Sensatori

I've been out of pocket, it's true.  I'm guilty.  We took a little vacation to relax on the beach on the Mayan Riviera (Mexico) and stayed at a fantastic resort called the Azul Sensatori.  I didn't know what "sensatori" meant but after a little detective work, I learned that "satori" is a Buddhist term meaning "the wow moment" - the instant where you look around and breath a sign of contentment, knowing you wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world.  

I'm not going to do a resort review here, but here are some pictures that definitely gave me the "satori"!

See those blinds?  Open them and we had an ocean view....

The rooms were a really good size...we never felt cramped.

This was my favorite restaurant...the picture doesn't show the really cool, 'Las Vegas goes Zen' ambience.  The walls were made of fringe not unlike a fabulous swinging 60's dress and was incredibly sexy.  The chandeliers were absolutely beautiful crystal surrounded by a fine fabric shade - not to mention the sphere-like chrome ones in the staging area where they met the guests before showing them into the dining area but I can't find a photo of those.  The chairs were black on ivory damask, with "stripes" of white through the material.  Nail heads adorned the border where the fabric met the almost gaudy but not overdone black scroll of the frame.  The food was as good as the decor in this instance....

We also spent quite a bit of time in the mojito bar...

Have you ever had a Frangelico mojito?  

Oh my...it's REALLY good after dinner.  The original mojito was really good too.  

Photos from the Azul Sensatori website (I was too lazy to carry my camera everywhere on vacation!).

I Would Never Leave My Office

Have you ever sat in a Herman Miller Aeron chair?  I hadn't until recently and let me tell you that if I got one for myself, I may never leave my office!  I'd be sitting here blogging all day every day and you all would wonder what else I ever got done.  Actually, I think we would both be sick of my rambling written monologues if they were posted multiple times per day - but at least one of us would have a comfortable seat in which to read my semi-coherant thoughts!  This little obsession with comfortable seating all started because I'm helping a client organize her office both functionally and aesthetically and let me tell you these chairs combine the best of both function and form.  I purchased one for her today and I am tempted to "forget" to deliver it...hmmm...think she'd notice???

From the website:

The Aeron chair didn't end up in the Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection just because it looks cool. Although it does. Its looks are only the beginning. Aeron accommodates both the sitter and the environment. It adapts naturally to virtually every body, and it's 94% recyclable. Even if it's black, it's green.

Where are the cushions? A chair should conform to your contours and relieve the pressure points and heat build-up that cause the aches and pains and fatigue that people who sit all day often think are just part of the job. The Pellicle-that specially woven seat and back suspension material developed for Aeron-does what cushions can't. It conforms to your body and cradles it, keeping the pressure even across your body-and keeps you cool at the same time.

The Aeron aesthetic has been copied and copied-because, well, it's a beautiful chair. But despite its stand-out look, it fits right in, whether your office is high-tech, casual, elegant, or a room at home that doubles as a gym. Three Pellicle weaves in neutral colors and a range of finish options so that you can create the Aeron you really want.

Imaginative design, fast-forward ergonomics and a look so distinctive that it's probably the only office chair that people can identify by name. Adaptable to all sizes and shapes and all the motions you go through every day while seated, Aeron provides healthy comfort and balanced body support with its innovative suspension and easy-to-use adjustment controls. Work chair, side chair, and stool support all kinds of office work.

And finally, to top it all off on Earth Day no less - after all of the function and form brilliance, this chair is eco friendly!  Could it get any better?!  

Green was built into the Aeron chair from the beginning of the design stage. Almost two-thirds of each chair is recycled materials, and almost the entire chair-94%-is recyclable. Certified to MBDC Cradle to Cradle Silver, Aeron is GREENGUARD certified and can contribute to LEED certification.

Interested in getting one for yourself?  Here is where you can find one.  Happy happy!

WOO HOO! The winner of our blog's first giveaway!

So my husband just woke up and was in the kitchen getting himself something to eat when I cautiously approached him (he's not a morning person and I had been up for a couple of hours and was bouncing with energy).  I asked him to help me draw a name out of a bowl and he was still sleepy enough to comply without question.  Earlier this morning, I had made a list of my blog's followers, cut the names out, folded each twice and tossed them into a salad bowl.  This wasn't really difficult or time consuming considering this blog is still in it's infancy.  

As a result of the random drawing, I'm happy to announce JAN MAUPIN as the winner of our first giveaway!  Thank you to CSNStores.com for sponsoring this giveaway and of course, thank you to all of this blog's followers.  Please share us with your friends and family members - as we grow, our giveaways will occur more often and prize values will increase.  Who knows?  The next winner could be YOU!

Giveaway Item!

It's springtime and having fresh flowers in the house is such a great way to bring the color and happy feel into your home.  In celebration, I have decided that this giveaway will be a simple yet stylish glass vase from one of the CSN stores, ALLMODERN.com:

The winner will be chosen randomly from this blog's followers and announced Tuesday, April 20th.

Good luck!

Plate Collection

This is a very simple, stylish and inexpensive way to jazz up a space when staging a home to sell or even for everyday decor.  The key is to keep it simple:

Design Shrine

House Beautiful

Veranda

As you can see in this, even when you think you can't fit anything more in the room...simple plates will add some style and contrast to the flat wall.  Needless to say, this picture from Veranda is NOT an example of home staging but rather of home living!

curbly.com

If you don't have colorful plates just lying around the house (that would be most of us!), go to a flea market or a garage sale.  Goodwill stores,  thrift shops and retail chains such as TJ Maxx or Ross will also have some at bargain basement pricing!  Remember, you are not buying a set of matching plates so this is a display that you can continually change out as you find pieces that match your style as the years go by and / or your room's color palette changes.  

Oh, and did I mention you won't need to send around a collection plate to pay for this plate collection?!

Giveaway Coming Soon!

I'm sure we have all experienced when something just doesn't fit right and we TRY TRY TRY to force the issue just "knowing" that you'll make it work.  No, I am not talking about "skinny jeans" but rather that last piece of furniture that you just HAVE to put in a room.  Don't ask me why, but everybody does it.  Sometimes it turns out brilliantly, and sometimes it is a bust.  Right now I have a client who really wants to add a TV to their guest room but doesn't want to buy a new TV to mount on the wall so we are looking for a solution to save room AND use their exisiting TV from the living room (they've upgraded that one to a gorgeous 52" flat screen hi-definition unit).  I think I have found the solution with one of these corner TV stands from Racks and Stands.com which is a CSN store. 

How does this tie into the "Giveaway Coming Soon" title of this blog you ask?  Simply.  Because if you are not familiar with CSN Stores, let me tell you that there is a little bit of EVERYTHING that you can find in their more than 200 different web based stores.  So I'm going to find something in one of their stores that will be a little fabulous, possibly even a little practical and will give it away before the end of this month to one of the blog's lucky followers.  So here are some ideas and by the way...suggestions ARE welcome!

Paintable Courdoroy Wallpaper

KidKraft canvas art painting

Small bowl by Miriam Mirri

Easter Bunnies

We hosted Easter this year and had fun preparing the untraditional meal (shrimp & scallops in a creamy garlic sauce over pasta, salad, yummy garlic & sundried tomato bread,  spring chick cupcakes and of course mimosas) but what was even more fun was coming up with a table setting that reflected the holiday.  Well, fun for me anyway...I don't think my hubby was as enthused!

I started with fresh flowers and the holiday favorite PEEPS:

Added some home made spring chick cupcakes 

(yes, they are edible - aren't they cute?).

And finally, the best part of all...

the cutest bunnies ever!

Good Peeps

So I never post anything on line that I expect to get a "thank you" for;  I post from the heart in order to share my passion for what I do.  So when I woke up today and checked my iPhone for messages (yes, I was still in bed - romantic, huh?), I was pleasantly surprised to find a note from the owner of Mecox Gardens MAC HOAK.  It just goes to show that true beauty & grace starts at the top and funnels down into the rest of the business.  Check it out:

Dear Ms. Lynne – I just want to thank you for your recent blog posting about Mecox.  You were so kind and generous and supportive.  You don’t know how much everyone at Mecox appreciates it when someone writes such a complementary piece.  Mecox is always a work in progress and we always need to improve in many ways, but it is so nice to hear when someone appreciates what you are doing.  I hope you will stop by Mecox Dallas sometime soon again.  Please let us know if we can ever reciprocate your kindness.  Regards, Mac Hoak

So if you didn't already take my advice and run to the closest location or log in to shop on line, get on it.  They're good peeps.  (Oh, come on...I HAD to throw something "Easter-y" into the post today!!)

Meeeeecox Gardens

Have you ever walked into a store where you just feel like a kid at Disneyland?  Admittedly, I feel that way at Dallas Design Center, but I have also re-discovered Mecox Gardens and it's like a smaller version of Disneyland...not quite so overwhelming to leave you wondering if you'll be able to enjoy everything in a day or if you need to get a hotel room and wake up early the next morning to keep riding the rides, enjoying the yummy treats, and shopping for unnecessary trinkets...but I digress!  Let's get back on track:

MECOX GARDENS is a little treasureland with delightful furniture and accessories for those with taste & style.  You can find antiques, reproductions and everything in between, including uniquely Mecox designs...original and super cool - always.  Each location has a personality that reflects the city it lives in; our Dallas store has a little more "twang" than say, the laid back West Coast Los Angeles location, and it's definitely not as edgy as the NYC shop.  But that doesn't mean you can't get something edgy to go in your Dallas home...because Mecox has their catalog on line!!!  Yes, my mini "Disneyland" is now virtual!!!!  Check out these fab finds:

DESCRIPTION:Large Three Panel Antiqued Mirror Screen with Inset Metal Frame and Center Circle Motiff
Mahogany Wood/Antiqued Mirror
Hand-rubbed Black Finish
90" W X 2" D X 90" H

DESCRIPTION:King Chandler Bed
Weathered French Grey Finish
Ribbon Trim without Welt
COM Available, other Finishes and Fabrics Available to Order.
Can be ordered with Headboard only.
Can be ordered with Slipcover only

DESCRIPTION:Fortune Teller Crystal Ball Sconce
Holds two 60W "A" lamp bulbs
Polished stainless steel finish with 2 loose crystal balls that rest on mounts. Silk Shade.

DESCRIPTION:

Antique Red Lacquered Chinese Buffet with with Two Top Drawers and Two Doors

Shanxi Region (Matching Pair Available)

I had to throw something with color in for this last picture because I was being hypnotized by the serene bedroom I was subconsciously creating....  Seriously though, check 'em out.  Mecox has locations in Chicago, Los Angeles, Palm Beach, Southampton, Dallas, Houston, New York City and East Hampton...and of course, click HERE to visit their online "location".   Enjoy!