YAY - I got one! {The 'One Lovely Blog' Award}

I was so thrilled this morning to find an email from Jenni stating she was giving me the following award:

Jenni, thanks a bunch!  Especially for thinking of me!!  There are so many lovely blogs out there and I truly appreciate this - you're the sweetest!

I am now supposed to write seven (7) things about me that no one in blogland knows.  That being said, it should not be difficult, huh?!?  I've only been brainstorming for about two (2) hours! HA!HA! . . . but here it goes:


1. I hate wearing socks - even when it's cold!

2. I cannot live without my iPhone!  I must take it everywhere I go.

3. If I could live anywhere in the world, I would choose New York City - I love it there! 

4. I cook once or twice a year (Yikes!), BUT make the best enchiladas ever!!! 

5. I didn't learn to speak English until I turned 5.

6. I love, love, love watching re-runs of Sex and the City.  AWESOME!!
7. I have no patience...LOL

Now, in order to fulfill receipt of this lovely award, I am presenting the One Lovely Blog Award to the following five (5) bloggers and my new friends:

 

 

White Life

An Oasis in the Desert

Hubby, Me and Three

No Place Like Our Home

Life As A Southern Girl

 

til next time . . .

{ In Love with Louis }

Let's Visit the Dining Room:  The dining room is the very first space you see when you walk through the front door.  I finally finished putting the finishing touches.

Now:

I bought these lovely Louis XVI chairs.  I know these chairs will stay with me for a very long time.  These babies are likely to never go out of style.  The ceiling is Golden Candlesticks by Ralph Lauren, Regent Metallics.

I added an accent wall using Ralph Lauren Parlour Gold metallic paint and some glaze.  The walls are painted SW Steady Brown (mixed with Behr by Home Depot).



I also replaced the old drapes for these cream colored ones - aren't they yummy?  This room reminds me of a chocolatini drink! ;)

I didn't go for the traditional curtain rod...I wanted to try something different...like a nice pair of earrings to go with that perfect top...

Here's a close-up of the cabinet knobs... - yes, cabinet knobs - and drapery rings (these cabinet knobs were $1 @ Home Depot; I already had the curtain rings):

Wall-to-wall seagrass was installed a few months ago.  I love the smell of it.  I also love animal print so the cowhide "zebra" rug was something I had to add! 

Here's a picture of the entire room...just for fun...don't you just love the texture of the seagrass against the zebra rug?

Then:

[Sadly, my dining room sat looking like this for a little too long...four years to be exact.]

Did you like the new changes?

I am linking with DebbieDoo's Blogging and Blabbing Newbie Party 

Elements-Interiors {Whassup Party} 

Finding Fabulous {Frugalicious Friday}; and

Brooklyn Limestone {Real Room Makeovers}; and

No Minimalist Here {Open House Party}

 til next time...

Let's Focus On This for Two Minutes...

{Million Dollar Decorators}

If you had 8k, would you spend it on a chevron floor?  I love what Mary McDonald did to this room, but I would never spend 8k on a floor...and those drapes could easily be duplicated with some silk dupioni fabric...

...Stunning!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

My Hangout Spot {The Family Room}

Hey Guys,

Last week I showed you a picture of my safari room.  I promised to post new pictures this week.  I hope you enjoy them, but first, here's two more before pictures:

[Safari Room Before]

[One more before picture]

This room was done on a very tight budget.  I added accessories from other rooms in the house.  The only thing I bought was the horse art and the throw.

[After:  I added paint, new art, accent pillows and a throw]

The wall color is Shinto by Kwal.  It is a gray/brown OR brown/gray.

This is my new FAVORITE color!  I love it!

[Here's a close up of the art - I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this picture...I love horses]

[I showed you this picture last week]

[Love the nailhead on this couch]

[My new throw]

[Accent pillow with purple, orange and brown]

[I love this pillow! I got it at the Restoration Hardware Outlet for $22]

  Well, this is it for now.  I hope you like what I've done to the room!  Until next time. . .

Tribute to My Safari Room {Goodbye Jungle!}

I remember the very first time I saw safari decor - it was at my cousin's house and it was love at first sight.  I remember asking her to go shopping with me too.  After making our rounds to Ross, TJMaxx, Kirkland's, World Market and many other stores, I finally had my very own safari room!  Years later, I sold my old house and did away with everything minus the safari decor - I was still very much in love with it; however, it is about time I change my decor and that's exactly what I am working on right now...Because my love for my safari room was soo real, I decided to pay tribute to it before doing away with it completely.

[This image is the only thing that is left of my Safari Room]

  
. . . It's about time I get out of the jungle. . .I am totally changing the decor in this room...here's a sneak peek at what's going on right now. . . [more imagines coming soon]

{Status:  In Transition}

til next time, friends . . .

First Impressions: What Does Your Front Door Say?

I was running errands the other day and stumbled upon a neighborhood with old, renovated houses.  The very first thing that caught my attention in most of these homes were their front doors.  Most of the doors had funky, vibrant colors - needless to say, they all looked nice, colorful and cheery.  These wonderful doors got me thinking...if you have a front door that requires painting, how do you go about choosing the right color?  After all, the front door has a big responsibility as it is thought to be the "mouth" of our homes, where energy, abundance and opportunities may find us.

On that note, I thought it would be fun to explore symbolisms and beliefs associated with the colors we sometimes choose for our front doors.

Blue:  Blue represents sky, water and abundance.

Yellow: suggests mental clarity, wisdom, confidence and merriment.

Green: is a great choice for the front door since this color represents balance, peace,  and compassion.

[I love the silver hardware on this green door.]



Red:  Last, but definitely one of the most popular colors in doors is red.

We all know that in Feng Shui a red front door means "Welcome."  It is also known that a red door holds symbolism for many faiths/religion.  What I didn't know was that in Scotland, people paint their front door red to indicate they have paid off their mortgage [I guess I'll be painting my front door red in 2037! Yikes!!]

So, what color is my front door?  I have a boring wooden stained door...