Linda {Calling it Home} 7/31/13 Linda {Calling it Home} 7/31/13

Meet Nicole, My Flamingo Friend

What can I say....I love her! My blogging friend, Nicole @ Live Laugh Decorate is here today. She is one talented and funny lady. She has also been a help to me with Florida questions.....because she lives there. I will definitely be meeting her since she is on the way to Ikea. Although, I would go just to meet her.

This is probably the perfect example of her work. You can read about it here...it's gone a little viral.

I'm sure you know her....but if you don't, you would like her. So go check her out after you see what she has put together for us.

When Linda first told me she was moving to Florida, I jumped off my chair, did the hallelujah dance (mixed with some dancehall moves of course) and screamed to the heavens. A blogger bestie moving to your home state is kinda like hitting the lotto.

Linda was quite possibly the first blogger to EVER comment on our blog and to offer up advice and a warm welcome. She hasn't stopped since so I think you can say I kinda love her like cooked food.

To extend her a warm welcome, I'm here to enlighten her on our dearest state bird, the flamingo.

For her arrival next year, I'm pulling out all the stops. First, I've asked the Naples town council to line I-75 with pink flamingos. I've also asked the folks at the Hialeah Park Race Track (a place once filled with flamingos, and whose logo includes said birds) to invite her down for a flamingo inspired day at the races.

Well, okay, I don't really have that kind of pull, but I'll at least send them a suggestive Tweet or 10.

Until then, I think it's only fitting that she immediately suspend her love affair with all things chinoiserie (okay, maybe only temporarily) and embrace this amazing trend of weaving this state icon into her own design projects.

The Pink Pagoda

Believe me, it's a mandate for all local designers and we followed suit recently out of fear we would be face deportation to places like I don't know, New Jersey?

To get started, pink flamingos should be placed in every room as she stages her home for sale. I mean, what better way to remind folks who have to shovel snow, that you're moving to place sans snow?

Here are some spaces to get her motivated.

Contemporary Dining Room by Beverly Architects & Designers Siemasko + Verbridge

Yes, that Flamingo is facing the ocean. Who needs to eat at this fab dining table? He is ready for the beach in no uncertain terms.

Eclectic Decals

Prospective buyers who wish to use your powder room should be reminded of Florida with every flush.

via Pinterest

Reminded even more as they take a soak in this very pink and fabulous claw foot tub.

The Company Store

What? You feel the need to take a nap now and again? Well please do so with some flamingo on the brain. Sleep tight.

Via The Gilded Mint

Via Indie Girl Hair Ties

Tropical Entry by Other Metro Artists and Artisans Studio Arterie

Oh no! You weren't happy with all the flamingos? So sorry to hear that but please sit here on this lonely bench and let us cheer you up before you go.

Thanks so much for having me over Linda! Hope you've enjoyed my homage to the wonderful flamingo, a bird you'll be seeing a lot of in the next year.

Hope you're also getting some much needed rest this summer and packing, albeit ever so slowly.

Linda {Calling it Home} 7/30/13 Linda {Calling it Home} 7/30/13

I Wanted to Share This

I just watched this short TED Talk, and wanted to share it with all of you. To be completely honest, I emailed it to my daughter first and thought of you second.

My daughter has been playing tennis at a competitive tennis camp for the last three weeks. Yesterday, she told me a story about how she was playing poorly against a respectful competitor. She was about to lose on her own serve. Apparently that is a really bad thing. ....No lo sé.

She said to herself, "I didn't come to lose". That is a huge step for her....it has taken her three weeks to own this.

When I saw this video on body language and how people view us.....I though of her. In part, because one of the studies conducted was with a Professor at Berkeley.....her dream college.

You don't need to watch all of this to get the main point....but it is worth spending a few moments of your time.

And by the way, my daughter went on to win that game!

Linda {Calling it Home} 7/29/13 Linda {Calling it Home} 7/29/13

I Need to Start Over & A Winner

Does this ever happen to you? Rhetorical questions, I know....of course it does that's why we like each other!

You are just going about your nosy business of clicking around the blogisphere....and then BAM! Just like that, you are smacked in the face ....kinda like how Cher smacked Nicholas Cage in the movie Moonstuck. You see an image

What....what .....what is that? You think.....I must investigate further because I am in love. Not the school-girl kind of "I think he is cute and I hope he walks by my locker today" love. The "I think we could grow old together" love.

So you start clicking....feverishly....where is it....how do I find out more? That is exactly what happened to me when I saw this room on VT Interiors. Her post was titled "Just Perfect".

I am seriously in love with the raw natural wood on this round table, btw. I need to investigate that further (won't buy the RH one).

There was also this image on her blog

That was it, off I went to investigate more on this home....here ya go.

And just like that cute boy, the behind is as nice to look at as the front :).

All Images Courtesy of Markay Johnson Construction

So after seeing all of this, it makes me feel like.......I need to start over with all of my decorating. I can't have this conversation with my everyday friends, because they would be like...huh? And then they would say, "did you get the email about the Fundraising Bake Sale?" And I would be like...huh? And then I would have to say, "I don't bake for Fundraising Bake Sales". I like to bake, btw.....but Fundraising Bake Sales are for raising funds! I go to the bakery that makes the most amazing chocolate chocolate-chip cookies and donate about 3 dozen. Of course I take them out of the packaging and put them on a lovely plate, first.....and guess what, they always sell out. You're welcome school club that wanted to raise funds. And if this horrifies you, my neighbor taught me this trick. Now for the winner of my DIY Giveaway..... Congratulations Pam @ Simple Details! I know you will put all of this to good use.

Happy Monday!

Linda {Calling it Home} 7/26/13 Linda {Calling it Home} 7/26/13

Organized Sale?

Don't ask me why, but an organized home sale is getting me really excited. Shopping for beautiful storage and containers is my kind of eye candy.
Here are my favorites.....all on sale!

I just love the handle on these storage boxes. I think they would be great up high in a closet.

These long rectangular totes are perfect for my laundry room. I may also use one as a summer sandal & flip flop holder to fit inside a small closet.

My teen is in desperate need of this shower organizer. Her lotions and potions are all over the place.

Not to mention this waterproof device. Yes, she has tunes in the shower! Luckily, I don't mind her music.

I think these project containers will be great for organizing my things before we move.

But this may be my favorite part of the sale....OFFICE ORGANIZATION. I need this the most. I know it is not exciting, but I think the gray boxes will be perfect to hide all my uglies in the office.

Storage Boxes/ Rectangular Tote/ Shower Caddy/ Craft Storage/ Office Storage
I'm excited, this sale is just the push I need to get going. Back to school is right around the corner and I want to be organized. Do you have a system that works for your stuff? Do share. Don't forget to enter my giveaway. Have a great weekend....I'll miss you.

Linda {Calling it Home} 7/25/13 Linda {Calling it Home} 7/25/13

Meet Ingrid

I have a new friend for all of you to meet......unless you already know her....then you can just see your friend's new idea! This is Ingrid from the blog Now At Home Mom.

Ingrid is one crafty girl. Check out her craft room.

Can you believe how beautiful and organized this space is? How much creating could we do in this space....I definitely have craft room envy.

To see more of this room, go here. Welcome Ingrid!

Hi everyone, my name is Ingrid and I blog over at Now At Home Mom. I am very happy to be here with you; 'Calling It Home' readers sharing this small project. Linda has great taste when it comes to décor, I remember discovering her beautiful blog through the 'One Room Challenge' series and I was immediately impressed with how she was decorating her entrance. Thanks for having me over Linda. I love decorating my home with pretty things that make me happy. I also love making my home comfortable with simple DIY projects. Please let me share one of them with you: a centerpiece These are the supplies I used :

6 mason jars
a wood crate
burlap
twine
fresh flowers (or fakes ones if you prefer)
scissors
glue gun

I am never in short supply of these items. Okay ... maybe just the flowers:

Over a week ago, I was having two of my best friends over for lunch and I needed a centerpiece. I thought of just adding flowers to some mason jars but what's the fun in that? So ... I remembered admiring some projects on different blogs and how nicely they decorated them. I always have burlap and twine around so I gave it a go and added my personal touch to them. I started by wrapping the burlap around the mason jar to cut it to size:

once cut, I wrapped it around:

I then glued it. At first, I tried securing the burlap with safety pins but it didn't work, it just kept unwrapping. This is when I had to take my trusted friend out: my glue gun

I then removed the excess burlap with scissors:

I used freshly cut flowers from my front yard, added twine around the top of the mason jar but something was missing

for inspiration, I went through my craft supplies and found pink twine. It was a good idea and loved how lovely the pink twine popped against the burlap:

I didn't build this crate, but what a great DIY project that would've been. I already had it and got it on sale from Home Sense weeks ago. I love this crate because I can use it in my kitchen or living room when needed:

See how pretty these mason jars turned out, just by adding twine around and a pretty flower to each one of them softens the burlap. I didn't work too hard at putting this centerpiece together but my friends loved it, they said the pink twine is so me. I was glad they liked them and that we had a great time:

I left the mason jars inside the crate untouched on top of my pantry, except for the flowers of course so I can use this centerpiece again very soon. After all, summer is relaxing and is all about keeping things simple, isn't it ?

I would love it if you stop by and say hi over at Now At Home Mom anytime! Thank you very much Linda for having me over at your lovely blog today

Linda {Calling it Home} 7/23/13 Linda {Calling it Home} 7/23/13

On The Patio....Not Mine

Can you believe that summer is more than half over? Well, maybe not officially but if you have kids is school sports....there isn't a lot of time before all the 'crazy' starts again.

Since it was raining yesterday, I was trying to have a relaxing view on the patio.....not mine. Here are some of my favorite outdoor rooms.