Fall Nesting Spruce-Ups

Fall always makes me want to NEST. My "September's coming!" nesting gene kicked in this year with these letters I found a few weeks ago at Girard Avenue Collection in LaJolla, CA. I just loved them and I brought them home for hubby Steve to figure out how to hang them. Turns out it was harder than I thought it would be as they are very heavy metal so he ended up using screws with clear fishing line wrapped around them to hang them and he forbid me to hang them anywhere they might fall on someone's head! Wise advice I might add!

In addition to the NEST letters, I rearranged my journals and found new photo frames. I love buying frames at Marshall's and TJ Maxx. My only rule is they have to cost little but look expensive. If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you'll see that they look great.

Next it was time to get out my step stool and work on refreshing our window treatment. I love my wooden step stool because it's so sturdy that it's safe, and I smile when I see it because it was an $18 "find" at a thrift store years ago. I don't know who painted it but I thank them for the years of enjoyment it has given me!

I used a king sized sheet for the window treatment. I tied a knot in it and clipped one of my old floral hair clips on it. Hair clips can be art! Hubby Steve put the pink "valance" up--it's a twin size sheet and I said "move it a little this way and a little that way" as he worked on it as it's too hard to do it by yourself when you are right up close to it as you can't see how it looks. It's an art, not a science!

You can see the knot and floral hair clip a little better here.

Here are the NEST letters--far away on a side wall where they can't fall on anyone's head while they are in bed (namely, us!). I found a fresh new quilt I loved at Marshall's on sale for $39 for a king. It has lovely lavender lilacs on it and went nicely with all our other floral things in keeping with our "garden' look. Some men don't like flowers but my hubby Steve says he likes our bedroom because it reminds him of being together in a garden and of our Bed & Breakfast Inn travels.

I found those big white square pillows at Target for only $24.99 each and I love them! They look really expensive. They are from their Shabby Chic collection.

The pillows have beautiful embellished stitching on them and the quilt has a lovely stitched pattern also.

If you click on the photo, you can see the embellishment which I think looks very elegant for only $24.99 each!

I also found this interesting pale blue "ruffle style" throw at Marshall's for only $16.99. It's sooooo soft and cuddly! And the blue blends with our "canopy" bed drapes over the bed.

I found the silver heart jewelry holder at Marshall's a few weeks ago for $12.99 and I re-arranged my "personal necessities" on the silver tray hubby Steve bought me for Christmas last year at another of my favorite stores in LaJolla, CA--Etceteras.

I use an antique spoon holder to hold my Q-tips. I've had it for years and it makes me smile.

Time for a little work on the La Toilette!

I tied white raffia ribbon around my towel...

and re-arranged my "spa books" for fun. The upside down basket hides my plunger.

I dusted off my cabinet that holds my shampoo and conditioner. When I dust I always enjoy remembering who gave me the items. The little book is from hubby Steve and the beautiful rose egg is from my friend and client Ruth Welter. The ceramic pitcher on the top shelf I made when I was in 4th grade.

I filled my pretty pump dispensers with soap, shampoo, and conditioner. I got them for $10 each at Marshall's. Don't buy clear ones though as they show hard water spots.

Next we hung these antique tin frames I bought at Michael's Crafts for our dear kitties' photos. Monique and Beau passed away within 13 days of each other this past February but their sweet spirits live on in our hearts.

Then I took a little iced tea break in hubby Steve's great grandfather's rocker. The soft rose motif throw is new from Marshall's and was only $19.99.

I reorganized our movies in a pretty fabric-lined basket...

and stacked up some of my favorite books I like to read before going to bed at night.

And I filled a pretty pump dispenser with grapeseed massage oil so we can enjoy a gentle massage before we snuggle down in on our new pillows!

It's so easy and inexpensive to spruce up your master bedroom and bathroom and give yourself a little pampering. I think we deserve that TLC in our busy lives, don't you?

'Til Next Time!
Kathryn
www.KathrynBechenInk.com

Think PINK Computer Power!

Think pink! It was time for me to upgrade my laptop since I do so much writing, and I elected to buy another Sony because I loved the one I had for four years so much. But this time, I chose a champagne pink one! Don't ya love it?!! I mean, if I'm gonna stare at a computer for 8-10 hours a day writing and working virtually with clients, I want to stare at a color I like! (And to the sales rep who told me it was foolish to spend extra money on a colored computer, I said, "Not if you're aesthetically inclined like me it's not!") And besides, it perfectly matches my champagne pink cell phone too. :) I tell you, if they come out with a floral computer case the next time around, I'll likely be the first one in line!

I took my new computer baby to my favorite place to write and work which is our master bedroom which is cozy, comfy, and yes, has pink flowers and other garden blooms so I can feel like I'm enjoying a garden while I'm writing. (No boring beige cubicles for me, thank you very much!)

I think my new pink laptop goes well in my pink floral themed office, too, don't you?

Now if I can only quickly learn to use all the new bells and whistles on this little toy, I'll be in good shape!

What color computer will you buy next?! Make it your favorite! Because life is too short to be beige!

Til Next Time!

Kathryn
http://www.kathrynbechenink.com/

Day Trip to Coronado Island, CA

How about if we take a little "spa for the spirit" day trip to Coronado Island, California today? Hubby Steve and I were recently there, so come on along! Our first stop is the lovely Seaside Home interior design store; they have the most impeccable furnishings and accessories! I interviewed store owner Sheryll Jackman for a magazine article awhile back and she gave great decorating tips for couples. You can read her tips in my "Your Blessed Nest" article here.

Now let's take in a little Art in the Park festival...

and enjoy the pink hydrangeas profusely in bloom.

The mailman still delivers hand-written letters to quaint mailboxes in Coronado...


and lovely yards invite us to stroll casually along...

or sit for a minute and rest.

Coronado is home to lovely cottage style homes and swaying palm trees...

as well as picket fences and arbors adorned with blooms.

There are many large meticulously-kept older homes...

and plenty of new McMansions too.

Hubby Steve and I enjoy Miguel's Mexican restaurant with its outdoor courtyard. I think you'd like it!

Coronado's beach is simply divine! Miles and miles of soft white sand, colorful beach umbrellas, and shade-huts dot the shore.

The legendary Hotel Del sits majestically on the beach. It has great restaurants and shops and a beautiful pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Our last stop for the day is one of my favorite lifestyle stores at the Hotel Del, Babcock & Story. They carry artist Allayn Stevens' colorful floral paintings and a host of other wonderful "mostly seaside-related" decor.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of Coronado Island, California.

'Til Next Time!

Kathryn

http://www.kathrynbechenink.com/

The Sweet Embrace of Home

"Home should feel like a sweet embrace."

--Kathryn Bechen--

'Til Next Time!
Kathryn
www.KathrynBechenInk.com

Small Space Majesty

When people ask me why I choose to live in a small space and if I like it, my reply is that Alexander Pope summed it up best, "There is a certain majesty in simplicity."

Or as the popular sign in stores these days says, "Live simply, live well."

Amen!

'Til Next Time!
Kathryn :)
http://www.kathrynbechenink.com/

Joyfully Organized Jewelry

If your jewelry is a tangled mess, here's a simple dollarwise organizing solution that looks pretty too! I simply hung a bulletin board in my walk-in clothes closet...

Well, okay, I admit, hubby Steve hung the bulletin board, not me! I came up with the idea and as usual, his handyman skills are the wind beneath my creative wings! We're a yin and yang duo when it comes to this stuff I'm afraid, so I can't take all the credit! (I went out and bought him two new polo shirts to thank him for his efforts. :)

This jewelry organizing method makes getting dressed a snap because you can see at a glance by color and style just what jewelry will go nicely with your outfit. I hung my pieces by color, and doing it that way made a lovely visual display in our closet too. I think colorful jewelry is too pretty to hide in a drawer or jewelry box! To me, it's art so why not display it and call it "decor!"

I bought some multi-colored push pins and also some stick pins with colorful heads as you can see in this photo. Just hang your necklaces, pins, and earrings on them depending on the style and weight. Easy breezy! You could also cover the cork with a favorite fabric by spray gluing it on to the cork, but I didn't want to go to that much work in all honesty and I personally don't mind the cork showing.

You can't put post style earrings on the bulletin board (unless you remove the backs and store those elsewhere and stick the posts right into the bulletin board cork) but I didn't want to do that. Instead, I got lucky and found this nice post earring display rack at Marshall's for just $12.99, and it holds the few post earrings I have. (I have short hair so I prefer colorful dangling earrings. To me, as I said, they're art!)

By the way, the bulletin board method is also very inexpensive! The bulletin board was about $15 from Wal-Mart and the push pins and pins cost little. I'm so visual that I'm now totally happy as not only is my display attractive, but I can get ready quickly and look "pulled together."

If you don't have wall space to hang a bulletin board in your closet, another inexpensive and clever way to house jewelry is to sort your earrings into stackable ice cube trays and store them in a drawer.

Hope this inspires you to get your tangled jewelry organized this fall! **

'Til Next Time!
Kathryn :)
http://www.kathrynbechenink.com/

**P.S. Yes, I know "normal" people do things like go to the beach or a baseball game on the weekends, but we compulsively organized sorts just can't help ourselves--we'd rather be home creating "organized beauty." :) It's just the way we are!

P.S.S. Letters from my readers:

"Ooohh…I love the bulletin board idea! I have a tangled mess of necklaces at home, and the fact that they’re not organized makes them less appealing to wear – in addition to making them prone to breaking."

Melissa H. Lum
Attorney-At-Law

Danielle Barger Law Firm

Meet Melissa here.

"Kathryn, I love your jewelry idea. In fact it is one I came up with 11 years ago when I moved to my present home with a walk-in closet. The things I did not want to poke into the board I just put into little zip-lock bags and pinned the bag to the board. You can purchase the bags at Wal-mart or any craft store. Great minds think alike."

Cathy Prall

Blue Hydrangea Lunch Club: Victoria--Invitation Theory

My new Blue Hydrangea Lunch Club has officially begun and I've hosted my first guest at my home!

Meet one of San Diego's award-winning wedding invitation designers, Victoria Schaefer-Ramirez, owner of Invitation Theory. I met Victoria when I interviewed her for a wedding magazine feature article I wrote this year which will be published this fall. She was a memorable interviewee not only because of her talent and outstanding couture wedding invitation designs, but also because of her gracious and appreciative manner. I found her as lovely in person as on the phone and we had a marvelous time visiting about our respective creative businesses. Victoria began designing invitations as a hobby which evolved into a successful business, including winning an award for her designs from the prestigious San Diego's Channel 10 A-List.

She has combined her degrees in IT and accounting, her many years of corporate work experience, and her creative flair and love for paper, color, and people to custom design her invitations on her computer. (Click on photos to enlarge and see the details.)

Victoria is happy to meet with couples wherever it is convenient for them and she provides several custom samples for them to choose from.

With her attention to detail, determination to be the best at whatever she does, and her passion for treating her clients with a high level of personalized customer service, I know Victoria will continue to shine and I wish her continued creative success!

P.S. And thanks to Victoria for this dear thank you e-mail:


Dear Kathryn,

I cannot thank you enough for the wonderful lunch, the warm hospitality, and especially for the delightful conversation; I had a blast chatting with you. I’m sure you have blessed many lives with your kind words of encouragement and support – and I’m sure you’ll continue to do so. I have not only found an inspiration in you – I have also found a dear friend.

With gratitude,
Victoria

'Til Next Time!

Kathryn

http://www.kathrynbechenink.com/