...'cause I just had to do SOMETHING!

The house is officially ours! We got the keys on Thursday and went over and danced in the empty rooms and yelled "ECHO!" Okay, maybe that was just me dancing in the empty rooms... but I know at least one other person joined in on the yelling. We are just a tad bit excited.

On Friday morning my mom came over and we made a Target run. If you're anything like me, you go into Target for one thing and come out with about thirty. Target is dangerous. But what it is good for is DEALS!

Earlier in the week we had priced new hardware for the kitchen cabinets at Home Depot and Lowe's and they seemed pretty expensive to me... an average of $5 per knob. We needed 34 knobs, so that was just not going to cut it. Target, however, had these knobs (below) that look almost exactly like the ones at Home Depot and Lowe's for about $1.50 per knob. That makes this mama happy. I said "SOLD" and threw a few boxes in my cart.... along with a "few" other things. I was just dying to do something to the house just because I could, and changing hardware was quick and easy!

When I mentioned a "few" other items in my cart, I meant these seaglass colored soap dispensers which I loved so much I had to buy two. You know you want to run out and buy one. Go ahead. Tell your hubby I said you could.

Here is a picture of the kitchen with the old black knobs... (You might want to click on these pics to make them larger to get a better look.)
And here is a picture after! We love the oval-shaped stainless steel. The black ones were actually pretty cute, but just don't match the color-scheme we are going with in the kitchen (white or light gray countertops, stainless steel appliances, and blue accents).
Here is a before shot of the pantry after we removed the black knobs...
And here is a picture after!
So that's that. The first little thing we did to the house to make it ours.

Lists and lists of things left to do.

Last night we all headed over to the house after the little one was asleep... the guys did some pretty heavy duty demo work and I got creative with some contact paper... guess you'll have to come back on Monday for those pics!
Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!

the "it" list

Hooray for Friday! The "it" list is back with a great round up of all sorts of goodies on the web... be sure to visit all these lovelies blogs for tons of inspiration this weekend!

• sweetie pie pumpkin noodle visits some of THE most fabulous boutiques and shops in Mill Valley and takes us along for the ride. She also hunts down amazing chandeliers along her way. Don't miss this goodness!


• merci blah blah rounds up tons of gorgeous drape-style dresses from all over the interwebs. And not just once... but twice. Um, I'll take one of each!


• good life for less gives us the highlights of her recent trip to Forever 21... these shoes were definitely a great find!


• a spot of whimsy forks over a delicious dose of Mad Men style and photos. I swoon, just swoon for that show!


• penguins gift is giving away a Stella & Dot bracelet for the little ladies in your life. So cute!


• style your life puts together a casual outfit featuring an unexpected item - a pencil skirt. I just love this look - so chic!


• spry on the wall gives us a practical and affordable version of this amazing outfit from Isaac Mizrahi's Spring 2010 line.


• the hillside home just bought a new house and is planning, planning, planning. SO FUN! Join her as they start picking out colors, finishes, etc. I just love the adventure of a new house!


• john's journal outlines a simple but fantastic looking diy roman shade project. You will absolutely want to try this. It turned out amazing!


• elena's custom designs makes a custom pillow out of a scarf/handkerchief. I just LOVE this idea!


• really cute stuff is featuring their "family style" notecards... a great gift for friends or teachers or just to have for yourself for thank you notes or notes to teachers. I love these ideas!


• good look for less is offering wardrobe consults at half price through the end of today... hurry and snag yours before they go back to full price for fall!

Have a great weekend... interested in learning more about the "it" list? Email goodlifeforless @ gmail.com !

Inspiration on Etsy

I'm in love with Etsy. I even have Ryan shopping around and saving items to my favorites. What a guy.

I was just about to pull out my debit card for this french farmhouse table that the seller affectionately refers to as "Jacque," but after a quick email I was heartbroken to hear that they are temporarily not shipping to the U.S.

It might be a blessing in disguise because I would imagine shipping Jacque overseas would cost me a pretty penny. But he sure is pretty to look at.

These pillows by "My Adobe Cottage" are adorable. I'm trying to narrow which ones I want for our living room. This little package of four just might do the trick. Thanks to all of your guys' gorgeous blogs, I am now obsessed with all things starfish and sand dollars. Thanks a lot.

These little shelves are THE CUTEST! "Old New Again" has some of the most creative items I've seen and I love just about everything in the shop.

We all know that I have a weak spot for blue mason jars. I bought my first two at the Rose Bowl Flea Market a few weeks back and now I might have to have about one hundred more.

And because I am in full maid-of-honor mode for my sister-in-law's wedding this November, I just had to have you guys take a look at this personalized mason jar for a shower or reception! SWOON.

Some of you may feel compelled to point out that I am actually a MATRON-of-honor rather than a maid, but c'mon, can we all agree that the word "matron" sounds awfully frumpy and spinster-esque? That's what I thought. I will stick to "maid." It makes me feel young... and maybe a little bit like milking a cow (12 days of Christmas, anyone?)... but overall, better than frumpy.

So today is the big day! "The Hillside Home" (the actual home this blog was named after) is OFFICIALLY ours! The little one and I are headed over in a few hours to meet up with the painters and give them a list of the colors we picked out. It's officially renovation time and in about 2 weeks (fingers crossed) we will me moving in!

One of Life's Funny Little Circles

When I was a little girl, most of my time was spent over at my grandma and grandpa's. My mom and I used to drop by almost daily and it was the "hub" for all our our family gatherings. After my parents' divorce (I was 6 at the time), my dad and I even moved in with my grandparents for a couple of years. I was ecstatic to live doors down from my friend Doug whom I had known from the neighborhood since we were 4 years old. We used to ride bikes and rollerblade and play truth or dare under the street light.

It was one of those neighborhoods where we would put on Christmas plays, have water fights in the streets, and run through the greenbelts. One house even sold snow cones during summer. My grandparents' home and that neighborhood fill some of my favorite childhood memories.

About a year after my grandpa passed away, my grandma moved into a smaller home.

On the first day of seventh grade I was introduced to a new student named Kristen. She and I became the best of friends. The first day I visited her home I was shocked that she had moved into the same neighborhood where I had grown up, the same neighborhood my grandma had recently moved out of... about 4 houses down the street, to be exact. My teenage years were then also spent in that very neighborhood. Sleepovers, our first cars, boyfriends, and parties while her parents were out of town.

In the year 2004, Kristen's family moved out of that neighborhood.

It is now 2010 and tomorrow Kristen's brother (who is now my husband) and I and our baby boy will get the keys to our third home together... in that same neighborhood. About 4 houses up from where my grandparents lived. And about 8 houses up from where Ryan and Kristen lived as teenagers. Liam will play in the same streets where we both played, will run through the same greenbelts, will attend my elementary school, the junior high where I met Kristen, and the high school we all went to.

Life is full of funny little circles. And this is definitely one of them.

Imagaine if someone would have told me back when I was living with my grandparents that someday my husband would move in 4 houses down to the left... and when we were married with a son we would move in 4 houses up to the right.

It's one of those times where you sit back and say, "Now does God have a plan, or what?"

(I didn't have any pictures to go with this post, so these are from our trip to Europe in 2008 shortly after my grandma passed away. The first 2 are from Florence, including me lighting a candle for my grandma at the Duomo. The last 3 are in Paris, the last of which was our kiss under the Eiffel Tower on the night of my 24th birthday. Such a great trip... and such a great time remembering a celebrating my grandma's life. I miss you, Grams.)

What We Did This Weekend

Planning, planning and more planning for the new house! We get the keys on Wednesday night and then have 2 weeks of initial renovating before we move in. Time to make some decisions!

My mother-in-law is the best and brought these 3 mags home for me last week. I think she was surprised at just how excited I was. I've been paging through these for days and days.

Who knew there were SOOOO many shades of white?! Ryan and I were up to our heads in paint choices this weekend. We thought when we chose a neutral color scheme for the new house, we were making it easy on ourselves.

This morning, while the little one was napping, we sat down over a cup of coffee and chose colors for each and every room in the house, including hallways! We feel pretty accomplished. Colors that sounds yummy, such as "Swiss Coffee." Go figure.

"Remodling and Makeovers" by Woman's Day is my new best friend. There is some serious inspiration in this issue. I think I found my new best house friend.

Please excuse my not-so-glamorous-point-and-shoot-pictures-of-magazine-pages technique here, but I just had to show you all this house. Ry and I are in LOVE with this turquoise dutch door and have added it to our list of things for the house. And I'm usually not a big green person, but I love the fabric on those little seats and how it really compliments my one true obsession---turquoise.

This home is in Huntington Beach which is right here in Orange County! This couple has remodled something like 5 or 6 homes in thier time and it shows... this house is dialed in. Love the slipcovered couch, throw pillows, sea glass jars, white coral, wallpaper behind the shelves, and bamboo blinds.

This kitchen is adorable. Again, great green accents. And I feel like those shelves lined with blue Ball mason jars were calling my name. I was suprised how cute that green zebra print rug looks. Mixing and matching fabrics and colors is always difficult for me, so this gives me some great ideas.

I like the touch of vintage here with the chippy white lantern above the table and the galvanized metal vase. And the folding french doors make the kitchen open right up into the backyard. I'm sure they can probably smell the salt from the ocean blowing through the open doors... are you hating these people as much as me?

We also took a couple trips to Home Depot and Lowe's, looking at bathroom vanities, kitchen countertops, and color swatches. We finally feel like we have narrowed it down and have a plan! I will be posting a few of our ideas and inspirations over the next couple of days, and then come Thursday I will be taking some actual pictures of the renovations!!!

I am so glad that you all are going to be following along on the journey that will be our third home together. And after three houses in under five years of marriage, we are hoping this will be our last home for quite a while...

So enough about us... how did you all spend your weekend? Working on your homes... playing with the kiddos.... beach trip?

Mystery Boutique in Maui

Earlier this year we traveled to Maui for a family vacation.

It was heavenly.

On our last night on the island, we drove over to the North Shore to eat at the famous Mama's Fish House. It was insanely expensive, but as promised, the food was amazing.

After dinner we walked through the little surf town of Paia (which really pulls at my bohomenian heart-strings) and came across this little boutique that looked almost like a small greenhouse from the outside.

I pulled out my camera the SECOND we walked in the door. I told Ryan, "This is EXACTLY the style I have been talking about!"

For the first few minutes we had no idea what this little place even was. I didn't know if they were selling the furniture or the plants... or what... but it didn't matter. I was in love.

Although, I could do without the pair of mannequin legs. Creep status.

Turns out, they were selling some kinds of ointment, oils, and sea salts. The sales woman was so nice and just loved Liam. He was about 10 months old at the time.

So, I just came across the pictures today and wanted to post them so you guys could enjoy the eye candy. And I've been searching for about 20 minutes trying to track down the name of this little place, but I can't find it anywhere!!! Has anybody seen this little place before? It would be so awesome if someone out there in blog land happened to know the name...

But until then, this little boutique will remain a mystery... and a great little slice of design inspiration.

the "it" list

Excited to be part of "the 'it' list" again this Friday! Have a great weekend, everyone!




The "it" list blazes on... don't you love Fridays? Take some time today or this weekend to check out the best of the web here!

• merci blah blah is talking fall... her fall wish list to be exact. I love each and every one of her picks. I can feel the leaves crunching under feet already...
• the hillside home puts together a lovely summer/garden/cottage inspiration montage. It's just dreamy...
• style your life puts together a casual summer look for the guys. Ladies, raise your hand if shopping for your husband falls under your duties. It does in my household!
• spry on the wall puts together her take on Nina Ricci's Resort 2011 collection. This is pure genius!
• john's journal gathers beach chic inspiration from planet blue and then puts together outfits that are much more affordable. Love these!
• a spot of whimsy gives some food for thought for the women that want to do it all (this would be me...). I loved this quiet moment.
• penguin's gift has a great stationary giveaway. Check it out... you have a few days to enter still!
• elena's custom designs offers a great grab-and-go baby shower gift, check this out!
• one hundred inspirations lays out this Olivia Palermo outfit for less than $100. I love this!
• good life for less is participating in the 30/30 Challenge... that is 30 wardrobe pieces mixed and matched for 30 days. See how she does it!
• sweetie pie pumpkin noodle features her top 10 picks for earrings... it's impossible to choose a favorite, they are all so lovely!

Happy Weekend!

~~~

Interested in learning more about the "it" list? Email goodlifeforless @ gmail.com!

Seaside Bed & Bath "Corkboard"

It's been a busy week. Lots of meeting up with friends, lots trips to the park, and a trip to the beach... lots of fun, but I'm exhausted.

It might have something to do with the fact that I hauled a toddler, two beach bags, and a 5,000,000 pound Easy-Up across the parking lot, boardwalk, and sand yesterday at the beach. And we didn't even use the darn thing!!!! It was overcast!!!!

The walk out to the car was one thing, but the walk back was even worse. I was drenched in sweat... glamorous, I know, but I'm being real with y'all. After I got Liam and all of my bags packed in the car and was ready to reverse, my friend knocked on my window and said, "You must really hate that Easy-Up because your about to back over it..." I had left it right where I had dropped it. On the asphalt behind my tires. For a split second I considered just leaving it and buying a new one when I got home.

So as I sit here with my super sore arms and shoulders, I tell myself, the kids had fun, the kids had fun. I still love you, beach... and just to prove it, here it a seaside inspired "corkboard."

Happy Thursday, everyone. And check back tomorrow for the "it" list!

Baskets & Boxes by Wisteria
Hooks by Anthropologie

"One for One"

Once upon a time I worked at an international non-profit that provided disaster relief and medical development all over the globe (Giving Children Hope). One of the partnerships we worked to cultivate was with TOMS shoes. Yes, "the" TOMS shoes.

(photo found at www.toms.com)

If you haven't heard of TOMS, click here and get acquainted!

It is an awesome business that for each pair of cute & comfy shoes you purchase, will donate a pair to a child in need somewhere in the world... "one for one." It's a great concept and is spreading like wildfire. I see TOMS everywhere.

It feels like yesterday I was driving to Santa Monica with my boss, Jenise, to visit their headquarters/warehouse. In a funny twist of fate, Jenise just recently took a job there at TOMS and is traveling internationally to facilitate the shoe drops. She's pretty much a rockstar. Life is full of quirky little circles that make you sit back and think, "Hmmm. Who woulda thought?"

In other TOMS news, it was brought to my attention by Jill over at The Good Life For Less (a fellow TOMS enthusiast) that TOMS will be making a "cameo" in the movie Eat, Pray, Love. I instantly googled "TOMS Eat, Pray, Love" and look what I found!!

Julia is rockin' a tangerine suede pair while filming in India. So cool. The folks over at TOMS must be stoked.

If you click over to Jill's site you will get a sneak peek of the fall line... and it's lookin' good. Two words: leopard print. Go see for yourself.

Last but not least, TOMS recently debuted their line of wedges for us ladies. And to prove that they are super comfy, Blake Mycoskie (CEO) has been known to traipse around the office wearing a pair!

(Photo courtesy of Jenise's facebook. It's nice having friends in cool places.)

Love me some TOMS. Bought Ryan a pair of gray canvas for Father's Day. I'm wearing my natural canvas pair as I type! And I've got a pretty rockin' tan-line going on, which I hear is like a badge of honor among TOMS-wearers. Anyone out there own a pair? Anyone sporting a TOMS tan?

Try These On For Size

First things first, I about fell out of my chair when these pictures uploaded in a few milliseconds. I had so much trouble with blogger yesterday... pictures not uploading, errors, etc.

Blogger, you have redeemed yourself.

Okay, now on to the good stuff... pretty pictures of houses. Is it just me, or can you spend hours browsing through sites with pictures of gorgeous homes?

I am one of those people that could probably live anywhere. At least I think I could. Those who know me well may disagree... after all, I've lived in Orange County almost my entire life. I served a short 6 month stint in a small Iowa town... but other than that, California girl born & bred. But here's what I mean about living anywhere...

I think there is something inherently romantic about every region. I love the idea of living by the water. (Who doesn't?!) I love the idea of living in the South. (I mean, just get a load of that first picture... wild flowers in the sink, homegrown tomatoes on the windowsill, kitchen overlooking acreage... yes, please. I love the idea of living on a farm. I love the idea of living in the big city... San Fran, NYC... been to both and didn't want to leave.

Can I interrupt myself and talk about this yellow apron front sink for a minute?! I mean, come on. This is to die for.

Okay, so where was I? Oh yes, finding the romanticism in every region. You know what else I love? The idea of living overseas. (Case in point: click here) Italy, France, Portugal... I'm not picky, people.

But when it comes to decor, my taste (and heart) is a bit more choosey. I tend to lean towards traditional, a bit country, and a bit coastal. Hence why these gorge pictures come to you today courtesy of Southern Living and Coastal Living.

Isn't funny how a photograph of someone's home can just conjure up a feeling inside of you? Either deep in your chest or down in your belly? A feeling of family, a feeling of relaxation, a feeling of inspiration? We fill these spaces with our own flip flop's lying on the floor, our own cup of coffee, our own kids' voices down the hall... we try them on for size...

And I love it. It's why I love photography... and why I love design.

All that to say, enjoy the southern/coastal eye candy.

summer days

spent the afternoon at my dad's yesterday.

the little guy swam in his baby pool.

we visited and sat in the sun.

the garden was calling my camera's name.

i love this chippy, rusty arbor.

and this chair swing that my grandpa made.

i remember laying across it as a little girl.

and now it looks so small.

i miss my grandparents... some days even more than others.

later that day we celebrated two little ones' birthdays at the park with friends.

it was a great day.

i hope you all had a fabulous weekend.