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Thanks Paris Hotel Boutique!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTM75HrhC7-Cf5SKAAAbP3FM36r4Rkc1npoAnM2DQdbhhuDjXhEOMHfeZL833sI7zvjt-9AJEXjdhpNDrtLAWhdB71TmWHt9Mhs-eQnYeLuOd99S6uNDheRc3sMWoA4GNHv-8fhGW1P0M/s1600/Hotel+Silver.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616792916831407970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTM75HrhC7-Cf5SKAAAbP3FM36r4Rkc1npoAnM2DQdbhhuDjXhEOMHfeZL833sI7zvjt-9AJEXjdhpNDrtLAWhdB71TmWHt9Mhs-eQnYeLuOd99S6uNDheRc3sMWoA4GNHv-8fhGW1P0M/s400/Hotel+Silver.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> I have long been an admirer of the online retailer <a href="http://www.parishotelboutique.com/">Paris Hotel Boutique</a>. When <a href="http://www.cotedetexas.blogspot.com/">Cote de Texas</a> offered a giveaway of two of their items I jumped at the chance to register!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cyzLjgiS47NHRIWDaf97WzOOU4oxQ6Fg2lljFx6Pqf3IN_JOvAS-U3MYBWDeSDsCQgNcGNJnGqva_QrfYyc0GPv_5uusAHGKWHXA0hBIY-0DVJcTuuPi8F0hh4svSx2xkppABvRutIM/s1600/Paris+Boutique+Hotel.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616792912195018498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cyzLjgiS47NHRIWDaf97WzOOU4oxQ6Fg2lljFx6Pqf3IN_JOvAS-U3MYBWDeSDsCQgNcGNJnGqva_QrfYyc0GPv_5uusAHGKWHXA0hBIY-0DVJcTuuPi8F0hh4svSx2xkppABvRutIM/s400/Paris+Boutique+Hotel.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> I was so excited when I actually won! I chose an antique silver dish marked from the Alexander Young hotel. It's so incredibly heavy, beautiful and pretty large too!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbLUu0vQMpfcqecJUXVtAC3_PBE5STfIoiIi32XM6mW09v7tcJEKOC023uUpe__nBoZ5l05CY8ofbgrRLHnNWkwsug4c493yLqSSKAYtnDF10t8NA4y9sNOIAd-yVAImPSXRWXy6z-DU/s1600/antique+postcard.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616792904113300146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbLUu0vQMpfcqecJUXVtAC3_PBE5STfIoiIi32XM6mW09v7tcJEKOC023uUpe__nBoZ5l05CY8ofbgrRLHnNWkwsug4c493yLqSSKAYtnDF10t8NA4y9sNOIAd-yVAImPSXRWXy6z-DU/s400/antique+postcard.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> I'm happy to report that the item arrived well-packaged and extremely quick. I plan on adding the company to my list of retailers I check out on a regular basis. You never know who you are buying from in online auctions so it's nice to know this is a reputable online dealer.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKAwY_syMx6aFvfr-yrAgyHGvQv2e0Iq2vq5qUZtKk-YhfLXpsHV4U0nKFNmmssInb6ptgV5x_uM1eWyr-RD752UIWzhNZybDprN17LVQ_QLe7F0s4nm1YYXzndsa_TCR9tRf2xMBMv8/s1600/coffee+table.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616792896431344978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKAwY_syMx6aFvfr-yrAgyHGvQv2e0Iq2vq5qUZtKk-YhfLXpsHV4U0nKFNmmssInb6ptgV5x_uM1eWyr-RD752UIWzhNZybDprN17LVQ_QLe7F0s4nm1YYXzndsa_TCR9tRf2xMBMv8/s400/coffee+table.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> For now I have the dish living on my coffee table where it really has become the star! Thanks to Joni and also to Paris Hotel Boutique!!</div></div></div>

Thanks Paris Hotel Boutique!

I have long been an admirer of the online retailer Paris Hotel Boutique . When Cote de Texas offered a giveaway of two of their items I ju...

3:00 AM

Just because it's pretty

<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615694628864599826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtKQ0MwyMFvvQJydN_oajsM96wjcKiuNMGWscNRfT-Nu5hHpE6VtiFFsxLALqTVX7Zdw9py3OvMLCd7i2JyWS_Gtn11-95Z3PINarwylo2pw0RfHnNEMnT-qIHVvCFpsRv5CY9i4guoY/s400/portrait.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" />Do we bloggers always need a reason to post pretty pictures? I for one don't think so. Sometimes we (or at least I) go to a museum simply to see something pretty and not neccesarily to learn anything. Is that too honest? <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615694623661415154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYO7wVOqWNdp40FYSqzHQ0_DHFxWTKgdAvGEc3f3s-7VjL0eUf_EDuTUQoBDzDld3_-4SyfAB8A_UvqDsjWg58BcEa8b0mfFpVAEw1wR_a_zcW_6xxSxeypSVpMwpTs5vm7WdEE0Q1iWk/s400/mantelpiece.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 241px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /> <br /><div><br /><div>If you need another reason, it's my birthday; A little pretty is required. Shown here are some period rooms and furnishings from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615695436591658914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOtkm-FlFrLBOZU_v-fjuVTqqgDOWyXrsvMQzKTjukH1YiSIzQj2z7ncT2j6Y2nhridaaw4kyI6hUNqtCTdPTYcKyr8g6hCU60isdvAz0EPR_QIlU38QqYDw-Cnp61kBeOlQf0UX8H9Y/s400/Louis+XV.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 290px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />A bust of Louis XV at the age of 47 by Lemoyne and presented to his mistress, Madame de Pompadour (beat that portrait to your mistress, Congressman Weiner)<br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvIaeRnylDY0js1voGR2rt9QuQj6uCA6KtMM4m1GXBVP7zO9dhbNZLLWiGAGeHN2IvlFG6fhMuAaQliMoTdXZtDhuW1tpJ8LdccDiPg3m4CLn4Qych7I367CjCNPdXbiUXKMnls9JpFk/s1600/chandelier.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615694610976322418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvIaeRnylDY0js1voGR2rt9QuQj6uCA6KtMM4m1GXBVP7zO9dhbNZLLWiGAGeHN2IvlFG6fhMuAaQliMoTdXZtDhuW1tpJ8LdccDiPg3m4CLn4Qych7I367CjCNPdXbiUXKMnls9JpFk/s400/chandelier.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> I show a lot of pictures of chandeliers on my blog I'm starting to realize. Would you believe I don't even own one myself?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObbCf9Se1eHH07aWxttA3X9jGoghEBorTEp8hS9NMFSKE_f1YwceYiquBL3cQNHeXz65ltvMDxgtd2cgHIjEQEvm9eyNaYyKBOt2JeYqmVl8FrgiQdPhBSDjNSlPMhYo1aidGF6ifo0Y/s1600/a+la+polonaise.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615694598983636258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObbCf9Se1eHH07aWxttA3X9jGoghEBorTEp8hS9NMFSKE_f1YwceYiquBL3cQNHeXz65ltvMDxgtd2cgHIjEQEvm9eyNaYyKBOt2JeYqmVl8FrgiQdPhBSDjNSlPMhYo1aidGF6ifo0Y/s400/a+la+polonaise.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Gilded <em>lit a la duchesse</em> (or flying tester bed) by Georges Jacob. Enjoy!</div></div></div></div></div>

Just because it's pretty

Do we bloggers always need a reason to post pretty pictures? I for one don't think so. Sometimes we (or at least I) go to a museum simpl...

3:00 AM

a new blog for you to visit...

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Morning all. I just had an email from a lovely woman I met on Shannon Fricke's <a href="http://tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-creative-spacestyling-workshop.html">Styling workshop</a> last month. Nic was sitting next to me and we got to talking...and then more talking with <a href="http://driftwood-interiors.blogspot.com/">Kerri with an 'i'</a>...(because is there such a thing as too much gas bagging? I think not). And we kept in touch as like minded people do.  </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nic didn't have a blog. <a href="http://makespacefor.blogspot.com/">But she does now</a>! </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDzzDneSceNPnXD4sJRbnJztAfef1TyQPUU_t-PPmk1OPL2KO7W8c54y3MrhWLzZebVjyYbxW3Dgvf3SbrPNS7p1ZMBVCAF3hN8VsaaFnlJ7_6Gssqt1BA8ztebQSn6wmgI4SflX7euXh/s1600/nicolas+blog+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDzzDneSceNPnXD4sJRbnJztAfef1TyQPUU_t-PPmk1OPL2KO7W8c54y3MrhWLzZebVjyYbxW3Dgvf3SbrPNS7p1ZMBVCAF3hN8VsaaFnlJ7_6Gssqt1BA8ztebQSn6wmgI4SflX7euXh/s640/nicolas+blog+banner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She's blaming Kerri and me for her entry into bloggy world, and I'm happy to be blamed. Bet Kerri is too. Thank goodness Nic's not a Kerrie with an 'ie' or there'd be mass confusion.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSewjNxqX1DqNqc59Vcxqr9x5Ml1TDDCjd7HgZuXZqY38DkxUOWP20EGKurMd_pGAdjk-wNVTBwCP_iUB7DDhF9ns6TmuasXx0m7NNUHSQC9wcD6994F0wvYIPkVHdCo4NPx7xjc-b_Wts/s1600/nicola+blog+image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSewjNxqX1DqNqc59Vcxqr9x5Ml1TDDCjd7HgZuXZqY38DkxUOWP20EGKurMd_pGAdjk-wNVTBwCP_iUB7DDhF9ns6TmuasXx0m7NNUHSQC9wcD6994F0wvYIPkVHdCo4NPx7xjc-b_Wts/s400/nicola+blog+image1.JPG" width="352" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nic's a colour girl like me, and lucky for me she's doing the same Cert IV course I am, so I'll be making a nuisance of myself asking for advice. These are some pics from her very first blog post...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2IlPauc_EEnwme2XNUFDra0ZdqG6OE5xGQlU0u5e_4D3UBFilUCMDrr7frFUCIATUnYxRbHfZCqvVa90_NXkF_Sbg6ZL1HKWNa81_hakUqKxSPNjsP1WHZMM9CVSyjWHf9k1q-laQEakG/s1600/nicola+blog+image2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2IlPauc_EEnwme2XNUFDra0ZdqG6OE5xGQlU0u5e_4D3UBFilUCMDrr7frFUCIATUnYxRbHfZCqvVa90_NXkF_Sbg6ZL1HKWNa81_hakUqKxSPNjsP1WHZMM9CVSyjWHf9k1q-laQEakG/s400/nicola+blog+image2.JPG" width="322" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How about you <a href="http://makespacefor.blogspot.com/">pop over</a>, see the rest and make her welcome...that'd be lovely :)</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have a terrific weekend everyone. I'm very hopeful that I'll be doing a great deal of not a lot!</span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

a new blog for you to visit...

Morning all. I just had an email from a lovely woman I met on Shannon Fricke's Styling workshop last month. Nic was sitting next to me ...

4:01 PM

Finally Framed

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2F3kStPprtgRWGv6-T5PnXwvE4uz9NwmTzxxlS8ac8r7FdFEIv_fCQqfOjSp51nUtAOt0OJTFlbXZu_uz41AsVGAmncBo6Q6VueGV101skyTKX4DZ9UEsnhzTjjNHcu_Bxz61PAvPovc/s1600/framed.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603028769185289426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2F3kStPprtgRWGv6-T5PnXwvE4uz9NwmTzxxlS8ac8r7FdFEIv_fCQqfOjSp51nUtAOt0OJTFlbXZu_uz41AsVGAmncBo6Q6VueGV101skyTKX4DZ9UEsnhzTjjNHcu_Bxz61PAvPovc/s400/framed.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> You may remember I was talking about framing the sketch Patricia at <a href="http://pvedesign.blogspot.com/">PVE</a> drew for my blog header, seen <a href="http://architectdesign.blogspot.com/2011/04/french-matting.html">here</a>. Well, I finally got it back from the framer and it looks fantastic! I chose an ebonized frame in an architectural acanthus leaf pattern which I felt grounded the drawing and matte as well as relate to the subject.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50ho41nOVFCeAQp-aOXo59xd1qBqAuewqtVHn_BWt1nbcYCOEhQ8oqZYQnu-E7dSSv4GnaFepyVrroCuU5EpxroM6TaA4cVB49twnehT2n-3LRX4IqsnRIpiCgkBQr-dp7XSWRDO42sY/s1600/french+mat.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603028764455936674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50ho41nOVFCeAQp-aOXo59xd1qBqAuewqtVHn_BWt1nbcYCOEhQ8oqZYQnu-E7dSSv4GnaFepyVrroCuU5EpxroM6TaA4cVB49twnehT2n-3LRX4IqsnRIpiCgkBQr-dp7XSWRDO42sY/s400/french+mat.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 269px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> I had it framed at <a href="http://www.eclatdeverre.com/us/">L'Eclat de Verre</a> in <a href="http://www.cadysalley.com/index.php">Cady's Alley </a>near my office in Georgetown. I would highly recommend them based on their selection, friendliness and affordability.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWZzYHuNiYkKPRLhqdbnxx5IVttwJ6m_cFUzGq-Yvu5d4gAZwKk6L1vRhT58kdzDeSRlL6qRYa0_T5nPHRzfqGvsnPkatAeGjk4tVllgiNcyN59tz4mYxibloDVZqrFgE7ujHHXhPyH8/s1600/no+border.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603028761394874946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWZzYHuNiYkKPRLhqdbnxx5IVttwJ6m_cFUzGq-Yvu5d4gAZwKk6L1vRhT58kdzDeSRlL6qRYa0_T5nPHRzfqGvsnPkatAeGjk4tVllgiNcyN59tz4mYxibloDVZqrFgE7ujHHXhPyH8/s400/no+border.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 273px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> I think the added 'Lavis' or <em>French Lines,</em> drawn around the <em>French Panel</em> done with marbelized paper really add a lot to Patricia's beautiful drawing -what do you think based on the progression? It now has a proud spot on my gallery wall.</div><br /><br /><div>And don't forget the <a href="http://www.ashanging.com/en/specialty-hardware/">picture hanging hardware</a>.</div></div>

Finally Framed

You may remember I was talking about framing the sketch Patricia at PVE drew for my blog header, seen here . Well, I finally got it back f...

3:00 AM

Blogging: knowing when enough's enough

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Warning Will Robinson: there are a lot of words in this post. 876. It took me a while to write them and it might take you a while to read. I found the 'writing down' very helpful. Perhaps you might find something in this post for you too...I hope so. I've thrown in some pictures as well...consider this a de facto top ten or so for this week :)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBzSn8vvYaYzN9X-yhTlm24mTs6m9FYFyYcKHiPZzqv5pzY9dFxSVQWa1zDYxVwg9MP8chRLkBYbMxqJ-cPg_4YbSfvAF_boTWNlPV5GtxXfE_fsS_4FSUqep5Q8_muboSLQXfCLrDwFf/s1600/via+chasing+satellites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBzSn8vvYaYzN9X-yhTlm24mTs6m9FYFyYcKHiPZzqv5pzY9dFxSVQWa1zDYxVwg9MP8chRLkBYbMxqJ-cPg_4YbSfvAF_boTWNlPV5GtxXfE_fsS_4FSUqep5Q8_muboSLQXfCLrDwFf/s400/via+chasing+satellites.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I said that I was going to do some <a href="http://tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com/2011/04/my-easter-promise.html">navel gazing</a> over this long combined Easter/Anzac break. And I did. I also told you that I would have a cunning plan by the end of it...a plan to transform my life into some sort of organised miracle. And I tried that too. Much more difficult than the navel gazing bit!</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In my 'real life' I'm a consultant. I'm not too bad at it. So I attempted to put my consulting skills to work on me, instead of some poor unsuspecting client. It appears that I'm a difficult customer... as the 22 year old will no doubt confirm!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0koLOiWz2B7aBP_6KKcFx7deExE-NQ31v5omjpfkMjJIipL_VzrPNSwa9NrJOeegTqMpljmRl3QYF9F3saKM20fsV7hkJBR6xxtSAYxkwRv7-GLEJxQ5wDeD9kgsFxsJqgfAc82f_k65X/s1600/weheart+it+entry+914465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0koLOiWz2B7aBP_6KKcFx7deExE-NQ31v5omjpfkMjJIipL_VzrPNSwa9NrJOeegTqMpljmRl3QYF9F3saKM20fsV7hkJBR6xxtSAYxkwRv7-GLEJxQ5wDeD9kgsFxsJqgfAc82f_k65X/s400/weheart+it+entry+914465.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Heaven forbid that I give away my trade secrets, but suffice to say I asked myself a lot of questions. I probed. I poked. I suggested alternatives. I asked myself why, what was important, what was stopping me, what was supporting me, what was giving pleasure, what should I start doing/stop doing/change, where were the frustrations...were they worth it? On and on I went...for most of the long weekend. I was a pain in my own butt!</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the things I try to do in my work is help people see through the complexity of the issue they're dealing with to the simplicity on the other side. It's almost always there somewhere. So that's what I tried to do for myself. I got clear...well, pretty clear. And I decided that I have four areas of focus (loved ones and paid work aside). </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Four <b>discretionary</b> areas of focus if you like. I'm not going to give you the details (you'll probably see some of them emerge over time anyway) but I will say that two are creative, one is about health and one is financial. And I'm very comfortable with them. I could have had a heap more but I thought it was important to set some sort of limit...simplicity remember!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMF5raEqZ2Em-VmJhaMPu6UVTyJ5CnJ0hK4qITt948b6Jurk-zXOeUwyOMqEwUHv9PNtcvJMZhSt-6-YshOaWUxBt5Q_eKGmMMq6IcaxJkkGi1z0BYtsGRSaBapcqjiDsTkd0Nt7UjuzrD/s1600/weheart+it+entry7880864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMF5raEqZ2Em-VmJhaMPu6UVTyJ5CnJ0hK4qITt948b6Jurk-zXOeUwyOMqEwUHv9PNtcvJMZhSt-6-YshOaWUxBt5Q_eKGmMMq6IcaxJkkGi1z0BYtsGRSaBapcqjiDsTkd0Nt7UjuzrD/s400/weheart+it+entry7880864.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What I will share with you is this. Having found my areas of focus, I now have two questions I can use to keep me...well, focused. And they are: </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"is doing this/spending time or money on this/investing your effort in this going to have a positive impact on one or more of those four foci Kez?"</i> </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(ok, I don't actually say foci...who would!!)  AND...here's the second question kicker...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"will it enrich your life or someone else's in the process?"</i> </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Except in the case of the financial focus...because if it's enriching someone or something else external to my life, (especially a bank) and it's not enriching me as well...then that's a big no- no!</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">you're probably wondering </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">what's all this got to do with blogging and the title of this post? It's this. I've been blogging for a bit over a year now. It's been a fabulous thing to do. It's introduced me to new things, masses of ideas, made me laugh and sometimes cry, shown me that I can do some things, and not others...and most importantly helped me find lovely people who weren't in my life before this experience began.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQHwsvjaaKiPCjAWgNRx8rJZf6Vbk8IyaZ0wZqmK4QlJo63SVt6tLIaG_lULew_PSwNvdPK4c_L_rE2ZTMkzYH-bRZ1imNgI6Hw4j6bl839ZV43M7QTeu_nKYJfvv3lP2EiM7VqHRHX2H/s1600/weheart+it+entry+9122731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQHwsvjaaKiPCjAWgNRx8rJZf6Vbk8IyaZ0wZqmK4QlJo63SVt6tLIaG_lULew_PSwNvdPK4c_L_rE2ZTMkzYH-bRZ1imNgI6Hw4j6bl839ZV43M7QTeu_nKYJfvv3lP2EiM7VqHRHX2H/s400/weheart+it+entry+9122731.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But it takes up so much time. If I were to add up all the hours I've spent composing blog posts, thinking about posts, rewriting blog posts, reading other people's blog posts, 'cutting and pasting' beautiful pictures to put into blog posts, squirreling away ideas for things to make, projects to attempt....well, let's just say that I could probably point to a few 'lost' weeks, or more. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I asked myself those two questions. Does blogging have a positive impact on one or more of my areas of focus and does it enrich my life? The answer was yes...and no.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It really does take up too much time, when time is one of those increasingly precious and rare commodities...especially now that I'm back working full time. It does actually steal time from other things that are important to me...especially now that I have that focus. And sometimes you just have to wise up. <b>So I'm not going to stop, but I am going to cut back.</b>  I'm not entirely sure how...as we all know it can be slightly addictive...but I know I have to. So there'll be fewer posts and possibly, unfortunately, fewer comments on your posts. I will keep commenting I promise, I think that's a really important thing to do, but it's not going to be as frequently as I'd like, and certainly not every day. I'm going to restrict my blogging activity to some set times...not sure what they are yet. So if you don't hear from me as much as you used to...it's not personal. Well, it is...but not in that way. It's about me taking control of 'my personal'. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLt0p8O8x9TeJ3S2ITv_rx26Cm2IChMKGzHkNif-1y96Svzybc8gBxj-bMunATB7G02sr5y-DZ2CVYVQWjZp2QZMKmhkggmMf9I715-TWKlGEHuQ_jjlTbFUAIXso7KrB5oOSk7M5Npfn/s1600/weheart+it+entry+712420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLt0p8O8x9TeJ3S2ITv_rx26Cm2IChMKGzHkNif-1y96Svzybc8gBxj-bMunATB7G02sr5y-DZ2CVYVQWjZp2QZMKmhkggmMf9I715-TWKlGEHuQ_jjlTbFUAIXso7KrB5oOSk7M5Npfn/s400/weheart+it+entry+712420.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So there you go. That's where I'm at. Extra long weekend well spent? I think so :)</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">first image: <a href="http://chasingsatellites.tumblr.com/">chasing satellites</a>; others from <a href="http://weheartit.com/images">weheartit</a></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></span>

Blogging: knowing when enough's enough

Warning Will Robinson: there are a lot of words in this post. 876. It took me a while to write them and it might take you a while to read. I...

2:00 PM

French Matting

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkLVncKE6ut7VZmtr0CQ-Le2WKiRfx5UyHAmaElBeiRbwSTKHTcIDevTLi2bfterNpZxig38GCFNPxJH3nLTjviSdlMImCKchkp61m4E_M2o1lcCXTvPXNQhS0NbaobABEuSVYPmDVpI/s1600/french+mat.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596768327292743538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkLVncKE6ut7VZmtr0CQ-Le2WKiRfx5UyHAmaElBeiRbwSTKHTcIDevTLi2bfterNpZxig38GCFNPxJH3nLTjviSdlMImCKchkp61m4E_M2o1lcCXTvPXNQhS0NbaobABEuSVYPmDVpI/s400/french+mat.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 269px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> This past weekend I tackled a project I have been contemplating for awhile. You may remember a few years ago, the generous Patricia from <a href="http://www.pvedesign.com/">PVE</a> designed my <a href="http://architectdesign.blogspot.com/2009/02/thank-you-pve.html">blog header</a> that you see today. She sent me the original watercolor and I've refrained from having it framed because I've debated turning the mat into a French mat. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoWwHGvbrNhgApIuvNT2WfNc-UfXYH4_6T3x3rYRS8Oq0jcCAej8BcD5LCAKfrWbCqLMw0KVSaGSUjWd03Pq-fYPgxiayyUrSzRGT5Z_FY6wkYCl3BnAJvODMGH1o1tkj8srsRLcmAp4/s1600/no+border.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596768323451783842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoWwHGvbrNhgApIuvNT2WfNc-UfXYH4_6T3x3rYRS8Oq0jcCAej8BcD5LCAKfrWbCqLMw0KVSaGSUjWd03Pq-fYPgxiayyUrSzRGT5Z_FY6wkYCl3BnAJvODMGH1o1tkj8srsRLcmAp4/s400/no+border.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 273px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> A true French mat incorporates lines, watercolored borders and the occasional bit of marbelized paper. My bastardized version includes only the marbelized paper but I think it adds a little something to the overall look and feel of the drawing. I hope Patricia doesn't mind my interference with her work! I plan on having it framed (finally) in the next month and will be sure to show you all the final result!</div>

French Matting

This past weekend I tackled a project I have been contemplating for awhile. You may remember a few years ago, the generous Patricia from PV...

3:00 AM

Back from Market!

<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592319946351161202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuslyATBHduNhqaTHmpHsU8c-YuI_h4o6RFxO2R4WG0bKrln5qvnQ1YsmnXKTqK1gwZ9QPEhIVfZmJGI9lCwZvdORQT3eihe4ekMF_leJCnhqjtvh45oo35bVbZ2dXH-uP5RFj7aqvZNY/s400/Train+station.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 287px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />I'm back from my whirlwind adventure to <a href="http://www.highpointmarket.org/">Highpoint Market</a> week which was so incredibly fun but also <em>highly</em> educational (pun intended)!<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592319944085984642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidi4nSbKG6DOUoOx4biYkNuQBwvct-APzImaoqxIakcQicNACmIC-f-196fc0Ncaf0Qn5-g3l-VzxjdzH94ERrHFTpCMEaJCs6qdW0KgBhnxBEahTQI8evjmp1QaRa63ET0guulVUJXQ8/s400/Keno+Brothers.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 348px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The talk of market seemed to be the new line of <a href="http://www.ralphlaurenhome.com/default.aspx">Ralph Lauren</a> lighting (which I was sad not to see for myself) as well as the new line of AMAZING furniture for <a href="http://www.theodorealexander.com/">Theodore Alexander </a>designed by the history savvy and passionate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leigh_and_Leslie_Keno">Keno brothers </a>of Antiques Roadshow fame; also - the return of claw and ball feet, even on very modern pieces. The Keno line has not officially launched but believe me when I tell you that you will be blown away; not just by the quality but by the incredible design, a reinterpretation of mid century modern. The brothers chose the company for their line because of TA's exceptional quality and old world contruction techniques out of Vietnam. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592319807030413506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshap3qu3c_TEvZv34HlB0gntrQO8j3OA6m1LNgk-3uj5zpqxzksT-7r517Us1ZmdhwsoUtqyhDkc_kirWZ0LwWdk693BVyIw3mir_umuoU1BSW6l4oWkglSsx18cUMeRq6A_kPXLmlm0/s400/hickory+chair.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 275px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />I also fell in love with a few pieces of furniture for myself (oh to have a bigger apartment and larger bank account!). I am having an affair with a chair: the Louis XVI square back chair from <a href="http://www.hickorychair.com/">Hickory Chair</a>. Most notedly in the weathered mineral gray finish seen above with ivory stripe and a blue ultra-suede upholstery (just in case those fine folks want to send me this sample, hehe). It was probably the most beautiful chair I have ever seen and I felt it could have been inspired by the great Jansen and classic French 40s design. Look forward to a future post on this great company right here.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592319813851234146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3alntda5ckhhleqzZAeayGRPUfF-i7E97G0ugzIHy2eDwVkpB9sx8fo4-InoS6YE8nDN6GpDD0spMnwWxabv70R2d28z2H-c3GqKGc2gdqRgpV3DwoVUtQ6GzaITG4L4tWBqEPmVXnjk/s400/grand+tour+collection.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 298px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />I also loved nearly every piece in the Grand Tour line at <a href="http://www.centuryfurniture.com/">Century</a>. The textures and quality really just blew me out of the water; I was even stuck oohing and aawing while the rest of the tour group ran on ahead! I'll definitely be showing you more from Century soon as well.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592319804089574146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxyR-7AmjMDGiNMQNeC6ytxfIAZrLdG5E3-VfiMx8PhNl_rIAvwRkRaNdrSnHAsScYPVt2TfhbvvYAHJURvWO7AW2GrGfpxIQGNFmbQi9CzCDuF_XMKcxxAKKwNhpZU03x5ztfqQFvDY/s400/bunny+wiliams.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />We were able to meet with the adorable <a href="http://www.bunnywilliams.com/">Bunny Williams</a> and see her new pieces from <a href="http://www.bunnywilliams.com/beeline">BeeLine</a> home. There are a few new pieces I'm sure you'll be seeing EVERYWHERE very soon such as this Swedish cupboard below.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592328226642140594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGI3pDDq8njp3niD6tpMEAzzQM54VfKewC9BJuyvkCeKvsF6zKhOAO5KeIraU_kqG9fRgVZ1XzbTYesaLilMa98AdXAKDxSX35q_VvMzw2rGzMrVzChbFZZ-YEpEyTSRMUFG89CVV1OY/s400/swedish+cabinet.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />In practical applications, we were fascinated by the technology being incorporated into furniture at <a href="http://www.sligh.com/">Sligh</a>. Media centers which look like fine antiques caught my attention. These hide all of your nasty cords and machinery behind fine wood doors and traditional design and operate through smart eye technology. They even ventilate the insides of cabinets much like a CPU so your equipment doesn't fry. They had some great office solutions too: stylish and practical; who says office furniture has to be ugly?<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592319817517444882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpwco1VbNlhwmrc1hB0tPOGG_fHvI0OrJ3-OOWdpMXjvUyiglNiQZI16-9e-5WA45FWOjtP45YM5RgbHheOSgA-r9mvHRRc8n1uvWHZ9i5p8PUFNcvc2ESnOc40N_EGcoSe6Eqym-GAU/s400/sligh.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 323px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The folks at <a href="http://www.hookerfurniture.com/">Hooker Furniture</a> are shaking off their traditional image and creating some amazingly cute new pieces at very affordable prices. I think you'll be seeing a lot of them in the future -especially some of the quirkier finds that they feel appeal to a younger demographic like these chairs below. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592324994116871938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIn_uDJA7el2498xfUxXUnnYeUM7sSf5om-G-_Vl6pEULgFKS_Rl6UjTt5PRTpyOwHKwRQxzbD4NQLzEoC7FI9lEhIcUpIOTbYus4Jvj9Ck35qlAuMfxkeUitDsMNE9fFAmCcRYQNLGU/s400/hooker+furniture.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 314px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Not everyone was as friendly as the above mentioned companies however. We had a bit of a run-in at one of my favorite furniture companies (where I've encouraged friends and clients to spend a LOT of money in the past) which shall remain nameless but you can probably guess who they are from the photo below. Social media is here to stay and companies need to <em>keep up</em>. Oh and also don't piss off a tired group of design bloggers because you'll hear about it again!<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592319803488919122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CAKbzEj5BKCnGBBDm6PcnYWL5VrlEYV7LXNo3YdEruj70FzXnVrOEtuCgUKhQjq6uaEFWSOUw19rVA3A1RKo64Lk82yuvaA9GuTYeV6hjEgWOj7g_6JIsCcOXG1Y4REmjQ2wg4trqng/s400/Baker.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 282px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Everything you hear about market is true: wear<em> comfortable</em> shoes as it's enormous, book your hotel room months in advance so you're not stuck miles away, the parties are so much fun you'll never want to leave and you'll be seeing <a href="http://www.habituallychic.blogspot.com/">old friends</a> as well as make many <a href="http://www.thingsthatinspire.net/">new ones </a>(compare it to an adult summer camp for designers perhaps?) If you made it to High Point this year, what were your favorites?

Back from Market!

I'm back from my whirlwind adventure to Highpoint Market week which was so incredibly fun but also highly educational (pun intended)! ...

3:00 AM

Heading to Market

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUTuS0d1cu3LXjVeU8Syr3adQ1Q4ndWhGomYbTbaR7Z1jUmRLHNRGRh1fmewuRT5KrPOWuXBw0wlfKXN2duNzbV8KMNrOrS29kqN29VjpNz_C6ifaDHjHcs6cgGA8zpMnkaHR-MurtS8/s1600/HIGHPOINT.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589875184563558050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUTuS0d1cu3LXjVeU8Syr3adQ1Q4ndWhGomYbTbaR7Z1jUmRLHNRGRh1fmewuRT5KrPOWuXBw0wlfKXN2duNzbV8KMNrOrS29kqN29VjpNz_C6ifaDHjHcs6cgGA8zpMnkaHR-MurtS8/s400/HIGHPOINT.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> April 2-7 is an important time for the interior design world: <a href="http://www.highpointmarket.org/">High Point Market</a> in North Carolina. Comparable to the fashion shows which fill Bryant Park each season, High Point Market showcases the latest wares being offered by furniture companies such as Century, Theodore Alexander, Sligh, and Hooker Furniture who are sponsoring a number of us design bloggers to attend this years events. Let me know if you are there, I would love to say hi! See you at Market!

Heading to Market

April 2-7 is an important time for the interior design world: High Point Market in North Carolina. Comparable to the fashion shows which f...

7:10 AM

Thanks, Elle Decor!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmn7X7x-G06y7MxW79zAQ62ECV0f_RwDATbLYmf6bMnYwA1bFmWV-Hw5jq7jBKFGc0RMh6OEl2DZSITurgWPzsgSkZCJB0cbtzHtQzqvAKvOXd3wTB5_OFR4PS7jMES7mDLtNprfYC9V8/s1600/bloggers.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583997710172235506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmn7X7x-G06y7MxW79zAQ62ECV0f_RwDATbLYmf6bMnYwA1bFmWV-Hw5jq7jBKFGc0RMh6OEl2DZSITurgWPzsgSkZCJB0cbtzHtQzqvAKvOXd3wTB5_OFR4PS7jMES7mDLtNprfYC9V8/s400/bloggers.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 329px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> This month's <em>happenings</em> page of <a href="http://www.elledecor.com/">Elle Decor</a> includes a small picture of the bloggers who spoke at last month's DCOTA market. It was such a pleasure to participate and a thrill to have my picture in the magazine along with <a href="http://www.peakofchic.com/">Peak of Chic</a> and <a href="http://brookegiannetti.typepad.com/velvet_and_linen/">Velet & Linen</a>!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyVKkLxtoTUaIRdLg3MQsZDYXJYfDp9VZpk5eJaGF9LuZHKscKSL9tli2YJeKBre8kkK1sAOU0sJJVsjMwD_LxaUNbbIGy7Xn3jCLWCJDYUNH97-48juD24vnXd8X8nH8xEGCeRkp6yg/s1600/page+18+elle+decor.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583997711472673650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyVKkLxtoTUaIRdLg3MQsZDYXJYfDp9VZpk5eJaGF9LuZHKscKSL9tli2YJeKBre8kkK1sAOU0sJJVsjMwD_LxaUNbbIGy7Xn3jCLWCJDYUNH97-48juD24vnXd8X8nH8xEGCeRkp6yg/s400/page+18+elle+decor.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 329px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> The April issue is fantastic -be sure to pick up a copy!</div>

Thanks, Elle Decor!

This month's happenings page of Elle Decor includes a small picture of the bloggers who spoke at last month's DCOTA market. It wa...

3:00 PM

Back from Paradise

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpM-YHvB3BK2VumE7q-rvB3ECql26v1qFU8KJCi23KfBEhyphenhyphenW-ZMTJ6oEUXGIGH32_aVPdg8aPNZDN4XXIz_w2gKS7mkwOPVnNfsnoe2ROTCXpAHnMq7_xIiQdDMl2yY4eV-h5eHM33MS4/s1600/Vizcaya+rear.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573401936891168082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpM-YHvB3BK2VumE7q-rvB3ECql26v1qFU8KJCi23KfBEhyphenhyphenW-ZMTJ6oEUXGIGH32_aVPdg8aPNZDN4XXIz_w2gKS7mkwOPVnNfsnoe2ROTCXpAHnMq7_xIiQdDMl2yY4eV-h5eHM33MS4/s400/Vizcaya+rear.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <a href="http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/2011/02/oceania-cruises-they-had-me-at-ahoy.html">Heather</a> and I are back from our whirlwind trip to Miami and Nassau and I have to say the weather was the best part of the trip; 80 and sunny every day!<br /><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573401923536252818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkV3n9K0oufLzUcgo9_06lNqNvrNWkTKNAyeUY08qrHzABI3KMcrbUuyvjyrbKQXWpd8fSGmklTzZqrylA3rN5F4NNR0hJDtLOzfpNA7-Z9jAW5Yb8srB8x_Wem38429eUOUNuBSMVIoQ/s400/Vizcaya.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 289px; CURSOR: hand" />My favorite part of the trip, other than the weather, was visiting the incredible <a href="http://www.miamidade.gov/vizcaya/">Vizcaya</a>. I've been to a LOT of house museums, as you all know, but this ranks in my top 5. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573401935561248354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MAuZ0b08CBLscIAEQvsUPQSStDes0kzLKYlTcJx4XQZLCHR07xpLM2ShDXjdH7s1SMFfHpj8D1t6i2yCFLAHIxVpJzU7Kpa5A35jTaHpLh7vLH6gtFRgdpSD7dShyphenhyphenHVp5l9uXVxy0QM/s400/Vizcaya+interior.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />Imagine a gorgeous, fantastical palace set amidst stunning gardens with views of Miami Bay and you have Vizcaya. I can't wait to share more of the mansion with you.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7FbX7DMUILnTlO-M1DdNlp7aOlvi3l82n2lZbim7Z0ue84-F4C0dmvueXgRYkSXi_LpgUA9GHmxb7Bxdghp7IH-xoHUBNwOMq0555-QtVaJL-qtCWn5zhjDVv1TZPK1ZTTC-ttSLLzE/s1600/Vizcaya+gardens.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573401927534220946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7FbX7DMUILnTlO-M1DdNlp7aOlvi3l82n2lZbim7Z0ue84-F4C0dmvueXgRYkSXi_LpgUA9GHmxb7Bxdghp7IH-xoHUBNwOMq0555-QtVaJL-qtCWn5zhjDVv1TZPK1ZTTC-ttSLLzE/s400/Vizcaya+gardens.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>Later in the trip I was also able to tour the historic <a href="http://www.biltmorehotel.com/">Biltmore Hotel </a>in charming Coral Gables. This grand old dame was no disappointment and I wish we had stayed here for a few extra days!<br /><div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573401609567888530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DJExUGnkbPSTVzEDRpg3JJJguRw88zvbm5rkKCShFJ4MRY41bcA_BWvoYXMj2LKP9TnPh3Khij6VJdQUiM1M6GQmWwjZqOZ-aXwsD56bkfX4XXZOqLCpLb2AqweZoXYAjGdi47jSZAI/s400/biltmore+hotel.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />The interiors appear to be original which is rare in a high end resort. I'm not sure which would be a better location for a wedding: Vizcaya or the Biltmore! <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573401610331490610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3q2MXYJCfYsJbNiUr6cOSSn781MDo8dHP0mXxcWFkQhQN4P-kZSAVbiz_nUtAsGs0P5whWd3LMFNQ4XvpPSDCkLl4fhFTdH2Yb_-cQPYz_RAqyD5Thceadxg4KF4rQjbHEQV2HQjvcw/s400/ballroom+ceiling.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />And I can't forget the fabulous inaugural cruise of <a href="http://www.oceaniacruises.com/ships/marina.aspx">Oceania's Marina</a>. It was the first cruise for each of us and I have to say, we're spoiled for all future cruising!<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573401614014737314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8fsQrtjFWk4Ufdwx7X5_p0ySVRnjY4_jRDb8g6iXVzedcD0cn9MRGhsXfA345JhAXCIyof2nIBlOcaEilwJLQMPioaAJm_UJI4KThCykoSPiWos261lDj3yHv1VBqxgBARdIk4DAZCo/s400/marina+ship.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 313px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />The line prides itself on incredible food and service, including the inestimable Jacques Pepin who we met, ate dinner in his restaurant (in part prepared by him) and received a signed cookbook. We docked in Nassau for a day but the best part was relaxing on our private deck with a view of the town. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573401620996806034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWouSnsB4YcFlEeky8TjImMyyoqLId1tj801Qfs9xK0dDced9XyKr4OY9sBom-04_E8GwcpfZ_Dzczp8iHn0dsgBnE9OT10D7qoL43XhRVOPXbPUIHDRsqhEuwzAaedRl41gsBDkpjwyI/s400/nassau+from+deck.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />Weather, food, friends and gorgeous locations; Who can ask for more from a vacation?</div></div></div></div>

Back from Paradise

Heather and I are back from our whirlwind trip to Miami and Nassau and I have to say the weather was the best part of the trip; 80 and sun...

3:00 AM

a note to the blog on its 1st birthday...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cdXPvehhv0Klf_qOQiif6_qy4nRdMYTAZZ_qAsz3Z24k_8gZexoj5VWHZHXwbz4LojV7E6v1RZEllxjORAodfd-6npYYD2W2rTccQnsSZK3wbkiI0hK244ljozWkShL7cp17l93CM1Ym/s1600/birthday+cupcake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cdXPvehhv0Klf_qOQiif6_qy4nRdMYTAZZ_qAsz3Z24k_8gZexoj5VWHZHXwbz4LojV7E6v1RZEllxjORAodfd-6npYYD2W2rTccQnsSZK3wbkiI0hK244ljozWkShL7cp17l93CM1Ym/s640/birthday+cupcake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://weheartit.com/entry/7019699">from here</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear blog,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy birthday to you. One year hey?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You've come quite a long way haven't you?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You've covered a bit of ground...those <a href="http://tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com/search/label/top%20ten">top ten</a> pretty picture posts are a bit of alright aren't they...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Nx-ASuNsJXl26ObeTpclxrUSeLbvPv0YuOJD1Y1re8dzPDg1QjFwvJdF8UvH-cE9YOC1xe7cLj6f7cjTlptbDpqWzkrTzs7XCueDeScrkGPnG5BZ0FHjXlRZyc1RC4a88X_-VLO47Qwd/s1600/yellow+flower+painting+via+sense+and+simplicity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Nx-ASuNsJXl26ObeTpclxrUSeLbvPv0YuOJD1Y1re8dzPDg1QjFwvJdF8UvH-cE9YOC1xe7cLj6f7cjTlptbDpqWzkrTzs7XCueDeScrkGPnG5BZ0FHjXlRZyc1RC4a88X_-VLO47Qwd/s640/yellow+flower+painting+via+sense+and+simplicity.jpg" width="505" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You've made me do projects I would never have dreamed of doing this time last year...silly ones too...who could forget the frou-frou juju :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiNgcUAOEz6DdCMVzexeT9rDu52TwLMr9OxOlySeOsJxQX8hk85mkyytnDkcjCMgIAxqrKtE49QfDYBjSCpMJFnwtqu6DmgNhC0Rz3YW7v3K9D3V_LTNBt24minlemrNXAQ3KEwx_3rVZ/s1600/juju+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiNgcUAOEz6DdCMVzexeT9rDu52TwLMr9OxOlySeOsJxQX8hk85mkyytnDkcjCMgIAxqrKtE49QfDYBjSCpMJFnwtqu6DmgNhC0Rz3YW7v3K9D3V_LTNBt24minlemrNXAQ3KEwx_3rVZ/s640/juju+006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've always pondered, but you've made it into a <a href="http://tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com/search/label/soul%20food">public pondering</a> now...and haven't people been kind when I've done that...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-wf9l6norVgLcdE98Ue5PqNZ2QtFO8lXUu4edpFV5OoBWVHcLZiks8wltjFDd2Yf7yFaVEH82CypOq5D77dAYpgUbU7nbYi4JmRhV8NK96XsOkRg0zvzHyQq1P8YYIFYtIKByiz5nBSL/s1600/be+you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-wf9l6norVgLcdE98Ue5PqNZ2QtFO8lXUu4edpFV5OoBWVHcLZiks8wltjFDd2Yf7yFaVEH82CypOq5D77dAYpgUbU7nbYi4JmRhV8NK96XsOkRg0zvzHyQq1P8YYIFYtIKByiz5nBSL/s640/be+you.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You've kept me up far too late at night.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You've distracted me no end.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You put a stop to my prolific reading (but don't you get all smug, <a href="http://tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com/search/label/monthly%20reading%20list">I'm on to it</a> so don't worry your little bloggy head about that)...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FocmCkVBLY6EEqWqc0Gxc54IHFyUcF8eRFB7Ym5V0sPSm4QGJpDKh1m-1qbP-21u-qJg6zm5gJE1pw3T182_PenKaS0RgqHwGnvGdylrymFqA9t1qu00bPfGYWaLhvCm3KEsZ-r4DFXI/s1600/book+list+january+2011+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FocmCkVBLY6EEqWqc0Gxc54IHFyUcF8eRFB7Ym5V0sPSm4QGJpDKh1m-1qbP-21u-qJg6zm5gJE1pw3T182_PenKaS0RgqHwGnvGdylrymFqA9t1qu00bPfGYWaLhvCm3KEsZ-r4DFXI/s400/book+list+january+2011+collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You've educated me...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You've frustrated me...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You've inspired me...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But do you want to know what the best thing you've done has been?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Simple really...you've introduced me to wonderful people, helped me to make new friends. People who've given me so, so much. Encouragement, wit, wisdom, compassion, nonsense...all of that and more. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I especially love the nonsense.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've loved every bit of it...thank you blog. You</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> can stick around for a while yet if you like.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So let's say we tell everyone how we feel shall we...how much we love 'em...it is Valentine's day soon after all...even though you and I really don't go in for that particular nonsense...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ywsvxgmb1zs" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please don't take this to mean that the blog or I want to marry you or anything...it's just a song we love...go with the general vibe and enjoy the Pride and Prejudice images while you're at it...no Colin in these ones though, sorry about that :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you everyone.  I've said it before, I'll say it again, and now I've even put  it on the follower thingamy...you're a top lot.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a></div>

a note to the blog on its 1st birthday...

from here Dear blog, Happy birthday to you. One year hey? You've come quite a long way haven't you? You've covered a bit of grou...

2:05 AM