Gabrielle Messina Just a Girl

Just Dreamy

  Mindy Weiss is an amazing wedding planner. But, as far as I'm concerned she also happens to be the most fabulous decorator in the entire world! Just look at these pictures. Mindy's ever-so dreamy closet filled with an amazing collection of lady head vases, which I also happen to love. So glamorous aren't they? Hard to find under $50. And to think they were included in floral arrangements  from the 1950's to about the mid 1960's. Her home was featured in the first issue of O at Home, which happened to also fold as so many of our beloved magazines.

Have you ever in all of your life seen a closet so beautiful? The pale pink tufted ceilings! They're to die for. How about the drawer pulls, made out of vintage rhinestone brooches? I could just faint! She says "Sometimes I close the door and just sit in here, in total heaven." Well Mindy, I'd love to join you in heaven. And the clothes...all pretty pastels and creamy cream creams! They just ust add to the exquisite beauty of the closet. The quote on the side of the picture says "I don't smoke. I don't do drugs. But I do have to admit, I have a terrible shopping addiction." Yup, that's my line too!

How about this bathroom? Perfect combination of vintage and  glam. The beautiful mosaic tile floors, love the chair covered in velvet, the tub, the roman shade and my favorites...the huge lady head vases on the shelves on either side of the tub. Can  you see them? I've never seen any that huge.  Love that clock in the top picture too! Her entire home is old Hollywood at it's best. But, her ultra feminine, old Hollywood closet and bathroom are the two rooms I'm picking out for my dream home...or at least my inspiration folder  lol. 

My Saving Grace

Every night, around 6:30, it calls me. My saving grace. Knowing the kiddies are winding down for the night, 7:30 their bath time. Followed by a story picked from a stack of books in a bedside table or from their Mama's imagination. Then to bed they go by 8:30. After a long day, it's my time to relax in the tub. I don't do it everyday, but once or twice a week usually does the trick. 

I enter my bathroom. It's good to know there's a helping hand where I can empty my pockets and take my jewelry off.

A pile of fresh towels awaits for me! Scented with Lavender. Mmm....I'm already feeling more relaxed

A sweet birdie, sings me a tune while I bathe. Actually, the little fella provides some soft light. He's part of my vintage chandelier collection.

Dr. Bronner is ready with his "magic".(My very favorite liquid castile soap. Lavender for relaxation, Peppermint for a cooling treat on a summer night, or Almond for pure yumminess!)

A wonderfully scented candle all ready to be lit.

A fluffy mat just waiting for me to sink my wet little tootsies into.

Finally a vanity to apply my lotions and potions and some Lavender essential oil so it can send me into LaLa Land. Hang on Mama, 8:30's coming.

The Everyday

  Yesterday, my husband walks through the door. "It looks bare in here." He said. "I took the Easter decorations down." I said. I don't like it." He said. "Well, it's not going to stay like this for long."I said.  I was in the middle of taking the decorations down to the basement and didn't get to putting the "everyday" together. Although, what really is "everyday"? If you're like me, things are always being switched around or changed. It's just part of who I am. I get bored with the vignettes on my buffet, my mantle. Sometimes it's time to switch it up. It's funny how men(at least mine) notice something's different, but can;t pinpoint it. Even though he's been living with it for the last month and a half. Funny creatures they are!

For now, this is the "everyday". Nothing too serious. Just a quirky little vignette of mismatched cups on mismatched cake stands with a teeny tiny bottle holding some branched from my Weeping Cherry tree that's now in full bloom! Hope everyone is enjoying Spring weather by now!

Caffine Infused Pom Poms

I thought I might have been in a state of creative absence. There has been a lack of it lately. Until last night, I decided to jump on the coffee filter bandwagon! I don't see myself getting off to soon either. The possibilities are endless! I made some pretty pom poms to hang on my armoire door.

Simply took plain white coffee filters from the store, dropped half of them in a dye bath of pink Rit dye. The other half went into what else...a coffee bath! After the pink ones dried(in the dryer) they joined the others in the coffee bath. Then in the dryer.They came out looking like big, beautiful, round flower petals. Each one unique.

I placed four filters on a small pile, bunched them up and secured with floral tape. I did five of these individual pom poms to make one big one. Secure all five this same way. These pom poms are 'one- sided" so they could lay flat on a door. 

Tie some seam binding around the back end. Hang it wherever it would tickle your fancy!

 My doors look perkier already!

Have a wonderful weekend! xoxo

7 a.m.

I'm not the type that needs caffeine to start my day. But, lately I could use a shot or two of espresso to peel me off om my sheets.The sun has been gone for days. It's been dark and rainy. I'm not complaining about the rain. After all April showers bring May flowers right? But rain and bring the sun out already! I can't say the same about the kiddos though, they have little alarm clocks inside their bodies that go off at 7 am each morning. No matter what time they go to bed.

 

Before I continue, this is not espresso with cream. It's herbal tea with some agave nectar and vanilla soy milk in an antique demitasse cup. Espresso would definitely cause some sleeping problems for my little man. I know what the eight, yes eight pieces of  those yummy ganache chocolates I inhaled ate on Easter did to the poor little guy.

  While you're here I'll share with you the story behind the espresso machine that perfectly matches my tile back splash. It was actually a bright yellow Francis Francis! I surprised my husband with at our rehearsal dinner.(Our kitchen at our apartment was pale yellow) He's a lover of a good cup of espresso. I'm a sucker for nostalgic looking appliances. When we moved into our home it was completely out of place and there was no way we were getting rid of it. He took it to a "body guy". You know the men that work on a car's body. And had it painted the exact shade of our tile.  So, now you know the story. Whether you wanted to or not.

  Notice the purple flowers, yup still loving the color. The mums were the only purple flowers the market had...not my favorite flower. Would have loved some lavender Roses. Maybe next week or maybe my Tulips will be blooming by then. Of course that takes sun!

Happy Easter Indeed!

 Finally, a good picture of all three. That never happens! Never, ever! 

                                          Happy Easter! xoxo

Good Friday

  An image I hold near and dear, reminding me of God's gift to the world.

  After putting the kids to bed last night, I decided to make some more eggs. Papier Mache( these do not open like the others)decoupaged in vintage book pages, glittered then embellished with teeny tiny vintage forget- me-nots. I have them siting on our table right now in a little egg shaped dish. Something so simple sometimes does the trick. Doesn't it?

Funny Bunny

  Even with Easter coming later this year, the holiday has still found a way to sneak up on me. I can not believe it's the Thursday before Easter already. After lots and lots of outside play, we picked some Hyacinths. My oldest daughter is just passionate about flowers. She has always been. Every Spring she looks forward to the Hyacinths, Daffodils and Tulips "popping up". At her school they do language cards... The teachers were so surprised by how many flower names she knew before they were taught to her.  Something I am very proud of. But, this post is not about flowers.Today eggs are the topic. In particular bunny eggs.

 

After hard boiling the eggs, the girls had fun dunking them into their color baths. They chose pink, blue and purple.

  Instead of just painting the eggs we decided to add little crepe paper ears and a little pom pom nose and tail. My big girl, now a whiz with safety scissors cut the ears out and my little girl ever so precisely glued the pom poms on! I was in charge of the eyes. So, here's the little critters snug in their Easter grass. We will put this basket in the playroom so they can enjoy them.( Enjoy looking at them that is, hopefully not eating or throwing them.)

Playroom Peeks

  My girls have 2 little chairs. These two little chairs are the most comfortable chairs in the entire house. I swear!(Yes, I find myself sitting on them quite often when I'm in their playroom.) They get lots of abuse. And because they get so much abuse they need reupholstered. I'm going to spare you the sight of these two little chairs. Unfortunately, the are not slip covered. And I have shampooed them more than I can count. Now, I really could just go out and purchase new ones for the same price or less. But, two years from now we would be in the same shape. Dingy and worn chairs. I was thinking slipcovers, when I stumbled upon this fabric.  It's laminated! "Spilled your milk on your chair?" " No problem"." Smeared strawberries on your seat?" Just wipe it up! How perfectly perfect for those "no spill cups" that indeed do leak! Isn't it the cutest? Michael Miller Fabric! Just adore so, so many of this company's prints! 

Aren't the little Geisha's the sweetest? I'll be sure to show you the chairs when they are done! But, I'll  show you some peeks of where we play right now

A fluttery butterfly mobile hangs in one corner.

Today's geography lesson...California!

A few vintage state hankies. I stretched over canvas. I have more...lots! I Want to incorporate more into the room!

  We built our home three years ago. At that point in time we were not planning on having another little one for at long while. After all out youngest was just a few months. So, a playroom for little girls is what was in order. The playroom is girlie, very girlie. Pale pink and yellow stripes painted on the walls, floral rug and here's the clincher....ya ready? Pink hardwood floor.

Can you see the pinkness?

Onto the Kitchen Area...

Dairy products, How many servings per day?

These are some of the cute little images I had painted on their play table. It was mine when I was a little girl.

Time for tea... She's headed to a garden party for certain! 

  Not too easily converted into a gender neutral room. I told my husband I was going to try to incorporate more green....He said "why bother. It will just be a little girl's room with a green rug." He's right. The playroom is staying girlie.I'm not up for having the floors refinished nor painting the walls. Sorry my little man. I honestly do feel bad. But, We just got over finishing our basement(gender neutral). And we painted his nursery and bathroom. Both very boyishly I might add.

Fanciful, Frocked Eggs

Last year, right before Easter, I found an amazing little web shop called One Hundred Wishes. I am sure most of you out there in Blogland know Miss Andrea Singarella. Well, I fell in love with the gorgeous eggs she made. Of course these beauties were already sold. After all, It was after Easter!  So this year she announced she would be making more for sale in her shop. I was so excited, this was my chance to get my hands on one of those lovely little eggs! The day she listed them, Of course  I was at work. And missed out on an egg. Let me tell ya I was bummed. I was really looking forward to having one displayed in my Easter basket this year. What's a girl to do? I decided to try and make some myself. I had the egg boxes purchased already, they had been taking up space in my craft room for a few years now. Found them at Blumchen after seeing them in Martha Stewart Living quite some time ago. Andrea graciously gives a little tutorial here. 

 

I painted and painted and then sprinkled with glitter. Glitter may be one of my very best friends! I think it's permanently embedded in my studio carpet, which then gets on my socks, then tracked through the rest of the house. Glitter, glitter everywhere! Embellished them with millinery flowers, ribbon scraps, Dresden trims, and rhinestone or beaded baubles.

I think the lavender one in the very front may be my favorite... I'll keep that one maybe. Or maybe I'll keep them all. They do look pretty nestled my basket. And I do have plenty of undressed eggs still waiting for their frilly Easter frocks. I'd still have time. Easter does come later this year thankfully. Ok, now that I had an entire conversation with myself, I've come to the conclusion... it's nicer  to share.