Adios Piggy Bank......

Having been parents now for 4 years, Greg and I have had many conversations regarding the values we want to teach our children.  One of the top 5 values on our list is Money.  We decided we need to be extremely intentional in teaching our kids how to positively handle money.  We thought if we ingrain positive money management at a very early age, when they are grown, they will instinctively have the habit.  In doing so, I decided a piggy bank wasn't enough to teach Skylar and Luke money management.  We need to take it a step further and teach them the proper order and percentages of money. 

We said goodbye to the piggy bank and came up with SHARE. SAVE. SPEND.  And so we have began the 18 year process of brainwashing our children to 1) first share our money 2) always save our money 3) spend a small portion of our money {a small portion, that is of course until they have bills, mortgages, children, cars, etc.  ughhhh...}  :)

 

Love to all,

Netti T

Skylar and I gathered items around the house to create our new money system.  Ball jars, twine, vintage tablecloth, craft paper, and butterflies........

In Bloom....

"And then the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was greater than the risk it took to bloom."

I read this quote on a card the other day and it so resonated with me and the place I am in my life.   I feel as if I am right in the middle of the process of "blooming." {blooming as a wife, a mother, in my career path, and most importantly, as a child of God.} I am on a journey of discovering and slowly becoming {good things take time, right.} the person I believe I was created to be.  Along my journey I experience the usual ups and downs.  Some days I believe I can achieve anything I set my mind to.  And other days  I feel as if I am a caterpillar who is convinced it will never muster the strength to become the beautiful butterfly it was meant to be. 

Last week I had what you could call, "a light bulb moment."  I was running on the treadmill at the gym, and suddenly discovered inspiration all around me! Below me was a grey haired granny working with a trainer for the first time, {you go girl! you can do it!} In front of me was a television screen with Obama handing out awards to our brave soldiers for their victory last Sunday.  All around me were posters, each with an inspirational quote like "Change your life" or "Eye of the Tiger."  Inside of me was the sound of my mothers voice gently saying "Netti, you can.  You just need to change your recording." My mother spent years trying to teach me to have positive self talk.  Finally at age 30, I think I heard her for the first time.

Tears dripped down my face, {at least the people around me didn't know I was an emotional mess.  They just thought I was sweaty from kicking a@# in my workout.} At that moment I felt in my heart what I had only heard with my ears for so long. And in doing so, I discovered a new personal truth. 

I do not need to change what I am doing.  I need to change how I am thinking.  

I so often set a goal, start strong, and then slowly my negative self talk gets the best of me until I believe I am incapable.  This will be no longer! I am going to push out thoughts of negativity towards self. I will claim and hold tight to what I feel are God's promises for my life. Perserverence, Endurance, Focus.........

Take what seems to be a small insignificant orchid branch {photo above}.  Below are demonstrations of the  orchid branch "in bloom."

{I took these photos for a project I did at Gardenology.}

Love to all,

Netti T

A beautiful table setting......

In a mug as a hostess gift.....

Charming gift wrap.....

Accent a candle.....

Make a potted arrangement.....

Bedside gift to welcome a house guest.....

Painted Toenails

The sun is shining in beautiful San Diego! I can feel spring in the air and summer right around the corner.  There is a certain energy here this time of year and I am gearing up for some good times! I have moved my flip flops to their permanent position on the porch and realize I am in desperate need of a pedicure {And a tan! Who's idea was it to have a white red head living at the beach?! Seriously!}

Love to all,

Netti T

Here are BEFORE and AFTER pictures of a Manicure/Pedicure room I styled a few months back. Not a major renovation, but just enough to give it a new look.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Havanah Baskets - Pottery Barn
Gorgeous Botanicals - Gardenology {where I am now working 3 days/week!  It is amazing!  I will post about it soon!}
Pottery- Anthropologie
Furniture- A secret vendor :)
Bricked Wall - I honestly forget the name of the company.  But it looks amazing right! 

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Vintage Brick Molds- Bon Bon {A great store filled with Flea Market finds}

I thought this was a creative way to display the polish.

BEFORE: (magazine and cup holder)

 

AFTER:

{Another creative way to use a vintage brick mold}

BEFORE:

 AFTER:

Karen, this one is for you!

 

 The headboard says it all.  I did not make this but I think I may!!!  Grey, white, brown, and mustard yellow.  I love! So perfect!

Blogging is intimidating.  It is like spending weeks planning your amazing sweet sixteen party and then praying people will show up.  Well I am excited to tell you that I have at least one person coming to my party!  My dear friend informed me she was disappointed last week when she checked my blog and found no new posting. I responded with "Hoorah! Someone is actually looking forward to reading my blog!" So Karen, this one is for you.......But first let me tell everyone what I was busy doing last week.

I have a most amazing client  {amazing is an understatement} who unfortunately had to clear out their entire business due to a fire. The good news is.... They had to purchase all new merchandise and redesign the enitre boutique! {To some this may be overwhelming, but to the owner and myself, this was the excitement of the year!} Off we went to Los Angeles. She brought me as her buying consultant.  {okay, let's just stop right there.  This is incredible.  I spent days scouring the streets of LA, shopping for fabulous finds,  and then swiped someone else's credit card!  Her husband was our driver,  we stayed the night at the "W", and had all meals covered. This is the stuff dreams are made of. Could it get any better!?}  We had a very successful trip, discovered great new vendors, and then headed back to San Diego to get to work.  By the end of the week we have a whole new shop!  I will post pictures next week.

Love to all,
Netti

Without further ado, Karen, this one is for you.  {Not my work, but I think it may inspire you}

I am LOVING a Tuft headboard! {So sophisticated, like yourself.}
When doing your new Master bedroom, play with multiple textures and furniture styles.  Stay away from walking into a furniture store and buying the 6 piece matching set.  Make it interesting and thought provoking.
I cannot get enough of a Grey wall color.  It is such a perfect neutral and not the same old beige.  Goes great with brown, black, white, or a mixture of all three aside a pop of color. 

Here are a few more fun pictures.

 

And now for my must haves to compliment a tufted headboard:

1) I love this print below. Find it and incorporate somehow.  pillow, throw, upholstered chair, etc.

2) A mirrored dresser or nightstand.  Just one.

Life Immitates Merchandising......

Whenever I pick up a  magazine or a coffee table book I always start by reading it backwards. {I know, it's weird right.}  I usually open in the middle, flip pages until I get to the beginning, go back to the middle, and then work my way slowly to the end. I am often the same in life.  I just get so excited, plunge right in, and then slowly gain my composure and begin to execute a sensible and practical plan. I am the first to admit, I can sometimes get ahead of myself.  It's a good thing that my big picture, creatively energized self, has the balance
{and lets be honest, also conflict}of my good intended "logical" husband.  {Yes, darling I did use the words sensible, practical, and plan all in the same sentence.  Aren't you proud?}  :)  

The thing about me is once I slow down and really focus on being intentional, I start to worry.  I wonder if everything will turn out the way I'd  hoped.  I second guess my decisions, torture myself with uncertainty and so on. {I am in process of overcoming this weakness!!  Yeah for me, I can do it!} But what I have learned is this: As in merchandising, also is in life.  There is no sense in worrying.  You can only plan so much, and then you just have to show up and work with what you have right in front of you! I love when a creative project takes me in a surprising direction and turns out so much greater than my original design. And now I can look back and realize this trend taking place in my life as well.  It is a wonderful feeling!

I love getting the phone call from my client that there are boxes of new merchandise waiting at her shop and it is time for me to come in and display them beautifully!  I run through some plans in my head and then I just show up, and work with what is right in front of me!  Here are a few pictures of my merchandising. {How can you not love the picture above with the French cookbooks in a wire basket?!  You can imagine these sold fast!}
Love to all,
Netti T

I

I love a perfectly stacked set of books!

 Picture yourself taking a bath in a jar of honey!

The bracelet is saying " Buy me. I am sophisticated, I will make you ask yourself the important questions in life.  And I look great paired with this ring."

 Have a wonderful day living your life!

My Happy Place.....

 

I am blessed to have a few of what I like to call, "soul sisters."  You know, the friends who, when you get together you skip all the small talk and get right down to the good stuff. An instant exchange of struggles, celebrations, shared support, and encouragement.  I am truly in my happy place when I am in the company of one of these friends.  Clearly, my other happy place is working on a design project.  So....  You can imagine my overflow of happiness when I had the privilege of doing both of these things at the same time!

One of my most dear friends, {You know who you are!  I always LOVE our time together!} asked if I would come over to her house and turn it in to a home.  Ofcourse, we first sat around chatting with coffee in hand, oblivious to our little boys in the back yard creating a mud mountain out of potting soil. {the uninterupted talking time was well worth the cleanup.} Once we got the boys to off to a nap it was DECORATING TIME!!!! The countdown begins.  We had just 2.5 hours. I instantly roamed the house searching for dispersed treasures to put on display. 

I used only what she had around the house.  We pulled jars from the garage, dishes out of  the kitchen cabinets, mirrors off the walls, furniture from other rooms, etc. She has an eye for amazing pieces!  We just had to pull them together in the right way.

Here is the BEFORE:

Here is the AFTER:

Hello dinner parties!
This table was up against a wall in a corner of the kitchen. Now when friends enter they will be greeted with a charming little dining room and space for all to have a seat.  This room refelects the hearts of the people living here.  Full of vibrancy, friendship, and good desserts!

Love to all,
Netti T

Treasure Hunting

Here is a set of window displays I designed for a Spa.  My plan was to combine a variety of textures and have the viewer feeling organic fresh.  I love the combination of the rustic crates, vintage metal, and textured red bricks.  Throw in some moss, succulents, lush white towels, transparent  green glass, and my love of burlap {our love affair began almost a year ago and I still find myself attempting to include you in any project. You are amazing.} and I am thinking I would like to enjoy a day in that Spa!

I had the best time shopping for these windows. Skylar was my co-pilot for the day. She insisted on doing work with Mommy so off we went hunting for treasures at the Design District on Cedros Ave. It was a day well spent.