Suzy's House Party - What's going on?

Have you missed my House Party the last few weeks?  I have really missed hosting the party.

Unfortunately, I think I have to give up the party for a little while.  I  know we are all busy, but for some reason right now I feel like I'm not doing a good job handling everything.  I've been laying in bed awake all night feeling like I have a huge weight on my chest.  I think it's stress.  The stress is from doing a million things and not doing any of them well right now.  Being somewhat of a perfectionist, it's hard for me to handle when I don't do things as well as I should.  These things include being a wife, mother, friend, daughter, sister, blogger, attorney, DIY-er, volunteer...etc.  I know you all do all of these things and more too!

Something has to give.  I obviously can't, and more importantly don't want, to stop being a mother and wife.  I also like my "real" job and blogging.  Hosting the party was lower down on my list of priorities, so it's the thing that has to go.

This has become our family motto recently:

I say this to my kids a lot, especially when they conquer or achieve something they didn't think they could do.  Rather than this being a venting post about my hard, busy life, I need to remind myself that I know we can all do hard things.  We're faced with them everyday, but by perservering and continuing to try, we can overcome in the end.

Here are a few other inspirational favorites:

Happy Friday friends!!!

K's Room Inspiration

Remember:  I'm hosting my first linky party on Thursday.  I'm looking forward to seeing what you have been working on.  Please join the party on Thursday.

I can't show you any pictures of my house right now because it is in complete chaos.  I have a bunch of half-finished projects plus I've been having so much fun hanging out with the kids, that cleaning has definitely taken a back seat this summer.

So, instead of showing you anything in my house, I will show you some pretty pictures that serve as the inspiration for K's room.  She wants it to be blue and green and we already have the desk:

Without further ado, here's some blue and green inspiration:

Source: s1177.photobucket.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

These canvasses would be an easy DIY-project.

Here's another project I could  do, my 9-year old could probably help make it too:

Source: bhg.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

More chevron love:

Source: shopten25.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

I have always wanted to attempt an upholstered headboard.  How about this one?

Source: sarahrichardsondesign.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

My daughter likes all of the pattern here:

Source: housetohome.co.uk via Suzanne on Pinterest

I prefer the more subtle and am dying over the striped curtains:

Source: decorpad.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

This just looks so crisp and clean to me:

Source: desiretodecorate.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Source: decorpad.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Source: vivafullhouse.blogspot.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

After revisiting all of these photos, I think I'm in love with this color scheme: blue, green, and white.  How about you?

Weekend In Review

So yesterday was my anniversary. TWELVE years!?!?! Let's travel down memory lane, shall we? We got married in Aspen, Colorado and spent our honeymoon in Kauai. Two beautiful and inspirational places.

Source: facebook.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Here's where we got married. The Aspen Chapel:

We had our amazing reception at the historic Hotel Jerome. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Here's where we stayed on our honeymoon. The Grand Hyatt:

Source: destination360.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

What does this have to do with design? Actually, not a whole lot. But, these are inspirational places for me. While I'm not a big fan of the rustic, mountain look embodied by Aspen, nor do I have an Aspen-type budget, I love to spend time in Aspen and the mountains. I always leave feeling refreshed and energized.

Here's some art we purchased on our honeymoon. It's pictures of traditional Hawaiian quilt designs. These have been residing under my bed for the last few years. I just pulled them out to go along with the new shower curtain in the kid's bathroom.





Now, I can gaze at this art and be reminded of Hawaii. So, I know you probably can't jump on a plane to go buy art, so I've searched high and low on etsy for some pieces for you dear reader. Wait, do I even have any readers???

Ahhhhh, the beach. How I LOVE the beach. Here's some super-cute beachy decor for you, curtesy of etsy. I don't generally love a "theme" room, say a whole bathroom with shells, beach pics, sand on the floor, and the like. But, I do think this art is beautiful as long as it is not overdone.

These crabs remind me of my husband's Maryland roots and the crab boils he loves:

Source: etsy.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

How cool is this coral? It's printed on a vintage book page:

Source: etsy.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Blue, my favorite color:

Source: etsy.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

This would be cute in a kid's room:

Source: etsy.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Click on the links below the pics to be directed to the etsy sellers of these pieces. Check out their other work too. I bet you'll find something you like.

What romantic gift did my sweet husband give me for our anniversary? Jewelry? Chocolate? Perfume? Roses? Nope. Wood floors!!!! and I could not be more excited! I'm definitely saving him forever, and he doesn't even need a makeover!

Are there any places that inspire you? Do you have memoribilia around your home from special trips you have taken?

L'Inspiration Part Deux

I love when I get to use my hard-earned French major! Yesterday we talked about Pinterest. Looking at pictures of rooms is a great way to focus on what you like and to define your style.

Another place I find inspiration is in fabric. When I saw this fabric:

Source: fabric.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

I knew I had to have it in my home. I just didn't know where or what to do with it. No problem. I quickly ordered 2 yards and some coordinating fabric. I had no idea how much 2 yards could cover. That would take complicated math equations that only my 3rd-grader could calculate. Well, it was A LOT of fabric (oh, and I didn't know how to sew either!). I saw...I liked...I bought. We'll figure out what to do with it later! So, I pretty much ended up redesigning my whole living room and kitchen around this fabric.

I pulled out the trusty old sewing machine and figured out how to sew a valance for above my kitchen window. Finally replacing the burgundy and gold tasseled horror that was there before.

I recovered my piano bench, again replacing a blah burgundy and cream fabric. All it took was a staple gun. I also transformed the bench with some white spray paint. Should I try to repaint the piano? I'm a little scared to try.

I picked coordinating colors out of the inspiration fabric and ordered fabric in those colors and sewed some throw pillows. I just found some sewing tutorials on-line and figured it out. So easy!

Source: fabric.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Source: fabric.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Eh, voila! A bright, fresh living room.

Here are some other fabrics I like that could provide inspiration for other rooms:

Source: fabric.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Source: fabric.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Source: fabric.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Source: fabric.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

Source: fabric.com via Suzanne on Pinterest

I know. This is kind of a crazy combo of fabrics. I would not use them all together. I'm just giving you some ideas!

I've found that fabric.com is the best place to shop for fabrics. www.fabric.com They have tons of home decor designer fabrics at a discount. Shipping is free if you spend over $35 and they have a generous return policy.

Happy fabric shopping! Au revoir...a demain.

Where I go for inspiration...

PINTEREST! Have you been there? If not, go now! Oh, wait, you need an invitation. Just email me and I would be happy to invite you.

What is Pinterest? Not only is it the most amazing collection of photos on the web, but it also allows you to organize and "pin" photos you like onto different boards. For example, here are some pics I've been pinning onto my inspiration board for the Master Bedroom Redo:

Source: thehandmadehome.net via Suzanne on Pinterest

Source: thehandmadehome.net via Suzanne on Pinterest

Source: thehandmadehome.net via Suzanne on Pinterest

Can you tell what my new favorite color is? It's called Plumage by Martha Stewart. I just got a gallon and will be painting an accent wall in my bedroom. Stay tuned for a final reveal (probably not anytime soon!).

Now, hop on over to PINTEREST and get yourself some inspiration! http://www.pinterest.com