Quiet Time- Easter

Happy Easter.

Weekend Inspiration

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Quick Gift

In need of a quick hostess gift, Easter happy or just something to help organize?  Check out these sets of chalkboard planters at my room (#15) in Interiors & Antiques.  Great for everything from art supplies, cutlery for a backyard picnic, colorful Easter eggs....to well...plants!

My Happy Place

"My life kind of goes in a big circle sometimes. Like I find myself

sometimes really going back to where I started and just remembering 

that that is a really happy place for me." -Rachel Zoe

This quote was taken from her show a few weeks ago. She is talking about styling, her first and true love in the midst of everything else she has going on. Something about it really resonated with me. Running a business involves so much.  So much work, uncertainty, change, nitty gritty details and  tasks that sometimes you forget how much you love it. For me the reset button, the happy place, is on installation days. Seeing what has been living in your head- worked and reworked- physically coming to fruition for all to see.  Yesterday was one of those days.

It might take me a while before I can fully share here but I promise it is coming.  

Image from my Instagram

Welcome Back

I know a lot of you out there are returning to the real world today after Spring Break.  Welcome back!   While we did not go anywhere, we did have a wonderful week enjoying a quiet city.  There is something to be said for staying put during Spring Break week, the peace and quiet is nice.  Including an almost empty Target where we prepped for warmer weather that surely ahead.  Right?

(Henry's new favorite things- sunglasses and saying "cheeeeese")

 Of course a mini staycation could not be complete without a trip to the zoo.  Henry, who loves all things planes, trains and automobiles TRUCKS!, took his first train ride.  Needless to say it won't be his last.  

I hope this week treats you well, vacation or not!

Quiet Time

Via

Inspiration...

 Some things I found interesting on Pinterest this week:

Feminine shoes with tough pants.

 A large print on West Elm's Chair.

 A fabulous necklace.

And of course Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Chocolate chip cookies.    CORRECTION!!!! This picture is actually from Ambitious Kitchen and is for Nutella-Stuffed Brown Butter + Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Oh they look so good.  

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Cute Easter Happy

At Target....of course.

The Soundtrack of Our Lives

Do you have songs you find pop in your head just about every day?  Part of your routine if you will?  I have a few.  For some reason almost every morning I find myself singing Five O' Clock 500 by Alabama to Henry as we are getting ready in the morning.  Ironic since a.) it is morning and b.) a race car fan I don't happen to be.  Somehow though it always seems to be the perfect song for the moment.

It's that five o'clock 500 and I run it every day
Pick-up trucks, cars and buses all in my way
We've got Darrel, we've got Dale, Richard, Mark, Rusty and Jeff
Oh the boss just dropped the green we're on our way
It's that five o'clock 500 every day

During the work day for some unknown reason I find the lyric "Everyday I'm Hustlin'" pop in my head (well this and "she works hard for the money").   Given this little tidbit and my LOVE for random coffee mugs you can imagine my delight to stumble across these while on a Google search...

Oh so cute mug from Ashley Brooke Designs, home of SO many items I need want.

A simpler version from Kngo.

And this one from Cafe Press makes me laugh, not sure why, but I like.  Which one to add to my collection?

Quick B&A...for $13

Our mailbox had been driving me crazy for years but by the time it recently moved up on my attention list it fell into the "not sure I want to spend money on it if we are moving" category.  Of course we don't know if we are going to put our house for sell, we could be here for 50 more years, but in limbo we sit.

 However, this needed serious and immediate attention...

 A general makeover was called for, even it was not going to be something fabulous.

 While perusing Lowe's I found a $13 gray mailbox and I knew it was the change I needed.  So along with a few friends I had sitting around I went to work this weekend.

 And here is what I ended with.  

Perhaps not the most amazing thing I have seen but a huge difference, I am pleased.  The stain is still wet in this picture if you happen to be thinking it looks a little funky.

 Not too bad for a $13 makeover done while Henry took his afternoon nap if I do say so myself.

Did y'all do any Spring makeovers this weekend?

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Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury,pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

`where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

Image 500px

Big Announcement- A New Venture

 Last week I posted a glimpse of a new venture for me and today I am so excited to share it with you.  You are looking at my new space, well the beginnings of my new space, inside Interiors and Antiques in Birmingham, AL.

Last summer my assistant and I were discussing options for what to do with extra items sitting around the office- pieces that didn't work for clients or "finds" I could not walk away from.  Soon after this discussion started, I took part in an amazing One King's Lane Sale.  The success of that sale led to additional sales on the blog and really spurred on the idea of a small space somewhere to serve as a physical outlet for me.

Almost a year later here we are.  There is still A LOT of work to be done but I feel a good foundation has been set.  

Pieces in my space are a combination of new and old, fine antiques and rustic treasures, locally custom made one-of-a-kind furniture, pillows, lighting, small gifts- a little of everything I love thrown in.  

I am going to give this a test run for a months and see how it goes.  I have already enjoyed the process but it is very time consuming and as far as work is concerned, being a Designer is definitely my first priority and I refuse to take additional time away from Henry so we shall see.

If you are in Birmingham (or close by) please come in and take a look.  I am in space #15.  New items will be added regularly so don't be a stranger.  And if you are not close by, don't worry- I will be featuring different items along the way, many of which I can ship if needed!

Where to find me:

Room #15

Interiors and Antiques

1069 Montgomery Highway

Birmingham, AL 35216

Look for the gray tags with my logo and information on the back!

Didn't I Swear Off Cheap Shoes?

 I thought this year I had sworn off buying cheap shoes...but then I was in Target.  I actually breezed right by these until I heard two women discussing them and I became intrigued.  I must say they are cute and comfortable.

While I was in the shoe section I also came across these...

Didn't I buy a much more expensive pair similar to these last year?  Oh well.  The colors grabbed me so I am taking these for a spin, we shall see how it goes.

Checking In...Lions and Tigers and Installations, Oh My

 Sorry for being scarce last week...things were busy to say the least.  There were installations I can't wait to share with you...

 And a marathon day at Scotts where I was this close to working some magic with these guys...if only they were slightly shorter....

 And then installations of a different sort...

This weekend didn't provide much of a break but I did get to watch the Rachel Zoe Project while Henry snoozed on Sunday.  I love any show which allows you to catch a glimpse into someone else's creative world and this episode revolved around her Spring 2013 Runway Show.  I have to say a special thank you to Jenny who made it possible for me to see this  runway show in person.  It made watching the episode even better.

Quiet Time- Window

Love this, so simple but so pretty.

Via If Grace Was An Ocean

A Glimpse....

I am in the process of new, exciting venture.  I hope to have an official announcement next week but for now here is a start...

Client Master Snapshots

 The name of the game in this bedroom was fabric, so inviting and luxurious.  

Although the light was pretty amazing as well.  I don't have a detailed shot but it is all inlaid and just a show stopper.

Images Marianne Strong Interiors

Quiet Time

Client Stool Detail

Image Marianne Strong Interiors