Bar Cart in Blue and White

I put together this bar cart as part of a fun and thoughtful challenge created by Lydia from the Party Wagon - her blog and IG feed are fabulous.

She gave a lot of IG friends a challenge to create a blue and white tribute to health care workers who wear blue scrubs and/or white coats.

Lydia suggested creating a tablescape but I thought that when this is over

 all of those doctors and nurses might like a nice long happy hour 

so I zhushed the bar cart on our screened porch.

If we were really ready to party then the bottom shelf of this vintage cart would be filled with liquor choices and bubbly chilling in a silver champagne bucket.

Mollie and I have been enjoying "mocktails" during the week and very fizzy mineral waters with fresh garnishes are our favorite. You can get pretty creative with the combinations of waters, fruits and juices, and garnishes.

In addition to fizzy waters and citrus garnishes I added a salty snack or two in cute bowls.

I ordered a set of dish towels from Amazon last year and it's fun to have all the gingham color choices! I pulled out the French Blue and classic navy.

The leopard napkins are from The Dollar Tree. (I know!) 

I bought a stack when I found them. 

The lemon and palm leaf drink markers (in the pineapple dish on the left) are from The Dollar Spot at Target (purchased last year.) 

Setting up a pretty drinks spot doesn't have to be pricey!

The thrifted tortoiseshell glass holds bamboo straws from The Grove. 

They come with a little brush to clean them with!

The lemon is perched in a little clay pot I painted to use as egg cup place markers at Easter.

#usewhatyouhave

All of the blue and white, the bamboo tray and even the pretty glasses were thrifted. 

The vintage silk painting is one of a pair and were a major score.

The camel lamp has a great before and after here.

Thank you to health care workers during this crazy Covid19 time. 
Thank you to Lydia at the Party Wagon for motivating us to post a tribute. 

And think about setting up your own bar cart to make relaxing 
during these stressful times a little more fun!
It doesn't have to be just for adults! Add fun straws and cups for the kiddos. 
Put out favorite soda flavors and a few treats. It would be perfect for movie nights or game night since board games are making a huge comeback while we are sheltering at home.

Stay safe and well.

I Started A New (to Us) Christmas Tradition...

Lat year I came across the tradition called Jolabokaflod, from Iceland. 

It is the tradition of giving books and chocolate on Christmas Eve.

As soon as I read about it I knew it was for us!!

Christmas in the Library - you can see why getting and giving books is for us!

It is a fabulous tradition to start anytime but since Mollie is an adult

 and we don't have small children around

 some of our past traditions that focus on Santa and reindeer have fallen away. 
There's some spare time now after Christmas Eve service!

Books and chocolate!? Yes!

 New tradition for us!

Here are some of my favorite titles from previous gift giving.  Mr. Monkey holds a few chocolate treats!

Even if you have some family members who aren't "big readers" like we are there are plenty of books you can still give. I would count comics. Or photo books you create online of trips you have taken, all the grandkids through the year, or the year in review. And coffee table books exist in almost every genre and most people love to learn the history behind what they collect or their hobby. (Tennis player who doesn't read much? - find a picture heavy book about Wimbledon. Start a collection of a series for younger children - you might just create a reader! And you know what to give them for the next holiday- the next book in the series.)

You can get very personal and creative with your book shopping. 

All of our books for Christmas Eve giving are wrapped and ready.

The tradition began in Iceland during WWII.
 Paper was readily available when almost everything else was scarce. 
Icelanders gave each other books as gifts and to this day they are a country of readers!

Jolabokaflod roughly translates to "flood of books" which I love.

Blue and white chinioserie teapots for serving hot chocolate.

So start looking for that perfect book for everyone to open on Christmas Eve, find a fabulous hot chocolate recipe (or keep it simple and buy a gallon of chocolate milk from the grocery  and put it in the crock pot!)

Then every one can cozy up with a mug of cocoa or a gourmet chocolate bar (if you prefer) and their fabulous new book.

PS. Don't leave yourself out - I order myself a fabulous design book so that I can cozy up with a book and cocoa too!

Library Refresh!

 I'm supposed to be gearing up for my EIGHTH One Room Challenge 

but I took a little time to refresh a previous ORC over the weekend. 

The Black Is Back Library got a shot of color 

and an amazing (in more than one way) new rug.

More on that in a minute - you're going to want to hear this one!

I posted these two pics on my Instagram last week saying that I was realllly thinking about painting the two comfy wicker chairs in the room. 

I chose a soft turquoise blue, Watery by Sherwin Williams, and we all love it!

Cooper approved!

  (I guess it's pretty obvious that I need to find one more globe on one of my thrifting outings!)

This large cabinet is on the wall opposite the chairs. 

I just moved it from our family room and got rid of two open bookshelves 

and a bench in front of them. You can see that library layout here.

We found the cabinet in a thrift store almost 25 years ago.

 It came from an old school library. 

It still has library information pasted on the inside of the shelves.

Now for the rug. 

I love the look of a zebra rug (faux, always faux!)

I found this Ethan Allen Rug brand new in it's original packaging at a thrift store. 

I had already bought quite a few items and was headed out of the store when I saw the stack of Ethan Allen bags and a sign that said "new Zebra Rugs $50.00."

I was hesitating... One had been partially pulled out of its wrapper. 

It looked nice but did I need a rug that was predominately white (I know us!)

 even for $50.00?

And then the salesgirl said. "It's 50% off!!" 

Sold. I'm willing to risk it for $25.00.

Then when I walked over to pay she told me a store going out of business had donated a truckload of items and brought a price sheet to help them price items if they wanted. 

She told me the rug originally retailed for $2000.00.

Seriously?? I was doubtful but guess what??

I looked it up and it was originally OVER $2000.00!! $2529.00!

It is no longer available but there are quite  few listings for it on resale sights!!

I think this may be my greatest thrifting deal so far!

(They were folded so the wrinkle is still relaxing a bit)

Be sure to follow along for the next few weeks here and on my Instagram

 as I work on my 8th One Room Challenge.

Tropical and Refreshing!

When I blogged about the amazing tropical bar cart set up from OKL last time I said I was off to search for some tropical drink recipes that would be refreshing and delish!

I kept my word!

First, I headed to a favorite tropical spot -

 The Florida Keys.

Yes, it really is that beautiful

Every time.

These photos have not been edited.

Just iphone pics.

 Then Mollie and I set off to find the "best in The Keys" of one of our favorite drinks - 

The Mojito.

There's nothing like it on a hot, hot day!

We did our due diligence. We sipped in several picturesque locations...

And then we discovered the best one ever!

We went back again - just to confirm and to be sure there was honesty in reporting.

#research

#wearethereforyou

For sure. 

The best Mojito was at Lazy Days in Islamorada.

And the bartender willingly shared the secret!

 She uses Parrot Bay Key Lime Rum.

Using this rum cuts out the need for simple syrup

 (which sometimes makes Mojitos too sweet and #calories)

And it is sooooo easy.

And light and refreshing.

All you need to do is:

1. Muddle fresh mint in the bottom of the glass

2. Fill a tall glass with ice.

3. Add Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay Key Lime Rum and fill with club soda.

4. Garnish with a lime.

via

And just so you don't think we just ran around sipping Mojitos all day long- we found an amazing Smoked Wahoo Fish Dip at the Zane Grey Lounge.

Delicious and look at that presentation.

If only going to Happy Hour and reporting back was a full time job!

#careergoals

PS. I am not affiliated or compensated by any of the companies mentioned in this post. 
I'm just happily sharing great finds!

Everything I Love Plus...

I ran across this picture the other day as I was wrapping up a hot, sweaty mission trip 
and I couldn't take my eyes off of it!!

It's everything I love plus more!!
It just looked refreshing and relaxing to me given the fact that it hit 100 degrees that week.

It's from One Kings Lane.
It is everything!
The article is called "How To Host Cocktails In The Tropics."
I'm in! 

You can shop their site for a lot of gorgeous tropical accent pieces
or if you are like me- you need a high/low version of this fabulousness!

Let's dissect, shall we?

Let's start with the wall paper.
Cool, gorgeous green palm background. 
If that one doesn't do it for you I happen to like this one a lot, too.



It's on sale for $69.99 a roll vs the over $100.00 for the one in the pic. 
A little high/low wallpaper action.
 And to be even more economical you could frame a 24 x 36 remnant and hang behind the bar cart if wallpapering the whole wall isn't an option. Or you are a renter.

Fabulous 
white bar cart is the major player.
Bar cart options are everywhere and I've talked bout my love for bar carts here and here.
They are everywhere - new, reproduction and vintage for great prices. 
It's all preference and what you have space for. 
My preference would be to hunt for a vintage piece to use.
 I saw a white wicker desk last week in a Goodwill for $10.00. Perfect condition.
 It would have made a perfect bar and brass castors could have been added if rolling around was desired.
Get creative. Look around.
But if setting up a bar cart situation to mimic this one needs to happen now
 here is an economical option:



This white wicker bar cart is on sale for $83.99 with free shipping. Or if white is not a must-have this one is $100.00 from World Market:



And if money is no object then check out what Serena and Lilly or the vintage sites like Chairish have to offer.

Next up in this high/low quest to recreate my dream relaxation spot:
The wicker elephant with a plant.
He has nothing to do with actually getting a refreshing drink from the bar cart
 but he's too fabulous to leave out!! 
We love elephants at our house. Proof here and here!

Again, you can search around and find these guys at tag sales, vintage shops and more. 
But if you are going to recreate this right now, here are some high/low sources:

This guy is $205.00 right now making him more than the bar cart 
but pretty fabulous none the less.
But I like this option, too...
If you wanted a little trash receptacle near the bar you could purchase this guy for $55.20, put a plastic trash bag inside and put him next to the bar. 



The soft green lamp with the black and white striped shade is too fabulous not to copy. 
I'm sure that you can find a lamp that color from a million sources online but you could also easily find a high/low option at thrift stores 
and big box stores like Home Depot and Wal Mart.
What about this lamp with a great b/w striped shade?

Now for the shade:
 I googled and found a lot of options for $65.00 and up. 
That's more than I would want to spend for lamp and all.
So the high/low option for me would be to copy this idea:



How easy is that!! 
Just buy a few yards of black grosgrain ribbon (Wal Mart, Hobby Lobby, etc)
 and glue it on a white drum shade! 
You could paint the stripes as well if you wished
 but ribbon is super easy and makes for perfect stripes.

I covered this lampshade with fabric for my "Black is Back" Library One Room Challenge.

You could easily use black and white striped fabric to cover 

a straight up-and-down drum shade.

Next up, the parrots.
because what are the tropics without colorful birds.



This print is $99.99 framed from Allposters.com
Not bad for a framed picture ready to go, but...
you can visit The Audubon Society website and print any of the Audubon birds for free!! 
Yep, free. 
Or if you want something a bit bigger, send it to your favorite photo printing company online and you are set. 
Find a fabulous bamboo frame at a thrift shop and you have tropical bird art.

All the frames below (from my last ORC) are thrifted and then painted with my favorite gold spray paint.



And if parrots/macaws etc. aren't your thing there are a ton of shore birds to choose from. 
I love all the pink Audubon birds as I've mentioned before.

Here are a couple of tropical birds that could be added to the bar cart set up. 

The bronze parrot was a thrifting find last week and the green parrot pitcher was purchased a few years ago at a discount import store. 
Keep your eyes open - I see tropical accent pieces like this all the time!

Small, but still something I love, is the turtle shell.
There was a Nate Berkus one at Target a few years ago that I did not buy and while I try not to have regrets - I really wish I had just spent the money and gotten one. #rats
They are around on eBay for $50.00 and up.



This is the least expensive resin turtle shell I could find for my high/low quest. 
It is $36.00 and could be removed from the stand to hang on the wall 
and even dry brushed with white to mimic the one in the picture. 
There are some gorgeous high end options available from Grandinroad and Houzz. 
I did see one in a consignment shop a few months ago for a good price so keep your eyes open. And if Nate does another big, fabulous turtle shell I'm buying it on day one!

There are bamboo trays and shells and such mixed in with the bottles and vintage glasses. 
All of these are easy to find in thrift stores, vintage vendor booths, in etsy shops online and the IG accounts that feature vintage items.
Just start looking...

(some of the vintage trays and accessories at elizabethandpayne at Westside Market Atlanta)

That bamboo picnic organizer would be fabulous on a bar cart filled with swizzle sticks and statement napkins. Or bottles of mixers and such.

The bamboo wine rack could sit beside a bar cart or on the bottom shelf
 if there was enough height.
And you can never go wrong mixing in some blue and white. 
Use the bowls to hold limes and lemons, munchies like nuts and cheese straws or pour salt in a small saucer to use to salt glass rims.

The inspiration pic is just a starting point. 
Get creative and style up a bar cart to help you feel like you are on a tropical get away.
There's plenty of Summer left!

I'm off to search for some great tropical drink recipes...
#staytuned