The Best Patio Umbrellas

TGIF!!

My mind is already on weekend time and fun-in-the-sun!  Just yesterday, I was picking up some supplies at Lowes and I saw the most beautiful patio umbrella

Lowes $98.00
Lowes $98.00

and it got me thinking that this is the best time of the season to get great deals on patio stuff!  Everything is going to be on sale for Labor Day so time to pick your favorite now and be ready!

Just to help out a bit (and since I’m doing some homework of my own) here are my favorites, all available now either on-line or in stores.

Best Stripes

Zgallerie
Zgallerie $124.49

Best Tiered Design

Pier1 $129.99
Pier1 $129.99

BTW, tiers are really great for windy areas.

Best Tropical Paradise

World Market $139.00
World Market $139.00

Best Modern

Teak Warehouse $795.00
Teak Warehouse $795.00

Best Super Huge Umbrella

Costco $229.00
Costco $229.00

Best Asian Inspired

Amazon $249.95
Amazon $249.95

And it is water proof with a stand included!

Best Downton Abbey

Wayfair $297.15
Wayfair $297.15

And it’s got LED lights built-in!

Best Deal Ever

Ikea $14.99
Ikea $14.99

At this price you can coordinate the umbrellas to your bathing suit!

Best Utter Splurge

Frontgate $5,495
Frontgate $5,495

and closed!

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Are you digging any of these?  Are you in the market for any new outdoor stuff before it all gets put away for another year?

I’m kind of thinking about vamping up the plain white umbrella I have now with maybe a greek key stencil…

Here’s my inspiration.

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Yay or Nay?

Have a Sunny Weekend All!!  Tootles!

Whatever Happened to The Mother?!?

Hi Everyone!

A few peeps have kindly asked me about The Mother.  Cue the Darth Vader music.

I know.  I’m so Dramatic.

Actually, after a few resuscitations she and I are moving along again… slowly, but in a forward direction.  It’s just taking forever.  (And yes, you must take forever to say the word ffffooooorrrreeeevvvveeerrr ala Sandlot.)

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Can I just take a moment here to say that the kids in the movie are old now?!  OMG, what does that make me??  Soon my own children will be calling me The Mother, complete with Darth Vader music.  Actually that sounds quite awesome.  Go Me!

And go me, for TEARIN’ it up over here!  Well, tearing up cabinetry, at least… I haven’t torn it up on the dance floor in quite some time, sadly.  Unless you count the gummy bear song.  But that goes without saying, right?

Here’s Exhibit A.  A perfectly normal cabinet that is too long for my space.

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Which now looks like this

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Rambo Chic!  Power tools make me feel tough.

Then, (when I thought I had one whole cabinet), I noticed to my horror that the depth was off.  Why world???

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I had dumbly assumed that the depths were the same and had only been measuring the widths.  Luckily, there was plenty of room to hack this one up too.

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Don’t just stare at her bare backside!

And I took the original backing off carefully to replace it.  I even used the same nails.  Now the world makes sense again and I can sleep at night.

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So what’s next?  Fixing more such issues, sanding (UGH!) and then I can (Toes Crossed!) start bringing in pieces to reclaim the garage.

Here’s on the agenda tomorrow, if I get the chance…See the gap between the two pieces??  I need to do some more trimming to get them to fit together.  And you can see one of my paint color options… light-bluish-grey, yes?  Me like so far.  Me like very much.

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I realize this post didn’t have too much “fun” stuff in it and I don’t want to inundate you with the crazy details of how this got done… unless of course, you’d like to know.  Let’s chat it up if you’re doing something similar and need a few tips.  We can trade ideas!!

Tootles!

H&M Package Arrives and Some Inspiration

Happy Monday Dudes!

Today I’m in the mood to check stuff off the to-do list.  Ahhh, I can tell this is going to be a very productive week!  How about you?  Are you like me this week, getting stuff did and taking names?

I got my H&M purchase on Friday and I’m happy with some things and a bit confused about others.  Okay, so I bought a square pillow cover for $5.95

hmprod

 

and this rectangular one for $17.95.

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The striped cover is really great and was a good buy.  I can see that it will wash well and hold up to the rigors of what is daily life in my house.  The tribal pillow is very nice too, but the color is more taupe than ivory… okay, not a deal breaker, but then the weave looks kinda sloppy (for lack of a better word). It’s still nice, don’t get me wrong, but I’m not dying over it like I hoped I would be.  Oh!  And it’s a weird size so just add making a pillow insert to my crazy long list of to-do’s.  Just when I thought I was making headway!

This last thing, a bath mat for $9.95, is a no-go in my book.

hmprod-2

H&M, this is not a bath mat.  This is a finger towel.  Shame on you.

I’m going to use it though, since it will cost $5 bucks to return it.  Ya win some, ya lose some, right?!

So, to leave you with some midday inspiration, here is an amazing use of color that doesn’t seem over the top… it looks so comfortable and livable and my personal must in decorating, FUN!

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I’m so angry they cut the light fixture off.  Poo poo on you Photo-person!

Did you catch the “bow-tie” shaped detail on the table.  Charming!

Catch y’all later!