casapinka

Favourite Things Pendant Light

I've liked this "Favourite Things" pendant lamp from Chen Karlsson ever since it came out.  It's in Inspiration Journal 2 (I now have five!) I like to consider different things to put inside it. 

It would make holiday decorating so simple and fun, and a nice family tradition. If the hole were up higher it would make a cool fish tank - if you don't think too closely about the logistics and potential for electrocution.

And because no Casapinka post is complete without me making you feel like a glorious parent and person, in the past 24 hours, I've: 

1. Had a child who went to bed with a tooth under her pillow and woke up with a tooth under her pillow. I was woken to tears and wails that the tooth fairy didn't come, and in a stupor reached into my brain for the "Three Night Rule" that the tooth fairy occasionally enacts, which fell like a lead balloon. Luckily, Husband found an envelope on the Barbie Dream House that had 15 Euros in it and a one dollar bill, the only US cash he had on him. "Juniorette's response while staring wonderingly at Daddy and scornfully at me: "Not only does the tooth fairy know we're going to Ireland this summer, this must mean that we're going to get OUR dream house, too!" 

2. Had my oil changed, only to find that there was a mouse nest in the cabin air filter. 

3. Discovered while going through the car wash that it wasn't the air conditioner that was leaking, but the brand new windshield from my $300 potty break (see end of this post). That's a lot of fun - finding a leak in the middle of the High Pressure, Applying Soap Now portion of the car wash. Furtively holding up one's Diet Coke can to catch the spray, because sitting there doing nothing seems like a quitter's way out.

Start where you are

If I were starting to decorate a Certain House I'm not sure where I'd start. It would seem so exciting and overwhelming but in the very best way. 'Start where you are' is always a good rule of thumb. I'm always in love with pink and there are always dishes to do. so, this is a safe bet. I'd hang this Cath Kidston tea towel somewhere in my empty Dream House or wear it as a turban to remind me of my pink roots and to keep myself grounded. And just to put this out there, the Dream House has a little bell under the dining room table that one steps on to summon...well, I'm not sure who would come running. This morning, I tried to hurry Junior into the car by calling out, "I'm counting to three and then I'm cutting off your head!" The neighbor across the street holding the new twins thought this was funny. It didn't phase Junior, though, and I don't think a mere bell from the dining room would, either.

If I tire of the turban and drying dishes, and since I already own this tea towel, perhaps I could become an upholsterer and cover a couch with them. I could develop a special tea towel upholstery business. It's always good to keep the options open. And if my little head gets too overwhelmed with planning on what to do with a backyard sans astroturf and schnauzer poo, I will simply sit down and watch this. Life is pretty darn good if all I have to worry about is decorating a house that I don't own, and upholstering furniture with tea towels, rather than worrying about tornados ripping through my town. Enjoy your Wednesday, Pink lovahs.

Foyer Art

I like this for an entry way (not that I'm planning entry-ways, mind you.) Print by 2142Stuart. And for what it's worth, the Dream House which I talk about way too much has a secret passageway. I've always wanted a secret passageway. 

 

Magazine Table

I think this is about the most functional little table I've ever seen. Rockett St. George does it again. The top is a wooden tray that can be lifted right off of the table base.  I think I'll buy a couple of them when I get my (ahem) house - maybe they won't be on backorder any longer. I'm a magazine-olic. Truly. These are the ones I love:

Marie Clare Idees

Livingetc.

Marie Claire Maison

Elle Decoration (but it's been more monochromatic of late)

Australian Vogue Living

Country Living UK and sometimes USA

Anthology

Oh, Comely (which I just discovered all wrinkled on a back rack in a little Bodega in NYC. I loved it so much I ordered the two back issues. You see, I don't have enough magazines under my bed.) 

Anything Scandinavian, which is difficult to find here. Of course, this doesn't count Vogue, Children's Lucky, or other more intelligent magazines that people who discuss NPR read. I'm unsure why they have to be so UGLY and devoid of pink.  They won't be hanging out in my new tables, that's for sure!

What about you? What are your favorites? My goal, which I'm writing here for accountability, is to subscribe to some of these so I'm not paying full price. I love the feeling of getting mine at the store, though - it's like a big, colorful present. I buy a few each month. I minimize.

White Floors and Having Faith

It's been raining all week here. It seems like I've written this sentence before. Husband and I are ping ping ping (the sound of saving pennies) for our house. Ah, for the days with no student loans and the ability to buy a house with nothing down! 

I'm getting so restless. We looked at a few houses last December just to "see." We found our Dream Home. We walked in and both loved it. This has rarely happened to us with anything (other than each other.) Not when I wanted to give Junior a third middle name of Placido, and not when Husband opted for a GRAY station wagon for my recently bikini waxed car, because it had low miles and was safe. He dresses quite formally, and I dress with flowers in my hair and different colored finger nails. We both have weird idiosyncrasies. He doesn't own jeans! I hate to eat at the table. He listens to NPR and I would never admit to this. I smirk when people start a sentence with, "Today on NPR, I heard..." (yes, I'm quite the brat sometimes.) But we both like sushi, our kids, and our cat. Lazy walks on the beach during sunset while holding hands. Romantic candelit dinners at Nobu and Charlie Trotter when in town. Exotic foreign travel, having adventures, sitting quietly in an independent bookstore reading Proust to each other, all while just loving life! We feel as comfortable in scrubs as in cocktail dresses. Neither of us is a felon! See? We're okay! We can withstand whatever sacrilege I might commit onto hardwood floors should we get our Dream House. Oh wait, for the record Husband isn't a tranny or a cross dresser, it's just part of our ad.

Ok, so what is this post about? It's about our Dream House which is still on the market. I still think it's supposed to be ours! And with all the crap going on in the world, I'm just going to start thinking like it's mine. I'm going to start planning like it's mine. Then, if it's not mine I can still apply all my fantasies to the house we do eventually get. If the world blows up in the meantime,  I still had fun. Another few months... nobody buy it, okay? 

I think I have the decorating bug. All the nails fall out of the walls here. Unless a camera flash is used, I can't photograph the apartment very nicely, and an indoor flash is blog suicide. I miss doing Casapinka, when HGTV was contacting me and Domino had me on their links. When people weighed in on whether I should hang Frida Kahlo in Husband's study and risk extermination. It was fun! There was action! 

 I'm planning on white floors in the living room of our Dream House. I can't believe nobody has bought it, and yet I can because it's supposed to be ours. I think it only comes up on the MLS for us! Ahhh, the backyard. The pretty white kitchen. The snooker room. In this little book that is one of Juniorette's favorites, it talks about making dreams happen by visualizing them, like on an actual board.  Wow, I'm doing so well with the cliches today. C'mon, you guys - Wayne Dwyer for 7 year olds is still better than saying all pretentiously, "Today on NPR..."  So, I'm visualizing right here on Casapinka. This is my dream board. 

When we get our Dream House, I'm going to have them prep the wood floors (they're in bad shape so they'll need it.) Then, I think the best way to do the white floors - only in the living room so stop commiserating with Husband already - is the following:

1. Make sure Husband is out of town or at least on call

2. Buy a Roomba

3. Forbid shoes

4. Ask for forgiveness rather than permission. I learned this saying from the man himself, along with "Economy of Truth." Economy of truth goes something like this:

Husband: Are they coming today to do the floors?

Me: Yes!

So, what do you think about white floors? Any experiences? In a sunny room in a cloudy state...it's got to be destiny. Have faith, have faith, have faith, Pink! 

via Style Files, Trust your Style, Home Shopping Spy, Apartment Therapy, Purple Area, Boat Shed Chic, Apartment Therapy, and Beach Bungalow 8

Today I adore

On this cold and gray day, there are five things that I adore:

1. This water mug from Gleena. 

2. I was Told There'd be Cake, especially the essay about the ponies hidden under the sink.

3. The Lingontini. I discovered last night that two year old (it was gross, don't know why I didn't chuck it) black currant Absolut goes exceptionally well with Ikea's lingonberry cordial. The color is sublime.

4. My collection of hair flowers. Today is a day to wear the very large lavender one.

5. The flashcards I'm making for Juniorette's times tables. Fabric, paint and lamination make amazing girl mathematicians - I just intuitively know this.

I got published!

Saturday, Wal-Mart was just beautiful to me. You hear that, guys? Beautiful.  Who knew that my quest to find Junior a little Power Ranger would take me into  Wal-Mart, a place I just never, ever go, now that I no longer work in Gallup, New Mexico, where that had the best produce in town.  Having to visit Wal-Mart made me very grumpy, I'll admit. But in the back of the store , in the land of neon foam, fake flowers, and glow in the dark knitting needles, was the magazine, Love of Knitting.  I opened it up and the first design was mine. Wow, design by Casapinka! That's me! See kids? That's me!!! ME!!!! 

Mommy, can I get a Star Wars Wego Set instead?

See this, chappies? I designed this!

Mommy, I have to go to the baffwoom. 

Owwwwwww, mommy he pinched me! 

Waaaaaaaaaaaaah, she took away my muffin! Give it BACK!!!

Fame is a lonely place to be, especially when you're in Wal-Mart. What you really want to say to your kids and the 16 year old cashier ringing up my magazine is, "See this one thing that I'm buying?" (I couldn't leave it there, after all, even though we failed to find a Power Ranger.) If you study really really hard, attend medical school and residency, then you too can maybe publish a pattern in a knitting magazine and become really famous. Want my autograph? 

Pink Polka Dot Umbrellas

 

It's been soooo rainy and gray here these last couple of days and even worse today! We girls have our rain gear, though, for just those gray occasions. This was our attire for attending open houses yesterday. My sweater is the Millie Cardigan by Alicia Paulson. This woman is so talented it's scary but I love her site. 

Did some fantasy house-hunting. I love a seventies contemporary, the feeling of living in a treehouse. Husband, well he does not. It's okay, we love him anyway.

Borrowed an amazing collage book. Did some collaging which was actually a lot of fun!

Watched an inspirational movie while collaging, of course. There is nothing more inspiring to me than seeing others in love with their art.

And to balance out the inspiration, one must have aggravation, at least it seems that way.

1. Bending over to put on the crinkly toilet protector in Ikea, my glasses fell into the toilet. The kids thought this was the funniest thing ever. Swedish toilet water isn't exotic, at least in Stoughton, Massachusettts.

2. Leaving the kids in the car at home to pop in for a potty break, I returned 2.4 minutes later to find that Junior had removed the rearview mirror. I went to snap it back on and -hmmmm, what's the sound of a windshield shattering? I'm sure you get the picture. Thanks, Junior, once again!!! &%$***#$

I hope wherever you are is sunny and you send some our way!

A Haiku and Poll by Pink

 

In reference to yesterday's post, I've composed An Interactive Social Media Haiku, entitled:

This'll teach you to go to the Four Seasons Palm Beach While Letting me Believe (Like a Total Schmo) That you Were Heading to a Sponge Bob Resort in Central Florida 

 

Please help me decide

I have Husband's Mastercard

You're so very nice

 

Poll thingy isn't working for some reason. Maybe I should get them both...

Which shoes? Leopard clogs or Flowered wedges? Leopard clogs Flowered wedges View results --->

A Cruise Ship Photopoem

Husband is presenting at a conference this week. I found out last Friday that he was leaving. "Where are you going?"

I don't know...Florida

Well, where in Florida?

I don't know...The Middle. 

He's now thinking that I'm thinking, "Glad I'm not gonna be stuck in Sponge Bob Land." The psychology of Husband is so predictable, yet I fall for it every time. 

Sunday I found out that this is "The Middle". No wonder he was vague. The proverbial doghouse is getting an addition.

Well Husband, we had dinner on a cruise ship in Providence last night, which was located in the kids'bedroom. We had multiple courses, just like you probably did.  If anyone says, Yes but your husband had dinner at the Four Seasons Palm Beach so you totally suck I will feel sad. It won't stop me from writing cliched yet ironical poems, however. Ever since this guy stole my idea I just want to write poems.

A Cruise Ship in a Small Apartment in Providence -  A Photopoem by Pink

Tonight we're going on a cruise

There's an open bar so mommy gets booze

Kiddos get to eat upstairs 

Please try to avoid all cat hairs

As you know there's a very big storm

Better snuggle in bed

And get very warm

There are snacks and drinks for all first mates

Tedious meals mommy just hates

So here are some artichokes

Eat them on the floor

Dining at the table is such a bore!

When the waves die down

You can have some carrots

Then Edamame

And wine for mommy!

Greek yogurt sundaes

With clementines and honey

All this adventure for so little money.

We all laughed and had some fun

Now some stories and the cruise is done

It's time for sleep, ahoy you rogues

Now mommy can retire and read her Vogues.

(And be pissed off that she isn't at the Four Seasons Palm Beach.)