Warm Modernism

We love the modern look, escpecially when it's cozy and livable.  No one does it better than Marcel Wolterinck, a Dutch designer. His interiors have a really organic feel to them. We love his use of textures and natural materials to bring the inside/outside together.

Here' s some images for your viewing pleasure....

To see more of his portfolio or buy his books, check out the web site here.

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Scentsy Giveaway

***GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Sweet and pretty Jordan Buerschenk, an escential consultant for Scentsy contacted me a few weeks ago to ask if I had ever tried Scentsy products. Scentsy is a type of wickless candle product where the wax is melted using the heat of a lightbulb. I had heard of Scentsy and I have friends who have them but I had resisted buying one telling myself that I already own enough candles to light and smell up a small city. Jordan kindly offered to send me a plug-in to try so that I could give an honest review.

I choose the Taro which is so pretty during the day and night.

I plugged it into the wall of my dining room. A few hours later I was delighted to walk into the living room and smell the wonderful aroma that had filled both areas of my home. When I walk through my front door I am now greeted with a delightful smell and the best part is that I don't have to worry about blowing out a candle when I leave the house.

I'm very happy with my Scentsy and now one of you lucky readers will be able to own one too! To enter all you need to do is leave a comment. You can get bonus entries for :

1) tweeting about the giveaway
2) subscribing to Jordan's newsletter on her homepage

Jordan will send the winning reader a Groovy White Plug-In + The following three Scents : Enchanted Mist, Cucumber Lime + My Wish.
If you don't want to wait to see if you win, or if you want one and you're not feeling lucky, or if you already own a Scentsy and want to buy more products, Jordan has generously offered my readers an additional 10% discount (for all orders received by February 15)! To be eligible for the discount, you will need to click on the 'email me' tab on her home site. Make sure 'JOY' is in the subject line and your order is in the body of the email. Everything will be an additional 10% off in February for Scentsy - so this is a great chance to get the products at 20% off!

The giveaway will end

Saturday, February 5th at midnight(MST)
Winner will be announced Monday, February 7th

Good Luck!!!

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Spray Paint Thaw

Hooray! The temperatures here have finally reached near the 40's! And even though the spray paint can directions say ideal painting temps are 50-70 degrees, I ran outside with a thrift project in one hand and shaking a paint can in the other.The project I chose was a large metal tray that had an original finish of a mix of greens, browns, and rust.It's a subtle change but I think it looks much nicer painted metallic charcoal with the details highlighted using silver Rub n' Buff.It looks great sitting on my kitchen table corralling all of the pretties I like to keep there. I try to have a candlelight dinner whenever we eat at the table---even though my boys question why. Isn't it a momma's job to insert a few feminine details into the lives of her men? Besides, it makes me happy to be surrounded by beautiful things and if momma's happy then everybody's happy, right?And another thing that makes me happy is to be able to use my favorite makeover tool again!

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Candles and Pantries

When decorating with candles and their holders
do you get frustrated?Does your candle sit a little skiwampus in your hurricane?

Does it look too lonely and bland in it's container?Well the solution is as close as your pantry!
Simply pull out sacks of rice, beans or peas.Dump the dry food goods into the candle holders
and watch your frustration melt away.
I like to use rice,green or yellow split peas,
black, white or kidney beans.I've used epsom salt too.
If you're a coffee drinker you can use coffee beans.
There are several frugal food choices for fillers
right in your own kitchen.
Which ones have you used?

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Happy Time

Simple Joys...those glimpses of life that we should take time embrace, the reminders that it's the small and simple things that make life beautiful.
My husband laughs because it makes me giddy when I look at the clock and see this line up of numbers. I actually do a little happy dance almost every time. There is something so serendipitous about glancing at the clock at that perfect time of day or night when all the numbers align. It's just not the same when you wait for it to happen. It can't be planned. It has to be happenstance. . .

a happy happenstance!
What simple thing makes you do a little happy dance?

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Little Boy Bouquet

Occasionally I have the privilege of decorating tables for family dinners that follow a loved ones funeral. I volunteer to do this so it requires getting creative on a tight budget; making several centerpieces for under $20.These centerpieces were made to honor the life of a sweet little preemie boy whose earth life was too short.I wanted the bouquets to reflect the life of a little boy and what says "boy" more than sticks and stones, bear grass, snap dragons and baby blue birds.

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Old Leather Books

There's this bar called the Library Bar in downtown Los Angeles that we go to once in a while.  Its walls are lined with these antique books that we thought are pretty cool.

 If you ever wanted that lived-in, antiqued look, there's this line of antique library books you might want to check out. They retail for about $10-15 each or something like that...

The web site is decorativeleatherbooks.com

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Painted Ceiling

We were helping a friend with paint colors in his new house the other day and it dawns on us that everyone always thinks about painting the walls, but never the ceiling.  Most people just leave the ceiling white.

But why oh why?  Let us tell you, painting the ceiling is one of the best things you can do to your house. It warms it up instantly.

Here are some quick samples:

Photo credit:  Benjamin Moore

Next time you plan to paint the house, think about the ceiling as well...

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A Walk Down Ruby Lane

Let me introduce you to one of my wonderful sponsors Ruby Lane.Ruby Lane is home to over 2000 independently-owned online shops from around the world, showcasing Antiques, Books, Vintage Clothing & Accessories, Vintage Collectibles, Dolls, Fine Art, Glass, Antique & Vintage Jewelry, Artisan Jewelry, Porcelain, Postcards, Pottery, Silver .
You can Relax while shopping -- the Ruby Lane AdvantageTM stands for Quality, Security and Excellent Customer Service. Find your favorite shop using our Shop Directory, or discover our Monthly Finds, or use our powerful Search to find all the items on Ruby Lane.Ruby Lane has made finding that perfect unique gift, for yourself or someone else, a
snap.

Here are some of the gifts I would buy myself from Ruby Lane.

CorbelsLarge Wooden BowlTurquoise Cornucopia Vase German Die-Cut Valentine

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Granny Or Great

There she sat at the thrift store lonely and rejected. I watched her as another customer picked her up, examined her, then put her back after deciding that she was made by and belonged in a little granny's home.
I too picked her up to admire her handmade qualities; a floral pattern surrounded by diamonds on one side, and a geometric pattern on the other. I wondered how her maker had so seamlessly tucked a pillow form inside. Her one dollar price tag did not reflect the effort and love that had gone into her creation. It was then that I determined to adopt this little orphan and bring her into my home.
She now resides happily in my living room with my other thrifted orphans, each adding to the beauty and greatness that is my winter couch.

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Magic Before and After

A few months ago I purchased a couple of candlesticks at the thrift store. They were a beautiful shape and size but the finish was a bit confusing. Were they tarnished brass that resembled silver or were they silver plate rubbed down to the brass. Either way I liked them so they came home with me.
Then I stumbled upon an article proclaiming the wonders of an inexpensive product that could easily be found in the automotive aisle. This stuff really is magic-----that is if you can get beyond the horrendous odor of ammonia. I wore my paint mask while scrubbing away with an old towel that quickly turned black as I rubbed and rubbed.But all of the odor and rubbing and elbow grease was worth it when the results are as dramatic as this little before and after. The new finish is a silver-ish with a gold undertone---a really beautiful combination.Now my thrifted treasures are a real treasure find!

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