Julia Ryan Pawleys Island Realtor & Lifestyle Blogger

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I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaack!

First of all, I'd like to apologize to everyone for not keeping up with the blog lately. I really appreciate of y'all who come here for inspiration or support or fun (even making fun) and I'm sorry I haven't updated in so long. For those of you who know me, no explanation is needed. It hasn't exactly been the best two months. I could write a really good and long explanation for my absence, but, dear diary style self-divulsion and pity isn't my thing. I prefer witty humor and great style! I am so thankful for all of my friends and family who inspired me to begin this blog and now also to continue it. I choose happiness and this blog makes me happy! And since I clearly have plenty of freetime these days there are no more excuses! Well that's enough borderline depressing or emotional blah blah blah for now.




On a fun note, today is my six month anniversary!! That makes me really happy. God has shown me, in many ways loud and clear, what a fantastic husband I have. It's hard to believe that it's already been six month since we said "I do". Just in case you're wondering baby, I still do and I'm still happy I married you!


Okay, here is a little something that I hope makes up for my slack-ness...

So by now I think I've mentioned (probably twice!) that I have an absurd affection for pairs of lamps. I love them. It doesn't matter what the lamp looks like or where I plan to use it, I just can't seem to buy only one. I've passed up really fabulous lamps that were great deals because one was missing it's mate or I couldn't afford the price tag times two. There is something so desirable and polished about a pair of lamps. When I see them, I notice that you took your time and thought through their placement in a room. It demonstrates your ability to see past the obvious task of creating light in dark spot but rather showcasing them as a deliberate addition to the design. Now that I have a whole house to light, I am always on the hunt for a new pair of lamps.

On a side note, I'm not sure if you're as annoyed by the $5 footlong jingles from Subway as I am or maybe you're impressed that you can get so much meat at Quiznos for the same price, but, when I hear $5 I can't help but think of a sandwhich. That's pretty cheap. Even for lunch. So imagine my surprise and elation when I found a pair of ceramic candlestick lamps at a local thrift store during my lunch break back in July. Granted, the store smelled as bad as Subway and made me about as hungry, but, sitting amidst all the old crap were these two beacons of cannary yellow design hope. And for just five bucks each. Oh, and they work! That's a lunch lunch more well spent than that meat stacker would have been.

Back to the lamps, as soon as I got back from lunch with my lucky find, I began browsing through some of my favorite interior design pics and noticed just how many of them have pairs of yellow lamps. I've never really considered myself much of a yellow person. It's not really my color, at all. Yet, I love the playful pop it adds to these otherwise sophisticated rooms. Yellow tells you to relax. It helps you to be mellow. To sit down. To not take yourself too seriously. That's a good thing in any space and in life.



*I promise to post pics of my yellow lamps soon. I know I know, it's only my first day back to blogging and I'm already being somewhat slack and making more promises. Oh well, here are some gorgeous pictures of yellow lamps that will make you not only forgive me but also want to buy me Starbucks. Non-fat grande white mocha with caramel, syrup not drizzle, no whip. Just in case you were wondering.
****UPDATE****
I've added the yellow lamps promptly as promised! They didn't come with any shades (who cares for $5 bucks each) so I snagged these bold black and white graphic shades from the white lamps in the living room. More to come on what I did with those lamps. Sorry these pictures aren't styled but I've really struggled to find a home for them and I didn't want to keep you hanging on until I do.


EYE CANDY



*I can't remember where Ifound this picture, but, I think it's orginally from the set of the movie Bedtime Stories. Please let me know if you discover it's source.

Image found via Decor Pad


Image from Room Service via Elements of Style



Image found via Everything In It's Place

Image found via Patricia Gray


Image found via Patricia Gray


Image found via Patricia Gray


Image of a design by David Jimenez found via Elements of Style

Image of a design by Jay Showers via Patricia Gray


Image of a design by David Jimenez found via Elements of Style



I'm happy to see that lots of real-live designers are as obsessed with pairs of lamps as I am! I was starting to think it was my bipolar OCD kicking in. No, I'm not bipolar, my OCD is bipolar. I'm usually super laid back and easy going...and then it strikes. I only have OCD for particular things at totally random times. I can go a month without putting my laundry away and have no problem pulling clean clothes out of a laundry basket but yet I will reload the dishwasher twice if someone puts something away wrong. I know. I know. I digress.


To be honest, I'm not really sure where my new gems are going to live. They don't really go with anything else in our house. But you better believe I'll be letting you know when I do find them a home!

That's all for today y'all.