2.21.2013

Cleaning

Just a quick little post today, to let you in on some specials with Norwex this month.
I have been a consultant with Norwex for almost 5 years and I really can't emphasize it enough how much I love these products. I have eliminated all harmful chemicals from my house, my house is cleaner than ever (uh, that is when I do clean), I am saving money and I'm protecting the environment and my families health. Can you cleaning products do that?

Anyway, if you haven't heard of Norwex I guarantee it is not a scam. I don't have time in my life to try to scam others into buying something that don't need or doesn't work, and I wouldn't want to even if I did have the time. Plus, if you don't trust me, Norwex has a 60 day guarantee on all products.
Really, you should give it a shot! I swear you won't go back to your old way of cleaning.
You can read more about Norwex in my past post, here.

Here are the February Specials, they change month to month, so these are good for another week.

 
 For more products, please visit my website. If you have ANY questions at all please contact me. 

2.20.2013

Feeling Blue

I am not feeling sad, or depressed, I am feeling like decorating my whole house in blue lately. I am not going to literally but I am really loving seeing all the shades of blue out and about recently.
Blue is so calming and serene. It's my favorite color but for some reason I seem to have decorated most of my house in greens and browns. That is slowly changing. I am on a mission (a slow mission) to redo each room in my house. Some rooms will have big changes, some just little ones. But the main mission is to lighten everything up!
If you've read in some of my past posts, you know I live in Washington where there is green EVERYWHERE! I also live in a wooded neighborhood. While I have no problem with green, I guess I just want a change from the colors that I see outside everyday! So out will go my green and browns and in will come some blues (which we don't see too much of around here) and light neutral colors.
Here are some of the blue accents pieces I've seen lately that I like.

Zgallerie


West Elm

West Elm

West Elm

West Elm

West Elm

West Elm

West Elm

West Elm

West Elm


PB

PB

PB

PB

PB
Williams-Sonoma Home


Williams-Sonoma Home

Serena & Lily


Serena & Lily


Williams-Sonoma Home




2.11.2013

A Look Behind the Curtains with Jill Hinson @ The Forever Cottage

Man, there are a LOT of blogs out there! Everyday I see or hear about new ones that I've never heard of or seen. It's fun to see what all is out there.
I'm sure plenty of you can agree there are many blogs out there that are good but they just don't click with you. You know what I mean right? Sort of like design, there are many designs and styles out there that I can appreciate, but I wouldn't do it in my own home sort of thing. The blogs that I choose to follow, speak to me in one way or another and they just click for me.
One in particular that really clicks for me is Forever Cottage, written by blogger and budding new interior designer Jill Hinson.  I believe we are around the same age, have girls the same ages, and maybe a little presumptuously of me but I believe if we lived in the same town we would be good friends. Jill is literally a true soccer mom, but with great style!
Anyway, Jill accepted to be apart of my Look Behind the Curtains series. To see my last two, please read here and here.
Without further ado, here we go.......




Where are you based?

J: The best city evah - Portland, Oregon!

How did you get into interior design? How long have you been doing it?

J: I have been designing spaces for as long as I can remember - I was that kid that repainted by own bedroom and re-arranged my mom's living room. I was that 80's girl that painted clouds on her light blue bedroom walls.


When and why did you start your blog?

J: I started my blog in 2009 after our family relocated to Minnesota and the winters were cold and long and I did not know a soul.

Do you have any interior design education/ degree?

J: Nope. I have a Bachelor of Science in Business/Marketing - went the practical route but am now following my passion.

How would you define your style?

J:  Collected, traditional with a bit unexpected.


What is your favorite room to design and why?

J; I thought long and hard about this question and I have to say I honestly like designing different rooms for different reasons. I love to do kitchens because I love to cook and I really believe it's a home's true gathering space but kids rooms are fun and living rooms offer so many opportunities!

What is your favorite paint color to use?

J: Oh, this changes - right now I am loving dark moody walls. Farrow & Ball's Down Pipe is a current fav.

What is your favorite local décor shop?

J: My favorite stores are antiques stores - Monticello and Stars are Portland favorites. I also like Manor Fine Wares in NW Portland - it's pricey but leaves me so inspired every time I visit.

What is your most go to online décor shop?

J: I love Etsy for throw pillows. One King's Land and Joss & Main have proven to be great sources for decor. Of course, I use West Elm, Pottery Barn and Ballard Design as well.

What room in your own house is your favorite and why?

J: I would say my formal living room/office. It's a room that everyone in my family loves too - and it doesn't have a television in it! My girls like it for a quiet place to read and my husband will leave his office and go there to take a business call. Everyone calls it "mommy's room" because it really reflect me and my personality and has so many thing I love in it - including the desk where I work from.


Who inspires you?

J: Anna Spiro, a designer from Australia - she mixes patterns brilliantly! Emily Henderson - she's from Portland but I love her use of flea market/thrift store finds in her spaces.

Looking back, have you ever had a big design disaster? Or thought, “what was I thinking?”

J: Just one? In my 20 years of marriage, my husband and I have owned and decorated 9 homes. I had someone wallpaper a dining room in a home we had purchased in New Jersey before we moved in. I knew immediately I hated it but lived with it for about 6 months. My husband left for a business trip and I started ripping that wallpaper off the wall. Let me just say, I think long and hard before I choose wallpaper these days!

Do you ever second guess your decisions?

J: All the time.

Best advice for someone starting an interior design career?

J: That would be me - if you hear any, can you send that advice my way?????

Best advice for new bloggers?

J: Stick with it! In the beginning you might question why you are doing it but keep going - an audience will find you. And also, be your self!




Best advice for someone decorating on their own?

J: Stay true to yourself! Don't be swayed by trends - they come and go - do what you LOVE and if that can be something classic, your spaces will never go out of style.


______


This has been so fun doing this series! Thank you so much Jill for being apart of it.
I don't remember how I found Jill's blog but I think that super cute bench some how brought me to it. I don't think I could get sick of looking at the picture, super cute!
To see more of Jill's gorgeous home, hop on over and check it out. Tell her Hi from me! :)

2.07.2013

I'm Feeling Lucky..

I have to say I'm feeling a little lucky lately. In the last few months I've won 3 giveaways from other blogs.
I one a betwixt lumber size pillow cover in indigo that I had my eye on for a long time from Jill @ Forever Cottage and Spark Modern.


Doesn't it look good with my new bedding?

I also won a pink throw from Charmaine @ My Best Friend Craig and Land's End. I gave it to my youngest daughter, and by the way it is super cozy!


She's next in line for a bedroom makeover but the blanket will still work in the new scheme of things.

And just recently, I won a Sunday Set Up Plan (product of Kathy Kaehler) from Melanie @ My Sweet Savannah and Janette Mallory. I am SO excited to do this plan. It is an online club that gives you access to Kathy's plan of setting up, prepping and storing food for the week. Healthy meal recipes, shopping lists and fitness advice. Who couldn't use a little help getting meal ideas and learning how to prep for the week, so meals are easy to prepare and also healthy? I know I sure could. Thinking of what to make each night is sometimes a big downer.
As soon as I get access to this plan and give it a whirl, I will definitely post about it. If you'd like to check it out for yourself, you can go here.



Now, I don't want you to forget I'm doing a little giveaway myself. It's not the traditional giveaway, you do need to purchase something to be entered. But it's for a good cause. My middle daughter is going on an educational trip to China this summer and it's to raise money for the trip. To see my fundraiser and giveaway, please go here. You have one more week to enter, it closes February 14th.
Thanks so much and good luck!

2.05.2013

16 years of Bliss....

Today my husband and I are celebrating our 16th wedding anniversary. Wow, where the heck does time go? I say this every stinking year, and I'm still surprised when another year goes by. Not surprised that we're still together, just surprised because it feels like yesterday that we were barefoot on a beach saying "I do".
So honey, if you are reading this: I love you dearly and am so happy that I was lucky enough to have met you and got to marry my best friend. You are my biggest supporter and always there to lend an ear or a shoulder. Looking forward to all the adventures, up and downs, twists and turns our future holds, as long as we are together holding hands along the way.


2.01.2013

A Malibu Home

I happened upon these pictures of actress Charlize Theron's once owned Malibu beach home the other day, and then shortly after came across pictures of the same home which was bought by Glee creator Ryan Murphy.
I thought it would be fun to show you how each decorated the home and see which style you like best.

Ryan Murphy's
 
Charlize Theron's

Ryan Murphy's
 
Charlize Theron's

Ryan Murphy's
 
 
Charlize Theron's
 

Ryan Murphy's
 
Charlize Theron's

Ryan Murphy's



Charlize Theron's
 
 
Reportedly, Murphy purchased the 2,100 sq ft home from Theron in 2010 for 6.5 million dollars. A year later Murphy listed the property for 7 million. Not sure how much he ended up getting for it though.
Oh, to be a rich celebrity and live on the beach in Malibu!
So, which way did you like it decorated? I am leaning towards Ryan Murphy's style. His style was much more streamlined, clean with a beach and vintage vibe. While Charlize's had touches of beach style, but more jeweled colors and a little too much going on for me.


**Oh, and if you haven't gotten a chance to read about my little fundraiser I'm doing for my daughter's trip to China this summer and a chance to win a prize, please go here.


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