Decorating a Nantucket House

August 13, 2013 By 6 Comments

Do you want to know why I was most excited to move to Nantucket? The beaches? The restaurants? The people?      NOPE!

Sorry about it, but I was most excited to decorate a Nantucket house!!!  (Actually, I am not this shallow, but it would make my Top 5.)

Come take the tour and get some tips for Do-it-Yourself decorating and also some great home decor items at our online boutique: www.millyandgrace.com

Welcome to our Nantucket Beach House!

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The Kitchen

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I love white kitchens! They are so bright and clean and it allows you to choose whatever accent color you want.  Our kitchen aid mixer is Ice Blue so I got some blue mason jars and filled them with turquoise straws from Etsy.  I have never liked clutter, so I tried to keep it simple.  Sometimes, my husband will clutter up the kitchen because he is the chef in the family and I will say “Umm Did you forget everything you learned at orientation?”

D-I-Y: Use Pelligrino Bottles in your kitchen as decoration.  It adds a distinctive pop of color without breaking the bank!

SHOP:  I also love this grid flower jar from Milly & Grace. It’s the perfect place to put a fresh bouquet of hydrangeas from your garden.

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The Living Room

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This was probably my favorite room to decorate. My inspiration was the picture from our wedding above the fireplace. I love all of the ocean colors and had fun tying in different textures to match with the picture by Zofia and Co.

D-I-Y: If you want the feel and look of a fire during the summer months, get some candles of different heights and arrange them in your fireplace.

SHOP: Items at www.millyandgrace.com tied this whole room together.  I love the marine hobnail candle, the filigree votives match perfectly, and the sweet tea candle  and the willow vase give off that beach cottage feel.

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The Library

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If you read my blog post 13 Books for 2013, you know that I love to read, so you can imagine how much I enjoy our library.

D-I-Y: Take some of your favorite book jackets and get them framed!  It makes the perfect decoration for your library or study.  I recommend the Harry Potter books because of all the bright colors.

SHOP: I love libraries to the Moon & Back, so this square art from Milly & Grace was the perfect addition.

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Guest Bedroom

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If you read my blog post Groom-zilla Part I, you know that I love the color coral and I am very specific with the shade of coral that I like.  I love our guest bedroom so much that sometimes I want to move into it.

D-I-Y:  I wanted picture frames in specific colors to hang on the walls, but I could not find coral or turquoise or navy blue picture frames.  So, I bought white ones at Michaels and then painted them myself with acrylic paint that is sold in almost every color imaginable.

SHOP: I love this coral hobnail candle from Milly & Grace. It matches so well, but adds a different texture to the room!  It smells really great too, even when it’s not burning.  I am also thinking about tying in this coral pillow that we just added to the online store!

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Yoga Room

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Yes, we have a yoga room!  This usually results in an eye roll from people, but let me tell you WHY we have a yoga room.  I wanted so many things for the new house that my husband decided to put a stop to it and say “No more furniture!”  I asked myself, “What can I do with a room that would not require any furniture?”  Enter Yoga Room!  LED candles around the room, a couple of your favorite sunset pictures on the wall, a Namaste sign from Etsy, a peace lily and you have yourself your own Yoga studio!  Now I just have to find the time to use it! ;)

D-I-Y: Design your own Yoga Room for that extra bedroom and for when your spouse is being a party-pooper because of your spending habits!

SHOP:  You can find a place for these white unscented votive candles in any yoga room!

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Master Bedroom

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Gray and white stripes with pops of yellow is what I decided for our master bedroom and it doesn’t get any more Nantucket than that!

D-I-Y: I love the look of everything gray and white with just one pop of color.  All the pictures, frames, furniture, etc are gray and white to make the yellow really stand out!  After all, nothing says Rise-and-Shine like yellow!

SHOP:   Washing your hands has never been so fun than with this all-natural hand soap!  It’s available in 4 colors/scents to match with your master suite and tie the bathroom and bedroom together.

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Every Nantucket table should have the latest copy of N Magazine on it and these Nantucket inspired tin candles are the perfect pairing with it.  I love these tins because they can be reused after the candle is gone as a special keepsake of your favorite island.  Collect all four designs/scents!

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I hope you enjoyed the tour!

Sometimes I think I fulfill every stereotype out there and do you know what I will say to that,

“See you next Tues-Gay!” :)

Filed Under: Nantucket, Tim Tagged With: , , 6 Comments

The Godfather

August 6, 2013 By 6 Comments

“Tuesday’s With Tim” is reporting LIVE on location this week in his home state of Wisconsin!  It has been a while since the last time I was off island, so the first thing I did was get my Venti Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks and a cheeseburger with no mustard from McDonalds!  I am curious, if you lived on Nantucket, a place without any popular franchises, what would you miss the most?

I am here in Wisconsin for a very special occasion.  My best friends welcomed a beautiful baby boy into the world and his baptism was this past Sunday!  I was honored when they asked me to be his godfather a couple months ago. So, everybody, I would like you to meet my godson:

PARKER DAVID CULLEN

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What in the world do godparents give for baptism gifts? You know how some people have phobias of being in crowds or of spiders, I have two very specific phobias.  1 – Will I get good pictures of the event? (My husband used to say that I only went places for the pictures!) and 2 -Can I come up with a creative gift idea?

I racked my brain what to get Parker for his baptism and I was stumped!  After searching the internet, I realized that I would have to come up with my own idea because all the traditional gifts were not quite what I was looking to do.  I decided to write Parker a letter. In the letter, I give him some advice as he grows up!  I would like to share it with you all, just in case you have been at a loss for a baptism gift for your godson or goddaughter.

Dear Parker,

I was truly honored when your parents asked me to your godfather.  I met your mom 12 years ago in college and we have been friends ever since.  I watched your mom marry your dad 3 years ago and now, here I am today at your baptism. My gifts to you on this special day have a lot of meaning for me and I hope someday they mean something to you.  Ever since I was young, I loved to read and maybe someday you will too.  So, here are some of my favorite books that I have read through out my life.

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Dear Zoo and Dr. Seuss’s ABC – These were my favorite books when I was a baby.  The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – This was one of the first books I read all by myself and I still love it.  It taught me to dream, but that there was no place like home.  Harry Potter – Even though I read this in college, I hope someday you enjoy Harry Potter and his adventures as much as I did.  Pillars of the Earth – This is one of my favorite books as an adult.  I thought it was appropriate today because its all about building a church!

You may not know this, but one of my favorite things about your Dad is that he likes to write letters.  Your Dad is a great writer and maybe someday, you will like to write too…  So, here are some crayons to scribble with, here are some markers you can use when you first learn to write your name, here are some pencils to take to your first day of school, and lastly, here is a special pen with your initials on it. Maybe, when you are all grown up, you can write me a letter with it, just like your Dad!

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The third thing I want you to try and do as you grow up is to always plan for your future. Here is a piggy bank to save your quarters when you help your Mom and Dad out around the house.  Here is a wallet to put your cash in when you get your first job, and here is a savings bond to use for college.  Saving money is important, but also treat yourself every once in awhile.  I put some quarters in your piggy bank for some candy and I put some cash in your wallet to maybe use on your first date.

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Lastly, I give you this cross to put in your room as a symbol for many things.  First, as a symbol of today and your baptism.  Also, I hope this cross reminds you to always love and respect others, no matter their differences, to never judge anyone for those differences and to always be yourself!

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I can’t wait to watch you grow up Parker.  I will always be here for you if you need anything and I hope every time you pick up one of these books, or color with your crayons or count your quarters or look at the cross in your room, you know how much you are loved..

Love Always,

Uncle Tim

If Parker could talk he would probably say “Dude with the bowtie! – What do you expect me to do with any of these gifts?” I am only three months old and I still soil myself 10 times a day!”  What I liked about this gift idea though was that it represents Parker’s whole life.

For Parker as a baby:

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For Parker as a teenager:

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For Parker as an adult:

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Welcome to the world Parker! I am already so proud of you!

See you next Tuesday! :)

Filed Under: Inspiration, Tim Tagged With: 6 Comments

Groom-zilla Part II

July 30, 2013 By 6 Comments

Happy Tuesday!

 Last week I presented you with a post about a Groom-zilla, namely ME!  I was married on Nantucket last year and I was very detailed in my planning.  In case you missed it, here it is: Groom-Zilla Part I

Today, I will share two other areas of our wedding that MIGHT remind you of that large dinosaur-like creature that terrorized Tokyo.

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3. MATCHY MATCHY – IT ALL TIES TOGETHER!

Have you ever asked your friend what they think of your outfit and they answered, “It’s a little matchy-matchy!”  This basically means they don’t like it because it all matches too perfectly.  Well, I would never say this to you because I LOVE when everything matches perfectly.

Our Wedding festivities began with a themed Welcome Party.  My husband and I met in college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, so we planned an old-fashioned college house party.  Everything was red and white, our alma mater’s school colors. There were red roses everywhere, red and white picture frames, red and white cake pops for dessert and YES!  you guessed it, we asked everyone to wear Red and White!

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The Welcome Party paid tribute to where we met, so the next day “The Rehearsal Dinner” honored the place we decided to get married!  We had a very traditional Nantucket picnic by the beach complete with navy blue and white stripes, picnic baskets, white hydrangeas and other nautical details.  And again, everything was “matchy matchy” because everyone wore something blue or nautically inspired :)

blue

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Judging me yet?  Color coordinating may seem over the top and I will agree with you!  Someone asked one of our grooms maids what she was wearing for the welcome party and she responded, “My outfits were decided for me 12 months ago!”

But, WAIT! The most Groom-zilla moment is yet to come!

4. SAY YES TO THE DRESS – GROOMS MAID EDITION

I have a question… Who is the first person in history to come up with the concept of bridesmaid dresses?  Who thought it would be a good idea to have ONE person pick out ONE dress for all of their friends?  It must have been a straight man…  I would like to travel back in time and have a few words with him.

I would like to start by saying I TRIED to be easy about this in the beginning.  But what I should have realized and what I am sure most of you readers have figured out by now is easy-going is not necessarily an adjective used to describe “Tuesdays With Tim!”

Let me paint you the picture.  We had 13 girls in our wedding party!  7 on my side, 6 on my husbands.  13!!!!!  Of all different heights, shapes and styles.  I wanted everyone to like and be comfortable in their dress so, I said “Get a white dress!” Summery, formal, and bright white!”  Then I changed my mind… I said to myself “That will never match!”

So I picked out options of white dresses online.  Then I changed my mind…

I found a white dress in different styles from a bridesmaid dress designer, but changed my mind because I would not get to see them before we ordered and I also decided I hated them.

I was back to “Pick a white dress!

  Since all the girls lived all over the U.S., I didn’t get to see some of the dresses together until about a month before the wedding.  This is what I saw!

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Well, needless to say… This wasn’t going to work out!  However, if you remember from Groom-zilla Part I, my friends came up with a code.  “D.T.T” or “Don’t Tell Tim,” which they used when anything had the potential to go wrong.  No one would tell me this looked as bad as it did!  Not even my future spouse!  It was a month until the wedding!!!  It was my own fault!  Of course, all the different white dresses were not going to match!   It all worked out in the end though.  We found a beautiful white dress in two styles.  We survived what our wedding party liked to call, “The White Dress Diaries” and to this day I still cringe when I see a white dress!

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In closing,  I am a genuinely good guy.  I hope these Groom-zilla posts haven’t made you blog readers despise “Tuesdays with Tim.”  If you have any Bridezilla or Groomzilla moments please share them with me to make me feel better!   If you have planned a wedding, you might find out that you will fixate on some details. As you have found out from these posts, I  fixated on many, but at the wedding, I truly enjoyed the day for what it was all about!  Marrying the love of my life in front of family and friends, no matter what color we were all wearing. ;)

BUT, I will leave you with one more glimpse into the twisted mind of this Groom-zilla.  We were married the weekend before Fourth of July and through-out the three days of wedding events, the wedding party wore

RED,                                        WHITE,                               and BLUE!

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TOP THAT GODZILLA!

See you next Tuesday!

Filed Under: Nantucket, Tim 6 Comments