Mudroom Envy

So as y'all know... we don't have a mudroom. Instead we have a fantastically carpeted back porch that is pretty much useless 8 months out of the year unless it's to let the dog out. And store recycling until Tuesday (which is recycling day).

I'm jealous of mudrooms. I have this obscene envy of mudrooms.

Seriously.

Have you ever tried to vacuum dried mud out of carpet? It's um, well, not really very fun. Frustrating actually. Or how about ginormous leaves? Did you know that oak tree leaves get stuck in vacuum cleaners? Or that seed starting kits have a tendency to spill all over on carpeted areas of your house? Or um, worn boots to pick up dog poop and realized that you HAVE to take your boots off OUTSIDE to go inside to put them on the boot tray? Yeah.... gross...

So if I could have a mudroom, here's some of the stuff that I would want:

Lockers from Ballard Design

Backless Bench from Ballard Design

Boot Tray from Ballard Design
(I actually bought a knock off one at Target last year for the front entryway and I LOVE it!)

Salvaged Wood Shelf from West Elm

Recycled Denim Jute Rug from West Elm

Oversize Seagrass Basket from West Elm

Ahhh... mudrooms... I really want one!

In Love With A Chair

I LOVE THIS CHAIR.

Like a lot. Like enough that I would buy it and decorate a whole room around it.

I sit in it every.single.freaking.time I go to Restoration Hardware. I just can't help myself.

But mayday, we've got a problem. Not only is it out of our price range BUT IT'S TOO BIG FOR OUR HOUSE.

Yes, our teeny, tiny 1949 faux cape cod is just too freaking small for this chair. It would have to be the only chair in the living room.

And yet I love it anyway.

Maybe in a future house 20 - 30 years from now (do you think Restoration Hardware will still be making this chair???). Maybe when we don't have kids with sticky fingers and muddy dog paws.

But goodness gracious, doesn't this chair just make you want to curl up with a book, a hot toddy (ok, maybe a Jack & Coke or a nice LARGE glass of really good red wine) and a fake fur blanket in front of a fire while it's snowing outside?

A girl can dream...

Recent Inspiration - From my Pinterest

Pinned by me - via Apartment Therapy

Repinned by me - via prepfection.tumblr.com

Image from Elle Decor

Via Love, Maegan

 Eep. I have so many inspiration pins on Pinterest... If you want to follow me, click here. And if you want an invite, just let me know! It's super addicting once you get the "Pin it" link. I.can't.stop.looking.at.Anthropologie. Darnit.

Restaurant Week In Minneapolis!

I can't wait for a date night! It will be so awesome -

The description is simple:

Mpls.St.Paul Magazine Restaurant Week
Fabulous Food and Exclusive Wine Pairings
Gourmet Prix-Fixe Menus
February 27 - March 4, 2011
Two-Course $10 or $20 Lunches & Three-Course $15 - $30 Dinners

And there's lots and lots of restaurants to choose from all around the city (and even one in Duluth!).

Click here to see the complete list and make your reservations through Open Table. It's easy, simple, pretty cheap and absolutely awesome if you love food and live in or are visiting the Twin Cities.

Jealousy

I don't mean to be spiteful and I don't mean to be hateful, but to all who own one of these, I don't like you. Why? Because I'm jealous. I don't have one and I want one. NOW. NOW. NOW.

Because every time I watch Giada, I get jealous. Every time Rachael Ray says Yum-O and tosses in spices that she doesn't measure, I'm jealous.

Some day, Le Creuset, my kitchen will own you. Some day, Le Creuset, you will be sitting on my stove and I swear, the best boeuf bourguignon will come out of one of these enameled cast iron pots.

Oh, yes, Jamie Oliver, at some point in time, I will make one of your chicken dishes. But only as soon as I get one of these.

Ms. Crafty, am I???

Well, since the message board that I frequent is having some *ahem* issues, I shall ask my question here and if anyone is crafty enough to answer, well, then, that's just fine and dandy too!

Has anyone heard of a snap press? And does anyone have a snap press? They're used for putting snaps on sewed items, like bags, purses, dresses, shirts, etc... and frankly, I hate hand sewing so I thought this would be a great and useful tool for me.

However, it's price is $87.00 from KamSnaps.com.

I don't mind paying that much for something that I will inevitable use often, but I want to know if they're worth it and where you got it. I've read great reviews about KamSnaps but I don't want to be stuck having to order snaps online all time.

Any insight? Anyone???

Wednesday... I Want This...

Emerald Earrings from Blue Nile $1,230

Le Creuset Braiser in Lemongrass $200

West Elm Links Duvet Cover & Sham ($59 for Duvet, $16 each for sham)

Marimekko Mouse Pad -Unikko White/Red $19.50 from FinnStyle

Spring Umbrellas

Marimekko Ruusupuu Umbrella

Marimekko Ruusupuu Umbrella $40.00 

Marimekko has so many fantastic prints, I just can't help but share!!

Marimekko Unikko Blue $40.00

Marimekko Omena White $40.00

Generally I'm not much of an umbrella person - they're sort of bulky and a PITA when they get wet. I had a boss that would just put it in the middle of the floor, wide open and let it drip on the carpet. Yuck.

Marimekko Petrooli Blue/Green $40.00

I tend to leave the umbrella in the car. Always and I don't know why, I'm just not accustomed to ever having one. However, with these super cute prints, I may now have to go to FinnStyle to get one.

In A Funk Lately

I don't know if it's because I don't get a full night's sleep (hello, practice for future parenting by having a foster puppy) or because it's the winter and it's so gray all the time.

I made poop cookies the other day (I'll post pics and the recipe if you'd like to make poop cookies too) and decided that I probably shouldn't make cookies that look like poop ever again. So I have white chocolate chips waiting for me at home to make something. So I've been put off from baking for this week (and cooking, thanks to poop cookies).

But my left eye is twitching again and I haven't worn make up in 4 days. So, I need something fun.

10 Random Facts About Me Today

1. I didn't eat breakfast

2. I miss breakfast. Especially having hot water at work for oatmeal

3. I really like the show The Good Wife

4. There's a huge knot in my right shoulder that hurts like heck and no amount of ibuprofen will take the pain away (see? I need summer back!)

5. I think I want a guinea pig. Or maybe two to keep each other company.

6. I have no idea how to take care of guinea pigs

7. My mother would never step foot in my house if we had guinea pigs

8. My mother also misses my dog, so maybe I could bribe her to come over if we had guinea pigs

9. I love homemade pizza

10. I'm excited to make Rusty a dog bed that's green

EEK!!! I GET TO GARDEN THIS YEAR!!!

And I'm so freakin' excited!

I planted lots and lots of bulbs (I mean, it was AT LEAST 150) and now I'm ready to watch for them to come up, especially after it's been snowing like 5 inches over the past day or two. Yuck. I want my tulips to come up!
A patio table set. I've been dying to eat outside at a real table. In Indiana we were eating on our laps with the dog practically eating off our plates too.


I could get a water fountain.
I can get cute garden stuff like this fish rain gauge.

And I'm so freakin' excited!

Frye Boots: I Want Them

I do believe that I have died and gone to Heaven. If I ever win the lottery or all of a sudden have $400 to spend... I shall buy myself some Frye boots.

Happy Friday. Remember to wipe your chin after you drool.

Fiona Stitch Pull On - $378

Riding Back Zip - $648
Carson Shortie - $318
Campus 14G - $298