Tag: blogger

Martha Stewart – Here I come!

I am a trained Interior Designer but have not practiced in a while!   Recently…. My daughter told me she never liked the lime green that I had painted her walls when she was 5!  LOL!   I tried so hard not to decorate a room in traditional pinks and purple “girl” colors when she was little…. I chose a great palate with lime green and raspberry  that was fun and youthful, not too little girly that would transition into teens and I do feel like I did that effectively.

Now she’s 17 and about to go off to college and we are re-doing her room for Christmas into a more “mature” palate.   Why, you ask, would I re-decorate her room before she leaves us in 6 months?  Well, first of all, I’m ready for a change but secondly, I want her to enjoy it for a while and own it …. I want it to feel like “hers” before she leaves so she can enjoy it as “hers” when she comes back!

I’ll post some before and after shots but the “before” will depend on when she doesn’t have clothes strewn all over the room and on the floor (remember, she is still a teenager)

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The “green/blue” lattice and solid will be in the adjacent bath and her room will be a soft gray paint from Benjamin Moore #harbourgray with a geometric print on the window and different scale prints for pillows and accent trim.

With today’s more gray palates being more “in style” it’s hard to transition the “golds” into the gray palates but with some fabrics, I think we can effectively do just that!

Stay tuned for some before and after shots!  It may take a month but I’ll get there!

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What room in your house do you want to re-do?   Some people don’t place a lot of emphasis on this sort of thing but I think our interior has so much to do with our mood and our energy!  We need to get energy out of a space…  whether we want calm or energizing,  bright and bold or muted and serene.    What’s your ideal space look like?  Clean and simple, colorful, neutral, or do you have a favorite color that really makes you feel good?

Summer Legs!

 

It’s ALMOST summer… and if your legs are as white as mine… you may be a little concerned with wearing skirts and NOT looking “glow in the dark”.  I don’t have a lot of time to “sunbathe” nor do I want to ruin my skin anymore…   I will sometimes use self tanner if I think about it in time…. but most of the time, I’m in my closet deciding what to wear and I may avoid the skirt if my legs look like the one on the right! 🙂

I just found the BEST product that can instantly give color to your legs or other body parts!   My arms and chest seem to get color from walking or gardening outside but my legs are another story!  🙂

Found this product at Sephora and I will definitely buy it again!   Look what it did to my legs in just 5 minutes!   So much better!!!   I guess I better buy some before you guys sell it out! 🙂   ENJOY!

Theda

 

 

Summer Travel

Summer Travel

I love summer!  Love the thought of Summer Travel too!   Whether you are doing day trips to the beach…. drivable or flyable weekend trips….. or week long vacations!  YOU need to be ready to go at a moment’s notice!
Here are my TOP 10 Travel Tips!
1.  Keep all your cosmetics in a travel bag all the time!   Saves time when on the go!
2.  Keep a travel size shampoo, conditioner, and razor in your travel bag (not good to forget that razor and sometimes hotel shampoo is not the best)
3.  Don’t forget that sweater or wrap for chilly nights!
4.  Work around a color scheme that you can wear the same shoes with.  Summer is easier than winter…. I love neutral sandals, wedges and heels!
5.  Pack a small drawstring bag for carrying water or necessities on walks and hikes or for throwing your bathing suit in for going to the spa!
6.  Jewelry storage a MUST!    Love my organizer from Pursen!  Lots of pockets… lots of options!
6.  Always keep a protein bar or two in your handbag for traveling to stave off hunger in a pinch to keep you from eating something unhealthy!
7.  Don’t forget your exercise clothes!   You may not get to it but you want to have options! And… it’s summer…. we want to look good by the pool!
8.  Since it’s summer… don’t forget that hat and sunscreen!   There are some GREAT packable sun hats or just use a cute ball cap!
9.  Bring a small handbag!   I know you may need your large one for stuffing everything in the sun into… but I love bringing one small handbag for going to dinner and not feeling like I’m carrying a suitcase 🙂     There’s lots of cute ones.. happen to LOVE my new Tory Burch  Robinson chain Wallet I got for Christmas! It can function like a wallet, something to put your phone into, it can become a clutch and a shoulder bag.   Pieces like this are functional… they can BE your wallet and your purse.. so tuck this baby in your large handbag and GO!
10.  That’s it!   Felt like I needed to have a top 10 …. so here’s 10!  Go plan some summer trips!

I SEE You! :)

I SEE You! 🙂

Okay.. .this is not about eyes but EYEBROWS!   They are necessary!  I am kind of blonde….. so my eyebrows are pretty thin and light…. check out the photo above!   Which Eyebrow looks better and makes my eyes stand out more?
( waiting )
I’m not telling but you can guess below!    I used a product I got at Sephora that I love!  It’s like a mascara brush for your eyebrows!   Not only does it enhance the natural color but it tames them with a gel!   It’s like double duty for your eyebrows!   Have you ever tried a product like this or this one?  Tell me about it!  Let’s share the best eybrow products you’ve tried!

Spring Trends!

Fashion Trends for Spring!

FASHION TRENDS FOR SPRING

Some trends are worth trying toupdate your wardrobe withoutchanging your wardrobe!
Personally… I love updating with accessories!  They are easy,  they always fit, and they give your existing wardrobe a lift!   Don’t get me wrong, I love shopping for clothes too but I tend to be more “safe” in my fashion choices… while updating with accessories!
Here’s a few for Spring according to Glamour Magazine!
1.  Round Glasses – Now personally… not sure they will look good on my face… so I may pass on this trend unless I happen to try some on I like….
2.  Open back flat Mules – Doable!   Fairly comforable… not particularly easy to walk in but cute!  I’ll try this one!
3.  Tassels!   I love this trend! You’ll find it on hand bags, belts and jewelry!  (probably more too)   I’ve been wearing some tassels for the past year.  The jewelry designer I work with, Sara Blaine, from  esbe Designs Jewelry introduced tassels last year and we have added more!   She is truly a visionary when it comes to accessories!
Here are a few of my favorites!   Add them to your wardrobe at ANY price point!  If you’d like to check them out… go to my Virtual Catalog and then shop my website or message me!  I’d love to help you shop trends for less!

Surprise Party!

SWEET 16!

My daughter turned 16 last week… and we had already agreed not to have a “Sweet 16” party in the modern sense…. inviting 50 or more kids or something like that.   My daughter wanted something more intimate with some close friends…. but I definitely wanted it to feel special for her.
I find it funny how different boys and girls are too!  My son was totally peplexed by even THIS amount of work to make her 16th birthday special…. as he doesn’t want a party at all…. but then again… he’s almost 18!  🙂
Anyway… I was excited to pull of some fun surprises to make her 16th special.
First… a Surprise Sleepover with close friends….. The girls totally loved being part of the surprise!
Second… Disco lights, fun music with  a club-like theme in the basement complete with CANDY BAR and snacks!
Third… A “photo booth” type set up where the girls could take fun photos of themselves all night!

 

I was told that the HIT of the party was the Candy Bar!   In this sugar averse culture we live in… and trust me… we don’t eat much sugar around here…. THIS was definitely a treat! And of course… it is called SWEET 16 for some reason, right?   Sweedish Fish seemed to be the big hit… just saying.

 

I pulled this surpise off in just a week….. so I went to Oriental Trading Comlpany and ordered the Photo Booth essentials….. mustashes and lips on sticks… “frames” and the little white board bubbles to write captions on…. the girls had fun!  I pulled out some accessories from my costume box such as boas and fun sunglasses and hats and they just took selfies all night!    One friend had a selfie stick…. I think that would have been a good gift for the Birthday Girl too but I didn’t think of that one! 😉    I did take a few of the photos the “old fashioned” way with me taking the photo!
Anyway…. It was a fun filled evening…. Pretty simple to pull off and tons of fun!   I do believe it will be a birtday to remember and THAT is the best thing a Mom can do!
Good luck with your party planning!   Post other fun ideas you’ve tried or wanted to!  I’d love to hear
what you have done!
Theda

MOM Rocks!

It’s almost Mother’s day!   Have you thought about what to get her this year?  Think about a special piece of Jewelry you own…. whether a wedding band or a necklace from your grandmother…. a special piece of jewelry elicits thoughts  of the person who gave it to you every time you put it on!

Sure, gift cards are easy… but investing  just a few minutes to select something special you know she’ll love will be treasured for a lifetime!  Check out this 2 minute video for some ideas!

 

 

 

Salads taste better when someone else makes them!

SALADS!

I’m not sure why salads taste better when someone else makes them… but they do.    In my never ending quest to eat healthy with variety….. I think this will be my NEW staple side dish!  So simple and delicious!  Wait for it….. Tomato Cucumber salad!
Yep… pretty simple and easy to keep these ingredients in the fridge all summer long!  Whether you get them from the store, farmstand or your own garden… this is simply delicious! If you are a salsa connoisseur you’ll also love this fresh salad!  Add some cilantro and you pretty much have salsa or pico de gallo!
2 chopped Tomatoes
1 cucumber peeled and diced
Red onion to taste
1 TBS lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
I was looking for a non-mayo based salad that was healthy and yummy and stumbled upon this simple treasure!    It’s only 31 calories a serving.  A serving is 1/4 of the recipe!    There’s no carbs… no fat…. it’s a winner!
The ONLY downside is if you don’t like tomatos or cucumbers… but it’s going to be my summer staple for sure!   Enjoy!

The Jewelry Box

The Jewelry Box

This will be my 2nd Mother’s day without my mom…. and I miss her terribly.   As a mom myself, there’s such a joy in getting a thoughtful card, a thoughtful gift and simply being treated special on Mother’s Day!
After all…. Mom’s sacrifice quite a lot to have these babies… bodies that don’t quite go back the way they were…. sleepless nights… doing things for their kids instead of themselves… It’s truly a selfless job!
If you have a few minutes, you may appreciate this video link below!
TOUGHEST JOB in the WORLD
Anyway… when my mother passed away, and we were sorting thru her things, ONE of the things that I really loved keeping was her jewelry.   I could not and didn’t want to wear her clothes or her shoes….sometimes keeping large bulky things like furniture is a problem.. but wearing something like a ring or necklace that my mom wore is special.   It’s something that fits just about everyone.
Keeping “the good stuff” was also in consideration… minus a few costume things that were memorable.    I have to say that these nicer pieces became valuable to me…. and they don’t take up a lot of storage.
Don’t discount the quality jewelry gift to your mom…. or how it will come back to you one day.    There are many memories to be passed down that while will be in a jewelry box and worn occasionally or everyday… WONT be in a box in the attic to only be looked at every 5 years or less.
I know you know I sell designer jewelry… but I had to tell you about my own personal experience… that I loved going thru my mom’s jewelry box and keeping special treasures that she wore or I had given her or made her over the years.   What a gift!
www.esbedesigns.com/theda

Yes! I’m a “Dance Mom”

YES!  I’M A “DANCE MOM”

This kid inspires me!   So yes…. I’m a dance mom!   But if “Dance Mom” means I love watching my dancer dance, compete, work hard for a goal, and hopefully succeed while consoling the failures… then Yes…. I’m guilty!  Whether we are a dance mom or a soccer mom or anything in between, if we as parents support our kid’s passion… then we are doing a fabulous thing!

So lucky I can take my work on the road with me as we travel for her passion….. and it prompted me to share some crazy travel tips for any parent living out of a hotel room on the weekend!

So here’s my “office on the go” and here’s the Kitchen!   I always bring little oatmeals with me…. fill up a cup of hot water from the in room coffee pot (Don’t forget the plastic spoon- I have and it’s a pain)
Something simple like this is GREAT when you don’t want to spend the time getting food in the early AM when you have to get out and about early.   Not only does it save about $20 on room service, but it is very convenient!   Just had to share my tip!  Enjoy this when you travel with your kids or for a weekend… or as you plan summer travel!
Enjoy your day!