Chotchkies and other useless crap....

What is a chotchkie?

Urban dictionary defines it as: A small piece of worthless crap, a decorative nick-knack with little or no purpose.

Side note: Chotchkie can be pretty, sentimental, or even occasionally useful though it usually breaks easily if useful. If you are having trouble identifying Chotchkie just look around your house or someone else's and whatever you see that a burglar wouldn't steal is probably Chotchkie.

Great definition right? So why do we collect such things? My aunt collects sewing thimbles, my grandmother collected spoons, my girlfriend had a china cabinet full of creepy life-like dolls, my father had a lobster-trap coffee table and before my husband became "my husband" he collected shot glasses and beer mugs.... and thus the list can go on.

Some say this useless crap is what makes a house a home... well... I call bullshit on that! What makes a house a home is family memories, personal photos, beautiful artwork, decorative pillows.... not chotchkies. This weekend we are in Pismo Beach a typical California beach town, I am sure not much has changed since 1965 including the chotchkies in the gift shops that line the boardwalk near the pier.

Now I love these tacky gift shops w/ bikinis hanging in the window and t-shirt cover-ups w/ PISMO splashed across the front in bright florescent font... call me crazy I know. But, the fact is, we're having a wonderful family vacation here and I want to remember it... so should I buy?

Well, I broke down and purchased 3 dried starfish and a set of wind chimes which are just beautiful. That's it. We don't need rows and rows of shells, just a few that make us think of the beach or a wonderful vacation. The starfish are right at home in my master bathroom with my sand dollars from Morro Bay and my white sea shells from Cape Cod. I have them all in a beautiful glass jar that I see every day once I step out of my shower.

The key to collecting is less- is -more. Think similar in color and group things in no more than 3. Stick to odd numbers. Picture frames use different sizes but stick to similar frame color; for example, black frames and white mats... they work well with all photos and make it easy to create a photo gallery on almost any wall in the house.

By collecting a few things it leaves room in our lives to make new memories...

Live Beautifully... Erin

In Living COLOR...

2010 is bringing some bold color choices in decorating and I am LOVING it! Recently, I became enamored with all shades of orange and lime green. All the decorating magazines are covered in purples, oranges and greens.... and I think it's great! Go for it!

Don't get me wrong, I am not telling you to paint your living-room purple or orange, but a nice neutral wall color can look great brightly colored drapes and some funky throw pillows on the sofa. The great thing about throw pillows (my new obsession) is you can change them with the seasons and it doesn't cost a million bucks.

At the Long Beach Antique Flea Market I came across an amazing designer, Cindy Ciskowski and fell IN LOVE with her fun pillows ( I bought 6) on my last trip. (see here) http://beachbungalow8.blogspot.com/2007/08/lighter-prices-at-cindy-ciskowskis.html

While they retail for $150 a piece she had sample pieces and some from last season she was selling for $20 (w/out an insert) and $35 w/ an insert. What a DEAL!!!!

Now... my new indigo blue sofa has some fun green pillows and a giant orange bamboo pillow in the middle... funky yes... is it for everyone.. no.. does it make me happy, you bet it does! Remember, if every room in your house doesn't make you happy, rearrange, remove, repaint & redecorate until it does!

Live Beautifully.... Erin