B is for Backyard.... still dreaming!

Yes, I have mentioned the current state of our backyard many a times like here.  We were hoping to make some serious process this summer, but .... with the heat, a baby on the way and limited resources that did not happen.  There is always next summer.  We did do a lot of demolition this summer, but rebuilding and planting did not really progress too far forward!


In the meantime, I keep photos of all the backyards and patio spaces that inspire me.  Someday..... I dream.... I will have a perfect backyard!

Here is some more of my inspiration from the "Courtney Files"!

(Sorry I don't have sources, these were saved a while ago onto my computer.)

Do you watch the show Yard Crashers?  I love that show and always dream that Ahmed Hassan will come save my backyard!  Ahmed.... I am waiting!  Pretty please?  We are your perfect candidates!

Until next time.......xoxo

N is for Nursery!

So, let me first say that I plan to keep this blog true to its roots...focusing on home decor and style.  But, you will find some baby stuff sprinkled in as relevant to the theme at hand.  Today is one of those days.

Well, actually today is THE day!  I will hopefully be finding out later today whether I am having a boy or girl.  I can hardly freaking wait.  I am so impressed by those people that wait their whole preganancy!  I certainly cannot do that!  I am dying to know and am ready to start planning.  The moment I find out pink or blue...the nursery decorating (and shopping in general) will commence.... I mean REALLY commence!  Get out that credit card honey!

I have some ideas in mind already about what I want in the nursery.... no matter what the gender is.  So, you can expect may DIY craft projects in the near future!

Check out these nursery inspiration photos! 

Photo courtesy of Design Pad

Photo courtesy of Design Dazzle

Photo courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

Photo courtesy of Design Pad

Photo courtesy of She Knows

Photo courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

Photo courtesy of Design Pad

Photo courtesy of Design Pad

Whether pink or blue... this project is going to be a good time! :)  Until next time....xoxo

W.F.... Wall Flower!

Okay, my friend "E" is to credit with this blog idea, but her timing could not have been more perfect!  A few weeks ago I was at Dick Blick (Art Store...bad name).   I stumbled across lots of cute things for home decor including these magnetic wall flowers that "E" has and loves! These are hers here to the left/above, hung in her office.  Don't you LOVE the orange color of the wall!

These flowers are made by Umbra and are so damn versatile.  I LOVE the white, but they also come in a variety of colors including black, pink, yellow, chrome and more!  They also have other shapes like birds and dragonflies too!

You could use these cool (and very affordable) wall flowers in a variety of rooms.  They would be super cute in a little girl's room, or bathroom, but also a dining room or family room!  Perfect for that wall that you want to do something with, but could not quite figure out what would work.  This just might be it!

Want some inspiration?  Check out these photos!  

Photo: Young House Love

Photo: Listen to Lena

Photo: Cry Baby Ink

Photo:  Moot

Photo:  Unknown

You can buy these at Umbra's website, Amazon, and  Bed Bath and Beyond.  They hang very easily!  The are magnetic, so you put a simple metal thumb tack in your wall and then stick the magnet to the thumbtack.  Young House Love has suggestions/directions on how to lay them out and hang!

Thanks "E" for a great blog idea!  I need to get some of these flowers for myself... soon!  Until next time....xoxo

P.C..... Painted Cabinets!

Exciting News!  I will debut photos next week, but we have been working on a makeover for our kitchen!  The first step has been having our kitchen cabinets painted.  I am soooo excited!  Since we moved into our house I have hated our kitchen.  I thought the husband would never go along with painting them, but eventually he gave in.  I will give you more details about my house next week when I share photos.  Today, I will share some of my kitchen inspiration photos from my inspiration file (sorry I don't know where I got these images).

We went with white  painted cabinets to brighten up the room, but I have also seen lovely black and grey cabinets too!  I love white.  I think white is so crisp and clean!

Check out my inspirations!  

Get ready for next week!  I will hopefully be ready to debut my new white cabinets, my new black granite countertops, and maybe even the breakfast nook that the husband just built!  Are you excited?

Until next time.....xoxo

CSN...... Giveaway!!!

So exciting... my very first Giveway! A big thank you to CSN stores for contacting me and offering to give something fabulous to my oh so amazing readers!

CSN is a Boston based company that hosts over 200+ websites/stores making shopping for yourself or others super easy. From home decor, baby items, home bars, kitchen needs to furniture, CSN has it and you covered. With such a collection, I had a hard time choosing what to giveaway... but then.... I found my item. I knew this was it the moment I laid my eyes on it!

Drumroll please.....

The giveaway is for two of these fabulous Skip Hop Vine Floral Pillows! Believe it or not, I found these in CSN's kids bedding section! That is one of my favorite design secrets. I don't have kids yet, but I do always take a peak at the kids section as their are always incredibly cute items there! When I showed this pillow to a few of my co-workers there was a collective "oooooohhhh". This retro, bold, and large print style is all the rage right now!

If you would like to enter this giveaway, just leave a comment letting me know where you would want to put these pillows! There are lots of options! I will leave the drawing open until 5pm (EST) on Thursday, March 25th. I will announce the winner on Friday, March 26th. If you win, you will need to send me your address so CSN can send your two pillows to you!

Here are some room inspirations to get the creative juices flowing!

I think the Skip Hop Vine Floral pillows would look AMAZING in a setting like this! Throw these babies on the bed and replace all the yellow in here with pink! Oh so sweet!

They would also be great on chairs like in this photo! Two is always better than one!

My friend "S" said these pillows would be perfect on her new brown couch. Maybe something like this?

Or this....

My pick would be something like this! I think these would be AMAZING on dining room chairs like in this photo! You could eaily add your own ties!

They of course would be great in a playroom, little girl's room or on a sunporch too! Have I mentioned how cute these pillows are?

Good luck! I hope you win! Until next time....xoxo

PS- If you love this Skip Hop Vine print, they also have crib bedding which is just adorable!

T & B. Twin Beds!

Okay, I love twin beds. I want twin beds in our guest room. I have been trying to talk my mom into getting rid of her old and out of date bedroom set in my childhood bedroom and replace it with adorable twin beds. She has not yet listened. I think twin beds are practical for guests and they just look cute as can be!

Here are some of my favorite photos from my inspiration file of twin beds!

I need to find a better way of saving inspiration photos! I just save photos in a file on my computer but don't do a good job or saving where I got the photo or I would give credit where credit is due! If you have suggestion on how to archive photos with info, do share! :)

Don't these photos make you want twin beds?

Until next time....xoxo

Blue. I love blue. Our family room walls are blue. Our living room couch is blue. Our bedroom duvet is blue. I like blue. It is a hard color to get right. We painted our living room wall two shades of blue.... decided they looked like a boy's nursery and/or a blue sky... just ready for clouds. We gave up and went with a beige.

Our family room is the prefect blue. Blue Heather by Benjamin Moore. Not to light... not to dark... perfect amount of grey in it. Works like a neutral.

Here are some beautiful blue rooms!

I know.. there were a lot of photos today. I could not decide and just really love blue!

Until next time...xoxo