Woven Caddy

Scored this woven caddy/basket/whatchamacallit at HomeGoods for three bones, tres buckskins, a trio of beans. Not literal buckskins...eww. I only wish I could use lima beans. And bones? That is a little hardcore. But just a little.

Anyhoo...I got me a thingamajig at HomeGoods. Hated the little curly cue doomonkeys...so I bent them down outta sight with my giant guns. Guns = biceps (not boobs mom! sorry inside joke!) So here was the photo prior to me altering my purchase:


And afterwards I brainstormed how to use this poohamahickey. And I came up with silverware caddy. Just popped a dishtowel in with some silverware and instantly have a outdoor picnic utensil holder.


Or even placing it on a casual buffet for a bit of height and a little texture. (silverware down of course)


So what would you use this for? Anyone thinking candycane holder for Christmas caroling? Or what about hanging it in an extra bedroom with a bottle of chilled water for guests? I need brainstormers to throw out some ideas. Not actual stormy craniums....you know what I mean :)

Fan Club

About a week ago, I became the official member of the 'Fan' Club. Sortof like The Babysitters Club but for girls over the age of 15.

I was able to pick up a few things for our master bedroom and this fun little fan, well, he was begging me to take him home...dirty little thing. No seriously. He was a hot mess. I broke out the Clorox wipes and got to business cleaning him up. Soon his soft turquoise finish and shiny red nose (hence the name Rudolph) were spick n span.

But that isn't the only thing I picked up on my travels. Oh no sloppy joe! I also found a lovely starfish at HomeGoods for $3 and a Pottery Barn Design Bedrooms book at the outlet for $6.


A little stacking action on the dresser across from our bed makes for a nice little vinette. Plus the PB book is a perfect little treat before bed - afterall, isn't eye candy better than real candy?! (jury still out on that one!) And after seeing the delish photos for a little bedroom inspiration...I went directly to Amazon to order the other Pottery Barn Design books which all have the loveliest shade of cream and brown to their uncovered binding.


Now to come up with something beautiful for the other side of the dresser. Maybe a big basket with a beautiful shade-loving plant. Or a lamp and a cake plate for all of my perfumes. What do you think? Any ideas out there?


Aww - Rudolph looks so cute perched there. He is such a classy kinda guy. And you can take one of these home with you too - via ebay. Just search for 'GE antique fan' and a bunch of different kinds come up. And when you bring your new guy into your bedroom...I have not a doubt in my mind that he will blow you away :) heehee! Happy Shopping!

Wanna see who else is a member of the Fan Club? Click here! (clue - have you voted today?)

Decoration Day

Memorial Day was formally known as Decoration Day. (insert eye sparkle here) As Americans everywhere observed the holiday by decorating the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags, I remembered our fallen comrades with a different sortof medallion. See if you can find what I am talking about:


Yessum...it's that navy and white book. Actually it is box made to look like a book. Sortof like a book that you would find in a creepy old library and it would contain a weapon or secrets on how to perform a brain transfer or something like that. Basically this home decor item is pulling a Michael Jackson....and you know what I mean :) Anyhoo - this small non-creepy box is covered in a great navy and white medallion patterned fabric.


My friend Brook spied it while we were shopping in the HomeGoods clearance section. It actually matches her pillows quite perfectly. But she wasn't sure if she would use a book/box. (And obviously I love storage boxes in my living room). So I told her that if she didn't buy it, I would. And at $3 it was quite a steal. They actually had bigger sizes but I knew that this small one would suit me just peachy. Wanna guess what I had in mind for this little gem?


The correct answer is a pedicure kit! One hundred and fourteen points if you guessed it right! When Brook asked what I was gonna use it for...a pedicure kit was the first thing that came to mind. It was the perfect size for holding clippers, nail files, some cotton balls for spreading the toes ('you gotta keep em separated!' Holla Offspring!) and of course, some polish. Because let's be honest - I do not notice the toe-funk until I am plopped on the couch. And then I am too pooped to retrieve said toe-funk removal utensils.


Speaking of couch - doesn't the navy and white of the medallion fabric go with the colors of the new summery sofa pillows just like bacon & eggs. Not that I would ever put bacon or eggs on the sofa...that would be messy. And a complete waste of bacon.


I especially like the layered look with the book - "What Every Husband Should Know" and my little Hooker art. I don't know why but that title is hilarious to me.

So there you have it folks. A fab little side storage soley (heehee) devoted to toes. Plus a perfect reminder that every time I look down at my fungus & jam free nails or at the living room side table, that I should be uber thankful for those who gave their lives so that I can have the freedom to worry about mundane and insignificant things like hangnails. Seriously, can I get a 'wa' to the 'hoo' !?!? WAHOO!

Questions - how did you celebrate Memorial Day? Anybody write letters or actually decorate a soldiers grave? Any fireworks? Did you do like me & decorate? What would you have put in this little box/book of toenail fun? And yes, prepackaged pork products did cross my mind as a must for a pedicure kit...just sayin.

Spring into Summer

Does the thought of summer make you wanna change up your home decor? Yeah. me too!

During the spring months, my palatte starts craving fun colors, sheerer fabrics, and oddly enough, strawberry fruit rollups. And at 50 calories a pop with no known side effects for eating the entire box, it is just the start of a beautiful summer experience.

Speaking of sweet experiences, this is the year for brightening up my home. I wanna feel easy going and casual. I wanna feel lighter than Posh Spice. I wanna walk in the door, kick off my flips, and wear shorts again. That is the feeling that inspired a little story. This story of summery transformation begins with a $3.50 placemat find at the Pottery Barn outlet.

And this is how it motivated an entire couch redo in funner colors (kinda like when fruit rollups went from only in red to swirly hues!):


Our fall/winter pillows are super fun right? I still adore that chocolate/green color combo especially with that graphic brownie-on-top-of-my-sundae pillow smack dab right in the center. But on the down side, it definitely gave off a cooler month vibe. Not exactly a swim-inspired look....unless those colors were on a VS model....they could make some pocket lint, a key ring, and a post-it-note look like a bathing suit. grrr.


And now my pillows are funner than a bunny farm! I am loving the combination of the navy with the pale turquoise and spring time green. Plus the trio of graphic prints and the various fabrics give the couch visual & textural interest. And the sheer number of pillows comes in handy come kanoodle time. Wahoo!


So how did we start with a placemat and end up with a summery couch? I am so glad you asked. A+ for you and one thousand points for excellent inquiry skills.

The little accent pillow is actually a placemat. You know - one of those things that sometimes makes it onto the table under the paper plate only if company is coming? Just ripped open the seam where the front layer meets the back layer. Two inches will do ya. Then just stuff that hole like you are on week 6 of Survivor. Hand stitch the sucker closed and BADA BING! An accent pillow!


I actually considered attempting to sell this sucker back to Pottery Barn to see if they would give me more money since pillows cost more than placemats. But God would be watching. Also, I am quite sure that Pottery Barn could trace my credit card and I would like to continue shopping there in the future. But the point is, this little piece of summery heaven looks a heck of a lot more expensive than $3.50. And since I chose a pillow with several colors, all I had to do was mix and match pillows till I found a combo that screamed "POOL PARTY!"


So are you changing your home decor for the warmer months? How do you do it? Are you a pillow-switcher or a slipcover & go kinda peep? I hear that drapes make a springtime switch...although I have never done it. Have you ever made a placemat into a pillow? Please share. Oh and if you guys wanna attempt this project at home - be sure that you get a placemat with two layers. Otherwise you will end up with one ripped piece of fabric and fiber fill all over your sofa...and I can think of other things that are cooler :)

15 Under 50

No, this isn't some post about the 15 hottest celebutards under the hill. This one is for my Atlanta peeps (but don't worry, if you are from somewhere else, this can be a good reference tool for you too!). Yes, my fine friends, here is my new latest Bower Powerful tool to help out you penny pinchers. It's called 15 under 50.


All you gotta do is click on the 15 under 50 button on the sidebar and it will take you to a Photobucket slideshow that contains this weeks top 15 Craigslist finds under 50 dollars. I plan on updating that weekly (but just like Britney's virginity promise, you can't hold me to it).

So let's just say you see something utterly fantastic - (or at least has fantastic potential) like this:


or these:


well, then pause the slideshow. Then run your mouse over the photo of the lovely desired item and above the said photo will appear the "GET LINKS" link. Click it and it will take you to the craiglist link....so you can actually buy it!

And for those of you that live outside of the great Peach state...too bad soo sad. SIKE! This is a great reference tool for you too! See something you like, then go scour your own local craigslist. Not only does it give you a price point but it gives you negotiating power with the seller.

Plus, I make notes on each photo - ways I would use it or things to redo or what style it would work with. So if you see something similar to that item lurking in your basement or stored in your attic, you immediately have some ideas on how to reuse, recycle, or repurpose! And isn't that the best way to be green?!?!

One stipulation...if you find something off of 15under50 and redo it, you must pinky promise me that you will send me befores & afters. Because you know there ain't nothing I love more than making over cheapo finds!

A Farrah Faucet

Our guest bathroom was 98% completed. To put this in perspective, Megan Fox is 98% of Angelina. Not the same thing, right? Same applies to home renovations. Some say work hard. Some say play hard. I say "Reno hard".

So our bathroom...on the left is the photo before. The right has some small changes...one renovation change in particular.


That's right! I now have fairer (or Farrah) faucets! And the proper knowledge of how to use the white balance on my camera :)


Before, I had the basic builder-grade silver toned faucets. Totally not groovy with the oil-rubbed bronze accents that were floating around the room. Since the shower curtain rod, the vanity knobs, the towel rack, the toilet paper holder, the light fixture and the misc. bathroom accents were luscious and dark, the shiny nickel spigots stood out like a sore thumb. Not cool.


So I decided to do something that I have never done before. I ebayed. And I am so glad that I did. I found a seller that sold this good looking feller and shipped it to me for free! Not only did I save by not shelling out a single red cent for shipping but I also got each faucet for the low price of $54! You may not scour home improvement stores websites like I do, but rest assured this is an amazing price. In fact, the lowest Lowe's bathroom faucet in oil-rubbed bronze was $108. I love Lowe's but I gotta go with the price that is easier on the wallet. So just like the Olsen parents, I got two for the price of one.


Just wanted to show you how beautimus this baby looks from the top! I don't usually say this about drain holes, or holes in general, but yum! Just look at that deep chocolate color...delish!

The best part is that it looks like a really expensive improvement but really it took only a little over a hundred bones and 30 minutes to install (yes, installation instructions came with the lovely water spouts). In the end, it improves the richness of the room and that my dears, is priceless :)

Have you made faucet decisions lately? Where is your favorite place to score a good deal? And dude, is ebay the best or what?!?

Living on the Ledge

So this is what's up...ledges. Specifically wall ledges.

Not only are these puppies fabulicious but they are uber-functional. You can use one to create a frame gallery, display your cork collection, store your kid's Beanie Babies, or show off your favorite books. The possibilities are endless! Seriously, I betcha ten thousand points you could think of something awesome to do with these in your own home.



I picked up three at my local Pottery Barn outlet a while back for my dining room. Since the space was too small for a buffet and a china cabinet, these ledges provided a perfect solution for storing (and showing off) my beautiful Lenox.


The ones I bought are called the Holman Ledge and are just lovely! The price however makes me smile less than a SAW movie. Which is why I was very excited to share this news:


IKEA IS STEPPIN' OUT ON A LEDGE :)



That's right my fine friends - Ikea now has the Ribba ledge...comes in black or white and they have three different sizes. Picked one up myself this past weekend! Love it, adore it, lick it occasionally. Best part is that the price is no Dog the Bounty Hunter, if you know what I mean...


Let's face it, ledges rock...also Ledgers rock as in Heath as in the Joker as in Oscar booyah as in that's all I got. So go on, live on the ledge! You'll thank me, I promise.

Cool Stools

This past weekend, Ikea had some specials. Here was one of the ads:




My reaction was a little somethin' like this:

WHAT!?!?! I DIDN'T KNOW THAT IKEA HAD BARSTOOLS LIKE THAT?!?! HOLY SHMOLY!! I COULD PAINT THOSE SUCKERS WHITE AND THEY WOULD LOOK LIKE TOTALLY VOLCANIC (hot, people) I KNOW THEY AREN'T LISTED ONLINE...I JUST KNOW IT!

So I checked. And I was right. They are not listed online.

Currently we have two counter height barstools from Pier 1. They are slim profile with metal legs and a woven seat. The problem is this: our counter/bar is not very deep. So in order to sit comfortably with your knees under the counter and not jammed up into the paneling, you must scoot your hiney back and then lean forward. That last part sounds like a rap song :) But maybe our patooties are too big because we feel like our derriere is falling off the chair.

That is the prob bob. And it doesn't help that one of the stools has a bent leg. I thought about posting a weight limit sign on the stool but then that would be tacky...I'll just let the fatty take a tumble :)



One day maybe my rear end will only be four inches deep...I could be dreaming though. I think I was born with a bigger bootie than that....and I ain't talking about baby shoes :) These babies are gonna make it into the yard sale pile....maybe someone will buy them that can fit....like a child or a dwarf or anyone on Dancing with the Stars.


It didn't take long for my boyfriend and I to head down to our lovely Atlanta branch of Ikea to check out the fabu barstools. Obviously they were sold out of the antique stained version at the too-good-to-be-true price of $20. Buuuuuutttt we did see something that caught our eye.



They carried this stool in WHITE!!! Sure, they weren't the best price in the world...$60 a piece. I have listed all the reasons I love them:

• They require no work (apart from assembly).
• They break up all that woody-woodwork in the kitchen.
• The backs are low enough to not block the open feel of the kitchen/den.
• The seats are large enough for an adult-sized bootwha.
• They resemble a much pricier Pottery Barn version

So there you have it - yet another reason to visit Ikea asap...or any store for that matter....because just like a dog's stomach, you never know what's inside!

Bigger is Better

Bigger is better especially when it comes to lighting. And that is exactly the reason I was so pumped to find this huge (no kidding - it's humongous) deal at my local Pottery Barn outlet store.



Yes - I placed that regular sized wine bottle next to it specifically because I wanted you all to get a sense of scale. This sucker is big. Like Pamela Anderson big, if you know what I mean! I also figured that most of you knew were pretty familiar with the size of a wine bottle :)

Just for kicks, here is a link to a PB side-table glass lamp that is ridiculously similar. See the price? Yeah - $200!!! The original price on my sweet see-through baby was $250 including the oversized linen drum shade. Wanna guess how much I paid? Ok...take a shot. You'll never get it - I will just tell ya....(drumroll please).....

$15 for lamp
$17 for shade

TOTAL of $32 for this sexy beast.

This is better than chocolate. better than Lost (this season is rockin my socks off!). better than the time I saw Theodore Huxtable in the airport. And way better than Pam's acting skills.

**Please note that bigger is not better for Miss Anderson - think apples my dear - not watermelons.

Book Nook

Like a hounddog, I have been on the search for the perfect bookcases. My goal - to improve the den. My sad little den is really a transitional zone in the house. It has the most architectural details (read: the fireplace) but it really isn't a focal area in the home. It's most important role is that the den connects the kitchen to the living room (read: the food to the TV). The den also serves as an overflow room when we have too many people to seat around the kitchen peninsula.


Originally we had red accents going on in there - but the globally inspired crimson accents didn't flow with the rest of the rooms. And since the adjoining living room has green spots of color throughout, my boyfriend and I decided that this room should be like Paula Abdul and be completely statement-neutral but still make you smile.


My biggest beef with this room is that the leather chairs didn't balance out the microfiber chair because they were pushed back too far. In order to center all the chairs on the fireplace, the club chairs had to be floating out about two feet from the window wall. And let's face it, random brown floaters only are good in one place...and we are working on the den. (Gotta love some potty humor!) So we decided to buy two of these bookshelves. The problem was no store carried them. After a few weeks of fervent Target-stalking, we finally landed two of the espresso colored cases for flanking our window....on sale for $64 a piece.


After assembling the new shmancy bookcases, we called it a day. I stuffed some books in the bottom and threw some old pieces on the shelves but really wasn't digging the vibe. It wasn't putting out a neutral mojo, was it?


So we decided to begin accessorizing. Bringing in a small lamp ($2 Mexican thrift store find) and a few $1 books from the flea market (all with brown, beige, and white covers) helped create a little reading zone on the center table. The Pottery Barn photo albums took their place on the bottom shelves. The rest of the shelves got a few scattered items for now but will need to be adorned in the near future. I definitely want to paint the gold mirror white and place above the bookshelves (don't worry, I have two!). Any other suggestions? If ya;ll find links to neutral hued items that you think I might like - please let me know. A girl is nothing without her accessories :)


Oh and I almost forgot to mention, the bookshelves really help my floaters to not look crappy (heehee) pushed out in the middle of the space. In fact, I can just imagine dumping (haha) my junk on the floor and popping a squat (ok, I'll stop) on one of the leather thrones (sorry, I can't help it).


A little makeover that happened by chance. This is a chest I scored at Goodwill for $35. On top it had a bit of that red we were phasing out. Naturally it had to go.


Obviously this isn't done yet. But just so I can keep you guys up to speed, I did a quick change to make the chest accessories a little more neutral too.


Ok now here is what I really want to share. I have FIVE different wood finishes in the den. All different. It's driving my boyfriend bonkers. He is so matchy matchy :) So over the next month or so, be prepared to see some of these wood colors change...yup, Bower Power is gonna digest these suckers and you are not gonna believe what comes out the other end :) Seriously though, potty humor is a stinky habit and I am trying to get it outta my system...pun totally intended.

Pier Pressure

Did you see this post? When I saw that Bryn scored such an amazing deal at Pier 1 Imports, I had to shout it from the mountain top...err...small molehill called Bower Power. But I wanted to take it one step further. I spied some other ooh-la-la's on the Pier 1 website and knew I had to share. So let's grab some bon-bons and take a plunge in the pool of fabulousness that is Pier 1.



This is the side table that Bryn scored for the low, low, ridiculously low price of forty bones. That's right. $40. Believe your eyes. If Tom can ruin a lifetime of Top Gun coolness and a public relations dream with a bit of Oprah couch-jumping, this price is possible too. And just like Tom's first love, the golden coloring and the uber-skinny legs will allow this beauty to 'cruise' to classic stardom. go. buy. now.

Speaking of classic beauty, I am loving this swing arm lamp that is on sale for $50. Sure fifty buckaroos is not the best recession price I ever heard...BUT this sucker is adjustable...just like the interest rates on all those foreclosed houses. And that means that whoever is in control is definitely a happier camper...or reader.

I have me one of these lovely diffusers - got it for christmas! And I love it. Not only does the scent last long, but the diffuser looks more sculptural than the ever popular reed version. It's like modern met floral and had a baby diffuser. Goo goo gah gah. Buy some for a baby shower game prize or stock your gift closet with a few for a cheap gift welcomed house-warming present.
Where in the world is Carmen Sofa-licious? Well, Pier 1 of course. And for only $700 you can own this name brand, full sized sofa that could be the crowning glory of a very transitional room (dude, it goes with everything.) Best part - the nailhead details - who apparently have wooed blogebrities (blog celebrities in Bower Power lingo - yes, I make up words) into submission.
When life gives you lemonade mix, you don't count your eggs before they hatch. When you get a gift horse's mouth, don't put it before the cart. When judging a book, the grass is greener on the other side of the cover. Go ahead - make up your own saying. Just makes sure it means you should buy this cutesy bag of drinkability.
Exotic, unique, makes a statement...no we aren't talking about celebrity baby names - we are talking about the Pier 1 Asian Rattan Side Chair. You may be thinking that this doesn't go with your decor...well, change your decor cause it should. Don't they say that you should put one random item of interest in each room....hello!? random item of interest knocking!



What says glamour like a chandelier? Nothing. Nuff said.

So there you have it. A couple of decor items that will have a rootin tootin good time in your house. you should seriously buy them. everybody is doin it. everybody who is cool that is. ok - enough pier pressure :)

p.s. tomorrow I have a very IMPORTANT post that I will need EACH and EVERY single one of you to read. Your input is a life or death matter...and no, we are not voting to keep my boyfriend alive, it was only a twisted ankle :)