What’s new around our place? Other than loads of green pollen on everything, naturally.
Herbs as “floral” arrangements. Loved this cilantro centerpiece! Much cheaper than flowers too.
Our new Young House Love light! From the Shades of Light collection.
Before we had a man in a sombrero at the foot of our basement stairs.
After a modern globe! Mazen loves to stare at it every time we pass by.
[Please don’t tell YHL that the the stairs and ceiling are off center with the gallery wall. We are not handy enough to figure that one out!]
I bought this pretty spring plate + bowl at Pier 1. Love that store!
Have I mentioned how much we love our new porch rug? I should have gotten one last year! This guy came from Overstock.com.
I must profess my love for this new Electrolux cordless vacuum I bought. It was recommended as the top cordless in Real Simple so of course I went and bought it that day. I swipe it around my house daily after dinner to suck up all the day’s crumbs. It works really well – over area rugs, on hardwoods and perhaps most fun of all: a hand vacuum pops out for tight spots or furniture. I’ve been cleaning our car regularly with it too. Best of all it was only $80!
New uses for old things: using a toothbrush (hand-me-down of course) to clean flower scum out of a Ball-jar-turned-vase.
And finally, our new doormat from The Company Store. I can’t tell you how much this brightens up our porch!
FYI, nothing is sponsored in this post. These are just items I’ve found and purchased myself!
Ashley @ Coffee Cake and Cardio says
Love the new light fixture!! I agree, better than the sombrero!
Ali @ Peaches and Football says
I love buying fun new things to spruce up the house. That new light fixture looks terrific. Definitely gives a more up-to-date and modern vibe. I love your porch. It looks so wonderfully bright and relaxing. I think I’d live out there in the spring/summer/fall sipping iced tea and reading books. 🙂 I want one!!
Carly @ Snack Therapy says
I’m obsessed with pretty plates and bowls, but I never let myself buy them! One day I’ll fill my house will Pier 1 dishes!! I also love the idea of an herb centerpiece. Very smart!
Ella P says
Same here, Kath & Carly, I have a little obsession as well with those kind of jewels….
Unfortunately sometimes (read “often”) the shopping experience gets, ehm…, a bit out of hand. Result: crammed cupboards!
Butterfly-in-a-chinashop Ella
Sara says
Thanks for the vacuum and doormat tips; I just might have to get those! I have been looking for a bright, pretty new doormat and haven’t found that I love. That one is so bright and cheerful!
[email protected] says
I love your house! Everything is so pretty! Really love the new bowl and plate and of course the bright colourful mat!
Sara R. says
I’m coveting that vacuum! Cordless would be really nice, and I need something smaller than my big monster Dyson so that I am more inclined to bring it out and tidy up!
Emily @ The Swallow Flies says
I love everything about this post! I’m dying for some new rugs for my place, too. It’s a miracle what just one new piece can do for an entire room. Beautiful!
Beth says
Kath,
I agree you have a such a way about picking out things for the household. I am SO going to Pier 1 when I get paid this week to pick up some lovely dishes. I also thought it was so cool when you shared you and Matt bought two of everything, dish wise. Because really not many of us need a set of 8, right?
Great vacuum idea, to be able to grab it, run it to the car and vacuum, so much simpler than dragging the heavy one out each time you need to simply vacuuming up a few crumbs.
Always appreciate when you share things you’ve found and enjoy and share photos of them and also include how we too can get these cool items! Still wanting one of the “cereal killer” spoons, gotta order one!
Oh boy, don’t even get me started on all the cool unique oatmeal spoons and bowls!
Have a super week and please keep sharing your life with us, because what a beautiful little family you have! ?
Beth
Paula says
I bought a Electrolux cordless stick vacuum four years ago and dearly loved it too. It is the one that has a charging base you just set the vacuum in to charge. We loved it! And then two years ago the battery stopped taking a full charge and after emailing the company and finding out the battery is not replaceable, I am stuck with a $100 disposable vacuum cleaner. It still works long enough to sweep the kitchen and laundry and that’s it. Luckily we downsized to a house half the size of our last one so there isn’t as much to clean. Retirement has some ups and downs. Less house to clean is one of the ups, for sure. No money to replace vacuums every couple of years is probably a downer. But there is the no work thing, so it’s all good.
Cerissa says
Same thing happened with us times 2. The handheld part still works well, so now it has downgraded to a hand held dustbuster.
I really LOVED it when it held its charge. My husband always told me not to keep it on the charger or it will not hold a charge after a while, I see now that he was right.
Amanda M says
Aww that’s unfortunate. We bought the Electrolux last year and we love it. If ours kicks the bucket, we’ll try a different brand.
Jen says
We have the same issue right now! We have that orange upright vacuum sitting there, because we used the handheld part! But the actual stick vac doesn’t pick anything up anymore. It was great in the beginning, as kath said, but it deteriorated over the last 2 years.
Hil says
I love the look of the cilantro on the table. I was about to take my cilantro out of the fridge and do the same things until I remembered that my cats love greenery–the herbs and the container would be on the floor in five minutes!
Tonya says
I’m glad you said this. My cat is just the kind of ragamuffin to do something like that! My herbs would be inhaled! LOL He chews the corks of the wine bottles that decorate my table, too.
Marisa @ Uproot from Oregon says
I am looking forward to settling down in my next apartment and being able to buy pretty dishes, rugs, and neat lighting! Thanks for all your colorful inspiration!
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to make a trip to Pier 1. If the Mr gives a big sigh, I’m blaming you to deflect attention off of me, I hope that’s okay. 😉
Lindsey @ Pas de Deux says
I love the new light, new plates, and new doormat–so clean and bright and perfect for spring and summer!
Hayley @ Running on Pumpkin says
Love the pier 1 plate and bowl! So pretty!
Ashli @ The Sweat Revolution says
Love the idea of herbs as a centerpiece! Your new YHL light definitely looks better than the “Man in Sombrero” haha! I might have to check out their collection – I am dying to get rid of all my “Boob Lights”!
Jane @ Not Plain So Jane says
That chevron door mat is awesome! My parent’s have a nice sunny porch that they converted to a 4-season room, all windows. The sun streams in and it is the perfect place for a nap!
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
I love that companies are making normal products, such as vacuums, cute too! I love the orange!
Stacey says
Love the rug! I use our old toothbrushes for laundry stain scrubbers and to clean the shower grout.
lindsay says
I was just thinking this morning (as I noticed all the dust and dirt on my wooden floors) that I need a new vacuum cleaner. That one looks great. Going to see if it’s in a store near me 🙂
Nina @ Too Hottie For That Body says
You’re life looks like it comes straight from a magazine. I’m a bit jealous. Love the wall decor!
Claire @ Health Nut Claire says
Love that doormat! Actually, love your whole house!
Laura says
We have the Dyson slim vac which converts from upright to handheld and we love it. The cordless vacuums are so convenient!
Tara says
I love using herbs as centerpieces! Another idea is to combine one flower + a few herb, it really brings it to another level.
Michelle says
Fresh herbs are so beautiful! I’m pretty sure that’s Italian parsley though?
KathEats says
Ha, I think you are totally right!
Jola says
I love how you handle to combine all those bright colors! It looks really cozy! 🙂
Maureen says
Love that colorful doormat!
Alyssa @ Road to RD says
You’re so creative! The house looks great!
Karen says
I’m such a sucker for fresh flowers this time of year – I am just craving nature and beauty in my environment! Great idea re. placing fresh herbs in a vase…so pretty, unexpected, fragrant (and cheap!)
Love your super cute new light fixtures too!
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
Love that colorful doormat – so fun and springy!
Erin @ The Grass Skirt says
I love the doormat. I just might place an order myself!
Chelsea says
I’m officially obsessed with that door mat!! I see a DIY attempt in my very near future 🙂
Kathryn @ Mamacado says
Hmm, I may have to purchase that vacuum also…need something for quick clean-ups from a messy toddler and baby!
CaitlinHTP says
those herbs must smell nice 🙂
joelle @on a pink typewriter says
I’m a big fan of that doormat! I’d never heard of The Company Store before.
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says
I love the new light, it looks so much better! And I would have never thought to use cilantro for a center piece. It actually looks pretty good!
Sara @ fitcupcaker says
I love your porch, I am so jealous!
Liz @ iheartvegetables says
That rug is so cute! I love how it is so bright! 🙂
Lorie says
LOVE these posts, Kath! And love love love that globe light. So sleek.
I miss seeing more home posts from you–I always love your taste in home decor and would love other posts about favorite household items, new decor, etc.
Randy says
I really like all of the colors you have around your house, especially orangish colors.
I especially liked the penguin pictures; we have a few of those too….I think penguins are so cool.
We had friends that used to live next door that made custom quilts by machine as a side business and we had one side all penguins and the other side Indian colors.
We were sorry that they moved and lost track of them over the years.
Emily @ Life on Food says
Your nails go right along with the rug. Such fun!
Maria Tadic says
Your house is decorated so nicely! Where do you get your ideas/inspiration from? Any favorite shops?
Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs says
Loving your newest additions — looks like spring in your house!
Sara says
This is a fun post 🙂
BroccoliHut says
Love this post!
You’ve reminded me to take a look into Pier 1 sometime soon–I haven’t been in there in far too long!
J says
Love the doormat – so cute!
JuliaT says
Cordless vacs are a buzz, they save all the hassle of juggling wires around doors and through rooms getting tangled up and then getting annoyed.
Sarah (The Simple Dietitian) says
Oh, I love your bouquet of fresh herbs!! You’ve inspired me. Especially once the flowering chives come out and the thyme and the basil. What a nice arrangement a mixture of all those would make. THANK YOU for this wonderful idea. 😀
Also, this post just made me so happy. YAY for spring! 😀
Susan H @ The Food Allergy Chronicles says
Beautiful light…it is a piece of art itself! 🙂 The coriander is appealing both visually and sensory. 🙂
lindsay @ fuel my family says
I cant wait to be able to decorate my house like this! We moved 5 times in 2 years since my husband is in the Marine Corps so all of my decorations just have to make-do in each new house, or else we’d be broke!
Love your porch and rug!