It has been a slow and lazy weekend. I had a flare up of my back problems and spent most of Saturday on my bed with a heating pad. Today I am feeling much better, I just can't twist at the waist too much {as if I'll be going dancing}. It was painful but a nice time to catch up on my decorating books and get some ideas for that family room of mine. At Home With Country is a fantastic source of inspiration...I am looking at colors that go well with my pale yellow walls and I keep gravitating to that beautiful shade of blue on the cover of the book...
We postponed the trip to Ikea until next weekend because of my back. I told The Husband about the white slip covered couch that I had heard so many nice things about {and thank you everyone for your input on Ikea furniture. It was mostly positive and very helpful}. When he heard 'white' he hit the ceiling. Okay, 4 almost grown up kids and 2 dogs {black and white, can't win there}, maybe it isn't a wise decision, but the beauty of it is that it's washable. He then begged to pardon me on my distaste for doing laundry and I really didn't have a chance. Until...we looked at them on the website. And he saw the prices. I think it is safe to say that I am going to get the couch and chair and the Billy bookcase. Yay, I will finally get that room done. It gets used very little because the living room and kitchen are basically one big room and the family room is in the back of the house facing the backyard {and a beautiful view of all the trees and my flowers}. This may just turn into Blondie's favorite room. 
I forgot to download a picture, but if you have the new Pottery Barn catalog, the first page has a big beautiful white couch and a gorgeous round coffee table. I am in love with the coffee table. It's white and chippy with a chippy wood top. I need some wood tones in this room for balance. I have some PB furniture and although it is expensive, it is very well made. So, what do you think about pale yellow walls, a white sofa and chair and aqua/ blue accents as shown on the cover of the book?
Enough with decorating. Friday night we went out with a group of friends to a restaurant named Chuck's. It features a lot of New Orleans style food. We have been here twice and each time we leave bursting at the seams. This time The Husband had the jambalaya, it doesn't make for a pretty picture and he frowns on me photographing his food. I had the rib eye with a Cajun sauce. It was delicious.
We also shared this pan of cornbread...the best I have ever had. What a feast it was. Our friends really enjoyed it, too.Well, I am going to go back to my decorating books and try to come up with more ideas. I hope all of you are having a good weekend. I'll be back next week! :-)
92 comments:
Oh my! Chuck's looks like its' just this side of heaven!!! YUM!
m ^..^
Oh I think your room sounds divine! And the fact that it is at the back of the house & private overlooking the garden makes it all the more apealing doesn't it?
Sorry to hear about the back. I can feel your pain. I have had that twice in the last couple of years & it is very painful. Although heating pads make it feel better it really makes the tissue in that area swell which make the nerves pinch worse. My doctor tells me to ice my back for the cold makes those tissues shrink & keeps the pressure off the nerves. Try it & see if it helps you. I got a gel pack that stays in my freezer from my chiropractor. HUGS! Charlene
Sounds lovely to me! I have never been to IKEA but sure would like to go! I am gonna go take a peek at the catalog! White wouldn't work around here but I know it will be beautiful! Enjoy your Sunday AND that food looks DELICIOUS... especially the cornbread! HUGS!
OOPs, forgot to comment on your back:( Hope it feels better!
I have yellow walls and I think that coffee table sounds perfect. Hope your back gets to feeling better! The photos of your dinner out make me hungry!
I hope your back is feeling better and yay on new furniture! I think that being able to wash the slip cover is a good thing I wish sometimes I could take something off and wash it. Food looks DELICIOUS! Have a great sunday..
~Allyson~
It's good to hear your back is better, Jane. I can't wait to see the changes you are making. Sounds beautiful!
Glad you are feeling better sweet friend
sending you prayers
and Blessings
Pam
I often look at my decorating books and magazines even if I don't have decorating projects in mind.
Hope you are feeling better. No shoveling for you!
Decorating books and good food. Sounds wonderful. :)
I hope your back gets back to 100% really soon Jane. I love the sound of your room...you could always ban others from it if they don't help with washing the covers :) Or putting them back on! Take care and stay warm.
Sorry Jane about your back...glad you are feeling better though. And OH my Chucks looks way too delish, not on my diet plan...lol! Have a great evening.
The photo of that food is making me hungry Jane !!
I know what you are going through with your back ! I have been having a horrible pain in my neck and shoulder since New Years. It is not fun to be in constant pain!
I hope you feel better soon Jane!
Pamela xo
I do hope your back heals well. I think your yellow walls, white sofa, and aqua accents sounds divine and a room perfect for Blondie!! The food...gosh I wish I weren't dieting. It reminds me of all I'm missing out on. :-(
Oh, so sorry about the back... just stay & down & rest. And if I lived closer, I would come & do your vacuuming & such, while you sat & watched with the cup of tea I just made you...
I think your ideas on the family room sound lovely. A nice cozy room with a view just for you. Here is my theory... you raised your kids, did a really good job & now it is your turn for some loveliness... : )
I hope this finds you with your feet up on the couch, sweatsuit on, blanket covering you, & a good magazine..
Okay, now I'm having a PB meltdown. I have to go find that catalog and give it a look. LOVE how it sounds!!!
Janie, I hate to hear that you've been down with your back! I hope you are feeling better now and continue to improve. Back trouble is no fun.
I am starting to question my sanity. While I commented on other things in your last post, I failed to comment about IKEA. Yes, I've been to IKEA, and my white linen drapes were all purchased at one in Connecticut. My cousin (the architect) is the one who turned me onto them. He had several pieces of furniture from IKEA and was pleased with it. A friend of mine's son has also purchased furniture from IKEA as has another friend's daughter and her husband, and they all seem pleased. Just wanted to throw that into the pot! :-) Seems like I also heard someone on the blogs say that they liked that sofa.
Your food looks SO good. I need to go cook something now. I've been sidetracked today from my blogging, but I wanted to get a few minutes in before I ate.
Sending you get well hugs...
XO,
Sheila :-)
Ouch on the back and glad you are doing better! I think the room sounds wonderful! Yellow, white and aqua blue...gorgeous. I think the Ikea couch has options for other slip covers. Which couch were you looking at? Still sounds gorgeous to me. Take care and oh that food looks yummy! hugs, Linda
Big sympathy for the back aches! I hope you can take it easy and get back to normal soon. The IKEA couch will be a winner. I have a friend who has a white slip covered couch for all of the 14 years I've known her and it is in a room with a fireplace, her family members all live in jeans and it looks as good as the day she bought it. Liatorp is the name of the shelves that we bought from IKEA - have a look! Parts of it are on page 82 of the 2010 catalogue.
I think white and blue will pop against pale yellow. My walls are pale yellow and I have a lot of blue, white, and pink. Really as a result of thrift finds...nothing was planned. Please rest your back and take care lovey. Love that cornbread!
hope your back is better soon. your dinner sounds great! I want to get decorating too, but still recouping from surgery....head is willing body..not so much. Soon we will both be up and running again! ;)
Hey Janie,
I just love your ideas for that room! Those are my favorite colors, and it all sounds so wonderful!
I got home about an hour ago. Long day of flying and driving but it was a wonderful trip! Next year I need to talk you into coming with me. We could even rent a motel near my son's home so we would have space to spread out.
Too bad were not closer! Next weekend the Bears and Packers play for the chance to go to the superbowl. Boy is Dan pumped up!
Hugs Friend and take care of your sore back.
I need to unpack and catch up on blogging.
Cindy
Oh Jane.....Don't you just love decorating books.....I'm ALMOST A HOARDER!! (O:(O:(O:
Xo
Jo
I'm glad your back is on the mend, dear. And your plans for the room sound great - I love slipcovers. Granted, mine are denim, so they actually don't need as much washing as white will, but the beauty with white is that you can always bleach it.
Hope your back is back to normal very soon.
xoox,
-maria
Jane, blue and yellow is a gorgeous color combo! I think you should make that your room. Decorate it with your pretties and everyone else can be in the other room. Every woman needs her own private retreat.
Brenda
The food looks delish and congrats re the hubby getting on board about your furniture purchases! XX
I am in love with the cornbread!
I think your room sounds beautiful! I am sorry to hear about your back. I am having some trouble with bursitis. Oh well, that isn't too bad a thing to have wrong!
Jane your color combo sounds very happy, I love it! Dinner looked fab and so glad your back is feeling better:@)
Janie,
Glad you back is better. Mine flairs up occasionally, too. Looking forward to seeing your changes! Stay warm. I am hearing 10 below here this Friday. Brrrrrrrr!
OMGosh, Blondie...I have the new Pottery Barn catalog and I would eat LIVE ZEBRAS for that coffee table.
I want you to get it!! I don't care if it's a million dollars...you will never, ever grow tired of it and it will only get prettier with age.
With your yellows, blues, white sofa, that table is JUST what you need. Now, I am excited and can';t wait to see if you get it.
Hope your ole back is much better and that your week is going to be a blessed one.:)
hugs, bj
Glad you had your heating pad and good reading material . . . but hope you are on the mend.
Fondly,
Glenda
Sorry to hear you are having back problems Jane. I hope you get to feeling much better soon. I look forward to seeing your room all finished. I wish we had an Ikea Store close. I see such neat things from them on blogs. Maybe someday. Take care of yourself! Connie
Oh that book looks wonderful as well as that fabulous meal! Wouldn't mind spending time with either!! Hope your back is feeling better!!
Miss Bloomers
Oh my....that cornbread looked delicious!! Sorry to read about your back....hope you are up and about soon. Take care.
Jane
I'm sorry your back went out, but it is always nice to have a quiet day to catch up and read decorating books! I'm also glad that you've won the battle for the white sofa, I think it will be beautiful with touches of blue and soft yellow walls! Stay rested and have a wonderful week!
Kat :)
Sorry to hear you down with your back. Hope you are better soon. It does sound like a good opportunity to spend time with your decorating books. Certainly one of my favorite things to do. ;-)
The food looks delicious! ~ Sarah
Love the colors~ and that cornbread!!! YUM!! Hope your back is better soon!
I would love a white couch, seeing them all over blogland has me hooked. I can't wait to see your room finished, it sounds beautiful! Hope your back continues to improve, it really stops you cold when your back hurts!
I love the theme you are putting together... LOVE the couches and the table!! Go for it. Be careful when picking yellow - it's a tricky color when painting walls, you don't want to harsh or brash or urine looking - definitely a very soft butter yellow with aqua accents would be gorgeous. Good luck! I look forward to the reveal!
Sorry to hear that your back was giving you trouble again at the weekend, but the silver lining is that you persuaded DH to shop at IKEA.
Your proposed colour scheme sound lovely and I too can foresee that room becoming Blondie's space.
BTW the cornbread looked wicked!
Morning sweetie...I hope you're having a great day and feeling better...I swooned when I saw the pic of Chuck's food sample...I haven't even had breakfast yet!!!! lol I love looking at decorating books...they give such inspiring ideas and I am in the mood to be inspired...thanks for coming by girl and you take care and have a great week...Picket
Glad to hear you back is getting better! Your family room sounds like it is going to be wonderful. We have a lot of the same decorating books....
Hugs,
Penny
and a slow lazy week, too
look at it out there in the burbs ... s.n.o.w.!
adding etsy items all day today!!!
It sounds to me like your room is going to be very beautiful, yellow and a soft turquoise look so sweet together, in my opinion, anyways. You say it's a room that isn't used much, maybe it can be your room then! And that couch and chair are going to be so lovely in there, I am looking forward to seeing the end result. This is the first time I have been on your blog and I love it.
Hugs, Cindy
Ooooo, your decorating ideas sound fanstastic. And the yummy food too! :)
Hope you get to feeling better soon, Jane!
Hugs,
Zuzu
Yay for Ikea's prices that sold your hubby! Hope your back is feeling better, Jane. At least that yummy meal must have helped. I loved that new PB catalog, too!
- Susan
Dear Jane,
thanks for sharing that book! It has been on my wish list for a long time...
And a HUGE thank you for reminding me NOT to give up! Your words were incredibly comforting... thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Hope you feel better soon- heating pad over here too... on my neck and shoulders :((
Hugs,
Monica xo
Your color scheme sounds wonderful! I'm headed over to check out Ikea online. I always knew my hubby would have the same reaction but if it's cheap enough, maybe he won't argue it either. I'll have to wait until we move again. Each new house brings new room layouts, etc. But I so want a room with white. Crossing fingers!
Back troubles! Oh sigh.... It's been a nice long time since mine hit, and I'm getting nervous, now.
Take-Good-Care-Of-Yourself-And-Rest! Let it heal.....
Hugs & ♥'s...
'Cause Valentine Day is coming!
Jane..your back ! Ouch, I know the feeling! I hope you are keeping your feet up. I think you have the perfect selection of books here. Smart woman....might as well make good use of rest time :)
Jambalaya....music to my ears! I love that word. How I miss food like that :)
I see you have made changes to your blog? It is bright and cheerful, I love it!!
Keep well dear Jane...
Jeanne xxx
Hi Janie...
Ohhh noooo...I'm so sorry to hear that your back is bothering you, sweet friend! Sending lots of good thoughts and prayers your way, Darlin'! Feel better!!!
Well, at least you got to browse all of your interior design books over the weekend...that's a positive! Jane, I am sooo excited for you! A new sofa and bookshelves to boot!!! Yeeehawww! Girl, I have that new PB catalog and I love that room! I think that a big, chunky wood coffee table would look gorgeous with the white sofa! I also think that using aqua blue for an accent color would be gorgeous! With the yellow wall color...a white sofa...and soft blue accents...you would have a very soft and romantic room! It would be very pretty! Can I tell you what I have been dreaming of? I have an entire upstairs that needs to be finished and decorated. I would love to do a butter yellow wall color...and using gray for my accent color! I have always thought that yellow and gray...with cream...and french decor...would be sooo pretty! Kind of Paris Apartment feel. Anyway, my dear...I can't wait to see what you do in that room! Have lots of fun but don't overdo it!!!
Love ya,
Chari
Sounds like the makings of a very cool room. I love those white couches too, just can't do it with a black cat!
Oh I am sorry about your back. Ugh!
New furniture in your future! WHO HOO!!!
Food looks fabulous!
Next time we all get together in AZ - you just have to come. You'd have way too much fun! But we need 2 days! One to eat and one to shop! (hehehe)
Have a great week. Keep us posted with your purchases!
:) Karen
Oh YAY, Jane! How exciting that you are redecorating your room...the color scheme sounds blissful! can't wait to see it! and would you please send me some of that cornbread! Yummie!
;-D Kathleen
Hi Janie... thanks for your encouraging words always, you're the best!... love all your decorating books, I am just so sorry your back is giving you trouble... nothing worse than a backache... I think your room is going to be just gorgeous... everything you do turns out so perfect, and your home always says "welcome"... feel better soon... xoxo Julie Marie PS That food looks yummy too!
Hello Blondie, Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a sweet comment. So sorry to hear your back is bothering you. Good that you got to rest and look at books. My favorite past-time! We have alot of the same books. That first one looks interesting, I'm gonna try and track that one down. Your dinner's looked delish!
Shirl
Shirls Rose Cottage
I think your ideas and colors for the room are divine! I hope you get what YOU want. :-)
That food looks delish...I am so hungry right now. Glad your back is better. I understand pain, that's for sure. Between my knees & back lately, it's not been fun.
Take care of yourself, ok?
xoxo
Pat
Jane,
I had the same back trouble that you did last Thursday. I was on the couch all day long. I feel your pain. Hope you are doing better.
The food looks delish. Steak is my favorite thing in the works and cajun spices sound wonderful on it.
So glad that you are getting your furniture. I can't wait to see the finished room
I'm so glad that your back is feeling better today, Jane. I know how terrible back problems are. Hubby's got them. :( I'm so glad that your hubby agreed to the sofa! I have 3 cats, 1 dog and a not-so-clean husband ~~ all with white slipcovers on every piece of living room furniture, as well as a white linen duvet on our bed. All washable. That's the secret!! You should have no problems at all keeping it clean! :)
And your ideas for your cozy room sound absolutely beautiful. Then again.....PB ideas are always spot-on!!! :)
xoxo laurie
I am in awe of your decorating ability! Thanks for the hints and inspiration. Take care of yourself. And, oh, the cornbread!
Oh Jane that is terrible about your back...I've been there. I hope you are feeling a bit better. Your white furniture will be great, you'll love it. My furniture is white and I have a nine and a four year old...it always looks great. I am kind of a stickler for washing their hands and mouths after eating though, so I think that helps to ward off any problems. Best wishes ♥
Sorry to hear you're hurting, Jane. Bummer on the bad back! I hope you can get some relief.
Your plans for the new white sofa sound wonderful. I can't wait for you to complete it all so we can see photos.
Do keep in mind that blue jeans will rub off color onto white, though. Laura Ingls Gunn did a great blog post on the pros & cons of white furniture slipcovers.
http://decortoadore.blogspot.com>/2008/04/secrets-about-slipcovers.html
OMG, that meal looks divine! I love the colors you are picking out. My friend has two young kids and two large dogs. She simply bleaches her white slip covers over and over. I can't wait to see it finished.
I too am sorry to hear you are down with your back. The good news is you are better AND you had some delightful reading material. I would say you are on the right track with your color choices. Sounds so different (and a nice change) from what I have always had. I feel ready for color changes too.
Nice to hear about Chuck's. my dd lives in Chicago and we are always looking for a new and wonderful restaurant to try when we visit.
Donna
Sorry about your back, Janie. Hope it's better. I am excited about you redecorating. I can't wait to see the room finished. Mmmm, that food looks delish! I think New Orleans kind of food is one of the best....Christine
Hey there, Jane...glad to know your back is feeling better! Hope it continues! I can hardly wait to see the results of the inspiration you get from all your decorating books...you never disappoint!
Hey Miss jane!!!! I hope your back starts feeling better real soon! That food looks so good!!! My dh wouldn't have a white couch either. =(
SO sorry about your back :( Hope you feel better.
It looks so yummy !!
Hugs
Wow... I'm flattered, my book is in such great company! Hope your back feels better real soon. Just keep telling it, no more Cajun rib eye until it gets it's act together.
Your family room sounds like it's going to be fabulous Jane. Running to get my PB catalog and look at the sofa now. xoxo Lynn P.S. Yes, the rum extract is right on the baking aisle by the vanilla. The bread pudding is so easy and a great way to use old bread, rolls, etc. The rum sauce really makes it special.
OMG Jane, I was reading your post and thinking about the comment I would leave about your color choices — which I love btw, your back woes — so sorry, your collection of decorating books ‚ WOW and then I reached the last pic of that cornbread and everything flew out of my head. I had to go back and reread it again. That is, after I cleaned up the drool on my desk.
That looks amazing! Now I'm hungry and I have to go make dinner……think I'll throw a cornbread in the over too!
But, I do love the sound of the yellow, aqua and white. Sounds so refreshing and kinda beachy. Looking forward to the redo.
Hugs
Oh I love Ikea...such a fun store, sort of like a Disneyland for shoppers. I hope your back is better soon.
Hi Jane,
Oh sorry about your back, BUT what a great excuse to drool over your books all day:-))
I have a sofa that I love the shape of, but is old and well yuck! I went the slip cover route and I wondered how I would do with four dogs. I am beyond thrilled... it is so nice to just throw in the wash, and know it really is clean, not just hidden dirt.
I don't think I ever did show the before on the tea table, I am bad at getting the before shots before it's too late...
Hope you feel better soon!
Hugs to You,
Bella
Jane,
Hope you back gets to feeling better. You have a nice collection of decorating books. I have some of those. I will have to look at Pottery Barn's Website, don't get the catalog. Have you ever gone to Restoration Hardware's website? It is wonderful too.
Sherry
Sorry to hear about your back, Jane. Hope you're back to your old self now. :)
That looks like a great decorating book... love Country Living! Did you see their last issue... the special "White Issue"? LOVED it!
Glad to hear you won your hubby over on the white couches. They really are wonderful! OK... so washing them kind of sucks, but it's like getting a brand new couch with each wash! Love that!
Oh wow... the food looks delicious! It's making me hungry... lol!
Hope you have a great day, Jane!
XO,
Jo :)
Hi sweetie, your meal at the end looks sooooo delicious! Our menu this evening cheesy potato soup! Your new room sounds so fun and inviting. I'm loving the idea of adding some blue into the mix. I haven't received my new catalog yet, but checked it out on line... great choice! Still no snow in our area. I sure hope your back is feeling much better. hugs~lynne~
Hi Jane!
I popped over from Charlene at My Hearts Ease :) I am now following your Blog.
Your food looks delicious! That makes me want to cook a steak tonight!
Hope your back is better!
LuLu Kellogg
I just had my dinner and now my tiny mouth is watering! Yum, that looks good.
I hate to hear your back has been hurting you. Hope you're up and bouncing around really soon!
I'm so proud for you getting your new sofa. Can't wait to see them.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
That Cabbage & Roses book looks really good. I would love to get that next. Have to pace myself. Thanks for your sweet comment!:)
Sherry
Oh that cornbread looks amazing!
Good luck with the furniture too!
Jane, that cornbread looks sooooo good! Sorry to hear about your back. Do you know about tens units? Wearing a tens unit and a heating pad got me through 2 separate year long painful frozen shoulders. Please look them up! They are a good non drug pain reliever! PS. They aren't that expensive- the one I bought was only $30!
Jane, I wasn't hungry..but now I am...that looks so good.
Two root canals today put me down for the afternoon..and gave me time to make up my mind on colors for the house.
I love that sort of time for ourselves...but having a bad back is terrible. I know the pain is terrible!!
Glad to hear your back is feeling better Jane. Your family room ideas sound great...especially the white furniture...can't wait to see it all done! Take care! ~Deb~
So sorry to hear
that you were down
with your back ~ ugh.
I think all of your
decorating dreams
sound gorgeous. I
love drooling over the
PB catalog and IKEA is
just so clever that I
get a ton of ideas there,
too. Have fun with it!!
xx Suzanne
dear Jane, i feel so sad reading that you too have back problems. i see my hubby everyday with his stiff neck and back pain and sitting on the couch with his hot pad and i can understand how it can affect your energy. take good care of yourself and enjoy these moments reading your beautiful books. can't wait to see your new room ^-^
Oh my goodness, that cornbread looks so, so good! Nothing like a good meal! I hope your back is feeling better!
~Michelle
Love your book collection...I see we read the same things. I have a few of those.
Happy Thursday to you. xoxo
Back problems are the worse...I have a terrible back too...hope it feels better soon. xoxox
I just love a good stack of decorating books or magazines :)
Glad your back is feeling a little better!
XO
Kristin
Hello! I found you through my mom's blog (Gg- notes on the journey). You're decorating ideas sound fun. I have lots of Billy bookcases in my living room...I'm a big fan. :)
I live in Chicago as well, and will definitely be checking out Chuck's Cafe. Thanks!
Hey you!
You asked me the other day if you were invited to lunch, and I want you to know you have a standing invitation! I'm just waiting and waiting and waiting for you to come! LOL!
XO,
Sheila :-)
I hope your back feels better. I used to have a bad back but with daily yoga, I haven't been laid up in years. Do you practice yoga?
I'm glad your back was back in shape for Ikea...you need all the energy in the world to get through that place!
And now I would like cornbread.
:-)
Post a Comment