{The Stylish Blogger Award} for my little blog?

YES!  I am so honored to receive the "Stylish Blogger" award!  Thank you so much Maureen from Eclectic Revisted.  While still very new to blogging, I have to confess that I didn't think anyone read my blog other than my sister.  So, let me thank all of you for taking the time to check in on my current design  L O V E s! 

So, in keeping with the rules of winning the Stylish Blogger award,  I am to list 7 things about myself and then award 10 of my favorite newly discovered blogs.

1.   My new year's resolution is to have more fun.  Perhaps that means a few more outings with my sister and  more trips and adventures with my little boy and hubby.  Cheers to that, right!?

 

2.  Nothing excites me more than a remodeling project or new piece of furniture.  And better yet, moving to a new house.  But, can you believe the moment I walk into a clothing store, I get sweaty, anxious and want to leave right away?  Oh, how I wish I had style in my wardrobe!

3.  I LOVE to bake... cookies, cakes, cupcakes.... Especially with my 5 year old and my sweetheart niece.  I start to get jittery when it's Sunday and haven't whipped something up for dessert all week.  And, yes, I love to EAT the sweets even more!

4.  My biggest time wasters:  reading home design blogs, watching Bravo and Barefoot Contessa and reading shelter pubs.   Guilt-free!

5.  Last year, I switched to a vegetarian diet. I've never felt better and only wished I'd done it sooner.  Thank you, Max and Gina for not judging.  And thank you, Mother, especially, for making this year's Thanksgiving and Christmas stuffing with veggie broth.... and not making a big deal about it.

6.   My high school sweetheart and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary in 2010.   I was 21 when I got married!

7.   And last, but not least, the light of my life is my little boy, Alan who we sent to kindergarten this year.   Having him in school all day makes me realize how quickly time flies.  He reminds me everyday to enjoy whatever it is I'm doing at the moment, to wake up happy and to PLAY more.  This will fit in nicely with my new year's resolution, won't it?

Now, enough about me and on to the ten blogs I pass this award on to:

1. Design Indulgence, my very latest obsession, Sherry Hart, a master and a natural at home styling.  If only I could fly her to Austin and spend a day with her, I'd be in design heaven.

 

recent pics of her bedroom

2.  Centsational Girl, Kate.  Beautiful photography and great ideas can always be found on her site.  She inspires me to post more of my own pictures and projects.

I LOVE reading about her projects at home, her DIYs and printables.  She's a great party planner too!

3. Copy Cat Chic posts are ones I always look forward to. Rachel shares stylish, thrifty alternatives to high dollar wish list items.

4.  Tracery, this shop in Rosemary Beach, Florida has me planning a trip there.  Seriously, just to visit their shop and charming little town.

  

If I could hire a firm for my own home, this would be the one.

5. Emily A. Clark.  She's a busy mommy who always makes time to make her home more beautiful and keep herself looking gorgeous.

Emily is a craiglist shopper and always stuns me with her finds.

6.  Rachel at Nest Egg.  A true inspiration and success story for a young designer following her passion.  I love her posts because they often include draw dropping pictures of recent work.  She has such talent and a very bright future.  I love that her blog lets us experience the ride alongside.

This is Rachel featured in Garden & Gun

7.  Cote de Texas.    The very first blog I started reading.  Each post is extensively full of home design at its best, including pictures of her own work.  Pure Design Eye Candy.

Just one small example of the eye candy on her site.

8.  Velvet and Linen.  Probably the blog I get most excited about when I receive a new post via e-mail. It's pure LOVE for me...

What you find on her blog is really nice photography of her own design work, mouth watering images from her LA shop and sketches by her architect hubby. 

9.  Hostess with the Mostess....  Thank you for bringing parties up to a new level and sharing your brilliance with us!

Pics from her blog that make you want to throw a party and use some of her DIY tricks.

10.  and last but not least, one of my favorite blogs of all, Eclectic Revisted.  Maureen always has new and beautiful posts on her blog.  I check in at least once a day, sometimes more, and you should too!

a recent Ralph Lauren picture on her blog.  This is just pretty perfection!

After receiving this award you have to pay it forward and follow the rules:

Rules:

#1) Thank & link back to the person who awarded you.

#2) Share 7 things about yourself.

#3) Award 10 great bloggers that you have RECENTLY discovered

#4) Contact those bloggers and tell them about the award

Thank you again for the recognition, Maureen.  Blogging has been a fun pastime for me.  This year will only get better as I vow to get more personal and post more of my own pictures!

like my dining room here!

Kitchen Love

I really enjoyed this latest piece in Elle Decor showcasing William-Sonoma design guru's kitchen in San Francisco.   Lots of collected clutter styling.  I like it.

http://www.elledecor.com/home-remodeling/articles/kitchen-crafted-easy-living

Beautiful Black

Image via CotedeTexas

My take on the HGTV Dream Home 2011

I just watched the Vermont HGTV 2011 Dream Home tour.   I'm more of a beachy person, but this home really makes me want to ski, hike and play in the snow more than ever!

The guest room, above, is my favorite room.  I love the charcoal walls, birch window topper and neutral tones.

The gathering room above.  The designer used fall foliage as the color palette.  And right on trend, black framed windows showcase the spectacular views.

Stunning beams above and comfy pillows and throws abound.

The designer always uses candles like these in threes in her HGTV dream homes.  Coffee bean filler makes them look more comforting. (Will try this!) And local art, like this metal "cloud" hanging from the ceiling.  I love the picture lights she used throughout the home.  Lighting plays a big role in this house.

 The host described the vent hood as a show stopper.  Agreed!  Have you ever seen cabinet spotlights like these?  Birch wood was the inspiration for the colors in this kitchen.  Did you notice how she stacked FOOD Network cookbooks on the counter, on top of each other.  I'd love to cook like Barefoot Contessa and Giada in this kitchen!

 My sister would love this Wolf range with its red knobs.  There's everything to L O V E about this year's kitchen.  Dual dishwashers and sinks and refrigeration heaven!

I also noticed that the designer mixed more woods than before and used very large picture frames on the walls hung in pairs.  Not as much small frames in multiples like in years past.  I have such an urge to run to HEB and stock up on pears and apples for decoration.  The maple leaf cutting board accent is a subtle cutesy reminder of the location.  As well as the assorted maple syrups. Pancakes and waffles anyone?   Mmmmm. 

The dining room, above, was probably the only disappointment for me.  Could you imagine keeping these desk chairs perfectly in a line?  That would drive me crazy. Looks more like a conference room.  The black leather bordered rug ties in the black leather chairs.  And for the bell jar pendants, I have had those and they are a nightmare to keep clean. They become filmy quickly and bugs collect.  But they do look good!   I promise, other than these two things, I'm a big fan of the dream home!  And I do love this huge wooden bowl overflowing with mercury glass ornaments and the glass candlestick collection.

The master has cranberry walls.  Love these doors flanking the bed!  Here, you get a peek at the toy dog house to the right.  Talk about pampered pooches that get to live here one day.  The host mentioned the men's fabrics used in the room.  Tweed, houndstooth, plaids and stripes.  Modern prep at its finest!  Well done.

 Floor to ceiling drapes separate the master bedroom from the bath.  The tub is a perfect focal point (from the bed, might I add).  

 My favorite room, pictured again, above.

I wish I had the courage to go for slate walls in my own home.  Love the matching mirrors and hanging drums bedside.

The guest bath.  One thing the designer always uses year to year are white towels in abundance.  She's great at accessorizing.  These images make me want to stock up on fluffy towels and fresh flowers STAT. 

These giant sliding barn door is stunning in the game room.  I wish it led to a secret room.  I love Linda decorated the kitchenette counter with matching console lamps to keep it from feeling too stark and kitchen-y.  The coffee table is actually six individual side tables that move aside for the sofa bed.

Notice the steamy hot tub. I want one.  And a built in grill like this too.  Gina, is this Wolf as well?

Probably the most charming is the "ski dorm" as they dubbed it.  Sleeps 8. The table against the far wall unfolds to a large game table and the ottomans in the center can be used as chairs.  Clever. Steal this idea: each pillow had unique embroidery on it:  Play, Hike, Ski, Fish, Bike.... 

And the "dorm bath" with 3 sinks... The designer always leans picture frames on the bathroom counters of her Dream Homes.  I've tried this at home.  It's not very practical, but it looks sharp.  Toilet paper never looked better piled high in this braided basket.

And three shower stalls.  Each with their own rain head.  Interesting....  I wonder how big the water heater is in this house?  Oh, and plenty more white, fluffy towels.

A mudroom everyone dreams of complete with chandelier and vaulted ceiling.

 Every year I watch the dream home, I always remind myself to bring in more greenery.  It so instantly stages and warms your home.  Very pretty!

 Cozy.

Will you try to win it?

Enter to win: http://www.hgtv.com/dream-home/index.html

1.1.11

Today is 1.1.11. 

May your new year be filled with those you love, a home you love, things you love do and beautiful little cookies like these.

Happy New Year 2011!

Image:  Hostess Mostess