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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

How To Use Trends Without Looking Too Trendy

   






We all love to add a new trend to our homes once-in-awhile. How  can we add something that is trendy without looking like we jumped on the trend train in full force, and over did it?

Use the trend with restraint!

 Today I would like to talk about one particular trend that is being seen in home interiors as well as fashion is, bright pops of color. 

The reason I am choosing this trend, is because all of us can add this easily to our existing designs in our homes.


Personally I am glad to see the design world getting away from the all white/neutral interiors.

 As serene as a neutral color scheme  can be, a bright pop of color is always welcomed in our world. 

The above image shows a neutral room with a pop of green. The room comes alive!



(Pops of color are brought in with pillows, and sunflowers.)

Yesterday as I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Isabella & Max Rooms, by the lovely Janell. In her post she showed how a pop of color can totally change the look of a room.

Janell is a wonderful designer, and DIY'er. She has the ability to do makeovers that always improve the look, and feel of her home on a budget in such creative ways.

This particular vignette is on her sideboard in her dining area. Notice the wall behind the sideboard, she stenciled that herself. That alone gave this room a Wow! factor, but she takes it a step further by adding a bit of color……….. 


bird cage 1
I love the pop of turquoise used here. Notice the touches of Spring, a bird cage, and two little brass birds that echo the brass in the hardware on the console table. 

This already looks great, but Janell is a creative spirit, and took it a step further…………….


bird cage after 1
A bright pop of a coral/pink is added to the birdcage. Now this vignette becomes elevated to a whole other level.

?What can we all learn from this?

By adding one contrasting, or complimentary color in small, restrained doses, our homes can look fresh and current.

How can we apply this technique in our own homes?

1. Take a look around your home, and think of the
    color families you have in your rooms.
    
2. Choose an existing color you already have in your
    home, and look at some of the brighter values of
    that color.

3. Choose a new accent color,  and make it brighter
    than you would usually use in your home.

4. Select an element you can apply the color. Don't
    forget the use of bright flowers or fruit. Bright 
    natural elements in any room will bring life to a
    room.




   
Have fun with it and remember just a pop of color will not only brighten your room, but I think it just might put a smile on your face!

 
Posted by Kathysue at 11:04:00 AM 21 comments

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Cool Mint






I did a post a few days ago about adding pastels to my wardrobe. I am usually more of a medium value gal when it comes to colors, but I like to try something new once in awhile.




After doing that post, and researching what pastels would work in my wardrobe, mint green stood out as a good addition to my existing wardrobe.



I use to wear this color in the late 80’s and it was a favorite back in the day.


(my jacket was almost identical to this one, I should have kept it!)





I went looking for a mint sweater, and I found one at JCrew.



I already have a few things to wear with this new addition to my wardrobe.












While perusing JCrew I found a few things that were pretty cute, and reasonable that were on clearance……








Bracelets are all the rage, and the more the better. I thought this was so pretty for $24.95.






This would go perfect with so many things in my wardrobe, and at $14.50 it is a real steal. They had a necklace in the same style also, but I would not wear both at the same time, one or the other, never both.





At $26.50 these would be darling for the summer. I can see these with a long maxi dress for a barbecue.

 An all white outfit:  white jeans, and white shirt, these earrings and multiple gold chains for a necklace, cute sandals, and you are good to go!!


I just thought I would share a few things I saw that are on sale right now that seem like a pretty good deal to me.

This seems to be a good time of year to take advantage of some of the sales that are going on right now.

I passed on the jewelry, but the sweater is on its way to ME!!!

I will be wearing it like this: 




BTW: did you notice I threw in some images of rooms done in mint? I don’t want to disappoint my readers that come here to see pretty rooms! Do any of you wear mint, or have it in your homes?

"Enjoy the Process!" Of:

Adding a new fun color for the season!




Posted by Kathysue at 6:37:00 PM 13 comments

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Great Ideas To Ponder On A Saturday

   
Saturdays are a perfect day to get some great ideas to try over the weekend.

I am going to do this post a little bit differently than I have done  some of my other post. I am going to try and break them down into categories…..

Health And Beauty:

Skin Care

I love make-up and I really try to look the best to my ability(Notice I am prefacing this with the ability card?!) I am also a self confessed product junky!

Once in awhile I find a product that I am sold on and I have to share it with my readers…..


I am beyond thrilled to have found out about this product. I have very dry skin, and I have been using La Mer for years. I will not say La Mer doesn’t work, because it is the best moisturizer I have ever found for my skin.

Howeve,r it is beyond expensive, and I have tried for several years to find a substitute. I finally have.

 The Eucerin product is sold in France, not the US yet. I found an online source that imports it so we can now purchase it.


I have used this for about 3 weeks and my skin feels moist all day, and it looks dewy, and at my age that is a real plus!!

I highly recommend this product. Just click HERE! to go to their website, you won't be sorry!

Make-Up

I recently updated my lipstick and blush for Spring. My coloring has changed, and I needed to get something different than I normally wear. 

It is important to take a good look at ourselves, and evaluate if we need an update. I try to do this in the Spring and Fall.

I just found what I think is the perfect blush. Not just the color, but this stuff stays on all day into the night.

 I have never had a blush that stays on ALL day. For some reason my skin seems to drink up color. This stuff is amazing…….

Bare minerals READY BLUSH, it is a fairly new product, not a loose powder, but a compact that you can carry with you in your purse. This blush really has staying power. The color I purchased is Faux Pas. Love it!

Health




This is an app for all of you who have a smart phone.

 This app allows you to take a picture of your food, and then the Eatery tracks, and analyzes your overall eating patterns to give you a big-picture breakdown of your strengths, weaknesses, and the best places to make a change.

It becomes a tracker of our good, and bad habits and will make us more aware of where we need to make some changes.


Family

I don’t have any little one’s at home anymore, but when I saw this idea I thought it was worth sharing…….


This little clock turns yellow when it is time for your little one to get up and turns blue at bedtime. This helps in two ways, your child knows his routine and the clock is telling him/her to go to bed, not the parent. 

It will also help by keeping the child in bed until it turns yellow. Eventually your little one will also learn to tell time.

I just think this is a great little tool worth trying.


For you clever DIYers……….


Recycled DVD cases made into a travel art center!


Around the House



Old luggage sprayed all white to use as a night stand in a guest room. How clever!!



(Just a little FYI this particular pin is being pinned like crazy over on Pinterest!)

A rock glued to the top of an old pill bottle, and put in the ground somewhere in your yard that only YOU know about, and you have a key for the one time you lock yourself out of the house. 

Notice I said ONE time,because I am just sure none of you will ever lock yourself out twice.


 Spring Cleaning.........
Spring is here and it is time for Spring cleaning. Using baking soda and some lavender essential oil you can use your kitchen sifter to sift over the mattress.

Let it sit for about an hour and then vaccuum Voila, a clean mattress and one that smells fresh too!!


So there you have it dear readers! I hope your weekend is fun, productive or relaxing!

“Enjoy the Process!” Of:

Trying something new on the weekend!
 
Posted by Kathysue at 7:03:00 AM 15 comments
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