World Market is Coming!!!!

I can't conceal my excitement!!!  A few months ago when shopping at one of my usual haunts- Shoppers World in Framingham, MA and I noticed a precious little sign in an empty store window:  "Cost Plus World Market Opening This Fall" Like any good DIY/design blogger, I totally had a geek-out moment.  You see, I've only been to a Cost Plus World Market once, years ago, while on vacation in Florida.  The entirety of New England has sadly been World Market free.... until now!  Would you like to join me in a happy dance?

First thing first for my dear New Englanders or any other silly people who may not know World Market- what is it?? It's kind of like HomeGoods meets Pier1 meets a specialty beer and wine store all wrapped up into a global bazaar vibe.  Basically if you live in an apartment, condo, or house, or you eat food or drink wine or beer, there's probably something stylish or tasty here for you.

Oh the chairs!  I remember at my first World Market experience, I was trying to figure out how to smuggle chairs onto the plane home.  I resisted then, but with the new store under 10 minutes from my house, I may need a new house just to store all the chairs I want to buy. #chairhoarder  Don't say I didn't warn you, Hubby!

The beer and wine section is a dangerous game changer- it means I can bring Hubby shopping with me and drop him off in this side of the store while I buy all the home items.  Successful shopping trip for all!

I'm already working on my shopping list for Thursday since buying one of everything is probably not feasible.  probably. Well, at least not all in one trip...

Ready for all the juicy grand opening details??

Cost Plus World Market Shoppers World 1 Worcester Road Framingham, MA 01701

Thursday, October 1: Ribbon cutting and Grand Opening at 9am.  The first 100 customers in the door will get a $10 gift card!

The excitement continues all the way until Sunday, October 4th with daily raffle drawings (including 2 $250 gift cards each day), free tote bags daily for the first 100 customers in the door, and free tastings and live entertainment 4-7 on Thursday and Friday and 1-4 on Saturday.

Sunday is another very exciting day- especially for HGTV fans.  I mean who doesn't want to meet the Property Brothers??  Jonathan and Drew Scott will be special guests from 1-3 and a meet and greet will be open to the first 200 customers who bring 5 non-perishable, non-glass food items for HOPE Worldwide Framingham Food Pantry.

On top of all the rest of this goodness, you can get TRIPLE credits for joining World Market Explorer Rewards Program and up to 20% off your purchase? Click here for the coupon.

If you couldn't gather already, there's a veeeery good possibility that World Market might become my new happy place.  I may start hosting dinner parties and redecorating (more) just so I have an excuse to spend all my money.

disclosure: this post was sponsored by Cost Plus World Market, but all giddy dorkiness and opinions are 100% my own

Swapping it Soon

First of all- Congrats to Carla S!  You are now the proud owner of a wooden pineapple bowl!  I'll be e-mailing you shortly, so be on the lookout. Aside from finishing up this flip, I'm gearing up for the next round of Swap it Like it's HOT!

Once again arranged by the lovely Charlotte at Ciburbanity.  I'll be posting my final project on Wed October 7th, but I wanted to share my challenge with you before that.

If you don't recall from the last round of swapping, with a budget of $10, we all sent another blogger/DIYer a thrifted find in need of a revamp.  Ever since I recieved my treasure from Tasha from Designer Trapped in a Lawyers Body I've been staring at it trying to figure out 2 things: firstly- what in the blazes IS is??  and secondly- what in the blazes do I DO with it???

While I'm still in search of the answer to the first question (If you have any inkling, share in the comments!!), after weeks of it sitting next to my computer mocking me, I finally have a plan of what to do with it!

I clearly am not going to give all my plans away, but I will reveal that they will most likely involve a couple light kits from IKEA, a dowel, and maybe a brass bowl or 2. *insert evil laughter here*  Are you intrigued yet?  Fingers crossed that I can make it happen as planned!

How would you re-envision this old rustic rolling pin muddler head basher wood thing?

Concrete Tile Art

Now that the new railing is installed and the 12' entry and stairwell are painted (phew!), the upstairs hall was screaming for something special.  While I enjoyed the previous acoustic tile 'art' that had been chilling there for 3 years, it's time for an upgrade. When I purchased my antique newel posts, I also made an impulse purchase- 4 salvaged concrete tiles.  Seriously impulse- they had a single concrete tile sitting at the checkout, so when I went to buy the posts it was love at first sight.  They pointed me to the pile of 20 and I shoveled through the broken or hopelessly chipped and rescued the best 4.

Once home, then I started trying to devise a plan of how to hang concrete on a wall.  My mind went through tons of complicated contraptions and finally settled on the simplest solution.  Gorilla Glue, wood, & 3m picture hangers.                   *side note* No sponsors, just trusty products that I keep finding new uses for

The back of the tiles were jagged- let's call it rustic.

The picture hangers wouldn't stand a chance sticking on the concrete, so I needed to provide them a flat surface to adhere to: wood.  And what better way to get wood and concrete to marry than some serious glue.

After spending several hours stacked with a lead weight on top, the romance between wood and concrete became enduring.

Next came picture hangers rated for 12lbs.  Each concrete tile isn't even close to 12lbs, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.  I think I'd cry if these things came crashing down on my gorgeous, but soft refinished pine floors.

I'm so happy to see this new art hanging at the top of the stairs!

What's even more exciting is: if I get sick of the pattern as it currently stands, I just need to flip the tiles (requiring no modifications or reconfiguring to hang differently thanks to the picture strips) and a new pattern emerges.

How cool is that?

I can't help but wonder about their origin.  Were they in grand foyer perhaps?  Or maybe a posh powder room?  I wish I could have seen them in all their original glory!