Hey Lucy! You wanna go to Maine?

Now that I'm in the house.....it's not perfect and that means you still can't come over! Just kidding...you can if you don't mind me pointing out all the things that I haven't done!!!

I thought I would post about the trip I took with my Mom and my Aunt Linda. We went to Maine. The decision was random and we literally pulled it out of the hat! Mom was supposed to have gone to Alaska last year and she had airline tickets burning a hole in her pocket! I said I would go. I'm pretty sure the only reason they wouldn't go without me is because they would not get around as well! Especially since I drove EVERYWHERE! That was fine. I had the GPS on my phone and we saw a lot more than they would've without me! ahhh, the coast and lighthouses were the afternoon treat!

We had NO IDEA where we should go or what we would do. We flew out of Huntsville and my Aunt asked the night before if I had a list of places we were going. I had nothing. I think at that moment we all kinda thought we were in trouble! It was the BEST trip EVER! We flew into Portland and asked the concierge at the airport if she knew of any antique stores. She said north and south on Hwy. 1. We would pass several.......understatement of the year! 

We were starving and decided to start in downtown Portland for lunch and after we would hit the highway heading South. I had booked a hotel in Portsmouth, ME. When we picked up the car, the guy said Boston was 30 minutes from Portsmouth. What? Ok, we are going to Boston tomorrow! Our first stop was lunch at The Farmer's Table. Appropriate, yes? I had lobster salad and my picture made with  my Mom ;). Isn't she cute?

We decided to walk around in this little downtown (it's not that little). We saw cute shops, ships, boats, water, ice-cream (little did we know, ice cream is BIG in Maine) and a really cute shop with the best light fixtures EVER!

yes....this one....you've seen it before!

Oh, I wanted it....and there were 2....did I need 2? Where would I put them? Were they worth the price tag? It was the FIRST place we'd seen! We had 4 days of shopping ahead of us!! I didn't buy them. I walked away. I thought about them every day until we made it back......at the end of our trip! 

We got on the road. We had NO IDEA where we were going. We had a map and our phones. Everyone we asked said to go down HWY. 1. We did. We drove for 30 minutes or so and saw the first antique store. Stopped. Shopped. Got in the car and drove. Saw another. Stopped. Shopped. Then we found this one! Look at that shutter!! OH MY. I DIE. The colors are amazing. Problem...this will not fit in my suitcase. At this point, I'm planning my trip back to Maine in a U-Haul!

Doesn't this sign look like the Doors are 50 cents? haha The nail is placed just right!

These were at the same shop. It was a barn in the parking lot full of cool stuff like these advertising produce crates!

How cute are these books....why didn't I buy them?

We made a few purchases and hit the road. It was almost 5:00pm and all the shops close at 5:00pm. We are about 30 minutes from our hotel and 10 minutes from the coast. I vote for more lobster and sand and ocean! So, we pull out the phone, find the coast and head that way! 

See...my toes in the brown sand! It's so different from our Gulf Coast white powdery sand!

I had to take a picture of the bridge. It was gorgeous! Lots of fishermen and a carnival on the other side.  It was surreal. Just like what you see in the movies! I went to the water by myself....the ladies wanted to sit and get something to drink! I had to do a selfie, this is one of my favorites, though. I love the action I used on Instagram. It had been a perfect day!! 

Then I went and kissed a lobster!

Much more to share about this trip!

Lighting the Hansel and Gretel Cottage

This place is dark. There are trees all around us and they do not let the sunshine in! All of the trim is very dark, too. We have a beautiful porch that wraps around the kitchen. I wouldn't trade it for anything, but it so dark in here! I have picked out lots of industrial and sparkly lights to go in this dark place. I'm afraid they aren't enough! Not to mention, my electrician hasn't been back to hang 3 of my fixtures....DAD!!!

I thought I would show you a few of my finds over the past 6 months. I started buying before I knew when I was moving!

I found this really cool industrial sized whisk at Scott's back in March. It's hanging in the center of the kitchen. I changed the bulb this morning...it added a little more light! 

That was my first visit to Scott's and I've been back like 4 times! It's next weekend, btw, who wants to go? 

 This will be hung in the laundry/powder room. I bought it from my buddy, Barney, at Stray Cats on
this shopping trip!

I found 2 of these beauties in Maine. It was the FIRST store we stopped. I just couldn't decide. What if I found something for a better price? I did some research and made this the LAST place we stopped! They are hanging in the kitchen. 

 They are my all-time favorites!

This came from Southern Accents. Garlan called me and said he had the perfect chandy for me! Isn't it beautiful? This picture makes it look big, but it's so dainty. It's original purpose was to go in my bedroom. It's going to hang in the dining room while another gets wired...TIM!!!

 You've seen this one. I think I did a whole blog post on it. I bought it and had it wired with no purpose what-so-ever! It's so perfect upstairs! I love it!

ruffle shades are my obsession right now

This was at Southern Accents, too. It's like I want everything they bring in.
Why can't I just go on shopping trips with them? I do get a pretty good discount for working there and pimping them out ALL-THE-TIME!
I went home and couldn't forget it. I dreamed of the perfect spot for it.....just need it to be hung!! DAD

 how fantastic is that little shade? #textureoverload

 I need a flush mount, I need a flush mount. I called several times and looked at several pictures. Nothing was going to work! I walked into the lighting graveyard at the gym and pulled this one down and brought it home! Is it up? no, DAD!

I bought this one for the dining room. I think it's so pretty. I can't wait for it to be cleaned and wired! I know it will be gorgeous. This is a waiting on TIM project.

These last four are either in the storage unit waiting on a home or I haven't bought them...but, need to!

I will get it lit eventually. Using lots of lamps everywhere!

Hansel and Gretel House Update

We have been here for almost 2 weeks! How in the heck did the time go by that fast? We literally have been sleeping in this house for 13 nights. It all feels like a blur to me. The weekend of moving out of The FCC was a 3 day process. It was long and hard! We now have 1/3 of the house with a barn that is FULL to the rim....literally, wall to wall and floor to ceiling! We also have 2 storage units. Oh my word! One has stuff that will go to the Creek Party House (more about that later!) and the other has stuff that I have to eventually get rid of or move into this house.....there is NO storage/attic space in this house! Yikes....

You can see a few of the before pictures here. These are BEFORE we did anything!

At least one of us is getting used to it! Jazzy found a spot on the bed. She still follows me everywhere. I still leave her inside when we are gone. We are going to be gone Saturday and Sunday. I'm a little worried about leaving her outside for 2 days. 

Speaking of important, my shoe closet. It's full of shelves and has a sign for all to know what's inside!

 (that door....needs to change)

 Does anyone remember seeing this light on Instagram? A little gem I found on the floor in the back of Southern Accents. The color is fantastic. The ruffle shade? {swoon} It's an old street light. #isaveoldthings

It has a home and I think it's perfect! 

I really need to find a better light bulb. Can you believe light bulbs are now a part of the decor? 

In other updating news. We have internet and cable. We also got kitchen counters and the sinks work in the kitchen and my bathroom! I can finally brush my teeth in the bathroom in my room! #luxuries

I'm hoping to work on more fluffing next week. I still have several light fixtures that need to be hung (DAD). Next week. Maybe I will get out the good camera and take some photos that make this place look like the hype I've built it up to! Until then.....