conquering fear

 Next time you feel fearful or perceive limitations that keep you from achieving a goal or pursuing a passion, watch this video!  This girl is an inspiration.

Ladue News Show House 2011

I chose the Reading Room as the space I would redesign for the 2011 Ladue News Show house.With my design the reading room became a French style salon featuring the work of local artists. 

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lampshade love

I am in love (lust?) with this lampshade from Victorian Trading Co.   It would be perfection in my boudoir....

jewelry organizers

As a jewelry designer, I like to find creative ways to display and organize earrings and necklaces.  I just love these pretty displays from Tammnoony on Etsy.  She also makes jewelry boxes, clocks, and other cool stuff.

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

So, The Fabulous Boyfriend got me a jug of fresh maple syrup (literally fresh, part of a friend's batch made last week), so I've been cruising the net looking for unique pancake recipes....and I stumbled upon this amazing goodness:

 Sure, you don't need the maple syrup with this cream cheese topping, but I bet a smidge drizzled over the top would be yum-o!
Find the recipe here.

Traditional Design That Is All Your Own

Do you love traditional design, but also love the idea of updating? It can be done. Using fresh paint colors and lively new fabrics you can use infuse your traditional home with an updated style that is all your own.

 These beautiful traditional pieces with curvaceous lines have been given new life with fabrics in a fresh colorway.

Updating can be as simple as removing an area rug to expose a clean, sleek floor. You can lighten up and brighten up by editing what you have.

 Traditional pieces with an industrial chic coffee table work seamlessly with this soft color palette.

 An unexpected color combination of red, pink and turquoise takes this traditional setting and makes it vibrant and new.                                photos above from House to Home

 Vivacious yellow fabric and whimsical accessories make this traditional design come alive.
                    photo from Elle Decor

Contemporary and modern art work brings a personal and uplifting aesthetic to traditional design.

What is your current color crush? Is it orange? Turquoise? Pink? Fuchsia? Spring green? Citrus yellow? Whatever it is, you can make it part of your traditional style. A style that is perfect for you.

Rethink Being Alone

Video from KarmaTube

Happy Birthday, Erica!

It's my daughter's 25th birthday today!  Yes, I know, I'm only 29, so I have no idea how that happened, but let's just go with it.  ;-)

Allow me a little "brag time"?

She's so amazing and has done incredible things with her life already.  An independent spirit since childhood, I knew she'd be off and running early - and she was, joining Americorps right after high school.  While in Americorps, she helped build homes for the needy, cleaned up after Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi, tutored inner city kids in South Carolina, and helped with trail maintenance in the Smoky Mountains National Forest in Tennessee.  She enjoys photography, writing poetry, cooking, making jewelry, hiking, skiing...the list goes on.  Though she's lived all over the country, she's now settled in Denver, Colorado, loving her job in social work, still trying to make the world a better place.  I miss her like crazy.

She'd (literally) give you the shirt off her back if you needed it.  I couldn't be more proud of her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY SWEET AND WILD ERICA!

she's on the right

Americorps graduation

one of the children she tutored in Charleston, SC

Mardi Gras!

with her best friends in Denver

Absurd, or...?

"If at first, the idea is not absurd, there is no hope for it." ~Albert Einstein

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 Ever had a creative urge, an idea, or just a passing thought that seemed so outrageous that you never took it seriously?  Did you think, "Oh, I could never pull it off", or "What would people think if I pursued that?", or "Maybe later...".  

Ever regret not pursuing one of those "crazy" dreams?

As I look at my own journey - where I've been, where I am, where I want to be - I've begun to wonder if my life is lacking a good dose of absurdity.  It's too easy to get bogged down in minutiae and day-to-day mundane tasks.  Couldn't we all use a trip to the wild side more often?

How do we recapture a little crazy when the world teaches safe conformity?

Chocolate Guinness Cake

Well now, this sounds delicious!  I bet choco and guinness makes for a great cake marriage. And yep, perfect for St. Patrick's Day.  Find the recipe here.

Florence & The Machine ~ Shake It Out

In NYC With Taylor Tomasi Hill

When I saw these photos at Vogue my first thought was, joyous color. The featured NYC apartment is the home of Taylor Tomasi Hill, artistic director for Moda Operandi and all around stylish girl about town. The second element I noticed and love is the styling throughout the apartment. It is balanced, fun, colorful and not over done.

 The colors and mix of patterns in this bedroom are dreamy.

 In general I'm over spaces with all white walls but this is an exception. The white walls look planned and perfect not like someone took the easy way out. The room is balanced and has great composition.

 The styling...wonderful

Even the condiments are fun and well placed.
The design of the apartment is colorful and stylish, it is also balanced and comfortable, an outstanding combination.

purses & clutches ~ 1madwoman

Just love these gorgeous handmade purses from 1madwoman on Etsy.  I have a huge "Mary Poppins" bag that I carry around all winter (good to stash office shoes, hats & mittens), but I like to get something cute (and smaller!) for spring and summer. 

You like?

wow

As some of you already know, I used to be a ballet dancer, so please forgive the occasional excess of ballet posts - but this is so good I just had to share!  The editing is really superb.  Don't blink.  ;-)

rumi

"Stop acting so small.  You are the universe in ecstatic motion."  ~Rumi

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