guys, we have a dilemma on our hands that I hope you can help us with (please!). 

 see that gigantic open wall above? we have NO clue what to do with it. 

here's the current setup:

basically, we it's where we keep a bunch of random (and temporary) stuff. some items going to goodwill (that need to be picked over during impending family visits), our high velocity fan (or SUPER AWESOME WIND MACHINE), and Lola's bed. the wall is adjacent to where we keep our entertainment center. 

unfortunately, the entertainment center cannot be moved. the living room is laid out REALLY weirdly, so basically, we have to keep everything in front of our fire place like so:

our TV is on the fritz and will be replaced somewhat soon (most likely with a larger version).

the sideboard will eventually be refinished (similar to this).

and the mantle is kind of a random collection of stuff right now. 

so tell me: what should I do with that large, empty wall?

the light isn't that great in there (zero overhead lights) and we're stuck with that obnoxious taupe. 

in an ideal world, I would paint all the walls crisp white and do maybe dark, rough wood floating shelves where I could swap out artwork/photos (of which we have an overabundance). in the meantime, I'm at a loss. maybe a gallery wall? (SNORE.)

so any ideas would be most welcome!

spanks!

I thought I'd take a break from packing up the house to share a few images from our adventures in San Antonio last weekend. It was a nice little vacation for three days, and we were able to visit my parents, which is a rarity (although we live only 3 hours away).

N had never seen the Missions, so we went to see San Jose and Concepcion. Truth be told, I hadn't been since I was in elementary school, so it was nice to re-learn a bit of our history.

The rest of the weekend was spent just hanging around the house and eating. A lot. Delicious empanadas at Beto's, a FANTASTIC portobello burger at Big'Z, beers + live music at Tycoon Flats. Oh, and pedicures with my Alzheimer's-riddled grandmother, which was so much fun.

Lola had a great time running around my parents' ginormous back yard. She's a bit of a mountain goat.

I hope all of your weekends are going well. 

N and I spent a bit of time packing yesterday and then we went to a going-away barbecue (where we drank WAY TOO MUCH). This morning N left to help his family in the Houston area, so I'm all aloney on my owny to pack up a bunch of stuff (and eat lots of breakfast tacos to cure the hangover...oy). On the list: everything. Even plates  and whatnot (hurrah paper plates! not). This moving stuff is crazy - we've been here for over 2 years and good lord we have so much crap. But we're making progress, which is what counts. 

This coming week is my last at work - so.weird. I've been working since I was 13. Quitting my job for the unknown is beyond insane. I'm crazy nervous and more than a little apprehensive, and my OCD is in overdrive trying to make sure that everyone knows EVERYTHING that I do and has every little scrap of paper that could potentially be important, which is, you know, like everything.

So yeah. Posting will probably be even lighter than usual the next week, but will pick up when we get where we're going.

Have a great week!

So we've started packing!(and yes, that totally deserves an exclamation point)
I've been to Goodwill twice and a third gigantic stack is perched precariously by the front door. 
The car trunk is full of old clothes to sell. 
The front and back yards have been scourged of empty and forlorn flower pots and other derelict crap. 
All seven Harry Potter books have been listened to.
Our living room has gone from this: 

to this: 

And the best news? Our land lord already has a prospective tenant.
I may be overly excited. Maybe. 

saturday scenes.



At the library.



Football crafting.



Recent finds.



Roasted vegetable couscous salad w/lime.



I've been hitting the Etsy. Hard. In response to this whole business. Here are my finds so far:

source.
I mean COME ON. BEST PRINT EVER.

source.
Love the retro-ness.

source.

source.
Pretty, pretty feathers.

source.
Chevron jotter (also available as a print).

Most importantly, though, I am SO buying this: 

source.
Han Cholo print. 

P.S. Just realized I may have a thing for Harrison Ford. 

house woes.

I'm in a bit of a funk. Well, a lot of a funk. It's this house, you see (among other things). We're stuck renting (for the time being) and are on a strict budget. That, in combination with years of hand-me-downs and beau coups wedding gifts, has landed me & N (well, really just me) in a sort of design limbo, and let's just say that it's not good.

I have dreams, you see. Dreams of not living in <800 square feet. Dreams of prancing (frightfully) around rug shops, throwing money around like a newly-signed rap star. Dreams of new bookshelves (oh, the unspeakable joy!) to be arranged and re-arranged like Rob Gordon on ecstasy. Dreams of mid-century Danish night stands and storage closets; of wall colors other than "rancid milk" white.

So I've started a collection of images to get me past the buy-everything-I-like-and-hope-it-all-works-together-someday mentality (I'm ADD enough without adding in pretty stuff). Here's what I have so far:

The rugs were first seen (by me, at least) on Design*Sponge. I've tried to find the original rugs, but they're apparently incompatible with Polyvore. Sigh. The chair is Herman Miller, obvs. If you find one for cheap, let me know. The Turkish kilim pillow is from Etsy, but is no longer available. The rest of the sources are as follows: warehouse pendant light; table; Weck jars.  And about the candle. Word on the street is that the Catbird Tarot Deck candle is the best-smelling thing since buttered toast. "Pencil shavings"??! SIGN ME UP. Anyone who knows me knows that it only takes the smell of new school supplies to get me high.

In summary, the themes:

Simplify. 

I have too much (incompatible) crap.

Streamline. 

Get rid of stuff that I bought that I'm not all that attached to and is clearly not going to work. Ever.

Prioritize. 

Pull out a few pieces at a time and rotate every once in a while.

Yeah. Let's see how this goes.