Year: 2018

The Framed House: The Grand Illusionist?

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You may or may not know that we are building a new house! We tore our 1950’s home down over the summer in July. We had lived in that house for 12 years. While it was updated and certainly nice, we (well mostly me 🤗) really wanted a bigger kitchen for entertaining and a larger master bedroom, bath, and closet. I’m so tired of switching out clothes for our 2 Texas seasons!! That comment was a tad facetious since we only have 2 seasons here and not 4! Regardless, I need all my clothes in one location at all times! I actually have 3 pairs of brown ankle boots just because I lost track of some from one Fall to the next, but then found them again! This has happened with others things in my closet too 😆 Initially our plans were to do a renovation of the existing house and add 1000sf. Well, it turned into a complete tear down, including a new foundation! The old house was demo’d, the lot cleared and prepped, …

Pretty In Pink: Rosé… A Great Summer Wine!

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Hi friends! It’s the weekend! Did you know that the second Saturday in June has been declared National Rosé Wine Day? That makes today, Saturday, June 9th the perfect time to drink pink! As we heat up for summer us red wine drinkers must reconsider our friends Cabernet and Merlot. I often put my Cabs away in the summer unless enjoying a hearty steak dinner from the grill. And, I’ll chill my Merlot a bit to make them a little more refreshing. But, a great alternative to both of these is the lovely Rosé, on the dry side for me, of course. There’s even a sparkling Rosé for my Champagne lovers out there! A rosé’s color does not directly correlate with its taste. “Darker rosés may have more body than paler rosés, which could be appealing to those who prefer red wines,” says Doug Bell, the Atlanta-based global beverage buyer for Whole Foods Market. “But often paler blush wines have surprisingly complex aromas and flavors that can linger long after you’ve taken a sip.” In …

Don’t Bake In The Sun: Get A Modern Glow With An Airbrush Tan

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May is Melanoma Awareness month! And even though May is coming to an end we still need to be aware of the dangers of melanoma. What is the leading cause of melanoma? UV radiation from the sun and tanning beds! Not good news for those of us who like to get a little (or a lot) of color when the temperatures rise and you’ll be showing more skin. While melanoma typically strikes those of us with light-colored skin and light-colored eyes more often, melanoma does not discriminate! Yes, even those of you with darker skin and eyes can get melanoma, though it is not as common. What’s a girl (or guy) to do?! When summer rolls around and the sun comes out, many people crave a golden glow. Nobody wants to sport shorts and sundresses with white legs! Heck, even in the winter months I like some color! Who doesn’t look better with a tan?! Bronzed, radiant skin can increase your confidence, make you look slimmer, and may prompt your friends to ask with envy, “Did you …

Did You Know Hummus Had A Day?

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Oh hummus, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways! Including the countless number of ways you can be prepared! See recipes below. Also Mother’s Day this year, May 13th is International Hummus Day. International Hummus Day is a relatively new holiday. It was started in 2012 by a young entrepreneur named Ben Lang, with the goal of creating “a holiday around food that could bring people together from around the globe”. Hummus comes from the Arabic word meaning “chickpeas” and the complete name of the prepared spread in Arabic is hummus bi tahina which means “chickpeas with tahini”. Long enjoyed in Middle Eastern and North African countries, hummus has really grown in popularity in the US in recent years. In 2006 hummus was present in only 12 percent of American households and today it’s estimated that nearly 67 percent of US households consume hummus regularly. We eat hummus around my house fairly often. My husband is Armenian (born in Lebanon) and pretty much grew up eating hummus. So is hummus good for …

Coming To Terms With My Aging Skin

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Ugh… This is a tough one to write about, but it has been haunting me and I thought I should share in case anyone else out there is feeling the same way as I am. Kind of a “misery loves company” kind of thing. It isn’t easy to share your insecurities with others or draw attention to your “flaws”. I was wondering if it was just best to keep this to myself. But then I thought, maybe, just maybe, this post would reach somebody out there and let them know that they are not alone. Or maybe, just maybe, someone out there would let me know that I am not alone! So, here goes… I am 46 years old. I eat pretty good (I’m not a fan of sweets, I abstain from gluten products, and I incorporate a lot of fruits and veggies on a daily basis) I drink a lot of water, and I work out several times or more a week and am fairly toned. Up until now I felt pretty good about …

2018 Design Trends: Kitchen

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Once upon a time kitchens were often hidden from sight. A place only to prepare meals and wash dishes. Now, and in recent years, kitchens have become an extension of our living spaces. Kitchens are a major gathering spot. Kitchens are a room to be adorned and showcased! Who doesn’t want a chic, swoon-worthy kitchen! Think Terrazzo, concealed vent hoods, and statement stoves, just to name a few. Most of these trends are carrying over from 2017, but are gathering steam and really taking off in 2018. Whether you implement just one or several, let these upcoming trends serve as design ideas for your 2018 kitchen renovation or new home construction. Herringbone Floors: Herringbone floors add an instant air of European refinement to any space and the kitchen is no exception. No Upper Cabinets: Still trending in 2018 is the lack of upper cabinets. Removing upper cabinets really opens up the kitchen visually and makes the kitchen appear much bigger and brighter. And, it allows you to utilize the countertop space more effectively. Turn your open spaces …

Feng Shui Colors to Create The Best Energy In Your Home

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Do you Feng Shui? Sounds kind of kinky, doesn’t it! While you may have applied some Feng Shui to your home by bed placement, moving mirrors, or clearing clutter, have you thought about the colors you use? When we look to feng shui to create a healthy environment and to cultivate the right energy in our home, we often only consider layout and furniture placement. But there are much more ways feng shui can help shape the look and feel of your home. One of the easiest ways to transform your home’s energy—without moving a single piece of furniture—is through color. In feng shui, there are five elements that are expressed through color. Working these feng shui color palettes into your home will help set the intention of the space and draw in those specific lines of energy. New seasons call for a refresh in décor, so why not make the most of it by planning out a color scheme that channels the energy you wish to bring into each room? Whether it’s bringing forth a …

Luck Of The Irish: Going Green in Interior Design

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Is green really the color of luck? ” In the Middle Ages, it was believed that green was the color of fairies and other “little people” who didn’t like the idea of sharing it with mere mortals. In Ireland, leprechauns notwithstanding, green is considered the luckiest of colors. It is also a lucky color for those born under the signs of Aquarius and Capricorn. Green signifies a positive change, good health, growth, healing, hope, vigor, vitality, peace, and serenity. Green is also symbolic of ones strive to gain recognition and establish ones independence. Money, wealth and jealousy are often associated with this color. Light green symbolizes brilliance.” St. Patrick’s Day 2018 occurs on Saturday, March 17, in observance of the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. What began as a religious feast day in the 17th century has evolved into a variety of festivals across the globe celebrating Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, and a whole lot of green! Since I love interior design, in honor of St. Patrick’s …

Sunday Post: 5 Finds From Around The Internet

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Happy Sunday everybody! Hope you enjoy this week’s finds from around the Internet! Is your olive oil the real deal? I just love a good olive oil! And it so good for you with health benefits like protecting against strokes and heart disease, providing large amounts of antioxidants, and possibly protecting you from Alzheimers, just to name a few. However, there are many “fake” olive oils being sold! Possibly over 60% of olive oils on the market are in fact not pure olive oil! Check out this article  at Mind Body Green that explains a 3-second trick to finding out if your favorite olive oil is indeed real. A few weeks ago my stomach got really bloated and uncomfortable and it lasted for several days. It was really annoying, to say the least. I couldn’t contribute it to one particular thing so I do as I often do – I searched the Internet. I am pretty sure I found the culprit. Garlic!! I had been consuming a lot of roasted garlic trying to beef up …

11 Ways To Comfort Someone During A Difficult Time

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Recently I have had 2 different people in my life going through very trying times as their spouses have had to deal with health problems. One is a family member and the other a mom friend from my kid’s school. Obviously, my relationship to each of them is completely different. Nonetheless, I want to reach out and comfort both of them in some way. It got me to thinking about just how do you comfort someone going through a tough time? Despite best intentions, it isn’t always easy to comfort someone. And for some of us, supporting people going through a difficult time can be confusing or awkward, no matter how much we want to be present for them. Below are some suggestions that might be helpful. Not all of these will apply to every situation, so use them only if they feel appropriate. And, I believe there will be some differences as well as similarities based on the level of your relationship with the person going through a crisis, but mostly similarities. (1) Make contact. …