Hiya friends, happy Friday!  What are your plans this weekend?  This afternoon I was at my local True Value, picking up some weatherizing strips for a drafty door and some stain to experiment with for my ongoing staircase project.  Ah, the joys of home ownership, there’s always something right?

Well, speaking of improvements in the home, I’d like to spread the word about two contests going on at True Value. 

First, I’m here to encourage all of you fellow DIYers with a disastrous design dilemma to enter the Design SOS Contest for a chance to win $2,500 (for both you and your friend!).  The winner will get all that moola to use at a local True Value store along with an in-person consultation with a True Value “Master of All Things Hardwarian” who will help take that space from drab to completely fab. 

Perhaps you know of a bathroom that’s a blast from the past?

A kitchen leftover from the 1960s?

A dungeon of a dated den ?

Yikes.  Those spaces are in need of help !!

Images via Ugly House Photos

Well, friends don’t let friends live with disastrous design !

Entering this contest is super easy.

Simply submit short entry along with a U Tube video or up to 3 photos of a friend’s decorating disaster.  Don’t forget, you can nominate your own home  in this contest too!  Submit your story by October 7th, and America will vote for the winner from the Top Ten Finalists.  If you’re chosen as a finalist, I will surely help spread the word to get people to vote for you!

Click over to StartRightStartHere for the details of this contest.  You can also go right to the simple entry form here.

Second, here’s another promotion going on: the True Value Mobile Sweepstakes.  You can win one of four $500 Grand Prizes to spend at True Value for signing up with True Value’s text message program.  There are also eight weekly drawings for a $50 gift card.   All you need to do to enter is text SWEEPS to 30364 before October 31st.  Once you’ve signed up, you will receive a few messages a month via text notifying you of special deals and sales at your local True Value.

Meanwhile, True Value has graciously offered two Centsational Girl readers a $50 dollar gift card in this weekend’s giveaway.   That’s right peeps!  Two winners will receive a $50 dollar gift card to spend at your local True Value store.

Yippeeeeee ! I bet YOU are in need of a little home improvement at your humble abode.  Could you use a fresh gallon of paint?  Some electrical supplies or garden gear?  Perhaps a new power tool?  $50 buckaroos could surely help!

Eligibility to win one of two $50 dollar gift cards to True Value Hardware

1)  Simply leave a comment answering this question: "What improvement would you make to your home with a $50 gift card to True Value?"

2) For a second chance to win, either link to this giveaway on Facebook, or spread the word on Twitter with a link, then leave a second comment telling where you linked (FB or Twitter).

Two winners chosen at random. Giveaway ends Monday October 4, 2010 at 8 p.m. PST.  US Residents only this time.

Good luck friends, have a great weekend, and happy home improvement!

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One of the places I love most on earth is Paris.  There’s something about that city ~ the romantic language, the architecture, the museums, the food, j’adore it all.  I haven’t been to the City of Light since before my kids were born, but I dream of returning in the next few years.  In fact, I’m secretly plotting to spend my 40th birthday wandering the streets of Paris, eating cheese, drinking wine, popping into shops and museums, and pretending I’m a Parisian for at least a week.

*Sigh*

Where was I?  Oh yes, back to reality.  When Megan of Modern Bird Studios offered me a custom one-of-a-kind work of art from her studio, how could I resist a recreation of my favorite view ? 

In my office window sits a custom 24” x 12” Eiffel Tower painted on wood just for little ol’ me in beautiful plum on a soft gray background.  Modern Bird Studios creates personalized, modern art from your photographs with a combination of a digital and hand painted process on an Oak composite or on acrylic mounted to Oak.

Here are some other samples of Modern Bird’s work that I love: 

Do you have a precious photograph you’d love to see recreated as an original work of art?  A landmark that you love that would look splendid painted on wood?  This is your kind of giveaway!  Modern Bird is offering one winner a $250 dollar shop credit to choose whatever piece of custom art you wish for them to create. 

Any of your questions about the creation process are answered on their FAQ page, and you can even take a peek at the color selection ~ there are over 100 colors to choose from, so the creative possibilities are endless!   Good news!  Modern Bird Studios has just become a ‘green’ paint company. 

Eligibility to win a $250 dollar credit to Modern Bird Studios:

1) Leave a comment answering this question:  Where do you dream of traveling to? 

2) For a second chance to win, either follow Modern Bird on Twitter, or ‘like’ Modern Bird on Facebook, then leave a second comment stating where you follow (FB or Twitter). 

3) For a third chance to win, either link to this giveaway on Facebook, or spread the word about this giveaway with a link on Twitter, then leave a third comment telling where you linked (FB or Twitter). 

Giveaway ends Monday September 20th at 8 p.m. PST.  One winner chosen by Random.org.  No previous winners.  US residents only. 

If you don’t happen to win, Modern Bird is offering anyone a 15% discount through Friday September 24th if you use the code CENTSATIONAL. 

Enjoy your weekend and good luck !!

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Congratulations to the following two winners of the Noteworthy Giveaway:

#44: Jenna W. who wrote:

“I’m about 5 months pregnant with my first so I was drawn to the baby announcements, shower invites and thank you notes. I love the Shower Banner Invitations and would love to pass this along to my sister who is throwing me a shower in a few months!”

#366 Whitney who wrote:

“Wow! I love them all – but I think I would definitely choose the “On the Road again” Moving Announcements!   My husband is a Navy Pilot and we just recently moved AGAIN – this would be a great way to let everyone know!   Or maybe I would pick the Blue Circus Birthday Invites for Monkey Man’s 1st birthday!”

Congrats Jenna and Whitney, please email me! 

And congratulations to #263 Vanessa, the winner of the ‘At Home With Country’ Giveaway who defined what ‘Country’ means to her: 

“Country means: cornfields, backyard gardens, outdoor dogs, gravel drive ways, quietness that goes on for miles, family, painted mailboxes, good cookin’, big tractors, hard work, shade tree and animal sounds.

Country decor is a place where you can kick up your feet and relax a while. Rocking chairs on a porch, clean and tidy interiors that are still so inviting, big windows with wonderful views, crisp and relaxed linens. Nothing too fussy or that can’t hold up to some good use. Country decor is like your most comfortable broken in pair of blue jeans that fit just right.”

Wow.  Well said !  How inspiring is Vanessa?   

Reading through all of your definitions of ‘country’ to me reads like a feature article in Country Living magazine ~ there are some very humorous comments, some poignant comments, but most are heartfelt, and I can’t help but feel all warm and fuzzy reading them.  The definition of ‘Country’ for most of you is analogous to a feeling of ‘home’, how delightful is that?  

So thanks to all who shared what ‘Country’ means to you.  And speaking of hard work Vanessa, today I’m beginning to the grueling work of pulling out the carpet tacks on our staircase.  Ouch !!  

Have a lovely Sunday y’all. 

All above images via Country Living, where else?

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Happy long Labor Day weekend everyone, hope you have plans to lounge and enjoy the extra time off.  It’s our eleven year wedding anniversary, so we will be taking a day to relax and do some wine tasting in Sonoma, can’t wait!

Meanwhile, I have a fantastic giveaway for you this weekend, brought to you by my sponsor Noteworthy.  If you haven’t paid a visit to Noteworthy lately, you’ll see there are more gorgeous selections than ever. 

Two lucky winners will receive a $75 dollar shop credit to Noteworthy.  Here’s a tiny sample of what’s available in their collection:

Personalized Note Cards

Business Cards

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