House Design Follow-up

Thanks to everyone who gave their opinion on my house post.  I thought you might like to know which one was the favorite out of all of them.  I am so happy with the results because it is what I would pick as well.


The craftsman style home was the biggest hit.  I love these homes.  I love the clean lines and the white trim around the windows.  I love the shingle siding exterior.  I love how homey and comfortable they look.



The white kitchen with dark floors and dark counters was a hit.  Some people had some concern about how the cleaning would be on these.  I have a cousin who has the same type of floors and counters and she said yes she has to keep them pretty clean or you see the dust but whats wrong with that?  Any motivation to clean more I am all for.  Also, I am looking at doing this design for retired people and they mostly will have someone come help them clean once a week or more so they shouldn't have to worry about it.

--A lot of people didn't love love any bathroom.  They kind of had to settle.  I think the perfect master bathroom does not exist yet.... I am going to take some ideas from all of these beautiful bathrooms and combine them into the perfect one.

 I love the storage space in this bathroom.  I love how tall the ceilings are.  I love the cool light fixture on the mirror.

 I love the hardware and the counter in this one.  I love the simplicity of two mirrors.  I love the blue and the calming effect it gives.

I love how shiny this one is.  I love love the back splash.  I love love the chandelier and light fixtures.  I love the faucets.

What do you all think?  Would you want to live in this house?

"My life isn’t theories and formulae. It’s part instinct, part common sense. Logic is as good a word as any, and I’ve absorbed what logic I have from everything and everyone… from my mother, from training as a ballet dancer, from Vogue magazine, from the laws of life and health and nature." Audrey Hepburn

*~Monday's Miracle~*

Finding Miracles in Hard Times


I'm struggling with my miracle Monday this week.  With our Stock market falling 600 points, our troops and Seal Team 6 being shot down in Afghanistan by the evil Taliban, our AAA credit rating being non existent after we were told that was impossible (we didn't even loose that rating during the Great Depression), the shooting that killed eight in Ohio, practically everyone disappointed with our president including his own party, and a black man being run over multiple times just because he was black it is hard to be optimistic.  The truth is though, there are ALWAYS miracles happening around us.  Even with all the bad, you can always find some good.  God is always there.  He is always mindful of us.  He continues to bless us and we know he wins in the end so that gives us all the hope and joy we need.  I am going to do all the random miracles I have seen in the past week just to give you a glimpse into all that has been good and all that God has blessed us with.


-Amazing people willing to put their life on the line to help others. 
     --Him
     --and Them


-My two kids who each had a birthday this week.  They are my miracles


-severely malnourished baby in Somalia is now thriving


-the faith of many of the SEAL team that has passed


- Rick Perry hosting a prayer event


-I have started couponing


-I am trying to save money


-People trying to perform acts of kindness continually


-Kentucky school holds summer school to talk about founding fathers and our nation


-I got to go see my brand new baby niece


-I helped two people go out on two dates and now they both are just about skipping through life

-A friends daughter got kicked in the head by a horse, intensive care, brain swelling, and now she is home safe.

-Have a great idea for a my sons room and the studs are exactly where they need to be for it to work perfectly.

-that my husband can make and do anything and makes me laugh every day.



What are some miracles you've seen in this life this week?

"I believe that tomorrow is another day, and... I believe in miracles." Audrey Hepburn

"I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. " Audrey Hepburn

Bridal Shower

Yesterday I threw a shower for my friend.  Her colors were red and silver.  I added white and grey since my favorite color now is grey.  I think it turned out pretty cute.

"If I’m honest I have to tell you I still read fairy-tales and I like them best of all."
   Audrey Hepburn 

Need Opinions Please!

We are working on a project and I need your help.  I am going to put pictures of different styles of homes, kitchens and bathrooms and I want you to choose your favorite.  Where do you see yourself?  Visualize yourself living in New Mexico just in case that helps or don't cuz who would want to feel like they live here?  JK y'all.  I know what I would pick but this isn't about me it is about the majority.  Be opinionated and be honest and thanks for your help.
PS This is about the colors and style more than accessories or layout.  Also send this to your friends.  The more opinions the better.

House Style
House Option 1- Craftsman Style

Home Option 2- New England Style

Home Option 3- Contemporary Adobe Style

Home Option 4- Tuscan Style

Home Option 5- Northern New Mexican Style

Home Option 6- 2nd Tuscan Style

Kitchen Style
Kitchen Option 1- white cabinets, fun tile floor, dark counters

Kitchen Option 2- Black cabinets, light wall color, light counters

Kitchen Option 3 Black cabinets, dark backsplash, really light counters, very dark wood floors

Kitchen Option 4- rustic light cabinets, light tile floor, contrasting island, very dark counters

 Kitchen Option 5- White cabinets, white backsplash, light wall, very dark counters, dark wood floors

 Kitchen Option 6- Dark brown cabinets, light counters, light tile, light backsplash

Bathroom Style
Bathroom Option 1- Contemporary Style

 Bathroom Option 2- Black cabinets, light coutner, light tile

Bathroom Option 3- White Cabinets, light wall, light floor

 Bathroom Option 4- Dark wood cabinets, light wall, light counter

 Bathroom Option 5- White cabinets, fun tile floor, light wall and light counter, dark hardware

Random

Two of my favorite blogs are these...

Cannon Family

and

A Dream House For Trish


The first one is my cousins blog.  She is so funny and I love her.  Her latest post had this pic and an article that was so interesting.  Love it.

The second blog is about an amazing girl who is almost in the process of building her dream house.  Hence, she has put picture after picture of things, rooms that inspire her.  Her last inspiration made me salivate.  It is a Heather Garrett Design.  Someday....

I love the sparkle.  I love the gray.  I love the clean lines and the white happy finishes.  Oh boy I seriously love.

"If I’m honest I have to tell you I still read fairy-tales and I like them best of all." Audrey Hepburn

Dream House

I just moved into a new beautiful house.  Call me spoiled but there are still many things I would change if I built my own dream house.  Some of these pics are of my house I live in and some are of my dream house.  Can you guess which is which?  No cheating if you have seen my real one. 

"My greatest asset is my discontent." Audrey Hepburn

Half Moon Originals

When I am thinking of things to blog about somehow they all tie into Audrey Hepburn.  I love it!  My SIL has a business that sells magnet boards.  They come in any shape and size you want and she covers them with any fabric you want.  Check our her blog.  These are the ones that I have and I just want more.  Maybe you have heard of them since they are #1 on Google when you search for magnet boards.  Check out her blog and there is a link on there to her etsy site.  So cute.  Half Moon Originals

This one I just got the circle metal part and for a craft activity at girls camp we covered them in paper and mod podge.  Love it!

Of course I have one of Audrey.  I love this one.  It is giant and looks so cute on my wall in my office/loft.

Quick thoughts for the stale Blog

I know I have not posted in SOOOOO long.  We have been moving, without internet, and without time.  I have found the time right now because my baby has strep and wants me to hold him non-stop and he is perfectly happy sitting on my lap while I type and completely disinterested in touching the keys for once because he feels so crappy.  Poor little guy.  So just some random thoughts that are entering my mind on this beautiful sick baby Monday.

-Why can you be in love with something but not in hate with something?  I am officially going to declare that you CAN be in hate with something.

-I heard something today while I was at Albuquerque Lighting, and I added my own flair to the quote.  Light fixtures are like Jewelry, they brighten up any plane jane.  I am in love with light fixtures/chandeliers and am in hate with ugly ceiling fans.

-I eat FAR too many sweets and drink way too much Diet Coke.  Is it any wonder that the only thing my baby wants to eat in the past three days is Peanut Butter M&M's and therefore that is the only thing he has eaten in the past three days?

-I was leaving the grocery store the other day pulling out my wallet to buy girl scout cookies when this tiny girl scout asked in the most high pitched screechy voice I have ever heard if I wanted to buy girl scout cookies.  I almost put my wallet back in my purse...almost.

-I have been sewing lately.  Because we have moved into a new house and there are no such thing as cute curtains or drapes at the store I have been forced to make them.  I have done three rooms with 5 to go.  I am NOT a perfectionist.  I NEVER redo something I did wrong.  I just make it work.  I do the best I can on the first shot and I do the it the fastest way possible.  I just want everything done now...ASAP.  The only thing I have learned to wait for is my handy husband to put up the curtain rods so they are straight and only have one hole and not twenty til I get the right spot.

-My sister bought me a house warming gift that I am CRAZY about.  It is a simple book, like a children's picture book called, "Just Being Audrey."   It is DARLING!  Another plus is that she got it at Anthropologie which is a fav of mine.

-Someone please tell me there is an end to the seemingly endless clutter, organizing, de-junking, un-boxing, trips to goodwill and the dump? 

-I am never going to move again!  I love this house and we can stuff 8 kids in 3 tiny bedrooms right? (Pics to come!)

-My SIL Michelle.  I am obsessed with her blog.  It is one thing I look forward to multiple times a week.  She fascinates me.  If I can be half as interesting as her one day I will feel like I have accomplished something.

-Places all over the world being flooded.  Looking out my window at the perfect sunset and the lots next door that are filled with dry dirt and thousands of tumbleweeds, I can't imagine what that would feel like right now.

-My dad.  Perhaps he is on my mind so much because he calls on me multiple times a day just to check in.  He is 80.  Today he thought about going home to rest because his back hurt instead of going back to work.  I don't know if he did or not.  If you knew him you would know how unusual this is.  He makes me feel special.

-Audrey once said this,  "Living is like tearing through a museum. Not until later do you really start absorbing what you saw, thinking about it, looking it up in a book, and remembering - because you can't take it in all at once."   I believe one day after this life we will have a unlimited brain capacity and won't have to do this.  I can't wait for that day.

- I think about Audrey Hepburn a lot.  I admire her more than you know.  I can't imagine going through the things she did and turning out the way she did.  I hope we can look back and say as much about the Japanese people who are suffering.  I will keep praying for them.

My mind seems to never stop well, except when watching The Bachelor cuz that is all I can think about.  Season Finale TONIGHT!!  YAY!!   He totally is picking Emily.