casapinka

Ten things Friday

  

1. Magenta Cement. I did not know this could be done but I do now! 

2. "To be honest, I find this rather troubling." - Husband   Via Nacho Polo       

"To be honest, we are not surprised." - Readers of Casapinka

2. Laundry in a pink closet.  

Husband to the marriage counselor: "She spends 14 hours a day doing laundry in a closet and I just don't understand why."            Via Gardenview Cottage 

 

3. Death by Vanilla  - recipe here.

 

4. A house we're looking at today. I can't even get excited because Husband understands two words when it comes to houses: BRICK and MCMANSION. He is sure this house is photoshopped which is why he's agreed to go see it. "Houses don't look like this!" A very good knitting friend lives right across the street. It would be so fun to work on this house and pop over for coffees and knitting (Hi Meg!) 

5. Such a wonderful room. Every color in this is just perfect to me. 

6. Husband wonders why I spend so much time on the stairs while we're house hunting. It's because I'm working out the execution of the SLAIR. Not just for the kids. How could one not want a slide next to the stairs - this is architectural genius in my mind. I do, however, worry about Junior riding a bike down it while unattended. From Oh dee doh - look at the other fun things on the link, too.

I'm actually serious about the "slair." I'm not sure how to broach it with Husband. If he comes home to find a slide attached to his stairs he will either 1. Be completely unsurprised, or 2. Want to kill me. He's the one who always tells me it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission, though. A slair, however, may be walking a very tight line. 

 

7. Pretty collections. Clutter is a drag but these blue jars together are stunning. Do you have a collection? I have a collection of yarn. It's not supposed to be a collection, though. I'm supposed to knit it so I can buy more. I collect magazine because I could look at them forever. Magazines with colorful pages really make me happy. I guess I also collect (well, I buy them when we need them) bright colored dishes - bowls, glasses etc. I love the way they look through the glass doors of my kitchen.

 

8. My numero uno style icon, Iris Apfel. Every time I see a picture of this woman I hang her on my bulletin board. I love her. I guess I've probably mentioned that a couple hundred times throughout the years. Today I'm going to dress to honor Iris. I'll have someone take my picture to prove it. If you look to the left she seems to own a rather large puffy pink blouse. 

9. I really want to make myself a pink tulle skirt, and Juniorette wants an aqua one. I'm pretty sure this tutorial is for an ADULT tulle skirt - what little kid wants something like this, anyway?! Tutorial at Simple Simon and Co

10. And finally, to send you off into your weekend, some inspirational words that I found via She's a Fit Chick.  I was visiting She's a Fit Chick because I don't feel very fit. I need to increase my cardio endurance, past popping open a can of Diet Coke. Well, Fit Chick made me feel better because she talks about passion. I have lots of passion! So, of course I still need to go back to her website and find out how to do Cardio Knitting but I loved her posts on inspiration. Enjoy your weekend, everyone. Next week you're going to see a welcome mat that I'm crocheting out of neon boat rope, and it's going to knock your socks off, so get plenty of rest.  

 

Rainbeaux

I have rainbow colors in mind. Oh, really? Blanket via we heart it.

Yes, really. Even though we see this Ikea rug in lots of places, it's still a classic in my mind. 

These are a bit subtle for my taste, but let's not miss those gorgeous white floors. Via Design Traveler.

You can bet that this would NOT go over well at Casapinka. That does not prevent me from wanting to attempt it. Via Swiss Miss. 

 Such a pretty summer dress, via Seesaw Designs.

Another hanging nap inducer. Via Educate your Sofa.

Ah yes, some rainbow shelves. I have no idea where this image originated - any ideas? The dala horse and Alpen cereal makes me think Scandinavia. 

And perhaps I'll try the rainbow cake for Juniorette's upcoming birthday. It looks so fun, doesn't it? The tutorial is at One Charming Party. Phew, hopefully I've gotten rainbeaux out of my system for a couple of days - else the boots from yesterday may find their way onto the Visa card. That would be BAD, Pink. BAD.

Kobi Levi Shoes

Here's how the fantasy goes. I'm on a plane, sitting next to Israeli shoe designer Kobi Levi. He admires my favorite boots, which I don't currently own because they're quite expensive, which is not to say that I'm not secretly pricing my Blythe dolls so I can sell one and get these boots.

Of note, Husband just looked at them and said, "They aren't you." That's one of those relationship moments that a mature person allows to slide by - like the suggestion that I might like satin sheets for Mother's Day. Tell me this: How in the world are these not me?! Men.

 

Well, my seat mate Kobi Levi knows that they're me; he recognizes a fellow sole mate when he sees one. All of  sudden, he gallantly steps into the aisle to get his carry on bag out of the overhead bin, excitedly telling me that he has something extraordinary to show me, something that might change my life. He hands me a suede kitty shoe and says, "This is for you, and it doesn't even need a litter box (well, he's probably too well bred to say such a thing but apparently I am not.) I need the oxygen masks to pop down and revive me as I hold the suede cat.

 

He wrinkles up his brow for a moment and digs further into his magic bag.  Out come shoes that are, well, almost a self portrait, as I love scallops and wear my hair in a pony tail a lot.  He tilts his head and hands one to me. "I think you need these as well." And at that point it doesn't matter if the emergency slides are deployed (where, if you read your inflight safety  instructions carefully, you know that shoes are removed prior to jumping onto the slide) because all six pieces of footwear are coming with me (sorry, Husband, that includes the rainbow boots) as I slide to safety in fabulous style, with my new BFF Kobi close behind. 

Outdoor Beds

 

We made an offer on the Dream House. So, naturally my mind has turned to the back yard, or the back garden as people say in Ireland and the UK. 

I've always wanted a bed outside to sleep under the stars, read a book, sip some tea.

Of course, I'd need to make a pretty quilt or blanket for the top of it. 

The idea of a hanging bed is quite intriguing. I wonder how long that would take to get through The Committee (i.e Husband who thinks that anything - and I mean anything - outside the box- is just strange.) He almost always agrees - I just have to practice patience for the several months it takes him to process it, and know that he has a routine to go through, whereas I'm much more impulsive when I know I love something. This is why it's easier to just do it on my own for less important tasks, such as painting an exterior wall pink. 

So, I guess you're wondering about the house. There was another offer already on the Dream House. It's called a Hubbard Clause in these parts. That means the other buyer has singed a contract contingent on their selling their own house first.

After we made the offer, the other buyer had 72 hours to scramble around for financing, win the lotto or sell their house or it would be ours. Of course, it's already mine - I've been saying that for months, right?

Well, as luck would have it, they sold their house that very week and bought My Dream House. The scoundrels. 

I think Husband cried. We've had our eyes on that house for months. I was sad too, of course, but it's already my house. I guess I'll have to let them buy it, though. Isn't that big of me? I keep telling Husband that the deal doesn't close until June 30. A million things could happen before then. 

So, the hunt continues, as our Dream House is going to be inhabited by other people.  I'm going to let them buy it with my blessing, because we're talking about not getting a house, not having our family killed in a natural disaster. We can choose if we want to be spoiled brats or take it in stride. I, for one, could live in a box if it meant my family was safe and secure. Ok, I know I mentioned Ebay-ing Junior last week, so you could call me out on that, but I was just joking, I promise.

Finally, as I plan for the outdoor bed which will go in the backyard of my Dream House (which is now being bought by another family - did I mention that?) , I wanted to show you this. These last two photos are called the Floating Bed. Lately, I've come to know several parents who have children with either Asperger's, sensory processing disorders, ADHD or are on the autism spectrum.  This bed is made for people whose vestibular systems are in overdrive, which coincides with many of these disorders. Apparently, it's quite soothing and helps with sleep and to calm people when their environment is overwhelming. I love how design can look so wonderful and yet be very helpful beyond the aesthetics. 

Photos from: Love Maegan, room envy, think splendid, Murobond, cosmicparachute, Homeinfatuations, Convoy.tumblr( think it's originally from Livingetc.), twiggie's Flickr, 

Pretty Crochet - not an oxymoron

Why is crochet so ugly, so much of the time? It doesn't have to be. Friends, don't let people crochet ugly things. A dress of crocheted doilies from Giancali is just beautiful. 

A delicate crocheted bedspread from Le Blog Secret via Decor8. (We'll just pretend the subject here is the crocheted object.)

Tipsytessie has such gorgeous crocheted things in her home - you must take a look.

Crocheted pillowcase edges from Rosehip. She is the doyenne of pretty colors.

Yarnbombed bathroom via Knithacker. It's not pink but oh pink lovers, just imagine the possibilities. Uh oh, the reality of the hygiene situation  just hit me here - move on, Pink - move on. 

Crocheted tree from CasaTresChic

Always start them out early in the flower department! So lovely.

And finally, if you've got some free time on your hands this weekend, why not make your living room a nice giant crocheted doily using rope? Via Ladies & Gentleman.

Wishing everyone a gorgeous weekend. Hopefully I'll be:

Knitting this. I love little shawls that you can wrap around and around .

Wearing my new outfit.

Looking at this house because I know Husband would just love to live in a round house. 

Going to the beach, sitting on my butt and reading while Husband watches small children. (Hear that Husband - 7 days of ill children. No washing machine. You on call three of those nights - that's 72 hours. I am officially OFF.) That's my No BS voice, by the way, which is all used up after this week. It's more of a whimper now.

Eating a nice breakfast with my family tomorrow morning.

Making frozen banana ice cream. Don't get all excited - it's not the Yonanas machine as seen on TV. 

Pretty happy things

Gorgeous relaxing here. Via Re-Nest.

And shoes to match, via Swedishasbeens.

Such a nice and bright kitchen.

With stairs to match. This staircase is via Style-Files and the stencils are from Royal Design Studio. 

A perfect door via Something Pretty.

And a perfect dress via Top Shop.

 

 

 

No Pink Chouse for me

I've always wanted to live in a renovated church. Seems this isn't an oft held fantasy while growing up male in Ireland. We recently looked at a "chouse" here in Rhode Island. Let it be noted Husband was a great sport but was unshakeable about inhabiting a chouse. 

Pink: OMG! Look at this - I've always wanted to live in a church. 

Husband: OMG! I've always NOT wanted to go to hell for sleeping next to a woman in church.

P: Yes, but we're married.

H: Missus, you have no sense of Catholic guilt - Married means we eat dinner together but sleep in separate bedrooms. 

Bathroom image via Joliejoliedesigns.