Hilarious Blog + a Giveaway!

I stumbled upon this blog the other day and thought it was too funny not to share!

Maybe naming him Rimbaud wasn’t such a good idea.

haha, love it! Also, Dream in Domestic is having a Giveaway! Up for grabs is a $50 pillow from allmodern.com ~ swoon!

There are dozens of fabulous pillows to choose from, so hurry over and leave a comment on her blog...or don't...then I'll be more likely to win one! hehe ;)

Etsy Love

Here are some of my current favs from Etsy:

This print is lovely ~ not just for Valentine's Day, but for the whole year!

{MadeByGirl}

This necklace would make an excellent gift for a loved one ~ or for yourself!

{ChantelleNicole}

This pillow says it all, and with the aqua color, it's perfect for year-round decor.

{HoneyPieDesign}

This card really sums up true love!

{LovelyLittleNest}

Shameless plug: I now have an etsy store! I'll be selling cards, photos, and vintage finds. For now, I just have the aforementioned card listed.

It all started last week. We only use our debit card, so I asked Ben if he'd mind if I withdrew some cash from our bank account to buy him some stuff for Valentine's Day {that way, he wouldn't be able to login to our bank account and see what I bought him}. His surprising response was: "Please don't spend any money on me; Valentine's Day is for girls!" I couldn't just give him nothing, so I opted for a home-made card. After a little brainstorming, I decided to go with humor rather than mushiness. He always makes fun of me for being obsessed with Blogging and The Twilight Saga, so the card really says it all!

Question: Do you think Valentine's Day is just for women, or should it be an "equal-opportunity" Holiday? :)

Long Lost Twin

I've been wanting to buy a jewelry box for years, but something always stopped me. The ones I found were too formal or too casual or too small or too big or too expensive. Whatever the case, I haven't had a real jewelry box in about 10 years. Enter West Elm:

Don't you just love them?! The silver hardware, the beautiful lacquer finish. The white one is my favorite ~ so pretty!

However, I wasn't too keen on the $100 price tag.

Well, meet Joi {of Nuestra Vida Dolce} and her incredible Home Goods find:

I couldn't believe it ~ they're practically twins! But at $15, Joi's option was MUCH more appealing.

Unfortunately, if you've ever shopped at a store like Home Goods {or Marshalls or TJMaxx or Ross}, you know that the chances of finding the same thing in another Home Goods store are slim to none. So I didn't even bother looking.

Fast-forward 1 week. Ben and I had tried out a new church that just happened to be right down the road from Home Goods. I thought nothing of the jewelry box {since I'd already given up on that dream} and instead went in to window shop. While perusing a random isle, I glanced down and, hidden in the very back of a bottom shelf, was the jewelry box!! I couldn't believe it! Needless to say, I snatched it up and {after receiving approval from the hubbie} made it mine.

It now resides in our Master bedroom on my hand-me-down, bamboo Pier1 dresser:

Isn't it just divine? I love when my decorating dreams come true :)

Balance

Happy weekend to you all! :)

Turquoise!

In case you didn't hear...

Pantone Selects 2010 Color of the Year

The hue is one of 3,000 colors available in Pantone's line of eco-friendly paint.

LAUREL PETRIELLO -- INTERIOR DESIGN, 12/14/2009

Hot and fresh out of the Pantone color guide is 2010’s color of the year, number 15-5519 Turquoise.

The global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, selected the luminous color based on its juxtaposition of tranquil blue notes and energizing green tones. In the essence of color therapy, the hue should evoke soothing, serene emotions, while restoring vigor, zest, and motivation.

“In many cultures, Turquoise occupies a very special position in the world of color,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many—taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy.”

A universally flattering color with warm and cool undertones, Turquoise complements neutrals, reds, deep blues, greens, and yellows, making it exceptionally easy to translate to fashion and interiors. The hue is also one of 3,000 colors available in Pantone’s line of eco-friendly paint, which combine the accuracy of Pantone Colors with high-performance Dutch paints.

I have loved the color turquoise {and all of its similarly hued friends ~ aquamarine, mint, etc.} for YEARS, so I'm glad that the design world recognizes how wonderful it really is! :)

I have a secret...

I am utterly obsessed with decorating our child's bedroom...and I don't even have any kids!

{And, to answer the inevitable question, no I am not pregnant!}

I can't help it; decorating for babies and kids is just so much fun! I've already decided that I'm going to stay away from traditional baby themes. However, I'm not choosing anything too bold, either, as I want it to remain a soothing environment for our little one.

We'll probably go with a contemporary color scheme (aquamarine, gray, etc.), stenciled designs on the wall (trees, animals, etc.), and definitely some cute monogrammed pillows, blankets, etc.

Our official nursery details will not be divulged until I actually have a bun in the oven. Since we're not going to start "trying" for a few years, I hope you enjoy disappointment...anyone catch where that quote is from? ;)

In the meantime, feel free to peruse some of my favorite spaces for kids and babies...

Aren't they all just adorable?! I can't wait 'til we can decorate a sweet little room of our own! :)

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Oh my gosh, I won another giveaway!!

Stephanie, of UrbanNest, was giving away free desk calendars, and I was one of the 3 lucky people who won!

Aren't those pages adorable? I can't wait to put the calendar on my "new" bamboo desk in our Guest Room/Study. Now all I have to do is buy some paint and the desk makeover will begin.

Thanks for hosting such a great giveaway, Stephanie! :)

A New Year

Well, I completely failed at sharing pictures of our home in Virginia during 2009. Now that it's 2010 and we are officially Pennsylvania residents, perhaps my New Year's Resolution should be to post more frequently?

In honor of a fresh new start, I'll begin by sharing some pictures of the revamped bookshelf in our Guest Room/Study. The idea was to spend little to no money by using items previously located in other rooms and repurposing them here.

AFTER: The bookshelf, complete with "new" accessories {taken from various rooms in the apartment}.

BEFORE: A photo of the bookshelf when it was still in our old guest room, decorated with my husband's former bachelor pad items...I had been dying to get my hands on this room!

BEFORE: The plant was previously housed in an old casserole dish...oh so classy ;)

AFTER: It now lives in a white planter from Ikea.

Bottom Shelf: A tiny frame containing a picture of my parents dancing at a wedding a few years ago, husband's souvenir from Caesar's Palace, an old gardening book {beautiful color}, etc.

Second Shelf: A pencil drawing of Abraham Lincoln {drawn by me and given to Ben several years ago}, as well as a cute little mint-colored candle tin Deb sent for my 27th birthday {just one of the many wonderful gifts she sent!}.

Top shelf: I received this 5x7 print in a free giveaway over at Brooke's blog. The colors are perfect ~ in case you can't tell, I absolutely love all shades of turquoise. The frame was purchased for 50 cents at Good Will and was previously a muddy brown color ~ I simply painted it white.

Third Shelf: Dried roses my parents gave me after graduation, filling up a Ball jar {yet another gift from Deb ~ received last Easter, filled with gorgeous, white hydrangeas}, various books topped with a shimmery aquamarine bowl (a gift from my sister a few years ago).

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

I love Christmas, and I especially love decorating for this blessed Holiday! I just finished filling our entire home with Christmas decor and I have to say, it looks lovely! Since we're having a Christmas party tonight, I don't have time to take pictures of each and every wreath, candle, ornament, etc., so here are some pics of our home last Christmas...

This silver wreath that hangs on our door was bought at Kohl's 2 years ago during an after-Christmas sale for $2.75 (I just love a good bargain).

White lights and artificial trees can be nice, but nothing says "home" like a real Christmas tree covered with colorful lights, red and silver orbs, and ornaments from our childhood.

This little manger scene is one of my favorite Christmas decorations. I bought it last year at...you'll never guess...The Dollar Store! I love the authentic looking hay, the politically correct Wise Man, and the tiny baby Jesus.

A close-up of our sparkly ornaments.

Our tree skirt, purchased last year at Home Depot with a gift card we were given as a wedding gift.

I hope you enjoyed this little house tour. Merry Christmas! :)