Pacific Whim: November 2013

Monday, November 25, 2013

New to the Shop- Vintage Ornaments

As with everything else, I love adding a touch of vintage to my Christmas decor. A great way to do this is to look for vintage ornaments at flea markets and thrift stores. I hit the mother-load on Friday and added all sorts of vintage Christmas ornaments to the shop over the weekend. Stay tuned as I still have a couple more sets to post, but for now...

Friday, November 22, 2013

Entryway Remodel - Flooring Choice

So I posted last week that my entryway is in desperate need of a remodel. One of the main reasons being that one of my two cats has decided to "decorate" the carpet. That being the case, replacing the carpet in this 40ft. long hallway is the top priority and thus the first project on my list. At first, I thought I'd put tile down the hallway, but then I got some quotes on what the installation would cost (in excess of 10 sq/ft.); that just ain't gonna happen on my budget. So I started considering other options. Although laminate flooring is reasonably priced, I have an issue in that I already have existing engineered maple wood flooring bordering the hall. I don't want to continue this engineered wood throughout (another cost issue) and I couldn't find something that would complement the existing floor.

So, the good folks at Home Depot talked me into something I never thought I'd put in my house...vinyl flooring. They sell a product called TrafficMaster Allure, which is vinyl flooring that is installed in planks such that it kinda actually looks like wood! After much deliberation, and a vote put out to my parents (my brothers refused to participate on the grounds that I was going with vinyl). I opted for the Lisbon Cork floor. My hope is that it will go well with the existing flooring and hold up to my cats' antics while deceiving people into thinking I actually put cork down.

We will know in a couple of weeks when Home Depot installs the floor. In the meantime, my weekend project is going to be ripping up the carpeting and priming my concrete subfloor in order to "repair" the damage my cat has already done. Given the fact that my DIY skills leave something to be desired...this relatively simple task may turn into quite the adventure. Stay tuned...

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Crockpot Taco Ranch Chicken

I confess, I am in love...with my crockpot. I love the fact that I can stick something in it...and leave it...for hours...while it cooks. Minimal mess and minimal fuss for a person who is not quite a Martha Stewart when it comes to the kitchen. One of my favorite crock pot recipes is this pesto ranch chicken that I found on pinterest; which basically involves throwing a jar of pesto, some chicken, a packet of ranch seasoning, and chicken broth in a crockpot for 3 hours. It is very yummy, but not very waistline friendly at 16 WW+ points a serving. So, I decided to change it up a bit and replace the pesto with a packet of taco seasoning to give it more of a Mexican flair. This variation is only 8 WW+ points a serving and is still very yummy.

You can also take the excess sauce when the chicken is cooked and cook your favorite veggies in it. I usually serve the ensemble over rice.

Monday, November 11, 2013

New in the Shop- Antique Chinese Rice Barrel

Happy Veterans Day, everyone. I made another couple of awesome scores over my long weekend. The most interesting piece I found was an antique Chinese rice barrel. This piece dates from the 19th century and (despite some condition issues) remains a really stunning work of art in terms of the carving and the painting.
It makes those ceramic garden stools pale in comparison, I think.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Good Fortune

Happy Friday! I thought I'd share a fortune that I got yesterday...the best kind of fortune an Etsy seller can get :)

Thursday, November 7, 2013

My Ugly Entryway

It's time to show you something I'm really embarrassed about...the entrance to my home :/ For several reasons, it has become this huge elephant of an eyesore. First my cat has "decorated" the carpet by peeing all over a large section of it (hence the black rubber mats). We are trying to resolve her problem with my vet; but everytime I leave town and have friends come check on her she goes on a yellow strike :/. Second, this hallway is huge and awkwardly sized 40ft long with 6 ft 6" wide hallways, with several nooks and one wall does not have an electrical socket to be found on. Lastly, it is just dark and builder-grade ugly :(

I've finally had it and I'm going to do a remodel. The first thing to fix is obviously the floor...stay tuned :)

Monday, November 4, 2013

New to the Shop- Bohemian Bar

As much as I love the 1960's Mad Men trend in terms of bar cart styling...sometimes you just need to add a little color and something different. I've placed these two "Bohemian Chic" items in my shop over the weekend.

I finally found one of these this weekend for a great price at a nearby antiques market over the weekend; it's all I can do not to keep it for myself! It is a vintage beautiful blue seltzer bottle. Before plastic bottles, these were once the only means of storing carbonated water. What a beautiful way to mix a gin and tonic!

This vintage Murano glass cordial set is also quite a find! These sets were produced in the 1960s and trimmed with real 22 or 24 karat gold; a perfect way to glam up a bar!