Friday, December 30, 2011

Thoughtful Giving

How was everyone's Christmas?
This one for me was a doozy.  I think Santa thought I was a bad girl this year because on Christmas Eve I was visited by the stomach flu.


It got better when I saw a package from my sister come in the mail.  She always gives me the most thoughtful gifts and I wanted to share it with you.





She took these pics when she came and visited me this summer.  She's a great photographer.  
I think her goal was to make me cry..well, she succeeded.

I won't be back on here until the New Year so I wish you all the best 2012 has to offer.




Monday, December 26, 2011

Not To Get Lost In The Mix



 I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  The weather was beautiful..it felt more like spring .

Today is my husband's birthday.  I know how his birthday can get lost in the Christmas shuffle so,  I wanted to dedicate this blog to him.

" God designed men to be dangerous", says John Eldredge." Simply look at the dreams and desires written in the heart of every boy: To be a hero, to be a warrior, to live a life of adventure and risk."




 




Happy Birthday to a wonderful Husband, Father, and Friend!






Friday, December 23, 2011

Real Christmas Drama

Good Morning!
Christmas is now just around the corner and the excitement is building for my kids.  

My husband is a part of a Christmas production that our church puts on every year.  There are a total of six performances and they are just halfway through.

(my husband playing the red and white guitar)
It truly is amazing..great video, music, and drama!

Not only am I enjoying the play but the theatrics that Ralph Lauren displays for Christmas ;)

 His Style is Classic.

 Rustic Earthiness.

 Casual Elegance.

 Here is my piece that I enjoy that holds my wonderful coffee.

 Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas!



Monday, December 19, 2011

Inspiration While Shopping

Good Morning!
It's going to be a busy day here...so many meetings.  Looking forward to the slower pace after Christmas though : )

Recently we went to Woodfield Mall and did some Christmas shopping.  Of course, I had to take some pics of some decor that I love : )

I love walking into this store..the detail in the ceiling and the chandelier.  I love the feel of this place and want to use this as inspiration for my bedroom.


 The fireplace...I am addicted to fireplaces.

 I love this painted picture of the model.  I want to do a gallery of my kids in this fashion from floor to ceiling in my basement.

I feel like I went to a tropical place when I am in here.


Love the big fluffy pillows.  Whenever I am walking around the mall I always stop in here to sit and relax.

 Hope you all take a breather in the midst of last minute Christmas shopping.

and for anyone in the area come check out a Heartland Christmas ..
(p.s.  you can see my husband playing the keys in the plaid shirt)





















































Friday, December 16, 2011

One Of My Favorite Architects

Good afternoon!

I don't know about you but I feel like the days are going by very quickly and I just want them to slow down a bit.  Maybe go back to a time where things were a little simpler..hmm

I am a sucker for homes that were built in the 1950's and 60's and to my amazement there was a home put up for auction that was built by the great Frank Lloyd Wright for a sweet couple.  The husband was in a wheelchair and it is the only house that was built by Wright as handicap accessible.  

The house was auctioned off yesterday.  I am sorry to say it is off the market but I wanted to share photos of it.

It has been owned by the same people he built it for in 1952.

Take a look at what Frank Lloyd Wright himself called his "little gem".












(all images from http://www.realestateauctions.com)
If you would like to read more about the story of this home go to (http://www.realestateauctions.com/Love-Affair-with-Frank-Lloyd-Wright-House-Will-Not-End-with-Sale)

Have a great weekend all : )



Thursday, December 15, 2011

Come Visit

Hello all!

Just wanted to let you know that I did a guest blog post for Jane Tv.

Come by and visit.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Seasonal Design: Guest Blogger Christina Johnson

"Christina Johnson works remotely for Elliman Prudential.  She is using her journalism major to combine what she loves most, writing and her career.  Her specialties include home decor design and DIY home improvement projects. "


Use new Themes for Your Christmas Decorations
As Christmas and the holiday season approach, it is time to think about decorating your home again. As you pull out your old Christmas decorations you may be ready for a change. Changing your decorations from year to year can bring a fresh new approach and keep your decorations from being tired and worn out. Determining the types of decorations you like best will make it easier to plan a new look for the holidays.


  Sort Through Your Old Decorations:

 
Many people will buy decorations at the end of the year sales when they are on clearance, which can make it difficult to find the perfectly coordinated decorations for your tree and home. If your children have grown up you can also move away from the more childish Christmas decorations into something that is classy and elegant.
You should keep the decorations that mean the most to you, and discard the others. Decorations made by your children or handed down through the generations can be the point of focus as you plan your new holiday look. You can also move away from the traditional red and green. Many people enjoy choosing one color such as pink and complimenting it with gold and silver. Others will use more silver and gold with the red and green to balance out the look.




 Pay Attention to the Little Things:

Once you have established colors and theme for your decoration you can carry the entire look throughout your home. Look for the little ways you can bring Christmas to your home. You can add candles in your Christmas colors to your bookshelves and tabletops, and hang a wreath on the door. Replacing your throw pillows for your living room can lend a more festive feel, and it is an easy step to complete. Subtly bringing in the colors and details can create a warm and inviting environment without overwhelming your home with Christmas décor. It can also reduce the amount of work you need to do.


It is also important to recognize the areas where less is more. Instead of crowding every available space with a decoration highlight the ones that truly matter to you by giving them adequate space on your mantle or end tables. This clean look will let you enjoy your favorite pieces without overwhelming you with both set up and clean up.



 Adapt Your Christmas Decorations for the Rest of Winter:

 
Focus on all aspects of the holidays as you plan and incorporate decorations that will work well for the New Year celebrations as well. Although you may take down your Christmas tree and some of the Christmas specific decorations, you can leave up the silver and gold colors and add decorations that remind you of winter or the fresh start. Many people use gold, silver and blue to decorate for the New Year.


Simply changing where you have your decorations and packing away the Christmas specific items will make it possible to create a warm welcoming environment for the rest of the season. It also gives you extra time during the busy winter to plan the changes you will want to make in the spring. The candles and Christmas plants you choose can be carried throughout your home for the rest of the season.


 Designing a new look for the holiday season can help you create a warm and welcoming environment for any guests that you may have.


  Refreshing your tired decorations will energize your home for the entire winter season, as you work to incorporate the decorations past Christmas. The little changes can make the most difference. Planning with a theme in mind, whether it is with colors or around a certain heirloom decoration will make the entire process easier.

Friday, December 9, 2011

A Christmas Stroll (Living Room / Foyer)

Good Afternoon! 

I am here enjoying pumpkin chocolate bread from one of my favorite local shops here...so yummy : )
It's not fair that I can't share it with you all but what I can share is the decorating we did in our living room and foyer : )

For our family, I believe that everyone should get a hand in on the process.
Here are my daughters painting pinecones that we went and got from our neighbors yard.  (and yes, we had permission..lol)


and here are the pinecones put to good use..


On this vignette we added more candles, more pinecones and evergreen branches.

Coffee Table

The View

Our Foyer
I try to use as much natural elements as possible and use decorations that I have been collecting in new ways.  One of the things anyone can do is to buy one new Christmas decoration every year or do a new Christmas craft and your home will feel fresh every time this season comes along.  That's what we do.
Hope you enjoyed this walkthru.  Have a wonderful weekend all!



























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