{home sick}

courtesy of flickr
Today is day 2 of being home with a really nasty chest cold...
Anyone who knows me..knows this is NOT good!! I have terrible issues with getting bored easily and so is the case being home with zero energy and coughing my head off!! So..what do you think I am doing...yes, making jewelry would sound nice but truthfully I don't even have the energy for that!! Thank goodness for the internet!! I am home laying in bed surfing all the beachy blogs out there and dreaming of being somewhere warm and happy! This winter has not been good for me!! Can you tell?????

Now...I have been wanting to redo my dining room since we moved into our home 4 years ago..I have never truely been at peace with the red accent wall!! I am happier then I was with just plain white walls, wallpaper and carpet everywhere, but you know what I mean!!

So, I get to lookin' around and thinking that I really want something that is more relaxed and comfortable! Here is my dining room now...

Not bad..but my heart is just not completely happy!! I know, I know...I drive my husband completely nuts with all my changes all the time..but hey, I generally don't ask for his help...unless it is something I don't know how to do..then he reluctantly obliges!!

Here is what I saw that really sparked my interest... West Elm

Seriously, how can you not love that wall?? I think it is just perfect!! Beachy, earthy, and slightly messy..sort of like me!!! So being the paint chip collector that I am..I pulled out what I have and came up with this combination....

Not quite as bright (the blue is more turquoise than depicted on the computer))..but that's ok..I think these colors look happy together and I don't want to repaint the other walls..they are a light grey! I just need to figure out how to do a faux finish on a wall..if you have any suggestions feel free to let me know!! Of course i'll have to change a few things out..

change my red chair cushions with cream/white ones, change the grey curtains with white breezy ones and spruce up my decorating..but come on...how fun will that be!!!

Also, I have these frames on my red wall that I usually use to spell something out with..like RELAX or ENJOY..

Looks like this...

But I was sort of thinking of taking pictures that look like this....

Or this...

And putting them in the frames..
I took these pictures awhile ago..just trying to practice! They aren't exactly what I want but you get the idea! I can't wait until I can purchase a really nice camera..but for now mine will have to do!! It's just hard to achieve the look I am going for on a point and shoot camera...owell!!
Ok...well I hope you are having a nice day and not home sick like me!!
PS...feel free to let me know what you think!!!

{what's new}

The weather around here STINKS...so what do we midwesterners do when it's been cold and snowy for soooo long that you forget what other types of weather we have...
We shop...

I found a super cute mirror that you could use to look at yourself sporting a lovely pair of simpledaisy earrings....

one...urban outfitters
two...simpledaisy

Or you could have a little wine inspired party and get some ocean inspired paper napkins and sea life wine stoppers....one...paperstyle
two...seaside inspired

Or you could dream about being on the beach and get yourself a happy little beach bag while sipping a tastey pina colada....

one... flickr

two... queen puffpuff

There now I feel a little better!! I have some inspiring new things to save my $$$ for!! Just think we are ALMOST done with January....so we are moving over the hump and onward towards spring!!!

{she's crafty}

What is one to do when the temperatures are -10 degrees and school is closed for 2 days????Let's see.....Here is my winter wonderland....

Now you know I don't like the cold...so it wasn't me out there shoveling and playing with the dog. She does love the snow and was really happy to be able to be outside playing!!
I on the other hand stayed inside and crafted away!! I got these metal stars from the local craft store and just painted them aqua blue! I am working on summery stuff for my sunroom!Then I made napkin rings with amazonite and mother of pearl......

I found these cute little starfish hooks and painted them too!!
Then I made these super cute magnetic boards out of artist canvas! I just painted strips on the canvas and then put sheet metal in the back and painted black magnets...tada....simple and cute!!

Of course i'll put bigger pictures on them but I didn't have any on hand! I like this idea because I can change the pictures around whenever I feel inspired!!! I can't wait to put all my new creations in the sunroom but it won't be until it warms up a bit!!! Hope you were able to do something crafty if you were off work like me!!!

{winter's grip}

What do I do when the Midwestern temperatures dive into the negatives??

Well, I ......

Photo courtesy of blulima

Then I invite a friend over for a tropical inspired evening!
Photo courtesy of flickr
First, we light tropical scented candles. Next, we turn on some tropical music to really set the mood. Oh, and of course we have to light a fire in the fireplace to keep us feeling warm and fuzzy!

Then we pour some Argentinian Malbec, yum and make a super beachy inspired dinner!! {Ahi Tuna & Banana Salad with fresh ginger and banana dressing} Sorry no recipe b/c the recipe was only floating in my head!!

Last we spend the evening making super cute ocean inspired wine charms!!!

And my personal favorite of the evening....

Ahhh.....Now I can breath again!! Have a super warm and fuzzy evening!!

{motivation}

I really need to get crackin' on simpledaisy....but I just really lack motivation! Winter really takes it toll on me and today is a particularly bad day! I get so bored in the winter that I just want to crawl out of my skin.....
I know I have made so many cute things.... {or at least I think they're cute}
1. {Hazel Earrings}, 2. {Willow Necklace}, 3. {Libby Earrings}, 4. {Kristin Earrings}, 5. {Erika Earrings}, 6. {willow necklace}, 7. {Lily Earrings}, 8. {Sherry Earrings}, 9. {Natasha Earrings}
And I do love creating jewelry...but I just need some inspiration...maybe a new outfit or two!! That always makes me feel better...
Let's see what I can find!!


1. Kohls
2. Delia's
3. American Eagle
4. American Eagle Now I am not really a person who would under normal circumstances wear yellow...but it does make me think happy thoughts!! I imagine a field of daffodils in bloom!! I guess i'll have to create some yellow simpledaisy for the upcoming season!!!
What else did I find??
1.Old Navy
2. Overstock
3.Overstock
4.Target

I love, love, love shoes and especially love to pair colored shoes in the summer with khakis and a white tank top..I really like the simple punch of color!! Well now I do feel a little better!! I now have some money to save and some shopping to do!!
And of course...I can't get motivated without pictures of the beach!! This is one I took while vacationing a couple years ago!! Oh how I want to go back!!! Have a happy day & hopefully we'll see the daffodils blooming soon enough~

{refresh}

Now that Christmas is over...I took some time to put away the holiday deocrations and refresh my space!

I am sure by now you more than know that I am NOT a winter kind of girl. Don't get me wrong it has it's own sort of beauty...but not the kind of beauty that my heart swoons over!!!1. Late Winter Snow At Ellenwood, 2. Winter wonderland - Snow on tree branches, 3. Snow in our garden last winter, 4. A Winter Snow Tree, 5. DC Snow 4: Winter Wonderland, 6. First Breath of Winter, 7. Winter Snow, 8. Winter Snow and Clouds, 9. Winter Snows - New Years Eve 2007

It's really hard to be happy when the weather is so dreary and cold. Most days my body just aches from feeling so cold all day!! Good thing I have a hot tub!!

I would just much, much, much rather be here....

courstey of flickr

But I am here, in the lovely Midwest and do make the best of it! It would just be too sad to move away from all the wonderful friends that I have here! Good friends...truly good friends are just too hard to make...so I suppose that's what vacations are for!! Get out of the cold and go somewhere warm and sunny!!

Anywho...back to decorating!! I love, love, love glitter and all things sparkly!! So this January I thought I would keep up some of the silver balls I used for Christmas, add to it using some of the left over silver wrapped candy I had on hand and throw in lots of candles! Here's just a snippet.....I think it's really calm but still a little sparkly. Candles do make everything happy!

I even kept up the wreath I made for Christmas...I thought it could easily move into January! I also kept my glittered gourds and silver spray painted pine cones!! Simple..happy..sparkly!!!

What are your January decorating inspirations????

“Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence. Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance. Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence. Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance.” Yoko Ono

{simpledaisy's in a shop}

Recently I had a jewelry show at a friends house and met some great contacts!! One of the girls I met actually owns her own shop and asked if I might like to have simpledaisy on display at her shop!! Hello....yes, I said!!!

So here it is........My cute little frame in her shop!! The shop name is
Interior Elements
and she is super talented!! She does interior design, framing and even makes jewelry herself....sooooo if you're in the area you should stop by and say "hi." She even sells the most deliciously scented candles...I bought 2 myself the night I dropped off my jewelry!!
A girl after my own heart...WINE ....In fact the night I dropped off my jewelry I went with my friend and we hung out and made a fabulous dinner and enjoyed some wine!!!

So cute!! It's so nice to meet other talented women who like wine and being creative!!!!
Her address is listed on my etsy shop....so take a peek and if you live nearby...stop on by!!!


"You'll never achieve your dreams if they don't become goals." Anonymous