My zebra rug, aka "Zebie"

I have had a long term love affair with zebra rugs.  It started when I was about 12 and went to babysit for a cool young couple new to our little city.  I walked into their LR and it was there I saw my very first zebra rug.  I thought it was one of the most beautiful amazing things I had ever seen.  Now, as I flip through my files of favorite LRs, there is often a consistent display of a zebra rug, center stage.  I always say some things just always seem to stay the same.  Should I say, except husbands? :) 

So last year, when my super FAB new husband asked me what I would like as a wedding present.....I didn't skip a beat.  My immediate response was "a zebra".  He said something like "a real zebra"????  I believe he was actually thinking he might need to explain that our strict deed restrictions would prohibit a zebra living here.  He may have actually even been relieved that the deed restrictions were in place, which is when I told him that I meant a zebra rug.  I guess he probably wondered about a woman who would ask for a zebra rug over so many other gift possibilities, but he married me anyway.  I started researching zebra rugs, where to get the best of the bunch, how to get then legally into the country, etc.  The more I read, the more I was determined.  I learned it would a) be expensive b) take some time to get it to me and 3) came in a variety of sizes.  None of this discouraged me in my quest to have one be mine.

so - let's get to the good part of the story.  My sisters and I walk into a consignment shop we occasionally hit and my sister says to me "hey, there's your zebra rug".  Have you ever seen a lunatic running through a consignment shop to get to something?  Yes, that was me.  The Fab Mr S was out on the golf course when I whipped out my Iphone and sent him the pic and a msg "found him".  I'm thinking to myself, gee I really hope he's playing super well today :)  message back - "buy it".  So he came home with me that day and has been with me ever since.  And I love him .... almost as much as I love that man who bought him for me.

RL Trophy Vase

One of my sisters collects trophies.  I have always loved them, but when I see one or buy one, naturally I just feel it would make a great gift for her - so it goes her way.  After all I am often at her house and can sit and enjoy her beautiful displays.  Her collection looks very "Ralphy" and in fact I think she has been collecting them as long as his team has.  Notice I did not say, as long as Ralph has....I think he has people who do that for him now.

Anyway, the other day I am strolling though HomeGoods and thinking their merchandise is looking a little picked over.  When I look up, there is a HUGE trophy cup.  Not a little dinky one - but big.  Also, not a real RL, but who cares? I'm thinking, hey it's not old (so I won't have to give it up to my sister) and would be beautiful solo or with a large arrangement of hydrangeas.  Took me no time at all to justify buying it.  After all Mary McDonald continues to chant her mantra "buy what you love" and I am all about Mary McDonald these days. And.... you'll notice that it didn't take me long to fill it with the hydrangeas.  I love it.

I did mention it was big, right?

This shows the scale on the large coffee table and in front of a full size  sofa.

 

Since I am all Mary McDonald and Ralph Lauren inspired these days,

I'm wondering - just who is it that is inspiring you?

I'm inspired

I'm inspired!  I won't say it's the new year, as my only resolution for 2014 was to "pace myself".  Let's just call that wisdom.  I know better than to commit to anything outrageous, but do know there is a need in my life to better pace myself, so that I can indeed enjoy my life.  I don't want to go out on a limb and say I'll work out more, be a better blogger, get more done - Jesus, I do as much as I can every day.....so let's just say I recognize the need to calm it down a bit and have time to enjoy smelling the roses.  Last year, "the year of the merge", this year, yep - "pace myself".  Let it not be said that at this point in my life, I know that I need to keep it real!

so how shall I start the first post of the year?  I was going to post great holiday shots that showed I miraculously pulled it together before the holidays.  Yes, I had the Menorah out, the Christmas trees up and the gifts wrapped.  Sort of seems like old news now and hey I read a zillion blogs that had done all of that by November - so I feel no need to post my success, as I ran down to the finish line in a full sprint.  Am I the only one who is happy that the holidays are actually over and we are starting a new year?

so let's see....1st up.  I'm inspired.  I got the best book ever that has me super inspired.  well, we received several books for the holidays and I'm working my way through them.  However the one that has me most inspired is:

 

Mary McDonald's images have me mesmerized.  Truly.  If you want to treat yourself

to some real eye candy, order it.

Mary McDonald: The Allure of Style

 

 

I love so many things in her book.  My favorite chapter is "The Hunt", but her love of arranging beautiful little vignettes, which include family pieces and beautiful things you love, inspired me to pull out my own little pieces of silver and family inspired pieces and create the following:

 

 

An old silver tray, some of my favorite perfumes, a clock that reminds me of our trip to Ireland, a new blue/white vase filled with white roses and a candy dish (now holding soap) that was my grandmother's and stolen from my one of my sisters who was not using it.

 

 

 

or take a smaller footprint in a space and move things a bit more closely together:

 

 

This book has certainly inspired me to pull out some old silver pieces and polish them up, then group them together and have something pleasant to feast my eyes on.  It's also given me motivation to actually finish some spaces that I seem to have taken forever to finish up. I no longer can use the excuse that we are in the middle of merging 2 families and 2 households.  Here's to all the finishing details on several rooms that I hope to complete (and post!) in 2014. I'm all about completing spaces this year.

 

What is the major project you would like you to complete this year?

 

Happy New Year.