Happy New Year

Every year on January 1st, I make a long list of goals in hopes of kicking bad habits and starting life anew. Okay, now I will admit that last year I may have gone a little overboard with my resolution making. Since I didn't win the lottery, there were goals listed that were completely out of my reach and to this day, I have yet to scratch a single thing off. Yup... not one. So, I've learned my lesson and this year I've decided to be more realistic. This is a first for me, but I've actually chosen resolutions that are way more attainable. So, here goes...

Enjoy Life 

Spend more time with family and friends this year.

Take more bubblebaths.

 

 Get more culture.

Learn something new 

Be more patient 

Pay off at least one bill...maybe even two.

Get more sleep

Try a new food I didn't think I'd like but never actually tried, unless it’s brussels sprouts... then it's okay to skip it.

Get more organized

Save more money

Pick at least two ways to go green...
Plant a tree.	Recycle
Carpool	Take shorter showers.
Walk or ride a bike	Plant a garden.
Recharge batteries	Unplug appliances when I'm not using them.
Use both sides of paper.	Use a dryer rack or clothes line to save energy.
Rethink bottled water.	Adjust the thermostat.
Turn off lights.	Invest in your own coffee cup.
Eat less meat.	Brush your teeth without water running.

Oh yeah, and I'll have to be really careful with the delete button so I don't delete any more posts. (Just in case anyone happened to notice one missing). Anyway, I hope all of you and your friends and families have a super, awesome new year. May God bless you all not only in 2013, but for many, many years to come.

Design Style

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend. I actually spent some of my weekend trying to figure out my design style since I'm not sure what category I fall into. I know that everybody has different tastes. I'm also aware that choosing design themes and styles for your home make a very strong statement about you and your personality. Style is not only determined by what types of furniture you have in your home, but it reflects a way of life. I think that most people choose their decorating style for very personal reasons, but for a lot of people, it is simply a matter of taste. For me, it's a little hard to define. So, do you really know if you're Shabby chic, if you enjoy something more exotic, or do you prefer a home that's more eco-friendly? I've been surfing the web for different design styles and if you're in the same boat as me, I've posted some pictures that just might help us figure it out.

Hollywood Glam is a design style from the early 60's that's all about glitz and glamour. It's creating a space that is luxurious and sophisticated with a combination of ornate and classical details.













Eclectic mixes various design and decor traditions. It speaks to people who want to be more individual by not following any one trend 100%.











Vintage or retro designs are outdated, but nostalgic. In the most general sense, it uses any furniture that was produced between the year 1920 and the late 1970's.














Modern or contemporary design may feature minimalist style, or it may entail innovative structures and finishes such as glass walls or open-floor plans.










Traditional decorating is classic, comfortable and orderly. It's a familiar look that you'd see in magazines or furniture show rooms. There isn't anything wild or chaotic in a traditional room.













Country decorating is an appealing mix of fabrics and a warm handmade quality in furniture and accessories that sometimes show the wear of time, but there are also variations within that genre that can take country decorating down different paths. There's rustic country, French country, American country, English country and Tuscan or Italian country... the list goes on.












I know, I know... I could go on and on, so I'd better just stop now. Now, the bad news is, I haven't even scratched the surface here. There's also, Victorian styles, African style, tropical, art deco, Asian, Gothic, and soooooo many more design styles to choose from. The good news is, I've finally pinpointed my design style. I'm drawn to rooms with a more traditional feel, but I also like a pinch of contemporary tossed in, (as long as it's not too out there). Drum roll please... so I just discovered that my style is transitional. A transitional interior is the perfect marriage of traditional and contemporary designs. Yeah!!! I feel better now. Time for a cookie and a hot cup  of tea.



So tell me... what's your design style?

My Birthday

I adore this room. I can sooo see myself sitting here reading a book, with my feet up and enjoying the view.

I've been so busy working on my story which is coming along very well, by the way. I'm on chapter 25 now. I've been meaning to put the pictures up from my birthday but I just never got around to it. Even though they're late, here they are... finally.

This is the birthday card that my husband gave me. If I had thought about it, I would have taken a picture of the inside, too. He wrote a touching message inside and it was really sweet. 

One of my daughter's made me breakfast in bed. How sweet was that? She knows that I'm trying to eat healthy so, she brought me a book that will help me to choose the healthiest foods.

This is a close up of the breakfast she made which was really yummy, by the way.

Take a look at the cool gifts on the left side of the tray.

Two pairs of earrings and a bracelet. I raised her right... LoL. Thanks Sweetie, Mom can never have too much bling.

These beautiful flowers are from my husband. I love flowers soooo much.

Here's a close up. They're so pretty.

I wanted to find a nice spot for them. So I put them on a small table in one of my favorite spaces. Now, when I sit outside to read or to work on my story, these beautiful flowers keep me company.

And what's a birthday without cake... thanks Hubby.

Hmmm, a slice of cake would go perfect with...

... a hot cup of tea

Mmm...mmm... good. I really enjoyed my birthday. My family truly made me feel loved.