the coast. if i didn't do anything to my hair it would look like the above. i can put four products in my hair and flat iron it and, after an hour of intense sweating, running all fans, my hands covered in layers of goop, i get a desired result. that is, of course, until i step outside. poof. all efforts out the window.

until i found this. search no more. this stuff is the answer.

when they say 24 hours, they mean it. i can go to sleep and wake up and still have pretty hair for the gym. not that it matters, but hey. its smooth, its straight, and all it takes is this stuff and a blow dryer.

makes me wanna go to work like this. woo! (i love scrubs)

you've got to be kidding

no. not kidding. these chairs are for sale for

two hundred. and fifty. dollars.

as i've mentioned before, apartment therapy features a scavenger section, where they scout out amazing craigs list and thrift store finds in major cities. among their search they found these.

the brno chair. brno way. why don't i live in san francisco?

the only thing that justifies anyone's weird and expensive hobby to me is my weird and expensive desire for famous chairs. speaking of which, that french antique chair in fairhope? she's mine! post coming soon.

its sad

dealing with humidity, mosquitos, and pollen has made me very appreciative of my marine environment come summertime. nothing takes a load off like a day at the beach. however, i am fearful that this summer will not be spent the same as the 2 before it.

man made disasters create different emotions than natural ones, i've noticed. natural disasters sometimes make people question and resent God (if only they knew that God cannot do evil--it is impossible). man made disasters leave people with God as their only hope. it is true: man cannot fix this horrible disaster. while my attentions to this particular oil spill are weighted because of my proximity, it still does not take away from the fact that people are not the only ones hurting. every drop of water and every creature are his.

could he fix this? well, of course he could. but a conversation i had with the feller last night put it in perspective. a quote says "focus not on the waves, but on the One who walks on water." simple at first, then the feller said "i wish i could walk on water" and i said "you can't do that, silly." he said "why not?" and i said "because the attention would be taken away from Jesus." and then it clicked. maybe in some small, minute way, this disaster could be used to keep the focus on God. man has to learn that with great power comes great responsibility. and when that is lost, the smart ones know that God is the only way out. if humans were capable of cleaning up this mess, the attention would be taken off God. sometimes it takes the downtimes to bring back the focus. we need him. its that simple.

so, although it may seem silly to pray about an oil spill--something man created--it certainly won't hurt.