Pink!

I had planned on posting either my first artist feature tonight on an incredibly sweet lady named Rachel, or the guest post that I just received from Jessica over at Arcadian Lighting Blog, but both are having a few technical difficulties tonight (besides needing a few tweaks that I am waiting on from each person). So I decided to pick through Pinterest and talk about some of the things I am loving right now.

If you ask me what my favorite color is, I'll usually tell you its rainbow. (Massive gay cliche, but I've loved colors since I was little. I wish my mom had taken pictures of me in the outfit I wore the first day of 5th grade! I think I was seen in technicolor that day). But if I absolutely HAD to pick one, and only one, color to call my favorite, most days I'd tell you pink. And I've been seeing a lot of pink decor that I love around Pinterest, so I figured what better topic for a spur-of-the-moment meme than my favorite color right?

I LOVE this bathroom! Jess would never let me do this (and she might actually get mad at me if I did it without telling her- I can get by with almost anything, but I think this might be too far lol). But a girl can dream right? I love the black vanity against the whitebeadboarding and checkerboard floor. I love the square vessel sink and the glossy black baroque mirror (I think that's the right description, I had to google it). I love the modern light fixture. Suffice it to say, I just love everything about this bathroom! I can't help but wonder what the shower looks like. Also be sure to check out the rest of their house! I think I could be great friends with these people, at least based on their decorating style. I don't agree with everything they've done, but its the closest I've possibly ever seen to my own very colorful, eclectic style.

Can you see a theme emerging here? I love black and white with pops of color! I think I'd have more chance of talking Jess into this one if I wanted to because the pink is much less dominant. Its a little too much white and not enough color for my taste overall though, but I can still appreciate it. I love the simple black tufted headboard (tufted furniture is something else I have been loving recently) and the clean, simple lines of the night table.

I love that she wasn't afraid to go for a bold color here. I think a lot of people are afraid to use pink in decorating. Plus I think a lot of men would be very unhappy with their wives if they had pink walls or decor! The only thing I would have done differently is to paint the shelves in white, but I'm sure it was much less hassle just to do them all in one color. I love the lighting in the top too, I think it really lights up the bold pink while still keeping the focus on the items on display. This would be a quick, easy update for a piece you've grown tired of!

So there you have it. What do yall think? Love it or hate it? Anyone have any pink rooms or decor to share?

Artist Features Coming Soon!

I've been on something of an art kick lately. I can spend hours on Etsy just browsing art and liking new works and shops. That's part of the reason I've slacked off a bit on posting lately, I can't seem to pull myself away from browsing art long enough to pull a post together. I stumbled across some works from a new artist that I fell in love with, and decided to message her and ask if she'd be interested in being featured and possibly offer a giveaway or discount code for yall. Then I kept browsing, and it must have been my night, because I stumbled across several more new artists whose work I love. I think part of it is due to the fact that my absolute favorite art style, impasto,  is becoming 'trendy'. By the end of it I had messaged 8 shop owners total, not expecting to get anything back because I am still such a small blog. Well, when I woke up today I checked my email, and had responses from not one but FOUR of them, all interested in being featured and offering discount codes or a giveaway! So this is sort of a teaser post, and if I can get all the information together that I need from one of them, I will get the first one up tonight!

*Edit: after this post I got one more response, so now I have 5 artists lined up for features! I'm thinking about making it a weekly or monthly thing, but I haven't decided for certain yet. Any thoughts?

New TV Entertainment Center Soon I Hope!



This is not my living room, but it is
the same console I have
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Remember me saying that I planned on repurposing my old entertainment center whenever I eventually get a new one, or selling it on Craigslist? Well Crystal and I were talking the other day and she mentioned wanting to get a new one soon because hers is literally about to fall apart. I told her I'd sell her mine if she wanted it whenever we managed to get a new one, and she said she'd like that. I told her I'd check the condition of it and give her an estimate, but if I had to make a guess I'd say around $150 (we paid $400 for it at Best Buy a year and a half ago; it sells for $350 now).

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So then of course (of course! Wouldn't you go shopping?) I started shopping for a new one. And I found one at Ikea that I LOVE. And then I realized that it has to be mounted that it has to be mounted to the wall over the TV, and since our tv has to go against the stair wall, that wouldn't be possible. So then I was like well frick. Lol.

So, as much I as I want a wall-unit entertainment center (all that shelving! Plus I've just always wanted one), it appears it is not going to be possible, at least not for now. (I'd love to move it to another wall but we'd have to buy a wireless router, have the cable/internet re-routed or live with cords/cables going across the floor. Neither is happening any time soon.)



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I resigned myself to finding one I like that's not a wall unit. Ikea doesn't have any that I'm crazy about (at least none that would hold our 47" tv). I found very few that I like for what I'm looking for for the space (the one I have now is a very heavy piece, too heavy for the space; I want something more open, which is why I loved the Expedit), and after a lot of review reading on different sites, I settled on one. I love the open backing, and the side shelving too. I just hope it lives up to its picture. Its from Wal-Mart, so I'm extremely skittish, but the reviews were mostly positive. And even for a piece like the one I've got already, which came perfectly packaged and drilled and assembled wonderfully easily, there are still some bad reviews saying things arrived damaged or wrong parts or improperly drilled. So I think I'm going to take a chance with it and hope for the best. And it only costs $99, so I've got a little extra to play with, which of course makes me happy.

Crystal's Sign Gallery

I spent the bulk of last night at my sister Crystal's house. (She's the sister who's redecorating. I know, I know, I have so many lol!) She did go buy that sectional sofa I mentioned, plus she painted the whole living room, she's bought new curtains and curtain rods, she bought an area rug when we were at the flea market last weekend, and she bought a handful of metal signs she wanted to hang on the wall. She was afraid to try it by herself, so we tackled it together. I won't bore you with a whole tutorial on how we did it, its the same method I'm sure you've seen a million times (arrange everything on the floor in a design you like, make paper templates of each piece, mark each paper with identifying words and placement so they don't get mixed up, mark nail placement on paper, tape paper to wall to perfect spacing and placement, nail through paper, remove paper and hang items- if you want more detailed instructions, here's a pretty good tutorial that's pretty close to what we did). In the end, we ended up with this:

Left is the papers taped while we were working on spacing and stuff; Right is the final result

Its entirely possible I went a bit overboard with the picture editing. But this way it somewhat disguises the crappy quality of a cell phone picture at night with low lighting. And anyway you get the idea. Kelly feel free to go take a replacement picture for us! The whole area isn't ready for reveal yet though. But its all coming along nicely!

And just because, here's a preview of her living room so far:

Look in the corner and you can see her dated cabinets and laminate countertops with pink edging! How's that for a bit of before and after!?

Meet My New Salt Lamp

Some of you may remember me posting a while back about wanting to get a salt lamp (you can go read the post here if you're interested). Well, I finally got one! Its not the basket-type that I originally wanted, but I don't care. Jess and I went to the flea market Sunday morning with Crystal and another friend. We had stopped to look at this one stall that had gorgeous cuts of quartz and other minerals, made into everything from wind chimes to jewelry to bookends. I almost didn't see the salt lamps, they were tucked back behind a display. The tag said $20 but she said she'd give it to me for $15. We went and walked around the rest of the market, but I couldn't stop thinking about it so when we'd made it all the way around we went back. I got the lamp (and Jess bought an arrowhead necklace made from crystal for $5. And Crystal went back to a different vendor and got a rug she couldn't stop thinking about). Now, in hindsight, I could have gotten the same basic lamp online for $6-10. (The basket ones are the ones that start around $25 or $30.) I'm just happy I finally got one though! It was worth it to me. Even if it weren't for all the health benefits its supposed to have, I'd still love it. It has a raw, earthy look to it that I am swooning over, and I think it fits in well with all the nature elements the room has and will have eventually.

What do you think dreamers? Love it or hate it?


PS Dont forget to enter my giveaway if you haven't already! 2 nights in a luxury mountain condo during spring break! Enter here, it ends March 12!

Tonight...

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I fell in love. Again. And not with Jess, although I do of course love her dearly, more and more every day. But this runs a very close second. I think I may have found my inspiration piece for the living room (or what will eventually be made into a piece/pieces). At $9.20/yd its not cheap (at least not by my standards), but it is gorgeous. And Jess loves it too. I need to go to Mary Jo's again and see if I can't find something similar. (Mama? Crystal? Kelly? Anyone wanna come with? That is one place Jess does not like to go with me.) But until then, and just in case I can't find anything I even love half as much (which is what happened last time I went), here is the second love of my life. It doesn't have the bright green I want, but it does have the teal, pale-ish yellow, and fuchsia. And I think the pale green in it could work with my brighter green accessories. And I get orange! Yall know I love lots and lots of color, so getting even more than I'd planned on makes me happy!


Courtney

2-Night Stay in a Rocky Mountain Condo

I haven't been on a vacation in years. (September 2008 to be exact. And the only reason I know that is because I went with my ex and his family, and we always went in September. I left him the following January.) Anyway I'm rambling. I'm excited to be doing my second giveaway! This is one I'm participating in with a lot of other bloggers. Read on for the details.

Enjoy a 2 night family vacation in Estes Park, Colorado any time between April 8th – 22nd for a family of up to 6 people (a value over $550) in time for Spring Break!!!

This event was put together by Two Little Cavaliers. The prize is being provided courtesy of their sponsor Estes Park Central. This event is open Worldwide however you must provide your own transportation.

Experience luxurious accommodations, breathtaking views, cozy fireplaces and the ultimate Premier Vacation Rental. The Home to the Estes Park Premier Vacation Rentals Source was established in 2007. Estes Park Central holds the highest standards in private luxury vacation rental properties and guest services. With our Estes Park Vacation Rentals service and cabin rentals, we offer personalized lavish vacation rental accommodations to meet your individual needs. All our Private Vacation Rental Properties feature top of the line appointments, fully equipped kitchens, TV and DVD, fireplaces, cozy living areas, free wireless Internet, twin/queen/king beds with luxurious bedding and views of the Rocky Mountains. You will truly have an experience to remember with any of our prime Estes Park Vacation Rentals.

 About the Condo:
This is a newly constructed, luxury, two bed/two bath condo with gorgeous mountain views overlooking Marys Lake and only 3 miles from the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. Our Estes Park vacation condo rental is fully-equipped with a Jacuzzi bathtub, King-size and Queen-size bed, Queen-size sofa bed in the living room, gas fireplace, washer and dryer, TV with Cable, DVD and a gourmet kitchen with granite counter tops. A private hot tub on the deck overlooking the mountains enhances your relaxation. The historic Marys Lake Lodge is located on this unique property. It has been totally restored to its original grandeur. Marys Lake Lodge offers 2 separate dining experiences for your pleasure. Grandmaison’s Chalet Room offers world-class international cuisine with a European flair in an elegant ambiance. The Tavern serves delicious meals in a casual atmosphere with live music every night all summer. The rest of the year the live music continues Wednesday through Sunday evening. The Escape Spa and Salon offers a complete salon experience to rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit.

*While this particular condo is not pet friendly they do offer other condos and vacation homes under their management that that are pet friendly.




Activities and Attractions:
Hiking year-round, viewing the incredible sights of Rocky Mountain National Park, bicycling around Lake Estes, the Town of Estes and looping past Mary's Lake Lodge, wildlife-viewing, fabulous Shopping,cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and downhill skiing at Eldora Mountain Resort, a 45 minute drive. The town offers fishing, boating, and indoor/outdoor rock climbing, and horse-back riding.




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