Bohemian Wednesday - Valerie Mangum's Boho Interior - 05.22.2013

Last month, I took an awesome class called Interior Styling on Skillshare. The class was taught by the lovely Justina Blakeney, who's blog I absolutely adore. So, I knew, coming into the class that there would be a pretty high chance I would meet some people with outstanding taste. That definitely proved to be true when I saw Valerie Mangum's home and style. I just loved that she uses a lot of color and pattern in her decor.  Looking at her space just made me feel happy! So, I was thrilled when she agreed to share some of her tips and secrets with you all! Here are some pictures of her space.  Enjoy! Valerie answers some questions, after the jump!

{all images by Valerie Mangum}

p.s. can you believe this was the before picture of her bedroom?? I love it!

As promised... here is me picking Valerie's brain on her amazing style...

1. Where do you live (city)?  Fort Worth, Texas

2. What is your favorite room in your home and why?

Our living room is my favorite because it is long and open and leads into the kitchen, which i love.  It feels so spacious considering how small our home really is. My favorite feature of the living room is an old mantle with gas logs that we installed. We painted and tiled it and now it's my favorite place to style.  Especially during holidays!

3. How would you describe your home style?

I love eclectic, bohemian, vintage & modern decor... I think our home encompasses a bit of each.  Mostly I crave a bright, colorful, happy home that I feel inspired in.

4. Where are your "go to" places for home decor shopping?  

We have a fun flea market at the cattle barns here in Fort Worth.  Vintage shops, antique stores, and estate sales are a favorite of mine.  I used to want everything in my house to be vintage, but I've been more open to buying new.  I love Anthropologie and occasionally allow myself to splurge on something special from there (such as our hanging chair and curtains).  I'm a newbie to the Home Goods store as well, which is where I recently found my new coffee table ottoman.

5. What do you look for when you shop?  

I know right now brass is trendy and I'm in love with it!  I also love textiles, knick knacks, vintage kitchenware, planters, macrame, and unique lamps.  Coming home with a new find, even if it's tiny is enough for me to be inspired to clean and arrange things in a new way!

6. What is your best find?  I think my vintage peacock rug is my best find.  It was hidden away in an overpriced antique store, yet it was super cheap and gorgeous!  I'm so glad a corner of it caught my eye that day!

Thanks Valerie!! Your place is wonderful and I am so so happy you agreed to share your space with us!

Until tomorrow friends! A console interior styling DIY. So... stay tuned!

Hugs,

Mina

Etsy Tuesday - Summer Nights - 05.21.2013

Summer Nights by minabrinkey featuring dresses

As summer draws near, I can't help but continue dreaming of dresses, music, sun and happy times. : ) I particularly love these Mexican embroidered dresses.  You can find them through the Aida Coronado shop on Etsy. But, other Etsy shops carry similar ones. As well as vintage clothing boutiques.  I've snagged a couple that way.  This red one though. Wow. And how about that mandolin?? I don't know how to play, but I'd sure be interested in learning if it meant I could buy it. Love the dove and the craftsmanship. Beautiful. All I'd need now is a tent and a sky full of stars. Yes please and thank you. : )

How's your Tuesday going? Any plans for the summer yet? I'm headed to Chi town again this year. Visiting my beautiful sister. Can.no.t wait for her to see lil' S! It's been a whole year! She'll be shocked to see how big she's gotten, I'm sure. Counting down the days.  Other than that, I'm still cooking up plans in my head. Hmnnn.... Cooking. That sounds like a good idea too! Maybe a couple of cooking classes over the summer wouldn't hurt. I know my lil' S would appreciate it!!

Have a wonderful rest of your day!!

Hugs,

Mina

Interiors Monday - 05.20.2013 - Daybeds + Weekend Update!

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I definitely have a soft spot for furniture items that are versatile. Especially since we live in a small home.  So, having things do double duty works out grrrreat for us! That's why I am to.t.a.lly considering a day bed for lil' S's room. It can be her toddler bed/sofa. Make sense? I'm digging the idea. Of course, I'd have to find one that is pretty low to the ground.  Although, she gets on and off our couch pretty easily. So, I think she deserves more credit. : -/ But, anyway, for those of you out there who have limited space and/or a guest room you would also like to use as an office or TV room, I think daybeds certainly do the trick. What do you think?

I hope everyone's weekend went well.  We had playground and ice cream on Saturday and car waaaaash day on Sunday. Our cars hadn't been washed and vacuumed in waaaaay longer than I'd like to admit. My ride is getting a new set of tires next weekend and I'd like for the rest of it to look just as shiny and new! I discovered that I could clean off the "foggy" headlights with toothpaste!! Yep! Toothpaste and glass cleaner and voila! Brand spankin' new! Gotta love You Tube!

Here are some photos! And yes... I chopped off my hair last week. : )

Because slides aren't just for sliding! Apparently, they're for napping too!!

Hugs,

Mina

Random Friday - Have a Wonderful Weekend! - 05.17.2013

 

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I think I'm pretty thrilled this week has come to an end and the weekend now begins. I've been so so sooooo sick for 3 weeks now and can't seem to shake it.  What started off as a cold has turned into an itchy throat, congestion and even pain in my chest. : ( Boo. So, I'm sorry if the posts haven't been "all that" lately. I've just been feeling pretty bad.  But, today I see some light. : ) It's going to be an awesome weekend weather wise, so I may be inspired to ride my bike! I neeeeeed to snap up one of those bike baby carriers for lil' S. Wouldn't that be so fun??? Although... the more I think about it, the more I think maybe I should just rest, right? Hmnnn....Yes. That may be the smarter thing to do! I hope you're weekend is awesome everyone!

Hugs!

Mina

Bohemian Wednesday - Bouch-a-what? Boucherouite Rugs - That's What... - 05.15.2013

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Boucherouite Rugs by minabrinkey on Polyvore

I've been crushing on these Boucherouite area rugs for some time now. I think they are so beautiful and they add an instant touch of boho pop to even the most modern, stark room.  Don't you think? You can check out more beauts here. Do you have an item in your space that gives that particular room an instant pop of boho delish? If not... maybe you can look into one of these. So chic. So fun. Love!

I'm a tad of a zombie this morning because two hours of last night were spent sleeping in a rocking chair.  Lil' S is having nightmares. : ( Breaks my heart. So, she wants me to keep her company. Of course, I'm happy to oblige. My back, however? Not so much. Not so much. Ouch! 

I hope the rest of your week just cruises on by!

Hugs!

Mina

Etsy Tuesdsay - Vintage Electronics Crave - 05.14.2013

Vintage electronics by minabrinkey on Polyvore

There's nothing like warm spring Florida weather to put me in the mood for some vintage electronics. Weird, I know.  But, hey... you gotta admit... these Etsy finds are preeeeeetty sweeeeet. Thank you very much.  I am particularly obsessed with that orange fan/heater and that iPod capable vintage radio. Do you have any vintage electronics in use in your space? Do tell!!

How's the week treatin' ya so far? So far, so good here.  Struggling a tad with lil' S at dinner time. Someone has become verrrrrry picky about what she will and will not eat. Roasted potatoes and split peas? No. Cereal? Maybe. Slices of American cheese ( you know... the type that come individually wrapped in plastic??) Yes please! Thank you! : ) Yah. So... when Jo over at A Cup of Jo posted this, it cracked me up!

Hugs!

Mina

Interiors Monday - Open Closets - 05.13.2013

 

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We have zero closet/storage space in our home.  Wait. I take that back. We have one closet in our bedroom without doors. So, the hubs put in a middle bar, to make the top portion his and the bottom portion my space.  It's worked out fairly well. Well... except for the fact I had to donate over half my clothes before we moved in.  Of course, I never wore that stuff, so it worked out. Yay for simplifying! : ) But, we've been going back and forth on whether to put fabric there to mask the clothes. Patterned fabric? Yay? Nay? Eeeek. Decisions, decisions. So, I figure for now I could just get inspiration from these open closets to make me feel better about ours. : ) Do you happen to have an open closet? How do you organize it? Do you think it forces you to keep things nice and neat??

I hope everyone had a fantastic Mothers Day weekend. We had a wonderful one. Except I had a pretty horrible migraine throughout. Blech. But, I'm feeling as good as new today! For Mothers Day, the hubs made me breakfast in bed (niiiiiice) and finally rode me around in the '66 Mustang! I had to dress for the occasion! See???

To say I was excited to ride in it would be an understatement. : ) After our fun ride, we headed on over to my mom's place to celebrate her and how amazing of a momma she is. It was an awesome time. I'm kinda sad the weekend is over, to be honest. Here's to next weekend! I will catch ya'll tomorrow for my favorite Etsy finds of the week!

Hugs,

Mina