design for home

So I’ve been debating on doing two things on this blog for a long time now… my mind started spinning when I started to get really into this bloggy thing a few months ago and I’ve been mulling over it since then.<br /><br />Because I spend more time blogging then on my real job lately (it’s only a part time job but…<em>seriously</em>) and because I have dedicated so much time to this site (and have loved every second of it), I have decided to go ahead with these two things and I hope you’ll support me…<br /><br />Nervous giggle. Bites nails.<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296159722456570898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-H2JvhxU2WR6OUmGQ2hLO5ZCb4uWDn3lEmydzwBcnmjdN4DzjrRzweK2lgCV5AFpsaT6E0PTcLwK6ks-gElD66-eS8OidwkqLku3Hl9FZJtFHLR-_fd_JQjZLyStObOt2_6uRYUFK6FfO/s400/nervous.gif" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 295px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 259px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br />First of all, I’ve decided to accept advertising. I would love it if any of you (or anyone you know) would want to advertise on the site. My hope is it will become an avenue for Etsy sellers or moms and women who sell items and services. The rate is $10 a month and will go month to month. For more info on this, please contact me via e-mail (see left column).<br /><br />Another one I’m REAL nervous about is consultations. Back in the day I thought I would never do this, but the idea has occurred to me more than once and it’s been growing on me. I have decided to offer simple decorating consults for $10. They can be just about anything you can think of – help with paint colors, molding ideas, furniture placement, accessorizing, organization ideas, draperies – you name it. I can’t offer any fancy-schmancy graphic programs though, just ideas and inspiration and maybe a kick in the you-know-what to make it happen. And when I say this will be simple, I mean it. You can send pics, videos, etc. Whatever you want. And I will use what knowledge I do have about decorating to help you out. If the project is bigger, like ideas to finish off a whole room, we can discuss pricing.<br /><br />Click here to try it out and then e-mail me:<br /><form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><br /><input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_s-xclick"><br /><input type="hidden" name="hosted_button_id" value="2818147"><br /><input type="image" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_buynowCC_LG.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt=""><br /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1"><br /></form><br />I have to say – I LOVE LOVE LOVE when you all e-mail me questions on how do something I’ve posted about and I welcome those, adore those, please keep those coming. I really don’t want to sound like I’m taking advantage of you…and I hope you all keep the e-mails and questions coming. I am thrilled when I get a message from one of you telling me that I have inspired you. That is part of the reason I’ve decided to do this – it has been an honor to be that inspiration and I want to help you make your home even more comfortable and beautiful.<br /><br />I don’t know why I’m so nervous about this. I guess I don’t want any of you to think I think I’m all <em>that</em>. I most certainly don’t. I have thought long and hard about this and am fully prepared for them to totally flop and that is OK with me! My love of decorating and blogging will keep on…and you’ll all still be my BFs. <em>Foreva</em>.<br /><br />Thanks for your support!

It's about that time

So I’ve been debating on doing two things on this blog for a long time now… my mind started spinning when I started to get really into this ...

Well <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">hellooooo</span> there! First of all, thanks for your sweet thoughts about my son! He's doing GREAT -- actually improved quite a bit within 24 hours. So I felt OK leaving town with my stepdaughter, more on that later. And I am overwhelmed by your comments on the pantry. Glad I wasn't the only one who was gaga over it!<br /><br />Before I tell you about our trip...I have to give you a rundown of my VERY VERY BAD week last week.<br /><br />Saturday night, on a date with my husband, our car was broken into while we had dinner. Window smashed, bags taken, police report, all the fun stuff. Felt so relieved and blessed when an hour later, they found our bags tossed just around the corner and all that was taken was my husband's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">iPod</span>.<br /><br />Took three days to get my window fixed because of two mess ups with the window replacement companies.<br /><br />Found our our son had pneumonia, as you know, right before both my husband and I were leaving town to separate places and leaving him with family. NOT fun. He's never done breathing treatments and was a champ, but I was a bit of a mess at the thought of leaving him.<br /><br />He was doing much better the next day, I was feeling better about leaving town. Then we realized a STUPID financial mistake that cost us $1,000 -- and I felt like it was MY fault. My sweet husband argues that but I felt completely responsible. I cried. A lot.  (A lot a lot.)<br /><br />I had to leave by 3 a.m. Friday morning to get us to the airport, and ended up getting NO sleep that night because of my mind racing. None. Zilch.<br /><br />I pulled out of the garage at 3 a.m. and proceeded to back (slam.) right into my sister's car. Hard. Cussed a bit, pulled up into our garage to get around her, and then ran over my son's not-cheap stroller. RAN OVER IT. Needless to say, it's a goner.<br /><br />So, you can tell by now, I really, really, REALLY needed a weekend away. That came in the form of a school trip with my stepdaughter to New York City. Some of you already know my love for this city. We love it so much, we got married there. So it was just what I needed. I had to share some of my love with you all:<br /><br />I took advantage of our free time that first day by walking around and getting my NYC <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">mojo</span> back -- it's been a couple years since I've been there. I stumbled upon this:<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295684767139378402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXFvhs9ODNd2FESrcj0iN_56i08xJh_3TuzY2JNdxaLUfNgPvPkukq5NUB_xjKmnZu6MVFHTsRERkvKiXaPa_7SyYLqABXPSBwqEd2LCiQ88xF4nwdrV-3lL0vYfWgcIeuG2qEAwzpJlC/s400/DSC07615.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> Any of you that are Sex in the City fans know this little bakery -- I never really watched the show, but have heard about this place for awhile now. I knew I must. have. a cupcake. I wish I had the nerve to take pics inside...but I will only go so far. I'm a tourist through and through. But these were REAL New Yorkers in line...I couldn't do it! It was just beautiful...old fashioned tin lights, tile floors. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Beadboard</span> everywhere. Aqua subway tiles. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Carrera</span> marble <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">countertops</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">GORG</span>!!<br /><br />I got a pumpkin cupcake with cream cheese icing. Oh. my. Goodness:<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295684775071486290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAaLl2yw-zilkWhH8kJyJCle_emrBEBXoQZ_2FSdd-G-hlnmmZbaWi9wRfZR99qovKi1IbuOB_gBCAjFahbLuL9caPm-LHlj31pY4eII2hHZ-REyvd_VHIsQ1wQacOQ4fF3sBPHkxfSpv/s400/DSC07616.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> Stop with the goofy eyes, my girlfriend said. So she tried again...<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295684773094600770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkFTJzuTlOu0O7el532dsv2EIRA3L30uAYc-dXe34OYInE7qPshYtq4qhI6XfXLvVJBYu3Aiu7gk5vfacVYAbr5TNfQH1Wub9qO-Vu0UJ0fV-LSk2pWnWHo2RoiHolKnVXlC0coakO8FN/s400/DSC07617.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> Now, stop with the freaky eyes. Tried again:<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295685653395021810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewzYKEtusdYApOvEp1w2LUImmJChyphenhyphenD8Thm0mI0oYw3TemN987g8mwPO-rTEiGg4e3LgdwOE_pxsmRlfwETSWnXn_27NOFHIRe8WeO_GD9wA3wylx-mztJU9XX6WE3Xprg5s3tnkWDvp1s/s400/DSC07618.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />There we go. I wasn't processing well -- I had been up for 24+ hours straight and that cupcake was blowing my mind!!<br /><br />Times Square is <em>ALIVE</em>. No other way to put it:<br /><div></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295685676356016434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3S91IdtJYyYJKpZxhkjX81rHLCzcVKYUkDIYvSXOKGH91lEMCZwwwMMgoCUg4i9R2iZik02jqSang-Up6QcIZdcuiHdhCUS7V0BcvTJrLa3lqMPY5Efc3lZ0MkgKryrQ2UnHUuN1dpWA4/s400/DSC07652.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div>People don't think of NYC as a family vacation but you SHOULD!! There are so many fun places for children! You could spend days just in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">FAO</span> Schwartz, Toys R Us, Central Park, the Hershey's store, the M&M store -- it's endless. </div><div></div><div></div><div>There is a massive <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ferris</span> wheel inside Toys R Us:</div><div></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295686877647186802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe46SvHB6o6y-fsEuz4dbsjtA_XGYieSffD1scCDhh74KEqquaQe_Xm5SqxkkksGh4siV3abvhBoCylhqjuJAx9wCl5OrjZHc0Q0C5O-cxWhIfBljyh_zcWgbn0oPKaNQXeJbJJw7CVe8y/s400/DSC07694.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />There are so many fun things to look at in the store -- a life-size Barbie house, massive <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Lego</span> buildings, the coolest Thomas train table I've ever seen (my son would DIE!), and more fun stuff, like this guy, who moves around and gives you the stink eye:</div><div></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295686888894691042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWgXO2Fk3jtArZD5FxBbmQQqRfi0W3bXKxaKkkMg-vUf4YDKLbmr7c-t5TsHFZyl1vWkK_uokuZxtZ7bvuEtJdEf5KaQp8oYptS0z7SgibALYY1G_-YuOd7_YYgeBTliPqJe9a8EO2Gv2/s400/DSC07708.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div>Told you:</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jbk9z6FiXoni6FOrSlwAPqbsXvB5OXm-XZj-EIxwAkrNFU2dh5-vRS4deHTKdhSAkpU9lSYOkN0dy_ss_Oi0372-9VduG61miQcJvzW6MobMEGOIgin1elnoCHlgURXW5nyHiFl2e0Z0/s1600-h/DSC07704.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295686891462499186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jbk9z6FiXoni6FOrSlwAPqbsXvB5OXm-XZj-EIxwAkrNFU2dh5-vRS4deHTKdhSAkpU9lSYOkN0dy_ss_Oi0372-9VduG61miQcJvzW6MobMEGOIgin1elnoCHlgURXW5nyHiFl2e0Z0/s400/DSC07704.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Look at the all of the M&M colors to pick from at the M&M store! Three floors of this stuff!:<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295687245157362658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUy6MPtvl301sNzK-emZPfkg6EuygiRQIBvosUl77z8IOlQN9lcy8HMr1r7C2jykSbcGgEybUjeGLJK5D4BbynPNnZWLRqt9BZJrcrztf0B_ncAH6Kuo-wfKIA46PN5hU5K1yrOm8rM_Sh/s400/DSC07721.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />If you go, you must see a show. One of our favorites is Wicked:</div><div></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295684762471646290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCS4EG40CxFzRRnFQR9PyUmmiEkCixRVdtuRDVz21GjN-ETokEe-vw-Nd1jyH6m3j83tykonu3n7XS_BMtbpZWNOmWFScLnPBiE2ULG6y23ULex-Yx675buClgw0CfZm5d_-m5QalTMsAf/s400/DSC07607.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />This time we saw Billy Elliot and it was A-<em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">mazing</span></em>. I can't even tell you how amazing. It will take your breath away:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295687236898053970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmlajy6l9dasvvwGQ4D8JuY8Roy-19AUs9YOT7swqSFN2MY7tbdUSztY3Qhh_hxt5_xmk8y-HiOobqabftbIkvWX8n-_5iMsq7-qv0a2Mj06n6lsnbT9Db4ahAYlw8Gdg8PNXOdXTBLCC/s400/DSC07723.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div>Kids would LOVE Lion King, or Little Mermaid. This time we saw <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Shrek</span>, which wasn't one of the best I've seen, but young kids would have a blast!</div><div></div><div></div><div><br />And you have to go to the top of something. On my first trip to NYC, we were able to go to the top of the Statue of Liberty, but you can't do that anymore. We've also been to the Empire State Building, and this time went to the "Top of the Rock" -- Rockefeller Center. Best view I've seen yet. This is facing north, toward Central Park:</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcw4Aak8gQkbGNeS8JJ7q_PXdQrYLhFFfhJdq24MId4zsMN_S02YrrJe5llYQBsGP9qjRNAhKd5KUm4ZpWMxoWJdaWQhExDgI0NxP5OmMiFALp0Pv74OpGM0JTHQzBpmFC0Sl6c3fOCaN5/s1600-h/DSC07677.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295686868934184658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcw4Aak8gQkbGNeS8JJ7q_PXdQrYLhFFfhJdq24MId4zsMN_S02YrrJe5llYQBsGP9qjRNAhKd5KUm4ZpWMxoWJdaWQhExDgI0NxP5OmMiFALp0Pv74OpGM0JTHQzBpmFC0Sl6c3fOCaN5/s400/DSC07677.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>Looking down at the city:<br /><br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrjzJFzeJUZezt4nXOcOf4YamsJ_gR_682awQ5VqAwFIFZ2nccys_7t77VvVy_jBYdEWY27PQJAE4IaqGlvSWp2NZPWeYQanWALNCRK9JZ0ucXxBaUUVLkhxVne962hJkeIq2R7MIB-A5/s1600-h/DSC07667.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295686850913224594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrjzJFzeJUZezt4nXOcOf4YamsJ_gR_682awQ5VqAwFIFZ2nccys_7t77VvVy_jBYdEWY27PQJAE4IaqGlvSWp2NZPWeYQanWALNCRK9JZ0ucXxBaUUVLkhxVne962hJkeIq2R7MIB-A5/s400/DSC07667.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>And south, toward the Statue and the Empire State Building. The twin towers stood all the way down at the end, slightly to the right. You can see how bare the sky looks there now. Still hard to see it that way:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJz5coRlAO-stL6i4ttOl-q12NnDzIwL54J9fdLwYZnmDydnOSRK7Qgy_9pV_4Qzi3JtQ2ZiXwwQJWfZEduOpzH-xhibo-ffes-7McM_ikUw23WWYEZ_1gUK2m-Va_fZDsne-0S6G3njbX/s1600-h/DSC07664.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295685680202520306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJz5coRlAO-stL6i4ttOl-q12NnDzIwL54J9fdLwYZnmDydnOSRK7Qgy_9pV_4Qzi3JtQ2ZiXwwQJWfZEduOpzH-xhibo-ffes-7McM_ikUw23WWYEZ_1gUK2m-Va_fZDsne-0S6G3njbX/s400/DSC07664.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><div>Sigh. I love this city. I just adore it. I can't really explain it, but I love it like a person. Weird, I know...it just makes you feel <em>alive</em>. </div><div></div><div></div><div><br />Boy, did I need it this week!! Now, I'm recovering from 18 hours of sleep in four days. I'm off to take a nap. :)</div></div></div></div></div></div>

I'm baaaaack!!

Well hellooooo there! First of all, thanks for your sweet thoughts about my son! He's doing GREAT -- actually improved quite a bit with...

design for home

Rang Decor featured in Deccan Herald!

It's about that time

I'm baaaaack!!

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