Great Day for a GIVEAWAY!

Hello?? Are you still there?! I know I said I would be taking a break from blogging, but I was presented with a fabulous giveaway opportunity, and couldn't resist popping in to share it with you before the holidays.

First of all, let me introduce you to CSN's Dining Rooms Direct - a wonderful source for dinnerware, glassware, linens, dining room furniture, and even more. Now, let's discuss the prize! (Drumroll, please.) The winner of this giveaway offer will be allowed to choose any item from Dining Rooms Direct, valued at $60 or less - thanks to my new friends from CSN Stores. I browsed around for a few minutes - (okay, fine...HOURS!) - and there are many pickin' cute items to choose from!

To enter the giveaway contest, all you have to do is post a comment telling me what you would choose with the $60! I will give you some time to browse Dining Rooms Direct, so you may enter until January 1st, 2010. The winner will be posted on the blog January 2nd, so make sure that I have a way to contact you if you're the lucky gal (or guy). Sorry to my International friends - shipping is only available to the U.S. and Canada. Good luck dear friends, and have a very Merry Christmas!

~Abby

PS I will be using random.org to choose a winner. If you mention the giveaway on your own blog, and add another comment with the link, you will be entered for an extra chance to win! Also, I am not officially off my blogging break, but hope to start up again in the next few months. If you are just here for the giveaway (no shame in that), be sure to check out my original site here.

Farewell Friends

When I started blogging last February or so, I was immediately addicted, and it became a daily routine - almost like brushing my teeth! As most of you know, I posted so much, and so often, that I ran out of photo space on my original site. So, I decided to come over here, and pick up where I left off, but somewhere in that transition, I started desperately desiring a break. With the holidays and my big move quickly approaching, this just seems like a good time to conclude the blog.

I wanted to let you all know that I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you through your comments and your own blogs, and will genuinely miss hearing from you. I will try to keep up with your blogs, and will post a note on here if I ever have the urge to start up again when life calms down. (This is definitely a good possibility!)

Thanks SO much for reading, and I wish you all the best!

xoxo,
Abby

PS I realize the photo has absolutely nothing to do with my post, but I had to leave you with some kind of inspiration - and I LOVE this particular piece. Image: Daisy Pink Cupcake

Happy Halloween!

Wouldn't you love to see this place restored?? It would be absolutely ahhhh-mazing. Right now it looks just creepy enough for a Halloween post. Sorry about my lack of effort in blogging lately. I really do hope you'll stick around, because eventually, I do plan on posting more frequently! What are your plans for tonight? We are going to trick-or-treat with some friends, and Kalia is going as "Snow White". She hasn't seen the movie, but that's what she chose for her costume. Unfortunately, the bottom of her dress is shredded, from jumping in a bouncy house this morning (I know - so lady-like)...so we might end up going as "Belle" instead. Enjoy your weekend, and we'll chat next week!

Image: Home Sweet Home

Bedding Borders

(Material Girls)

(House of Turquoise)

(beach bungalow 8)

Sometimes I don't even realize how much I like something, until I find myself saving photos and posting similar items repeatedly. One thing I seem to be drawn to in the bedding department lately, is simple borders or geometric patterns on pillows and duvets. Who would have thought?! If you don't already have one, you should start your own inspiration blog, to see what you really like!

Hanky Panky

(Poppylarity)

(Posh Tots)

There is SO much sickness going around here - it's just crazy! Last week I subbed at Kalia's school several times, and this week, Kalia has been home with a fever since Sunday. Now Randy seems to have caught the bug. Are you all staying well? I know people are getting sick everywhere, and schools are even shutting down because it's just ridiculous how many kids have been calling in sick!

Although it seems to be cold and flu season, I could never, EVER bring myself to use such beautiful hankies as kleenex. I have a small collection of vintage hankies passed down from my Grandma, but unfortunately, they are just sitting in a little box in the closet. After we move, I have decided to use them in Kalia's future playroom. I informed my mom that 'we' have a sewing project, and she agreed to help me create a window treatment. I also wanted to share the first photo, because I love bunting oh-so-much, and love the idea of creating bunting out of old hankies. Isn't that great?! If you aren't feeling ambitious enough to tackle the project on your own, you can purchase the bunting in the photo at the etsy shop 'Poppylarity'.

Oh! The second photo is just for inspiration - I haven't actually made mine yet. Y'all stay well now!

UGH! I have a question for you other blogger users...do you ever have issues with spacing or separating paragraphs on here?! SO obnoxious. I'll try to fix it later.

Kiddie Cuteness

Obviously, I was not successful in limiting myself to one post for the day. I just had to share this adorable bedroom, and now I'm officially done. For now.

Image: ish and chi / flickr

Sorry, Pink.

I am just popping in to tell you that I saw this pillow over at elements of style, and do you know where it came from??? Target! It is only available online, and I absolutely love it. I can't tell you anything about the quality since (unfortunately) I haven't actually seen or held one - but the picture looks good, and the price is right (at $19.99). Before I did my research, I was going to say that I wish I had some more color options. (Sorry, pink - you're still my favorite!) Then, I found it in black and teal! If you're a fan of the style, what color would you prefer?

Image: Target

Pink Delight

I absolutely love the lamp in here. I also love the pale pink drapes, puddled on the floor. Oh, and don't forget the moulding! I wonder if Randy could survive in a pink living room. Hmmm....

Image: first home

Pickin' Cute Inspiration

Yesterday, I found these adorable inspiration boards from Johnny Miller on ada & darcy. I honestly think I'm going to create some inspiration boards of my own, for each room of my new place. I know - I'm such a dork, but I think it would help Randy to see my vision for the rooms, and it would help me stay focused. I often get off track when I'm out shopping and find a piece I absolutely "can't live without", whether I have the perfect place for displaying it, or not. As a designer, I can appreciate so many styles and color schemes, but I want to really focus in on one particular idea. Have you ever created an inspiration board for yourself?

Images: Johnny Miller / ada & darcy

Life Update

Hello friends! I have been trying to pop in and post some eye candy for you every now and then, but all of a sudden, I have just been overwhelmed with everything going on in life right now. My husband almost took a job in the Chicago suburbs recently, until he received an offer in the Indianapolis area - and decided to stay here.

We just moved here last fall, and quickly understood that his new job would not be his last. Now we will need to move a little closer to his new job in the very near future. I am so excited to announce that we have been house hunting, and finally found "the one"! It's so nice to have that piece of our puzzle solved, and soon our weeks will be filled with meetings, excitement, and lots of boxes!

Kalia is back into the swing of school, soccer and AWANA, and I have been busy planning her upcoming birthday parties - (three, to be exact). It didn't work out for our families to be here on the same weekend, so we're having two family parties, and one kid party. Yikes! Hopefully I will have some cute photos to share at some point.

It took forever, but we finally found a Church to call home this past year, and we just got involved with a small group there. It's so exciting to make new friends, and it feels like our social calendar is filling up more quickly. Anyway, I just realized that I haven't been consistently posting on here, so I thought I would share a bit about what's going on in our household right now. I'm sure that everything will slow down once the parties are over, and hopefully, I will get back to searching for home inspiration...especially since I'll need some for my new place!

Images: Decor8 / Homes & Gardens UK

Bedroom Bliss

(Shoot Factory)


(Home Sweet Home)


(Desire to Inspire)


(Shoot Factory)


(Ada and Darcy)

(Dear World, You're Pretty)

Frilly Frocks

(Brides.com)


(Beth Retro Photography)


(The Wedding Chicks)

(Fleur Avenue)

Dish Duty

Unfortunately, our dishwasher has been out of commission for the last few days, but our new one should be here by Friday. Yay! It's so easy to take that thing for granted, until you have to wash everything by hand. We're so spoiled!

To be honest, I needed a good excuse to share this photo. I mean- it's all true, but I wouldn't generally blog about my broken dishwasher unless I had a really sweet picture (such as the one above) - that I've been waiting to post. Now, I'm pretty sure that the majority of those plates would not be dishwasher safe, but it sure makes for a pretty photo.

Image: Yahgie Interiors

Baby Sophisticate

I'll give you three good reasons to love this room...

1. The damask wallpaper
2. The pink and turquoise combo
3. The sophistication of the overall nursery

In my opinion, it is such a good idea to use furniture pieces and lighting that you won't end up listing on Craigslist when your baby turns seven or eight. It is much easier to change out artwork and accessories rather than entire pieces of furniture. Of course if you love to re-decorate, and it's in the budget, it would be hard to deny yourself the pleasure!

Image: Ohdeedoh

Living Room Love

(Lolalina)


(Home Sweet Home)


(House of Turquoise via The Glam Lamb)


(Domino)


(Heidi Claire)


(decorology)

Yippee Skippy

I really wish I could remember who deserves the credit for introducing me to Skippy Designs on Etsy, but I have no idea. I just know I love the lighting, colors and subjects in Mandy Lynne's work. Wouldn't it be fun to take that car for a spin? If you're adoring these photos, then check out Mandy's gorgeous portfolio.

Images: Skippy Designs

Show 'n' Tell

Well, I hope you don't mind if I share a few pix of my old set of plates. When I took photos for my teacup collection post, I snapped a few of my dishes. This is the first set I bought for living on my own, and I am still in love with it. It's a bit too feminine for Randy, and it's not dishwasher safe, but I still like to whip it out for dessert, or when I have a girlfriend over for lunch. It's very similar to Tracy Porter's Evelyn collection, but it was made by Zrike.

My glasses were part of Rachel Ashwell's Target Collection from a few years ago. I passed them up a few times, and then when they went on clearance (I think it was $5 for a set of 4...and they came in a cute wooden tray), I couldn't resist!

That's my show 'n' tell for the day! If you ever feel the urge to participate in a show 'n' tell session, feel free to e-mail your photos to SoPickinCute@live.com, and if you don't mind having them shared on the blog, then be sure to give permission in your e-mail.

Mold - No. Moulding - Yes!

(Home Sweet Home)


(Luphia Loves)

Grace's Place

Isn't this little girl's room inspiring?! It just puts me in the decorating mood. Not that it takes much to motivate me in that department, but I'm just in love with this space! I love that chandelier, the vintage pieces, and color choices - such as the blue used on the armoire, against the pink. Great combo! There isn't anything I don't like about this space. I found it on little pumpkin grace - so check it out for more inspiration, and to see photos of the adorable bedroom occupant!

Images: little pumpkin grace