Kitchen Renovation: Kitchen Island Alternatives

I  truly like my kitchen island.  It was a good choice for us as we removed our kitchen walls to open up our space. Yep, it cost a lot of money $$$.  Here are cheaper alternatives per Wayfair

1. A Console Table + Counter Stools

To get the look in a smaller space, add a slim open-bottom console table and bring in a pair of counter-height stools to tuck underneath.

2. A Floating Shelf + Dining Chairs

For off-to-the-side casual seating, hang a wall shelf waist-high to create a countertop. 

Then add a pair of dining chairs to complete the look.

pc: ETSY

3. A Butcher Block Kitchen Cart + Backless Stools

For easy flexibility, bring in a kitchen cart with wheels and pair it with lightweight stools. To free up space, roll it to the side and stack the seating together.

pc: etsy

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Jesus speaking, John 6:47

Etsy: Wall Hanging Dining Table

Wayfair: Kitchen Island Alternatives

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MacKenzie Childs: Coffee Mug and Other Fun Cups

Domino Magazine  recently had an article on mugs with interesting handles.  I admit that they are cute, but none so cute as my classic MacKenzie-Childs Coffee Mug. 

It does not have a fun handle per se (though still different), but its hand-painted courtly check pattern with stripes is a win every time in my estimation. 

A.  Circle Mug 

B.  Teensy Squiggle

C.  Chubby Cup

D.  Wiggly Wave

E.  Extra-Extra Long One

F.  Loop de Loop

Still the One for Me!!

pc: MacKenzie-Childs

Read the full Domino Magazine article H E R E

Thou preparest a table before me 

in the presence of mine enemies: 

thou anointest my head with oil; 

my cup runneth over.

Psalm 23

MacKenzie-Childs

Fun Mug Handles

24.06.2020

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Floor Renovation: Hexagon Tiles in Master Bathroom

While shopping for hexagonal-shaped tiles, these were the ones that caught our eye at Floor & Decor. They sold out quickly at this store location, but we got enough to cover the 550 square-feet we need for our Master Bath floor.

The product is called New York SOHO porcelain hexagon tiles.  Made in Italy.  Its durability rating is 4 out of 5 which was a thumbs-up for us. A bathroom will get plenty of traffic in its lifetime.

The tile & the hexagon shape was featured in

Floor & Decor's 2018 brochure. 

Hexagon-shapes elsewhere:

Ever popular -- even as decals on walls

Photo by Aesthetic Answers 

Easy Updates

Removeable Decals

Etsy: Nicematches

NY SOHO Hexagon Tiles







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Boycott List: In Support of President Donald Trump

Edited 06/19/2017:  In case you’re keeping track, here is a complete list, courtesy of the Anti-Trump group of companies who they say is safe to shop at because they eschew Trump products.

Meaning – if you’re into this sort of thing, you should NOT spend your money at these places/companies.

Note: The list also includes companies who have pulled their advertising from the website Breitbart, or who have made statements of “inclusivity and respect”, similar to Target’s “Gender bathroom” statement.

Do your shopping wisely ... Put your money where your mouth is -- according to your conviction.  Here a little, there a little will add to much $$$ down the road (my words in italic):

1. Alibris (books / movies)
2. Amazon Fire Alternatives
3. American Giant
4. Ann Taylor
5. Apple
6. AppNexus (ad tech, dropped Breitbart from its network)
7. Asquith London
8. Athleta
9. Banana Republic
10. Barnes & Noble
11. Barney’s
12. BCBGMAXAZRIA
13. Bellacor
14. BellJar
15. Bergdorf Goodman
16. Best Buy
17. Burlington Coat Factory (02/14/2017)
18. Castellano (Fair Trade)
19. Chobani
20. Chromecast
21. Cotopaxi (Ethical)
22. Crate & Barrel
23. Current/Elliott
24. Cuyana
25. Diapers.com
26. Dress for Success
27. Eddie Bauer
28. Eileen Fisher
29. Equipment
30. eShakti
31. Etsy
32. Everlane (Ethical)
33. Farfetch (designer)
34. Fashionable
35. Frye
36. Gap
37. Garnet Hill
38. Google
39. Google Play
40. Grubhub
41. Guideboat Company
42. H&M
43. Half Price Books
44. Holt Renfrew (Canadian)
45. Honeyfund (honeymoon contribution site)
46. Hot Topic
47. Hulu
48. IKEA
49. iTunes
50. J. Jill
51. J.Cavallo
52. JCrew
53. Joie
54. Jos. A Bank
55. Kaelenn
56. Kay Jewelers
57. Kellogg’s (stopped advertising on Breitbart)
58. Kindle & Audible Alternatives
59. Kmart
60. Kobo Glo HD
61. Kobo Touch 2.0
62. Kohl’s
63. Lady Grey Jewelry
64. Land’s End
65. Local & Lejos (Ethical)
66. Local women’s shelters (often women arrive w/ just the clothes on their backs)
67. Lyft
68. M.GemiO Out of the Closet
69. Mario’s (Designer)
70. Marmi Shoes
71. Mela Artisans
72. MelissaMcCarthy.com
73. MMLaFleur
74. Modcloth
75. Mohinders (Ethical)
76. MZ Wallace
77. Net-a-Porter
78. Netflix
79. Nic & Zoe
80. Nisolo Shoes
81. Nook GlowLight Plus
82. Novo Nordisk (stopped advertising on Breitbart)
83. Old Navy 
84. Patagonia                                                                  
85. Penzeys Spices
86. Places to Donate Shoes or Clothes
87. Pottery Barn
88. Powell’s Books
89. Public library audio book services, i.e. Hoopla & Overdrive
90. Rag & Bone
91. Red Envelope
92. REI
93. Reitmans
94. Restoration Hardware
95. Roku
96. RW & Co (Canadian)
97. Saks Fifth Avenue (Luxury)
98. San Diego Zoo (stopped advertising on Breitbart)
99. Scoutmob (Indie / Maker)
100. Scribd
101. Sears
102. Sephora
103. ShopBop
104. ShopMyExchange
105. Signet Jewelers
106. Sling
107. Sophie Theallet
108. Sundance Catalog
109. Sur La Table
110. Talbots
111. Target
112. TicTac
113. Tiffany & Co.
114. Tiffany’s
115. TOMS
116. Trump-Free Wedding Registry Options
117. Ulta
118. UncommonGoods
119. Ursa Major
120. Vanguard Funds (Stopped Advertising on Breitbart)
121. Victoria’s Secret
122. Vince.com
123. Vudu
124. WarbyParker (stopped advertising on Breitbart)
125. Wearpact
126. West Elm
127. Williams Sonoma
128. World Market
129. Xbox
130. YOOX.com (Designer)
131. YouTube
132. Zara
133. Zola

via The Federalist Papers Project

I am so very disappointed to see many of my fave retailers on this list.  I hope that someday I will be able to shop at their stores once again without feeling that I am contributing to foolishness, intimidation and a lack of decency/common sense; as well as to the unbridled disrespect of our POTUS.  If nothing else, my boycott will curb my unwise money decisions as a little more thought will go into my purchases. It's all good, then!