There’s this skinny little piece of wall in between my pantry and microwave that I thought was desperately in need of a memo board.  I’ve always wanted a little chalkboard right there so I could remind myself of what I needed to pick up at the grocery store that week. 

My problem was that I couldn’t find anything tall and skinny with character to fit that narrow patch of wall.   Also, there’s a meddlesome electrical panel inside the pantry, which restricts any decor in this space.  But then I spied an old wood framed mirror with chipped paint at the local salvage yard.  I decided to give it a makeover, and repurpose it as a little chalkboard in my kitchen!

Here’s my sweet little salvaged mirror turned memo board !

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Greetings friends, announcement announcement !  There’s a new weekly series around these parts called “Fan-tastic Feature”.   That’s where one of YOU gets to be in the spotlight with one of your original articles or creations! 

Hear ye, hear ye, now accepting submissions for your most fantabulous most fan-tastic projects !  Got a spectacular before and after?  A pretty table or mantelscape ?  A spruced up space?  A nifty gardening tip?  A scrumptious recipe worthy of showcasing?   A suuuuuper cute holiday craft?  A tour of your local town that would make us want to visit?  Well, why don’t you email me with your submission! 

If you read this blog, you know I love to write about many things beyond DIY projects.  I adore a decadent dessert, I’m always looking for new places to visit, and I can never get enough of a great before and after.   One of the things I’ve learned about blogging over the last year is that there is a lot of talent out there and I’d like to be one of the several sites to showcase it. 

Here are the requirements:  originality, creativity, & high quality, high resolution photographs and a clear tutorial and/or interesting article.  Your project, craft, space, or recipe cannot have been featured on any larger sites (Design*Sponge, Apartment Therapy, etc.).  I’m looking for the fresh, fabulous, and the inspiring to be featured once a week!

So let’s kick it off with Sarah’s ingenious idea ~  a hand dyed Chevron rug.  This is something I never would have dared to do, and yet, after seeing Sarah’s tutorial, it seems very simple.

Sarah’s Hand Dyed Chevron Rug

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Most catalogs pile up around my house, and quickly make their way to the recycling bin, but I was glancing at the latest Wisteria catalog over the weekend, and was completely inspired by several of their pieces.  What I love about the style on the pages of Wisteria is the mix of old and new, whimsy with tradition, and rustic with modern chic. 

This reproduction trumeau was the first to catch my eye.   

I spied several expensive reproduction trumeaus on our recent trip to Jan de Luz in Carmel, and am determined someday to have a reasonably priced one in our foyer.  I’m so crazy about trumeaus, I may follow Susie’s brilliant DIY tutorial to reproduce one of my own. 

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Two years ago, my husband and I did something we’ve never done before.  We left our children with trusted family and traveled to Mexico to spend a birthday weekend with five other couples in a villa in the middle of the wine region in Guadalupe Valley. 

We spent the weekend wine tasting, lounging by the pool, and lingering over long dinners with friends.  The inn was La Villa del Valle, and it left an impression on me forever. 

The journey to the inn in the middle of the valley is long, but the destination is worth the arduous task of finding it. 

I simply swooned at the decorative railing in this foyer, and the medallion tile detail on the stair risers.  Everywhere inside the villa, the walls are painted concrete ~ love that. 

On the opposite wall of the foyer, this stunning bench and mirror combo greets you. 

There’s a great room on one end of the villa filled with eclectic furnishings.  A giant stone fireplace sits in the middle and three walls of windows and doors allow for plenty of light.   (Pics from my phone, sorry for the blur)

Just outside the great room is an enchanting loggia with a view of the sweeping Guadalupe Valley.

The tranquil gardens that surround the property are filled with olive trees, roses, lavender and the owner’s vegetable garden. 

I’m not sure if my enchantment with this villa has something to do with the location, the ambiance, the decor, the free flowing wine, the lingering meals with friends, or simply the fact that the kids weren’t with us that weekend. :-)    But this villa made me dream of owning a small inn someday right here in our own part of the world. 

Has this ever happened to you?  Have you ever spent time in a place so enchanting that it forever changed your vision of a ‘dream’ home ?  

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Some days I have to pinch myself because I’m a very lucky gal to live where I live, and I try my hardest not to ever forget it.  This summer, I’ve clocked plenty of leisure hours at some of my favorite wineries, and wherever I go, I like to pick up a few specialty items to enhance our culinary dishes at home. 

Today, I’d like to giveaway a few of those decadent treats to one of you.  It’s been a great month for this blog, so it’s time to pass it along to you in gratitude for continuing to read my musings.  This weekend, I’m delighted to be giving away the following wine country related goodies to one reader!

Lemon infused olive oil from The Olive Press and my favorite fig balsamic vinegar from the famous ‘the girl & the fig’ restaurant. 

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