A Green Room
“The other family came in with a very aggressive all cash offer.”
These are the yucky words we heard far too often in 2017. Luck was not even trying to return calls to our new family of four, and the Greater Nashville real estate market was booming. We’d lost out on yet another house. It was a crying shame that not even a few glasses of good wine could fix. I had really pictured us in the house on Ardmore - yucky red clay paint color and all.
For starters, Ardmore runs parallel to one of our favorite streets in the neighborhood - Starling Lane. Let me describe it to you.
Do you remember Father Of The Bride? It was that early nineties comedy flick where Steve Martin & Diane Keaton are the parents and Kimberly Williams-Paisley is their newly engaged daughter. Kimberly Williams-Paisley as in Brad Paisley’s real life wife and fellow Tennessean with a heart of gold, totally love her. In the film, her character is named Annie, and she’s a total babe. The plot follows The Banks Family around as they go over all the normal speed bumps of planning a large wedding for Annie and her fiancé, Bryan, at their home.
Also, they play one on one basketball to the tune of My Girl, hire quirky Franck to be their over the top wedding planner, and learn that the big shots running the hot dog and hot dog buns businesses are a bunch of scheming jerks. It’s a math thing; watch the movie. Did I mention that a Pre-Succession Kieran Culkin plays the adorable little brother turned wedding reception valet? It sounds like a mess, but it’s really quite brilliant and completely hysterical.
At the beginning of Father Of The Bride, George Banks (played by Steve Martin) is driving home from the shoe factory that he owns in a really amazing, timeless black convertible. He turns onto the street where he lives, which is this magical green tree lined sanctuary that almost seems fictional - it’s just so stinking perfect. As he turns into the driveway of his family home, a gorgeous two story white colonial with a white picket fence, he begins a love letter.
He says,
“I love this house. I love that I taught my kids to ride their bikes in the driveway. I love that I slept with them in tents in the backyard. I love that we carved our initials in the tree out front. This house is warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and looks spectacular with Christmas lights. It’s a great house. I never want to move. But the thing I think I like best about this house are the voices I hear when I walk through the door.”
So, what you need to know is - Starling Lane - it looks almost exactly like the street where The Banks live in Father Of The Bride. Jason and I wanted that “forever home” feeling so badly we could actually taste it.
In 2017, we would have taken any home even close to that street. It didn’t quite work out that way and that’s okay.
A few months later we gave up on the old and got on board with the new builds - and that’s when we found our current home.
I remember the day we walked through it and the immediate relief that followed. We’d finally have enough room for both children to have their own bedroom AND an office space for me and Jason?!? I was tickled pink. I started planning.
At the time, there was one space in particular that I’d been dreaming up for a while - Preston’s bedroom. This would be the very first time he had a room of his own. It had to be special. But, what did “special” mean exactly?
Preston was about 8 months old when we signed that contract. Far too young to plan a room around his current interests, which at the time were milk and crawling. Milk & crawling? That didn’t seem like the start of a good mood board. I had to think bigger.
I thought about his name - Preston Abrams Brace. Why had Jason and I picked that? What did it mean?
Preston is a name that represents family. I decided this meant we needed family heirlooms in his room. He needed to know where he came from and who came before him.
Abrams is a name that represents so much to me - inventiveness, creativity, imagination - all characteristics I wanted to inspire in our son. Let me tell you why.
I don’t recall every detail of my childhood, but the small traditions my parents established are tough to forget.
On movie nights Dad and I would go down to the massive box of a big screen in our basement, plant ourselves on the black u-shaped couch and fire up whatever we’d picked up from blockbuster. Candy was not optional.
We’re creatures of habit, so normally we’d watch something like Godzilla, Star Wars, or basically anything from the Lord Of The Rings franchise. We’d laugh about Jabba The Hut with bowls of buttery hot popcorn burning our laps, our version of father-daughter bonding.
For myself, all those countless hours of movie screening in the basement translated into a deep love of film and one exceptionally wild imagination. It took me a while to realize these traits I’ve harbored and drug around with me throughout my years have been extra lifelines. No matter what life has dealt, I’ve always been able to rely on my desire to forge something new and interesting.
If I could pass down anything to my babies, I knew it had to be this.
My absolute favorite television show is the ever mysterious, Lost, formerly on ABC and one of the most popular shows in history. Lost was lovingly created & brought to television by J.J. Abrams, one of the most talented producers and directors on planet earth.
If you don’t know the guy, google him. I love the innovation and ingenuity Abrams brings to ANYTHING he puts his Bad Robot name on. Some of my favorites by Abrams are Cloverfield & Super 8. Lord knows I spent HOURS analyzing both films in online forums with my “friends?” Also, I definitely paid to go see the Transformers reboot maybe six or seven times just so I could watch the Cloverfield trailer on the big screen at the movie theater. It’s hard not to laugh at myself sometimes. Wow, I’m a nerd. If there is ever a convention for Lilly Pulitzer enthusiasts that also follow the science fiction industry, I’d have to by myself a ticket.
When it was announced that J.J. Abrams was directing a new series of films for the Star Wars franchise, it was a match made in sci-fi heaven for me. I grew up watching Star Wars with my dad and believing that Ewokese is an actual language. A couple years later the new films started being released and a whole new generation of wannabe Wookie’s were born.
That’s when I knew we needed to give Preston Abrams a room worthy of a future Jedi in training. :)
A room that would serve like a match and spark his imagination.
This is the day I hung up the Star Wars wallpaper in his room. I was awarded with big smiles for my work.
In the case of Preston’s room, I chose the paint color way before I picked out the wallpaper. I felt strongly that it needed to be masculine and warm, I went with Vintage Vogue by Benjamin Moore. I love the contrast effect between the wallpaper, paint color, and the dark wood tones chosen in this space.
For bedding accessories, I selected a lot of items from the Star Wars collection for Pottery Barn Kids/Pottery Barn Teen. I like the classic, non-cheesy feel that their character items bring to the table. The sign and tapestry above Preston’s bed are also from Pottery Barn Kids.
We purchased Preston’s bed from a local couple who were downsizing to small home elsewhere. They had two of these antique twin size beds, so we jumped at the opportunity to grab one! The beds were made for her grandfather as a wedding present by a local parish in the 1940’s.
Preston’s bedside tables are also antiques we found locally. A couple in our neighborhood were giving away things from a recently lost elderly relative, so they were free. I recently removed the original finish and stained them to match the bed and dresser in Preston’s room. I love the way they turned out.
Can you guess everyone on these shelves? Everybody here represents someone or something Jason and I love. On the top, I spy several of the toys from Jason’s childhood room. The license plate was used in the first photograph I ever sold.
Five & A Memorial Day Wreath
Like the effervescent birds that sing song outside our window every morning she both delights and perplexes me to no end. She too is up at the crack of dawn each day guns blazing waking me with questions like, “Can I have a sweet?” We battled for most of this fourth year. Adelaide in her corner with all the confidence in the world, myself in the other with nothing but good intentions, a white flag, and a Reese’s cup just in case we needed some positive reinforcement.
Shaking our heads “yes” in unison - Jason and I are certain, she’s on her way to becoming a daytime soap opera star a la Moira Rose on Sunrise Bay. If that doesn’t work out, she’d make a crackerjack of a horror movie actress. My friend Lo always jokes that she’ll be the one telling the models to “GO!” before they hit the runway. She’s both inspirational and sassy as the day is long, so this checks out.
How we form into who we’ll become has always been a compelling mystery to me.
Childhood is essentially a collection of dominos, one after another. Each memory, decision, whether negative or positive continues to duplicate into a long chain of experiences. So much of US is dependent on what we do when those dominos start to fall. Knowing that I’ve no doubt made mistakes and will continue to do so, I remind myself to think on Adelaide daily.
Being a special needs sibling isn’t a walk in the park by any stretch of the imagination. There are moments everyday when Jason and I have to make split second decisions where Preston is seemingly put first. With each one of our children, a different parenting style must be used. The understanding has gotten tremendously better and will continue to improve as she gets older, but to Adelaide these decisions must feel like a slap in the face.
“Why doesn’t Preston have to sit in timeout?”
“Why does Preston get to have Cheetos for breakfast?”
“Why don’t I get to go to therapy and play?”
These questions are simply answered for Jason and I, but to an almost five year old, it’s anything but simple. I know that she certainly accepts it much better than I would. I pray on this subject constantly.
As parents, what is our greatest fear?
It’s a fairly complex question to answer, because it inspires a long list of other questions. When the day comes that Jason and I are no longer here, what will become of Preston?
Will he need someone to look after him? If yes, Adelaide would need to be that person. Will she be ready?
We were at the playground last week in the late afternoon chasing the warmth before the sun decided to disappear. Five minutes after we arrived, Adelaide had taken her bow out for literally no reason like she always does. After overhearing the older kids talk about what was going on nearby, she grabbed onto the wall and stood with her sandals in the holes of the brick so she could see the back of our neighborhood residents club. She could have walked 5 feet to her right and had a completely unobstructed view, but that’s far too boring for Adelaide. Over the fence there were a group of kids taking photographs for prom. She stood there for a while staring and saying absolutely nothing. I can just imagine the view that those dressed up kids had of her. From my perspective, the contrast between the little girl standing on the fence and the one Adelaide will be when she goes to “tron” (what she calls prom)- it’s unbelievable.
Here is what I know about Adelaide. Her smile is the sun. When she hugs you, she uses every limb. She kisses so hard that at times it can be painful. She’s got the music in her heart, all of it. Her memory recall is second to only her father. She loves Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the wildest ride in the Wildernesssss. Vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce is her favorite. She’d live at a day spa if she could. Pink is her power color. She and her father have their own very annoying language.
I love her.
Memorial Day Wreath
I also love decorating for holidays. I like to joke sometimes that I didn’t get the green thumb nickname given to those who garden, but I sure do have a sticky thumb. Sticky because I’m always crafting, DIY-ING, creating, gluing stuff together.
Adelaide inherited this trait, so it satisfies me to no end when she requests an activity where we can invent something together.
The Monday after Easter was depressing. The prospect of taking down all the beautiful decorations honestly makes me want to cry. I decided we’d start some early crafting for Memorial Day this year to take the edge off.
I love to give Adelaide projects that I can oversee, but overall, she can complete on her own. This wreath is a fabulous example of that.
Two weeks ago, Hobby Lobby was having a fifty percent off sale on their ribbons. I had Adelaide pick out several patriotic ones as well as a new small wreath.
For this project, we didn’t need glue. I simply had her cut the ribbon into small lengths at least the size of a regular pencil. Then, I directed her to tie the ribbons in knots around the branches of the wreath until she felt like it was complete.
She is extremely proud of how this wreath turned out and directed me to hang it on the wall next to our dining room table.
We used this same concept in making patriotic garland for our front porch last year. In creating the garland, we used several yards of jute rope. It held up nicely and you can see it in the photograph of all the kids on the swing.
I think we’re going to make a larger wreath using the same concept for our front door, but we might add a little something extra fun to spice it up. Stay tuned, friends! As always, send me photographs if you create one of our projects or tag us on social media using #DarlingClementineDIY - thank you!
Refurbished Goods
My arms are dog tired and full of sundresses on clear plastic hangers. On the tip top of my head, a messy bun barely contains my blonde hair. I squint, staring at the wall of dressing rooms in the front of me, searching for the one where I can see my mothers freshly pedicured red toes. Red has always been her power color.
“Did you try on that top yet? That was particularly cute. I want to see it on you.” I say.
“I’m putting it on now.” She replies.
A few moments later she comes out. I don’t think I’ve ever told her this, but her walk always changes when she’s trying on clothes. She’s always been effortlessly beautiful. Words she’s heard millions of times in her life, no doubt. Strutting over to the mirror, she studies the top.
“You have to get that one. It’s a blue tag, right?” I ask.
“Yes. You really think so?” She says. Mom always plays coy when she knows something looks fabulous on her.
“Come on. You know it looks good on you, plus it’s Trina Turk and an additional 40% off.”
She smiles, sashaying back to the dressing room. She’s buying it.
This has become our ritual at least once a month since I started college. We’ll pick a Saturday morning and meet at the tiny nail salon tucked inside our favorite strip mall in West Knoxville. We read outdated gossip magazines, get our nails done, and then mosey on down to Repeat Boutique - the BEST consignment store I’ve ever been to in my life.
The first thing you need to know is that, the ladies who work at Repeat Boutique are living, breathing ANGELS. Always offering up big toothy grins and heartfelt thank you’s to anyone who walks in the door. I remember they kept this massive bowl of peppermints by the cash register, and I’d grab one before I left every single time.
Back when I pledged my dearest allegiance to the United States of dresses and cute shoes, this store was my chosen playground. We were regulars and man, we found some amazing things that have stayed relevant in my closet to this day.
Since I was a little girl, my mother instilled in me all of the perks one can attain from simply being a hunter of deals. Full price? Only if it was absolutely necessary - this became our motto. It’s no wonder I steadily grew into the eccentric lover of all things old and new that I am today.
I wish I could say that I’d always been this way - but, that would be a huge fib. When it comes to home decor I was a lost puppy for so long, bee-bopping from one style to the next. One minute our home would be modern, the next minimalistic - then I’d moved on to bohemian. Oh, and we can never forget mid century mod. Thank you, Mad Men.
So, how did I arrive to where I am today?
I got mad. I put away all the magazines. I stopped watching HGTV. I learned that MY HOME DOESN’T HAVE TO LOOK LIKE A CATALOG OR A TELEVISION SHOW. It can be simply be me, I just had to figure out what exactly that was?
So, I tested myself. I am fully aware that that this might seem like backtracking, but I got on Pinterest. I logged out of my old account, a graveyard of every phase I’d been through over the last several years and created a completely new account. Before I started searching, I asked myself a question.
In all the homes I’d ever been in throughout my life, which ones had been my favorite?
There was one historic home outside of Atlanta that I thought of immediately and two or three B&B’s we’d stayed at in Savannah, Ga. But, it shocked the daylights out of me when I realized that a vast majority of them had been overseas. I also realized that none of my design choices in any of our homes have ever reflected anything remotely close to what I saw in any of those spaces.
I skipped the parts where it asked my interests and dove straight into it on Pinterest. I searched for The Swan and Minster Mill, a quaint bed & breakfast we stayed at in The Cotswolds. Several images popped up and I saved whatever jumped out at me. Next, I searched for The Olde Pink House in Savannah and immediately started craving fried chicken. I fought through my hunger and saved some things. The artwork inside that restaurant has always spoken to me.
These searches taught me more about myself and my style than I would have realized otherwise. I feel silly saying so, but it never occurred to me that I could dip my fingers in the paint jar of every style and smear them all on at once. Ironically, we happened to be building a new home at the time, and I started brainstorming.
Press the fast forward button and we will have been here in this home for three years on May 18th.
My parents are currently in the process of moving to our neighborhood after buying a home here last July. They are downsizing and getting rid of all types of things. My father had a very old dresser that he’d kept in his office for years that was passed down to him, it dates back to his great-great grandmother.
To my dad she was known as Grandma Wilson, and he was told that she purchased the dresser locally in Newport, Tennessee where she lived for many years.
After noticing my newfound love for all things old, my father gifted it to me in December, and I’m ashamed to say that it sat in my garage until we returned home from vacation in March. Knowing it would be a project piece the moment it arrived at my home, I was a little terrified to start it.
Four months was long enough, I jumped right in. I knew that the old finish would need to be removed from the dresser, but I didn’t want to go through with the time consuming job of stripping it. I also wasn’t sure how this antique would hold up with stripping. First, I removed all the hardware and then applied Minwax Antique Furniture Refinisher all over the dresser. Within minutes the old finish had dissolved.
Afterwards, I applied the first stain color I picked out - Minwax Dark Walnut. I let it dry overnight. The next morning, I dropped off the kids at school and then applied Minwax English Chestnut.
This isn’t the first time I have used these two different stains. I’ve always found that I get closer to the color I like when I layer these up.
I let the English Chestnut stain dry overnight and then applied a layer of polyurethane. The next day it was dry, and I was so pleased with my work that I wasn’t waiting for Jason to get home, I rolled it inside the house all by myself.
I’d always imagined this dresser going in Preston’s bedroom but apparently it had very different plans. After walking it inside the house I paused in the hallway right outside of our master bedroom. I saw the dresser against the pretty blue paint of that space and decided it was demanding to be my bedside table.
I am crazy about it in this room and I have also discovered that Jason loves it as well. He is extremely jealous that it’s on my side of the bed! Now I need to find one like it for him.
View the gallery below to see more of my new, very old favorite dresser!
Xx.
Easter Greetings
I hit the rewind button in my head and time traveled back to Easter 2020.
Church service on the television. Pizza for breakfast. All four of us still in our pajamas at 1:00 p.m. - it honestly could have been later. A very long late afternoon bath for the kids that gave them super wrinkly fingers. Preston happily playing in the bubbles. Adelaide all dressed up with no where to go. An “Aha!” moment that inspired a very last minute sunset egg hunt with the kids. Did they know how odd this all was?
We did the best we could. How many times have I said this, have we all said this over the last year? Too many. I suppose we’re blessed to be able to say it at all.
I’m currently writing to you from our blissful Easter bubble. It seems odd to define it that way but there have been multiple egg hunts, friends, family, chocolate mustaches, and too many crafts to count. So, what else do I call it? We’re in this stage of fabulous hopefulness that would have seemed almost impossible all those months ago.
I realized something about myself recently when thinking back on the last year. I found that I grieved the memories we lost out on so greatly that I forgot to be thankful for the imperfect ones we were making. Easter last year wasn’t the sparkly fun filled holiday I dreamt up for us, but the four of us were together and that is and will always be absolutely enough.
Now, lets move on to something else - Easter Bird Nests! These are so much yummier, cuter, and easier to make than I ever could have imagined. I have decided that they must become a tradition for our family. It’s official, it’s happening. :)
Here is how we made them!
Ingredients:
4 cups of Chow Mein Noodles
3 cups of Reese’s Peanut Butter Baking Chips
3 cups of Milk Chocolate Chips
Shimmer Pastel Almonds (Jelly beans could be an alternative for this!)
This made 24 cookies!
Line a large tray with wax paper.
Place milk chocolate chips and peanut butter chips in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute; stir. If necessary, microwave at medium an additional 10 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, until all those tasty chips are completely melted and mixture is smooth when stirred.
Add chow mein noodles (you’ll want to make sure you break up the very large noodles); stir well to coat completely.
Drop mixture by onto prepared tray in circles the size of a regular can top; press down with spoon to form a nest shape. Immediately press 2 to 3 candy eggs into each nest.
Let the nests stand until firm or you can pop them into the refrigerator for about 10 minutes. Store in tightly covered container.
Here are some images I took while making our birds nests!
Are you looking for something to fill up the rest of your Easter evening? Go grab yourself the ingredients and have some fun! These would be excellent for dessert tonight with some vanilla ice cream or maybe a belated festive treat. YUM.