what i've been up to.

In case you're wondering why I've been noticeably absent:



Yeah, we've been busy. :) We close at the end of the month, and then it's off to find another place to take up residence.
xxx

in case you haven't noticed.

I have a new blog. I know that another blog is that last thing I need considering my lack of involvement with this one, but the new blog is connected with my new etsy shop, White Bloom Studio. WBS is still empty at the moment while I work on the house, but by the end of the summer it will be stocked with fabulously designed printable stationery, like wedding and shower invites, save the dates, birth announcements, greeting cards and more! In the meantime, you'll find me at the WBS blog, sharing lots of home renovation photos along with random style and design-related stuff that inspires and delights me.

Click here to go to the White Bloom Studio blog.

Happy weekend!

before + after.

Check out photos of our renovated bathroom here.

xxxxx

a list.

I’m just too darn busy + tired to write, so in the spirit of Hula Seventy I will make a list.

I've been:

ruthlessly cleaning out our closets
painting every surface in the house
having small mental breakdowns because I just can't paint
one. more. thing.
enjoying DVR to the max
visiting thrift stores to hunt for vintage books and dishes
working on stationery designs for my etsy shop
attempting to devise summer dinner recipes
reminded of the bliss that is pink lemonade
researching new craft books for work
unintentionally avoiding facebook
tearing out magazine photos for an inspiration journal
completely inspired by design blogs
gifted a wonderful collage by a dear friend
flipping through Country Living, House Beautiful
+ Martha Stewart Weddings
reading Psalms and Ephesians
searching for the perfect comfortable + cute summer shoe
devouring Jane Green books
dreaming (literally) about typewriters
learning to live (and enjoy!) the present
re-watching my Felicity DVDs (while painting)
thinking about taking an art class
reminiscing about my trip to Hungary
enjoying daily life with Paul

xxxxxxx

or maybe it is.

If you haven’t read the post below, read it first.

.....................................................................................

All I can do now is laugh.

I went to package up the boxes, returning all the various seats and legs and backs into them. I picked up a seat cushion and while shoving it into the box I heard a rattling noise. Huh, there must be something loose. I shook it again just for fun and then I thought, No way.... I felt around for an opening in the cushion shaking it all the while. I couldn’t find anything suspicious, so I tore open the plastic covering and examined the cushion, turning it over to discover this:

Of course I felt completely silly—and annoyed at myself—for blaming Target for the “missing” legs. But seriously, who would think to look inside the seat cushion for legs? Paul and I scoured that first box that came and determined the legs to be missing.

But I’ve been pretty stressed lately, and this was just the laugh I needed.

P.S. Just after writing this, I went down to put another load in the washer. I added soap and then actually looked into the washer to discover I forgot to take the clean, wet clothes out before I put the new soap in. I guess I’m not running on all four cylinders right now.

xxxxx

not meant to be.

Some of you have been complaining about my lack of posts, so here's a little light-hearted story for you.

I have been craving upholstered dining room chairs for quite a while. And much to my delight, earlier this month I found the most adorable set a upholstered dining chairs at Target. Sure, Target merchandise doesn't promise the best quality ever, but the chairs came in a set of two for just $139.99 plus free shipping and 15% off! How could I resist such as great deal?

So a few weeks ago, I came home to two giant boxes from Target.com. Yipee! I opened both boxes (each with two chairs because Mom wisely talked me into getting four chairs) to find that all the chairs were missing front legs. Surprisingly, I took it all in stride, and called Target.com to get replacement legs. They promised to send me two new sets of chairs. So I waited impatiently for the new boxes to arrive. But they neverdid. So I called Target.com again only to find out that my replacement request was never processed. Nice. They "promised" to send out two new replacement boxes.

I was happy to discover upon my return from vacation two more huge boxes from Target.com. Yippee! I was too tired to open them last night, so I knew when I came home from work I would have a nice present waiting for me. After trying for 20 minutes to unlock the front door (which is a whole other story) I bounded in the house and eagerly ripped open the boxes ... only to (really, without any shock) discover that these boxes came without front legs, too. Rather than hassle with another replacement order, I called Target yet again to have the whole thing cancelled. Not only that, but I have to work with UPS to have the boxes picked up and I have to call Target back again after they receive the boxes to get replacement gift cards. I'm a little bummed about my super cute chairs, but I guess our budding relationship was just not meant to be.

If anyone has any recommendations for affordable upholstered dining chairs, let me know!

another one's post.

Since you're not gonna get much out of me, thought I'd share with you somebody else's posts. Check out this insighful and beautiful post by my friend Katie. (I also recommend checking out her archives.)

Planning, Hoping, Trusting

Katie is passionate and deep, with a poetic heart and full of lovely wonderings and dreams. Enjoy!

bbbbbbbbb

memo.

To: My faithful readers
From: Kristin
Re: My blogging slackerness

I have to apologize for my lack of posts. I am in the midst of some craziness right now: preparing for a friend's wedding, designing too many wedding invitations, setting up an etsy shop, babysitting, along with living my regular life.

Don't despair. I promise I will be back soon.