12 Week Weightloss Challenge

So today is the first night of my 12 week weight loss challenge at my local Y.  In reality the challenge started last week but I was busy with steaks and moscato at a family birthday dinner (mmm, de-licious).  In all seriousness though, I'm pretty excited about this weight loss journey.  I feel like after 4.5 years and two kids later, it might be time to start in on this "baby weight" that's stacking up.  In all fairness, I was doing pretty good after the last baby but nursing till one year really did a toll on my portion control.  Turns out that when you stop nursing and burning those free calories all day, you balloon back up to day after delivery weight (they don't tell ya about that one on KellyMom, that's for sure).

So far so good though!  My husband was nice enough to follow through with my exact Christmas wish and get me a few personal training lessons.  I've committed to that once a week, attending cardio classes a couple other times a week, started running on Sundays and tracking my calorie intake with MyFitnessPal (I loooove this app).  During my Sunday run yesterday it suddenly dawned on me that I really don't hate this anymore.  In fact, I liked it!  I always wanted to be one of those crazy people that enjoyed running or working out, but thought they clearly had to be some sort of mutant alien.  Working out has suddenly become my morning cup of coffee (I knew I never liked that stuff for a reason).  If I don't get it, watch out.

Anyways, I'm too chicken to start off posting pictures or current weights... but let's just say I have a few pairs of designer college jeans calling my name & I will get there (no, seriously I have to.  I can't afford to replace them.).  So check back in approximately 10 weeks and I'll get you those pictures.... college jeans and all.

MIA

THE destroyer of all things electrical

So it's been a little over a month since I've been posting (AND pinning, oh the withdrawals are killin' me).  You can thank this little nugget of fun for that (see THE destroyer, left).  All things both expensive and electrical seem to be a magnet for him.  His first victim was my iPhone.  That bad boy is smashed to bits and pieces (SO glad I updated to the new 4S just weeks before).  He next set his sights on my laptop.  First it was just a little flashlight thrown into the screen.  That only did minor damage, denting a few spots here and there.  The following days are where the real damage came in.  The remote was the next airborne object, resulting in lovely cracks up and down, right  to left as well as eliminating a few choice keys from the keyboard (who needs "U" anyways?  It's only a vowel).  The only good news here is that he does in fact have the pitching arm of his father and we're about 90% sure he could be a lefty.  I was doing alright for a few days, until the little chicken nugget did a stealth move and yanked the screen backward from behind.  Esentially cracking everything in two  for a split second.  That's when the blue dye started creeping in (see Exhibit B, below).  It was downhill from there and resulted in total computer elimination over the next few weeks.

Exhibit B

As of today, I'm now using my husband's Dell computer circa 1999.  Not really, but it feels that way since there are zero programs on this bad boy since the only thing it's used for is to check Facebook and fantasy baseball stats.  Did I mention that it has to be plugged in at ALL times or it totally crashes and everything you've done gets erased?  Oh and that the plug is held together by one of my Goody hairbands so that the outlet thingy stays attached to the battery thingy.  We're super high tech around here right now, so bare with me a little bit.  Anyways, I promise for more posts ASAP as long as you promise to donate to my KATENEEDSANEWCOMPUTER fund ASAP as well.  Really, it's a win, win.  Happy Monday!

Get the Look

This design has been near and dear to my heart since the moment I set eyes on it.  It's simple but wonderful.  Well styled with the single flower, framed photo, and books.  The pillow offsets the transparent ghost chair just perfectly.  Recreating this look for my own house will have to wait, but here's just a few ideas on how I/we can get a similar look. 

Pinterest 

1. Modern Glass Desk - BluePrint - $499.  Not the exact floating glass look but certainly a similar feel.  If you're after something more exact, it would be fairly simple to recreate by purchasing a 24" deep glass top table from a local retailer.  Pairing the glass top with a desktop hardware solution such as this Silver Arc from Mockett could work as well.  Just insure that your weight and depth fall within your hardware limits.  
2. B&W Poster - All Posters - $29.99.  Artwork is very personal, so you should always chose art that either means something to you or speaks to you.  To get the look for even less, recreate your own art using B&W photography.  The poster found here was $29.99 unframed but upwards of $300 if you purchase it framed.  Finding a simple black from for a local hobby shop can save you that additional $300.  
3. Brushed Steel Globe Lamp - Lamps Plus - $39.95.  While it doesn't have a black shade, it is certainly the right style and you can't argue with that price!  Finding a black shade is as simple as a few thrifting trips, finding one online, or recovering this one.   
4. Ghost Chair - Amazon.com - $125.00.  If you're after the exact smokey grey look, take a look at this one from Lumens.com for $330.00.  

Chairs = Personality

For me, chairs are the personality of any space and can make or break a room.  Look at any living room and the chairs will tell you how that person lives.  A vintage chair could mean they treasure the past.  An overstuffed arm chair chair tells me they enjoy their leisure time, reading a book or lounging with their kids.  A pair of traditional wing backs could tell me they encourage thoughtful conversation.  A family heirloom shows their sentimental side.  A sleek contemporary portrays a stylish and modern couple.

My love of chairs began in college while browsing one of my favorite assigned classrooms books, 1000 Chairs.  One of the few college books that has still made it to my adult home.  I treasure that book and the stories behind every chair.  Class after class we would pour over the designs, memorizing the period, the designer, and the style.  I wish I could say I could recite every chair verbatim, but I took much more out of that class than I did many others.  While I can't say I fully appreciated the class at the time (memorization was not and still isn't my strong suit), it gave me an appreciation for the designers before me.  I smile at every sighting of their beautiful creations still being produced, replicated, or sold today.

Every day while browsing Pinterest I see hundreds of chairs in every room setting telling a story.  If you start to pay attention you will begin to see what I mean:

So there you have it, 9 photos all telling a different story.  If you take that second look, you'll begin to see that it's the chairs that are narrirating.  

All of these chairs and many more can be found on my Pinterest boards 

with links to their original locations. 

Mirrored Coffee Table

I know, here I am with the mirrored accents again.  Sorry, I'm not sorry.  =)  Mirrored coffee tables aren't exactly the smartest every day solution, but for a small sitting area, office, or formal living room they are a real knock out.  These two are both beautiful but the biggest difference visually is not only price but size. The larger/more expensive comes from Clayton Gray Home (for the record, I'm a fan of almost everything on their site).  Larger coffee tables are more my style, but for a smaller space or budget you can't go too wrong with the less expensive Target version.  

Target:  $135.99 (regular price $159.99)

Add a decorative touch to your living room with this stylish coffee table. The tapered legs and mirrored surface are compatible with most décor. Simply wipe the table clean with a damp cloth as needed.  (20"H x 36"W x 21"D)

Clayton Gray Home: $1,555.00

Beveled glass coffee table- Mirror (18"H x 48"W x 24"D)

Mirrored Cubes

I love mirrored accents almost as much as I love lucite accents.  You don't need a lot, but it just adds a small pop of glam and kicks any room up a notch.  I'm really digging these mirrored cubes these days.  Either as a small accent table between a pair of chairs or paired up under a console, they're sure to be a hit in about any room.  Check out these two look a likes I found, one for nearly 75% of the other.  Doesn't get much better than that my friends! 

Linens N Things: $239.80

Aged black cube with red undertones, faceted with antiqued mirrors.  (16"W x 18"L)

Horchow: $899

Handcrafted 20" sq. cube features beveled mirrors on a wooden frame.

e-Design

So over the past few days I've been helping out a good friend with the re-design of her living and dining room areas.  We live over four hours apart, so it was going to have to be strictly online design but I was up for the challenge once again.  She had a pretty good idea of what she was going for but just needed some help finding the right pieces and how to pull it all together.  Lucky me, she has flawless style and after 20 years of friendship I had a pretty clear idea of what exactly she would be up for.  She originally asked me to help her like she was burdening me or something (crazy girl).  Let me tell you something though, I think she probably wished she never asked!  ha.  I've been letting loose, getting back into the swing of design and realized how much I truly miss it all.  The hunt, the chase, the puzzle of putting it all together like it was meant to be all along... really gets my ticker going.

Over the past few months since our family relocated to a new town, I've put design on the back burner and have just been focusing on family.  Besides, it's hard enough to find good vegetables in season in this small town let alone designer couches and crystal lamps.  Kinda makes running a successful design business hard on a girl.  With much thought and consideration though, I've decided to get my feet wet once again and focus solely on e-design services.  SO, more on that will be coming soon (as well as our final decisions on my friend's room)!

Abstract Painting

I'm a sucker for a good abstract.  I'll put an abstract in any house with any collection of art.  The more color, the better.  Take a look at these two look a likes.  I found the steal on Etsy (who doesn't love Etsy??).  It's a tad smaller & lacks the infused oranges/reds that the beautiful Neiman Marcus version has but since it's one of kind, I wouldn't be surprised if you couldn't contact the artist and have something similar commissioned?  While the lower end is still beautiful, (especially when shown in the room scene below) I do have to say I do love the Neiman's version best I think.  However, when it comes to designing on a budget the Etsy version can give you that same vibe at a fraction of the cost! 

Etsy: $175.00 

Pretty shades of greens and blues with accents of yellow.  Very modern.  Watercolor effects.  A very pleasant piece to look at.  Can be displayed in any direction.  Will be delivered ready to hang and signed by the artist. 

Neiman Marcus: $1,025.00 (plus a $185.00 delivery and processing fee)

Amazing abstract evokes thoughts of wintery breezes.  From the John-Richard Collection.

Glass Column Table Lamp

I'm absolutely in love with this timeless table lamp.  Traditional, contemporary, colorful, monotone... whatever your style it's still beautiful.  I know, you're wondering why there is no shade on the lamp on the left.  Well big whoop, it's $200 less!  Pick yourself up a shade from about any home decor or thrift shop.  You could even get creative with it by pairing it with a patterned or colored shade if you like.  The Target version only comes in the silver, while the Restoration Hardware beauty comes in both black and bronze.  I do wonder how that Target lamp is constructed... perhaps the silver could be spray painted?  Someone go out and buy it and you let me know! 

Target: $44.99

Restoration Hardware: $245.00

Gold Sunburst Mirror

If you've been anywhere in the design world these days, you know a huge trend is the sunburst mirror.  Now, I'm not a big "trend" person.  If I loved it before it was a trend, then so be it.  If I love it after it's a trend, then so be it.  99% of the time though, I don't jump on the trend bandwagon until it's time hasn't started or it's come and gone.  With that in mind, this is a trend that I do love AND can we talk about that price?  I will give anything a chance if it costs me less than $30, thank you very much.  I know, I know... they aren't EXACTLY the same.  For the same "feel", you are definitely getting a pretty good "bang for your buck" here people.... especially when investing that dough in a trendy item.

Target:  $21.77 on sale (regular price $24.19)

Horchow:  $1,195.00

Capiz Shell Lighting

This cute pendant light has become quite popular around Pinterest these days.  There's no question why, it's visually stunning and adds a small touch of femininity to about any space.  How great would this be hanging over a intimate seating area in a master bedroom?

Target:  $299.99 on sale (regular $399.99)

This Capiz shell pendant light adds beauty and light to any room it graces.  The pendant is constructed of dozens of hand-cut Capriz shells that are edged in metal to form and floral pattern that glows when lit.  Professional hardware installation is recommended.  The pendant uses one 60-watt incandescent bulb, comes with 3' feet of chrome chain and a chrome ceiling canopy; it is UL-approved.

Horchow: $549.90 on sale (regular $695.00)

Translucent capiz shells are fashioned into flowers and edged with silvery metal to form this breathtaking 24" sphere.  Uses one 60-watt bulb.  3' chain included.