Weeknight Dinners……favorite blogs….heading to Atlanta!

I love to cook, I really do. But sometimes, cooking on 

weeknights, when the day has been busy and the nights

activities are many is a chore.  I have vowed to do

better and cut back on the too many 'taco nights'

that seemed to creep into the repertoire.

I was thrilled to find this Weeknights with Giada

hardcover cookbook on sale at barnesandnoble.com

for $5.99!  It will be my inspiration, and considered 

a good start on a more varied weeknight routine.

You can get one HERE.

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Also, I have added some new blogs to my blog

list on the sidebar - go check them out.  Of 

course, I want you to come here and be inspired

but I also have lots of blog favorites that

inspire me and always love to share!

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Finally, I am heading to Atlanta to the gift and home show tomorrow.

I am tagging along with a friend and look

forward to check out the new trends for 2014 in home

decor - I have never attended a show like this

so I don't know really what to expect.  I am bringing

my camera and hope to be able to share some

fun photos with all of you.

A fresh start, a clean slate…my beginning.

"Anything is possible"…..I have been an eternal optimist {mostly}

 throughout my life, so I always love the seemingly new beginning

that the start of the new year brings.  

I know it doesn't make sense, pick a

random day in a month and it could be YOUR new 

beginning but a fresh start but for me is officially on the biggies - new years,

the day my kids go back to school after summer vacation or

even at the first signs of spring.  They are my personal trimesters.

I'm pretty sure that where I am in life 

with my children and family determines

 my beginnings and endings. And I'm going with it…….

and holding on for dear life to the surge of optimism, energy

and hopeful feelings that 'anything is possible'.

I happily make lists and plans and goals….

I strategize and plot and make more lists, 

I organize and purge……..

 and with way more giddiness than 

I probably should admit to, 

I happily cross off items on my lists

……..anything is possible!

The first place that feels my energy is usually my home - after

all the Christmas decor is put away I go into

super re-arrange mode and this year was no different.  

My mantle was cleared and restyled with some favorites - I 

know it's a little weird to have a mirror with hooks on

it but I had it in the closet and I like the light a mirror

reflects during these darker Pacific Northwest winters.

The large antlers are from an elk and found by my

brother near his home in Colorado - he brought

them to me at Thanksgiving.  The vintage brass candle

sticks have been collected over the years - mostly found

at thrift stores for less that $8 a piece.  I break my

"no faux plants" design rule for these crazy 

cool faux boxwood-like orbs - what can I say, I 

am a plant killer and crave greens in the winter.

Here's wishing you all fresh starts in 2014!

A Fun Client Living Room

My client is a young mom{and dad} with four small children who all 

by herself has great taste and does a fine job decorating

her home.  However, I am happy she has sought my

advice to help her finish spaces in their new larger home.

This formal living space has high ceilings, and gets 

lots of light.  After I suggested SW Urbane Bronze as a 

paint color choice for her new kitchen island, my client 

fell in love with the color and painted the living room

walls Urbane Bronze too!  It is a dramatic, dark color -

not meant for many spaces but this room gets load of 

light and has lots of white millwork to balance the

dark walls.  

We are working with some existing, more traditional pieces

already in the living room.  When I crafted the design

board for the space I tried to make the space feel 'young',

layered, yet traditional too.  For example, I mixed the vintage

bird prints with a more contemporary art piece - and

added a ghost chair {knock-off} which will be paired with a very

traditional secretary that is already in the space.

This style is REALLY me.  And working with

clients who trust me and collaborate with me is just 

the best!  I also happen to think it yields the best design results.

I am going to be updating my design services page {above} - 

about time, huh?  However, it has taken this long

to really decide what types of services I prefer to offer, 

what I am best at offering as well as making sure I offer

services that best meet the needs of local AND

e-design clients.

2014 - Let's get this party started…..with a look at my bathroom {before/after}.

For whatever reason,

sharing photos of my bathroom is sort of weird for me but I imagine you are

all just like me and love peeking inside the most intimate parts 

of other people's homes. {Tell me I am not the only one who loves

driving around at night and being able to peer inside the windows

of homes!}  I know, totally weirdo!

We really did a full cosmetic makeover in this guest bath over the last year, for very little $.

It all began with stripping wallpaper then adding beadboard and wainscoting

{thanks dad!}.

After those basics were done, I relied on styling the space

with some fun vintage finds and items that make it a personal space too.

I found the vintage brass combo cup/soap/toothbrush holder last

year at a flea market and knew it would be used in this bath.

The small painting is a beach scene of the Oregon coast and the 

number 4 is used all over our house…..cause there's 4 of us.

I found the 'Delaware Dr.' sign at another flea market and bought it

because my husband's company is headquartered in Delaware and

we lived there for a few years.

The bamboo shelf is another flea market find {I think I paid $5 for it} - the jars

are from Target.  I simply spray painted the lids gold.

And you all thought I wasn't crafty!

The French hatrack is something I have had for 

many years, has served many purposes in many homes.  Here

it serves as a great place to hang your towel when you in the shower.

As I was taking photos, this guy decided to photo bomb -

as he often does.  Such a poser!

And in case you are still here, and interested…..

this is what we started with!

I have lots of fun plans for 2014 - I can't wait to share them with you!