Back to School - It's Here

Goodbye Summer . . . 

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I have enjoyed every minute of our time together.

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But I welcome the change.

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So, in an effort to be totally honest.

 This is me . . .

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And here are my kids . . . 

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But with every change of season, we have so much to look forward to and embrace.

Fall is just around the corner.

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And, before you know it, we'll be settling into the season with . . .

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lively board games

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walks in the crisp fall air

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soul warming soup

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SEC football.

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gorgeous fall weddings

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chilly days with afternoon hot chocolate

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roaring fires

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fall fashions

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outdoor dining

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pumpkins

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more pumpkins

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campfires by the lake

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all things orange

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and, yes, a bit of studying. 

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Happy Back to School!  M.

Unusual Artwork - Thinking Outside the Box

Take a look at this art installation.  

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This space is the design magic of New York based interior designer Amy Lau of Amy Lau Designs.  What I love about this art is the way it pops off the wall with the texture of the grasscloth as a backdrop.  Simply genius.  It reminds me of Queen Anne's Lace which is a very old fashion flower (some would even consider it a weed).  So many possibilities with this idea.  If you're the creative type, you could easily create your own focal point using a similar method.  

Happy Monday. M.

"How To" Series: Removing Wax From A Dining Table

We had some friends over for dinner this week - sort of a back to school celebration.  It was very casual but still special.  We managed to talk all the kids into eating outside on a blanket (not sure how we pulled that off).  Then the adults sat in our dining room (in the AC) and had a relaxed meal.  At the end of dinner, one very sweet friend who has tons of style, looked over at me and said, "I just noticed those candles have ruined your table!"  

The AC was blowing so strongly it had blown dots of candle wax all over the table.

This is how the conversation went from there.

Me: Oh, it's no big deal.  I can get it off.

All the women at the table: HOW?!

Me: With a credit card.

One Friend: Oh, I get it . . .  you use the card to pay the refinisher to come fix the table. 

Another Friend: I know you can unlock a door with one, did it in college once.

My Husband(completely engaged in a different conversation) piped up: What? We're having the table refinished?

Entire table: Blah ha ha ha

Me: No, you use the edge of the credit card to gently scrape off the wax.

Husband: Well  . . . finally a good use for that card of yours! 

Entire table: Blah Ha Ha Ha

Another Husband: Why not just use a knife to dig it out?

His wife: Are you nuts? 

Me: (thinking of course) I so need to blog about this. 

So, here's how you do it:

Step 1
Wait until the wax is completely dry (I waited until the next morning). Gently pick up the candlestick to remove as much wax as possible with the candlestick itself.

Step 2

Remove as many large pieces of wax as you can with your fingers. 

Do not dig your fingernails into the wax to try and remove it, just remove the large pieces that will come off easily.  This is what was left from one of the smaller candlesticks.

Step 3
Take a hard plastic credit card (I used our health insurance card since it really isn't good for much else these days)!

Place the card at a 45 degree angle to the table and gently push the wax away from you in small strokes.  You really don't have to push down hard to loosen the pieces.

Step 4
Continue gently scraping until the table feels smooth when you slide the card over the surface.  Because the card is plastic it will not scratch the table (sort of like using a plastic spatula on a teflon pan).

Here's the final result.

Feeling a bit like Heloise after this post and wondering if you have any handy tricks you want to share?  This is my last post this week.  Have a great weekend, and I hope to see you back here on Monday!  M.

Let's Be Clear

OK, just coming up for air . . .

This is proving to be one very busy week.  I am juggling kids, design jobs, and back to school errands while trying to squeeze in a few last minute get to togethers with friends before school takes summer far far away!

With all that in mind, here are my random midweek thoughts.
I love all things clear, but I'm such a practical person that it creates a conundrum for me.  Initially, I think, "Wow, must have it." Then my mind immediately goes to "Wonder how often she has to clean that?" or "Bet they don't have kids - that would last about a nano second at my house."  But, I simply LOVE the look.  How about you?


I adore the idea of a frig like this. 

This is the kind of shop if you are even brave enough to enter with kids in tow you keep repeating this phrase, "Everybody - hands to yourself, hands to yourself, please."

I'd be looking up and staring at this fixture the entire evening - mesmerized.  

Did you notice the tool box used as a bread box next to the glass frig?!  Go back and look! 

I think this is utterly gorgeous, but I wonder how many kids how clocked themselves in a full out run into this glass wall? 

Talk about a focal point in a master bathroom.

This does not feel like an ordinary galley kitchen - breath taking. 

Simple and beautiful.

Sleek and modern - hard to tell where the inside or outside begins or ends.

Fresh and summery.

Uber cool!  Take a look at the roof garden.  

Elegant and glamorous. 

Amazing this place exists. 

Example of how grouping ordinary items in mass creates such impact. 

I think this is really sleek, but who cleans this tub?  It would be the death of me. 

Every kids dream bedroom.

Hmmmm. Really?!

Ohhhh -  the stories those fish could tell! 

What will they think of next?! 

all images courtesy of Pinterest

Have a wonderful day!  We're on the downhill to Friday - I see it, clear as day! (sorry, I couldn't resist). M.