Monday, August 31, 2009

A Built In Bed For Your Sleepy Head.

I find built in beds to be so romantic,
like a secret hiding spot that is cozy and magical. Have a magical day. Heidi
Found on Home Sweet Home.
Image via Country Home.
Image via Cottage Living. Not a bed but a changing nook built in a closet, clever.

Image via Home Companion.

Friday, August 28, 2009

50 Life Lessons.

Image found on Katy Elliot.
Regina Brett's 50 Life Lessons:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Vines and Wines are the kinds that bind and help you unwind.

I have a thing for vines and lately rhyming too since my son is in the first grade now and everything we read rhymes. Enjoy, Heidi


Sorry I do not have the origin of this image, tell me if you do.
Sorry I do not have the origin of this image, tell me if you do.

Image via Joanna Henderson.

Image via Domino, God rest it's soul.

Image via Coco + Kelly.

Image via Michael Trapp

Image via Elle Decor.

Image via Country Living.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

This one reminds me of you.

Image via Eric Piaseci.
If you happen to be in Brenham, Texas driving down Tom Green Street, you might find yourself slowing down almost to a complete stop just to take in the cutest cottage and gardens your eyes have ever seen. The house belongs to my friend Carolyn and she has a style that is always timeless but ahead of the game at the same time. She told me that a few weeks ago she had a drive by shooting in front of her house. I gasped, she said a car had slowed down to take a look at her house and yard and then shot a picture of it. Oh, did I mention that she is funny too. Maybe I will get another chance to shoot her house and share it, because
I too am guilty of a drive by shooting of her place.
All of these images remind me of her style, so this one's for you Carolyn. Enjoy, Heidi

Image via Country Living.

Image found on Brabourne Farm via Francesca Lagnese.

Image via Country Living. This is the inside of image #2.

I am sorry I do not have the origin of this photo.
I don't think the shag poof is something you would see in her house?

Sorry I do not have the origin of this image.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Making Love in the Kitchen, I mean Lunch. Part 3

My kitchen image stash is overflowing so it is time again to make love, I mean lunch for the third time. Click here to see the first, here to see the second. Enjoy, Heidi


Sorry I don't have the origin of this image.
Image found on Home Sweet Home.

Image via Traditional Home.

Image via House Beautiful.

Image via C.W. Eisner.

Image via Elle Decor.


I don't have the origin of this image either.

Image via Traditional Home.

Image via Rozanne Jackson.

Image via Peri Wolfman.

Sorry I don't have the origin for this image.

Image via Kaa Design Group.

Image via Eric Roth Photography.

Image via Traditional Home.

I am sorry I don't have the origin of this image.
If you happen to know the origins of any of the images that I have failed to obtain, please let me know. Thank you. Heidi

Monday, August 17, 2009

Black and White House


Image via Flickr.
Once upon a time over the rainbow, far far away was a black and white house.
Image via Black and Spiro.
O.K. maybe it looked like this instead, it doesn't matter.
Pick the one you like best.
Image via Content Agency.
It had the most welcoming veranda.
Image via Domino, God rest it's soul.
The back of the house was even more pleasing.
It was surrounded by the most wonderful trees and gardens.
Image via Alitex.
This black conservatory is the focal point of the gardens, which are planted full of flowering, fruit and vegetable plants.

Image via Traditional Home.
The kitchen has a place for everything and everything is in place. It is gorgeous.

Image via Notebook Magazine.
Every accent right down to the pulls is just perfection.
Image via Home Mag. found on Turquoise Chic.
What can I say, this is over the rainbow and every inch of this house is divine.Image via Jaimi Holker.
The beautiful flora is displayed throughout the home

Image via Luis Albuquerque.
And this is where the owners of the Black and White dream house sleep, dreaming about what it would be like to have a blue and white house. To be continued.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

I love Target. My husband, not so much. Funny story.


This was found on a wonderful blog called, Beautiful Living. Enjoy, Heidi


After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to Target. Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out. Equally unfortunate, my wife is like most women - she loves to browse. Yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from the local Target store. Dear Mrs.Samsel, Over the past six months, your husband has caused quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against your husband, Mr. Samsel, are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras.

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other people's carts when they weren't looking.

2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.

3. July 7: He made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women's restroom.

4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, 'Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away! This caused the employee to leave her assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor that in turn resulted with a union grievance, causing management to lose time and costing the company money.

5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&Ms on layaway.

6. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.

7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told the children shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department to which twenty children obliged.

8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?' EMTs were called.

9 September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it asa mirror while he picked his nose.
10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.

11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the 'Mission Impossible' theme.

12. October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his 'Madonna look' by using different sizes of funnels.
13. October 13. Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, He yelled, PICK ME, PICK ME.

14. October 21. When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a fetal position and screamed 'OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!'

And last, but not least:

15. October 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited a while; then yelled very loudly, 'Hey! There's no toilet paper in here. 'One of the clerks passed out.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

You asked for it.

The mirrors seem to open up the room and they reflect my energy while I work. This sink is in my dining room area.
After doing my post on mirrors and how I use them, some of you where curious to see. My kitchen has not yet undergone the transformation that I had liked(this is how it has looked for the past 15 years), since last year I took out a loan for the job, but other projects ended up costing more causing us to postpone the kitchen again. I love having mirror facing me at my work stations like the sink and the stove. While I am working at them I can carry a conversation with someone in the room and it feels more comfortable than always turning around. They also act like windows.
I took a cheap little kitchen table and screwed in 2 eye screws into it, (I said hooks in pic) and hung a curtain to hide my bigger appliances like mixer, blender and steamer. In both of my pics you can see how curtains are a cheap way to hide a multitude of sins. Say NO to wallpaper boarders, remember I did this 15 years ago, I do not condone wallpaper boarders. This is my plan to do to my old pie safe that I am currently using as a pantry, it will end up in my beach house. It would look so much better in my kitchen if it had doors or a curtain but the convenience has won over style at this point. I will give you the full update when the renovation does happen.

Image via Raised in Cotton.
Thanks for following the ramblings of a crazy woman. Enjoy, Heidi