More Pretty Itty Bitty Things

I went to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, hoping to find sealant for my spare bedroom floor. Instead, I found a number of little treasures, ranging from 25¢ to $2ea.  These little accoutrements delight me.  Also, I brought some of the outside in, arranging river rocks and pine cones on the window sill above my kitchen sink. I appreciate the balance of elements stone brings -- since there's so much wood already in the kitchen. It's hard to see in the pictures, but the three soup cups hanging under the cupboard couldn't be more appropriate accents (both in color an in style) to the poppy-colored countertops.

Hanging some artwork

My living room, pre-dinner party. I finally started to hang some art on the walls.

"After": Organized Pantry, No more black shelf

This past weekend, I accomplished a number of kitchen related "cures":

• I stocked and organized my pantry, transferring all my food items from the open shelves in my kitchen to the pantry shelves. I grouped food items by grains & cereals, legumes, canned foods, vinegars & oils, and baking-related supplies. I also dedicated a shelf to glass containers (for re-use) and another for cookware. I'm sure I'll re-organize this over time, but it's nice to have a well-stocked kitchen and see all my food in one place!
• I sorted my recyclables (which I'd been collecting all month, since I didn't know where my recycling bin was or when pick-up was!) Since I only have one bin, and need to separate glass/plastic/aluminum from paper, I will have to take out one or the other each week until I can pick up a second bin from the county. I'm impressed that Orange County has free curbside-recycling!
• I hung a picture and moved my makeshift "table" to the wall where the black shelving unit was. Eventually, that might make a nice wall for a kitchen cart, which would provide more counter-space than I current have. For now, it also serves as the meal central for the Kiddos™.
• Finally, it may seem like a small thing, but I printed out the oatmeal poprocks mosaic and pinned to the wall behind the oven. The colors make me really happy, and I'm still trying to consider the best way to incorporate this palette into my home.

Poppy Artwork

I ordered this print, "Poppy," by ally gore and Robertz Reader for the kitchen a few weeks ago, and it arrived just before I moved. The colors matches are spot on, and the poppy matches the hue of the counter-tops exactly.