Naples, Florida: Mid-Century Modern

07/13/2010

Naples has a lot of mid-century modern architecture: lots of peach and turquoise ranch homes with concrete block, flat or slow slung roofs. There was even an A-frame walk-up Dairy Queen. But … I did a lousy job documenting all of that. I was too busy looking out the windows and taking it all in. And leaving my camera and cell phone at the hotel for fear of sand somehow working it’s way into my precious electronics. Sorry. I did take a few mediocre pictures. Next time I’ll do a better job of documenting the neighborhoods.

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Posted by mahlbrandt

Naples, Florida Vacation

07/12/2010

Not much to report from the ranch this week because we’ve been on vacation in Naples, Florida! Jason and I had a great week with our dear friends Laren and Jeremy. Jason’s great grandfather lived in Naples and he has wonderful memories of visiting there as a boy. He’s been wanting to go back there for years and we finally made it. It’s a really beautiful little beach town that apparently had a housing boom in the 1950s-70s. More on that later. Today, here are some fun vacation pictures.

Dinner at Kelly’s on our first night

Jeremy and Laren are great travel buddies!

Ice cream at Regina’s

Jason is picking up real estate catalogs … are we too young to own a second home at the beach?

Mini golf at Coral Cay

Jason won. He said he can’t remember a time when he didn’t win a mini golf game!

Leading the processional to the beach

When Jason was a boy he remembers finding hermit crabs and starfish and sand dollars and beautiful seashells in Naples. He turned into a little boy again as he was exploring the shoreline. He’s so cute!

Two conch shells with … clams/mussels/conches? inside

We admired them for a while and then Jason tossed them back out to sea.

Some girl found this starfish and shared it with us. It was neat to flip it over and watch it flip itself back.

Waves aren’t very big in Naples. Just calm, clear and warm.

Jason and I wanted a picture to show how clear the water was but I’m not sure if you can really tell here.

We’re already planning our next trip back to Naples!

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Posted by mahlbrandt

Phone Photo Friday

07/09/2010

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Threadless

07/08/2010

The other day I saw on Modern Kiddo that Threadless Kids was having a sale on kid tees, onesies and hoodsies. (Sorry it’s over now.) Are you familiar with Threadless? Graphic designers can submit t-shirt designs and if they get enough fan votes they’re made into t-shirts. That makes for a lot of creative clothing! (They have adult sizes, too.)

Is it too early to start buying things for my future niece or nephew? I do have a couple of friends who are having a babies in the fall. Plus, some cuties I know will be turning 1 in August. And my nephew will be 2 in October. (Yeah, I know … it’s only July.) But it’s still fun to look! Here are all the ones I put in my cart but don’t have in the budget to buy:

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Posted by mahlbrandt

Mismatched

07/07/2010

Lately I’ve been attracted to mismatched things—dishes, articles of clothing, accessories, furniture. Is it trendy to not match anything anymore or is it just me? I’m assuming it’s a trend I’ve unknowingly been replicating.

Sage green sheets under a brown and blue quilt with tan throw pillows

Olive green and teal blue towels living in harmony

Red soap dispenser on a blue and green tiled countertop

Green glass, blue melamine, yellow and orange ceramic dishes at Watanbe

Dark aqua wall with yellow and green accessories and peach chair


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Green, yellow and blue, black and white pillows on light blue, gray and white bedding


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I’m not sure there are any colors repeated in this space:

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And who says your shirt needs to match your skirt and your shoes need to match your purse?

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(Click • for source)

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Posted by mahlbrandt

Babies Rock

07/06/2010

Since I now have an excuse to have babies on my brain, I’ve been keeping an eye out for all things baby-cool.

Check out this multifunctional bassinet/rocker called Koo that I saw on Design Milk. Baby sleeps in the bassinet until feeding time. Mom can rock baby back to sleep after nursing. Smart, huh?

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Posted by mahlbrandt

Imitation Outfitters

07/05/2010

If you have lots of money, don’t care about American-made quality, want new things or don’t have time for vintage and thrift shopping but you like mid-century modern design … Urban Outfitters is just what you need! They’ve got some great looking mid-century inspired designs. Let’s see …

There is the Night and Day Convertible Sofa …

And the Mid-Century Rocker Chair. I want this! I would gladly accept an authentic vintage mid-century version but if all else fails, this will do.

There’s this Mid-Century Sofa.

Manchester Media Stand for your record player and records, of course. (Or books and a lamp.) Lovely peg/cone legs.

A 36″ Round Woven Mixed Rug that would have looked right at home at grandma’s house.

I love this printed 50’s Birdcage Duvet Cover but I’m not sure I’d want it on my bed.

And a 70’s Clock. If you’ve ever been to my house, you know I love clocks! Every room has one. Some rooms have two. I need more rooms!

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Posted by mahlbrandt

Phone Photo Friday

07/02/2010

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Family 4 Quart {Estate Sale Finds}

06/30/2010

Last week I saw a listing for an estate sale with all kinds of great things pictured. I made a list of everything I wanted including an Underwood typewriter, retro striped drinking glasses, a vintage tinker toys set and a small cabinet with cone legs and sliding doors. Sadly, we didn’t get there until near the end of the second day so everything I saw online was gone. The benefit of going at the end, though, is that everything is marked down. We did find some great things.

A Family 4 Quart drink cooler. Perfect for our upcoming beach trip

Five old lady style plastic round bead necklaces (all for $1.50!)

2 vintage kids books: Through the Gate (seems like a knock off of Dick and Jane) and Told Under the Blue Umbrella: New Stories for New Children





A colorful xylophone that doesn’t quite work but looks pretty. I guess it needs some new felt under the metal keys

A small retro glass pitcher (I want to actually USE this but it’s kind of an odd size. Any suggestions? It would only hold enough for 2 glasses of iced tea.)

And two glass vases from another estate sale we passed on our way home

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Posted by mahlbrandt

Eat More Fiber

06/29/2010

A few people have asked me about the Eat More Fiber poster that we have hanging in our newly (mostly finished)  master bathroom above the commode. It’s now available in my etsy.com shop.

I got the “Eat More Fiber” idea from this photo series called Reminders by photographer Erin Hanson (I hope she doesn’t mind.) The poster design is original. I love artichokes! Turns out they’re loaded with fiber.

I also made this other poster based on a quote I love—an excerpt of a poem—from John Greenleaf Whittier.

Yet, in the maddening maze of things,
And tossed by storm and flood,
To one fixed trust my spirit clings;
I know that God is good!

It hangs on my cubicle wall. You can get one here if you’re interested.

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Posted by mahlbrandt

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