Item: Fresh flowers!
Cost: Free if you pick them yourself =)

I know that the end of February is still very wintry in some parts of this country, but here in Virginia Beach, it’s springtime! I can’t be happier about where I live than right now. It’s nearly 80° and the sun is playing peek-a-boo through the clouds. In honor of such a beautiful day, here is my lovely suggestion. Go find some of the first spring flowers that are starting to bloom and pick a small handful. It’ll dress up any little spot: that bathroom counter, your nightstand, or a windowsill.

Item: Old wine rack
Cost: Free

My husband acquired this old wine rack from an acquaintance who was getting rid of it. At the time, it was rusty and in really bad shape visually. But he brought it home and used a wire brush to get the rust off. Then he used a black rust-covering spray paint to make it look practically new. Now we display the wine rack in our living room and get plenty of compliments on it. Hint: We filled it with affordable and tasty wines from Trader Joe’s. Read the rest of this entry »

Item: Canvas flats
Cost: $14.99

These are the cutest spring/summer casual shoes I’ve seen yet this year. They’re called “Espadrilles”–a french word from the Catalan word for shoe. They’re typically canvas with a soft rubber sole. These are Mossimo Supply Co. brand and available at your local Target or here. I can’t wait to try a pair!

Items: bathtub tray
Cost: $30

The moment I saw this bathtub tray, I was in love. What could possibly be better than reading and sipping wine while soaking in a luxurious bubble bath? It’s the ultimate relaxation for body, mind, and soul. I first saw the tray at a local Bed, Bath and Beyond. When I got home and researched it online, I found that it can be purchased by a number of retailers. This one is made of bamboo and has a book stand, wine holder, and soap/loofah/candle holder. Heaven!

Dynamic-living.com has a good price on it.

Items: pair of window benches from England, circa 1780
Cost: $75,000

These incredible window benches are definitely going in the look book. They are far too expensive for me to EVER own, but they are lovely. I found them at www.1stdibs.com, a site with some incredible pieces, but nothing in my price range. Read the rest of this entry »