Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Happy Anniversary to Vreeland Road!

Where oh where has the time gone?! A year ago today, my hand shaking just a bit,  I hit "publish post" and never looked back.


The response was amazing and more than I could have ever imagined. You all were so sweet and forthcoming with your kind words. I thank God everyday for this blogging gig and for having the tenacity to say "I can so do this!"



It was a total leap of faith and I'm so happy I jumped!


I'd finally realized a dream I'd been carrying around in my heart and mind for years. So if you are unsure about putting yourself out there...GO FOR IT! Time is a-wasting!



Writing this blog has been such a gift in every sense of the word. I've met so many wonderful and generous people, I can barely stand it. So many doors have opened for me and its only been 12 months. Imagine the possibilities...



I'll never forget the day a sweet lady stopped me in the grocery store and said "please don't quit writing your blog anytime soon, it is FANTASTIC." Talk about making someone's day! It was one of those moments where you turn to look behind you both ways and think, holy sht, she's talking to me. I sure was glad I went to Kroger that day. I thanked her profusely but words can never quite convey how much it means to me that someone, anyone gets JOY from what I write. Totally gets me high.



When I first started blogging, people would ask, "so what's the goal of having a blog...is it to get advertisers and make money?"

Not even close.



The goal for me and always will be is to shine some LIGHT. Life can be so hard. We need folks to lift us up when things get dark and somehow, someway make the ride easier.  Whether it's helping them beautify their interiors, their closet, their spirit, their life, this blog is about celebrating the good at every turn. Candidly, I get a bit frantic if I think for a second I am a burden or annoying to my family and friends. That would really suck. So I always try to stay positive for them, for me. It gets me through the hard times and when all that positive energy equates to a beautiful reality, its such a TRIP. Kinda like right now. xo

"Hey I've got nothing to do today but smile"
-The Only Living Boy In New York, Simon and Garfunkel





So I just want to take this moment, pinch myself, and thank you for your AMAZING support of my blog and my work. Life is beautiful and I'm so happy to be sharing it with all of you. I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. Here's to dreaming and enjoying the ride!

xo
Jen


*Unless otherwise noted, all images via my pinterest boards with direct links to original source. Enjoy! 

Saturday, February 25, 2012

What's in my Iphone: Random beauty, fun, inspiration and one great salad...

Hey peeps, been awhile since we've looked inside my phone of what's catching my eye out there on the road. 

For starters, my sweeties at Lover's Key in Fort Myers, Florida last weekend. Fun fun time visiting my brother, neice and friends. The weather was gorgeous too! 


Great looking mirror at the new Home Decorator's showroom out here in the burbs. This would look great over my client's sofa as a single or in pairs for some more drama. 



Haha. Good times in the photo booth at our neighborhood holiday party. Just came across this and it made me laugh out loud. 


Fell in love with this concrete urn and glass balls at The Hot and Hot Fish Club in Birmingham, Alabama. Great scene, great chow! Their tomato heirloom salad was listed as one of the 50 best dishes in the south per Garden and Gun magazine. I'll be back for that!


Whistling away in the book store with my kiddies, thumbing through a recent Martha Stewart Weddings magazine, I came across this picture. I have a lot of left over road maps now that they are becoming a thing of the past and thought what a great idea with ORANGE ribbon, nonetheless. 



Some other pics I took from that same issue that I was able to track down a better pic from the website, these great treat bags. You can find them HERE.  



Love me some motor city!  



Speaking of the D, my all time favorite t-shirt my bf Elise sent me from the Eastern Market and my other bf KoKo, who is visiting this weekend, brought me a black and white tank top that says "RUN DET". Right on! 



And the last thing that caught my eye in that Weddings issue and made me think, maybe I should start subscribing to this mag, was the make your own backdrop for a photo shoot. This would be great for a party or reception, a visual memory of everyone that was there, instead of just signatures, faces too! 






Can't get these mercury glass lamps off my mind...where or who could use them? 


Had a hard time walking away from this french writing desk at the Queen of Hearts. 


My clients new linen slipcovered kitchen chairs, whoop whoop. We're having some custom pillows made in a favorite paisley to give em some more kick.


The vintage bottles currently available at West Elm. I am in LOVE with every single one. The colors are all perfect, esp that little smoky blue one bottom right.


Another great pair of mirrors at Homegoods for a very fair price of $60 each!




Love is PAIRS of things...great looking lanterns at Joanne Fabrics of all places. The x.



Sweet quote...so true.




On the topic of love and sweet, the bulletin board at my church. Precious.




LOVE is driving to a client's in Marietta, down here in the SEC south, and passing this good looking (!!!) banner. Hard to see but its my beloved Michigan State Spartans. Sparty on!



Currently trying to persuade a client that this would make some very pretty pillows.


Love an outdoor shower. This one is located at the beach house we are renting for spring break. Best part about it, scroll down and see...



A cut out window to see the ocean...the BEST!




Lastly, a picture of a salad I am currently addicted to making from Ina Garten. Find the recipe HERE and eat it with toasted pita bread. YUM! 





I hope you enjoyed this random iphone photo post. I'm forever snapping and shooting pics I think are interesting and inspiring or might make someone laugh or smile! 

Up next week, the new Iphone 4 so better picture quality is in our future. And I have not forgotten about my first 100 facebook fan give-a-way. We are jotting everyone's name down on tiny pieces of paper to be drawn from a pot for something fabulous. Coming soon, I promise! 

HAPPY SATURDAY ALL!!!

Jenny from the rock 
xo




















Tuesday, February 14, 2012

A red letter day

Happy Valentine's Day my lovelies! I've decided let's reinvent this day. Its not just for those who have a special someone else, its for all those that LOVE something, anything. Whether it be your pet, your house, your church, your books, your wine, your fabulous shoe collection, yourself, whatever! This day is all you.


Who cares about some trivial piece of jewelry (can't take it with ya!) or overpriced flowers, although lovely. Take peace in knowing you love life and have love in your heart for others, OR, inanimate objects, whatever the case. Maybe love is a DVF dress perhaps, or those sparkly Tory Burch sandals that have been calling your name - daily. We get it.

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And if that doesn't get your chin up, you can always rely on my Dad and the sure and certain fact he will utter the words..."oh its just another day." Gotta love Dad and his simple words of wisdom. Never forget the time I'm a teenager crying at the dinner table and he says, "Crum, the sun -will come out -tomorrow" very matter of fact as Mom looks over and says "well thank you very much for that Annie" and we all burst into laughter. Or the time I called Dad bawling after my wedding proofs arrived. I waited weeks and when they finally came they were gawd awful. What's Dad say? "Would you rather have beautiful pictures or a beautiful wedding?" Enough said. But I wanted both Dad-tee and an oompa loompa too!

I digress.

One things for certain, its a great day to be RED.




"It's going to be a big today tomorrow!" 
- Sophia Sunshine


source unknown :-( but if I had to bet, I'd say Cottage Living

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Will never tire of red toile or a cozy nook ensconced with drapes.

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Never tire of this little girl either, that's for sure.




Alessandra Branca (nobody does red better)

This is a great way to reinvent those shiny brass chandeliers...black, white, orange, kelly green - oh what fun.  

I mean really, how could you??? 



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"Captain Holiday" a.k.a. the hubs (my sweet Valentine for 17 years).



cote de texas



free download from ARMOMMY

Red doors = good luck so says the ancient art of feng shui and the Lutheran church. xo

House Beautiful (one of my most favorite designed homes ever! Ingrained in my head)

I promise if you are any kind of blue today, throw on some pink and red. Guaranteed mood enhancer. I mean really who could ever be in a bad mood in those shoes?

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Ralph Lauren, THE man. 



Imagine how wonderful dining in a space like this? I should revamp my keeping room and just put a sweet little table for two in front of the fire. We can all fight over it. Rock - paper - scissors. 




 Iznik Red lamp shade by handmade interiors, UK



Alessandra Branca again....told ya. Those red upholstered doors? Are you kidding me?   



My favorite door style from my childhood home. X on the bottom. Go figure. 


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Flashback 8th grade..."omg did you make out with him?!" 


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Good enough to eat year round! Find the recipe HERE





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Click those heels three times in the name of HOME SWEET HOME. 

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My little peanuts will wake up to a new book each (leave your mark with a sweet message written inside) and these monster babies. I totally pulled a Mom and forgot to put them out Christmas morning. The kids "ordered" them from Santa at a neighborhood bazaar show. Whoops. Mom was notorious for busting out gifts months after Christmas had passed (no complaints here!). 



My sweet friend Wilma passed away last month and her favorite childhood book was The Little Prince.  I thought how perfect for my sweet little prince Jack. I'm really looking forward to reading it with him. Thank you angel friend for this special time we will spend snuggled up together. And thank you to my Aunt Kathy who bought me the original French version back in high school when she learned I was taking the language class. I think its about time I learned to read it! 

And for my princess, the book Kiki and Coco in Paris. Ever since Sophia's preK teacher wrote "Sophia talks of going to Paris often", its a dream of my sister Jackie and I, to take her there someday. When I came across this book on the blog, Jones Design Company, I had to have. And those too cute red sandals on the cover! Forever a sucker for the rubies. I'll be rockin some today no doubt. 

And that's a wrap. Big love to you this Valentine's LOVE Day! I can't thank you enough for your sweet comments and your support of my work. And I am especially grateful for the opportunity to write about and honor my mother here. There are simply no words. Thank you.  

Jenny from the rock
xo

 
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