Barn wood Inspiration...or Mom, This is Your Fault!

So, is this post about barnwood or am I upset with my mom?

Never fear........i'm not fighting with mamabear.

But........my new obsession is a tiny bit her fault.

And my dad's.

Yep.......that wonderful man!

You see, I really like the direction my house/decor is going.

Whites, creams, rustic woods and signs, metallic, burlap, western.

Hahahaha........yes, it's ALL going on in here:)

I think I'm rebelling against living in Florida and the HOT weather we get

9 months out of the year. 

Anyway, I realized what is missing in my house.

A barnwood accent wall!

And that is exactly what my mom has in her family room.

(Her colors are darker and warmer than mine though)

For me, in my very light house, that wall would be awesome!  

The contrast is really popular and very fresh, too.

Now if only I could get wooden beams for the ceiling.

Oh wait.......she has those too.

From old railroad ties!

I mean, just look at some of these rooms.

Accent walls, tables stairs, beams, shelves, beds........

you name it, it's happening right now!

But I have no way to do this, so I use accent pieces.

Better than nothing............

unless my mom lets me do a makeover in her room.

it wouldn't take much..........it could be AWESOME!

Okay, I'll stop.

But before I do,

look at some of these wall hangings made from barnwood.

LOVE them!

United states barnwood cut out source: All things thrifty

"purpose" sign, upper left corner: lissalaneous thoughts

XOXOXO

Suzanne

5 Tips for a Perfectly Made Bed!

I love the way hotel beds are made.

Sometimes they may not be the color or style I love,

but the overall effect is so neat and crisp.

So when I stumbled across these tips from ABC.COM,

I combined them with a few I knew from my nursing days

and had to pass them on.

Here are the five steps for turning your ho-hum bed into one worthy of a five-star hotel........

1.   Keep it White. Or, as white as you can.  

Every bedding store sells beautiful, colorful bedding. 

And while that's fine, if you truly want your bed to resemble that of a hotel, you need to keep it white. Think about it:  Every fancy hotel you've been to has more likely

 than not had all, or mostly, white bedding. The good news is that by using white bedding,

 you may not need to buy anything new, 

at least when it comes to pillowcases and sheets. You may have them around the house. 

 Just get them out of storage and wash/bleach for a crisp whiteness. 

 Hotels typically use a sheet – not a blanket or duvet – as the top layer of bedding. 

But, if you want to add a pop of color or a personal touch, add a coverlet to the bottom of the bed or a few colorful pillows.

2.  Layer it Like a "Bed Sandwich".

 First comes the bottom, fitted sheet.

 Next, the top sheet. If you'll be using another top sheet as the top layer, leave some extra at the top of this sheet to fold over the layer that comes in between. That's the down or down alternative comforter. This is worth buying if you don't have one; it gives your bed a fluffy quality.  You can use a duvet cover or another top sheet as the top layer.

Bonus: If you already have a featherbed, add it as the bottom layer. If not, consider buying one, they come in a range of prices.  

(This also comes minus the feathers if you prefer.....I do.)

So far we have a featherbed, a fitted sheet, a top sheet, a down comforter, a second top sheet and a coverlet at the bottom for that pop of color.

3.  Pillow Protectors!   Inexpensive and durable, pillow protectors should go on every one of yours. They not only extend the life of your pillow by protecting it from the oils on our heads that can stain over time, but they give pillows a smooth look under your pillowcases.

You may need a few more pillows for your bed makeover......ones that will hold their shape more than anything.  Pillows you put your head on should lay flat, and all decorative pillows should "stand up," according to one expert.  You may end up with about 8 pillows by the time you are done but that is a personal choice.

4.  Tuck, Tuck, Tuck!!!  Take a look at the bed the next time you check into a hotel. Not only are the corners of the bed garments tucked in, but so is everything else, right down to the edges of the pillow cases. No loose ends translates to a tailored, polished look so common at luxury hotels. (P.S. In nursing school we learned to "miter" the corners. It gives a super neat appearance.)

5. Iron your sheets.  

Okay...this is NOT my idea.  Yuck.  Ironing.   

 They say you only need to iron the top layer of bedding.

Hotel maids in 5 star resorts iron it on the bed instead of struggling with a big top sheet or duvet on an ironing board, and that definitely makes it easier. 

Use starch to make the bed look crisp.

That's it!  

Now I won't be doing all this but you may be the one to try:)

Me.......I love a perfectly rumpled, slept in bed!

XOXO

Suzanne

Style 101.......25 Top Tips!

So here I go again, passing on style tips that
I could use myself!  Oh well...let's figure this out together:)

TOPS

~Wear scoop or v-neck tops to frame the face and "open you up"; few of us look our best in crew neck.  

~Wear blouses with camisoles, and leave the first 2 to 3 buttons open to reveal a small triangle of skin.  Popping your collar a tiny bit (keyword: tiny) frames your face and elongates your neck

~If you want to wear a turtleneck and can pull it off, go for it.  But avoid mock turtlenecks…..they tend to shorten your neck

~If you are very petite, stay away from large cowl necks or too many ruffles that overwhelm you

~Length of tops is important.  Not too short (you need enough to "scrunch" around your hips, reinforcing a smaller waistline); not too long (you don't need to frame the bum)

~Avoid baby doll tops unless you are in fact a baby doll or you are pregnant

~Avoid pockets on your tops…….specifically pockets that are very small or very large

PANTS & SKIRTS

~To balance the hips, choose a boot cut pant, narrow through the hip and thigh, slightly flared from the knee down.  This cut reinforces an hourglass shape.  (However, if you want to downplay too much hourglass, do the opposite)

~Skinny pants create an inverted triangle.  Wear only if the area you want to emphasize is your best area.

* * * *Pants that are cuffed pull the eye down and shorten the legs. Pleated pants add bulk around your stomach

~Cargo pants add bulk to the worst possible spots - your hips and thighs.  Avoid these like the plague.   (Hey….I’d give anything to wear a cute pair but no supermodels here so we avoid them:)

~Capris shorten the legs and widen the ankles. Choose a length more akin to a peddle pusher that hits right at the ankle (think Audrey Hepburn)  

~Skirts look best at or just above the knee.  Choose a pencil if you are comfortable with your waistline.  A-line and gored skirts are great for pear and apple shapes

~Wear long skirts (as in below the calf) with boots and make sure they're cut on the bias so they don't look frumpy

SHOES

~Supposedly, shoes with pointy toes, cut-away arches and those cut low at the toe are the most.  flattering because they extend the long vertical line of your legs (I disagree…they look like wearable boats!)  

~Avoid chunky heels, t-straps and ankle straps as they visually cut off the leg. (Only if this is a concern)

~Throw away all your man clogs.  

~Choose well-made shoes in good materials - you are taking care of your feet, ankles, knees, hips and back if you do

~No matter the color of dress/skirt you are wearing, nude pumps are the most flattering and elongating.  Watch Miss America sometime.  

COLOR & PATTERN

~Pair black with other neutrals (as opposed to primary colors) - white, camel, grey, brown, etc. for a more sophisticated look.  Pair with bright primaries if you have the coloring.

~Pair primary colors (pink, blue, green, yellow, etc.) with white or off-white for a fresher look

~As for khaki pants and shorts - this is the color of school uniforms and camp counselors, and restaurant hosts.  If the shoe fits……. hehehe

~Pattern is tricky.  Look at the best dressed women - they most often dress in solids and add interest with their accessories.  I know trends sometimes show patterns but proceed with caution.  They are tricky…….

~Choose statement jewelry instead of a bunch of teensy pieces. 

* * * *Most of all, wear what you love in the color you love, regardless of the "latest" trends.  Trust your instincts.  You need to be comfortable, happy and functional.  These are just SUGGESTIONS...not law:)
XOXO
Suzanne