Hi there! I have been trying to blog a little more consistently, but MAN, it's hard! I have been trying to generate one than one post at a time and schedule them but it really requires dedication and organization. It seems I'm generally lacking one or the other. But I'm here tonight so here goes...
When we had new hardwood floors installed, we carried the intallation into our small coat closet that is right off our garage. That is where I kept our umbrellas - just smashed in the corner. My "system" worked just fine because the carpet kept the umbrellas upright and in the corner of the closet. Fast forward to wood floors. Wood is slippery. And I had umbrellas laying all over the floor. It was messy and the Type A part of my personality didn't like it!
I decided I needed to find an alternative. I googled Umbrella stands and I shopped TONS and TONS of websites but either they were ugly or crazy expensive. Seriously, who wants to spend $399 on an umbrella holder?! Not me, that's for sure. So I got creative.
I spotted this at my favorite store ever - Target!
Only $34.99 and not $349? Yes, please. (It's actually a large vase.)
I knew it needed just a little bling. And then I remembered Jenny over at Little Green Notebook had posted about oil-based markers. I found one at JoAnn's but here it is over at Amazon:

Seriously - this thing was SO MUCH FUN to use!
I just taped off my lines on the vase and started coloring. (I did the bottom line first and waited a day before painting the top line.) The taping took about three times as long as the coloring.
And I ended up with this:
It looks uneven but you have to be this close to notice.
How cute is this?
I really like how the gold details in the umbrella holder pick up the gold accents I have elsewhere around the foyer!
And there you have it. Now I just need to get myself some really cute umbrellas! Wait...isn't Mother's Day coming up?