If You're Not Moving Forward, You're Going BackSPLASH

Happy New Year!!!!  It's back to reality and instead of making grand resolutions promising large changes & improvements, we're going to kick off the new year with a short series about small changes you can make to your house.  These changes will improve the marketability of the home whenever you decide to list it, but just as importantly, it will make it more enjoyable to live in NOW.  

We all know that kitchens & baths are wildly important and have a great return on investment when it comes to putting the "for sale" sign up so if you've got the time and money, I definitely advocate updating your kitchen if you are going to put your house on the market.  But if you just want a quick pick-me-up, and already have decent countertops (read: any type of stone or stone like material...NOT formica), consider this quick weekend project.  Here are some ideas:

I love this.  It's stainless steel-ish, wouldn't you agree?  And these tiles are deceivingly simple to install AND at a very nice price point.  They aren't really tin but look exactly like it AND are eco-friendly because they are made from recycled materials.  You can get a variety of patterns & colors or can even paint your own (although I recommend sticking with their color samples for a more genuine look).  Check out more options and order HERE.

Another relatively simple option that will give you a lot of bang for your buck is glass mosaic.  There are many options, here are a few:

This is a nice, muted and calming mosaic that I found at the fabulous blog
 Stagetecture.

Glass subway tiles can add some color.
 I found this picture HERE - I'm obviously not the only blogger hot on the backsplash!

A local manufacturer:  DalTile

These are just two of my favorite styles...we didn't even touch on porcelain, ceramic, slate, terrazzo, or concrete....  What is your favorite option?

This Christmas....

This Christmas mend a quarrel.

          Seek out a forgotten friend.

                    Write a love letter. 

                             Share some treasure. 

                                        Give a soft answer. 

                                                  Encourage youth. 

                                                              Keep a promise. 

                                                                           Find the time.

                                                                                     Forgive an enemy.

                                                                         Listen.

                                                             Apologize if you were wrong.

                                              Think first of someone else.

                                Be kind and gentle.

                                                   Laugh a little.

                                                                   Laugh a little more.

                                                                                  Express your gratitude.

                                                  Gladden the heart of a child.

                        Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.

              Speak your love. 

                                      Speak it again.

                                                          Speak it still once again.

                           - Anonymous

A Testimony To Java

So I got up bright and early this morning to finish re-covering some chairs for a client.  I had started the project Wednesday afternoon and want to deliver them today (Friday) so I thought I'd get an early start.  In my enthusiasm, I started the project before consuming my first cup of coffee...let me walk you through how the first chair transpired:

This is what one of the chairs looked like Wednesday:

We added some batting to increase comfort, 

because they were what I would call "diet chairs" 

...you wouldn't linger at the dinner table seated on one.

We then gave them a good cleaning and sprucing.  

If you've never experience Scott's Liquid Gold, it's fabulous 

(and you can get it at the grocery store):

So to get to the point of this post, can you tell which chair I did first?  

 Look closely:

The one on the left has the pattern going sideways!!  Urgh.  

Longer story short, I undid the first work of the morning.

I was obviously staple crazed without my first cup of joe:

By then I had finally woken up and mapped out the next cushions.

After re-organizing, I had another cup of coffee.  Or two.

And the chairs look GREAT.

Happy Ending!

All I Want For Christmas....

1154 Lill
Isabel Set
Love this place -- you can custom design your handbags!
This coordinates with one I already have....
There is a Dallas area rep who can come to you (she is fabulous).
Let me know if you want her contact info.

Fossil Stella Watch
I'm not a high maintenance gal...I don't need a fancy watch.
I like having variety and I think this will be easy to wear.
Plus, I'm hard on watches -- it's amazing how much physical labor is involved in staging!

iPad Case
I don't even have an iPad (yet) but looooove these cases.
I think I like the zebra best.
What do you think?

The Happiness Project
I love this idea.
It looks like a version of Eat Pray Love but applicable to everybody and not just Julia Roberts.

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!

I don't know where that title comes from...a friend of mine says it and it just kinda stuck itself into my title.  Try saying it out loud though - it's kinda fun.  

Anyway, following the same practice of writing the names of my public followers on little pieces of paper and then asking my half asleep husband to choose one as the winner, we found one today:

In case you can't read my writing, the winner is STEVE PLUNKETT!  He is the lucky recipient of $35 to use at any one of the 200+ CSN Stores.  Free money, baby!!!  

Congratulations, Steve...hope you enjoy the options on line with CSN...and THANK YOU for following my lil' ol' bloggity blog.  (Oh, and Steve, if you're wondering what is on my Christmas list...that will be my next post so don't go spend it all right away!) 

Free Money GIVEAWAY by Michelle Lynne

HAPPY DECEMBER and happy shopping to all!

As a fun little treat, we are going to host a giveaway next week to help you with your holiday shopping!  A shout out to CSN Stores and their generosity to host our giveaway.  They have over 200 on line stores where you can get anything from a leather briefcase for the man in your life to a cozy robe for your favorite sister...or yourself!  

We will be giving away a promotional code worth $35 at ANY of their stores.  Woo hoo!  Free money, baby!  It's easy to win - you just need to be a public follower of this blog.  We will draw randomly from the group (come on -- it's not a big group yet so you have a great chance of winning!) the week of December 6th.  Like I said...FREE MONEY...why wouldn't you sign up to win?

Playing With Fire

Looking for fun and unique gifts to give this season?  Or maybe a keepsake for yourself?  Check out what a friend of mine is doing under the name "Playing With Fire":

I wonder if this only holds decaf?

Santa is jolly because he knows where all the naughty girls live!

I could decorate a whole tree with these and some pretty gold ribbon. 

How cute is this for a newborn?

She has a cute platter for "Grandpa's Sweets" too
(I'm getting it for my grandpa, he looooves sweets!)

This is a chandelier!

Close up of one of the lights.  Look at the cute ribbon tied below!!!
OH THE DETAIL OF THESE PIECES!!

I borrowed all of these photos from her Facebook Page.  If you want to see more, check it out HERE.  Or email Katy directly:  welovesunshines@sbcglobal.net
Call Katy:  469-525-1987

She will pack and ship your custom orders so you have them before Christmas!

Oh, and no extra charge for her fun personality....