Simply Seleta

a roadtrip [part one]

Last week we headed out for a family road trip to Atlanta.  Can't wait to tell you about it.  But first things first.  Since so many of you expressed interest in my last post on packing [courtesy of Jennifer] I thought I'd do it again.  Except this time you get to look inside my suitcase. 

Feel free to stop yourself from falling over in excitement. 

Let's begin. 

Couldn't pack too much, and really didn't have the energy after packing up the kids.  So I kept it simple.  I have a bad habit of over packing, which is rather ridiculous for something as short as a weekend trip.  So I commited to changing that this time.  [sorry, didn't include the shoes in the pics]

for the drive to atlanta: comfy with color

scarf: clearance banana republic
boyfriend cardi: jcrack outlet

for the next day playing with and chasing offspring: practical with pattern

coat: currently on sale at jcrack outlet
white oxford: last year
 

for date night with husband: preppy vixen

freshwater pearls: vegas
scarf: jcrack outlet
boots and skirt: last year

for the l-o-n-g ride back home: sassy with sneaks

Running out the door I ditched the scarf and added a lightweight jacket since it was pouring down rain.  Yep, it's a cutie from Target.  If you like it, you can find it right here.  39 bucks.

What helped make the packing extra fun were some warm, buttered blueberry muffins made by husband. As you can see, a small thief was reaching for one before I could even snap the picture.

And in case you're wondering if I had any special helpers during this process, the answer is, "I most certainly did."

My assistants were...

One streaker.  You can see the suspect running toward the door.  Don't judge unless you have or have had a three year old.

 
One five year old who was petting a cat and patiently waiting at the top of the stairs.  

One upset cat who happened to be hissing at a puppy below.

And one happy puppy who was watching the naked person run back and forth.

Like I've said before, there's never a dull moment around here.

To be continued...

simply silva'

I caught up with one of my dear friends last week.  Due to the topic [and the sake of my friendship], I'll keep her anonymous on this post.

Over our {rushed} lunch our conversation covered everything from trips to Montana to mommy meltdowns.  Somehow the topic drifted to Mother-in-laws and some of their crazy expectations.  Her M.I.L. happens to be old school Southern and very traditional.  [growing up a Southern lady is a whole other topic we'll have to discuss sometime on the blog] 

When my friend's M.I.L. visits, she always finds a way to mention, "dah-lin, you must get out that silva'.  Where is all your silva, I just neva' see you use it'?"  My friend, who happens to be the ultimate Southern Belle, is a little more modern and simple and doesn't like to fuss too much with her silver.  Unless it's something fun and chic.  The last time she used her silver serving dish, it was at a casual poolside dinner for kids and was holding a delicious warm cheese dip accompanied by chips.  

My point?

I think this tray idea is a perfect match for old South meeting the new South.  Figuratively speaking.  It's functional, but in a not-so-traditional kind of way.

Meanwhile, I think a squiggly-carved pumpkin would also look lovely perched on some of that old silva'.

[pumpkin photo from the ritzy bee blog]

the key to style

Tiffany has introduced a lovely line of sparkling key pendants.  You can see them right here.  As you might imagine, they're quite pricey. 

Total fashion buzz kill.

But there's hope.  Jennifer and I found a way to have a budget friendly version. 

On a road trip last week we found some vintage keys in an antique store in Alabama.  We were literally in the middle of nowhere, not even sure of the town's name.  They were a whopping $1 each.  We each grabbed about five. 

She just popped one of hers on a chain she already had.  We think it looks very Anthro.  In case you can't see, this key has an "H" on it, which is the initial for her last name. 

Perfect.

Fashion rule # 283:  you don't always have to spend a lot to look stylish.

There are thousands of vintage keys on ebay.  I found lots and lots right here.

organize

I like the creativity of this desk.  There's a lot going on, but if you look carefully, it's very controlled.  And orderly.  Wait, did someone mention controlled organization? 

Mmmmmm [frothing at the mouth].  Love that topic.

Since we made our move to life at the beach two years ago, I haven't had a desk or home office area.  I know, waaa waaa waaa.  But that's the first time in twelve years for moi.  I used to work from home, so I had to have an office.  Now?  Not so much.  Or at least it looks that way on the surface.

These days I float around with my laptop in various, and at times, awkward areas of my house.  I hate it.  Self-talk: no, let's not say that [clenching hands, gritting teeth].  Let's look at it another way. 

Ahem.  Okay, I'll try again.   Here goes.

Not having an office area has presented occasional challenges.  Especially for an organizing freak who likes to have a teeny weeny space of her own in order to maintain the self-created illusion of being in control of her domestic affairs.  Shoot, that sounds controlling too.  

But there's always a good side to challenges.  Right?  Not having a desk area or office has forced me to keep things simple and streamlined.  And find creative ways to stay organized in our home.  I'm guessing many of you have the same situation.  

So tomorrow morning I'm getting together with my peep to get a few basics organized in my home.  If you're interested, I'll take a few pics and share what I did.  It's not going to be glossy photos from a Real Simple photo shoot, but just a few snapshots of my attempt at managing life with four kids in our home.  

Stay tuned...

 
[photos: Steven Randazzo, Ellen Silverman, James Baigrie]

piddle + play

Sometimes my friend and I email each other back and forth about things we see and like.  What am I saying, it's a daily ritual.  Little design goodies.  They do wonders for the soul. 

Here are a just a few things we've seen and liked lately.

yummy anthro shower curtain which can be sewn into so much more than just the obvious.  like pillows, curtains, or even a box-pleated table skirt [if you have at least two curtains].

pretty ballard umbrella

{wishful thinking} shoes

{crazy out-of-the-budget} shoes

There are also inspiring design pics that go back and forth between the two of us.  Followed by lots and lots of chatter about everything and nothing.  Which is part of the fun of it all.

We both agree that the pattern on the wall + pegboard is completely fab in this small space.  I do recall one of the comment requests on this last fab friday was to share ideas for small apartment spaces...does this count?

Inspiration is everywhere.  And as you can see from this small space, it doesn't always have to be expensive!  As far as our other emails, it's mostly window shopping.  And that's free.  And fun.

a bedroom ideal

Pardon me while I take a moment to drool over the idea of having tall bookshelves in my bedroom. Maybe it would inspire me to read more instead of pecking away on this silly little computer. 

Bookshelves in a bedroom are so distinguished, so cozy, so classic.  So European.  And there's something very intellectual about having stacks and stacks of books in your bedroom.  Maybe I'm secretly hoping my I.Q. would increase at least a hundred points if I had more books resting next to me while I slept?  One can certainly dream.

I'll even take a small, built-in shelf like this little lovely.  What a pretty shade of blue.

You can see more on my bookshelf obsession in a previous post here.

[photos cottage living and elle decor]

pretty

Love these blue flowers popping out of this farmhouse sink. 

QUESTION:

If you could have any kind of flowers greeting you in your kitchen in the morning, what would they be?

[photo from here] 

tin times ten

For the last year, I've been saving the empty tins from our favorite irish oatmeal.  Can't help it, love everything about the way the cans look.  So when we finish the oatmeal and it's time to toss, I think, "how can I sentence a lovely tin to a giant disgusting landfill when it's perfectly clean and classic and can be used for so many things?"  Husband tolerates this habit but thinks I'm a little insane for hanging on to what he sees as space-wasting empty metal containers [yet he has at least 9,000 different screw drivers...and keeps buying more]. 

But like many of my other strange habits, I have a reason for doing what I do, just haven't had the time to reveal my final vision.  So for now there they sit, neatly stacked on top of the pink toy refrigerator in the playroom.

In the meantime, I finally I have an image [above] to show him that will help make sense of my seemingly idiosyncratic stock piling.  Happiness.

[photo from here]

a spot of tea?

Diggin' this teacup chandelier from domestic construction found via seven eight.

I wonder if a cup of my favorite tea would go well with this.

P.S.  Love the talent of the two design divas of domestic construction.  Both were educated at Savannah College of Art and Design then moved to New York.  And I'm sure it doesn't hurt that one of them is a former display coordinator for Anthropolgie’s Fifth Avenue Store.  For an eye-opening design experience, take 60 seconds to see their video showing a few of their out of the box design projects [right here].  It will open your eyes and awaken your imagination.

get framed

I have this fascination with groupings of framed images.  Especially dark frames against light walls. 

I need to get off my derriere and do something about it.  Oops, one snag.  Can someone watch, feed, mentor and care for my four offspring while I take more than my average thirty minutes of freedom to focus on selecting quality art, frames and proper placement? 

Okay, so maybe I'm wrongfully blaming my innocent children for most of my problem.  In all honesty, I think I have some weird picture-hanging performance anxiety.  It's like some kind of nervous, borderline psychotic condition where I am fearful of actually "going for it" on my walls.  Crazy, I was never that way with a client.  Ever.  I may need a design intervention eventually soon.  Any volunteers?  I'll supply a bottle of wine and promise to provide plenty of entertaining conversation during all of the decision making and hammering.  Or if you don't like wine, I'll bake you brownies or a cake.  Deal?

A wall of personal photos is also quite appealing.  Love this whole grouping below.  It has such an unexpected quality about it.  Kind of charming.  

[I've had these images so long that I've lost my photography sources]