Spring Shopping

As I mentioned on Facebook last week, my girls and I went shopping. Even though there is still plenty of snow on the ground, the stores are optimistic, filled with spring-inspired displays. Here are some items we found at TJMaxx:

I love this throw pillow with the the fabric swatches on it!

This lamp's shade is awesome. I really wanted to buy it except I don't have a room to put it in, yet...

Believe or not, even the birds are living the glam life in this stylish birdhouse.

If anything, a walk through TJMaxx can be so inspiring. I get great decor ideas for my home.

Are you having spring fever? Are you decorating for the change of seasons? What says 'spring' in your home?

Look Who I'm Writing For!

I'm so excited to announce that I am now a contributing writer for Todays Wisconsin Mama. I will be posting all my DIY projects there. Drop by and leave me a comment letting me know what you think about our master bedroom paint experience!

I'll still be posting recipes, my views on social media and family life here on my blog, so no worries! Also, if there is a DIY project on TodaysMama, I may post extra photos or tips on my personal blog, so keep stopping by! I appreciate all your comments!

A big hello and thank you to the editors at TodaysMama!

Our Living Room - Before Photos

So no exciting or catchy post tile here, but I did think an alternate title could have been; "Party like it's 1979!" Well really more like 1970...

So as promised, here is the "before" shot of our living room. As you can see it's a nice eclectic mess. The shape is actually a rectangle, but where I was standing was where Barbie's castle sits, or "the play area" for now.

Let's not allow the games to distract you. As you can see, we have the flat screen along one wall, then the hideous fireplace in the corner and then the awkward-shapped built-in shelving. There's a nice big open area behind the chair and ottoman for what I assume was the spot for an old television to sit in.

My closet interior designer is whispering, "tear the shelving down," and I am considering this, but then that means Husband would have to repair the walls after. Not a bad thing, because we would gain a little over a foot in depth along that wall.

From this angle we have huge windows overlooking the lake. Please ignore the curtains, that's another challenge altogether (those windows are so tall and long,) the salmon/light burgundy carpeting, and our transitional furniture, all things that are screaming to be updated. One thing at a time people.

As for what kind of look we're going for? Well not contemporary, that's for sure, but if your'e familiar with Sarah Richardson's designs, something comfortable and welcoming, incorporating the natural elements from the outside and doing it all for cheap!

So what would you do if you owned this room? I would love to hear your ideas.

For more conversations about renovating the fireplace, catch the awesome suggestions on home talk!

What I'm Reading

I love to read. Some books I read for work, others just for fun. Here's what I'm reading now:

Michele Stuart's 'Perfect Pies,' the DIYers Sherry and John's 'Young House Love,' and 'Barefoot Contessa Foolproof.'

Perfect Pies is really just eye candy for me because I just love looking at cookbooks with pretty food photos. I once told my sister-in-law that I photographed food better than people!

I've been following the projects of Young House Love for a few years now, their home projects can be very inspiring.

And the Barefoot Contessa? Well, her recipes never fail. So I have to read her books. :)

Those Raspberry Crumb Bars look amazing, I might have to make those for Easter!

What are you reading?

What Barbie Is Teaching My Daughter

As I was rearranging my living room, I decided that the castle, Barbie's castle that is,  needed dusting too. Remember the days of playing Barbie alone or with friends? I do, endless hours of make-believe.

And Barbie could do anything, in fact at age six, Barbie was going to be a stewardess, get married, have babies, join a rock band, become a fashion designer and later hold the prestigious position of  editor-in-chief at Glamour magazine.

Who knew that Barbie (who is now 50 years old) might want to become a Social Media Strategist.

I guess today, Barbie can be anything or anyone she wants to be. Boy have things changed. Then I noticed something else that's changed...

My eight-year-old's Barbies are ethnically diverse (especially the one on the right with the plastic-lilac-legs!?!)  Not that there aren't any blond Barbies in our house, they're just in the Volkswagen Bug driving around with their boyfriend, who happens to be a male 'Little People' toy. That's because Ken has yet to grace our house, maybe when our daughter is 30.

Our daughter said something the other day about not wanting to be blond and how brunettes 'have more fun.' Where did this come from? School probably.

Typically when I talk about career paths with our daughters it's, "You know, you're a great debater, you could be a lawyer," or "If you go into the medical field, you will always have a job." Ad nauseum.

I think I bought this doll because she resembles me. In fantasy land, that is.

I just want them to not have to worry about bills. Not having enough money can be brutal.

Anyway, both our girls will decide on what they will pursue soon enough. As for our son, I'm constantly steering him towards "Biomedical Engineering," the job of the future!

For now, I will continue to enjoy the Barbies (and toys, games, clothing, clutter) that 'decorate' our home for as long as I can. Because Barbie is still teaching our daughter about sharing, social interaction, manners and desire for a closet full of shoes. Just sayin'.

Is Profanity Necessary To Be A Top Blogger?

Recently I googled "top mom blogs," because I love to find new blogs, read them and check out their design. I went on a popular site that touted a Top 100 list of mommy bloggers. I noticed something interesting...

At least three of these acclaimed blogs featured a gratuitous amount of profanity.

Wow. Does a good blogger have to throw in a swear word to make her point? Or is this just for shock value?

Hmmm...

This is not a post about SOPA or PIPA, I just wonder if people wonder if some might find this offensive. I have said before that my mother, Husband and kids can read my blog, if I started cursing in it, would I find that appropriate as a role model to my children?

What are your thoughts? Do you care? Does it matter?

There's No Place (To Paint) Like Home

A week away from home has (hopefully) made my family appreciate their mommy-chauffeur, a house that smells of crock-potted meals and soap in the shower. (Seriously, how can you shower without soap, kids?)

(A few little stops for treats to bring home: locally made chocolates, sushi for me and a sampling of craft beers for Husband.)

As the 80's Michael Jackson and Journey serenade me in the background, it seems I have returned to domesticity, beginning with paint.

Husband and I have finally started painting our entryway. As opposed to the latte-colored paint chip I was "instagramming" (trust me, this will become a word in the dictionary, just like "googling") two weeks ago, we ended up with "Tea Leaves," an earthy, sage green color, close to the green in this palette:

Our lake house is basically beige, which translates as incredibly boring and devoid of personality. So we had to fix that. (Also any paint color will hide drool marks from an English Mastiff.) Really.

Husband is a perfectionist when it comes to painting. And rightfully so, he's quite skilled with a roller. I however, am of the let's-just-get-color-on-the-wall, school of thought. At least we can agree on color. (Except for when I wanted our last kitchen "butter" yellow and the yellow chosen was so bright it looked like we were riding in a school bus every morning. Epic fail.) We now choose paint color together.

So we are painting right now while we have a little down time between swim practices and softball.

For more inspiring color palettes, check out my "True Colors" Pinterest board.