I Can't Resist... Sarah's Summer House {and a Graduation Gift Idea}

HGTV is my guilty pleasure.  In a house full of men and boys, a few stolen moments to watch ANYTHING other than Sportscenter or Modern Marvels or some such is... bliss.  So imagine my excitement when I stumbled upon an episode of Sarah's Summer House over the weekend.



Are you hooked yet?  First of all, Sarah Richardson is incredibly fun to watch (and I love her Canadian accent!).  Add in that her tiny little lake cottage is a diamond in the rough being transformed into an energy efficient stylish and comfortable getaway for her growing family and you've got a winning combination.

The episode I caught was the reno of the two guest rooms.



Here's a peek at one of them.  I love that she salvaged much of the original pine for this renovation and it turns up in several different variations.  She takes you along on her shopping excursions (!) and lets you see the challenges of managing an out-of-town project.  Just plain fun.  So much so, that I had my kids show me how to program my DVR to record it.  Now THAT's truly something I can't resist!  Visit HGTV.com for episode recaps, photos, and airing times.Photos via HGTV.com.

Now I have been consumed lately with my daughter's high school graduation (!) and thought I'd share what I am giving all of her friends for graduation.



I love these Wire Wall Letters from PB Teen.  At 14 1/2 inches tall, they are the perfect size for a dorm room... and at $15 each (with FREE shipping!) they're the perfect fit for my budget, too.  Each of her friends is getting their first initial.  I'm envisioning photos, messages from friends and roommates, and other college years mementos filling these. :)

Happy Decorating and Happy Gift-Giving!

Nautical Touches I'm Loving {Catalog Finds}

Warmer weather has me thinking "beach"!  I grew up in land-locked West Texas, but once I experienced the sand between my toes on the beach, I was hooked.  I'm now a bona fide beach lover and we trek to the white sands of the Gulf Coast a few times a year to get our fix. :)

Though my personal decor style isn't your typical nautical or beach cottage style, I love to introduce touches into my late spring and summer decorating that reflect our love for the coast.  Imagine my surprise when I found several such pieces in -- of all things -- the PB Teen catalog!  Have you ever shopped for decor from Pottery Barn's Teen lines? 

Take a look at what tickled my fancy...



Sweet little octopus toss pillow-- only $35!  How cute for a porch!



Loving these Driftwood Mini Mirrors-- set of 5 for only $59.



Adorable starfish hooks for $15 each.  Awesome for a mudroom or coastal themed bathroom.



Very cool Know Your Ropes Mirror... great size (25" x 16")!


The Big Wave Rug... love the graphic design!  A little pricey (starting at $129) but the Pottery Barn quality might make it worth the while.  This would be great in a playroom, teen bedroom, or coastal casual family room.

I especially like their price points, since I don't showcase coastal decor year round.  PB Teen makes adding those little nautical touches doable and affordable.  So now that I've got you thinking "beach," can you picture yourself here?

Our favorite slice of coastal heaven: Destin, FL.

Happy Decorating {and Happy Shopping}!

I Can't Resist... Music Themed Wall Art

Straight from the pages of the Pottery Barn Teen catalog (pbteen.com)... I love this idea of framing sheet music and using it as backdrops for your personal photographs!  It even looks like some have been enlarged to capture specific measures, notes, or symbols.  This would be super easy to do and what an original look!