home exterior: August 2010

Setting a beautiful table

The ugly truth is that I don't usually set a pretty table unless I have company coming over but I really do love getting creative with it when I do!
Sometimes I keep it really simple so you notice things like a pretty tablecloth or the beautiful flowers.
When I'm serving seafood, I like to have a beach theme table!

A dinner in the garden with lots of lace! Who says you have to use plastic and

Grocery Store Design of Bristo Farms, a Department Store with Desert Style

A department store is a public place for shopping every thing, gifts, kitchen set and housewares, etc. The design of the store usually designed in a common design such as another shop interior design, I think that Bristo Farms store is different with another shop design, with a Dessert Style, this grocery store is designed with coloring theme like a dessert with warm color. The entrance door is designed such as a Mediterranean home design, but the interior design was different, the floor plans and the colors are beautiful, The first thing you DON'T see when you walk in is the check-out cashiers. In fact, they're nearly hidden off to the right side. It's NOT the typical warehouse look with several long isles of produce stacked on shelves.

It is a beautifully decorated and intricate amalgamation of sections and islands. Each department is it's own microcosm of allure and fascination.

The deli has a freshly baked pizza section where you can buy it by-the-slice or carry out whole, and next to that is a hand-carved meat sandwich bar. And it's all conveniently located next to the cafe, which offers even more choices of prepared foods. The cafe is just to the left of the deli area, but I couldn't get a picture because there were too many people in the way!

Even the cheese section is carefully thought out with presentation in mind. I don't know why, but I've always had a fascination with those big cheese wheels. The interiors are designed specially for each section. Just visit desertsociety to get more information about the Bristo Famrs.

Show and Tell Friday

Happy Show and Tell Friday! Today I'm sharing some of my plates that I have hanging all along the ceiling of my kitchen. It took me awhile to collect enough of these to go all the way around. In addition to the traditional transferware plates, I also have some souvenir plates. I think I found both of these on eBay a few years ago. One is from Boston and the other shows different covered

A little update

I've been MIA here on my blog quite a bit this summer and I've been giving it a lot of thought lately. My life has changed a lot in 2010 and it's all been really good except for the fact that I've been neglecting my blog!

I've had more fun in these 8 months of 2010 than I've had in the past five years! I've started doing more things with my girlfriends, working out and trying the online

Seashell Wreath Giveaway!

I'm giving away my seashell wreath that I made! If you would like a chance to win, please leave a comment below before Friday, August 27 at midnight Pacific Time. This is open to U.S. and Canadian residents only due to shipping costs. If you do not have a blog, please be sure to include your email address so I have a way to contact you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Online dating update: My 2nd date with Mr.

Show and Tell Friday

It's Show and Tell Friday again! I've been really busy so I sort of took a little blogging break this week!
I have good news on the online dating thing. I finally have a second date with someone that I really liked (the guy on the white horse for those of you following along on Facebook). It's been almost a month since our first date and I had given up on him and then out-of-the-blue got a

Beautiful Handmade Soaps for me and you!

One of my blog readers, Dalene, sent me these gorgeous soaps that she makes!The detail on them is just amazing!
She sent me so many so I'm going to share with one of you!
Please leave a comment before Saturday, August 21st a midnight if you would like to be entered to win! I will choose a winner this Sunday, August 22nd! This is for U.S. and Canada residents only because of shipping costs.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Construction & Demolition Materials

If you are planning a construction or remodeling project, there are a number of things you can do before you start:

     1. Contact your local builder's association, your county solid waste department, or your state environmental agency. They will provide information on recyclers and waste haulers in your area.

     2. Consider whether deconstruction techniques can be used to prepare your site for renovation or construction. In some communities, deconstruction auctions are being effectively used to move building materials into the reuse market.

     3. Check with local salvagers before purchasing new products. You might be surprised to find that many of them offer cabinets, doors, windows, and flooring that are in good condition for greatly reduced prices.

     4. Reuse, and Recycling of Demolition Waste (PDF). This document can assist users in determining the most feasible methods for reducing C&D debris being disposed of in landfills.

     5. Donate the C&D materials that you are not planning to use to a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity.

6. Consult the Field Guide for Residential Remodelers. This field guide prepared by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center provides remodelers with information on cost-effective and voluntary construction waste management. The Remodeler's Field Guide addresses the unique aspects of remodeling, including differences in waste generation and site and work characteristics.

Introduction (PDF)

Remodeler's Field Guide (PDF)

7. To reduce lead hazards check EPA resources on Remodeling or Renovating a Home with Lead-Based Paint.

Source: www.epa.gov

BlogHer $100 Question

Would you like a chance to win $100? If so, hop on over to BlogHer and answer my question! Click here to enter!

(Scroll down below for Show and Tell Friday!)

Show and Tell Friday!

Welcome to another Show and Tell Friday! I'm sharing my dining room chandelier today. I bought this at a garage sale a few years ago for about $25 or $30 dollars. I had to rewire it but it was worth it!It's not a really old one, I think it's from the 1970s.

During the holidays I enjoy decorating it with greenery...

If you are joining in on Show and Tell Friday, please remember that your Show

My Camera

I often get asked what type of camera I use so since it's been awhile since I blogged about it I thought I would share this info again. I have a Canon Rebel XSi. I bought mine online through QVC so I could spread the payments out over 4 months. I've had mine a few years now and have used it so much and I'm still thrilled with the quality of the photos! It was well worth the money I spent on

Fruit Tart & Happy Birthday Dad!

I'm reposting one of my favorite summer desserts today! It's a fruit tart that is so yummy and so easy to make. It always gets rave reviews and that's before they even taste it!!! Trust me though, it tastes as good as it looks!The recipe is from Paula Deen Click here !
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Yesterday was my dad's birthday! He reads my blog (and all the comments you leave) every day so can you

Best Cafe Design with Green Themes

I love very much on green theme in a public place such as a cafe, here I collect several picture of green theme cafe from several places, just feel free to enjoy this green looks cafe design.The first cafe is Akasha Richmond's uber-green restaurant in Culver City. A green cafe withan eco-friendly uniforms, great space, lighting is just right, noise level is "spirited but manageable," there's a pizza she's ordered more than once, her friend got all "dreamy-eyed" over a vegetarian bowl with Punjab beans, desserts are delcious.

Akasha Richmond's uber-green restaurant in Culver City

This is the Lettus cafe, a green restaurant, a natural cafe that made of natural fabrics and a unique stone-like floor, The fabric is 100 percent natural and will not off-gas toxic chemicals into the air—an environmental complement to Weiss’s organic food. The floor is covered with all-natural tiles from Royal Mosa, a company that recaptures and recycles all of its waste, from pigments to gas particulates.

source: http://la.eater.com, http://www.treehugger.com

Vacation Cottage Plans, Sunapee NH

Construction will begin right after Labor Day on our client’s vacation cottage in Blodgett’s Landing on Lake Sunapee. The new cottage was designed within the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act (CSPA) guidelines and the historic nature of Blodgett Landing’s architectural style.

The cottage design has its roots in the Landing’s Victorian influenced architecture; steep gables, expansive porches and lacy "gingerbread" trim all have been distilled into a clean modern interpretation of the area’s homes.

The floor plans are designed to enjoy lakeside living with the basement level providing access to and from the lake, along with a ¾ bath, media room and game room with a snack area and wine refrigerator.

The cottage plans feature a spacious porch overlooking the lake and adjacent open kitchen, dining, and living room for entertaining. The master suite on the second level also features a covered balcony for quiet evenings spent watching the sunset over Lake Sunapee.

Show and Tell Friday!

Yesterday I received a package in the mail from my dear mom. Inside was this beautiful and very old cameo.My mom's sister received this cameo from a neighbor when my mom was about 14 years old. Her sister didn't want it so she gave it t my mom. My mom has kept it all these years and has now passed it on to me.
Thank you mom! I love it!!!
It has a crack in it but it doesn't take away from the

One and two years ago, this month...

One of the great things about blogging for so many years (over 5 now) is that it's fun to go back and look what I was doing in the past. It's so wonderful to have so much of my life documented here! I started wondering what I was doing this time last year and then that got me wondering what I was doing in August of 2008! I went back through my archives and found this photo above. This was

My life now

I know some of you only come here for decorating inspiration and if so you may not want to read any further. My blog has never really been just about decorating...I've tried to add a little more personal touch to it but I know this drives some people crazy! Please don't leave me grumpy comments about what I should or shouldn't blog about...
Thank you all so much for the feedback on possibly

Thoughts of decluttering

I almost did something really drastic this weekend but I decided to think about it a little more first. I think it's always a good idea to run drastic decisions by my friends (that's you).

I never thought the day would come but I'm getting tired of the "clutter" in my apartment. I was so close to listing my hutch on craigslist this weekend...the only reason I didn't is that I don't have a