WW: Those Summer Nights So Long Ago

I have a thing for old cars.  I love 'em!  And it goes back to those summer nights so long ago, when...

We'd drive for what seemed like days, down dark, country roads (in my mother's 1978 Triumph Spitfire).  

And, boy o' boy would we sing... my mom, sister, and me.  Old hits by Patsy Cline, and Kitty Wells. 

We'd also nibble on treats, and drink coke from bottles.  All while talking, telling stories.

Usually ones from my mother's youth in Washington state.

Needless to say, those nights were idyllic.  And for that reason, I'll always love a classic car!

I'm thankful for these memories, Mom!

PS - My mother is undergoing x-rays and blood tests today after an unfavorable doctor's appointment.  Fingers crossed all goes well!

Glamour and Postcards

I love glamour and postcards.  Especially, glamour on postcards!

This is a long-time favorite!

Have a glamorous, great weekend!

Design Inspiration: Vintage Artwork

I love vintage signs and posters!  Especially as a focal point on a great big wall.  So, here are a few chic spaces I'm totally digging:

The natural wood/ primary palette above is both rich and warming.

This powder room typifies, to me, 1930's glamour.  It conjures thoughts of long, silk robes and Myrna Loy...  pure elegance!

The sitting room above reminds me of my own little corner.  Not to mention, I love the wall color.  It's similar to my Behr Antique Tin.

An inspired work space is a must, right?  Well, the office above gets it right, right, right with Grace and gold touches.

The stunning contrast of the warm + cool colors above really packs a punch.  I envision Scotch and Ernest Hemingway... would you agree?

This red hat beauty above is on display in my dining room.  It'll soon serve as prop to Aksel's big top vintage circus party I'm planning.

The poster above was my most-recent birthday gift from ol' hubster. She doesn't have a wall to call her own just yet.  In time though...

What inspires you in design?  I'm curious to know.  :)

Heeere's Johnnie!

The bottle of Scotch below's been in my husband's family for going on forty years now.  Cool, huh?

Actually, it's been chillin' (literally) with rolls of Angel Soft under the sink of my in-laws' guest bathroom for some three+ decades. 

It's safe to say, they're not big drinkers... (said with sarcasm)

But really, my husband found Johnnie a couple months back, and its history's too precious to chuck.  For one, Mark can't recall the number of times he diluted the blend after sneaking shots (from said bathroom) as a teenager.  Not to mention, if he survives another generation (Johnnie, that is), Aksel will be the proud owner of a bottle purchased by his late great-grandparents, Cliff and Amy Hirst, as a gift for his grandparents (my in-laws), Tony and Judy Kohn.

So, it's a sort of odd family heirloom.  At this rate though, he's a part of the family.  Even if he is Scotch!

Now, heeere's Johnnie and the Kohns.

(Aksel and I are noticeably absent in the family photo below.  I was chasing my lil' water baby down the beach.)

Vintage 1970s Rhinestone Hoops

As I said here, I have loads of baubles and gems I no longer want.  So, I'm selling 'em.  I'm downsizing, if you will.  Or making room for new treasures, however you choose to look at it...

Anyhow, if interested in owning the vintage hoops above, or if you'd like additional photos, email me.

My Own Little Corner.

Here's a little Rodgers and Hammerstein for ya...

In my own little corner in my own little chair

I can be whatever I want to be

On the wing of my fancy I can fly anywhere

and the world will open its arms to me...

"Why the showtunes?" you might ask. 

Well, it's really quite simple.  In my own little corner (of our master suite), I'm inspired.  By shots of beauties long gone.  Coins from far abroad.  Pictures of the life I'm living.  And, trinkets I've collected along the way.  Here it is, my corner:

Here are literal shots of the corner:

PS - I made the floral cotton sateen drapes with my crafty mother-in-law, Judy, last year.  If you like the fabric, I have at least 5-7 yards remaining.  Email me if interested.

Now, to address the wing of my fancy bit...

I also have a cat named Fancy, which makes the play on words even better.  Could you imagine wings on husky kitter here?  Or better yet, could you imagine taking fat cat for a joyride?

   

The Three Little Pigs: A Financial Fairytale

Once upon a time, there were three little pigs.  Or rather, three little piggy banks.  There was momma pig, daddy pig, and baby pig.  And each one, had his own skills for saving.   So, it should be no surprise to say their fortunes were built of different make and style.

For instance, Momma Pig didn't save too much.  When she saw something she had to have, she gobbled gobbled gobbled as any greedy pig might.  With a pleasing OINK upon purchase, and a quick curl of her tail, her fortune was muddy, and weak at best.

On the flip side, Daddy Pig was conservative.  A boar, one might say.  In fact, he saved by day, and counted at night.  When he brought the bacon home, he didn't take one bite!  He'd repeat...

"A little piggly, needs room to wiggly... so save, I must must must, or Th-Th-Th-Th-Th... That's All Folks, it's bust bust bust!"

I forgot to mention...

In the great land of Moneyville, there roamed a ravenous, coin-hungry wolf who preyed on unsuspecting piggies (and their banks). 

"Little pig, little pig, let me buy," he'd say, "or I'll shop, and I'll drop 'til your fortune's run dry."

Now obviously, all the empty piggies were most at risk.  I mean, if Wolf came a' callin' and you had no savings, your bank was bust!

To be COIN-tinued...

Fairytale aside, the three pigs titled in the photo above, belong(ed) to each one of us, respectively.  In fact, my husband, Mark, made his in the early 80s!

I was just tickled to have all three in my possession, and wanted to share.  It's also safe to say that we (my husband and I) have different financial behaviors, but in fairness, they're not as opposed as my story depicts. 

In a relationship, money can be such a difficult topic to discuss, or come to terms with even.  My parents, for example, had a really hard time synergizing.  My father was the saver, and my mother, the spender.  It was, over time, a great point of distress in their marriage.  As a result, I've always been timid to discuss financials, to be honest about my purchases, etc.

I'm working on it though...

More important, we want to teach our child, Aksel, to have a good relationship with money, to know the value of a dollar earned, and to give when he's got plenty.  (Fingers crossed!)

PS - Many thanks to all that participated in my Sundae hop!

PPS -  Enter this giveaway before 11:59 PM EDT tonight!

 

I ♥ Vintage!

Glamour is my language.  Romance, my school of thought.  So it's really no surprise... I ♥ vintage!  All things aged (wine included).

But, I have too much of everything, and it's time I clean my closet.

So, I'm selling my baubles one by one.  Rhinestones, veils, feathers and hats for purchase here on BTWTB soon.  Exciting, huh?

 

(Kinda) Wordless Wednesday.

So, we finally got a dog.  But it's not what you think...

For one, he's old.  Like +200 in dog years.  And he doesn't mess on area rugs, scratch hardwood floors, or shed too terribly much.

In fact, he doesn't cuddle, sniff, or bark and beg.  He just falls to pieces.  But he's a man's best friend. Or rather, he was in the 70's.

Really though...

This vintage Fisher Price stacking toy was my husband's favorite as a kid, and we're glad to bring him home (from Grammy's).

I'm a collector of all toys memorable, and meaningful, too...

Wordless Wednesday. v5

In my life, I've loved two rabbits...


Rabbity ca. 1984

Bugs ca. 2009



Happy Easter 2011! 



My Marcello!

Here's the first shot of my Marcello taken by the talented Abigail Marie of [Non`pa*reil] Photography.  What a dapper dude!

Many thanks (and WELCOME) to all my new followers! 

PS - His name's really Aksel!  :)

The Italian F's.

Me and mine, we're Italophiles.

Meaning, we love all things Italian.  Except maybe, Jersey Shore.

(Hmm... I can't say I don't watch though.) 

For cryin' out loud, we own an Italian restaurant.  And, I'm Irish.  He's German.  Go figure?  But really...

 

I stand to argue it's not about being Italian.  It's about living Italian. 

And by that I mean, centering your life around the following, simple things.  They are (in no particular order):

• Family
• Food
• Fashion
• Fellini

Each of these categories have subcategories, too.  For instance, close friends are considered family.  (You know who you are!)  Food also stands to include PASTA (fresh or dry).  Fashion is inherent.  D&G.  Versace.  Bulgari.  Fendi.  Prada.  Ya da ya da ya...

And finally, Fellini... a GOD among men!  If you haven't yet watched the classic, La Dolce Vita, you must.  And, La Strada is great, too.

Marcello Mastroianni in La Dolce Vita

Tying things up...

There's so much more to touch on, but the Italian F's are a good place to start.  Before I go though, there's a fifth "F" that comes to mind.  And, I'm somewhat reluctant (seeing as I don't center my life around it, especially post-baby), but... if I'm being honest about the whole Italian lifestyle, it's worth mentioning.

• F*cking

Italians do it.  Not that we don't.  They're just a little more open about the specifics.  I mean, you can't turn a corner in Rome (or any Italian city for that matter) without a phallus in your face.

Take David, for instance.

Finito.

PS - Be on the blog lookout for more about living Italian.
PPS - Reading back, this is the lame blog version of Under the Tuscan Sun. 

PPPS - It was totally unintentional!


Aksel's getting dressed up like Marcello (above) today.  Photos SOON!