Market Monday: Cactus and Tropicals

Last week I was at Cactus and Tropicals to be a judge for a student portfolio review for IIDA.  It was fun to see the creative work of the graduating class and chat with design friends. 

The surprise bonus of the day was finding out that Cactus and Tropical is more than your average garden center.

I was impressed by the great selection of plants and everything you need to be the best little gardener ever, but the part that had my heart beating a little faster was when I came around a corner and found stacks and stacks of containers.

Since I'm still a wandering nomad I like the idea of being able to pack up my garden when I move so container gardening is the solution for me.  I have started a collection of terra cotta pots that have moved with me over the years with a wide array of different growing things from blossoming flowers to edible herbs.

Containers in every color, shape and size, I would be happy to branch out from my terra cotta with some of these colorful options.

Now if I could just keep plants alive...

Next time your in the neighborhood, go check them out.  I think you'll love it too.

Market Monday: 50% Hooker Furniture Sale

We are crazy busy at Noble House getting ready for our Hooker Furniture sale this weekend.  Pre-orders have been stacking up and I'm grateful for those early birds getting their orders taken care of before the mad rush.  

Fitting then that my Market Monday feature is a reminder about the 50% off sale this Wednesday through Saturday right?  I thought so.  I love a good deal, and this is one for sure.

Not local?  We can drop ship. 

Market Monday: Carrara Marble

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It seems everywhere I look I'm seeing Cararra marble and I'm not just jumping on the trendy wagon.  Yes, it is popular, but so very classic in my opinion and I've loved it in all kinds of applications.  But now that we're seeing it a lot more in kitchens, I'm loving it even more.

 {house beautiful}

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 The first time I remember seeing marble in a kitchen was at Caitlin Creer's house.  I woke up early one Saturday morning to go to her yard sale {everything was pretty much gone by the time I got there at 9!}and Kirsten asked if she could take me inside to show me the house.  When I saw the kitchen I asked as I collected my jaw from the ground, "Can she do that?!"  She did.  And holy smokes, it is gorgeous!!! 

If I were using it in my own kitchen I would make sure to have a work surface in something I couldn't stain.  I need indestructible when it comes to creating anything be it dinner, or some around the house project.  When I'm into something I don't slow down to think about the damage I might do. 

 I'm NOT the type of girl to think of throwing down some butcher paper until it is too late and I'm lamenting in hindsight.  Though I've heard if you're worried about staining, you can just get it over with and rub tomato juice all over it for a unified stain.  That scares me.  Does it have a pink cast to it once you are done?

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I love this kitchen above for the mix of materials, the horizontal lines creating a contemporary feeling and the great table on wheels with seating options.  Talk about a great kitchen to entertain in.

Market Monday: Between the Lines {giveaway}

As I turned onto my street Saturday afternoon I looked up and saw a bunch of balloons snagged in the branches of a giant tree.  I thought it was a sad fate they got caught so close to the top, just out of reach of floating away untethered.  I started filling in the back story as I drove past; maybe some busy lady hurrying into the mansion earlier that afternoon with her arms full of cupcakes and other packages for a birthday party had accidentally let them slip through her fingers as she juggled everything inside...

I find myself caught up in the middle of stories like this all the time, explaining the scenes that fly by my window that I'll never have the ending for.  Not that I want to know the real story anyway.  I read in a book somewhere once that our reality is made by how we tell our story.  Isn't that so true?  I like mine with lots of surprise twists.  In the end I think some daring squirrels will unleash those balloons and go for a joy ride. 

Very fitting then that my Market Monday feature is an Etsy shop aptly named, Between the Lines, selling sweet bookmarks with lots of charm 'for books and their lovers'.  I first came across her shop after reading her blog, a serenade for solitude, mistaking an image of one of her bookmarks for jewelry because it was so delicately detailed.  You should definitely go check them out!

Cassie has been kind enough to give one of you a bookmark today.  To enter to win, leave me a comment by midnight tonight with the title of your favorite book {It can be an all time favorite, or your right now favorite.}  I'll announce a winner tomorrow morning.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! xoxo

Market Monday: Deco MOD Walls

 I don't believe at all in coincidences so when I met Ann last week I knew it was the perfect time to launch my idea for a series called Market Monday featuring talented people and their wares.

I was at a very dear friend's home last Thursday evening about two bites into my delicious Cafe Rio salad and ready to start a movie when the door bell rang.  It was some family stopping in with birthday wishes for her and when she unwrapped her lovely home made gift  I really hoped this girl had some kind of shop set up to sell her goods because I wanted one too!

Lucky for me, and for you, she has not one etsy shop, but two!

Deco MOD Walls was my first stop when I got home and jumped online to check her out and ideas immediately started forming of ways I could use this fun product.

{possibly the 'tween' room I've got in the mix? I could see these pretty flowers on her wall below her wall mounted flat screen.}

The second shop, Annzania, is dedicated to her folk art that I almost instantly fell in love with one of the prints she had called 'Nesting'.  I say she had a print because it is now on its way to my house and I can't wait!  If you're local and have ever gone to the Art Market in Sugarhouse you'll recognize her work.

Then I found her blog {I think I went a bit blog stalker}and she does family portraits too!  Her talent seems limitless.

And the good news for you?

She's offering my readers 20% off this week!!

Enter SPARROW20 at check out.

Happy shopping and be sure to become a follower to hear about upcoming market Mondays and other fun things going on here.