New And Old Friends From The Make-up Counter

 

I am a self confessed product junkie. I love a lovely fragrance, and anything that makes me feel  more feminine, or look better.

In fact as I am typing this I have a masque on my hair and on my face! I try to do this at least once a week, usually it is on Sunday, but I needed a little puffing and fluffing so today is the day.

There are certain products that I go back to all the time, and then are the newer products that I am trying that I feel are making a difference in what my skin, or hair looks like.

A couple of newer products that I am really liking are by Paula’s Choice.

RESIST SKIN RESURFACING SYSTEM….

I use the 5% every night except 2 nights out of the week, On Wednesday and Sunday nights I use the 10% solution. You put this on after cleansing and before your night cream. I can really tell a difference in the texture of my skin since I started using this product.

The other new kid on my block is Revlon Eterna 27 with Progenitin

This cream is pretty heavy, but for someone with very dry skin it is wonderful. I use it as a night cream, but have also used it for daytime when I am not applying any make-up.

This has definitely made a difference in the moisture level of my skin. It is still on trial, but for the last couple of months I can tell a difference so I think it is a keeper. 

The cleanser I use by Lierac is going to be my forever friend. I love this stuff and highly recommend it. It dissolves make-up and even mascara. It smells heaveny too. So easy to use…..

If you are in need for  a new cleanser try this, you can thank me later!

I want to leave you with a couple of cosmetics that I am never without. I have used both of these for years and everyone that I have recommended them too has become faithful users as well.

Both products are by Bobbi Brown

First is her Shimmer brick….

I use Rose Shimmer brick because I just want a healthy glow and with my fair skin this does the trick. It comes in many different colors so I am sure you will find one that works for you.

Lip shimmer in Lilac sugar. Yes it is lavender, BUT, trust me this gloss works over every lipstick from pinks to corals to reds. I have used it on every color.

It gives the most beautiful gloss and last longer than any other gloss I have used. It does not travel off your lips either!! This is a longtime friend of mine and I will NOT be without it.

Did you know if you add a bit of a blue base colored lipstick your teeth will look whiter? This does that too!!!

One more that many of you that read about this product have written and thanked me when I first introduced it.

Best under eye cover-up, brightener......

 BOI~ING IS THE NAME BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES MAKE YOUR EYES GO.... BOI~ING~~~~

As I said in the beginning I am always trying new products so I started a Pinterest board so I could pin some of the products I would like to try.

If you would like to see what I am wanting to try just go HERE!!! 

Next on my list are some fun new fragrances, did you know there is a website that you can order samples? Just click HERE!

I just ordered two new samples to try out. Check out my pinboard and you will see what they are!!

Don’t forget to leave a comment on your very favorites and products you will never give up!! We all love to read others favorites!!

 

 

The Final Choice Has Been Made

   

I am sure some of you are wondering why I write blog post like my last post that tells you the process I go through in decorating my own home. 

The victories, the disappointments, the mistakes are all part of any design process. Whether you are a professional, or a homeowner that just loves to decorate.

Sometimes it can be a slam dunk, but more times than not it is a lot of planning and experimenting.

I want you, my reader to become brave enough to try new things and wise enough to admit when it does not work in your home. 

Both are part of the design process, and will help you get to the point of a well designed room that you love.

So with all that being said shall we continue where I left off in my last post?

My original plan of adding turquoise in the form of pillows to my family room for a summer look was not working as I thought it would.

I had pinned images that made me think it would work and in my minds-eye it could work.

For some reason it was just too strong of a statement, so that sent me back to the drawing board. 

It helps to write down why certain elements don’t work, and then you will see what possibly will work in your room.(this is where you will be like Goldilocks, too small, too dark, not the right color etc.)

After reevaluating what the room needs to make it cooler for the summer I realized that maybe, just maybe, I need to keep it’s base all blue and white and only add touches of turquoise in the form of books, vases and accessories.

It will still give me the coolness of blues, but will be more of a visual flow for my particular room.

Notice how this room is all blue and white and the only turquoise is in the vase? 

The room still reads nice and cool and reminds me of summer. Now this is more of what I think I need.

The hunt began for blue and white fabric that had a larger scaled pattern, different shades of blue. The Ikats were not the direction for me so that meant something with a bit of a flow to it.

In comes my next three fabrics…

#1 is Pindler & Pindler’s Nebula in sapphire

#2 is Pindler & Pindler’s Batik in azure

#3 is Robert Allens Jacobean in indigo

I tried each one in the family room……

First image is #2-Jacobean and#3 Batik. fabrics. The middle image is all three choices, and the third image is #1-Nebula fabric.

It is always a good idea to line them up and compare all the aspects of each fabric, pro’s and con’s.

After lining them up the smallest swatch was eliminated because of the smaller scale and lack of different shades of blues.

It was a very close race for  #1-Nebula

AND

#2- Batik

This is the point that it is important to put the fabrics with all of the existing fabrics in the room, and to view it in the different lighting throughout the day.

After doing this there was a clear winner…….

Pindler & Pindler’s Nebula in sapphire.

Here are the reasons why this fabric was the clear winner….

The Nebula fabric worked with every fabric in my room. The colors stayed consistent in all lighting.

Even at night it maintained it’s crisp blue and white look. It has just a touch of black outlining which is perfect with my black touches throughout the room.

There was a lot of research that went into finding these fabrics.  I love blogland, and the generosity of fellow bloggers. I can not end this post without thanking two lovely ladies……..

I would like to thank Jennifer of The Pink Pagoda blog for giving me the name of the Batik fabric. Jennifer used this in her home in pillows and in draperies.

The Pink Pagoda Blog

I would also like to thank Karianne from Thistlewood Farms blog. Once I googled this fabric and found it on her blog, she was so gracious to give me the name and manufacture of the fabric.

Thistlewood Farms Blog

The fabric has been ordered and when I receive it I will have my pillows made!

As always,

 To Be Continued………

 

 

Goldilocks OF Design Is At It AGAIN!!

 

When asked the question, what is the biggest decorating mistake a homeowner can make? My answer is always, “ Not having a PLAN!”

Even when we have a plan there are adjustments that have to be made along the way.  Often times it is due to, affordability, availability, or practicality.

Sometimes it is just the fact that the element does not look right to the owner.

via

As you all know I have been trying to make some little changes in my family room for a summer look.

The easiest (so I thought) changes were to switch out my pillows.

I just knew for sure they would look great, a nice combination of navy’s, cobalts, and turquoise.

 via

Since it was summer and summer makes me think of the beach I thought I would even add a little sea-life to the mix.

ENTERS PLAN A

I ordered this pillow to start with……

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Beautiful? Right? this lovely embroidered sea coral from Pottery barn looked to be the perfect jumping off point to me.

 WRONG!!

Two reasons it was wrong, it was more muddy in person, and it reminded be of a human organ of some kind. I know! Strange, but it did. Back it went.

Time to reevaluate!

ENTERS PLAN B….

So I started to reevaluate. It was too muddy, so I needed something with clear colors, no more sea-life.

I am still looking for something with navy, cobalt, turquoise.

I even made a collage of the possibilities....

Next the order was placed……….

All Wrong!!

The Ikat dot was close, but the turquoise floral was way too bright. and was just saying way too much for the room.

 “LOOK-AT-ME!” and “IGNORE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE ROOM!”

Never a good thing if an element does that in a room!

 

TIME TO REEVALUATE A-G-A-I-N!!

PLAN C!

I am beginning to feel like Goldilocks here!!

Since the turquoise seems to be the wrong color in this room, as far as fabrics go, maybe I just need to use a blue and white color scheme with just touches of turquoise in accessories, like vases/books, etc.

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That way I will still get the cooler look for the summer months, (which are quickly approaching their end.)

The search continues and samples of fabric are odered!!

Come back for my next blog post to see what the options are, and which fabric I FINALLY decided on!!