creating our own circle of bliss {Blissdom 2012}

Blissdom...

The party I wanted to go to but couldn't..because of money, time,...oh and school obligations.

But I wanted to go....probably more than I could ever explain without sounding pathetic.

But I did not want to go alone.

I had this fear that if I went alone...I would be alone. Ever have that fear? The fear kinda reminded me of a fear at lunch time during school.

Do you remember that 1st day of school and the apprehension that came with lunch time? The fear of not having a seat at a table was a very real and very intense feeling.

Well...I have a solution, but the solution will only work if you join me.

In this world of blogging, and boy oh boy have I been peeking into a lot of uber cute corners since Gail and I's blog hop....I have reaffirmed my belief that people who blog..blog because they want to feel connected.

It is great to be a follower, but I want to take blogging to the next level. I don't want followers...I want friends. I want my blog to be set in a community where we come together, embrace each other, and support each other...not by our stats, not by our numbers, but by our ideas and creative vision...and most importantly -- our friendship.

And so...I am inviting you to create -- "Our Own Circle of Bliss."

This circle, no matter how small or how big, will become a network of friends old and new that commit to supporting each other and getting to be more than followers, but friends.

My ultimate goal?

That all of us go to Blissdom 2012. That we create our own lunch table. :)

Having their clothes & shoes would be a much added bonus

If you want to be a part of this circle, comment or email me...and I will take it from there to create our little family...and together we will create our own bliss.

Cheers~

e {and just think...you would finally get to know my real name}

PS

You don't have to commit to Blissdom right now, but keep it in the back of your mind.

the bold & the beautiful {your blog reviewed}

Each one of us attempt to create so many beautiful things in our lives. We put so much love into finessing our homes and creating those swoon worthy crafts/projects, and yet how many of us forget to create a space for ourselves {just think how often the master bedroom is the LAST room to decorate}....In a world where we search for the perfect space, we forget our blogs ARE our perfect space.

Who needs a real-life wife/mommy cave when we have the entire virtual playground of our blog?

This blog hop is all about taking the snooping and peeking that we love to do with homes & projects to a whole new level with our blogs. While this year seems to be filled with organization and decluttering, how fitting is it to do the same with our blogs.

Gail and I KNOW this can be scary. Our blog is an extension of us and sometimes more completely defines who we are...so there is such a vulnerable feeling when putting your blog out there. But....we invite you to do it and take the risk.

Be bold.

Be beautiful.

Show us your blog....your virtual home.

When you link to the blog hop, Gail & I will give you our 2 cents on your blog {and we invite you to review all party members too}. Just promise to review each blog with grace and style. Gail & I will be gentle and we want you to be too. We know some people love chocolate ice cream while others are all about vanilla...and that is the same with blogs.

So go ahead and start with me {you can leave your reviews on my blog here}. It is always easier to take a risk when someone is standing beside you. :)

Please link your "The Bold and the Beautiful" post below. By doing so, you are inviting Gail, myself, and other guests to your blog to give you tips and advice about what might or might not be pleasing to the eye (or ear) on your blog.

And who knows....you might just make a new friend in the process.

Important Link Notes:
For the url please copy and paste the url for the post that you have written specifically for this party.
For “name” please enter your blog’s name.
For the thumbnail, please choose your blog’s button or your profile picture when prompted.

Not sure what to write about in your post for your review? See here for a BLURB...and just copy/paste it in a new post. Don't forget to grab the button up top. Also if you want the blog hop code, it is at the bottom of the blog hop and says, "get blog hop code here." :)

Oh and the best part? We are having a GIVEAWAY too! Why review a blog if you can't also get a makeover?

One lucky winner will receive a premade blog design of their very own, that will be customized by one of the great ladies, over at Designer Blogs!

In order to enter you must:
1. Be a follower of both Gail & myself.
2. Comment on this post that you would like to enter the giveaway.
{we know some of you are quite happy with your blog design but want to join in the blog hop...this allows wiggle room for those that want to party but would not use the giveaway.}

Ok, time to party! {And just a tip..for every area of improvement you suggest, tell them something you LOVE about their blog}...*party and giveaway are open for a whole week*

Cheers~
e

my blog review {have to join my own party}

Please take a look around my blog, check out the layout, pages, buttons, sidebar and gadgets. I would love for you to gently critique my blog. I’m hoping you will leave me some positive feedback about my blog. It would be great if you could give me constructive criticism but be sure to tell me what you like about my blog too! Do you like my pictures? Does my blog load quickly for you? How about the font? All tips and tidbits welcome!
Thank you for reviewing my blog and participating in my party! Come join the party and review other blogs...Be Bold....Be Beautiful!

Cheers~
e

coming to a blog near you

Coming to TOMORROW ----

A blog party hosted by Gail @ My Repurposed Life & me.

I figure if Gail gets a toon...so do I. :) {Any nesties out there remember these?}

_____________________________________________________________________________

As Gail said in her recent post:

So many bloggers are going to Blissdom, do you feel left out? MeaganDVD and I do! We’ve come up with a plan to keep us busy while the others are living it up in Nashville! Kim @ Today’s Creative Blog recently did a great series over at her Blog Frog Community where bloggers were invited to “critique” others’ blogs. I thought it was a great idea and I told MeganDVD about it and we thought it would make a great blog hop!

Here’s what you do-write a short post (or use our blurb below) explaining to your readers that you are joining in “The Bold and the Beautiful-your blog reviewed” . Invite your readers to lovingly critique your blog. Link up to the blog hop and get a critique from gail@mrl and MeganDVD@beauty in the attempt. If you link up your blog, please visit some of the other participants and gently critique their blog. Sometimes it helps to have a set of “fresh eyes” look at your layout etc.

We would love it if you join in the blog hop and paste the code to your site. The party starts Thursday night at 10 PM EST. That gives you a couple of days to make any last minute changes and tidy up before company arrives!

More info to come tomorrow! This is going to be so exciting. I love a great party!

blurb

(feel free to copy and paste, or write your own blurb)

I am so excited to be part of a very unique blog hop. Gail @My Repurposed Life and MeganDVD @ Beauty in the Attempt are hosting “The Bold and the Beautiful-your blog reviewed”.

Please take a look around my blog, check out the layout, pages, buttons, sidebar and gadgets. I would love for you to gently critique my blog. I’m hoping you will leave me some positive feedback about my blog. It would be great if you could give me constructive criticism but be sure to tell me what you like about my blog too! Do you like my pictures? Does my blog load quickly for you? How about the font? All tips and tidbits welcome!

You are welcome to join the party, it starts Thursday night and is open for a week.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Gail and I are SUPER excited about this little party. We would love for you to invite your followers and join in the fun. It all starts tomorrow at 10 PM EST. :)

Cheers~
e

house hunters: a girl can dream {even on Tuesday}

I know I usually do this series on Friday, but I have plans ---- and they involve you. Can I tease a bit more? Just you wait...I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Look at this home...go on...look. I would have big plans if this were my home.

203 Mt. Tabor Road

The pool alone...and the home is on a little over an acre...with a lake.

But...in all honesty, I would take it a step further and redo the exterior.

To this...

I definitely think this could be done...definitely. Right?

This may be a dream...but isn't it lovely?

Cheers~
e

green, glass, & something unexpected

So in the world of decor, the cheapest thrill for me is the Pottery Barn catalog. Not only does it come in the mail to my home, but it is free. How divine is that?

I love getting the catalog in the mail. It is almost a religious ceremony for me when I see it on my counter in the afternoon. Anywho, I have come to define for me the 3 main components of the January 2011 catalog.

The 3 lovely elements that I see interwoven with each page of design is:

1. green

2. glass

3. something unexpected

Just look at these following images. You will find a hint of green, a glimmer of glass, and a dash of the unexpected.

Do you see those green branches in the corner and see how they are in a glass jar? Oh..and the unexpected {imo} is the wood coat hanger with that dainty little mirror and picture framed with cards...oh the fact it is off centered -- even more unexpected.

You can see the green & the glass..and the unexpected -- I think it is the architectural elements with the tealights and the ladder side table.

Your turn...do you see the green, glass, and unexpected?

This room is full of unexpected.

The itty bit of green is still there, and the decanter still gives the sparkle. What element is the unexpected for you?

And once again...this dining room is all about green, glass, and the unexpected.

The best part is a lot of these elements you can do without spending a penny. I plan to use a few myself. So which elements would you use? And what would you do to make something unexpected in the room?

--------------------------------------

And now for my little unexpected for you. Coming soon in honor of Blogs & Blissdom {since we can't go}.......a blog hop party is well in the works. Stay tuned for more details. I think a giveaway is in order too. Tell your friends. A party is ALWAYS more fun with lots of guests. 

Ahhh...I love a little unexpected when it means presents. :)

Cheers~

e

the battle I can not win

Here it is...the salt in the wound of a my master bathroom blahness. I have yet to even touch my master bathroom. It lacks color. It lacks character. It lacks class. It is completely utilitarian.

This little corner showcases the battle I can never win. I am not sure the war is over quite yet, but I do know that the troops are always there.

I have tried baskets {metal & natural materials}..both on the counter and under the sink. I have tried to organize them and do something with them to make Mr. B's toiletries not become the main decor of my master bathroom...but I am losing.

What would you do? I am so sick of looking at this....and then I thought, maybe you have some ideas of what to do that will not be too drastic to start WW3.

When I think of a master...I don't want much, just something a tad shy of stunning.

both pics are from DecorPad

A mix of the above two would be fabulous...but on a VERY limited budget, I would be happy with just cleared off countertops.

Any thoughts? I have tried everything in hiding them, but Mr. B wants them always accessible. He finds it silly to hide every day necessities...and here I find it a necessity to hide every day things.

I am open to any strategy or game plan.

Cheers~

e

house hunters: what i see

My dad and I have been checking out LOTS of home. What I find interesting is what I see when I walk into a space.

When walking into this kitchen..

I picture myself one day walking into THIS kitchen:

When walking into this home..{why do realtors take such bad angle shots?}

I picture myself walking into THIS home:

When we drove up to this house:

I envisioned driving up to this house:

When walking into this other kitchen:

I saw this:

I LOVE seeing the potential in homes. Now I only wish all of you could come along with me. Imagine what more we could envision together. This house below had me at hello....imagine what the home could become with me as the lady of the house.

1243 Main Street Hill Road

What do you see when you look at houses? Do you see potential or do you just see what is there? Please tell me...what do you see and how do you see it.

Cheers~

e

tell me about you...yes, you.

pic from Oh Hello Friend {perfect for this post}

I adore my followers/friends. I have to tell the truth though...I am falling in love with many of you. Amid our emails or your comments, I find myself wandering more and more about you.  Amid all the wonderful blogs out there with all the fabulous people, we have found each other...so I want to know you even better.

And so with that thought...I am completely stealing this idea from Janell at Isabella & Max Rooms.....what can I say, I am a GREAT copycat.

Question Time {no looking off each other's answer...hehehe}:

1. Who are you? Get as specific as you like! (Where you live, age, career, single, married, kids, no kids, fond of dogs or a fish will do.)

2. What do you love? (Activities, hobbies, projects, interests: if you had a free day what would you do?)

3. If you could give me a week's worth of post topics, what would I be writing about on those days? What do you want to see/read?

4. This question is up for grabs...write your own question and answer it as you like!

I can not wait to hear from you...and thank you again for your friendship. Just the fact that you like to peek into my little corner of blog world means so much to me. Time is so precious. I am delighted that we get to share a moment or 2 together.

Cheers~
e

a month of Sundays

I have changed my expectations in decorating.

I am now a firm believer in slow decorating. It is so easy in the world of blogs to be consumed with time and instant perfection. Blogging takes place in the virtual world which thrives on editing and scheduled posts {hehe...which I do do}, but in the real world...it is ok if a weekend of redesign becomes a month of Sundays.

Here are a few examples of elements I have been working on each Sunday here and there for my little boy.

This canvas is 1 of 5...and I think it will be darling when finished. Haha...the navy walls alone was a weekend all unto itself.

I waited several Sundays for this lamp to go on clearance.

And this moveable night light? Well, I just thought the picture was uber cute.



Now that I have allowed myself not to have a deadline when working on my home, I am falling in love with the process of selection, the art of deal making {with myself & the Sunday ads}, and not stressing out when a setback is going to throw off my post date.

Thurgood's room is slowly getting there, but the best part is...we are both loving every new element that makes his room his and even more special.

The progress is the process.

So...What have you done with a month of Sundays?

Cheers~

e

a little ruffle & a little indulgent

I believe the master bed and room itself should be indulgent. I think I decorate ever so slowly compared to others. Oops! I have been promising myself to "try" and not compare myself or my blog to others. In my grand decor philosophy, I really believe in taking your time and enjoying the process of finding each piece..and most importantly, loving what you bring into your home. There should be no deadlines in decorating. Life is full of deadlines, so why instill them in attempting to make a house a home?

I think I found the another element to add to a fabulous bed.

Meet Miss Velvet Ruffle. Her shade is not white yet it is not ivory...but a marriage of the two. I swear she changes with the sun.

Those little ruffles are swoon worthy. It was obvious we were meant to be besties. She has been texting me ever since we 1st met in a Target aisle. But it wasn't until yesterday I took her seriously. She was on clearance at Target for $23.

I think she adds something to the bedding that was missing. What do you think?

Underneath all those pillows, I have something a little indulgent. Quite some time ago I won a CSN gift card from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia. It was to expire at the end of December. So guess what I was doing on my NYE? :) I decided on some new 600 thread count sateen sheets. I actually spent all of summer and fall debating on what to get...but when I found the sheets, I thought it would be a perfect way to spend my new found prize. I spent all of my gift card and paid only a few dollars for shipping. Thank you Kristin for the giveaway! It was such a delight.

So underneath all that lush bedding you will find these:

And they smell like this:

Both the sheets and the detergent are a little indulgent, but when one is free and the other was bought with a coupon..I think the money was well spent for the perfect sweet slumber.

Cheers~

e

house hunters: Old Louisville {again}

During Winter Break, I took advantage of a free afternoon and looked at 3 homes in Old Louisville. These homes would be in case our multi-generational home never came to be. I just wanted to share and get your thoughts....so many possibilities.

1236 South 6th Street

The staircase is breathtaking....I am just not a fan of the Master Suite...kinda odd.

1327 South 2nd Street

The kitchen here is UNBELIEVEABLE.

414 Belgravia Court

I have ALWAYS wanted to live on Belgravia...it is one of the only walking courtyards in Louisville. If only the house were bigger {I need another family or gathering room}..and as crazy as it sounds, I would "put pack" the 2nd story to increase the Master Suite. They took it out to create a 2 story living room.

So we shall see...it depends on so much. It depends on my employment, our family goals, and maybe even a new baby to be one day. We shall see, but I love to dream and have you dream along with me.

Cheers~

e

trade secrets: beauty is skin deep {moisturizers}

Whether you're browsing the cosmetics counters in your favorite department store or strolling through the aisles at your local pharmacy, the number of facial soaps, creams and moisturizers can be overwhelming. So many options..so many pretty bottles...so many promises..but let's be honest, it can be difficult to distinguish truth from hype.

But I am not hear to discuss which option is the best. That concept is better off as a one on one consult. What I am here is to tell you a little secret about moisturizing.

First thing {and you already know this}, you should moisturize at least twice a day..especially during these dry winter months. Dermatologists recommend using a daily facial moisturizer as part of a skin care routine.

We all wash our face, and this activity not only removes dead skin cells, dirt and bacteria, but it also strips the skin of needed hydration. Water -- not oil -- in the skin keeps it plump and smooth, whereas dry skin loses elasticity, making it more prone to developing wrinkles. And we all would pay a pretty penny to avoid wrinkles, but why not stop them before they start.

So what is my trade secret?

It doesn't matter how expensive or how cheap the moisturizer is...the real deal is mastering the "how to apply."

Just remember when applying anything to your face, use your ring and middle fingers. We love our pointer finger, but that finger can tend to be rough on delicate skin....especially around the eye. Plus the pads of the other fingers are usually more soft. {so that 1st pic in my post is all wrong, but I liked it....oh well}

Finally, after you have applied your moisturizer....let it "set" before doing anything. Don't do anything with your face. No touching. No makeup...nada.Go make your bed if its in the AM or put on your jammies if  it is close to bedtime. Just let that moisturizer "soak" into your skin. This is so key...especially in the morning before putting on makeup. If you don't allow it to "set" more than likely when you apply makeup, you will "push" off your moisturizer. Try it and you will notice a difference, I guarantee it. {as for how long...play with it because it is all based on individual skin chemistry.}

There you have it. Two simple and easy ways to improve the moisture of your skin, but many people don't do it.

Hope you like my little secret..

Cheers~
e

i need mommy decor advice

So I think most of you know that I have been slowly creating a big boy room for my little man. Well...I am at a standstill, and not just because I am working 10-12 hrs a day at another clinical rotation, but because I am in need of some mommy decor advice.

I found this wall treatment at The Stories of A to Z a while back ago and have fallen in love with it. I love how simple it is but gives texture and whimsy to what would be just another painted wall.

Do you see what I mean? It adds so much character to a wall.

Well I have an idea of how I envision Thurgood's room. It involves some bold color and a hint of ocean life. It may sound theme-y, but it is coming out darling. It is big enough for a little boy, but not too mature. It has a focus, but is not matchy-matchy. This age is so fun for creativity in a bedroom.

Well I want to do 2 walls {the one his bed is on and the opposite} in white..AND I want to do the above fun wall element. Here is where the mommy advice comes in..

It is rope lined on the walls with upholstery tacks.

Am I being too risky with this design for a boy almost of 4? At this point in time he could care less about the walls in our home {we have no chalkboard walls at all} and I do think I could attach them so they can not be removed.  There are so many ways to "fix" stuff to the walls. I have learned this lesson many times over. So I {and Mr. B would also like your opinion as he just informed me} want to know if this would be doable.

So I need feedback from any and all mommas. Let me know your thoughts.

And THANK YOU!!!

Cheers~
e

PS  I am also playing with the illusion of upholstery tacks...maybe clip off the "tack" and glue the head to the rope? Just thinking out loud...