Apeas Me

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Wedding Wednesday: Polish Colours

Because this is UBER important, right?

Just an excuse for me to spoil myself, really.

I have so many gift certificates laying around for manicures, this has been too fun!

I want pink, but not too pink.

I want nude but not too nude.

Here are five picks so far... still can't decide!

Thinking maybe I should do a Shellac or Gelish paint, this way I know t won't ding or chip, AND bonus it should last for part of our honeymoon.

What do you think?

Hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday!

xo,

VRB

p.s. Some I painted myself, can you tell?

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Mudrooms

The mudroom.

Who doesn't want a mudroom?

A landing pad from the outside world to the inside world.

Someplace to knock dirty boots off, for garden clogs to find a halt, where dog leashes hang, where muddy hands, paws and feet are cleaned off...

And even a place to drop the keys and mail before sorting.

The mudroom.

Want.

One.

I know that the inside of your home is up to five times more toxic than the outside world, I believe I heard/read that on Dr. Mercola's website.

I think a mudroom would drastically decrease the germs and dirt tracked in from outside and improve indoor quality, they're ingenious!

In the meantime, since we don't have an extra $20,000 laying around, I think an air purifier will have to suffice, what a drag!

BRS and I have been researching air purifiers and our top two picks are:

Pure & Clean Air Purifier by Dr. Mercola

and

Air Wellness Power5 Pro by Nikken

Anyway, back to the mudroom, here are some of my faves below.

This is one of our clients in Atherton's mudroom, I am loving the herringbone brick chosen

William Anderson Interiors image

Love this stainless steel sink

By Rekamp Larson Architects - Image HERE

Love the extra details throughout: floors, ceilings, shoe drawers, bulletin board and best of all that natural light!

Muse Interiors

Helpful bench

Hutker Architects Image HERE

Incredible storage idea!

Image - HERE

I'm not quite sure when I decided it was super cool to stay home on Friday nights and computer render client's floor plans for, uh "fun"... but I did...
My take on their mudroom with my needs...

In my future home these are my mudroom "requirements"

1. Lots of cabinets for storage

2. Lots of hooks to hang things

3. A dog station with leash hooks, wash bath, built in food storage, and water fountain

4. Boot and wader drying station

5. A stainless steel sink

6. A covered garbage pail (built in)

7. A coat closet with a mirror for last minute wardrobe checks

8. An outdoor gear storage closet

9. Slate floors in a fun pattern - easy to clean!

10. A pretty chandelier to girl-ify the hardness

Realistic?

Yes!

duh.

Honestly, rooms like the mudroom, the powder room, and the laundry room to me are spaces to get fun and creative.

Little things like special floor details, small flea market chandeliers and fun fabrics and wallpapers are perfect to push it a step further.

A space where a giraffe wallpaper you envy that's $100/roll works.

Where toile doesn't get old.

Where a ceiling of corks or some HGTV special you watched at 2am are do-able.

You know what I'm talking about, right?

Mudrooms.

I rest my case.

Have a great week!

xo,

VRB

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Happy Sunday!

Happy Sunday everyone!

Today has been just gorgeous!

Started out with coffee with some of the besties, plus someones new beau ; )

We all "approve!"

Then off to the Faire.

We headed to the Alameda Antiques By the Bay Faire, which is the first Sunday of every month.

If you are ever in the San Francisco Bay Area, make your plans around that Sunday, it's a must!

http://alamedapointantiquesfaire.com/

There are such great finds from vintage Mickey Mouse phones to Allan Adler Silver.

It's a GREAT place to find wedding decor, home accents and furniture, and best of to find one of a kind unique gifts.

You honestly need the whole day to make it through the whole thing, we hardly put a dent in it.

If you do get a chance, start early, bring water, comfortable shoes, sunscreen (regardless if there's sun or not, fog is deceiving remember!), and an apetite!

We enjoyed chicken curry naan wraps that were to die for.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend and is lucky enough to have late Spring weather like us!

Yes, we're wearing shorts!

My cousin pitched the second game at his baseball tournament in Arkansas and won, I'm SO proud of him!

Friday night was fun too, I went on a ride-along with BRS, that's how we do "date-night", lucky me ; )

Have a terrific evening and talk to you tomorrow!

xo,

VRB

Let's me just share some finds...

Awesome cart table, only $300!

We have this skinny hallway that's too dark for art, snatched up these vintage tennis rackets for $3.00 each! Instant art!

All of my framed art is from the Faire (shhh...)

The "Betty" (Draper) dress

Green milk glass

ACM and EMH

Checking out the goods...

Home with the peas

Friday, March 2, 2012

When I see or think of the two men in my life, the words "stylish" really aren't the first things that come to mind, not in the slightest.
But stylish in their own ways, yes.
As my Godfather, my Uncle Bob would say, "Stylin' and profile'n"
They live their dreams...

As for BRS and my Dad, RMB...

They are both practical and sensible, hate my Mom and I poking a prying at their stray hairs, and cringe when "Nordstrom Run" comes up in conversation.

But if you opened their closet doors, pulled open the creaky walnut chests, the smell of cedar and cashmere are what you would smell.

Quality over quantity.

Dad's been wearing Top Sider's since forever, old ones always became honey-do-list shoes.

His 501's have never changed.

His wool fisherman's sweater is timeless.

BRS' has been wearing suede saddle-like shoes so long they've wore through, he won't replace them.

His cashmere Pringle's come in every colour.
And the man never hesitates to throw on his wool caps like my Dad.

Most amazing thing ever?

Not sure you noticed but they're darned alike...

That saying about you marry someone like your father seems pretty spot on.

My Father, and my Pea are the kindest men I know, they're hard-working, loyal and loving.

And they're stylish in their own ways.
Yes, you heard it.
They're stylish.

My Dad taught me to hunt, to love, to fish, to build a bench.

BRS has taught me to dance, to love, to listen and to spot a bad guy (haha).

I love them so much!

Have a terrific Friday and a happy weekend!

xo,
VRB