Thursday, December 24, 2009

Cheerful Christmas Decor

Is it really Christmas Eve?! I can't believe Christmas is here...where does the time go! Anyway, I want to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas! May yours be filled with lots of love and happiness and good times with family and friends. I'm looking forward to a big Christmas dinner tonight with my husband's family and then spending tomorrow with my family, including my (2) nieces and (2) nephews! God Bless and cheers!




















PHOTO CREDITS: HOUSE TO HOME UK; REAL SIMPLE; LIVING ETC.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Exciting Giveaway!

I've teamed up with Bridget from Mint Green With Envy, a blog that focuses on fun product reviews and giveaways. This giveaway is part of her Grand Prize package, which includes a $40 gift certificate to my shop (modern chic home) as well as prizes from each Grand Prize sponsor. Click here to learn more about rules and details. Giveaway begins on December 25th and closes on January 9th. Good Luck!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

10 Days in Paradise...

Sunday night I returned home from 10 wonderful days in Maui with my husband and his family. I'm having a hard time snapping back into reality now after being lazy and relaxed for so long! It was absolutely beautiful - the weather was perfect, the food was outstanding (um...a little tricky getting back into my jeans now!) and it was just what my husband and I needed. Here are a few snapshots from our trip...

Sunset from our hotel room balcony

Me and my husband Ryan :)


Top left view from our hotel room...and snapshots from around the resort

These trees were incredible! I love this shot with the colorful balloons and shaved ice sign

A quick stop at an adorable little general store off the side of the road. They were selling beautiful handmade ornaments made by a local woman and her mother. Me and Amanda, my sister-in-law, having a cold Hawaiian beer.
Hope you're enjoying the holiday season so far! Are you all finished with your shopping? I'm not...always waiting until the very last minute! Cheers and Merry Christmas :)

Monday, December 21, 2009

Quote of the Week

Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect."

- Oren Arnold







Hello everyone! I'm back from a nice long vacation in Maui...glad to be home but I'm already missing the amazing weather! I'll be posting a little more about my trip tomorrow and am back in full swing this week with blog posts. Thank you for all of the lovely comments you left on last weeks posts :)

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Inspiration for Your Walls!

I'm blogging right on the beach in Maui and couldn't be happier! Today's post is a roundup of some fantastic ideas on how to make the most of your walls. Whether it's with accent paint, wallpaper, fun wall decals, stenciling, artwork...the sky is the limit! All photos via Living Etc.











Tuesday, December 15, 2009

One Sofa - (3) Different Looks

I found this helpful little spread via Real Simple, which demonstrates how you can update your look in an instant by adding throw pillows to your sofa. I happen to be (a little) obsessed with pillows and am constantly adding, switching out and re-arranging the ones on my giant sectional. It's the easiest way to freshen up your decor when you're craving change! Here are some helpful tips straight from Real Simple's interior design experts...

For a Modern Look: Go for an odd number of pillows, like three or five, rather than traditional pairs. Use larger pillows, around 18" to 24" in size, to really showcase a pattern or solid color. Keep the color palette simple and select large geometric patterns.

For a Traditional Look: Two or four large pillows arranged on either side of the sofa is key for balance and symmetry. The right size depends on how big your sofa is, but try pairing square pillows measuring 20 to 22 inches across with smaller squares or circles. Layering a variety of textures, patterns, and colors keeps things lively. A print and a coordinating solid will work, too.

For an Eclectic Look: Aim for three or five pillows to create a pleasing asymmetry without cluttering the sofa. You want your pillows to look "as if they just happened to be there." Try two pillows in one corner with a third at the opposite end. Aim for sizes of 18" - 24." For pattern, you can have a couple of pillows that match or five pillows in five different fabrics, but make sure there's at least one color in common to give the arrangement some unity.