Decorating Dilemma

So we are getting our new sofa today! I'm excited, but I am going to have to redecorate {oh darn!} the living room a bit to make it fit in. In the past I've just worked with earthtones (and didn't really do much decorating to speak of).

Ignore the bad lighting, pillows and pups on floor, and the huge blank wall.  So just look away entirely.



Well today this bad boy is moving in.

I've never done anything with red before, I've kind of been afraid. I'm thinking that I'll use alot of neutrals so the couch can be the focal point. I'm a big fan of gray right now, but I'm not sure if it would clash with the dark wood? Being renters we can't really paint (we could, but it'd be more of a hassle when we move, which happens often) and we have a huge open ceiling. That big blank wall is actually 14+ feet high.

Any thoughts? I know some of you are fabulous decorators, you even have credentials!

In other news, I am sick of this cold weather. We actually have sunflower sprouts already, but I'm afraid that if it doesn't warm up soon they will kick the bucket. I'm just ready to get my hands in the earth and create life!

So send me your ideas, links, thoughts, anything! I need some guidance!

Until next time,

Barbie

PS - If you are anyone you know is looking for a sofa we have our old one for sale ;)

What a great way to start a Monday!

So I know I've shared Tatertots & Jello with you before. Jen has great giveaways all the time and today she posted a Jo Totes giveaway! SQUEEE!!

Remember that I've had my eye on this gal for a long time!

So you know I've entered and I'm crossing my fingers {and everything else that can be crossed!}

How about you head over and enter as well?

Late Luck.

I'm usually not a big holiday person, other than Christmas, but I had so much fun with St. Patrick's Day this year. I'm surprised I haven't gotten into the spirit sooner with all the awesome green you can have fun with. It just makes it more fun to share with a four year old I suppose, makes everything magical again :)

It took most of the day to get Sweetpea to say the "Saint" of St. Patrick's Day. For a while she was just saying "Patrick's Day".


This guy immediately pops into my head.

I tried to make the festivities last throughout the day, but not so much to overload her (or me).

Headband - Dollar section at Target
Shirt - Hand me down ♥
Freckles - brown eyeliner pencil

My lucky shoes came from my latest clothing swap!

My little leprechaun delivered some "gold" to a couple neighbors.

Then she enjoyed a leprechaun lunch. I was inspired by this.

After a delish dinner of corned beef and cabbage (I always forget to take pics of food, we are so eager to chow down!) we made a special dessert.

I know the clovers should have had four leaves, but the heart cookies were too fat.

I got the idea to use the Airhead Extremes candy from here (hers is much cuter!)

I prefer Rolos to chocolate coins any day!



Who knew St. Patty's Day could be so fun without a single beer involved?!

Until next time,

Barbie

Cutest little buttons ever! Plus $40 giveaway!

 I follow soooo many blogs, and they all fall into one (or many) of the following categories:

Being a mom. Crafting. Decorating. Looking good.

One of my favorite blogs to follow is Tatertots & Jello.

 

 As you can derive from the title, it's a blog written by a mama who is fabulous! She always has the cutest crafts featured and spotlights some amazing crafters.

This week she is highlighting the work of a gal named Elizabeth. She has an Etsy store named Buttons and Badges with the most adorable little buttons I've ever seen. Seriously. A lot of times I'll look through an Etsy store and like some of the items, but I absolutely love every single thing she has up right now. Check it out:

 

That is just a taste of Buttons and Badges. Go check it out for yourself and if you feel so inclined let me know which is your fave! I honestly can't pick. 

There are sooo many possibilities as to what you could create with these babies. My first thought is that they would be super cute on hair accessories, especially little girl bows that some of you moms are so talented at making! They would also be great for card making or even specimen art. They just make me happy to look at them.

Coolest part: If you head over to Tatertots and Jello you can enter to win $40 to Buttons and Badges! You know I've entered, and I'll be stoked if I win! You only have until Monday (I'm late, I know) so hurry over and enter!!

^ ^ Enter Here! ^^





Even if I don't win the giveaway I'm sure I'll get some pretties :)

Hope you enjoy!

-Barbie



Day 15: A photo of you and a family member.

My sister and I taking a break/photo op at the Washington Monument when she visited last spring.



Catch-up and Mustard.

It's a rainy, dreary day here in Maryland so I figured it's a great time to stop the blogging procrastination. I'm wayyy behind on the challenge, so I need to catch up. Instead of doing all 18 photos that I need to do at once I'll just do three or four a day until I'm caught up. Yep, even when playing catch up I still know how to procrastinate. It's a skill I've spent years honing...

Day 11: A photo of a night you loved.



This is a photo from a night out in downtown Omaha last summer. My friend Mary and I had a great time eating Persian food, hitting up Big Brain for my nose piercing, and ending the night with cheap drinks.



Day 12: A photo of when you were happy.



July 20th, 2005



Day 13: A photo of one of your favorite movies.

So it's kind of a guilty pleasure, but I love Burlesque. I generally love all song and dance oriented flicks, but I just really love the aesthetic of Burlesque. Julianne Hough is my idol, I would love to look sexy and dance for living. (okay, that sounds bad. I only mean that to be a professional dancer would be awesome!) Plus, how can't you love Xtina's pipes?
If you haven't seen it yet you are welcome to my living room. Hubby bought it for me as a surprise!!

Day 14: A photo of your best friend (s).

Mary is my "back home" BFF. Since moving to the east coast I've made loads of wonderful friends, but Mary is a constant. We don't chat as often as I'd like, and we live very different lives, but I will always love her. Now, if she'd only come visit me.....*cough*

 
Now, completely off topic, but I have been infiltrated by the Mustard bug. I can't get enough of the color, anytime I'm out spending my husband's money  shopping, my eye is immediately drawn to anything with the lovely, springy yellow. I was in Target the other day and saw these. Lovely if you have a rich skin tone, but I'm pretty sure it would be butt ugly on my pale bod. So as much as I love the color, I'm learning that it doesn't make everything better, just most things haha.
 
That being said, if you are looking for a gift for me my fave color right now is still mustard, followed by my long time fave of green. Just putting it out there....;)
 
I am very ready for spring, especially to garden! This Saturday, March 12th is Plant a Flower Day! Sweetpea and I (and maybe Hubby, if he feels so inclined) will be planting Mammoth Sunflower seeds.
 

 



Hubby is 6'3", hence the "Mammoth" title.



 The "gardeners" in our neighborhood tend to pull all our sunflower sprouts but one each year, this year I'm determined to have them all survive! Sunflowers are really easy to grow, just find a spot with lots of sun (duh). They are a great choice for kiddos because of the low maintenance, and the large seed size is a good physical thing for them to see (other small seeds don't really look like much to them). Plus the bigger varieties are fun to take pictures with :)

Will you plant a flower this Saturday? Send me pics!

Until next time -

Barbie

Sweet Dreams.

Sleep is my chocolate.

I have cravings for it that I can't resist.

Even though research has shown it's good for you, I still feel guilty having it during the day.

No matter how much I have I always want more.