About Me

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I was motivated to start a blog by reading all the wonderful talented individual's who have blogs out there. So, I want to make this blog about everyone who reads it. My family and God always comes first in my life. I want to share my experiences and in turn, hope to get feedback and ideas from you. I love unique things, I adore anything that sparkles (not over the top though) I love decorating, cooking, gardening, photography and shopping. My number one passion is photography! To me it becomes more than a picture, it can become a piece of art, or a beautiful memory. Decorating, though I am not a professional, and don't claim to be, has been a part of my life since I was very young, and just love searching and shopping for new ideas and incorporate the old, such as Mid-Century Modern and Hollywood Regency with contemporary. Living close to the Gulf of Mexico in Florida, and being of Hispanic heritage, I love cooking Mexican food, and love to share my authentic recipes. Though I live in Florida, my heart is in the desert southwest, and hope that my family and I will return there very soon…keep your fingers crossed that my prayers are answered SOON!!!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Weekend Project...



As I often do, I was on the internet just looking at beautiful photographs, and this picture popped up, I saved the photo, but clicked out of the site, so I’m not even sure as to where I found it. I immediate thought of my daughter, who is a designer junky, and has in a storage box inside her walk-in closet some of the shopping bags from where she has purchased handbags, clothing, wallets, jewelry, etc. and has them folded neatly in there, and of course, depending on the purchase, they are in a variety of shapes and sizes.  Since we just re-decorated her bedroom, and she is very particular about how it should look now that she totally changed up the design of the room, she has one larger wall that has no artwork on it, because she hasn’t been able to find exactly what she wants.  I showed this picture to her and she loved the idea.  Now we will go to Michaels and buy some matching frames in white, get her favorite shopping bags and design a certain layout of how she wants it to look, I think if it’s done correctly it could be so unique and add certain flair to that wall.    

I was also thinking it would be so cute for a little girls room, if you have shopping bags from Disney, or any of their favorite little girl boutiques, or even from Build-a-Bear.  Just a quick weekend project that is unique and fun to make.

Happy weekend everyone…hope whatever you have planned it’s enjoyable and not as hot as it is down here on the Gulf Coast of Florida…

Friday, July 22, 2011

Good Morning Florida....



Today is my Friday off from work, so I got up early made my tropical iced tea (passion fruit/papaya), never been a coffee drinker…went out to the back yard and decided just to sit and relax for a while.  Though it was only a four day work week, it was a tough one.  Now, I’m not one that can ever sit still, always have to be doing something.  As I previously stated, we’ve been so busy inside with the summer redecorating, we kinda-sorta-maybe-seriously, neglected the backyard.  Though we have no grass in the backyard, just tropicals and tile, my husband did keep the front yard cut and trimmed, and we’ve had numerous BBQ’s in the backyard, I didn’t notice how overgrown everything was…don’t know how it happened, we’ve had very little rain, but it just did.  Palm fronds need trimming, weeding is seriously needed, and in some desperate need of fresh mulch. 

So, I began trimming some of the date palms, and though it was only 8:30 in the morning, I said “enough of this”…too hot and humid.  So, I got out my camera because it was a beautiful morning, and just took some pictures…mind you, I am showing them, a little ashamed of the unkempt yard, but to my surprise, I did notice I had several Plumerias, Heliconia’s and other plants in bloom, so through the overgrown palm fronds and weeds, I was able to capture some pictures.  This is just life in Florida during the summer months.  We do not have a gardener, because I love working in the yard, it usually is very relaxing for me, but you know what, that just might change after this summer’s heat…during the winter, my husband and I will do it, but next summer, different story!

Now the sky is that dark tropical blue and it’s thundering all around the house, by so far, not a drop of rain…guess the weather report was right, no rain in sight.

Tomorrow is a different day, we are finally going to paint the Plantation Shutters white, and then I think it’s time for some serious backyard grooming…then maybe a nice family BBQ with some cold pineapple mojitos…I’m ready for the weekend…hope you all have some great plans, and it’s not too hot where you are, and you enjoy every moment.



 




















Thursday, July 21, 2011

Beautifully Tropical....

As I’ve mentioned in prior posts, I love collecting beautiful pictures of decorating ideas, which includes furniture, paint colors, accent pieces, artwork, and outdoor design ideas and keep them in a folder on my desktop.  I am always looking for the unique. Living in a sub-tropical environment, though my number one love is the desert southwest, I am still a beach and tropical girl at heart,  kind of a mix bag of what some people call two entirely different styles.  I believe that the two blend beautifully together, especially when it comes to colors, textures and even furniture.  Oh yeah, and throw in my love for mid-century modern and Hollywood Regency, I am all over the place.  I am by no means an Interior Designer, but I have very strong beliefs that anything goes as long as it’s what you love and it makes your home, “your home”.   I believe that if you love it, and, if it makes you happy and comfortable, that is what truly matters.  Though I must say, I think Interior Designers, Architects, Landscaping Architects and Artist, no matter their craft, are some of the most creative people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and working with in my career, they have such a wonderful zest for life, and greatly appreciate their talents and will always welcome their advice, as they obviously know much more than I.
As I go through so many wonderful Blog sites and see the great creativity in each of them, I recognize, many feel as I do.  Not even in magazines have I seen so many sweet, beautiful and creative ideas as I do when reading these Blogs.  When I come across a site and see something that just hits me, and I think, how unique and beautiful…”why didn’t I think of that”?  And it may be something that I would love to do in my own home, but change it up a bit, or keep it just as I saw it.  I believe that it comes from real individuals and we have the honor of seeing the outcome of their ideas.
My husband and I have been working diligently on our home the last few months.  Though our home is only 20 years old, and when we purchased it 15 years ago, it was ideal.  We made only a few changes such as paint colors, changed up the landscaping to become more tropical, and remove the main living area’s carpet and replace with wood flooring.  I have totally enjoyed everything that we’ve done, but now that I got started, I can’t stop, seems as though each weekend, we are doing something new.  My goal, is to have everything complete before the holidays arrive…mind you, I said that is my goal, and it’s a big one, so I know I must be realistic to ensure it is done correctly and high quality, it will take time, but that is the fun part.  I’ve added several beautiful photos that I’ve collected mostly through Tumblr and Flickr, where permission is given to copy.  Though these are not my photographs I feel they all have something so unique and beautiful in each of them, that through color, style, etc., great ideas come from.  And during these summer months, they evoke feelings of the tropics, peacefulness, relaxation, comfort and in some cases a great escape to a place we may have traveled or experienced in our past that brings back beautiful memories.  By adding pieces that we may have collected on our travels or sweet gifts from family and friends, is just a perfect touch to add to your home décor.  I know those pieces in my home are the most precious parts of what makes it my family’s home.
I would love to hear from anyone that is doing any re-decorating in their own home, changing up their landscaping, or anything creative you would like to share even in photography.   And…I hope you enjoy these beautiful photos and maybe they will help spark an interest for you to do something new that brings even more happiness to your lives.

Simplicity, Tropical and Elegant

Love the Hollywood Regency Attitude

The blue door with the bright red hibiscus is perfection

Cannot be more tropical with such a warm homey feeling

Gorgeous Teal with that Hollywood Regency Look, and love the dogie chase 

A Great Combination of the Desert Southwest with Tropical


This is Just Perfect in Every way Possible


Beautiful Mexican Style Fountain and the Perfect Outdoor Living area, and What a View


Beautiful Combination of Colors and Relaxed Atmosphere

Wow!!!!


This is Just Perfection of a Mid Century Desert Modern Home - Love the Chandelier

Some would say very British Colonial Interior with a touch of Key West.   I say...can I come and stay for the Weekend.

Mid Century Modern with a very Contemporary Attitude

This was featured as Mid Century Modern...Just Love the Colors







Wednesday, July 13, 2011

In need of some advice....



This is kind of how I feel right now, a little upside down, and if anyone knows how to solve my problem, I would be so grateful for the help.  It seems as though on half the wonderful Blogs that I "attempt" to make a comment on, though I am a follower, I cannot do so, it always comes up that I have to make a choice of different ways of posting, and the only one that works is if I do it anonymously.  This also occurs, when I'm on my own comment page, and try to respond to a sweet comment that someone has left, and I don't want to be rude by responding like that.  I don't like this very much.  So, any advice, please let me know, I'm obviously doing something wrong, or my settings are incorrect.  Thank you!!!



Monday, July 11, 2011

Summer Beauty Essentials...



The last several weeks, my family and I have been extremely busy with some re-decorating around our home.  Small projects seems to become large ones.  Though I love the changes we've made, I must admit, it's been a lot of hard work and though it has been all indoors, with the heat of a Florida summer, it can wear one down.  So, below are just a few of the summer beauty essentials I must have at all times.  Most have such beautiful tropical fragrances, and others just can make you feel refreshed in the summer's heat.  One of my ultimate favorite and I use year round is the Evian, it cools and has emollients and keeps the skin in perfect balance, summer or winter.  Another one of my favorite and I can't say enough about is the Dr. Perricone's Super Hyper Hydrator with Coconut - it's light and with that hint of coconut, but is an amazing moisturizer along with the Coconut Quench Hydrating Mist, similar to the Evian, but with that beautiful scent of coconut.  I have used and will continue each one of these products and have highly recommended them to all my family and friends. 

All of these products can be purchased at Sephora http://www.sephora.com/

Alterna Bamboo Luminous Shine Shampoo - Eco certified ingredients

Bobbi Brown "Beach"

Bumble and bumble creme de Coco

Pacifica Coconut Crushed Pearl Bronzing Butter - this products is unreal, your skin is smooth and with the crushed pearls adds the most beautiful shimmer to summer skin with the perfect bronzing effect - love it!

Dr. Nicholas Perricone Super Hyper Hydrator with Coconut

Dr. Perricone Coconut Quench Hydrating Mist

Evian - Don't leave home without it

ExfoliKate Body Intensive Exfoliating Treatment

Illamasqua Liquid Metal, adds the sun kissed look beautifully

Kate Sommerville Towelettes Self-Tanner

NARS Body Illuminator in the signature shade Laguna - Delicately scented with exotic Monoï de Tahiti oil

Pacifica Coconut Crushed Pearl  Butter - this products is unreal, your skin is smooth and with the crushed pearls adds the most beautiful shimmer to summer skin without the bronzing, I wear it daily.

Philosophy Papaya Passion Punch Shampoo, Shower Gel and Bubble Bath, I have the lotion as well, you will feel as though you are in the tropics