Blue & Green Bottle Decorating

One of the worst days turned into one the best days.  My two teens and I were at the local thrift store and I was on the search for anything pretty.  ANYTHING.  You know…”speedy thrift store eye skimming” at it’s best.  I’ve gotten very good at it, how about you?  I can skim a thrift store faster than you I bet  😆  Maybe we can race sometime?  So, anyhow, this is how the “Blue & Green Bottle Decorating” got started…try not to skip the story, it’s scary, but an important reminder.

I bee-lined left, and they went right with their own missions to complete for costumes they were designing.  We’ve been to the thrift store so many times, we didn’t bother to say where or when we would meet.  It’s a fairly large store in a fairly safe neighborhood, and all 3 of us usually take about 10 minutes and meet up towards the register.  I quickly found that unique green bottle that looks like a big perfume bottle and was satisfied.  10 minutes was up, so I started looking over the aisles of clothes racks and spotted my youngest easily.  I asked her if she knew where the oldest was and she said, “No, I haven’t seen her.”  We casually started looking in the usual areas she would be in.  We circled the building TWICE.  By the end of the first circle, I panicked.

Everything and everyone around me seemed like a big set up.  My imagination went haywire and the old woman looking at us was now the enemy.  The man looking at CD’s was there only to fool me into thinking it was really a thrift store.  Honestly, I think I lost my mind.  My daughter was no where to be found.  NO WHERE.   Yes, I checked the dressing rooms.

I ran up to the counter and told the young man to tell my daughter to come to the front desk on the loud speaker.  He did it, but I continued to glide through the isles like a mad woman.  About 5 minutes (seemed more like 30) had passed and I became weak and very shaky.  I was in pure panic mode at this point and my youngest was looking at me with eyes of fear.  My shaky sweaty hands pulled out my cell phone and I called 911.  They asked where I was and I couldn’t remember the town.  At this point I almost ran out the back door to see if I could locate her or anyone that was working back there.

Then finally, the dark clouds slowly lifted.  She appeared out of no where like an angel with a beautiful smile on her face.  I started crying and she was so confused as to why and what was wrong.  I told the police to cancel the emergency and all was fine.  Turns out she was in the dressing room, but I missed her.

It honestly was one of the worst 10 minutes of my life, and I’m sure for my youngest as well.  We hear so many stories on the news and we are literally filled with fear even if we don’t realize it.  I basically just lost control of my thoughts.  I let fear and my imagination take over and I was consumed by what I fear most.  I’m happy to say that our thrift store “plan” has been updated and we will stick together from now on.

After the shakes and nausea subsided I remembered the pretty green bottle in my hand.  My youngest threw the jacket she found on the counter and said she didn’t even want it anymore.  I told her to go get it and we did get it for her.

So, there you have it.  That pretty green bottle on the right started it all.  I will never forget what that bottle represents.  When I got it home I realized how much I loved the green up against our teal blue sofa.

One thing led to another and I collected different shades of green & blue bottles (see similar styles in my sources below) to place on a console table behind the sofa, in front of the big window.  I’ve been wanting to add color to the sofa and this finally satisfied me.  You may notice that little blue jar by the famous green bottle I had from my Mom and that is actually from AVON back in the day.  I keep buttons in it.  I’m absolutely in love with how it all lights up in front of the window.  I added the green glass votives up above in the hanging candle chandelier as well.

The palm (banana leaf) pillows and palm leaves (see sources below) came in secondary thanks to my youngest.  She picked them out and I was shocked at how beautiful this all flowed.  Almost like a tropical paradise.

Whoops, wait a minute, hold up!  Where in the world did that glass and brass coffee table come from?  Well now, that is a whole other story that I will be telling soon.  I thought I would give you a sneak peek of it today with my cell phone photos.  Isn’t it cool?  I know it might take you back to the 70’s a bit, but that’s what I like, especially up against the mid-century modern sofa 😀 .  I’m not finished with it yet, so stay tuned.

So, do you like the bottle collection as much as I do?  I’ve left some sources for you below if you want to try this look in your own home.  Don’t forget to check the thrift store and your cabinets first.  Also if you don’t want a full table of them, maybe just 1 will do it.  Remember, you can use any assortment of styles, shapes and blue/green shades to get this look.  That’s the fun part-making it unique to you.

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Green Glass Gallon Jug

Green Glass Bottle 

Green Hobnail Jar (comes in dark blue too)

Turquoise Glass Bottle

Light Blue Jug

Green Vase 

Thin Green Vase

Blue Vase

Light Blue Vase

Palm Banana Leaf Pillows

Palm Banana Leaf Pillow Covers

Faux Palm Leaves

Green Votives

Glass Leaf Dish