Random facts about me

I wasn't really inspired today to do a decorating post

I thought instead, since I have several new 

followers, I would share a few random facts about me. 

I always enjoy reading these on other blogs and getting to know 

fellow bloggers better. 

I hope this helps you get to know me a bit better

1) I love Coffee and can be a bit of a coffee snob. 
   I like it rich and robust.

    I love a good Starbucks Iced americano with white chocolate 

   (yes I know, lots of calories )

   My daughters all joke that my grandchildren will 

    call me "grandma coffee"

2)  When I was younger (and thinner) I was often told I looked

     like Barbara Streisand 

     (I think its the nose and the blue eyes)

3) I come across very together and confident but many times inside 

    I am just the opposite

4) I cry easy. Hallmark card commercials get me every time. 

    I cry at sappy love story movies, 

    I cry when someone gets engaged,

    I cry when I am happy and words just wont do. etc

5) I like a clean house but don't always make my bed 

 ( silly cuz I always like it better when I do)

6) I love planning events such as weddings, fundraising dinners etc.

7) I have known my hubby since 6th grade (some of you may know this) 

   We are just about to celebrate 29 years of marriage

8) I love giving gifts(getting them too)  and I love wrapping presents. 

I like making the package as beautiful outside as it is on the inside.

9) I love to laugh and often get the giggles at inappropriate times. 

I remember my son in law telling my daughter " your mom thinks everything is funny"

 I guess I just enjoy life and try to find something everyday to laugh about : )))

10) I love to sing but was not blessed with a great voice. 

I like singing along with the radio when I am in my car and no one else can hear me. 

(make a joyful noise : ))

11) I am an American Idol fan and have watched every season although this year

 has not been my favorite.

12) I like to be in control and in charge. I guess I like that others think I have it all together, 

but trust me I really don't. It's a hard one because I am very open 

so people who know me well, know I do not have it all together (I am human after all)

13)  I am a sinner saved by grace. I know that God is the one in control and 

in charge of me and my life

So there you have it 13 random tidbits about me.

Feel free to share some random thought about yourselves too
Linking to:

More wonderful deals and a business opportunity

Just wanted to share with you some of the great deals from Willow House this week:

To order click on the image and then click on Outlet then the drop down that says weekly deals 

I am loving that platter and at just $17.96, It would make a great Mother's Day or wedding gift!!

Here are some more deals that you wont want to miss these need to be ordered directly through me so message me if you see anything below that you can't live with out : )

As a Willow House consultant I have met some amazing ladies and had a great time doing it
Did you know You can start you own home based business for just $99.00 I made that investment back having my very first party. To me it was a no brainer as far as business goes. Low start up and easy to make back the investment and have fun doing it too.
Here is what you get to get you business started

Please contact me if you are interested in this offer. I joined in September and paid for much of our Christmas gifts with the money I earned from Willow House.

For more information click on the photo and then click on the "our opportunity" link

I would be happy to answer any questions you may have too!

A Warm Welcome

Hope you all had a great weekend. One of the things I have been wanting to do for years, is take a CPR class. Well, I finally did it. I learned so much and though I hope I never have to use it, it's nice to know I could help someone if the need every arises. If you get a chance to take the class I highly recommend it.
Now on to the post for today.
What do you do at your home to Say "welcome" to your visitors? Do you have a beautiful porch or a painted front door that beckons them in?

Do you greet them at the door with dread or with a smile on your face that says you are happy to see them.

You see, we can set the tone for a visitor in a matter of seconds, If we seem uncomfortable they may too.
If we act like we weren't quite ready for them to be here, it can send a message that it was a bother or inconvenience for you to have them over
Some of the things I have learned to put people at ease are
1) greet them as if they are the most important thing in your life at that moment
2) keep things tidy so that if unexpected people do drop in, you will not be uncomfortable. We have all been there where  someone drops by and instead of sitting enjoying the company we are racing a round picking things up and apologizing for our "mess"
3) keep a house that smells good. I love walking into a home that smells good. Even if things are a bit out of place, there is something very welcoming  about a home that smells yummy. People often comment that my home always smells good. I have "plug ins" and scentsy pots all over the place. More for myself than others. I guess I am just a little obsessed with making our home welcoming to others.
I have fond memories of "grandmas" house as a young girl. It often smelled like perked coffee and to this day the smell of coffee evokes this warm fuzzy kind of feeling. I guess my use of all those scented things is my way to create that feeling in others.
4) Although I love nice things and a beautiful home I try not to have a stiff formal environment. I want my home to be nice but not so much so that people are afraid to sit or touch anything

5)Don't be afraid to be yourself. If you are comfortable in your own skin others will pick up on that and instantly feel at ease.
I could go on and on about this subject but I would love to hear your comments on making people feel welcome, so please share away

Did you win the Dress?

First off, let me say I wish there could be many winners here. I was overwhelmed by all of you that stopped in to enter. Thank you so much...
And the winner of the Shabby Apple Giveaway is #132 Chosen by random.org
April at Straight from the Heart  April I will be emailing you soon with info on how to get your Dress
Congrats!!!
Now If you still want a dress, you can save 10% by using code
 lovethedecor10off
so head on over to Shabby Apple now and shop 

Spring!! and Last chance to enter to win a new Dress!

Shabby Apple is giving away one of their lovely dresses to one of my lucky readers, so go here to enter!! Giveaway ends Friday at midnight, Really girls, who couldn't use a new dress for spring?


I am so glad It's Friday : ). It has been a crazy busy week.
Today I realized that spring really is going to happen here. Not only was it in the mid 60's, but I actually saw the green tips of tulips and daffodils emerging in the flower beds. That makes me so so Happy!!!

Hope you have a lovely weekend and come back Saturday to see if you won the Shabby Apple Giveaway!!

Tempting your tummy

*First off, don't forget about the amazing Dress giveaway 
(yes a dress from Shabby Apple) It ends Friday Click here to enter.

We had the best Dinner!!It is still chilly where I live, even though the calendar says it's spring. So soup still sounds wonderful!! This is what we had:


Pasta E Fagioli (a knock off of a favorite Italian Restaurant soup)
Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, diced
1 large carrot, julienned
3 stalks celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans (14.5-ounce size) diced tomatoes
1 can (15-ounce size) red kidney beans (with liquid)
1 can (15-ounce size) great northern beans (with liquid)
1 can (15-ounce size) diced tomatoes
1 can (15-ounce size) V-8 juice
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 pound ditali pasta or small pasta shells(cooked)Directions:
Brown Hamburger in a large pot, add veggies (onion, carrot, garlic, celery) and cook for 5 min
Then add all remaining ingredients except pasta. Let simmer on stove for 2 or more hours and add cooked pasta 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with fresh grated Parmesan cheese and Enjoy!!
We had it with home made breadsticks and it was delicious!!
Linking to 

 

GIveaway Reminder!!

In case you missed my last post I am having a giveaway for Shabby Apple!! Click Here to enter

This is a  good one and it ends  Friday so go get entered

Dresses, Dresses, and a Giveaway *GiveawayClosed*

Have you heard of the Shabby Apple? If you love dresses this shop is a must for you!! Be warned, visiting this site can result in losing yourself for a while as you drool over the selection. Like these beauties from the new Roamin' Holiday Collection

And it's your lucky day, because my friends at Shabby Apple are offering one of these lovely Shabby Apple Women's Dresses to one of my readers.
The winner will get to pick from one of these 3 dresses

Cider

Amethyst

Frida K

 So are you ready to enter??

The rules:

1)  US Entries ONLY!

2)  Open from now until March 25th 
Winner will be chosen by Random.org 

How to enter? 

FIRST (Mandatory):  Visit Shabby Apple and pick your favorite item.  Leave a comment telling me what that item is.
SECOND:  Like Shabby Apple on facebook and come back here and leave a comment. 
THIRD:  Follow my blog and leave a comment below telling me you have or already do!
FOURTH:  Like Debbie's Designs on facebook and leave a comment below.

FIFTH:  You can blog, tweet, or facebook this giveaway for extra entries.  Leave a comment below for each one you do.  Include a link to your blog or facebook/twitter page.  

If you actually do a blog post and send your friends here you will get 5 additional entries (they need to tell me you sent them)
If you can't wait to see if you win, Shabby Apple is giving you 10% off your purchase
just use code 
 lovethedecor10off
Good luck !!

A few treasures

Just wanted to share with you a few things I found while clearing out my dad's house last year
Though I am normally not a "plate" person I do love these. The first one is dated 1965 by Royal China Company. I love the red color and the heartwarming feel of the scene

This next one is handmade and was a gift to my great grandparents. They were married in the late 1800's, not quite sure of the date on the plate. Love the iridescent detail in this

I thought this little pitcher and bowl  was cute too. It was a gift to celebrate my grandparents 50th anniversary sometime in the early 70's

not the best picture

Linking up to 

The Difference

I cannot believe the difference the new molding and trim makes.We have been replacing all of the old doors and trim that looked like this:

To doors and trim that look like this:

I am loving it!! It just makes the whole house feel lighter and airy. Not to mention it is a very inexpensive way to update an older home. (ours is almost 14 yrs old). We bought very middle of the road doors and trim to keep the cost down but you can spend as little or as much as you choose. One project that started with new flooring has moved on to be one thing leading to another and another. Who knows, when all of the painting is done maybe crown molding will be next.

Linking up to:

Choosing the right Tools (Paint Series continued)

Hi there
So far in our paint series we have learned about types of paint finishes, how to pick a color and lots of other general info. Today we are talking about the tools for creating a professional looking painted room. Here are the things I think are essential.
Drop Cloths...
A good quality canvas cloth works great and will protect better than plastic which tends to slip and slide
Good brushes...
Resist the temptation to go for the cheapest and instead go for quality when choosing a paintbrush. Look for bristles that don't clump and will remain flexible.  Purdy is the preferred brand in our home cost a bit more but worth it.
Sherwin williams has  a great video on how to choose the right brush here 


Tape....
 I prefer the frog tape when I do tape If you can find the orange I like it even better than the green. 
Just be sure when taping that you seal the tape edges by pressing down firmly to prevent any leakage.
Roller, covers and roller trays (liners for the trays)...
Again don't skimp here make sure the nap is the right nap for the paint and job you are doing. (read the package suggestions)
I often buy extra rollers I hate cleaning the rollers out, so I like to just toss them and use a new one next time (I know Lazy huh : ))
A small cup with a handle (like an old mug) for that fine line work
Ladder/ stool
A paint stir attachment for the drill to mix the paint thoroughly 
Whips it up much faster than a stir stick
Spackle/putty knife 
For filling all the nail holes etc
Rags for clean up
Lots of patience


While I know this seems like basic information,  there are a lot of gals out there who have never ever painted a room before.


Having everything you need at your finger tips simplifies the process and keeps you organized.
There is nothing more frustrating than starting a project and then having to stop every few minutes to "look" for something .
Later this week, the prep process and tips for choosing the right amount of paint.

Thoughts

As I watch the images of all that is happening in Japan, from my comfy home with my coffee in hand, my heart is breaking for them. As I sit here, safe and warm, many of them are scrambling to find food, shelter, and missing loved ones.  Hard to think of anything else. Life is fragile and uncertain.

In a blink everything can change. Savor every moment and live each day as if it could be your last. And if you are a praying person offer up your prayers for our Japanese neighbors who are hurting. 

And the winner...

The winner of the $60.00 gift code to CSN stores
chosen by Random.org #32
Brenda from Sew a Little Happiness

Congratulations Brenda!! Email me and I will get the code to you!!
Be watching for another giveaway soon from The Shabby Apple

More in our paint series and Dining Room before and after

Just wanted to pop in and show what a difference color can make in a room. If you have all white walls and are "afraid " of color don't be. If you didn't know already, I have been doing a series on paint. You can see the first in the series here. You will find all kinds of tips and ideas for choosing your color. Just look how much warmer and inviting the room looks in the after photo.
Here is my Dining room all white just after we put the tile in.

And here is the after : SEE, warm and inviting (just ignore the bucket in the left corner We are still in remodel mode at our house.) I really really love it (maybe because other than needing to lower the chandelier it is the only room on the main floor that is 100% finished. Hooray!!)

Notice also that we have replace the trim under the window and the baseboards from icky thin brown to white with some character. 

And just another view of the room.

NOTE:

Don't forget to enter the $60.00 CSN stores giveaway here

Next week, more in our paint series :

The right tools for the right paint job to help you professional results and later next week faux finishes.

Linking to 

 

And

CUTE!!! Plus a giveaway reminder

Recently I won a giveaway over at Deck the Halls of home with Joy!!
Brenda is a wonderful seamstress and has great projects and ideas
She even has an Etsy shop where you can purchase her beautiful designs.
These are what I won. Although we are just getting into spring I can't wait for fall to be able to display this little cuties!!!  Thank you Brenda!!!

Just a reminder also, to hop over and enter my CSN stores Giveaway
Hurry it ends Sunday!!

Lighting and a giveaway!!!

Do you find yourself squinting to see the fine print or moving the newspaper into better light to see the words? I know I am!!! Could be cuz the big 5-0 is only months away (ew did I just say that out loud?) Poor lighting in a room, when you are reading, watching the television, or using the computer, can add extra strain to the eye. The eyes have to work harder to convey messages to the brain from the strain of trying to see.

Reaching for the "readers" or "cheaters" as some choose to call them is an ok fix, but often  the real cure is just better lighting in your work space or room. Although there are some very very cute "readers" out there these days! As we age, we find that we need three to four times as much light than we used to. That means one could have as many as 4 or 5 lamps in a room.

Knowing that aging eyes need a better kind of light and more of it,  to be comfortable, is an easy fix. It seems everyone is carrying lighting these days. From home improvement stores to craft stores, there is sure to be a style out there to meet your needs.

If you are like most of us, you still have the same lamps that you had when you got married.  For many of us, that could be 20 or 30 plus years. There are so many wonderful choices out there in lighting today,

like table lamps and buffet lamps and all the styles in between. You can find lighting that is not only practicle but pretty too. Lighting becomes part of your decor so, you owe it to yourself and your eyesight to invest in better lighting today.

Now, to help you in that quest to have better lighting, CSN Lighting.com is offering you, my readers, a chance to win a $60.00 gift code to use in any of their 200 stores.

Rules for entering:

1.Visit CSN stores and tell me what you would use your gift code for.

2. Blog, tweet, or facebook about the Giveaway. Be sure and leave a comment telling me you did this

3. And an extra entry if you are a follower

Giveaway ends Sunday March 13th. Winner announced Monday March 14th 

Open to U.S. and Canadian residents only

March Madness Monday!!

I will be continuing the Paint series later in the week, but I wanted to be sure to share some incredible deals from my Willow House outlet store with you: These items at these prices will go quickly so hurry and place your order!!

A worship song for your Sunday

Paint series #4 choosing color continued

If the tips from yesterday are still leaving you apprehensive about picking color, here are a few more things to help you. Take your favorite samples home and tape to the wall in various places around the room. check to see what the lighting at different times of the day does to the color. Even the natural lighting in the room, carpet, furnishings etc. can make it look very different than you thought in the store. Another option, if you need to, is get the "sample" made  up and come home and paint a large square of the color in a spot where you will be able to see it at all times of the day. Sherwin Williams has a great selection of "to go" samples to try at home.

I normally don't do this, but I know it can be very helpful if you have trouble visualizing what it can look like on a whole wall. Last but not least, find a friend that has an eye for color and ask for help. But do remember that it is only paint and can be changed fairly easy. 

By the way if you have picked a color and want to paint this weekend Sherwin Williams is having a sale this weekend. (no, they did not pay me to say this) 
















And valspar has this on their facebook page too