Flowers – The Bouqs Company

I love fresh flowers and would have them in my house every day if I could.  To me, flowers bring life and happiness to a room.  There is something about a bouquet of flowers that just makes me smile!

Flowers are also my favorite way to let the special people in my life know I am thinking about them.  For Christmas each year, my sisters and I send flowers to my mom every month.  Of course I like to receive flowers too!  So when the people at TheBouqs offered to send flowers for me to review I decided to give them a try.

I did a bit of research before saying yes and loved the fact that The Bouqs flowers come from farms that treat the environment and their workers with care and respect.  They cut only what they sell and the flowers are shipped directly to you – fresh.  Bouquets start at forty dollars but you can double the number of flowers for only ten dollars more.  Two dozen roses for fifty dollars – wow! This price also includes shipping to all parts of the United States.  A bonus for me was that there are no vases, chocolates, balloons, etc. – simple and straight forward.

I placed a double order of the “Above and Beyond” bouquet and received an email confirming my order and another letting me know they were on the way.  The flowers arrived on time and carefully packaged.

The roses were beautiful and just as pictured.  They took a day or two to open up but once they did they were stunning.  I followed the directions included in the package – using the included cut flower food and changing the water as directed.  Over a week after they arrived I still had a lovely bouquet of flowers on my table.  Even my husband was impressed!

So overall my experience with The Bouqs Company was a positive one.  The ordering process was simple and easy, there were no hidden fees or extras, the flowers arrived on time and they were beautiful.  So with Mother’s Day just around the corner I now know where I will be purchasing my flowers from.

Disclosure:  The Bouqs provided the flowers for my review.  All opinions are my own and are a reflection of my own personal experience with The Bouq’s company - yours may be different.  This post also contains affiliate links which means if you click on them and place an order I will receive a small compensation.

100 Ideas Flea Market Style

The pictures from the photo shoot which took place at my house back in the fall have been published in the latest edition of Better Homes and Gardens 100 Ideas Flea Market Style!  This is a fabulous issue just brimming with wonderful and creative ideas for everyone who loves using found treasures in new and unique ways.  Take a look at all the great transformations which took in my own house.

This picture is from my living room and shows a vintage chicken coop which Donna Talley – Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith publications - turned into a one of a kind coffee table. 

100 Ideas Flea Market Style - John Bessler, photographer

Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

It was a simple and quick project with great results.  She attached vintage looking casters to the bottom of the coop and added a glass top.  My favorite part is the ability to use the inside for storage and display of my ironstone.

You may recognize the picture below from the eating area of my kitchen as I recently added the marble top to the antique grain bin. 

100 Ideas Flea Market Style - John Bessler, photographer

Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

Instead of storing noodles or grains, the glass front cabinet drawers are used for linen storage as well as other party staples. It makes for a pretty and practical display!

The next picture illustrates a fun way to re-purpose and use a vintage tool box.

100 Ideas Flea Market Style - John Bessler, photographer

Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

Instead of transporting table items one at a time or on a tray, why not carry it all in a vintage tool box?  The large size and sturdiness of the box itself make it ideal.

Another creative idea shown in the magazine is to turn a sofa console table into a kitchen island by simply placing a salvaged slab of granite on top.

100 Ideas Flea Market Style - John Bessler, photographer

Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

Although the console is not old, the paint treatment and vintage towel hanger give the piece an antique feel.  The slim profile also makes this a great option for anyone with limited space.

One of my favorite flea market purchases ever is my vintage cart.  Here it is used for holding blankets and throws.

100 Ideas Flea Market Style - John Bessler, photographer

Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

Finally, there is the architectural salvage piece which hangs in my mudroom.

100 Ideas Flea Market Style - John Bessler, photographer

Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

I bought the wood piece at a tag sale and have been so anxious to share this project with you.  I will give details as to what I did to turn it into a coat hanger very soon. Oh – and if you are interested in the tutorial on how to make the “XO” pillow seen on the bench, the instructions can be found here.

These are all such great ideas!  There are many more to be found in the magazine. I am not sure I can pick a favorite, can you?

Master Bedroom Updates

Before I show you one of the many things I have been up to since I last posted almost four months ago, I wanted to thank everyone who wrote to check on me.  I am doing well and it really touched my heart knowing that many of you were concerned about me since it had been so long since I had written anything on my blog.

To catch you up a bit on what I have been doing, the past several months have been a whirlwind of activity.  Beginning in October and lasting through the first of the year, I became extremely busy with my Etsy shop and had my best holiday season ever.  There were lots of late nights and long days to get all the orders finished on time.  So to everyone who bought one of my stockings, pillows or tree skirts – Thank You!

In the fall I had a photo shoot at Donna Talley’s studio with photographer John Bessler.   Donna is a Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications and asked me if I would be willing to share one of my favorite collections in an upcoming issue of Better Homes and Gardens Flea Market Style magazine.  It was a fun few hours and as usual I enjoyed the time I spend with both Donna and John.  The magazine should be on newsstands in March. 

After the holidays were over, I felt as if it had been so long since I had been able to do anything in my own home that I went into project overload - painting, sewing, cleaning, updating small things which had been on my “to do” list for too long, designing and creating new items for my Etsy shop etc.  I was great at getting things finished but not so great about writing about them.  I will try to do better!

Anyway, I am happy to be back and to share one of my latest projects – the master bedroom. 

If you have been a long time follower you know that over the past several years I have been slowly making changes to this space – one piece at a time.  While I still have a few more things I would like to do, the addition of a new bed really makes a huge difference.  Here is a reminder of what the bedroom looked like before.

Back in October I finally found and ordered a bed.  We had lived with only a bed frame for quite some time and after lots of time searching I was excited to make a decision.  (The bed and side table in this picture were moved to my son's room.)  I ordered Hickory Chair’s Simone bed by Suzanne Kasler. 

I love, love, love the bed!  What I did not like was the fact it took over three months to arrive. Evidently they had an issue with one of the bed parts which caused the very long delivery time – three times longer than normal.   When I asked if they could at least reduce the shipping cost or have the bed delivered to my house rather than to a warehouse for me to pick up I was told no – they would do nothing.  Not the best customer service on Hickory Chair’s part so in all honesty I am not sure I will order anything from them in the future.  Enough said, so I will move on.

Besides the bed, I also made new linen pillow shams and replaced the silk curtains with ones made from the same linen as the pillows.  I added a glass top to the basket by the side of the bed which made a big difference in that everything on top is now level.

I am so very pleased with how this space is coming together.  As I said before, I still have a few things I would like to change but as I have done up to this point – it will be one piece at a time!

November RDH Blog of the Month – House of Turquoise

via House of Turqoise - Coastal Living Magazine

Annie Schlechter,  photographer - designed by James Radin

If you love the color turquoise and all its many tones and pretty shades, then you are in great company!  It seems lots of people love this wonderful color.  In fact, Erin loves turquoise so much that she created an entire blog called House of Turquoise dedicated to showcasing this pretty color.

I have been following Erin at House of Turquoise for quite some time and was so thrilled when she said yes to being featured today as the Red Door Home November blog of the month!  

Erin from House of Turquoise

Erin finds and shares the prettiest pictures - all featuring some variation of her favorite color. I have shared a few of my favorites from her blog throughout this post.

via House of Turquoise

Michelle Balfoort, architect - Adam Cohen. photographer

via House of Turquoise

Design by Tobi Fairly

Most people probably think of turquoise as being just one specific shade of blue.  House of Turquoise shows that there are so many hues and deviations of this wonderful color that there really are no limits when it comes to decorating with turquoise. 

via House of Turquoise - Kitchen by Young Huh

via House of Turquoise

Geoff Chick, architect - Jack Gardner, photographer

Besides her wonderful blog, Erin also has a great online store called Everything Turquoise. 

Here you can find anything from pajamas to scissors to linens and everything in between all in – you guessed it - the color turquoise.  It really is a great concept.

I hope you will take the time to visit Erin at House of Turquoise.   Her blog is simply beautiful!