ECO OBSESSION: LOG END TABLES

I am not a good outdoors woman, I'll be the first to admit it. My idea of enjoying the outdoors usually involves a beach, or a boat, or a bike ride. Camping and hiking are unknown words in my vocabulary. But, whenever I need to find some interior design inspiration through nature I'll usually be the one to suggest going on a "hike." Enter the antler trend of 2010. I could hardly wait to get out into the deep wilderness and find my own antlers. So, recently when I asked John if we could go "hiking," he immediately wondered what my real agenda was.

As you may have guessed I wanted a log stump that I could turn into a table. He was sort of onto me as I had begged to have the car pulled over numerous times to collect stumps I had seen next to fallen trees. "Do you know how much a tree stump weighs," he would ask. I was sure I could handle any measly little stump we would come across. The stars must have aligned, because we went for a day trip to the river to relax and read, and low and behold, there it was my perfect stump. The entire time we were there I kept saying how excited I was that we found this stump, and how great it was that it was so close to the car, I would only have to walk about 400 yards with it. Dear readers who want to collect their own tree stumps, pull your car right up next to the stump. I felt like I was on Gladiator carrying this stump back to the car. I ran the last 100 yards just because i knew my arms might fall off. Of course John was no help because I was too stubborn, and had been saying for weeks how they couldn't be that heavy. If West Elm sells them how heavy can they be? I should have trusted the woodsman, live and learn.

I will post a tutorial on how to get your stump looking perfectly smooth and chic as soon as I can get it out of the car... In the mean time we can all drool over how incredibly chic Courtney Cox's Malibu living room looks. I love the rustic touches mixed with the clean contemporary lines. those benches are to-die-for. I'm also loving the grey tones in her side table, I still can't decide if I should stain mine, leave it plain, or gold leaf the sides. In case I have scared you from making your own  table, here are some options that will come straight to your door ready to go. (click images for links).

West Elm's Log End Table

Mr Brown's Alpina Side Table

Arteriors Subin Stump Table

Zinc Door Driftwood Drum Table

ECO OBBSESSION: PAINTED NEON

Lately I have found some great thrift shop furniture pieces and I have wanted to give them a funky makeover. I usually don't ever go very bold with my color choices in my own home. But, the lines of these pieces below have convinced me I may have to go neon! All of the lines on these furniture pieces are classic design silhouettes, although some of them are actually new, it would be so simple to give a piece of furniture an update with a little splash of neon pink or yellow. I love the pink spindle bed and the yellow edges of that table!

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ECO OBSESSION: SUCCULENTS

If you haven't already started a fun summer succulent project it is about time! I am a little obsessed at the moment, there are so many ideas out there floating around. Succulents can be used as so much more than just another house plant, although, I just have mine in white ceramic pots lined up in my kitchen. I hate house plants, and succulents are about the only flora I let inside my home, but this is going to be my motivation to start a succulent planter box to hang on my porch wall. I put together some other ideas i thought would be fun. And you can always find great DIY ideas on Pinterest!

And if you don't have a green thumb, or time to go in search of all your succulent planting needs- West Elm has you covered. They have great kits to get you going on all sorts of succulent planters, they even ship you the sand!

ECO OBSESSION: CAMPERS

Recently my parent's neighbor bought an air stream camper and they are restoring it. We have watched them gut the inside, sand blast the painted finish off, and I have all but fallen in love. I think this is the only way to rough it. Although John might not agree that this is the best way to camp- he thinks I am living my life in a Tommy Hilfiger ad- I love to see these beauties restored and appreciated!  I am drooling over the Jeep Grand Wagoneer in the first image, can I get one in blue please!

This one has a full sized tub!

ECO OBSESSION: MAKEUP CADDY

Right now I am loving this great makeup brush holder from Lessandmore's Etsy Shop!And they have so many creative ways to use on old block of wood.

Such a great idea. I have almost no counter space in my powder room and all of my makeup brushes and bits and bobs are sitting inside of antique glass goblets. I hate tossing them into a drawer because they will only stay organized for about 3 seconds. The DIY possibilities are endless. I'd love something like this in my kitchen to hold my metal utensils. Check out this one to hold pens and scissors!

 This little bud vase is the perfect thing for spring. We have such a slow season here with the trees blossoming, but it is my favorite time of year. I love to see cherry blossoms mixed in with spring floral arrangements. Such a fun and clever idea. I could see a long one down the center of a dining table.

ECO OBSESSION: THRIFTING

Now that its started to warm-up outside my weekly addiction has returned. Religiously checking the Friday paper to browse the Garage/Estate Sale advertisements. I need to get my DIY on so bad, I can't wait to spray paint or reupholster something.

ECO OBSESSION: GREEN

It's March! Spring is so close I can feel it, its been a little harder with all this snow falling around here, but I won't lose sight! To kick off the month I thought I'd share a few things "green" if you know what I mean!

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ECO OBSESSION: DWARF TREES

We recently planted a new round of seeds into our kitchen herb garden, more on that next week. But it got me excited to start thinking about summer gardening. I have always wanted an avocado, apple, and peach tree in my yard, but I've always run into the problem of not having a yard. Enter dwarf trees. I have had some experience with full size fruit trees- growing up we had a plum, 2 apples, and an apricot. I have been told that dwarf olive and fig trees do well at producing an active crop. I love the way dwarf citrus trees look, not only do these trees make great kitchen accessories they can give you food!

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