Pinterest, I've needed you for so long

some of my food pins

I've been on Pinterest for maybe a week and I'm on it constantly.

It's so very pinteresting!  (Somehow in my head, that's said with a pilipino accent)

"Pinterest is a virtual pinboard.  

Its a way to let you organize and share 
all the beautiful things you find on the web."

my Nature-inspired Design board

I'm sure we all come across things on the internet that we want to save and be able to return to.

Sometimes it's a picture, sometimes a recipe, 

something we want to buy, somewhere we want to go,
something we want to show someone else...

there are so many reasons to save things.

Well Pinterest is a way to save those things all in one place.

Instead of having files of web links, or loads of favorites and bookmarks,

you have them all in one place on Pinterest.

my Design for Littles board

When you come across something, you simply pin it (you will have a button on your menu bar) 

and save it to one of your pinterest boards.

You can create and name as many boards as you like.

Each time you pin something it not only saves the picture 

but also the link to the website you were on when you pinned it.

You can use this to keep recipes, create mood boards, plan parties or
 like a friend of mine, plan your wedding.

I'm even using it to eliminate some of the many recipes and magazines I have piled in my apartment.
I search them out online and pin them instead.

some of my individual pins

The best part is the sharing.

You can also create boards that let other people contribute.  

This would be perfect if you are all planning or creating something together.

You can connect with friends (or meet others with inspiring boards) and see what they are pinning.

You can view things from your friends, things from the staff or things from strangers.
You can search for something specific or by a category.

I could search cupcake or food and find a million pretty things that will make my mouth water.

The view when I look at another pin/ The view when I look at my own pin

When viewing a pin (the image added to Pinterest) you have the option to

repin it to one of your boards, to like it, to comment on it

 or to mention a friend that might be interested.

Some of the staff's favorite boards

I love being able to look at the things that inspire me, all in one place.

I love how easy it is to keep track of things.

I love seeing what everyone else is looking at.

It might sound like a lot.  I'm rambling because I'm excited.

I promise you that it is REALLY easy.
It's a lot less overwhelming then this post leads you to believe.
This page explains it very simply.

You just need to go to Pinterest and request an invitation
(or I can send you one, just leave me your email)
and get started!

If you'd like to follow me, I have a link on the right.
I'd love to see what you're interested in.

Have fun, get inspired!

Baby Mia's Nursery

I'm totally in love with baby Mia's nursery. I love the modern style.

I love that it's for a little girl and it's not pink.



Can she be any more adorable? Remember Mia's mom Joanne?

Joanne had a brunch at her house and there were 4 little cuties there... but I'll show you that tomorrow.



I have a thing for owls and this one is awesome.



The colors are fresh and clean, the patterns are super cute.

I've also had my eye on those decals forever, you know how I love birch.



Speaking of super cute... meet Samantha!



Her room is so neat and organized and clutter free I feel like cleaning mine now.
The thing about modern rooms is that you need to be able to edit out extras.

I'm horrible at editing. I want to include everything which is why I have a gazillion pictures in a post. Luckily I've learned to go to picnik to make collages.



The fact is that their entire house has the same clean, modern feel. Like being in a spa.

Maybe instead of cleaning and organizing I'll see if I can move in with Joanne and her husband. I'm sure he won't mind.

*I almost forgot to mention that the chair cover was made from some drapes that Joanne bought! She didn't want to use the drapes as drapes but wanted to incorporate the material. I think that's genius and a great way to personalize and make stylish a simple glider.

Rose Bowl Flea Market

A month ago B and I went to the Rose Bowl flea Market for the first time. We've been hearing about it forever and have never gone.

I knew it was huge but I had no idea what I was getting myself into. We plan on going back when it's cool outside. It was insanely hot and I was too pregnant to walk around in that heat. Oh but it was incredible.



There are literally over 2500 vendors and somewhere between 15,000-25,000 shoppers during the one sunday a month it is open. It's been going on for over 40 years and is known as a shopping place for everyone from regular joe's like us to designers and celebrities.

The above picture is of Tori Spelling and her crew. She smiled as she walked by chatting, I was really focused on finding a bathroom and then thought.. hey maybe I should've taken a picture for the blog.

I hate taking pictures of celebrities.. it makes me squirmy so you only get her backside :) She's the one in the grey holding the frame.



I couldn't figure out a reason I needed to have this dress but isn't it adorable?!



I've never seen so much mid-century modern/ danish/ scandinavian decor in one place ever. I was in heaven and I really like that brown chair, and the grey ones but I'm not fond of the tables. Anyway, they are priced according to the popularity around here... which means not at all in my budget.



There are tons of really interesting shops to browse thru.



Some with really specific collections and some with just a hodge podge of treasures.



There are some serious book sellers and collectors in here. Looking for a specific 1st edition? I was really impressed by the knowledge of both the vendors and customers as I passed by their conversations.



A shop of all chandeliers in so many colors, shapes and sizes.



Love this school desk, the wood looked great and the red metal was the perfect accent.



Vintage kitchen things from aprons to pots and pans. If you love vintage kitchen things at very reasonable prices then you should stop by Tara's etsy shop.



So pretty, the way this shop was set-up was awesome.



Besides the fact that the tires were flat, it was a bit rusty inside, we have no room for it, it was surely too expensive and not at all child-friendly to today's standards.... I really feel that Peanut needs this car in his life.



I have never seen anything like this. I didn't see who the vendor was so I didn't gather any info but it was in incredible condition and it still had the tray attachment.

Gorgeous, no? Can you imagine me strolling around with that thing? I'd have to don the perfect outfit, heels, hat and gloves to accompany this thing. Perhaps it's good that I'm not filthy rich because God only knows the types of things we would collect!

To grandmother's house we go!

My parents are just the tiniest bit excited about Peanut's arrival. The plan was/is that they would have the Peanut during the week while we are at work.

So my mom started planning the nursery immediately. Actually, thats not exactly true. You see those adorable posters above the crib? Those were purchased in San Francisco for the nursery. The day I announced my pregnancy my mom pulled them out of the closet and the nursery transformation started.

She pulled them out of the closet because she already had them!!



This entire nursery was completed by my fourth month. It was once a den, guest room and computer room. The furniture was moved out and the walls repainted.

Years ago this was my room.



We found these baskets in white at Home Goods and my mom painted them to match the room.



FYI: the baby's name is NOT Stanley. If you have a Stanley or are married to a Stanley understand that it's not a bad name... it's just not our name.

My parents (and everyone else) were/are getting a bit anxious to hear the name of the baby. We're 99% sure of it but I worry that at the last minute I'll change my mind so I haven't commited.

On a trip to Sacramento we were walking thru a shop when my dad noticed a basket of name plates. They weren't hanging in alpha order like you usually see, they were just thrown in a basket. So my dad announced that whatever name he pulled out would be the name of the baby.

They have been calling him Stanley ever since.



I think you've seen this before but I can tell you more about the pictures. They come from a children's book line called Rip Squeak and were originally owned by a husband (illustrator) and wife (author) team.

We fell in love with the stories and illustrations.



Apparently there is a family discussion about whether this is a dinosaur or a dragon.

I'd like to put it to a vote. What says the blogosphere?



I dream about holding a warm baby, fresh out of the bath and wrapped up in a soft towel.



We're getting so close!

At least we know that my parents have a nursery ready. We, on the other hand, have very little ready. I have my big shower on October 2nd and I'll be shopping and finishing the nursery after that.



Until the Peanut comes Gingerbread will make sure and take care of grandma and grandpa's nursery. She is pretty darn sure it's all for her anyways.

IVC Flea Market

The first Sunday of every month there is a flea market at Irvine Valley College.

I don't know what I expected but it was nothing near this.



There is just eye candy everywhere and it's overflowing with cute displays. I think of it as walking through an antique shop.



Prices vary from inexpensive to very expensive. These people know the value of what they have.

I love how they covered their books in material. It's not functional but it's very pretty.



This shop had the most interesting artifacts. It was like wandering through a museum.



This place could give me some major trouble. The lavender hue of these bottles are so pretty. This is the $3 table but he also had a $5 and $10 table and other various glass bottles ranging from clear to pale blue to black. He had glass dating back to 1850 and his prices were incredible.

Then I remembered that I really don't have space for a bunch of pretty bottles.



Don't you love that mantle?



Another pretty piece, I like the circles around the edge and I think it would look good like this or painted any color. I almost bought it for $20 and B reminded me that, with the exception of our bedroom, most of our stuff has a more danish mid-century feel than it does cottage vintage.

I'm going to have to do a better job of intermixing the two... as soon as I figure out how to do that.



This place was so much fun! Stuff! On the other side were tons of little things with letters on them as well as random game pieces. I could just see all the crafts in my head.

If only I did crafts :) I know some of you could do a whole display around keys, or buttons, or empty wooden spools or blocks with letters on them.



Although this isn't my style, I thought the display was so cute and creative.



I really wanted this typewriter. It was $50 and in absolutely perfect condition. I love the green keys and it comes with the original manual.



What is this? Is it what stores would use to sell spools?

I really have no idea but I like it.



This whole shop was packed with people but I had to try and sneak a peak of her displays. Gorgeousness everywhere. She just so happens to have a website and shop called My Sparrow, she not surprisingly is an interior designer and she has a blog. Check her out for some inspiration!

How was your holiday weekend?

Bicycle Pillows

I can't very well have a nursery for our baby boy without throwing some of our passions into it. It just didn't seem appropriate to have a room full of food and cupcakes so I thought I'd go with books and bicycles.

Then I opened the mail and got a surprise package from a dear friend! First off, aren't packages the best?! Secondly, are dear friends the best?!

Some of you know this lovely lady as LMM or Lemonade Makin' Mama and I just want to hug her and squeeze her but actually that might be odd because she doesn't live in the same state as me and we've never met in real life.

I love explaining these types of friendships to people outside the blogosphere. :) Anyway, the pillow comes via Etsy and I will think of her every time I see it. Love that pillow.



Now this pillow I made with my own two hands. I know it's just a rectangle but you have no idea how unskilled I am in the sewing area. I made another unpictured pillow in the same material that is square with a button on it. Given my background, sewing a straight line is an accomplishment.

So is remembering to reverse the material before you sew it. Oh and checking to make sure you have thread in the darn machine before you complete two sides. Did I mention that I'm scared of the sewing machine? Apparently if you don't press the pedal with authority then the stitching is all weak and loopy. Be the boss of the sewing machine. (I will repeat this as I sew)

I'm sewing squares people and I still can't decide if I like this whole sewing thing. I laugh everytime I read posts like this one and this one. I cannot even imagine the process of making these things.

I'm working on another pillow now.... and by now I mean that it is sitting on the table next to the sewing machine my mom pulled out of my closet last week. Given the fact that it hasn't been out of the case for 9 years I think we're making pretty good progress.

Z Gallerie.

Have you ever been to Z Gallerie before? If not, I'm going to take you on a little tour and it will be a treat. I must warn you though that you must be able to filter when you look at these pictures. I always have to remember to filter when I walk thru the store.

Z Gallerie is set up like a showroom and retail space all wrapped in one. Around each display you will see available items and in each room or section of the store there will be several displays.



You just have to learn to take in each little section piece by piece. It's not as overwhelming as the pictures appear.

I love it. I walk thru and just feel the inspiration soaking in. I want things that would never fit into my normal style just because everything seems so set the perfect backdrop for the living space you never knew you wanted.



Z Gallerie has a certain knack for making unexpected and often downright odd things look like they belong. For instance, who would expect a stuffed alligator to be an accent for a bed?



I wandered today just trying to figure out what it is that I love so much about this place. What exactly is the Z Gallerie style?

I'm not sure I have answers but I have picked out some common threads.



White solid ceramics, lots of sparkle and bling, both very dark and very light solid paterned furniture and pops of the chosen accent color. They love texture and the stacking and layering of objects in a space.

Z Gallerie mixes modern, traditional, quirky, odd, vintage, overstated and understated pieces with what appears to be very little effort.

Did anyone notice the white ceramic moose head in the background? They also have horses and deer if you'd like to stick with the theme. :)



I think the layering of the different chandeliers and lamps within the space is just perfection. You know how I love for things to mesh well without the symmetrical matching look.



I love the plush chairs here that really offset the sleek glass table.



The rich, deep colors in this sitting area are lovely. This picture shows you what I mean about the displays.

From here you can see a sitting area or living room, bedroom and dining area. Somehow they all blend and flow.



I adore this modern take on a chandelier. Love it. Want it. Need it. Have no where to put it. I love the various crystals and the dreamy, wintery look. Of course, if you saw my wedding this won't surprise you.

Z Gallerie loves chandeliers and you can find anything from this one to a ship made out of crystals. Yes, I said a ship... like a pirates ship.



I was immediately drawn to this table which makes me laugh because if I take it piece by piece its really not my style. I always seem to forget this in Z Gallerie.



Tell me it wouldn't be fun to dine at this table though.



This is a fun mesh of glammed up ocean motif. The beach which generally makes me think of very relaxed decor takes on a new look.



This is just a great look at the impact of different texture. I also love that although it seems the design world is going more towards white that there is plenty of color out there still. All those orange accents in the back just waiting to get picked up.



I see this little meditation area on a bedroom wall, a nook in a living space or in an outdoor atrium. Their signature layering of objects and textures and the saturation of a color shines thru.

They also have an entire area dedicated to framed and ready to hang art work. I have my eye on this piece which would be perfect in the space above my bed, as well as a whole host of birch/aspen pictures that I would love to have in our place.

Even if Z Gallerie isn't your style it's packed with conversation pieces and inspiration to change things up a bit.

What stores do you love to look thru?