Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Let's Rodeo: Boots and Decorating Ideas

Howdy dear readers! Here in Cowtown, it is one of my favorite times of the year. It's Rodeo season! Of course, the old-timers call it the Fat Stock Show and Rodeo, but everyone calls it fun! It is a social event here and even those who don't have a fondness for cowboy culture find themselves wearing more turquoise jewelry than normal, dusting off their boots from the back of the closet (It's a "Texas" thing. We all have a pair of boots somewhere.) and looking forward to spending time in a dusty, rodeo arena "whoopin' and hollerin" for a cute cowboy in a tight pair of Wranglers and some chaps. So, who's ready to rodeo?

I think I may have mentioned once or twice (wink! wink!) the Birthday Boots that Mr. Pearl surprised me with. Well... they are here! The UPS man delivered them today! I am so excited, as Rocketbuster Boots did an amazing job. They are just what I wanted and so comfortable! I am looking forward to sporting them at the rodeo! I sported them to Central Market this afternoon for a trial run. Love them! If you ever want a pair of custom boots, call Nevena at Rocketbuster in El Paso or check her out here.


The two birds and heart are for me and the Mr.

There are three birds on the top for the minis.

My initials are on the toes!

I thought that this would be a good time to show those that share my fondness for cowboy culture, a way to incorporate it into your home without looking like the set from a Roy Rogers movie. As I mentioned previously, most of us Texans have boots and a lot of us had boots when we were knee high to a grasshopper. There is just nothing cuter than little, biddy boots. (except the little biddy whippersnapper wearing them!) I have these little boots on a shelf in our family room. I have several pairs that were Mr. Pearl's and the rest were my minis. (Can you guess who wore the pink ones?) In a large group, they are a little much for some, but one pair in a bookcase, or used as bookends or a tiny pair under a glass cloche make a darling, sentimental display. Ok, I may have totally lost a lot of you. If boots aren't your thing, little shoes are cute, too. I have also incorporated a pair of vintage, silver-plated toy gun holsters into my decor. I use them as a little vase in which I tucked some dried flowers. Of course, we never have a shortage of John Deere tractor toys and old hats that I have displayed here and there. Western isn't for everyone, but we all have those odd things stashed in a closet that are sentimental and help to tell "our story." Get those out of hiding and put them out to enjoy! Chances are if you love them, others will, too.


Kawliga, our cigar indian stands guard over the kids play area of the family room.

I had him made for Mr. Pearl's college graduation.








Happy trails,

Krissy

Friday, January 14, 2011

Flashback Friday - Duran Duran Confessions

Duran Duran today - the look, well, old! (sorry guys!)

Did I really find this attractive?

Yes, yes I did! John Taylor - my boyfriend!


The hat!!!! The long, highlighted bangs! The eyeliner! Does anyone miss the 80's?


Yes, I had this one over my bed, too.

Best "Rolling Stone" cover ever - still have it. It is the only issue of this mag that I have ever purchased.
Love the shoulder pads!



Oh! Another classic - the outfits from the "Rio" video!






This poster hung over my bed in junior high.
Ahhh! The white suits, the fedora - love!

Ok, I'm coming clean. I was a MAJOR Duranie in my "day." I loved Duran Duran. I wanted to be John Taylor's girlfriend. I wore men's hats around as fashion. I thought that these men looked "sexy" wearing more make-up than I did. I have two ginormous scrapbooks filled with Duran Duran mementos (yes, I still have them.) I have dragged Mr. Pearl to one of their concerts. I really want to see them when they come to town in a couple of weeks. (It is during the Super Bowl though, and we have been told to stay away from the area, as it will be packed with crazy football fans. Crazy football fans and Duran Duran? I don't get it.) I still think that "Save A Prayer" is the best music video ever and I have a visit to Sri Lanka on my bucket list, as that is where the video was filmed. I have seen the Jane Fonda movie, "Barbarella" as that is where Duran Duran got their name. I am glad that Andy Taylor isn't with the band anymore. He never quite "fit." I know in my heart that John Taylor waved to US at Reunion Arena on the Seven and the Ragged Tiger Tour. (No one will ever say otherwise, right Jules and Jenny?) I may still be a bit of a Duranie. I have a Duran Duran t-shirt in my closet. I may have put Duran songs on the minis ipods. I love to hear them sing "Hungry Like the Wolf." My mom hates "Hungry Like the Wolf" as whenever I blared it on my jam box in my room, she thought I was whining/yelling "mom" when the girl makes the noises at the end of the song. The minis think that is funny. Duran Duran dropped a new album in December. It's actually ok. I still like the old stuff better.

Toodles,

Krissy
photos via: myspace.com,writingrainbows,blogspot.com, noexcusesfashion.com, fashionandpopculture.com, geemoosic.blogspot.com, btvision.bt.com, www.duranduranmusic.com

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Sunshine Sarah





www.sarahrichardsondesign.com

"Yellow" again! I am still on a bright, sunny yellow kick. I found my way over to Sarah Richardson's website and I could get lost in it! I love her and her fabulous designs. I thought I would share this yummy, country kitchen with you all. How happy it would be to wake-up each day and have my cup of coffee in this sunny space! What do you think?

Walkin' on sunshine!

Krissy

Monday, January 10, 2011

Color Me Happy


Happy Monday all! I sent three, very disappointed minis to school today. We were supposed to get one to four inches of snow yesterday, and it did snow, but didn't stick. All we have now is bitter cold and some icy mud to show for it. The areas just to the east and north of here are out of school, as they got the white stuff. It is a mixed blessing, as I am happy to have an empty house today and dry roads, but I feel the sadness of my offspring. Expecting a snow day and then not receiving it, well, that may just be one of life's biggest disappointments when you are seven, nine and twelve. I remember. Bummer!


Anywho! I did get a lot of TV watching in yesterday, as it was a snuggle-up, kind of day. I caught an episode of Color Splash on HGTV. This is not my usual show to watch, as I am not a "Miami/contemporary" kind of girl, but this dining room had me at "yellow!" I had dreams about this space last night and have contemplated selling my monogrammed, slip covered dining chairs, mahogany table and buffet and purchasing a thirteen foot long, yellow upholstered bench and a white table! Ok, then I wake-up from that dream. The space is so fun! All of my favorite colors are represented: bright pink, lemon yellow, turquoise and grass green and of course, white! What's not to love? What you can't see in this picture, is the kitchy collection of vintage salt and pepper shakers on sleek, display shelves and the cool display of blue caviar tins turned art. David and the Color Splash team also installed a bright yellow counter top on the adjacent kitchen island - perfection!


You may not love this as much as I did, but it is sure to brighten your Monday! Hope it's a good one for you.


Mello yellow - not!


Krissy
image via www.hgtv.com

Friday, January 7, 2011

Flashback Friday - Our First Home

Our first home - this was a sketch of the house that I did for Mr. Pearl

Mr. Pearl and I lived in a cute little townhouse for our first year of marriage. We then purchased a wonderful, 1924 Tudor that was a complete remodel and our first big project as a married couple. We had a blast over-seeing the construction, as our home took shape. This was the home that we brought our first two minis home from the hospital to and the neighborhood that helped us to establish some very dear and lifelong friends. I loved this home!

The house was on a corner lot and sat-up from the tree-lined, side-walked street. It had a wonderful tile roof, fabulous leaded glass windows and a weather vane a top one of the gables! It was a doll house! It did have some quirky issues, as the previous owners had performed some serious remodel disasters, but the large crown molding, darling built-ins and barrel vaulted ceiling in the breakfast room were still intact. We also added some charm along the way. The front door had been relocated before us and the space from the old front door, made a charming window seat that overlooked the neighborhood and a spot that I logged many hours in and miss dearly! We also uncovered some beautiful, arched french doors that the previous owners left in a pile of junk in the garage! We had them installed in the master and they were fantastic.

I still miss this house. So, many wonderful memories were made there. Both Fisherman and Sweet Pea celebrated their first birthdays there (we moved three months after Sweet Pea turned one) and things were so much less hectic then! The neighborhood was positioned between three churches and each day, I was serenaded by the bells every hour, on the hour. I loved the red, white and blue Pierre Deaux wallpaper in the kitchen and the way the entire upstairs was tucked under the eaves of the roof and was so cozy! I guess a first house is kind of like a first love. It will always hold a special place in your heart. Well, I thought I would "flashback" and share some pictures with you all. Remember, this was over nine years ago! Boy, have we changed!
The day we first received our keys!

This is the exterior "after" the remodel - new paint, new windows - the landscaping was yet to be installed!
The small, arched window beside Santa is one of the window seat windows.



This is the sunroom just after demo started.




This is the sunroom and entry "after" -
you can't see the french doors that can close-off the sunroom

The living room - no, we didn't get to keep the piano. The previous owners had heavy shutters and window coverings over every window. They apparently liked to hide from the world.


Living room "after" - oh how I loved the toile curtains! You can see the window seat in the far right corner of the picture.


Mr. Pearl and a tiny Fisherman and a better view of the window seat

Fisherman and one of his dear friends, Harrison. They are in the window seat.
Harrison is part of the original playgroup that I have talked about!



View from the living room, through the dining room and on to the kitchen

Oh my! The kitchen - it really defied words. In case you are wondering, we did NOT live in this house until it was completely finished! There were no upper cabinets and no ovens!
"After" - my Pierre Deaux kitchen - I loved it!


The breakfast room "before" - its only redeeming quality was the original barrel-vaulted ceiling,which we kept!
We used the breakfast room as a sitting area. It is such a luxury to have a sofa in the kitchen and we loved it and used it everyday!
Close-up of my beloved wallpaper and the love seat and Mr. Pearl and Fisherman
The master bedroom - what you can't see is the built-in platform that the bed was sitting on, the 7' 6" tall, dropped ceiling and the false walls surrounding the room - I could walk behind them in the space! It was "something", for lack of a better word.
This is the master "after" and the wonderful french doors we installed. This precious furry pearl is Weller, our first baby! This was his favorite spot.
Fisherman in the same spot. Love Mr. Pearls Doc Martens!
The exterior view of the window and Fisherman's first birthday.
The upstairs area. The previous owners never completed it.
This became our casual living area and Fisherman's nursery was off of this room.
Fisherman's room, tucked under the eaves. This was right before we moved the nursery furniture downstairs for Sweet Pea and turned this into a cowboy, log cabin room.
I couldn't find any pics of Sweet Pea's room. It was a bright and airy space downstairs. I'll have to save those for later!
Have a great weekend! Sweet Pea is recovering from strep throat, so we are laying low. Hope yours is exciting!


Krissy

Thursday, January 6, 2011

News!


I have lovingly christened the home the "White Pizza Hut"
as it looks like one of those restaurants of old. No windows, no landscaping, no character...
I LOVE it!

It's official. The Pearl family is moving to new digs! We have led a somewhat nomadic life over the last three years, as this will be our fourth home in that time. This is SO out-of-character for us! We have been trying to be obedient to what we felt our calling was, and a lot of curve balls have been thrown our way! I am proud to say that we have weathered the storm and are moving the twenty miles back to the city we call "home." The minis have continued to stay in school there and our lives are centered there, so we are happy to be going back. I will say though that we have enjoyed our current home and living around the corner from my parents. Change is good. Right? I just pray that this is the end of it for a while.

Anywho... the big news is that I have a new project! The new digs are not so new and in dire need of an overhaul! Woohoo! A remodel! I am so excited! Mr. Pearl and I completely remodeled our first home, a 1924 Tudor. Our second home was a wonderful, old-world style Tudor that was new construction, so I welcome the project. What is it? A 1964 Ranch! Not so exciting, you say. Well, it isn't a charming, vintage Tudor, but it is on a cul-de-sac, next to some wonderful neighbors, in a fabulous neighborhood and I can make it just what I want and what our family needs. So, I will be keeping you all with me on this journey.
I am still working with the architect and getting the plans hammered-out and daydreaming about paint colors, cabinet pulls and marble! I hope you will join me. This should be fun! We are staying put in our current home and won't actually move until we have completed construction, so the fun begins!
Happy Thursday everyone!
Krissy

Monday, January 3, 2011

How Bout Them Frogs







Go frogs!



celebrating the victory!


Horned Frogs and fraternity brothers


future frogs and fraternity brothers? (Lord help us!)


This post will not mean a thing to the "non Horned Frog" fans out there, but I must post it! You see my Alma mater, Texas Christian University, won the "Grandaddy" of the bowls, the Rose Bowl! It was an awesome game and means so much to the Horned Frog Nation. You see, TCU was a football powerhouse in the 30's and 40's and has had some good years in between then and now, but most everyone today, if you have heard of TCU at all, remembers the Frogs as one of the whipping-posts from the old Southwest Conference. A lot has changed! Coach Patterson has put the football program and our small (9000 strong), private university back on the map!


We watched the game at the home of some fellow frogs and had a wonderful evening. Many of our friends were in Pasadena! We were a little sad we weren't there in person to witness history, but it didn't dampen our excitement! Thank you for indulging in my school spirit! I have a bunch of exciting things in store to blog about, so stay tuned...

The mini-pearls are back in school today and I'm putting all my ducks in a row. I wish you luck if you are doing the same!

Happy Monday!

Krissy

Saturday, January 1, 2011

5-4-3-2-1

Happy 2011!!
Here's wishing everyone a blessed new year!
We are getting ready to watch Rose Parade coverage and then cheer our TCU Horned Frogs on to victory in the Rose Bowl this afternoon. Whatever your plans, I hope they find you happy, healthy and surrounded by those you love. The best way to ring in the new year!
Best wishes for 2011!
Krissy