tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86156297650402072252024-02-19T02:39:08.508-05:00Barker House Love<center> The DIY and Decor Adventures, Mishaps and Utter Disasters of 1st Time Home Buyers on the Journey to Making Their Home Beautiful </center>Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-20592185648169554102011-11-16T16:10:00.000-05:002011-11-16T16:10:09.403-05:00where i wentHey guys. I know I pretty much dropped off the face of the planet as far as blog writing. I'm sorry. Things have been pretty rough lately and I really haven't felt like faking it. <br />
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</div><div>My husband (Andrew) and I are currently separated and are seriously contemplating divorce. It all happened suddenly and I have not felt like doing home projects since. I mean, why do a project for a home that you're not sure will be your home soon, right? Doesn't make sense. If you are a friend and are hearing about this for the first time as you read, I'm sorry I haven't had the opportunity to tell you. It is not a secret, but I don't really like sharing important things through text messages. You may already know what is going on, but if you don't...well honestly...it's personal. If we talk in person, I may or may not share with you the details and that's my business. I would rather you keep comments of advice to yourselves (which is why I've disabled the comment bar on this post). I am seeking Godly counsel and have support of friends and family, so please do not worry about my well being. I'm a fighter and will be fine...eventually.</div><div><br />
</div><div>So now everyone knows. I don't know what's to become of my blog, but I will say that I have had so much fulfillment and joy in this little project. Thanks so much for following along. If I don't return, have a great life! I'm on Facebook and Twitter as well, so if you only follow me through here, feel free to connect with another source of social media.<br />
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</div></div>Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-18817693918287666082011-09-07T10:59:00.000-04:002011-09-07T10:59:14.688-04:00so many ideas, so little timeIt's wedding season. The busiest wedding season I've ever seen! That's not a complaint, believe me. I'm loving my job more and more every day. But there is this side of me that needs to make stuff. That side is a little neglected right now (if you can't tell from the lack of blog posts). My list of DIY projects is through the roof! I will most likely only have time to finish one or two of these before work slows down in November, but I thought you'd like to see what was on the radar.<br />
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1. Autumn is coming! Just this morning, I woke to a cool breeze for the first time in months. I've never done decorating for the seasons, mostly because I feel like a lot of it is dated and tacky. Just being honest. But I luuurve these two pumpkin DIY ideas. The first for inside and the second for our front porch. So cute!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Velvet pumpkin tutorial found on <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/fall-sewing-projects#slide_7">Martha</a>. Who else. ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlJ33Ci9mvdY1_Qul_DCVMXRjvYaelMdg8N1uasqwue8-cn8KKkFXXPoTDHt6IncIki8ZbevZtRDrATn-HO_cStCxnuwQN3w8UimcCQAR0fJOLP7PaWdyFEGmFWi2WdJxiR0ZItoIARM/s1600/98185363_Osi8F9Px_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlJ33Ci9mvdY1_Qul_DCVMXRjvYaelMdg8N1uasqwue8-cn8KKkFXXPoTDHt6IncIki8ZbevZtRDrATn-HO_cStCxnuwQN3w8UimcCQAR0fJOLP7PaWdyFEGmFWi2WdJxiR0ZItoIARM/s1600/98185363_Osi8F9Px_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Painted pumpkins found on <a href="http://pinterest.com/martamccall/i-can-do-that-halloween/">Pinterest</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Aye9x3o5LurZ9ocHqC6ZJyP9K0bmoJ4Nk1DlpXs5feGntLSAxY8gNJhhjWTObbhEiLF19kqGmS9U4XA26rQV4qCICOjzxh5ei2ki6VfCaYLX8n141zlfnKjA6Gws8DnPrTvvDK9KCGc/s1600/121327028_Q3Mayj0t_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Aye9x3o5LurZ9ocHqC6ZJyP9K0bmoJ4Nk1DlpXs5feGntLSAxY8gNJhhjWTObbhEiLF19kqGmS9U4XA26rQV4qCICOjzxh5ei2ki6VfCaYLX8n141zlfnKjA6Gws8DnPrTvvDK9KCGc/s1600/121327028_Q3Mayj0t_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
2. You KNOW I love me some succulents. I have been wanting to do this awesome project for the longest time! I just read through the instructions last night and realized I can use clippings from my overgrown succulent garden outside, so it will cost me next to nothing. Score!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">DIY instructions for an indoor succulent picture frame found at <a href="http://www.bhg.com/gardening/container/plans-ideas/make-a-living-succulent-picture/?sssdmh=dm17.543675&page=14&esrc=nwdiy081711d&email=2504850397#page=14">Better Homes and Gardens</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2dJxS1N642QRIHxHZJXsvNTbHNJr82uNNSWdUa6dkaEH33bU7KjpmsdtEw5dNFefE8smttIIWVN521Wsfw-7hTmhjT28jWl38JRTL-mLAA4D1HraPW6_LP9gG4mICyYW25x7E4oElDs/s1600/133824907_Lht0BrVk_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2dJxS1N642QRIHxHZJXsvNTbHNJr82uNNSWdUa6dkaEH33bU7KjpmsdtEw5dNFefE8smttIIWVN521Wsfw-7hTmhjT28jWl38JRTL-mLAA4D1HraPW6_LP9gG4mICyYW25x7E4oElDs/s1600/133824907_Lht0BrVk_c.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3. This scarf necklace from <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=23296262&catId=JEWELRY-NECKLACES&pushId=JEWELRY-NECKLACES&popId=JEWELRYACCESSORIES&navCount=258&color=000&isProduct=true&fromCategoryPage=true&isSubcategory=true&subCategoryId=JEWELRY-NECKLACES-STATEMENTS">Anthropologie</a> makes me happy every time I see it. The only thing that doesn't make me happy is the price - a whopping $148.00. I will be making this one day for less than $20 in materials, thank you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vCWkCil3arGhRE4muO1x3cqvGQ5ednRHojAcaIhSuzpA4wVJB3038t_89F1PuN6CewZOPpLffEX7gkNa9VhpZVve1Q5dpuyJc4YnkkbIxXuq9d6VwbQiSCB8w8jqdl4nPgDn4T-_i6Y/s1600/103927160_932WbKQS_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vCWkCil3arGhRE4muO1x3cqvGQ5ednRHojAcaIhSuzpA4wVJB3038t_89F1PuN6CewZOPpLffEX7gkNa9VhpZVve1Q5dpuyJc4YnkkbIxXuq9d6VwbQiSCB8w8jqdl4nPgDn4T-_i6Y/s1600/103927160_932WbKQS_c.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>4. I have been looking for the perfect accent pillow for our master bedroom for a year now. A year! I have finally realized I'm not going to find it. Instead, I've opted to take a grey bolster pillow I found at West Elm and add a french knot treatment to it to create something like this. Obviously in yellow to compliment my color scheme. :)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">French knot tutorial found <a href="http://www.needlenthread.com/2006/11/french-knot-video-tutorial.html">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljIRRdLledYMSPMnrmopGnPkZPoLeUpos9Htldhu-1TkiWCAV09oeJ9vy3RW4H9Lo8uz63cjtlTgraKsuFPDETH2pR74359cC7gUOsBHRuE_nXVZ2BzOhhAEtKbZMsdk17YMSOgjGTKQ/s1600/86264250_qLvD0FC8_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljIRRdLledYMSPMnrmopGnPkZPoLeUpos9Htldhu-1TkiWCAV09oeJ9vy3RW4H9Lo8uz63cjtlTgraKsuFPDETH2pR74359cC7gUOsBHRuE_nXVZ2BzOhhAEtKbZMsdk17YMSOgjGTKQ/s1600/86264250_qLvD0FC8_c.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5. I really need to finish my family tree project. I know. I haven't lost excitement for it at all, believe me! But finding things that explain who a person is without being tacky or too obvious is a challenge! I'll be including techniques like quilling and vintage printing like these pictures very soon in the next few shadowboxes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4wxWyciiIHUtF-6C2-8s6Vkd68f3Rig92ZemG4QG0qhAZ9fG6kBmJQjmMT0l3VPjemB_ONmB51E84PMH6UdKOxU5F1hKDPEvqxWCRNKJuoUkOGDUt3a3DfQR3jKBt7VJRVIRsydBy2A/s1600/77014416_40qbMRgv_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4wxWyciiIHUtF-6C2-8s6Vkd68f3Rig92ZemG4QG0qhAZ9fG6kBmJQjmMT0l3VPjemB_ONmB51E84PMH6UdKOxU5F1hKDPEvqxWCRNKJuoUkOGDUt3a3DfQR3jKBt7VJRVIRsydBy2A/s1600/77014416_40qbMRgv_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJH3jxUM8Co_aQwKpGnE1va_NWjTAVcKeVnfvEe3AwXpOKf9NU2UEgzmcIZ27FiGgD1COJtQ17BMkuVyk83PDcAyCnUMkt7HQZ70gAvnqqg45bnbAb6bJflNUvdbUiyDt8dKh2Vcyvw3c/s1600/fish+Art+Paper-+Designs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJH3jxUM8Co_aQwKpGnE1va_NWjTAVcKeVnfvEe3AwXpOKf9NU2UEgzmcIZ27FiGgD1COJtQ17BMkuVyk83PDcAyCnUMkt7HQZ70gAvnqqg45bnbAb6bJflNUvdbUiyDt8dKh2Vcyvw3c/s1600/fish+Art+Paper-+Designs.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6. I need this in my foyer before the weather turns bad and Andrew ruins our hardwood floors. An easy thing to make, so I'm sure it will happen sooner than later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Martha's pebbled tray for winter shoes found <a href="http://homedesign.marthastewart.com/2011/08/entryway-solutions.html">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRwuKZ0R-4dLiWL0RTZtg9Odgqbvk1d1K0CylbOzroYNylQ14db0MQq7U5jcQTJtZQRj6GTEt4Jy1e3GT2tfeQkJ4p5s383r45JE51E4yRhcSFJRTT5zaNgxmN0_hgNshq3-fuIeKEyc/s1600/136984532_tGVdDXxK_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRwuKZ0R-4dLiWL0RTZtg9Odgqbvk1d1K0CylbOzroYNylQ14db0MQq7U5jcQTJtZQRj6GTEt4Jy1e3GT2tfeQkJ4p5s383r45JE51E4yRhcSFJRTT5zaNgxmN0_hgNshq3-fuIeKEyc/s1600/136984532_tGVdDXxK_c.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">7. I know this is not a new idea. In fact, it's overused and uninspired. But I've never done it before and I really want to try!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bokeh shapes tutorial found <a href="http://www.diyphotography.net/diy_create_your_own_bokeh">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4EA91nEYNGVO_XVENQHGT30DjBsDIO4b6H3hIWI19deHvOOvOcQhzo93o3sjn9iPNzZNQBghSeQzRC2Vf2aoYliZagKHZ3eE4OX40MlJLD_uI8Q5LdoVLETlj2Qsxg1deewA4HZQeCM/s1600/41706358_pxDdFIJf_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4EA91nEYNGVO_XVENQHGT30DjBsDIO4b6H3hIWI19deHvOOvOcQhzo93o3sjn9iPNzZNQBghSeQzRC2Vf2aoYliZagKHZ3eE4OX40MlJLD_uI8Q5LdoVLETlj2Qsxg1deewA4HZQeCM/s1600/41706358_pxDdFIJf_c.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">8. You've seen this image on Barker House Love before, but at the time, I just thought it was cool. I've now decided that I must make it. :) There's no tutorial on this that I could find in all of internet-land, but it seems pretty straight forward. The only thing I may run into is it turning out uneven or running out of pages. But we'll see I guess!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWx-cuiEQkL5Oz1YTg9bJVfnENjkl6LQ-9FujZEBuFtZsfUJA4vxe7nd1mRBsi5177on5AHWieIOTs0B1b3KtBVER3ZbtTL4QAfdHVfZ9PbjnTTFoeojgOIbdZ8bLJsX3J0Bw9r3YlDI/s1600/41389459_8ceW3Nrb_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWx-cuiEQkL5Oz1YTg9bJVfnENjkl6LQ-9FujZEBuFtZsfUJA4vxe7nd1mRBsi5177on5AHWieIOTs0B1b3KtBVER3ZbtTL4QAfdHVfZ9PbjnTTFoeojgOIbdZ8bLJsX3J0Bw9r3YlDI/s1600/41389459_8ceW3Nrb_c.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">9. This leather mirror from <a href="http://www.serenaandlily.com/Decor/Mirrors-Leather-Mirror">Serena & Lily</a> is stunning and so sophisticated. It's also $295.00. Sigh.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0lncaJaaHzsGb0CeuygstDvvnsLz1I3ZVA9Gt0LTDB44s0QpMtJ4vZ2zg47xmQDzZ5GMsxbOJbgADOb8mb4Jus49BDRmhtdytWzt9Wjk00Ek0L0sZIA7WhaaaisSGPftxfb5vW57dUA/s1600/leathermirror1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0lncaJaaHzsGb0CeuygstDvvnsLz1I3ZVA9Gt0LTDB44s0QpMtJ4vZ2zg47xmQDzZ5GMsxbOJbgADOb8mb4Jus49BDRmhtdytWzt9Wjk00Ek0L0sZIA7WhaaaisSGPftxfb5vW57dUA/s1600/leathermirror1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAKKF_uXDhKcgC-mSzGEOfkdukaUcjcr_T0TdOtwvlu1yHacP2im4S-ghQIuCNwQyrit5KRjdKIr4TcgILy6Va6eFezw9n8zKiFUbB8OPjnUV_eI36p_yMkV350Wo20yL_zSz9uPYGEs/s1600/leathermirror2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAKKF_uXDhKcgC-mSzGEOfkdukaUcjcr_T0TdOtwvlu1yHacP2im4S-ghQIuCNwQyrit5KRjdKIr4TcgILy6Va6eFezw9n8zKiFUbB8OPjnUV_eI36p_yMkV350Wo20yL_zSz9uPYGEs/s1600/leathermirror2" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm thinking I could take <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30133522#/70133520/">this mirror from IKEA</a> and add a belt to it, though. Eh? It's only $20, so if I hate it, no biggee.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are all things I'd like to finish before Christmas season. I know, I'm dreaming. But I have a whole new list of things to make for the holidays! </div>Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-78248928383704173992011-09-02T11:18:00.000-04:002011-09-02T11:18:14.193-04:00Me and Martha? We're like "this".Aaaaannddd...I'm back. Sorry for the pause in posting. Did ya miss me?<br />
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I have a secret. Me and Martha? We're besties. She is always writing me emails (she doesn't call because she knows my schedule is way too hectic for her). <br />
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:) :) :)<br />
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I really DO receive daily emails from Martha Stewart...because I've signed up for the Craft Of The Day emails! You should definitely get on over to her website and sign up, but be warned. You will want to do everything. Here's one I thought was extra easy and fun:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/337728/cork-stamp-how-to?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/60-summer-activities-for-kids#slide_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">DIY Cork Stamps</span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nYrje2sPkYIJhYZjs8R4_ffEYo3ITST30QlnO_P24zbk5XqhwsFKf6R4YpR07AsFyLw6lJ8u1aVGRjf3bW0RG9BuFKc5o3gG_pJWuiVzqnQl5YlQh1BFMFyGDu2qvcquMMpgS7I-jZc/s1600/cork+stamp+martha+stewart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nYrje2sPkYIJhYZjs8R4_ffEYo3ITST30QlnO_P24zbk5XqhwsFKf6R4YpR07AsFyLw6lJ8u1aVGRjf3bW0RG9BuFKc5o3gG_pJWuiVzqnQl5YlQh1BFMFyGDu2qvcquMMpgS7I-jZc/s1600/cork+stamp+martha+stewart.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So cute and easy!</div><br />
Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-56086608601046669322011-08-24T11:24:00.000-04:002011-08-24T11:24:00.402-04:00a library in our foyerI have trouble sleeping. Most people can fall asleep in fifteen minutes or so after lying down. If you're like Andrew, it's more like thirty seconds. But me? It's takes me a solid hour at the very least to fall asleep no matter how tired I am. Most nights, I go to bed when Andrew does (around 11pm) but don't fall asleep until 2am. So what do I do with those solitary hours? I read. A LOT. So much so, in fact, that we're bursting at the seems in our closets right now with books. It takes me on average a week or less to finish a novel. Multiply that by 52 weeks in a year, 8 years of constant reading...yeah, that's a lot of books.<br />
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We'll be doing a built-in bookshelf in the foyer eventually. Something along these lines...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepQz0KxBDDDDmHrxygQ-BzV-J1WuMZaXRQcEHaUlmS-8Sh1vjDcOFnxvVesZChN0seEQqRaZQo2jbngBVPfwVh7JsUW1lcy_-euiT7rVkAOqanVjTTHqHfbxqBSb9fx5TTAXlmFIOY1c/s1600/49690803_PvuxNycb_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepQz0KxBDDDDmHrxygQ-BzV-J1WuMZaXRQcEHaUlmS-8Sh1vjDcOFnxvVesZChN0seEQqRaZQo2jbngBVPfwVh7JsUW1lcy_-euiT7rVkAOqanVjTTHqHfbxqBSb9fx5TTAXlmFIOY1c/s1600/49690803_PvuxNycb_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrNHoTefCMNHs1Nhqcm_HCnZB-k03Ur4-D-OOmT_W6CFaTskLG7MI5AcrvQdsDfu_IxDTuviE5qYZFUfYjEG8e0xb4I-iNcXlWoGxrumA6zVAIadbW8TK4gVPN0kTWZ6QZUmMBZuoVDw/s1600/104279459_LqW9Z8eJ_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrNHoTefCMNHs1Nhqcm_HCnZB-k03Ur4-D-OOmT_W6CFaTskLG7MI5AcrvQdsDfu_IxDTuviE5qYZFUfYjEG8e0xb4I-iNcXlWoGxrumA6zVAIadbW8TK4gVPN0kTWZ6QZUmMBZuoVDw/s1600/104279459_LqW9Z8eJ_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiHgmgQU3wUYe_ODXwZXLQgNfw2SzqxvIkOh5vyzUWEpB2b3c-YXZC42QLnP_C-TAs44VyGHB39jY8NBcTPugQHpuVIsTS2gwDjMC2gG-j390c6CO_-NOHJVyGzKjwyGNNmmcIp9GAPo/s1600/121265292_MWDoA1TB_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiHgmgQU3wUYe_ODXwZXLQgNfw2SzqxvIkOh5vyzUWEpB2b3c-YXZC42QLnP_C-TAs44VyGHB39jY8NBcTPugQHpuVIsTS2gwDjMC2gG-j390c6CO_-NOHJVyGzKjwyGNNmmcIp9GAPo/s1600/121265292_MWDoA1TB_c.jpg" /></a></div>I pulled these four images from Pinterest. There are things I like about each of the inspiration pics - the arches, the bench seat, and yes even the hidden door. We have a coat closet on the wall that we'd like to add the structure, so I'm thinking this might be the perfect solution!<br />
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This project is not going to be happening any time in the next year, unfortunately, but I thought I'd share anyway! Until I have proper storage for all my finds, I'll keep them tucked in my master bedroom closet. Can you imagine how many more shoes I'll be able to fit in there once they've been cleared out?! Woohoo!<br />
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One more thing - would anyone be interested in reviews of some of my favorite reads? If so, comment and I'll think about adding a book review column!Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-20510582863884783882011-08-23T10:19:00.000-04:002011-08-23T10:19:36.212-04:00talentI had to share this. Not a huge fan of Britney, but this cover is bananas.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/y_O7hRuhoP0" width="640"></iframe>Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-53628178666369854312011-08-22T11:12:00.000-04:002011-08-22T11:12:24.570-04:00egyptian pinhole pendant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was watching <a href="http://www.hgtv.ca/sarah101/default.aspx">Sarah 101</a>, one of my favorite shows on HGTV, when I saw what might be the prettiest pendant ever. EVER! Have you ever seen anything like this?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuugKqGOoe7Z_GffqquqxekUHQyI_OeLxSn0uXzQKpr0Pi_vep3_b5KzmE9BJPlPuFymM8xGYJTAHIcZ3iLdUu08EDAGWZu9skgjSRJmgNS-3oMitDZYX7n9PcuuJeUY06K8z1Krvibug/s1600/5998527159_568ff278a6_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuugKqGOoe7Z_GffqquqxekUHQyI_OeLxSn0uXzQKpr0Pi_vep3_b5KzmE9BJPlPuFymM8xGYJTAHIcZ3iLdUu08EDAGWZu9skgjSRJmgNS-3oMitDZYX7n9PcuuJeUY06K8z1Krvibug/s1600/5998527159_568ff278a6_o.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQjRG8AFc9h7a4revflRjRV9lw8W7QK9GKsvE-igl1-hzAdndlQmZtCqWtO3SG82I108pdMtKAShCybhqZfOTRRX3-qAccCR0E1LBWNOaKqDM38uyfCxr4XUq5ER7QVgpxgiI3uDZEeQ/s1600/filigrain4_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQjRG8AFc9h7a4revflRjRV9lw8W7QK9GKsvE-igl1-hzAdndlQmZtCqWtO3SG82I108pdMtKAShCybhqZfOTRRX3-qAccCR0E1LBWNOaKqDM38uyfCxr4XUq5ER7QVgpxgiI3uDZEeQ/s1600/filigrain4_01.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_bEjbPNGJS67w5Pjjc0fpynqmrcv88Y7PLzvMor7BBEYx1H31yjZLOqgwZfSVTplDMmUMa2SQWpkdBOQ_8tFYulvKnYUbU2D5jG45bsvcb0gFamDtelEiNnAIpDASeQnmjoyCuD9vQg/s1600/filigrain4_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_bEjbPNGJS67w5Pjjc0fpynqmrcv88Y7PLzvMor7BBEYx1H31yjZLOqgwZfSVTplDMmUMa2SQWpkdBOQ_8tFYulvKnYUbU2D5jG45bsvcb0gFamDtelEiNnAIpDASeQnmjoyCuD9vQg/s1600/filigrain4_02.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They're handmade Egyptian pinhole pendant lamps and you can get them <a href="http://www.soukshop.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2_8">here</a>. I will be ordering one of the larger ones for our bedroom. Oh yes I will.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PS There are only two more days to answer my poll on how you found out about Barker House Love. It's on the right side of the screen - please take the time to click! :)</div><br />
Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-14125975643497229942011-08-19T11:04:00.000-04:002011-08-19T11:04:22.705-04:00back from PortlandiaAndrew and I took a mini-vacation this past week to visit his brother on the west coast. It has been lots of fun reconnecting with Aaron and his wife, Adrienne, but I'm glad to be back in the swing of things here. <br />
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A snapshot or two from the trip:<br />
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Aaron is an extremely talented shoe designer and Adrienne is a full-time artist. Both of their artistic work is pretty amazing. I may be highlighting their work sometime in the future, so don't touch that remote!Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-73679964949998853362011-08-17T12:14:00.000-04:002011-08-17T12:14:57.932-04:00This one's for you...Thank you!!! I am so excited to say that this humble little blog is getting some not-so-humble traffic! I don't pay all that much attention to blog stats and such - I just like writing and when I started Barker House Love I just hoped that at least one person would have a good time reading it. So, I was jaw-on-the-floor blown away when I saw that last month I had around 2,000 hits on Barker House Love. Of those 2,000 people, there were readers from all over the world. I'm talking the United Kingdom, Cambodia, Australia, France, Japan, India...just to name a few. Seriously?!<br />
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After doing a happy dance around my living room, I suddenly realized that this little project of mine has grown past what I envisioned it to be. I've been thinking about how to make this blog something that you, the reader, would come back for again and again and have decided the easiest way to figure this out is a poll (or three). I'll be doing one a week. If you could take a few minutes to answer the poll on the right side of the blog, it would help me out so much! I want to know what makes your heart go pitter patter. What will make you come back again and again? If you choose "other" or something that requires explanation, leave me a comment below and I promise I will read and consider what you've said.<br />
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Again, thank you so very much!!! Sally Field gleamed as she said what I feel right now about your readership:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Mc39h3f6E0A" width="640"></iframe>Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-14451600213671645082011-08-09T14:42:00.000-04:002011-08-09T14:42:32.629-04:00HGTV love<div style="text-align: left;">HGTV has loads of new programming! Have you noticed? I must say, I hope that I have something to do with that. You think I'm joking. Well, we were actually asked by Nielsen ratings company in one of our formers homes to view what we watch. They paid us, so of course we were all for it. During that time, I made sure to watch what I LOVED and not just what was on. Why? Because what I was watched would hopefully get bigger budgets if Neilsen was paying attention. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Seems to me like they were, because only a few short years later, HGTV is getting bigger budget shows, guest celebrity appearances, and have even pulled high end designers from other networks to start series of their own. Here's a few new ones that I've noticed:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hgtv.com/candice-tells-all/show/index.html">Candice Tells All</a><br />
I have to tell you, I was getting a little bored with Candice's designs. Yes, they are all fabulous. But they are also all the same. After watching her do the same stuff over and over again for years, I finally gave up on her show and cancelled it from my DVR. This new show of hers is a little better, but it's still the same design sense. What I DO love about this is that Candice gives pointers here and there. Very practical and useful info.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0ky87ECOSP1JxQ8x4HX3LfvEUCCOjz2Zjhz18Bw5krWux6dLehB9QvYeBmbn0BaC9INBCqP23SlhMWEn-IhbOiQvVEchf-1ZBn8-EOjYAYalcHrUuyflmLFPosdv91M9AMO8YcQcFF4/s1600/candiceTellsAll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0ky87ECOSP1JxQ8x4HX3LfvEUCCOjz2Zjhz18Bw5krWux6dLehB9QvYeBmbn0BaC9INBCqP23SlhMWEn-IhbOiQvVEchf-1ZBn8-EOjYAYalcHrUuyflmLFPosdv91M9AMO8YcQcFF4/s1600/candiceTellsAll.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hgtv.com/sarah-101/show/index.html">Sarah 101</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love Sarah. OK that sounds creepy. I really love her updated traditional style and her show. I don't really know Sarah herself. ;) Sarah has been in television for so long (mostly airing in Canada), but I feel like she's just now getting some of the attention she deserves with her new hit, Sarah 101. It's pretty similar to some of her older shows like Design Inc and Sarah's House, but it's a little quirkier and goes into some of the reasoning behind her style choices. Love every bit of it. Tommy is so funny to watch, too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_A7wP797CoiN0-_5WdfJWpKcUl7J3PP-9ydUWJfRwbzZQIBVwdDYFIWX3K-GfPl0-95dKZAeXFZkFqH1YZMni5Ib5Jm8ChEo7cLOoHuom_xlp0LsEMxhM9tw0B2kbM25pmlg_-dYtwxM/s1600/host_sarah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_A7wP797CoiN0-_5WdfJWpKcUl7J3PP-9ydUWJfRwbzZQIBVwdDYFIWX3K-GfPl0-95dKZAeXFZkFqH1YZMni5Ib5Jm8ChEo7cLOoHuom_xlp0LsEMxhM9tw0B2kbM25pmlg_-dYtwxM/s1600/host_sarah.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hgtv.com/the-high-low-project/show/index.html">The High Low Project</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I always knew Sabrina had more potential than she was showing in her previous home staging show. Maybe her involvement with Target stores as their stylist made the peeps at HGTV notice her potential. Or maybe they just didn't know what to do with their extra budget thanks to my loyal watching. ;) All joking aside, the concept of this new show is perfect and I am sure I will be a loyal follower. If you don't know about this one yet, definitely check it out! What she does in this show is exactly my goal with my house. High design, low budget.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSQ614LRBV-YZEv7ZsnrPpdeP2f1Z1Zpeyiwz4hxnGxiLEv2M8SUJEB4gcjXojMij6mI9C4Eb7KQ0VYCS_IABYeuifFiwBiXyekuWagUPkl-w0-jNYH25kTg4JrydSx6wAXgwhjCOZhc/s1600/high-low-project.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSQ614LRBV-YZEv7ZsnrPpdeP2f1Z1Zpeyiwz4hxnGxiLEv2M8SUJEB4gcjXojMij6mI9C4Eb7KQ0VYCS_IABYeuifFiwBiXyekuWagUPkl-w0-jNYH25kTg4JrydSx6wAXgwhjCOZhc/s400/high-low-project.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hgtv.com/the-outdoor-room-with-jamie-durie/show/index.html">The Outdoor Room</a><br />
This guy gives me hope for my back yard. His designs are really well thought out, although most are pretty extreme. I'm not sure I would actually sign up for this show myself for fear I'd never be able to sell the house later without doing some major re-design, but it's only because I live in a cookie-cutter neighborhood. Maybe he'd prove me wrong, though! Either way, I love watching this show simply because I have no clue as to what to do with my outdoor space. Jamie is a great source of inspiration!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZSDiv6Erls8dpKTWdNJUYK8mfYMyFBW3HCFkiZedHmJtOZ_pTy08mMd_8wWp6Abd88aaOITdUg9CXo9OjInxVD6V36NT-IExKRGsirZXZsv073-WE2BnTHPXIjWi4dDQJWGf43B_uVc/s1600/the-outdoor-room-with-jamie-durie-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZSDiv6Erls8dpKTWdNJUYK8mfYMyFBW3HCFkiZedHmJtOZ_pTy08mMd_8wWp6Abd88aaOITdUg9CXo9OjInxVD6V36NT-IExKRGsirZXZsv073-WE2BnTHPXIjWi4dDQJWGf43B_uVc/s400/the-outdoor-room-with-jamie-durie-9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hgtv.com/home-by-novogratz/show/index.html">Home by Novogratz</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have followed Courtney and Robert for a while now. They were previously on a show called 9 by Design on another network. While I am so happy to see that their talents have afforded them another series, I have to say... I'm not diggin' their new show. It seems sooo static and nothing like their personalities. They are stress balls. The way they do things is chaotic. Their seven kids rule the roost. And those are the things I love about this quirky couple. HGTV has managed to take all the quirk out and I'm bored. I may or may not delete the rest of their series from my dvr. Haven't decided yet, but I'm leaning toward giving them the hack.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYnek3m7PCKxsijfwT0w_q5AAtj_iF9V8AdNTPoXG89gdAf0-dDNUtS1Q3IjCRivnB-gcBp_qimtwW5lAoezfJBnevhIBgd4AnO_zullx6oadbhsckigqLTPqmN3JKLyefGUI7i7XPhY/s1600/nytimes5-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYnek3m7PCKxsijfwT0w_q5AAtj_iF9V8AdNTPoXG89gdAf0-dDNUtS1Q3IjCRivnB-gcBp_qimtwW5lAoezfJBnevhIBgd4AnO_zullx6oadbhsckigqLTPqmN3JKLyefGUI7i7XPhY/s1600/nytimes5-09.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So there you have it. HGTV is getting better and better every season! Now all they need is Martha. Or me. You know, cause we're the same person. ;)</div>Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-45375585459264305042011-08-08T10:33:00.000-04:002011-08-08T10:33:48.344-04:00all things southern, part 3<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Time for more southern charm! <br />
<br />
Vintage furnishings and architecture are one of my very most favorite thing about living here. In my opinion vintage is the new black, and nobody does vintage like The South. There is a real appreciation for things with character, history and charm here. Not everything is new and shiny and perfect. Kind of like life. I have made it a priority to include vintage pieces into my decor and those are the things people always comment about! It's not the brand new couch you paid $3k for. It's the $100 side table that sits beside it that you picked up at an antique mall. Go figure. :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-Diob_pm_urSVfcuj-oldyl7eLE2na8IzGJHyYfizRvcchUmGG2dVthxOErqxHxEv3l-daJ_qegVwYY4TT5PTBTicWXhgdSXSp35qRzaUdbmaV4_JwLp4IwhSYvKGKLkl10l0W-ih2Q/s1600/79859206_1TMyXxpY_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-Diob_pm_urSVfcuj-oldyl7eLE2na8IzGJHyYfizRvcchUmGG2dVthxOErqxHxEv3l-daJ_qegVwYY4TT5PTBTicWXhgdSXSp35qRzaUdbmaV4_JwLp4IwhSYvKGKLkl10l0W-ih2Q/s1600/79859206_1TMyXxpY_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiHoC3nGV94mgsX6fZJQY76-JhAGcV0eVOQwe245AwJ9CZI_2o7CQDk2DPt27tQIrmXmByWEnG4UPaGCsg8bp0b_EcwU2T_nsxuL3RQFmtEpC7-exkUgplibRblOzG8QZFYYu5W35Ms8/s1600/7635022_gCcgEoJd_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiHoC3nGV94mgsX6fZJQY76-JhAGcV0eVOQwe245AwJ9CZI_2o7CQDk2DPt27tQIrmXmByWEnG4UPaGCsg8bp0b_EcwU2T_nsxuL3RQFmtEpC7-exkUgplibRblOzG8QZFYYu5W35Ms8/s1600/7635022_gCcgEoJd_b.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93l58agA-Y4SjdTs2I7ORk14ZMr4WOzTN5JA36m1E-K66EDGmPzMYx4xuNPpGvT3tCH7J_8mtaVrsS46CayhI8KZgkndjbrVSXXo1dPn9h9G7qfooXv_Cad9w_BD3KRH1VOT1qgc8wP8/s1600/46155631_SmcmUa0q_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93l58agA-Y4SjdTs2I7ORk14ZMr4WOzTN5JA36m1E-K66EDGmPzMYx4xuNPpGvT3tCH7J_8mtaVrsS46CayhI8KZgkndjbrVSXXo1dPn9h9G7qfooXv_Cad9w_BD3KRH1VOT1qgc8wP8/s1600/46155631_SmcmUa0q_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3LQfmOKP0e7bPNz5VAPEwqmySg5bWuqkXC28ABmTBsnM_3fIrP-YWXYkx66o8eyUndlN6IzlgNpWjtc62QBkfwuFBGNkEZYNz_wYcKnElMyYCM8tZX-lpWGzYxzLP4ocODo5JdBJEQc/s1600/70236783_GwkNd55E_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3LQfmOKP0e7bPNz5VAPEwqmySg5bWuqkXC28ABmTBsnM_3fIrP-YWXYkx66o8eyUndlN6IzlgNpWjtc62QBkfwuFBGNkEZYNz_wYcKnElMyYCM8tZX-lpWGzYxzLP4ocODo5JdBJEQc/s1600/70236783_GwkNd55E_c.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another thing I love is outdoor living and entertaining. While we still get snow once or twice a year, it is not ALWAYS too cold to be outside. People regularly eat dinner with their family on their patios, have a backyard barbeque or spend their weekends gardening. There is quite a bit of homeowner pride in outdoor spaces and for good reason! It is more visible to the rest of the neighborhood than your interior space and is one of the best things you can do for resale.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We plan to add a fence, stone or brick patio and some awesome outdoor furniture very soon! These images are a great inspiration for me and I hope they are for you as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdacIPsHEpfXEuHqTVWHT8QMThltohlIccVSANJShndNZKH9Z3SnpxBzktn2juc8XZW_ipLVdFMVJc4l6ZG1Sv1zfklxx2j3lO-fn5vXzeL6WwZ0XJzWrMVGSGHBV78F1dKmBnj4R-nY/s1600/8433302_YB4aqTiL_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdacIPsHEpfXEuHqTVWHT8QMThltohlIccVSANJShndNZKH9Z3SnpxBzktn2juc8XZW_ipLVdFMVJc4l6ZG1Sv1zfklxx2j3lO-fn5vXzeL6WwZ0XJzWrMVGSGHBV78F1dKmBnj4R-nY/s1600/8433302_YB4aqTiL_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06T9w0nlhMzSCOx4-a_8DCQjmUFY8mIVMjfR4HuBHDvtIQPDTgTbc6avqmEnnDSlm6jMdzXqYkwlN2Gb1RVRmwMrzwWL4t1KLg6NJNb0ots8Wwfe2GPcTCCmIlsx6V60HdK4IJXjsAHo/s1600/36295248_nS2CXYw5_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06T9w0nlhMzSCOx4-a_8DCQjmUFY8mIVMjfR4HuBHDvtIQPDTgTbc6avqmEnnDSlm6jMdzXqYkwlN2Gb1RVRmwMrzwWL4t1KLg6NJNb0ots8Wwfe2GPcTCCmIlsx6V60HdK4IJXjsAHo/s1600/36295248_nS2CXYw5_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWm-RluEFpjpfu5sALeN2dcabomPfH6qb0H67uVfrQTxOfrwC89HaAsqVVMu0R0xK5mHKLWKUsDGQ9RReF1h4Z-XO6NYBN23MMwKGcE25mxcbTv5TqmBcXwAK-oTP7RvUccx1tAbPLBIo/s1600/36967599_DvHNaLdU_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWm-RluEFpjpfu5sALeN2dcabomPfH6qb0H67uVfrQTxOfrwC89HaAsqVVMu0R0xK5mHKLWKUsDGQ9RReF1h4Z-XO6NYBN23MMwKGcE25mxcbTv5TqmBcXwAK-oTP7RvUccx1tAbPLBIo/s1600/36967599_DvHNaLdU_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-NkUi0T9O1lYARj678AQK16QhE9WNoab8i9cEldXvVQx1SlYUl4R_c3K-r9nEIEjTi3TfhGfftFd_fTsHrwVpOtlrdI-CPn1KxTN8YTHfwhgv4QbsEGP9HPEFjwVsIr-PlP-HVnIPFs/s1600/39970851_82DJSXJk_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-NkUi0T9O1lYARj678AQK16QhE9WNoab8i9cEldXvVQx1SlYUl4R_c3K-r9nEIEjTi3TfhGfftFd_fTsHrwVpOtlrdI-CPn1KxTN8YTHfwhgv4QbsEGP9HPEFjwVsIr-PlP-HVnIPFs/s1600/39970851_82DJSXJk_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yf8RNzIMfn4kxF2HttZZHgpgz7ySMETChBlkget39VAXDX0jmnzjgoMqORScOTVzsuHOEK9mFnfsm9MytVLYAHxp71kpHDQhKOdE5MDH87TeUtmXwjhzzyqgC21H6TVdwdA1JnSo3Zg/s1600/41356752_QtytHQNb_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yf8RNzIMfn4kxF2HttZZHgpgz7ySMETChBlkget39VAXDX0jmnzjgoMqORScOTVzsuHOEK9mFnfsm9MytVLYAHxp71kpHDQhKOdE5MDH87TeUtmXwjhzzyqgC21H6TVdwdA1JnSo3Zg/s1600/41356752_QtytHQNb_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJi_GI22RKClrlKzhY6OYTQw82VNSYDN6Qvoe5CWwV6i7xa3voGSAa56jht_6qnUTLnE8kkw9LP-slVSx0bGPvCiajhJ9XcTcYN_38asz7qCEdC64GktHySBaLsJGKTy5cN3yoW0-FWjQ/s1600/48412757_eP0dbMwg_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJi_GI22RKClrlKzhY6OYTQw82VNSYDN6Qvoe5CWwV6i7xa3voGSAa56jht_6qnUTLnE8kkw9LP-slVSx0bGPvCiajhJ9XcTcYN_38asz7qCEdC64GktHySBaLsJGKTy5cN3yoW0-FWjQ/s1600/48412757_eP0dbMwg_c.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Southern food is actually not one of my favorite things about living here, BUT I know there are so many people out there who love it. So here's a few Southern traditional dishes you should try.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">collard greens</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFxmUeirHE8eLzcGMMv3ZWgJT_jpa0S71UduQ_paGA9SGQkIGhU1lddZawJvVfD7KYYoLJHYSTQR9z9CMPseYPwOcBYNY1w_9RjiKh5_OXldiNjD_JGQ0CknJmVCkOU1jivORK73UYCg/s1600/Collard-Greens-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFxmUeirHE8eLzcGMMv3ZWgJT_jpa0S71UduQ_paGA9SGQkIGhU1lddZawJvVfD7KYYoLJHYSTQR9z9CMPseYPwOcBYNY1w_9RjiKh5_OXldiNjD_JGQ0CknJmVCkOU1jivORK73UYCg/s1600/Collard-Greens-2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bbq pork</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPDNyMc5XaphUih14lWn2_EXoxxgv6hrZWmpZrLPZCd9GT7bmFuCW9-Al7h5nvLxYI1ESr6SvQPFFwR9ZFYkW2vJu_xiDLhMTxEXl7rtC27k8_2jmttLt3L4H4exIgBl3y_oA6hq1NLE/s1600/41787_2201936180_833_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPDNyMc5XaphUih14lWn2_EXoxxgv6hrZWmpZrLPZCd9GT7bmFuCW9-Al7h5nvLxYI1ESr6SvQPFFwR9ZFYkW2vJu_xiDLhMTxEXl7rtC27k8_2jmttLt3L4H4exIgBl3y_oA6hq1NLE/s1600/41787_2201936180_833_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">shrimp n grits</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8dLWnRs9cpPOpkUsEN3z-VzF2jLNlXbHw41rJhBgA9o6wrm_luVDpV2fNr_ikGlN6viYcnSJ9Ldi_9xvRL5ldW9PTu2Xj8zlHxAuxgvmoU4nlnBsp1HsbawqRfobLRM7thk2A2FEq6w/s1600/shrimp-grits2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8dLWnRs9cpPOpkUsEN3z-VzF2jLNlXbHw41rJhBgA9o6wrm_luVDpV2fNr_ikGlN6viYcnSJ9Ldi_9xvRL5ldW9PTu2Xj8zlHxAuxgvmoU4nlnBsp1HsbawqRfobLRM7thk2A2FEq6w/s640/shrimp-grits2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">po boy sandwich</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2z5LiUllMEa0tLUvFAEXrBLXKHjynaMI9JBJvpfhQu_Ti3mvxFb17hzH7pQVBdjumIshk7gc5-ovgJz2XU5LjH4rjoRbC2yu5NtL_WePIEGDSNhsvs4bEFbzmAO061h3ZmmDz6FMGoKc/s1600/shrimp-poboy-ck-1036188-l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2z5LiUllMEa0tLUvFAEXrBLXKHjynaMI9JBJvpfhQu_Ti3mvxFb17hzH7pQVBdjumIshk7gc5-ovgJz2XU5LjH4rjoRbC2yu5NtL_WePIEGDSNhsvs4bEFbzmAO061h3ZmmDz6FMGoKc/s1600/shrimp-poboy-ck-1036188-l.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mertsuptown.com/">Mertz (Heart and Soul)</a> is probably my favorite place in Charlotte for soul food. Everything there is yummy, but I especially like their soul rolls and collared greens.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mertscharlotte.com/images/indeximg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.mertscharlotte.com/images/indeximg.png" /></a></div><br />
I hope you've enjoyed the "all things Southern" blog posts! If I did my job right and really showed some Southern hospitality, tonight you'll dream about sitting outside under a canopy of Spanish Moss in your entertaining space drinking an Arnold Palmer from your mason jar in a vintage rocking chair with a southern gent in a bow tie who promises to add bead boarding to your beach bungalow. hehe ;)</div>Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-69509351549703624012011-08-04T09:57:00.000-04:002011-08-04T09:57:42.281-04:00Family Tree - RoseRose is Andrew's mom.<br />
Her day job is in real estate. <br />
She is a master at reupholstering furniture and does needlepoint as a hobby. <br />
I used these things about her personality to come up with this:<br />
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Real Estate - the house<br />
Upholstery - yellow upholstery pins<br />
Cross Stitch - yarn<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztaBDEAogHZ_OBgLYlwv8qzaHfeeNtYKKkjJ3AFHS__NC-uO7tYjtC9dU5oXXSXPpiF56xAJi4mjHGEYiWg0xQSFyLQ3pv214H7QotVcVrxqR5OPTMAbUxuklSiRM4QT65VQaj2A4bII/s1600/roseshadowbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztaBDEAogHZ_OBgLYlwv8qzaHfeeNtYKKkjJ3AFHS__NC-uO7tYjtC9dU5oXXSXPpiF56xAJi4mjHGEYiWg0xQSFyLQ3pv214H7QotVcVrxqR5OPTMAbUxuklSiRM4QT65VQaj2A4bII/s1600/roseshadowbox.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am now officially half-way done with this project!!! I can't wait to show off Andrew's. He's working on his own, which means it's probably going to be the best one. :)</div>Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-66282481105342291792011-08-03T13:04:00.000-04:002011-08-03T13:04:45.802-04:00all things southern, part 2<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I kind of feel like I'm getting sponsored to do these posts. I wish! haha But seriously, the state of North Carolina did not tell me to say how much I love it here. :)<br />
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So, I've already talked about how much I adore bow ties, bead boarding, and rocking chairs on this <a href="http://barkerhouselove.blogspot.com/2011/07/all-things-southern-part-1.html">previous post</a>. I was so inspired as I was writing, that I made two more posts, each with three things I love about The South.<br />
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First up, mason jars! I can't tell you how much I love these. They can make any affair a bit more casual and...well, southern! I have a collection of 30 mason jars for entertaining from home that I use all the time. I got them at Hobby Lobby for much cheaper than it would have been to buy nice glassware. It's also much more "pro" looking than plastic cups.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mMS61Om-vLbqzNcGoG0-GEBGlfRsDSOFzUw3svvLwU-LsmG97iviNkCVlMzN6YhyphenhyphenvyiP79zLgtPKQ7drhQoFIySguwq7_asEy9jHp_fF0ZjevFeFhvfCyZ-E8249sqvCap_mO9uPR-g/s1600/41383002_fqu1Ear1_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mMS61Om-vLbqzNcGoG0-GEBGlfRsDSOFzUw3svvLwU-LsmG97iviNkCVlMzN6YhyphenhyphenvyiP79zLgtPKQ7drhQoFIySguwq7_asEy9jHp_fF0ZjevFeFhvfCyZ-E8249sqvCap_mO9uPR-g/s1600/41383002_fqu1Ear1_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
If you're lucky enough to find some vintage blue glass Ball jars, they are the perfect vase. During the summer, I constantly have fresh flowers on my table in mason jars.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eyFnrJRcfCZfy1-1efNxdxUjC-0RNC_VF0BZrqsYKNCTIbEm3ghq5t6O09Cb4kUg4pLdjYGDwQsWCuf_vgKnqblBYsXXRkzj7N59NejDIrA0s_MmScRCTVwkoA-CYnw9qOD500bAv0s/s1600/50704800_FlxpJImT_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eyFnrJRcfCZfy1-1efNxdxUjC-0RNC_VF0BZrqsYKNCTIbEm3ghq5t6O09Cb4kUg4pLdjYGDwQsWCuf_vgKnqblBYsXXRkzj7N59NejDIrA0s_MmScRCTVwkoA-CYnw9qOD500bAv0s/s1600/50704800_FlxpJImT_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0i2JIw79S-ctaoStrpSp_40C64k2VjwNgpkfCJhSq4xQ35cspU_IBeb-tqL_u_RzK8z22EIoA7UtYy0-Tv_OLSZdEUm4u-QKZ9eIqOKhxznQLO5uHxEXH7Rjgeg34W1d_k4CE0WF4ck/s1600/IMG_4736blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0i2JIw79S-ctaoStrpSp_40C64k2VjwNgpkfCJhSq4xQ35cspU_IBeb-tqL_u_RzK8z22EIoA7UtYy0-Tv_OLSZdEUm4u-QKZ9eIqOKhxznQLO5uHxEXH7Rjgeg34W1d_k4CE0WF4ck/s640/IMG_4736blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next up, the colorful and beautiful beach bungalow. My hear leaps when I see these. Oh man, if we had the cash flow to buy one of these, I'd so do it! New homes are cheaper than these charm-filled cutie pies, unfortunately, so until I can afford one I'll be dreaming of these!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaE9TIPZnz8S5irI02PGr62GBZqP9Ebrj_5AnQxAdYlraT7AWGFL3GFueumTEIigXOJO3YnGQIgYD2gEmYQsmZjXQZE_2p3ZRLgjFAgYn-Aouhnk2qM3UB5VRAZQ5tRRGcBnEy3gaYzg/s1600/13589430_XxR76EZl_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaE9TIPZnz8S5irI02PGr62GBZqP9Ebrj_5AnQxAdYlraT7AWGFL3GFueumTEIigXOJO3YnGQIgYD2gEmYQsmZjXQZE_2p3ZRLgjFAgYn-Aouhnk2qM3UB5VRAZQ5tRRGcBnEy3gaYzg/s1600/13589430_XxR76EZl_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-i9cgD70EF6bzX2rKyhEf8MMfpLkvnTIcyIHg7B3bFBUvD9a9P_KRXqQNl4EpP6EqZReRMknSLQRkBe47pGOMlRIHXcs7VguqckSmtJBLpuNSTHDS4TzkvpRawyqdirytR8UFhHsX0o/s1600/33925671_8an8pQad_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-i9cgD70EF6bzX2rKyhEf8MMfpLkvnTIcyIHg7B3bFBUvD9a9P_KRXqQNl4EpP6EqZReRMknSLQRkBe47pGOMlRIHXcs7VguqckSmtJBLpuNSTHDS4TzkvpRawyqdirytR8UFhHsX0o/s1600/33925671_8an8pQad_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MmrPEvnQ7CltsXa-IPmmsnUBkIQ1RrV_dVONEiYCsQSGMxUvIysdkP8F2Eos1oFL-7ItBz-tyWDyJOp6_POHBKsnmG6y3BCj-cxNotbUFunef8KGiq8D1UbXkObm-_3Z7QgWXeulzGo/s1600/53375195_BUHE8MOO_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MmrPEvnQ7CltsXa-IPmmsnUBkIQ1RrV_dVONEiYCsQSGMxUvIysdkP8F2Eos1oFL-7ItBz-tyWDyJOp6_POHBKsnmG6y3BCj-cxNotbUFunef8KGiq8D1UbXkObm-_3Z7QgWXeulzGo/s1600/53375195_BUHE8MOO_c.jpg" /></a></div>The insides of bungalows are some of the only older homes that are open, airy and light. All the more reason to love them.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdEBR-ldGChzoZtriOwHmwimDQDaV0RVV1qgi8NpTNZZy2VfYagecew0UVmpfmLnA9jjffu0QTIbUT-nJEjegr4AEml_AaSUNHqbaA_jQZPIiQm_dnHG05EUhz_AwHhD6ESIPf60yVmY/s1600/62665943_RPIyxXfu_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdEBR-ldGChzoZtriOwHmwimDQDaV0RVV1qgi8NpTNZZy2VfYagecew0UVmpfmLnA9jjffu0QTIbUT-nJEjegr4AEml_AaSUNHqbaA_jQZPIiQm_dnHG05EUhz_AwHhD6ESIPf60yVmY/s1600/62665943_RPIyxXfu_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjToKXfsxTgITQ7hsUycVgz6LRFmvJEp_HlsNZoza7Wha8bm1UgRmT8lQrhnz69IHxQ4fMS0CeaPkvAPLUCNS4FLEwTGzrd-i8IeEQ8oLpwnyWH3Ndn4olR51_xWm-XRbUxDVw3EyQSaoc/s1600/67712999_GTRHlnEe_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjToKXfsxTgITQ7hsUycVgz6LRFmvJEp_HlsNZoza7Wha8bm1UgRmT8lQrhnz69IHxQ4fMS0CeaPkvAPLUCNS4FLEwTGzrd-i8IeEQ8oLpwnyWH3Ndn4olR51_xWm-XRbUxDVw3EyQSaoc/s1600/67712999_GTRHlnEe_c.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The last Southern thing for today is Spanish Moss. Amazing, amazing, amazing. When I visited Charleston, South Carolina for the first time during a photo shoot over 3 years ago, I stopped breathing from the beauty of Spanish Moss. Swoon!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4FdioBE7-ecqMOTz0UpdA42aRU61iw4MU_mOzLDf8b3h9j5YR-uKK5qj0Zohvqo1w81uuqa4p1CrxxX8Ma74dMkfUfEVHM_g4ciFV0NEcTirtdNjJywKQQYgRQtzqahXP7OwMIxx6bk/s1600/65201566_mtKE5MGw_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4FdioBE7-ecqMOTz0UpdA42aRU61iw4MU_mOzLDf8b3h9j5YR-uKK5qj0Zohvqo1w81uuqa4p1CrxxX8Ma74dMkfUfEVHM_g4ciFV0NEcTirtdNjJywKQQYgRQtzqahXP7OwMIxx6bk/s1600/65201566_mtKE5MGw_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Bald Head Island has lovely moss throughout the island. Here's a few images I took at a recent wedding that highlight this wonder of nature.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQk713a6UkF2DVxUy3gMji9ODptOPDMQX55Lq_V0bNNjwQN3irPfPSLrIvbtAaduRZJL0xfpQPKZcWwb5ragbC0kyQQXxlNS7IjZkIalR_U0rVqPNDujht3ehX4XIG8wY7KgPkZa5Lq84/s1600/CareyAustin17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQk713a6UkF2DVxUy3gMji9ODptOPDMQX55Lq_V0bNNjwQN3irPfPSLrIvbtAaduRZJL0xfpQPKZcWwb5ragbC0kyQQXxlNS7IjZkIalR_U0rVqPNDujht3ehX4XIG8wY7KgPkZa5Lq84/s640/CareyAustin17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zEt7yoZs2jI7WdxVPJOm3WRBZ0vihAuR8PcOqSXLEMJ_Cr7jQjFMfKcuFaev6IO-Lu1awGWkv_mpFpJa3aKQXJDJBl2aiVxzT7sXR-qou7T4e7zsWkKucf73qglWvjTY0ZiPZaS-v3Y/s1600/CareyAustin25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zEt7yoZs2jI7WdxVPJOm3WRBZ0vihAuR8PcOqSXLEMJ_Cr7jQjFMfKcuFaev6IO-Lu1awGWkv_mpFpJa3aKQXJDJBl2aiVxzT7sXR-qou7T4e7zsWkKucf73qglWvjTY0ZiPZaS-v3Y/s1600/CareyAustin25.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have one more blog post on all things southern to go, so if you have a suggestion for something you love about the South leave a comment! I may be persuaded to add a part 4 with your note!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-21476958816369760352011-08-01T10:31:00.000-04:002011-08-01T10:31:21.815-04:00DIY: earring holder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have been looking for a cute earring holder ever since I decided to get my ears pierced a few months ago. Do they not make them anymore or something??? I can't tell you how many places I went to with absolutely no results. Finally I looked up "earring holder" on Pinterest and found a picture of an old letterpress box with hooks on it for earrings. Bingo! I took it one step further and added the cork board for the earrings that can't be draped onto a hook. I think the solution is genius and really beautiful!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5myxGBg46I89F0HYEjFdubN9_n6WTGBI9rF-2N2OgD3mLNrJS2z2DZeAnhbkCQs1gdA7NPAAuwDO730WWwCF1CPWyXTeneKKfYtffwn4hZroJEfye90btXe8i9wZSahApDPva0xpi-s/s1600/IMG_6035blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5myxGBg46I89F0HYEjFdubN9_n6WTGBI9rF-2N2OgD3mLNrJS2z2DZeAnhbkCQs1gdA7NPAAuwDO730WWwCF1CPWyXTeneKKfYtffwn4hZroJEfye90btXe8i9wZSahApDPva0xpi-s/s1600/IMG_6035blog.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNL71Av0ud0zz79WMxGfnDfgTiRWMTLX06JrzAovcfOhXcjbNkNfCTa2PdBTZAYoGtayUrLq_XFsnzAgFLkAZv2BCnTiGQ2iitEsLOg45y5w3ZEIQSMJtqP29njNnzYv1eVXVugSas7WU/s1600/IMG_6041blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNL71Av0ud0zz79WMxGfnDfgTiRWMTLX06JrzAovcfOhXcjbNkNfCTa2PdBTZAYoGtayUrLq_XFsnzAgFLkAZv2BCnTiGQ2iitEsLOg45y5w3ZEIQSMJtqP29njNnzYv1eVXVugSas7WU/s640/IMG_6041blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZbiy_5BlfVzLDI5FkVEpCspuUZFti5r6NqTOKyfJD-YD7_gKpFY7vJmVnWRSUx0vcQ09jD8zRj1FEpFQ8lBYpJf05Aa2QBcI2l-CFs9WWM9DKw4C0yL8g6Af_tF-5Pg6-zkCHXoNuPQ/s1600/IMG_6057blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZbiy_5BlfVzLDI5FkVEpCspuUZFti5r6NqTOKyfJD-YD7_gKpFY7vJmVnWRSUx0vcQ09jD8zRj1FEpFQ8lBYpJf05Aa2QBcI2l-CFs9WWM9DKw4C0yL8g6Af_tF-5Pg6-zkCHXoNuPQ/s640/IMG_6057blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The entire project came to $14.75.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">$10 letterpress box</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">$2.50 cork</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">$2.25 hooks</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love it and am so excited to hang it in my bathroom! Now all I need is more earrings. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">UPDATE: So, thanks to my awesome friends and a surprise birthday party, I've now completely filled this thing up. Maybe I'll make another!</div>Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-18943646970182205382011-07-31T22:50:00.000-04:002011-07-31T22:50:06.812-04:00happy birthday to me!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An amazing family just got me a gift card for West Elm for my 30th. With it, I bought a set of 8 of these...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtgwIyH9bSiVr-L59p-F-U4KNniocxKql2_IYx20JsHgsNdmY17EKJsPPnlXesk_NCQmzl8Unvk696TzIC2zywov_4S4EjD776DPgmRSOk5I7N77eGIsZR-Vgi49-jvFpMPz6SmPyuRM/s1600/img1l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtgwIyH9bSiVr-L59p-F-U4KNniocxKql2_IYx20JsHgsNdmY17EKJsPPnlXesk_NCQmzl8Unvk696TzIC2zywov_4S4EjD776DPgmRSOk5I7N77eGIsZR-Vgi49-jvFpMPz6SmPyuRM/s1600/img1l.jpg" /></a></div> ...as well as a set of these. I'm all ready for a dinner party now! Happy birthday to me!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItqqc1RZbN37cfaiAE8w_mh1m4OctE2tWTYW6LSEsd-aLlYOjDq0_QzaYfyrJCgWnpUGayHaaW5fNeODgROJ1wwcTCxfOBjNL-t8ucFyYavFmUjXyZOyO1SBTvTFBe-IWfCYRe5k6iKU/s1600/img29l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItqqc1RZbN37cfaiAE8w_mh1m4OctE2tWTYW6LSEsd-aLlYOjDq0_QzaYfyrJCgWnpUGayHaaW5fNeODgROJ1wwcTCxfOBjNL-t8ucFyYavFmUjXyZOyO1SBTvTFBe-IWfCYRe5k6iKU/s1600/img29l.jpg" /></a></div>Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-11797795122104114262011-07-28T09:52:00.000-04:002011-07-28T09:52:34.158-04:00Family Tree - JoyMy little sister, Joy, is the most cheerful person I know. <br />
Her favorite color is yellow.<br />
She loves Jesus in a big and bold way.<br />
Joy paints as a hobby.<br />
She makes me smile when I hear her over the phone. This watercolor makes me smile in the same way, because it reminds me of her.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XaWZ-q_ZIDxI19WMG50ubLOcQygTD_YdGRuBusie0smJbSKbYetK56i3B5L1_RkGOrRy7K_03PrGlQ-XUXIYxrFvCc5wDALbxAU25voHeq50lMAV4NGeM3Uao6qmw5HOsGCQD1EnoAo/s1600/joyshadowbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XaWZ-q_ZIDxI19WMG50ubLOcQygTD_YdGRuBusie0smJbSKbYetK56i3B5L1_RkGOrRy7K_03PrGlQ-XUXIYxrFvCc5wDALbxAU25voHeq50lMAV4NGeM3Uao6qmw5HOsGCQD1EnoAo/s1600/joyshadowbox.jpg" /></a></div>Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-30997758878104613982011-07-26T14:24:00.000-04:002011-07-26T14:24:45.886-04:00Family Tree - my dadMy newest addition to the family tree wall is of the belated Christopher Alan Ashcraft. AKA, my dad. He died when I was in my second year of college at the young age of 46, but he lived an extraordinary life. He was a professional pianist as well as an event coordinator for the Ritz Carlton hotels. I chose to honor him by adding a few memorable things to my wall. First up, his bow tie. Well, one of them (the black one in the center). His music career afforded him an entire closet of tuxedos, so I made sure to keep one. The rest...I sewed myself! He was also extremely crafty. That's where I get it from, I guess.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuiD7EIWZuCilsypmOxTkqJVGkrlB5C7oCBXYd1zs2HWgOiOZEAZYdehVkjn0pEhIWvhDRLW8gV-aHYkgHelG5jGFbmTtlkKgYtCZnwabZLXyXtgyA6mkYBhELSjCJhg5LD2hPcJOZ4o/s1600/chrisshadowbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuiD7EIWZuCilsypmOxTkqJVGkrlB5C7oCBXYd1zs2HWgOiOZEAZYdehVkjn0pEhIWvhDRLW8gV-aHYkgHelG5jGFbmTtlkKgYtCZnwabZLXyXtgyA6mkYBhELSjCJhg5LD2hPcJOZ4o/s1600/chrisshadowbox.jpg" /></a></div>I'm pretty pleased with how this one turned out! What do you think?Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-5752225759334313282011-07-25T11:09:00.000-04:002011-07-25T11:09:18.217-04:00all things southern, part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I moved to North Carolina, I had no idea it was considered "The South". I didn't think people even used that kind of wording. The only thing I DID know was that I did not want to get my accent back. I'll explain. I grew up in West Virginia, which by the way is NOT the south. I lived about an hour south of Pennsylvania, we had cold winters and I did not live on a farm. For those of you thinking of a funny joke about West Virginia right about now, no I did not go barefoot and yes I am literate. Anyway, my mom was from the southern part of West Virginia and I guess her accent rubbed off on me. When I moved to Ohio for college, people made fun of me for said accent. What's worse is that after a few months of living "up north" my family made fun of me for my lack of one! They thought I talked like I was Canadian! haha I couldn't win. A few years after we moved to Charlotte, my southern drawl came back with a vengeance and I couldn't be happier. Why the change of heart? I've decided...I love all things southern!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some of my favorite southern things? Bow ties, bead boarding, and rocking chairs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bow ties are rocking my socks right now. The more colorful and crazy, the better! You have to be a strong and confident man to pull one of these babies off. Wouldn't this be a super fun project for some wall art?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlhwX2FokBaAxQyH9lE4bqYbr0uoHjspvBKv-IjFunfBZtGg72kv5bk9_pbAinTCPZbvWZttmNLlt7nPa0-FtGCZa5bfavbo7WhbDr1bBO60aPqhRCV6Y2N0p7-IhPdRa6NhfUuW4Quw/s1600/21623271_1FvVtmdM_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlhwX2FokBaAxQyH9lE4bqYbr0uoHjspvBKv-IjFunfBZtGg72kv5bk9_pbAinTCPZbvWZttmNLlt7nPa0-FtGCZa5bfavbo7WhbDr1bBO60aPqhRCV6Y2N0p7-IhPdRa6NhfUuW4Quw/s1600/21623271_1FvVtmdM_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdfxGGAYK_xslVEyxY4LwEwXiWwopFrBqHu59GrmpgPkcp1yQBCUDMWNqupVSXS2fsrAp1FDY5n3ZX83JT8M9G-esPo8d11Xtk2lwtiSYc3iuxak16rKg_nr8Gbw8JS1Cj2ZWBarDh3U/s1600/41356646_5fkHBsrH_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdfxGGAYK_xslVEyxY4LwEwXiWwopFrBqHu59GrmpgPkcp1yQBCUDMWNqupVSXS2fsrAp1FDY5n3ZX83JT8M9G-esPo8d11Xtk2lwtiSYc3iuxak16rKg_nr8Gbw8JS1Cj2ZWBarDh3U/s1600/41356646_5fkHBsrH_c.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If Emma was a dude, she'd be wearing this sweet thing right now.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwKX55c0WAjw7Y5vJpzfZry40hWH6iI5-_qq4F9sGEBK-em7HLSAwknxkg1638wEtJE-DL7iffkw-_bCcuMpB1E__dy7oOGNtES9L1T6WE8hoNc0YwfssUr5O6d8QLdhKHCanIOzMwpI/s1600/69405097_4yT9ji8d_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwKX55c0WAjw7Y5vJpzfZry40hWH6iI5-_qq4F9sGEBK-em7HLSAwknxkg1638wEtJE-DL7iffkw-_bCcuMpB1E__dy7oOGNtES9L1T6WE8hoNc0YwfssUr5O6d8QLdhKHCanIOzMwpI/s1600/69405097_4yT9ji8d_c.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is pretty normal here in "The South" to wear a bow tie to a wedding in lieu of a regular tie. It's even semi-normal to add suspenders to the mix!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAwfQqA9vd-UqTRmnZsb7_s3gpjp54u8B0D7uSDzyjZYBgzXpbVOrWFfsBrQUA2UPimqOMAmJdaIBmGxXIhCgFP7kBYXapy-kqpRuQJSbzQAozlC-Spu9l2os8n6xyEvQ-u-ZRUoIoTo/s1600/ACFEDEA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAwfQqA9vd-UqTRmnZsb7_s3gpjp54u8B0D7uSDzyjZYBgzXpbVOrWFfsBrQUA2UPimqOMAmJdaIBmGxXIhCgFP7kBYXapy-kqpRuQJSbzQAozlC-Spu9l2os8n6xyEvQ-u-ZRUoIoTo/s640/ACFEDEA.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While at a recent wedding here in North Carolina, I decided the bow ties were too fabulous to ignore, so I went around asking the men during cocktail hour if I could take a quick picture of their colorful accent piece. Most of them looked at me like I was a little loco, but being the southern gentlemen that they were, they allowed me to take the shot anyway. I love it, I love it, I love it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvLQQ9Go4GwTb9ZJ8vFY2gFbVc1lSlirx9uwFpjg9xxVSCXSfh3t6OJSofb3iCmyWLFDGy8OhVl9O0CYxIurXZLWS1KWjdjln_6g5o1kNr6HTEqUyhmz7doQkjrPULV71zN_C2rmZVHc/s1600/LB34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvLQQ9Go4GwTb9ZJ8vFY2gFbVc1lSlirx9uwFpjg9xxVSCXSfh3t6OJSofb3iCmyWLFDGy8OhVl9O0CYxIurXZLWS1KWjdjln_6g5o1kNr6HTEqUyhmz7doQkjrPULV71zN_C2rmZVHc/s640/LB34.jpg" width="608" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next up? Bead boarding. My first real experience with this glorious decorative wall mount was on Bald Head Island. I was helping out with a workshop that my boss was teaching and we stayed in one of the houses there. Every inch of the place had character, in an upscale but casual sort of way. Exactly my style. Since then, I vowed that when we owned a house it would have bead boarding. Or wainscotting. Or something like that. Adding some is one of my goals for 2011. Until then, I'll just drool over these pictures!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolgaaT6nsZxqs-A2l9Cv8iM9qFQZQRNL5EzO5ZrVIxT3APlZQMwa2wixV3foCklHhLofrfXgPVJMz22BgYgIBcHyOZoeIXdoGrOWoHkOwQ-CLZikeJ41nZdcsKndw5hyphenhyphenb_2jIhyphenhyphenP-iUQ/s1600/61484007_eo3nPtSs_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolgaaT6nsZxqs-A2l9Cv8iM9qFQZQRNL5EzO5ZrVIxT3APlZQMwa2wixV3foCklHhLofrfXgPVJMz22BgYgIBcHyOZoeIXdoGrOWoHkOwQ-CLZikeJ41nZdcsKndw5hyphenhyphenb_2jIhyphenhyphenP-iUQ/s1600/61484007_eo3nPtSs_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha46wXbwsDPRIxX7AIOGKgwyHe4pRpoXwqPARvQ4xQH2zgD6G9y6pQlRctogS_wtfMxSuXhK4LcfO5J02k0cax9rIFitH8JQKCoMwqdBw0O6skdNsFCv-W_ux-pPF_ehUmfXYQTk4u1-s/s1600/22672929_3OUpoOjp_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha46wXbwsDPRIxX7AIOGKgwyHe4pRpoXwqPARvQ4xQH2zgD6G9y6pQlRctogS_wtfMxSuXhK4LcfO5J02k0cax9rIFitH8JQKCoMwqdBw0O6skdNsFCv-W_ux-pPF_ehUmfXYQTk4u1-s/s1600/22672929_3OUpoOjp_c.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Would you not DIE for this laundry room? Seriously. OK not seriously, but you know what I mean. Don't die. Cause then nobody would be alive to read my blog. ;)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgmDHb8RTC2M__MgaI_XFK-lM5-muJhfqfukhZe8F0P4O0H-kncrrgw9DR_BF_h1LhtWJiB6XlauBXhR_D0R0_YJf4bIXT1f2ydyDnDLqtYVL55A7mUBuFX1DTW1f08aRDGH2UoPXU3M/s1600/48327373_dlzKKhLg_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgmDHb8RTC2M__MgaI_XFK-lM5-muJhfqfukhZe8F0P4O0H-kncrrgw9DR_BF_h1LhtWJiB6XlauBXhR_D0R0_YJf4bIXT1f2ydyDnDLqtYVL55A7mUBuFX1DTW1f08aRDGH2UoPXU3M/s1600/48327373_dlzKKhLg_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHGps4oE68tvM0JcC-yLVfVfr8PcwdAARsBWTr9n-99OV3US_1UK_LO70NtkNiveTLQ6XLuMlVnLUvudWCVP7mkTZR6rZMtJ3u6vEdOY0UxOVSnR5_a-4b5FcJ3By8z5NuFSe-ssL4Ps/s1600/69961021_27jiNqui_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHGps4oE68tvM0JcC-yLVfVfr8PcwdAARsBWTr9n-99OV3US_1UK_LO70NtkNiveTLQ6XLuMlVnLUvudWCVP7mkTZR6rZMtJ3u6vEdOY0UxOVSnR5_a-4b5FcJ3By8z5NuFSe-ssL4Ps/s1600/69961021_27jiNqui_c.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lastly, I've decided that once we get our back yard graded and landscaped, I'm getting a rocking chair. Or two. And I'm going to sip tea out of a mason jar while holding a bow tie. Then I'll be truly southern.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPta-cphe2ggqkH_TIhFecek4MsbcMqTaOwKfEGfee2SZZFsXvEgArh1K2pIBrxQ9hNc_WRXBP4V7OOeKLlbwgMtkB5s1BaGnk1hOMXr8eWsPYbCoea9yvEdlbhyphenhyphenW6U88PFMX0_Sy-kLM/s1600/12329870_9NjLHHPg_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPta-cphe2ggqkH_TIhFecek4MsbcMqTaOwKfEGfee2SZZFsXvEgArh1K2pIBrxQ9hNc_WRXBP4V7OOeKLlbwgMtkB5s1BaGnk1hOMXr8eWsPYbCoea9yvEdlbhyphenhyphenW6U88PFMX0_Sy-kLM/s1600/12329870_9NjLHHPg_b.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4UGTdYJ76YHzaTFmxSVNwzyE4nwJWbpeoTUjepD6rxFHjhkACd-9R4RcgcWIB6sueIOs49lXc14N1zLHK4rcHCbuDibTkjs-LLlN9ZeSflYBKSYC01HibpIdn0lanW-IM8jAcOoiktI/s1600/69415297_6ym0nl5K_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4UGTdYJ76YHzaTFmxSVNwzyE4nwJWbpeoTUjepD6rxFHjhkACd-9R4RcgcWIB6sueIOs49lXc14N1zLHK4rcHCbuDibTkjs-LLlN9ZeSflYBKSYC01HibpIdn0lanW-IM8jAcOoiktI/s1600/69415297_6ym0nl5K_c.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rocking chairs can go in the "granny" direction pretty quickly, but I am LOVING the ikat pattern and the mid-century modern vibe of this one. Amazing. And southern.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMnsAtDUVPz9mpxRGC1pPsDt-GUylMBEdp9VfqA1G7dyzimnu5HD9C_BnOxJRBaaamdL1YS167guWAC6MoHRivNPdnPsg1qadBPaubvQMHqWBaLXwqZO-LxrCZyQBWTWmcApxED2Rxwk/s1600/12596499_Et7ehhmE_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMnsAtDUVPz9mpxRGC1pPsDt-GUylMBEdp9VfqA1G7dyzimnu5HD9C_BnOxJRBaaamdL1YS167guWAC6MoHRivNPdnPsg1qadBPaubvQMHqWBaLXwqZO-LxrCZyQBWTWmcApxED2Rxwk/s1600/12596499_Et7ehhmE_b.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What about you? Do you have a particular southern tradition or item that you are attached to? I'd love to hear about it in the comments! I'll be doing at least two more posts on all things southern, so maybe I'll use your thought!</div>Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-38648020192681773562011-07-22T11:13:00.000-04:002011-07-22T11:13:14.791-04:00I *heart* this: morocco meets bohoIf you know me, you know that I love anything bohemian, eclectic or Moroccan in influence. It's definitely a love it or hate it look and MAN do I love it! <a href="http://www.westelm.com/">West Elm's Global Bazaar Line</a> is making me so happy right now. I see hints of Anthropologie and World Market but the designers have done a great job retaining the West Elm look. I'll take one of each, please! Do you have a favorite?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6JuHn7qMYsL2Sr0pAE2spbOQpm7giCJ1nvABT6Zn7V_lCAohYEjVj8r-y8sbT4Kkc23sDR1xiCq3gEekGBLq5vq9tMQ8_-XGkijHwUwWddJURqDwJVoJgBelSibP-QAT4H5vn7OZTjw/s1600/img93l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6JuHn7qMYsL2Sr0pAE2spbOQpm7giCJ1nvABT6Zn7V_lCAohYEjVj8r-y8sbT4Kkc23sDR1xiCq3gEekGBLq5vq9tMQ8_-XGkijHwUwWddJURqDwJVoJgBelSibP-QAT4H5vn7OZTjw/s1600/img93l.jpg" /></a></div>Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-75332418154489391042011-07-20T10:33:00.000-04:002011-07-20T10:33:53.762-04:00chair re-do<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Andrew and I recently had a Saturday morning off together. Shocker, I know! Junk shopping is one of our favorite time wasters, so we decided to drive around the neighborhood to visit a few yard sales. There's always something amusing, something useful and something with potential hidden amongst the not-so-amusing, useful and potential filled. Case in point, this amazing chair that we snagged for a mere $5. Are the lines not fabulous?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMRXyUppF6ogGkncIhmx0euQTwabd8ytt6xHr1UsIl04hBKYU9Fhm-Q40ZsDCCZBzHfheTTDoxDK_PBNx8sG34PmSzfUCD4ex9xhC4_XTFRZVR5cjd8ZV827-ALDqOA8kjXhVaqhC8mo/s1600/IMG_4716blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMRXyUppF6ogGkncIhmx0euQTwabd8ytt6xHr1UsIl04hBKYU9Fhm-Q40ZsDCCZBzHfheTTDoxDK_PBNx8sG34PmSzfUCD4ex9xhC4_XTFRZVR5cjd8ZV827-ALDqOA8kjXhVaqhC8mo/s640/IMG_4716blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7CtCRE5o6_4c7KkIgAgjxHHn5XXjtlyN5k4_Iiw1SDxvUV2dC95U8hfoGE01ZwBNMi691IB_N8DAo9RMzKN0ptBSKU5zK9J7Xr2YF36bGgfLbdARbxz9lh7HvSqpPm07RbiyRo2258I/s1600/IMG_4724blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7CtCRE5o6_4c7KkIgAgjxHHn5XXjtlyN5k4_Iiw1SDxvUV2dC95U8hfoGE01ZwBNMi691IB_N8DAo9RMzKN0ptBSKU5zK9J7Xr2YF36bGgfLbdARbxz9lh7HvSqpPm07RbiyRo2258I/s1600/IMG_4724blog.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The original seat cushion was tired and torn (sorry for the lack of BEFORE picture) so I decided to try my first reupholstery job. I used <a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2011/07/upholstery-basics-dining-chair-do-over.html">this tutorial on Design Sponge</a> as a guide and went for it! I'm super pleased for my first go around. The entire chair, including purchase price, cost me a whopping $23. Not bad!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjE5_5JfNGZdXk5zgbrJNSUnweryojJNEWKeRRF8dQAsQB9gAeL_bIpbm-u8nqBHxaF4gUcvf0hXW96qYLjhebqQ_gAdf98b-sgOLkQrjLOERSGkGrsMlEwUge8LFfvomy-sJxh1BxdRE/s1600/IMG_4712blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjE5_5JfNGZdXk5zgbrJNSUnweryojJNEWKeRRF8dQAsQB9gAeL_bIpbm-u8nqBHxaF4gUcvf0hXW96qYLjhebqQ_gAdf98b-sgOLkQrjLOERSGkGrsMlEwUge8LFfvomy-sJxh1BxdRE/s640/IMG_4712blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzugFxcPHBthewlgBK9YZZjmVnoYYe3OZAmYAPnG1oricp8RmWg1KnBlvu-IU4IFpgEWcJyJ3u4qitlHU2K-n_ep2mI27bVPsqKZWHFhf47vg0nMFsob0h6_n3M0sIEV8_WtviWT1u5ks/s1600/IMG_4718blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzugFxcPHBthewlgBK9YZZjmVnoYYe3OZAmYAPnG1oricp8RmWg1KnBlvu-IU4IFpgEWcJyJ3u4qitlHU2K-n_ep2mI27bVPsqKZWHFhf47vg0nMFsob0h6_n3M0sIEV8_WtviWT1u5ks/s1600/IMG_4718blog.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've thought about painting it, but I kind of like the distressed feel of the piece. What do you think? Should I paint it or leave it?</div>Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-19258479513929609842011-07-18T12:32:00.000-04:002011-07-18T12:32:46.095-04:00Addicted to Pinterest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are so many amazing things about Pinterest. I'm not sure where to begin!! If you haven't heard of Pinterest.com, it's pretty much the best site ever. It's great for storing links and photos as well as gathering inspiration for whatever makes you happy. Everything is super organized and easy to navigate. I'm smitten!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5QrBApgeLpK_oYstkT_GG2crF29n6y6UXyF1p5ZIv-wLJUeyBmsiHBd7oNuhsXP7C0rwig0PKuYlE6mSwZP1QaI4_urOBZ4PckoHiUy53zniDrZw4PqEcmHqixZIMTW1wUxpL5E5hdc/s1600/pinterestscreenshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5QrBApgeLpK_oYstkT_GG2crF29n6y6UXyF1p5ZIv-wLJUeyBmsiHBd7oNuhsXP7C0rwig0PKuYlE6mSwZP1QaI4_urOBZ4PckoHiUy53zniDrZw4PqEcmHqixZIMTW1wUxpL5E5hdc/s640/pinterestscreenshot.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of my boards is called "quotable quotes" but it's really anything with words that catches my attention. Here's a few pins that made it to the board.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1KV0qgZlLZvwsdHwAz-uT42NEKrrO5o5FzYFj72VIzqV3h6VvgSggXuyDhuB1W0t_mFZdgzXi2I3wQtXYE9dJESiusrxFMIxxyiesKsYMf7kuvjH74sUTuXWovbUKHu5Lsh3sOi30ZQ/s1600/G4Ms3Lhfg56u7zuoh99Lq2Va_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1KV0qgZlLZvwsdHwAz-uT42NEKrrO5o5FzYFj72VIzqV3h6VvgSggXuyDhuB1W0t_mFZdgzXi2I3wQtXYE9dJESiusrxFMIxxyiesKsYMf7kuvjH74sUTuXWovbUKHu5Lsh3sOi30ZQ/s1600/G4Ms3Lhfg56u7zuoh99Lq2Va_400.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSR1Dg2l5sOLVsxxtn-pCpoV1HqwrrVueka4Wx9aVEJsr-9PPdDzL7wBWgVWkILAfKY_Cltuh1b1gpA850mcX0S7UjNKe2_EdgRo_6kgwjzboEMuTEaED-5DtyaPhKQqXuLI3N227M1zI/s1600/923abf45274c73c8dc5244fe95d390fb35efa93e_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSR1Dg2l5sOLVsxxtn-pCpoV1HqwrrVueka4Wx9aVEJsr-9PPdDzL7wBWgVWkILAfKY_Cltuh1b1gpA850mcX0S7UjNKe2_EdgRo_6kgwjzboEMuTEaED-5DtyaPhKQqXuLI3N227M1zI/s1600/923abf45274c73c8dc5244fe95d390fb35efa93e_m.jpg" /></a></div> I also created a board that will help me plan my 10 year anniversary party. I'm going BIG with this thing and Pinterest has been invaluable in picking everything from color to gathering ideas for food and attire.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrV4K_AJTqSde6zctXZQqFEqju6xoh2o4fSEuiC1Hzv42nDdtcmq7M_CMbXnbcgtHrpXJ3KFF3Tm25RH_cezPEYJK-E_c2i0JByLYrBJHX5mzWziyFALFDB2nTrjmupTK06Eah23rbomQ/s1600/41370602_6sbQjkgt_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrV4K_AJTqSde6zctXZQqFEqju6xoh2o4fSEuiC1Hzv42nDdtcmq7M_CMbXnbcgtHrpXJ3KFF3Tm25RH_cezPEYJK-E_c2i0JByLYrBJHX5mzWziyFALFDB2nTrjmupTK06Eah23rbomQ/s1600/41370602_6sbQjkgt_c.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghL6Ddj0j-UghKs1oPrVw5bV05YLeFSSFEPhcnAxO_zoQH0lZutfcYq86CCJijl5RZ-3kEE35u12c6Fpde3DKBDEjmnCG0orNR6mQsZqaht14CzQILJ-PBOj0O1_S2jDBve_nU1fJaRFQ/s1600/41356646_5fkHBsrH_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghL6Ddj0j-UghKs1oPrVw5bV05YLeFSSFEPhcnAxO_zoQH0lZutfcYq86CCJijl5RZ-3kEE35u12c6Fpde3DKBDEjmnCG0orNR6mQsZqaht14CzQILJ-PBOj0O1_S2jDBve_nU1fJaRFQ/s1600/41356646_5fkHBsrH_c.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UgxiCuhWLb0dLRcXJ9MdEr57qkTws6zqv6jfDd8kQQB7d0uJsdPZmpIZmYVUHQbulP_5peGpXMoOHvZkaZw4hKg3BADTkHpYF0-YGX-rO2V1vcCkoOMM1eV7EYWmSZ7lfqhNWVs-tx8/s1600/41350121_yWF8Z19J_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UgxiCuhWLb0dLRcXJ9MdEr57qkTws6zqv6jfDd8kQQB7d0uJsdPZmpIZmYVUHQbulP_5peGpXMoOHvZkaZw4hKg3BADTkHpYF0-YGX-rO2V1vcCkoOMM1eV7EYWmSZ7lfqhNWVs-tx8/s1600/41350121_yWF8Z19J_c.jpg" /></a></div> My favorite board might be the DIY one. Pinterest is so awesome for this use because it not only gives you a visual to go by for DIY projects, it also gives you a link to the original DIY post. I may get to these projects in 2 weeks or I might hold off for a year, but I know that however long I wait I'll be able to find the directions so easily now!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKFQyMh9eusxjKiUf-nKRg3KCfMPT2cAvSfp9Y64QmoEJyItw7wmkmnjBjm1T0vj0MgD2-d3j-AwKspjHPLU8mAJqsOmmMBEqHdQ-M0Xm1UZ_teGcYTViesXM2A-oGa-J0rWeYru7HFg/s1600/il_570xN.174299681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKFQyMh9eusxjKiUf-nKRg3KCfMPT2cAvSfp9Y64QmoEJyItw7wmkmnjBjm1T0vj0MgD2-d3j-AwKspjHPLU8mAJqsOmmMBEqHdQ-M0Xm1UZ_teGcYTViesXM2A-oGa-J0rWeYru7HFg/s1600/il_570xN.174299681.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-l-9-2Rx53z0It2czb-CpT2aieB6hYFaVwk3dpqHQw7W2MmdMHEfqfu5F-_CszsaShJiDCVH18WaTLCnha3-kC_z-6W_-lf6cHsKeWTRaLO90o6_ajmO9zkWWYYw_jyOFi-s5RpqTouo/s1600/rolledflowers3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-l-9-2Rx53z0It2czb-CpT2aieB6hYFaVwk3dpqHQw7W2MmdMHEfqfu5F-_CszsaShJiDCVH18WaTLCnha3-kC_z-6W_-lf6cHsKeWTRaLO90o6_ajmO9zkWWYYw_jyOFi-s5RpqTouo/s1600/rolledflowers3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, how about you? Are you addicted to Pinterest yet as well? Follow me and I'll follow you back!</div>Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-85769447351756413212011-07-07T16:48:00.000-04:002011-07-07T16:48:57.343-04:00Our front yard in bloom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Summer is my favorite time of year!!! I am having a fantastic time out in the heat this year. Seeing all my efforts toward our front yard bloom and flourish has been so rewarding! Check it out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlClvKhxnmF4BHiBXlYLgROLfOkaV3GNh3Q2I4bgz-CkKvixD9TogZ3lN4ev0lVy0WSWDlOLJDK1A4iUV8wxr455SWVHVTymnLAcZH4hTNowLt3KjAd2a-KtBBYiZRnp8gPYwmtah8Ljo/s1600/blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlClvKhxnmF4BHiBXlYLgROLfOkaV3GNh3Q2I4bgz-CkKvixD9TogZ3lN4ev0lVy0WSWDlOLJDK1A4iUV8wxr455SWVHVTymnLAcZH4hTNowLt3KjAd2a-KtBBYiZRnp8gPYwmtah8Ljo/s1600/blog.jpg" /></a></div>I'm sure the tree has a bit further to go in the blooms department, but I squealed the first time I saw the lavender buds on the tree!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjXQ2oPNZARmnHh5uZ2WTF2eetn77c1QZPkVYJyXoBygf4D6bVQodLEQlOcSIw7SZFegvvECXuV52L4xl5NMiiDVlpY9hTTGNDLXmZ1jnYi0Wl8FvAizTIZ3RBNIQtyhQvUYnhGP049U/s1600/IMG_2999blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjXQ2oPNZARmnHh5uZ2WTF2eetn77c1QZPkVYJyXoBygf4D6bVQodLEQlOcSIw7SZFegvvECXuV52L4xl5NMiiDVlpY9hTTGNDLXmZ1jnYi0Wl8FvAizTIZ3RBNIQtyhQvUYnhGP049U/s640/IMG_2999blog.jpg" width="406" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my first year ever doing anything with plants outside and I am officially hooked. Grab an Arnold Palmer and some sunscreen and get your pale self outside!</div>Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-41745814165030254482011-07-06T11:07:00.000-04:002011-07-06T11:07:43.592-04:00no more ugly lighting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh happy day! We have finally updated our ugly pendant lighting in the kitchen and I couldn't be happier! This is the mess we started with.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuZI-UrDO299JFSKbiucmQELNN7p8NxkLgxXyfxxrl5-mP3prw3jllVWe7k6bYkZbA-btbmzoZCkwE_fE1urglsEhIcJOoMW9xGHaWJWVQrf3ipfvOusUM6hHc3VFe_7GriX5mfmpP9E/s1600/IMG_2980blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuZI-UrDO299JFSKbiucmQELNN7p8NxkLgxXyfxxrl5-mP3prw3jllVWe7k6bYkZbA-btbmzoZCkwE_fE1urglsEhIcJOoMW9xGHaWJWVQrf3ipfvOusUM6hHc3VFe_7GriX5mfmpP9E/s640/IMG_2980blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not pretty, I know. At first, we wanted to go with something like this. They're made of mercury glass and are very cool. If we never wanted to move, I'd be going with these babies for sure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6BSIr9oGF68NS80GhHGgrE67QiFsmvOi7Vxd2xKen_cVJCZsDDobIw6-WwWRLrgDH0nit6ep5fZtJmyv8lniMKFYbjV4Gk8NiWMxYdrJ6Mr36FQoQIZ5ofkI6-4jd9ZS60Zvx3tCQGg/s1600/pendant1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6BSIr9oGF68NS80GhHGgrE67QiFsmvOi7Vxd2xKen_cVJCZsDDobIw6-WwWRLrgDH0nit6ep5fZtJmyv8lniMKFYbjV4Gk8NiWMxYdrJ6Mr36FQoQIZ5ofkI6-4jd9ZS60Zvx3tCQGg/s1600/pendant1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But after talking with our real estate agent and a few people in our neighborhood, we've started to realize that our taste doesn't exactly line up with the locals. If we ever want to sell our house for top dollar (and that's the goal) we need to make our bigger purchases buyer friendly. Our HOAs do lawn service, which attracts retired/elderly couples with dogs and mercury glass just wasn't going to cut it. While flipping through the Pottery Barn catalog, we came upon these...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYY17kKdCzgXqXahp4QCjqBTciqiigPmrMD2oFhssr17rt6UOabVv3VAXFtERfe1j_yiJyvnYBcQ70UAH4Y53mjLF1io7Y8WF5hlkIyUT9wQvbiBdwEI-nTMXfJhr1h3HIUxRpXYTqYH0/s1600/img70l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYY17kKdCzgXqXahp4QCjqBTciqiigPmrMD2oFhssr17rt6UOabVv3VAXFtERfe1j_yiJyvnYBcQ70UAH4Y53mjLF1io7Y8WF5hlkIyUT9wQvbiBdwEI-nTMXfJhr1h3HIUxRpXYTqYH0/s640/img70l.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...but realized we weren't comfortable with clear glass shades or bare cords. A little too casual. Sooo, after much deliberation, we ended up with these (except in oil rubbed bronze)...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYa1qH-2rt4cEgmqKgnD9j_TyqOdqBTVsFqa0hSOjEXxy-CFZRRkGPqffd0M0DDJhyZnSN3yJVzhIpWwJmMomPhQr7SLXk2SvGJ0N2eEo7eNa-MirP3yMgCVqNjGcGKgDc1h2P632hZA/s1600/restorationhardwarelight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYa1qH-2rt4cEgmqKgnD9j_TyqOdqBTVsFqa0hSOjEXxy-CFZRRkGPqffd0M0DDJhyZnSN3yJVzhIpWwJmMomPhQr7SLXk2SvGJ0N2eEo7eNa-MirP3yMgCVqNjGcGKgDc1h2P632hZA/s1600/restorationhardwarelight.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Restoration Hardware wins again!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The pendant is oil-rubbed bronze (not polished silver like in the picture), so we've decided to go in that direction with the rest of the kitchen, including the knobs and a new faucet. We already bought the knobs and are LOVING them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbBCe8ILHTQKpCHKtolj_Xxg2-fbL_RPJbzUyydNxJZtjeCmAxrnG_fKPNcFziRhDsjYPyX0ncjh1npDPvA7K8rcZbh7GtLqs0X1A5GhSAXeIo3pGjx766aRFQQbwrZetDwA0JcDkwOI/s1600/pullknob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbBCe8ILHTQKpCHKtolj_Xxg2-fbL_RPJbzUyydNxJZtjeCmAxrnG_fKPNcFziRhDsjYPyX0ncjh1npDPvA7K8rcZbh7GtLqs0X1A5GhSAXeIo3pGjx766aRFQQbwrZetDwA0JcDkwOI/s640/pullknob.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What do you think?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2U7CZJM6lzXUYX95jTLmN6x3I-i1xJIcsbqUER5_Cy4VFcecuqIvy9jwORxDOBGlOj2Zw2r2KZlfmnm_ZR050-VqkoY4Lhv3D0lUvVQ2AYQZ_zo41WH91p7Gl0M_2nzraeHkMupN_As/s1600/IMG_3018blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2U7CZJM6lzXUYX95jTLmN6x3I-i1xJIcsbqUER5_Cy4VFcecuqIvy9jwORxDOBGlOj2Zw2r2KZlfmnm_ZR050-VqkoY4Lhv3D0lUvVQ2AYQZ_zo41WH91p7Gl0M_2nzraeHkMupN_As/s640/IMG_3018blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSedCSDvlwAdf47KBrbVSzkl6O08GO62VtVWOPaALZzmMKxtPxS03ZEaQzU_rTMkPZFh9swkEYIzxtUCZwSACNKN4oljCkba99Bo8986pOLC9avNMhz0tYQGX9rmwkUr5CltXmztOdPo/s1600/IMG_3019blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSedCSDvlwAdf47KBrbVSzkl6O08GO62VtVWOPaALZzmMKxtPxS03ZEaQzU_rTMkPZFh9swkEYIzxtUCZwSACNKN4oljCkba99Bo8986pOLC9avNMhz0tYQGX9rmwkUr5CltXmztOdPo/s640/IMG_3019blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDmNPK5YzMYZhREIps9oqcDISztfgY4MQu99nSFtI1sRqQQalkraQN6J0Oiyp8WNb7EWQJ5lsNRdspVzQnJ72_RyD9bil1U52BW_nCfXqNaLjOwbaQjgLiHojAmhhyphenhyphenb7zV9CyKJ3cUcE/s1600/IMG_3026blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDmNPK5YzMYZhREIps9oqcDISztfgY4MQu99nSFtI1sRqQQalkraQN6J0Oiyp8WNb7EWQJ5lsNRdspVzQnJ72_RyD9bil1U52BW_nCfXqNaLjOwbaQjgLiHojAmhhyphenhyphenb7zV9CyKJ3cUcE/s640/IMG_3026blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1H7IHnpIQhCh4lX6uuE-fqwj1AhdThfAaOQBj3b84DL1hMlcJJpfjlfmeTnfcAIIq_5_rQN0nzY5WInxdIKdy_g0srHLBRCLJCfbOXm92PAPX4HB-5S0ZW8YhyphenhyphenZwTOT0WWPn4RPrpIJI/s1600/IMG_3029blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1H7IHnpIQhCh4lX6uuE-fqwj1AhdThfAaOQBj3b84DL1hMlcJJpfjlfmeTnfcAIIq_5_rQN0nzY5WInxdIKdy_g0srHLBRCLJCfbOXm92PAPX4HB-5S0ZW8YhyphenhyphenZwTOT0WWPn4RPrpIJI/s640/IMG_3029blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0EVIlEXnc_QSSGiB9_n56YhPmPCRB558xqXGEsW74yy-ZSkNgSLxJSYrDNf_gH74rPGhni1beknu1C7kbLGCNNy7q14alTnobjGT7nNGmtY9Z1owapR0UcZKjpV0zmP-XgDVu8u6f_s/s1600/IMG_2981blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0EVIlEXnc_QSSGiB9_n56YhPmPCRB558xqXGEsW74yy-ZSkNgSLxJSYrDNf_gH74rPGhni1beknu1C7kbLGCNNy7q14alTnobjGT7nNGmtY9Z1owapR0UcZKjpV0zmP-XgDVu8u6f_s/s640/IMG_2981blog.jpg" width="406" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PS If you ever need to update your kitchen cabinets with new knobs and pulls, this little contraption is genius!! It's $4 at Lowe's/Home Depot and it is simply a template for where to drill the holes. Love love loved it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNU20Ik3AhrB3ZvvMXwAk2N5PQ1-exO7e7jZY3keKOka6Oa_89S5ROIE2r4XoQOkVdr0luazJuG6kdbywcBXS1Y__8-eHuqlMge9JR_WFW_0EwniqEByF78UEfShECRFLuGpRGZDaOMU/s1600/IMG_2451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNU20Ik3AhrB3ZvvMXwAk2N5PQ1-exO7e7jZY3keKOka6Oa_89S5ROIE2r4XoQOkVdr0luazJuG6kdbywcBXS1Y__8-eHuqlMge9JR_WFW_0EwniqEByF78UEfShECRFLuGpRGZDaOMU/s640/IMG_2451.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-82757003329583963772011-07-01T15:02:00.000-04:002011-07-01T15:02:21.404-04:00Happy 4th!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We're off to visit family for the weekend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JpOwq4D4Y3Y3RlNUBt5feSgnpd7KpksbAABAk4_scqSOWEyhXyuVshxQwvQ4hx3pDuVLPD4vo631JXV5txVCWBSScw7wV0ygXQoA75-O3PVxcTMSjU92tZWGRCNL5Lwv5DOhtvwP3fs/s1600/MacintoshinRed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JpOwq4D4Y3Y3RlNUBt5feSgnpd7KpksbAABAk4_scqSOWEyhXyuVshxQwvQ4hx3pDuVLPD4vo631JXV5txVCWBSScw7wV0ygXQoA75-O3PVxcTMSjU92tZWGRCNL5Lwv5DOhtvwP3fs/s1600/MacintoshinRed.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUirPS4sK6jwfj6Z7LGU3SB6e9KwDH_sYzl_IYiYhPyyGFB5zr3_tpepc4n4PfbrWBsuwJ40dHHn8yHotXyTfvk8qqIqZes578bnKWpl2ExPkrkiSc8eOr3viP-zO06SOgF-xsuneFcU/s1600/IMG_5460e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUirPS4sK6jwfj6Z7LGU3SB6e9KwDH_sYzl_IYiYhPyyGFB5zr3_tpepc4n4PfbrWBsuwJ40dHHn8yHotXyTfvk8qqIqZes578bnKWpl2ExPkrkiSc8eOr3viP-zO06SOgF-xsuneFcU/s1600/IMG_5460e.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilStReBdow0iwDUSFJd7UTFNgyXKKh6uwC6vXJHVlk-BB2NF1-cR639_4UpkR8fh5e1mxpX64NRv2JselFykAt1moFXq_fzDcxQkdHC3rV-v9QgLR5YXv79T9vzhXqwlpTxrRe31bgs6Y/s1600/mld104375_0709_tars_exp2_xl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilStReBdow0iwDUSFJd7UTFNgyXKKh6uwC6vXJHVlk-BB2NF1-cR639_4UpkR8fh5e1mxpX64NRv2JselFykAt1moFXq_fzDcxQkdHC3rV-v9QgLR5YXv79T9vzhXqwlpTxrRe31bgs6Y/s1600/mld104375_0709_tars_exp2_xl.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6ZKg77nke0vYmhQlzitKCgHnF00c2gdA5hFzUJ2yjqjE_wOFghOouRESAcdq7-788HxGXu6WE6-NWL-rrHuPijRQ_TjTGCJicJQHKaIAKnotu6E65IoTds4hNhyU765JPIrOfq7lEJ4/s1600/tarts_flag_xl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6ZKg77nke0vYmhQlzitKCgHnF00c2gdA5hFzUJ2yjqjE_wOFghOouRESAcdq7-788HxGXu6WE6-NWL-rrHuPijRQ_TjTGCJicJQHKaIAKnotu6E65IoTds4hNhyU765JPIrOfq7lEJ4/s1600/tarts_flag_xl.jpg" /></a></div>Here's to hoping your independence day celebration is surrounded with friends and family. And lots of yummy food. :)Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-90189531838550395052011-06-24T12:24:00.000-04:002011-06-24T12:41:45.362-04:00Get Inspired: Public Spaces 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Versace Mansion</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Let the oohing and ahhing begin.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jG-ulPZPTBOFykL28x88ez1S0rrWW7nsCYF8_xu9Oq77te2M81lbmB6pOpU5FLhSKEo7aUtUOq0s9CA_IYpFgdhhYjbNHj8l2oIv-LTNKW1-LHEsbmhw-oT0Jwe41ZnaRNfCQkEMT_0/s1600/versacemansion2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jG-ulPZPTBOFykL28x88ez1S0rrWW7nsCYF8_xu9Oq77te2M81lbmB6pOpU5FLhSKEo7aUtUOq0s9CA_IYpFgdhhYjbNHj8l2oIv-LTNKW1-LHEsbmhw-oT0Jwe41ZnaRNfCQkEMT_0/s640/versacemansion2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zyNqjctWENGkqNQXPSj2MprkPXPd1-NA26YmHD4DRPhjUgq6TDAxejAqKqztYpqh6Ae1OcPEBIdlXwAnsZ7TqvS7ZD0moGQwXSR1ZQObAOartXe9I-aT0_6A1XoW5WVNqnaqzUOpmcI/s1600/versacemansion6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zyNqjctWENGkqNQXPSj2MprkPXPd1-NA26YmHD4DRPhjUgq6TDAxejAqKqztYpqh6Ae1OcPEBIdlXwAnsZ7TqvS7ZD0moGQwXSR1ZQObAOartXe9I-aT0_6A1XoW5WVNqnaqzUOpmcI/s640/versacemansion6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiefSpBhS-sMTll9T70dmhVDGlhh5QNAAac7NA6w2ZVoyJOMm5foGaQRSJKWdoQ9_FVJVRiQICcGg9f5HKZE2d7Y7_T3TWDkvAg1zPbum4POUfMtLcV1fxcnBoP7QBjroDzOdxg5rH2vM/s1600/versacemansion3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiefSpBhS-sMTll9T70dmhVDGlhh5QNAAac7NA6w2ZVoyJOMm5foGaQRSJKWdoQ9_FVJVRiQICcGg9f5HKZE2d7Y7_T3TWDkvAg1zPbum4POUfMtLcV1fxcnBoP7QBjroDzOdxg5rH2vM/s640/versacemansion3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcb1pt8YMRWvDn5iPcqtbQXN-1kchy8X5ZB1w2ugTzraX7zIOzgOOQyzzeAjAbNuwIhSaEHUBq9AAAnzJVBezJbqUToKzr_ddeYhZ6Ulz8jmBvPQFUVWDLZW98hG8QR70v2jEwRo2Pb4/s1600/versacemansion4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcb1pt8YMRWvDn5iPcqtbQXN-1kchy8X5ZB1w2ugTzraX7zIOzgOOQyzzeAjAbNuwIhSaEHUBq9AAAnzJVBezJbqUToKzr_ddeYhZ6Ulz8jmBvPQFUVWDLZW98hG8QR70v2jEwRo2Pb4/s640/versacemansion4.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj743tR1Gr16PBRu2ha8ZYbp3wQ8Um5yWwyQZgC_q5JSZo9DcOxECQUwycb_9dvhK0smTI_Pz171iZwdEJNx5Cp_qoETFuL004buraKGDmARDAPjj6WKwVTYpTlYaITmTyqBxxdjXrPYAM/s1600/versacemansion7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj743tR1Gr16PBRu2ha8ZYbp3wQ8Um5yWwyQZgC_q5JSZo9DcOxECQUwycb_9dvhK0smTI_Pz171iZwdEJNx5Cp_qoETFuL004buraKGDmARDAPjj6WKwVTYpTlYaITmTyqBxxdjXrPYAM/s320/versacemansion7.jpg" /></a></div>Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8615629765040207225.post-4311537111552289032011-06-14T21:17:00.000-04:002011-06-14T21:17:07.616-04:00summer lovin'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Are you as jazzed about the heat as I am? I am seriously loving this scorching summer, along with the thoughts of gardening, succulent pots and outdoor entertaining. Chalk that last sentence up with things I thought I'd never say. Especially the gardening part. Today I was stressing from work responsibilities. When that happens, I usually go shopping for an hour to clear my head. But today...I went to Lowe's and bought a bunch of succulents, dug my hands in the dirt and potted a beautiful new plant. Best stress reliever ever!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We don't have a patio as of yet, but I dream of one day having an amazing outdoor room. Because of our HOA, we'd probably go with something like this...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EwihffUQufz_wysdZUsMqTZFqk9EVVTkciK5KG7n_qcY9qI5ez0bGss_qf6Vm5hGjl5ytVBjQOREGg3fTkG5KEWz9YmkikHyqzt69Y_AUAKnCyd5KvId60q5FXkqjwWB-aMJKb42Lq0/s1600/1l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EwihffUQufz_wysdZUsMqTZFqk9EVVTkciK5KG7n_qcY9qI5ez0bGss_qf6Vm5hGjl5ytVBjQOREGg3fTkG5KEWz9YmkikHyqzt69Y_AUAKnCyd5KvId60q5FXkqjwWB-aMJKb42Lq0/s1600/1l.jpg" /></a></div> or maybe this...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirq2h8_nLXwJxW39yUCIm5a__wZBHmv7efYBydRCiC3s6kKggB8Fp7wyj0uT4gRdKNQj4RibGNx1M_Rld5J6haAy8sA4tVPq9DWdjcjEFx0Sc8R29FBVv3r82hqg1KjDXN0w8zSsQhkls/s1600/clip_image004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirq2h8_nLXwJxW39yUCIm5a__wZBHmv7efYBydRCiC3s6kKggB8Fp7wyj0uT4gRdKNQj4RibGNx1M_Rld5J6haAy8sA4tVPq9DWdjcjEFx0Sc8R29FBVv3r82hqg1KjDXN0w8zSsQhkls/s1600/clip_image004.jpg" /></a></div> If I live in NYC and had an amazing terrace, I would totally go this route...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyL5P6RTKZDyB3D0Ntwjot1PTixayz0iFGP1tyHKyUBLrbul5AVLKB-2vpTF_PeIWY63KWwXXYqGnSsAcQL9lLNeT4sz3qggbkURwx3UuJGM0MqcNdVhmEjReqD70jQA75onTeZ9CVcC4/s1600/clip_image009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyL5P6RTKZDyB3D0Ntwjot1PTixayz0iFGP1tyHKyUBLrbul5AVLKB-2vpTF_PeIWY63KWwXXYqGnSsAcQL9lLNeT4sz3qggbkURwx3UuJGM0MqcNdVhmEjReqD70jQA75onTeZ9CVcC4/s1600/clip_image009.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If I lived in Dilworth or somewhere else in the city with tons of character and no HOA, I'd go crazy and do something along these lines...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEI0E3uLJxcfagvefClOqC9l1Im_uFE-NVOzfIVhmJuK70ginn-IiGiVKHz78oVA1tpmNzR5pqHtxmoVcu4B3Gtnqd_OXdPx1-Hms6HI7sI1oDcU8IYXbDOPcdn97mSK0vcv7n4P2Jcg/s1600/9735274_eivqxntz_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEI0E3uLJxcfagvefClOqC9l1Im_uFE-NVOzfIVhmJuK70ginn-IiGiVKHz78oVA1tpmNzR5pqHtxmoVcu4B3Gtnqd_OXdPx1-Hms6HI7sI1oDcU8IYXbDOPcdn97mSK0vcv7n4P2Jcg/s1600/9735274_eivqxntz_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uIyqH1cFiITTqxmKtKgudgn9bhecz8RsysDs9cPW0vriUmK6s20UoboT5pB9dWL_jNNXu0C-cJsqA6lAi3Yh4_r_lhWNod5Wk1UrgG3D3KPaU8R_bdtVRaYJ7eITAmgqAc-QBS4wCj4/s1600/17268708_SKzC8q3h_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uIyqH1cFiITTqxmKtKgudgn9bhecz8RsysDs9cPW0vriUmK6s20UoboT5pB9dWL_jNNXu0C-cJsqA6lAi3Yh4_r_lhWNod5Wk1UrgG3D3KPaU8R_bdtVRaYJ7eITAmgqAc-QBS4wCj4/s1600/17268708_SKzC8q3h_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8SsMKDWAl2pTakrD3hXx0uj1yXdFDZxORrFB7LjQEgjeC8RoTbZjMeDlogr82tKqdLzYpF69KcWCPLUqFi9HlkuWGcKWy2i4NFWm1MsLok295kGiXucb8oo7g6VWj3GUE1ekpxu0mVw/s1600/bhg+flea+market+style+09%255B3%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8SsMKDWAl2pTakrD3hXx0uj1yXdFDZxORrFB7LjQEgjeC8RoTbZjMeDlogr82tKqdLzYpF69KcWCPLUqFi9HlkuWGcKWy2i4NFWm1MsLok295kGiXucb8oo7g6VWj3GUE1ekpxu0mVw/s1600/bhg+flea+market+style+09%255B3%255D.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPcCgceEHSIuMYwkBK0g1XYH3H6P5O0JwDT1aXGzGVAFvSmGxqC1W0XPkqIT2x2yKjXaEcy2hDNWd2-ocBJ825-gTe_7yXsbdg_IldE9R6N-Vdy9unpgYCHD8GqCQL2Ny_tIfyrcAm4c/s1600/ladder-lantern-holder_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPcCgceEHSIuMYwkBK0g1XYH3H6P5O0JwDT1aXGzGVAFvSmGxqC1W0XPkqIT2x2yKjXaEcy2hDNWd2-ocBJ825-gTe_7yXsbdg_IldE9R6N-Vdy9unpgYCHD8GqCQL2Ny_tIfyrcAm4c/s1600/ladder-lantern-holder_thumb.jpg" /></a></div> If I lived on the coast, it would be this...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3Kq_WMkVcIF0aEihpvUnQ83B_vIyZOYJ7gz5P_gReyqDzVRUo6omH3D-Lkht4mkLozmIdHyDn12roiRYvc-zOSnM5FiCHaGIUYmZerWgcDEIwLvRkMGY0crWY43ug2KMQF0RRaMLo3k/s1600/rebecca_cottage_plates_home_design.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3Kq_WMkVcIF0aEihpvUnQ83B_vIyZOYJ7gz5P_gReyqDzVRUo6omH3D-Lkht4mkLozmIdHyDn12roiRYvc-zOSnM5FiCHaGIUYmZerWgcDEIwLvRkMGY0crWY43ug2KMQF0RRaMLo3k/s1600/rebecca_cottage_plates_home_design.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZ3AQ7iz7jdoKoRsO8ZaHbmgtL3IfvZbVVjWV0Iygi3nw0nsW45yuXEwfBM5xJAYqLARDv5FRuubsQdvv-0I57NejkUBagogIN89SrSii-JryP5iZ_pxsbW5EjQDlnjpmv8-Vb_3Mp04/s1600/rustic-bar-design-sponge_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZ3AQ7iz7jdoKoRsO8ZaHbmgtL3IfvZbVVjWV0Iygi3nw0nsW45yuXEwfBM5xJAYqLARDv5FRuubsQdvv-0I57NejkUBagogIN89SrSii-JryP5iZ_pxsbW5EjQDlnjpmv8-Vb_3Mp04/s1600/rustic-bar-design-sponge_thumb.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And this is my ultimate spa-like dream of a backyard oasis. Love the neutrals here...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfhtyji983J2CGOIoMJbWP7BqkHW31BwriluS3Z7g0EqVU2A3Vp5jFb723Nh6u6t9rdimCSgPWvkPiAvfYe8V2LgVlWySOHYiBlX7aeHrOuBiF8zzQHsj_r6gBs3QJJrXXJz4htijHDo/s1600/5804406865_2f05a60803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfhtyji983J2CGOIoMJbWP7BqkHW31BwriluS3Z7g0EqVU2A3Vp5jFb723Nh6u6t9rdimCSgPWvkPiAvfYe8V2LgVlWySOHYiBlX7aeHrOuBiF8zzQHsj_r6gBs3QJJrXXJz4htijHDo/s1600/5804406865_2f05a60803.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8h9oar-3szwZCaZ2ozhp6eAw3_734FstZjPlXJ4TqQt7BwoQuQeBAerhcL6pml4sIHTPGQMirTuf661ejUabHm80DpfuxPVTkYWLETEhknI4BpTnzX5yeCTq7kGyw8L5rpNwEXAS-f4/s1600/5814357039_29e57b5a44_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8h9oar-3szwZCaZ2ozhp6eAw3_734FstZjPlXJ4TqQt7BwoQuQeBAerhcL6pml4sIHTPGQMirTuf661ejUabHm80DpfuxPVTkYWLETEhknI4BpTnzX5yeCTq7kGyw8L5rpNwEXAS-f4/s1600/5814357039_29e57b5a44_z.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1FMQJwR_MeaekT8WyvK3d454L2R0y4chmHoVPagf1ZEUr1XRN0eU9RnEDUgAgl_XkVtDWPG4XESj-6vsHjm6yDuiQ95Vde8PVxnYgP6lhUeVoBLu6IEee1bXGXuKeVJtREw4fu_Imw8/s1600/5832835394_e78c6be2b7_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1FMQJwR_MeaekT8WyvK3d454L2R0y4chmHoVPagf1ZEUr1XRN0eU9RnEDUgAgl_XkVtDWPG4XESj-6vsHjm6yDuiQ95Vde8PVxnYgP6lhUeVoBLu6IEee1bXGXuKeVJtREw4fu_Imw8/s1600/5832835394_e78c6be2b7_b.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXjjQgJ1PuQPzDTo47Nx1Q2VtOe1ACP3CSoobE_qEIiCSCoo67p65sspdMpH7Odjtg7uDyeRxlA3-C0_WYZykBwsQ8kxc5XpYHlXHUu85BW6ON8qst1XNYadMUIaX11XCcoUPuT8AjSk/s1600/clip_image003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXjjQgJ1PuQPzDTo47Nx1Q2VtOe1ACP3CSoobE_qEIiCSCoo67p65sspdMpH7Odjtg7uDyeRxlA3-C0_WYZykBwsQ8kxc5XpYHlXHUu85BW6ON8qst1XNYadMUIaX11XCcoUPuT8AjSk/s1600/clip_image003.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You know me. I have to have at least one yellow option. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDx-z8Q0vBncO9WbmH_CBHLqHbH4QBBbiVvNzYhGglS7SGiz8JRVOsZWtXNawzw80E6Yqiz52HW07dUjJwG6wHgup8MKRbPp-f-xhZv7UA0O4haUKnSOj93N4GdJolkk0q9fkm0waVcE/s1600/celerie-kemble-lonny_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDx-z8Q0vBncO9WbmH_CBHLqHbH4QBBbiVvNzYhGglS7SGiz8JRVOsZWtXNawzw80E6Yqiz52HW07dUjJwG6wHgup8MKRbPp-f-xhZv7UA0O4haUKnSOj93N4GdJolkk0q9fkm0waVcE/s1600/celerie-kemble-lonny_thumb.jpg" /></a></div>Do you have an outdoor room dream? <a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2011/06/creating-an-outdoor-room.html#more-104751">This article</a> from <a href="http://www.designsponge.com/">Design Sponge</a> is a great resource to make that happen! Happy summer!!!!Rachel Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07702043856173652032noreply@blogger.com0