Welcome back friends, to the weekly update! The last week feels like the beginning of a turning point for the decor in the house. It’s all about wallpaper over here.
Before I get to that, I did take a few days off from my double life as (basically) a general contractor to go and play with my BFF. We had outlined three days of a self-planned “craft camp” to work on a Christmas project, that without her, I would have never even started this year.
Staying with her is like a master class in hospitality! Her house is beyond fabulous and inspiring. I just had to take a quick pic in the bathroom, yes that is fresh rosemary from her garden.
Side note: Wait until you see some other projects she is encouraging me to do. You will pee yourself. Stay tuned.
Like a year and a half ago, we had bought these super cute patterns off Etsy, for some bespoke style handmade ornaments in the theme of the 12 days of Christmas. The chick who designed these is ‘next level’ and we happily went down the rabbit hole.
But here we are, a long time after, and I am finally starting mine. Couldn’t have been possible without my bestie, cause you know I have been hella distracted with all my renovations over here.
After much planning and shopping (color scheme and supplies), I headed to her (fabulous) house for a few days to get me started. When you see the detail in these things, you know she is the truest of friends (since she was helping me do my set, having already finished her own).
The Thing You Gotta Try
Of course, we needed a pit stop at the craft store for some more DMC floss and a drive through McDonalds for the nectar of the gods (Diet Coke, duh). So if you ever hear me say “I like it dirty”, don’t be offended, this is what I mean.
So we are cruising through placing our order, and I notice something new that catches my eye. Of course, I gotta try it. Do you like it dirty? Cause you can apparently get, at McDonalds, a “dirty” Dr. Pepper. What is that you ask?
So I order 2 large DCs and one dirty DIET Dr. Pepper. Because you know, when I am driving through Mickey D’s, I am surely thinking of my health and fitness plan, so I order it dirty, but diet. BFF is all “what is that?” and me, “I have no clue” but when we are together, clearly we are reckless.
So we popped in 2 straws and drank it down together “Lady and the Tramp” style, and sucked that puppy dry within seconds! Because how they make the Dr. Pepper dirty is…they top it with whipped cream! WHAT? It was sooooo good, and when you have one, you will also feel greedy because you will just want more!
Of course this led us to… this would be a great treat at home. Diet Dr. Pepper, real whipped cream from a can (you know, we’re keeping all the chemicals at bay being health conscious) and when you need a little “treat yo’self” moment, you can create this in a jiffy! Obvi, it’s best with the Diet Coke chaser, to really round out your overall health plan. Dude, what can I say, I have few vices. Okay, not really, but few FOOD vices. Alcohol NOT being one of them, so I get drinking in other ways. Ha!
Wallpaper Makes All the Difference
So since last week, I was pretty jazzed after hanging the adorable English wallpaper in the half bath. I was itching to get more done before I took some leisure time, so I got started in the ‘snack room’.
This is the space, right off the kitchen, where I sit and watch the birds and Kevin’s feeding rock. I have the jars with all the snacks for my littles (who happily raid it whenever they can, and this Mimi loves that). We sometimes call it the ‘butler pantry’ but it is really the ‘snack room’.
I began priming and painting the shelves I hung in there. Then got started with the wallpaper. This is one from Seabrook but it definitely has a William Morris vibe, without the price tag.
The paper has all the colors you will find in the house now, primarily the blue and the green. I also have a strong showing for brown throughout. But every time I hang wallpaper, I am astounded at how it brings a space alive! Do you remember this cute little bunk room for my littles from the last house? That was such a great paper!
I have had a long time addiction to wallpaper, and this house is going to love all it is getting. I hang my own, have for decades, so if you need any tips, check this post out for wallpaper hanging insider secrets. I really love how it transforms everything.
I still have more painting to do in this little space (that window trim will all be my signature off white in this space). But the wallpaper always surges me forward to want to get more done!
Wallpaper Can Go Anywhere
Back in the day (early 90s) when I was having a wallpaper overdose, I started papering inside closets. Because why not? It’s so fun to step into a utilitarian space and be surprised by pretty. In the last house, the pantry had wallpaper.
Tip: Start looking at your space. Where can you add a little ‘happy’ in the form of easy to hang wallpaper? It also is a good motivator to keep that little area clean and tidy because it feels ‘special’.
I was reading some emails and comments from last week’s update where I had shown some samples I was considering for the laundry room. My friend Amy (who is currently living in England for a bit) mentioned that I needed to use a few of them because, well, they were so English and pretty, and why stop at one? And I thought, “Amy, you genius! Thank you for saving me from myself! I almost forgot who I am.” I am into excess, if nothing else.
I went on the search of where to use the second one, and it didn’t take me long to discover that the utility room, off the very large mudroom, will be perfect for this Laura Ashley floral, on the right. The left one is going in the laundry room. I swear, I almost feel whole. Wallpaper is healing. So dramatic, yet true.
Good thing hubby is super busy with work the next few months. I am going to get soooo much done! Ugh, but that will leave me having to feed Kevin by myself.
Kevin Update
I am sure that Kevin is bitter every time we leave the house for a few days. Because once a raccoon figures out they have a friend, like my food-pushing hubby, they will work the circuit like it’s their J-O-B.
Of course, I had to call in reinforcements, in the form of my darling granddaughter. She and my DIL came over to get the mail and take the trash to the curb, and since I am always feeding their chickens when they are gone, I figured they could leave Kevin a snack on the feeding rock.
When we returned, hubby was in the house for like 2 seconds before he was out putting treats out for Kevin. We really need a trail cam because he has been coming out after dark, so I haven’t gotten any good pics lately. But he is there, getting fat and happy at the Rinner family feeding rock.
There’s a reason that our last name looks like it rhymes with dinner, but you pronounce it rhyming with diner. We are a full blown food service over here.
Quotes for the week
Which brings me to…some good stuff I found for the fall. It can’t come fast enough, I am sick of this heat and humidity.
I LOVE the look of these, and you don’t even have to bend down to put them on!
Wearing this on repeat with jeans as we ease into any cold temps. Yes, please.
Cute and cheap enough to wear while they are trending!
Good Things Coming!
Okay friends, this next week I should be making great progress so will have lots of pictures to share. So stop in next time.
Thanks so much for hanging here a bit, and drop me a comment if you have any great ideas that I might need to know about. Have a fantastic week, til next time.
