What's Your Decorating Style? A trio of quizzes to find out.

I was supposed to be very busy today with a Homemakers meeting... busy as in I was giving the program AND serving lunch.  But yesterday we decided to postpone until next month because the threat of snow coming in (..."they were quite glad to cancel - your hills scare them LOL"...).   

So I decided today would be a perfect chill out day to play with my creative stuff and fool around on the internet.  One of the blogs I follow did a post about decorating style quizzes.  Sounded like fun although I am absolutely certain of my personal style; what I call Boho Craftsman.

The first quiz was at Houzz.   http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/25171951 

There are nine questions with about nine answers to pick from.  A few didn't apply to my tastes but there was usually something pretty close to 'me'.

Their results:  Midcentury modern: You love Mad Men (duh) and anything from the mid-1940s to the late ’60s. You love simple forms, clean lines, natural materials and anything Eames, Knoll, Saarinen or Noguchi. You’re outgoing, and you love cocktail parties and dressing up. You are midcentury modern.

Ummmmm... NO!  I do like some Midcentury but not a lot.  I'm an introvert who hates cocktails parties and dressing up.

Next quiz was at Better Homes and Gardens.  http://www.bhg.com/bhg/quiz.jsp?catref=cat4500018&quizId=/templatedata/bhg/quiz/data/1140640368343.xml 

This one is for your 'country style'.  So I knew it probably wasn't going to hit for me.  There were 10 questions with only 3 answers to choose from... and most didn't suit me at all. 

Their results:  40%Your style is...country cottage

The pretty, practical look and feel of country cottage style suits your casual attitude perfectly. You are drawn to colors, fabrics, and window treatments that are light and airy. Heavy, dark colors and textures are simply not your style.

Whether you're decorating a seaside retreat or your primary residence in the city or suburbs, your country cottage style calls for elements that are feminine but not overly fussy. Florals are an important motif and are likely to turn up in window fabrics, slipcovers, or wallpaper.

When it comes to furniture, you're a big fan of painted pieces that add warmth and character. In the kitchen, a farmhouse sink, bead board, and white or light-colored cabinetry are classic cottage features that appeal to you.

One of your favorite activities: Scouring flea markets for vintage fabrics and other special finds to add just the right touch of romance to your space.

40%Your style is...eclectic country

Not one to be pigeon-holed, your country style is best described as eclectic. Your cozy, unpretentious home is proof that carefully combined elements of modern, classic, and country cottage style can coexist beautifully.

To avoid overload, start with a white or neutral-colored background before mixing in the varied furnishings and fabrics that you adore. You're certainly not afraid to take risks, so visitors to your space can expect to see creative solutions such as outdoor furniture -- perhaps a great garden table and chairs -- used inside to great effect.

And since you eschew a "matchy-matchy" feel, you're likely to layer fabrics in a pretty array of patterns including florals, checks, and stripes. The final result: Rooms that are distinctively you and filled with treasured items amassed over the years.

20%Your style is...modern country

With your yearning for simplicity and love of clean lines, you add a modern edge to classic country style. The look you aim for is not quite as casual as traditional country but it's far from sterile.

You have an appreciation for artwork -- from beautiful watercolors to handmade candlesticks and pretty pottery -- but you're very selective about what is displayed in your home. No "country clutter" for you!

Since you're likely to stick to a neutral color palette, consider playing around with splashes of color in accessories like throw pillows, or with texture, perhaps by incorporating a great sisal rug or woven baskets into your space.

You can also have fun creating an appealing juxtaposition between modern elements like a sleek coffee table or dining table and an old painted armoire or other element that speaks to the more traditional country style.

Surprise!!  It is pretty close.  Especially the eclectic country and modern country picks.  (Not into florals as in the country cottage description but other than that, it's pretty much right also.)

The final quiz was at HGTV.  http://my.hgtv.com/style-finder/stylefinder.esi      

This one was the most fun.  The answers for the questions were a series of photos... up to 16 of them!  You clicked on the one most like you.  I thought this one would really pin-point my style.

Their results:  Your style is Spanish Inspired.  Hand-woven textiles, vivid colors, stout furniture grounded by earthy textures and rich history. Rustic and warm, my home is my hacienda.

"Maybe" if you pull the 'Spanish' out to good ol' basic 'ethnic'.  I like Spanish.  I also like Middle Eastern, African, India, Scotland, and and and...

Here's what I REALLY like:  (photos from Pinterest)

So... what's YOUR style?

Lessons from Spring Cleaning: #2 Go With The Motivational Flow

Yesterday spring cleaning ran into 'get the house ready for company'!  

I was working on the master bedroom; neatening it up, dusting... that sort of thing.  As I was doing all this it occurred to me that with a bit more effort I could just do the spring cleaning for the room now.

The worst area was the corner on my side of the bed.  I have an old library desk (an heirloom from Himself's side of the family) that I use as my night stand.

This is a 'before' picture.  It's a bit old but I hadn't changed it around all that much since the photo was taken.

I took EVERYTHING out/off/away from it.  Sorted and tossed, dusted and organized...

And here's how it looks now!

I moved my computer in (it was on the end of the kitchen table and I just got sick of it being there).  So I needed to move in my other things I use while working on it.  Baskets, trays, and small bowls are keeping everything neat.  

I changed out the large Pottery Barn lamp for a smaller one that takes less room.  Got the cute lamp shade at Walmart.  

So much nicer to use now!

Took a bit longer than I had expected to get everything done in the room but waking up this morning to a neat and organized room was SO nice.

Now back to my regularly scheduled cleaning!

http://www.posedperfection.com/2015/01/creative-ways-link-party-36-and-features.html

Piano Workout

Yesterday Himself had his piano tuned as part of the preparations for an upcoming event at our house.  Our tuner, Michael Crow, is a fantastic pianist and he always plays our piano for a while once he is finished.  He loves the light springy action it has.

(For the first minute Michael plays a slow pieces... then the pace picks up rapidly!)

As you can see, we have a large piano.  In fact, it is called an upright grand.  Himself bought it from a cousin who inherited it from her mother.  It is a Bush & Lane out of Chicago, IL.  The company went out of business in the Depression as they would not sacrifice the quality of the pianos they made.  The finish is 'tiger oak' (quarter sawn oak) with ivory keys.

Isn't he great?

Lessons from Spring Cleaning: #1 Magic Erasers

On the 1st I started my spring cleaning.  I do this in winter because when spring comes around I have better things to do than be inside cleaning!

I've written about our old, old waffle iron.  When we inherited it, there was years of cooked on oil baked into the surface.  Himself has scrubbed it many times with Dawn on a scrubbie sponge without much change in appearance.

Today I was working on some appliances with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser pad and decided to have a go with it on the small appliances.  To my amazement, the gunk started coming off quickly.  Even the very worst areas had great improvement with just a few minutes of rubbing.

Here is the 'before and after'.  Incredible... yes?

Needless to say, all the rest of our 'stainless' steel and chrome items have gotten the Magic Sponge treatment.  It has me wondering what other things I can get clean with it.

Do you have any Magic Sponge tips to share?

http://www.posedperfection.com/2015/01/creative-ways-link-party-36-and-features.html

http://www.abowlfulloflemons.net/2015/01/one-project-at-a-time-1615.html

Canela Mexican Grill

Last week I noticed a new Mexican restaurant in town... and this week there was a good Groupon for it.  That definitely made it worth trying.

Since we needed to run some errands we opted to have lunch out.  Canela is located near the mall in Clarksville, which was the area we were going to be at.  We were greeted at the door and seated quickly.  (Note... if you visit - do NOT take the booth closest to the door.  You will freeze!)

The menu had a few things different from most of the Mexican restaurants we've been to in town, such as a great variety of quesadillas.  We decided to try the mushroom one which was very good.

After looking the menu over for ten minutes, Himself ordered what he always does... a beef fajita.

He said the meat was done perfectly and the portion was good.

What was interesting was the options of sides.  He ordered black beans and grilled veggies.  The veggies were freshly grilled to tender-crisp and season well.  The black beans were a nice change up from the usual refried beans.

I ordered the chimichanga, which unfortunately did not come with a selection of sides... just the regular ol' rice and refried beans.  Which were good, but I would have like to have had something different.

Different is were I was disappointed.  They have a very interesting a la carte menu but everything I asked about they were out of (about 5 items).  That is a pet peeve of mine with a restaurant.  If you are out of something, tell the diner up front.  I loathe deciding on a meal only to be told when I order that "we're out of that".

That being said, we enjoyed our meal and with the value of the Groupon, we decided to splurge on a dessert.  

Himself chose a sopapilla.

And I ordered a Tres Leches cake.  BUT... they were out of the cake.  SIGH!!

So I tried the Choco Flan.  It was delicious.  Perfect flan on top of a dense rich chocolate cake.

Overall I have mixed feelings about Canela Grill.  The food we had was quite good... but the amount of items 'not available' was irritating.  We'll give them another try in the future to see if they can overcome this issue.

Canela Mexican Grill

www.canelamexgrill.com

Thoughts for 2015

I have one goal for 2015... that is to make a beautiful life. 

I’m releasing the self-induced stress of making a deadline where none really exists.  And if there is a real deadline, I will get it done in a timely manner; and that means NOT at the last minute.

My home will finally be decluttered and organized.  I have only the garage and my studio to do!  Well... OK, the shed needs another going over too though it is not bad at all.  Speaking of my studio, I might have a reveal before the spring flowers bloom.  Maybe it will even be painted!  (I really, really hate painting...)

I will be decorating more and gardening more.  There will be all sorts of DIY projects and more time for creating.  Arts, crafts, writing, and so on.  Time to stop pinning and start making.

Classes at Whole Foods and some serious cook book use will bring a lot of recipes posted.  Plus I plan on working harder at creating my own recipes.  I’m going to have a bit of fun with that and make a cook book just for me.

Now don’t laugh, but by the end of the year I will do a 5K.  I hope I will be running but walk/jog will be great too.  Himself and I have a plan for working together on some strength training (his lead) and stretching (my lead). 

Have you thought about your new year and what you want to do?  

Look At The Sky: January

Happy New Year!  

Putting this sky calendar up early because there is a meteor shower on Saturday evening/night.

So here's what the Arkansas Sky Observer site has to say for this month:

Mercury - The elusive but bright planet MERCURY will be at its greatest elongation eastward around Jan. 14 and thus easiest to spot above the western horizon about 45 minutes after sunset; at mid-month look for Mercury just below (or closer to the horizon) much brighter VENUS; the two will be in very close conjunction at sunset on Jan. 13 - in CAPRICORNUS.

Venus - Our sister planet, the brilliant Venus, is setting in the western sky about 6:30 p.m. local time and is on the far side of the sun as seen from earth, and thus nearly fully illuminated; it is the brightest object in the western sky a dusk throughout January; note however, that its position changes very little relative to sunset as the planet slowly creeps Eastward.  At midmonth, Venus is quite close to far-fainter MERCURY - in CAPRICORNUS

Mars -  The red planet, far from earth for all of 2015, is now setting in the western sky about an hour after the end of twilight.

Jupiter -  The mighty yellow Jupiter dominates the entire evening spam of time, high overhead at 2 a.m. local time for northern observers.  Look for Jupiter to be rising in the east about 9:30 p.m. local time; its huge size (45" arc) this month and high altitude in the sky, makes it a prime telescopic target for the winter skies; this will be our planet of the month and an excellent view affords those who brave the January cold to venture outdoors to explore this huge, gaseous world  - in CANCER-LEO

Saturn - Our ringed planet rises about 3:00 local time in the eastern skies for northern observers and now presents its magnificent ring system angled nearly maximum toward Earth; this will be a very favorable year for observers to study the ringed planet telescopically. Note that on Jan. 15, the thin waning crescent moon and Saturn will be incredibly close, making a great wide field photo-op!   - in LIBRA

Comet c2014 Q2 Lovejoy - Here it is! The best comet of the winter; now high overhead for northern observers at about 8:30 local time in the constellation of Taurus, this comet has a predicted brightness of 8.2, but recent observations indicate that it might attain naked eye visibility (magnitude 6.0 or brighter); currently the comet has an east-facing tail and is a splendid sight, both visually and photographically and is very conveniently located in high northern skies just after dark in cold January evenings .

January 3-4 - QUADRANTID METEORS - The moon will be at or near FULL phase and dominate the skies for most of this evening for this year's showing of this meteor shower.  Always a chance for quite a show...the best that January has to offer each year, but in 2015 the moon will hamper observation of these meteors.  With an incredible short and fast maximum peak of 40 or more meteors possible, it will come and go in a flash (about the time that the sky reaches peak darkness after sunset on the 3rd.   In some years under dark skies, observers have seen up to 600 members of this stream per hour, all traveling at a medium speed of about 41 kps.  Most are very faint, remember, and distinctly blue in color, so fast film is desired if photographing these meteors.  The meteor shower emanates from near and north of the bright star Arcturus in the constellation of Bootes, rising in the northeast about midnight.