Southwestern Style...Not Just For Cowpokes

I have a soft spot for all things Southwestern.  I mean seriously.  From the old western movies to the decor and  fashion, I just love it all!  Here is a brief summary of how to bring some south west style to your environment.  

Colors: Traditional palette of cactus green, adobe red and desert-toned neutral hues are hallmark Southwest colors. Shots of bright yellow, dusty orange and turquoise are also indicative of Southwestern design.

Textiles: Sturdy woven fabrics, leather and suede are used for upholstery. Striped serapes (colorful wool shawls) can be used as pure decoration on walls.

Furniture: Leather is a common covering for sofas and chairs. Knotty pine is a popular choice for wood furniture, which may also feature a distressed finish embellished with burnished metal accents.

Accents: Talavera pottery, painted ceramic pieces with roots in 16^th century Mexico, adds color and design interest to a desert home. Hand-painted tiles are used on walls, floors and countertops. Wrought iron is used for all types of accessories.

These arts include architecture, ceramics, drawing, filmmaking, painting, 

photography, sculpture, printmaking, and other media, ranging from the ancient past to the contemporary arts of the present day.

Southwestern home décor reflects the colors of the desert and the peoples who have carved out a living from it. Earth tones—browns, reds and oranges—dominate most Southwest home decoration. Traditional Native American Indian geometric designs and symbols, like Acoma’s parrot motif, Hopi Pueblo’s migration pattern and Zuni lizards adorn pottery, rugs and other collectible artwork.

Southwestern fashion tends to be a style that has always been there whenever people need comfort. It's all about warm colors/tones and simple designs but in a colorful chic way.  The classic dress silhouettes, zig-zag patterns, and printed feathers are just some of the elements incorporated with this style........and it's all kinds of awesome!

And so, hope now you can agree with me. Southwestern style is certainly not just for cowpokes!

Have a happy EASTER!

Weekend Warrior Project - Guest post by Shanda Neighbors

I tend to be an all or nothing kinda gal. I'm either doing everything, or nothing at all. This weekend due to the weather and the time change, I was in do everything mode. 

We bought a house a just over a year ago. It was a foreclosure and the task of making it home on a tiny budget was frankly, overwhelming. For the longest time I did nothing... but complain. In the last few months though, the idea of starting small has gained momentum. I decided I'd tackle my "projects" one at a time. This weekend's project was to make a french mid century modern chest in the master bedroom reflective of the people that share that room. Sounds simple, but my husband taste is more like this:

Now doesn't that just scream MAN!!!! The problem is my taste is more like this:

 

I'll admit it, this is feminine. So how do I make us both happy? How do I take this:

and make it reflect us both? This is what I came up with:

It was a lot of work, but I like the results. This dresser has a mate, any guesses what (God willing) this weekend's project will be?

Cherio!

Check out Shanda's blog at www.aboutloveandtruth.blogspot.com

Decoding The Smoky Eye - Ultra Easy Tutorials

There is nothing more captivating and sexy than a well done smoky eye. And whenever you achieve the perfect smoked look you know it. Makes you want to do two snaps in Z formation! Just sayin.

The Smokey eye look is perfect for parties or for formal occasions. It all depends on the colors used to create the look.  There are so many different color variations you can go with like: gray tones, plum tones, green tones, lavender tones, red tones, blue tones or really dramatic combinations like black and red black and dark blue. The best idea is to Choose the color according to the time you are wearing it. Lighter colors work wonderfully for daytime and darker colors are excellent for night time looks.

Here is a very simple how-to in six easy steps.

And that my friends is as complicated as it is going to get on this blog....because if you are anything like me, I DO NOT like too many words in my instructions.  Too many words and my brain screams abort! abort!, overload! overload!   Ha ha, sad but true. 

And so, I bring to you my hand picked selection of simple pictorial based smoky eye tutorials.    Tutorials that we all can actually follow and use.    Enjoy!

I really like this look. Very sultry and perfect for a night out on the town.

These colors really bring the drama.  I cannot wait to try this! I love the touch of gold.

You have to be bold to rock this look but hey...every girl have a little of that within. Some of us just a bit more than others. 

This is a great toned down version of this look.  Great for day or night.

So ladies, I hope this inspires you to get your smoky eye on!  

Cherio!

5 Good Reasons To Shop On Ebay

Am not going to lie, it took me a while to really give Ebay a shot.  Having done so though, I am thrilled to say the least.  I never imagined that I could reach power seller and top rated status in less than 3 months.  But I did.  Yay me!  I am no guru yet but I am having fun learning and figuring it out.

Here are some of the reasons that drew me to Ebay.

1.  Bargains!

Hello! There are bargains to be had by all.  From negotiating a lower price directly from the seller to finding that perfect deal, it is all possible on Ebay.  And here is my favorite part, the bargains never stop.  They are 24/7.  Gotta love that.  

2.  Vast Product Selection

One of the things I absolutely love about Ebay is the vast selection of goods that they offer.  You can literally find anything there.  And I do mean Anything.  I have bought books, records, computers, designer handbags, vintage jewelry, collectibles, stuff for my dog and so much more......and I still haven't scratched the surface of the merchandise they offer.  My favorite items to buy on Ebay is vintage jewelry and Art.  I find that there are lots of people selling Estate pieces and one of a kind items that I have never seen any where else.  At unbelievable bargain prices I have never seen.  Ever.  I love that!

Here are a few things I purchased this week.  I collect Cameos so this made me really happy. 

3.  Easy Check Out

No long lines to stand on or tedious filling out online credit card forms.  Ebay connects with Pay Pal so you can check out in seconds.  No worries about being jacked on the net as Pay Pal is one of the safest ways to send and receive money without providing your personal information.  I personally enjoy having that peace of mind.  So far my experience has been all kinds of wonderful.  (Knock on wood.)

4.  Fun!

I know this may sound strange but I have a blast bidding on stuff.  It really feels good to snatch something up in the last few seconds from 10 other hungry bidders.  Kinda like blocking a shot in basketball.  (In my best Matumbo voice) No No No, Not today!  Ha ha ha ha............

5.  Positive Feedback

Since Ebay sellers and shoppers buy from people they trust, positive feedback is like gold on your  Ebay profile.   The more you have, the more confidence people have in you.  Good business etiquette goes a long way.  It is very simple. Ship in one or two days if you are a seller and pay for items promptly if you are a buyer.  Before you know it, you will have great reviews which  =  cha ching!  

And there you have it.  Hope I inspired you to give Ebay a try, trust me, it is well worth it.  I would love to hear from you on this so leave me some Ebay stories or comments.  Have a good one lovelies!

Cherio!

LED Grow Lights That Are Affordable - Guest Post

LED grow lights can be quite expensive if you don't know where to look, as can a lot of other hydroponics supplies.  

If you want quality www.thelashop.com grow tents and www.thelashop.com air-purification inline fans aren't overly expensive and are completely worth the money, it is well worth your time to check out www.thelashop.com.

Although it is very important to find cheap supplies for hydroponics (so that you don’t break the bank), it is very possible to keep everything quality while still at a lower price. LA shop has been known for making products not only cheaper, but easier to purchase as well. Reviewers have mentioned products being fifty dollars cheaper than other rival sites, and customer service was always great. Hydroponics is a great hobby to start up, and can even be a business in a small town. Growing your plants indoors enables you to not have to worry about the weather constantly and will allow you to not deal with any natural disasters such as floods and thunderstorms that could ruin a whole season.

   All the products available have been through testing so that they are ensured to help you and be efficient for your garden. One of the things that LA shop Hydroponics is known for actually is their customer service. If any product arrives damaged or dysfunctional, they are more than happy to help with no hassle! Not many companies are like that nowadays so the customers are very appreciative. If you want to give hydroponics a try, start at your library and take out a few books so you can learn what really goes into it! It is a very rewarding experience and is an easy way to maintain your plants. The best hydroponics set up will be different for every person and will depend on not only what they are growing, but price range as well. 

Guest post by Venessa of  www.thelashop.com