Interior Designs

I love decorating. Even when I was younger, a favorite game was to re-arrange furniture in my bedroom or our playroom/study. I still get a kick out of making small changes in our apartment that pack a punch without spending a lot of $$$. Recently, Patrick has even gotten into helping out and his suggestion for a furniture rearrangement in our living room (also my office space), has made a huge difference in the space!

I am constantly perusing home stores (ZGallerie, Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Ballard Designs, just to name a few of my favs!), but I also like to play a little game--call it the grown-up version of my childhood rearrangements--where I pick out a specific item and design a room around it (digitally, of course). The pièce de résistance is usually a piece that's on sale or something I wouldn't normally choose for myself -- this makes it more fun and challenging to work with!

This week's piece was a warm,  earthy/floral-patterned duvet set on sale at Target:

I liked the warm colors and the pattern (I have a hard time saying no to florals!), and the price made it a worthwhile pick ($99 for the Queen). Also, because our bedroom is currently in a palette cool blues, I wanted to play around with a color set of an entirely different focus.

And here's what I came up with:

 The linen nail-trim headboard is something I've been dreaming of for a while. A DIY project available  several places online (most notably: http://isabellaandmaxrooms.blogspot.com/2010/06/progress-on-headboard-meets-upholstered.html), I'm looking forward to actually accomplishing this one someday as the in-store equivalents range from $800 to $3000!

The side tables, leather storage bench, rug and purple throw pillows are all Target finds (I've been eyeing the plum pillows for a while as well as you'll see from my Wishlist to the right!). I love the shape and color of the orange bedside lamps -- a pop of color that I wouldn't normally be drawn to, but it seems to fit with this scheme. The other accessories (wood-carved owl set, framed botanical prints, random stack of books) were all Google Images finds. I love vintage botanical prints and hope I can find a place for some in my future home.....You know, the one I'm always daydreaming about? :)

And that's my happy thought for Monday!

In the Kitchen

My New Year's resolution to be on-the-ball about meal planning and healthful cooking has been working out so far! Here was last week's "Meatless Monday" recipe...

This (90%) meatless soup was delicious, and made enough for dinner and 2 full lunches! 

Cheese Tortellini & Tuscan Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:
- 1 (14.5 oz) Can of Diced Tomatoes with Garlic & Onion (undrained)
- 1 (11.5 oz) Can Condensed Bean with Bacon Soup* (undiluted)
- 4 Cups Water
- 1 (16 ounce) Bag of Frozen Italian Style Veggies *

- 3/4 Teaspoon Dried Italian Seasoning
- 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 1/2 (9 ounce) Package of Fresh Cheese Tortellini
- 1/4 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

I also tossed in a bunch of fresh spinach just before serving for some added greenery, and served the soup with spinach salad.

 Directions:
1.  Combine the first 6 ingredients in a 4 quart saucepan.  Cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
2.  Add the tortellini, reduce heat to medium  Continue cooking for around 7 minutes or until pasta and veggies are tender.
3.  Stir in the grated cheese.

*Okay, so this makes the recipe not totally meatless.... but it's such a teeny amount, I'm pretending it doesn't count.

Epiphany

Welcome to a new year (and a new blog design)!

2010 flew by, but I was more ready for 2011 than I expected. Ready for a clean slate, fresh start.... even though it's all really just a mental thing. We see January 1st as the start of something new because the calendar says so. Because that is the arbitrary date set for the beginning of a new calendar year. In truth, every day is a new day, a chance to be better than the last. Every Sunday the start to a new week, inspired and encouraged by Sabbath worship. That is my number one resolution for this new year: to live in each day with full awareness of the present, complete attention to giving my best effort, and acknowledgment of God's grace that has given me the chance to enjoy life in His creation for yet another day. If you're really interested, you can read my Proviso for a New Year's Revolution.

If not, here are my less-revolutionary New Year's resolutions:

1.     Paint more regularly (it's been rather sporadic since 2008)--and complete the paintings I start.

2.     Exercise more often and attain a healthy weight (what this will be I'm not quite sure... I think I'll know it when I see it) 

3.     *Keep House... better and with a joyful spirit
*This covers a variety of concepts, including but not limited to cooking, cleaning, organizing, decorating and maintaining a general environment of comfort and joy.

4.     Cook meals that are both healthy and delicious (this includes weekly meal planning to avoid last-minute restaurant meals and as well as consideration of nutritional value)!

5.   Pursue contentment, peace and gratitude in any given predicament: job, location and general life situation.

6. Be more proactive in all of my relationships -- near and far.

What are your goals for this new year?

Currently Listening:
Sleeping at Last, January EP