Go ahead...make my day.

Well YOU all certainly know how to make a gal's day! I had fun taking a "trip down bloggy lane" for my last post, and was amazed by how much this past year has brought me. More amazing were the comments you left. I took an online sabbatical for three (!!!) days...you know, the whole reducing my carbon footprint, reducing the dust bunnies on my long-neglected floors, etc....and returned to some of the nicest things people have ever said. As my mom says, "if you're having a bad day, just read your blog comments."

Speaking of bunnies, the ones of a non dusty variety made their way into the shore house living room. I have a new addition, thanks to the amazingly artistic Tina at The Artful Life. Isn't Gentleman Bunny fabulous? I won him in an auction...

Tina is one talented and crafty (and super sweet) lady, and has an Etsy store with some of her treasures.

Gentleman B joined the bunny my mom bought me last year...the first decoration to make it past the shore house threshold...and another bunny she bought me this year, who unfortunately arrived to the party APO (After Photo Op). They currently live together in my wildly eclectic (EGGclectic? Har har.) display...

And while we're on my china cabinet (well, not ON it per se, so much as on the topic of...) as I was snapping away I decided to take a look at the living room's evolution in Year One at the Shore House. To review, here she was last winter on closing day:

Here she was one year ago this week, our first room done, or at least the first one RFPO (Ready for Photo Op):

And here she was this weekend:

That antique china cabinet has replaced the faux foliage, and was one of the deals of the century (or at least of the year). There was also the addition of that long-awaited round dining table, direct from the old stand-by Pottery Barn after I bailed on the local store that kept screwing up the order/delivery/everything (incidentally, they went of business this year. Shocking, I know...). Thank you, PB. Your round table that expands to seat six comfortably (seven...we've done it) kind of rocks my world.

I also had to head to the Home Goods this weekend to buy another area rug. Sand-colored sisal + black dog = big mess. So this darker one, scored for a mere $49 at the Asbury Park Home Goods, will do a better job.

And you kind of, sort of make out the orchid on the dining table. I don't care if they're falling out design favor...I puffy heart orchids. Wait until you see the orchid grower I went to on Saturday during my online sabbatical! (It's amazing what the world has to offer when you turn off your computer...)

So...next stop: Silva Orchids. See you there!