Friday, August 10, 2012

BERMUDAHHHHHH....

Just a couple weeks ago, after an EXTREME case of buyers remorse we hopped aboard Royal Caribbean's EXPLORER OF THE SEAS.  As with most vacations, having a family of five is way more expensive then a family of 4 because you need two rooms.  Alas, we put the thought of our empty wallet aside and planned on having a great time. Believe me, we DID!!!  There were about 50 people in our group and that made the trip that much more fun.  It was AWESOME for our kids to have other kids their age on the SAME vacation!  Can you imagine being in high school and going on a cruise ship with a BUNCH of your friends?  Life time memories. Totally!  It was our first cruise ever and our first time out of the country.  Bermuda is GORGEOUS, it's beaches were incredible and the people there were so delightful.  

Just about a week before we left, my beloved camera decided to die. URGH!!  Taking photos was one of the things I was incredibly looking forward to on this trip.  I shipped it off to a little old foreign man (I found him mentioned on a bunch of Canon message boards) in NJ to get an estimate.  Luckily for me, my wonderful friend Stephanie was going on the trip with us so she let me accost her camera when my shutter happy fingers got too twitchy.  Thank GOD for Stephanie!  Enjoy some of the shots I took...

Achilles Bay Beach, if you look closely, our ship is in the distance on the left

My "nephew" Gavin and my daughter Peyton at Horseshoe Bay Beach

Minty painted houses of Bermuda

Cole, Callie and Peyton with Achilles Bay Beach behind them



The dockyard in St. Georges township


Fort St. Catherine
Choplins Cove





Tobacco Bay

Achilles Bay


Road down to Tobacco Bay Beach

Dockyard at St. Georges





Thursday, August 9, 2012

Great Stuff By Paul

I remember seeing an article about this FABULOUS store in Country Living a few years ago and since then I've been dying to visit Great Stuff By Paul in Frederick Maryland!  Unfortunately the 3 hour drive kind of put a damper on my enthusiasm a tad.  WELL, luckily my wait was finally over!  My husband's band had an overnight gig in that area so we made a little weekend vacay out of it!  We stopped by the store to do some exploring on our way home.  It's a
VISUAL treat for sure!  I wish I had a limitless credit card to take there!   Here are some of the shots I took...

The color on these church doors is stunning!

Endless shabby armoirs...l

I think this green table would make a FABULOUS kitchen island!
Bread Trays



LOVE this table, would be GREAT in a large kitchen!

I love the color and detail of whatever these carved wooden thingies are!

Dough troughs, these could be made into a cool table or would look awesome on a large sofa table , with a collection piled high inside!


This candle-stand was apparently used in the move "The Last Airbender"!





I'm in love with these tables!





Monday, June 25, 2012

My new sister and a new niece!

HOW cute are these two?  They are real sisters, my dad just got Jezebelle and my sister now has Rosie! LOVE them!  They are Pembroke Welsh Corgis and 100% adorable!

 Don't let these sweet, innocent looking eyes fool you.  Jezebelle is a WILD WOMAN!  I have a feeling that it's a good thing she's cute!  It should help get her out of some trouble!

Rosie, is a tiny bit more laid back and doesn't seem to want to terrorize the neighborhood yet.  I guess we will have to wait and see!

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Guest Post: Venetian Mirrors


Hi! I’m Joanna, a writer for Arcadian Lighting, a go-to source for beautiful LIGHT FIXTURES for the home. I spend my days gathering interior decorating ideas and images and sharing them with blog readers like you on blogs such as Whimages. Thanks so much for letting me share with you one of my favorite décor items, the Venetian mirror.

Dating back to the 16th century, Venetian mirrors were owned by royals and wealthy families. Their fine detailing and intricate beauty make them a stunning piece of art. While a true Venetian mirror is very costly, there are many quality reproductions which are affordable today. Since childhood, I’ve been fascinated by these mirrors with their ornate beveling, etching and cut glass curves. Here, I’ve gathered a collection of some of the loveliest mirrors I’ve run across.

This Venetian floor mirror makes a stunning addition to a sophisticated entry. This space is filled with lovely eclectic pieces.
Accompanied by a mirrored vanity and delicate wall sconces, this breathtaking version makes you wonder if this is an authentic Venetian mirror.
Two simpler cut mirrors flank the sides of a doorway. This dressed down look goes well with the natural elements in the room such as the sisal rug.
Some design professionals think a mirror above a mantel is a no-no, but this mirror looks like it belongs.
An unusual modern light fixture is reflected back into the room by a glistening Venetian above the ornate mantel.
A pretty powder room gets all dressed up with a luminous mirror above the vanity--gorgeous.
A little girl’s room makes the perfect place to hang one of these fairytale beauties.
One of the most intricately designed mirrors I’ve come across is pictured here in a grand entry laden with a demilune console below.
I hope you found these mirrors inspiring! Let us know in the comments! Don't forget to stop by Arcadian Lighting for the perfect lighting fixture for your home Arcadian Lighting