hello

Hey guys I'm going to be taking a bit of a internet break.  I realize that I am spending way too much time in front of this screen and would like to just set it aside for a bit.  Take care and be good. xo

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won't be buying this...

The other day I had about 20 minutes to kill before picking L up from the airport.  I popped into one of my favorite antique stores and came upon this.  It's as if the universe knows I'm trying to stop shopping.  I've been looking for this for years and it took everything I had to walk away from it. How great would this be with white towels stacked on it in a bathroom?  It would not fit in either of my bathrooms though.  How about as a teacart stacked with pretty plates, scones and fresh flowers in a garden scene with beautifully set tables?  Or a bar set-up at a swanky party - which I never have.  See how my mind works? Do I need it?  No.  Do I want it? Uh huh.  Needs vs wants is what it boils down to when I need to save money.  I could justify this very easily.  My anniversary is in a few weeks, Valentine's day is around the corner...blah, blah, blah. I won't be buying this...but someone should.  x

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i live for beauty and elegance

I think this post has the makings of a rambler but I will try my best to make some sense.  The other day M sent me this article about an older gentleman, Sam Fuller who has been living in a historical hotel in downtown Los Angeles for the last 40 years.  He, along with a few other residents have restored the hotel to its former beauty and now that the area is being gentrified the new owners of the hotel have evicted him. It is a heartbreaking story but at the same time a lovely testament to his life and the beautiful way he has chosen to live it.  He says he lives for beauty and elegance and those words make my heart swell with happiness.  And while I know that things cannot make us happy, there is something to be said for immersing yourself in beauty.  Take a moment to read and see what I mean.

That being said...I've been on a bit of a beautifying streak around here.  You know my house is small (970 sq ft) and you know I have a tiny basement that measures about 10 x 6 feet.  But there is also storage under the house.  It's just a dirt floor and kinda scary down there but over the years Alex has a sneaky habit of storing things under there.  The other day I went poking around and found this...

Someone on Instagram said she looks like Edith from Downton Abbey.  She does.  The colors in this painting are beautiful.

And there is this desk that we used at his wedding for guests to sign in at.

It's old, was filthy and cost him $5 and for now it's upstairs getting some use.  The other little table is on the other side of the room now.  You can see the place is looking a little different but I'm thrilled that these items are being put to use. Well not the nude, she's still down there but the desk and this mirror that he had given me a few years ago that I had forgotten about...

That mirror is super old and weighs about 50 lbs.

See what I mean?  I've been busy moving and rearranging and it has been fun.  I've also spent more money already this year on things for the house than I did the entire last year.  See that leopard coat up there, yep...another estate sale find (60's, perfect condition $30) that I need like a hole in the head. I'm weak and it's hard to walk away from such beautiful things.  So I'm swearing off shopping for awhile, a long while. I'm going to really focus on what I've got, use what I have and re-focus my attention to paying down my mortgage and doing some repairs around here.  My reason for sharing all this is that I really want to stay transparent and keep myself honest. How long can I go without shopping?  I have no idea but I'd like to journal about it here if that is ok with you.

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