Drying Rack/Mug Holder

In my antique store travels, and my long hours logged on the computer between blogs and pinterest, I have noticed drying racks being used as décor and/or functional mug holders.  I love them, I think they are very fun...but what does one do with a giant drying rack?

 

source, source, source

 

Then I started noticing a small one while reading blogs...but where does someone get a small one?  So I did a little digging and World Market sold a small one AND it was cheap!!! Hooray!

source, source

 

So before Christmas I went to order one, but sadly it was sold out!  NO!!!!!  But like the good patient girl that I am, (ha that was totally a joke) I requested to be notified once it becomes available again.  And sure enough, Santa heard my request and it was once again available!  Click Click Order, it was mine! Yay Yay Yay!

 

Since we don't drink coffee, and most of my tea drinking is at work, not at home, it won't be something I have out all the time, but rather something I take out when we entertain (and maybe once day if we have a home with more countertops it can stay out). 

Speaking of setting up a coffee station for entertaining, the coffee maker and supplies fit nicely on our smallest countertop section, but the mugs don't.  I was hoping this mug rack might solve the problem.  Katie also noticed this problem, since when I was looking at this product, she was being a good Christmas elf, and looking for another solution for me, and also at World Market! (Great minds really do think alike!) And she got me stackable mugs!  Her stackable mugs are probably a more practical solution to my space issue, haha leave it to the accountant to find a more practical solution than the designer! : )

So now I have 2 options to set up my coffee station for parties!  Guess it is time to host some friends and family, coffee drinking ones that is!

 

String Lights

The space between the house and the garage will evenually become a patio. (We currently have my old patio set chilling on the lawn...Classy!!!)  Since our main entertaining space will be between two structures it will be perfect for lights! YAY!!! I had wanted to do something similar to this at my old rental, but it would have taken putting poles in the ground, and I never wanted to actually tackle that.

 

 source

 

 source

 

 source

 

Wouldn't it be amazing if our yard was as nice as this picture above??? Amazing, fireplace, outdoor tv, lovely furniture! Yes Please!

 

source

 

So now I just need to shop for the actual ones I should buy.  I just need to look around at lengths, amount of bulbs, price..etc.  And I want to make sure we get heavy duty ones that will hold up and I can leave out all summer. 

 

source

source

source

source

source

 

 Ill keep you posted one what I actually end up buying in case you want to copy. And I will be sure to invite everyone over to dine under the lights once we are all set up!