Hiya! I hope you had a lovely weekend!  As gorgeous as the blue skies were around here, I confess I spent little time outdoors.  Shame on me, wasting a perfectly fine October weekend indoors.  Well I didn’t completely waste it.  I just ignored those beckoning blue skies because there is some major fall housekeeping going on around these parts.   Plenty of filing kept me occupied.  Approximately 93 lonely socks found their mate, and my closet transitioned from blue sky to gray sky weather. Out came the sweaters and scarves and boots, and away went the flip flops, tank tops and swim suits.  They live to unflatter another day.

Thankfully my fabric from Tonic Living arrived last week, and I was able to work up a little office chair revamp.  I’ve been wanting a swivel chair for some time, and also to add another fun fabric to the space.

I found this dated swivel chair at the thrift store for $5 bucks!  I stripped it, painted it, and reupholstered it with a P. Kauffman ‘Soho’ graphic fabric in deep espresso.  I was really close to choosing a glossy white crocodile fabric, but with all the white furniture in the room I thought that might be overkill, so I opted for the fun punchy pattern in chocolate and cream.

Read the rest of this entry »

Greetings and happy Friday!  I have the most wonderful giveaway for you today!  Recently, the kind people behind Donna Karan Home sent me a few items from their   home collection to sample, and I absolutely love them (see them in the picture below). 

Today, Donna Karan Home is offering one lucky CG reader a $150 gift card to shop their home decor site!  Donna Karan Home offers some of the loveliest linens around.

Read the rest of this entry »

OK, first, let me announce that the eligibility criteria for the upcoming HomeGoods Link Party has been expanded to include how you would create your own ‘Mom Cave’ with a prize from HomeGoods.  I thank my kind readers for mentioning this obvious category.  I officially smacked myself on the head and said "Well duh!" 

So, please take note of that modification and mark your calendars for Oct 25th.  Also, you can submit your entry via email if you don’t have a blog  (Smack, "duh" again.)

____________________________________

Yesterday, a very good thing happened in my world.  A ten year dream of mine came true.  The hardwood risers and the treads on my entry staircase were installed. 

Glory halleluiah. 

A month ago we had just the top landing and the bottom step professionally installed because, long story short, we couldn’t use the standard wood treads, we needed strips of plank flooring and also a special routed curved edge. 

Exhibit A

Our good friend owns a flooring company, so he sent out the special order materials and the very helpful Felix to do the job in just a few hours.  It’s so nice to ‘know a flooring guy’, especially one who will let you DIY as much of the project as you choose to keep costs down. 

But the rest of the steps sat as plywood for nearly a month while the riser and tread material gathered dust in the living room.  Tick tick tick went the clock. 

After living with plywood steps for nearly a month, I noticed my husband preferred to spend his fall weekends watching football on the couch, not renting a table saw to cut risers.  Not that he’s ever lazy, he’s just working hard during the week, very tired, and in need of down time. 

Growing impatient, tapping my toe on said plywood, I gently suggested we enlist some help.  I swear I saw a twinkle in his eye.  Maybe it was a tear of joy. 

Read the rest of this entry »

Hi all – I have some exciting news to share!  The kind folks over at HomeGoods are sponsoring a fantastic contest with me, and five of you will be the winners!  We all know HomeGoods as the one stop shopping place for frugal yet fabulous home decor.

Recently, HomeGoods has partnered with Elaine Griffin, designer extraordinaire, (whose book I reviewed last year) to create the concept of a ‘Mom Cave’.   A what?   Yes, I said a ‘Mom Cave’.

Of course, we’ve all heard of the Man Cave, but this is a new twist on the idea with the busy Mom in mind!  How gorgeous is this ‘Mom Cave’ space designed by Elaine Griffin?

Well I have some very exciting news !   I’m hosting a ‘Mom Cave’ link party for all of you, and the prizes will be BIG!

The top prize is a $250 gift card to HomeGoods.

Four runners up will receive a $50 gift card to HomeGoods.

Five winners will be selected by a panel of three judges (mystery awesome blogger judge panel announced at the Link Party).

Criteria for entry:

Write up a post* in one of the two categories below in 100 words or less with images of your space and then link up to the party on October 25th.

A) Describe your ‘Mom Cave’ and get creative!  It can be your home office, your craft corner or closet, your reading nook, your vanity, or your favorite getaway spot.  Wherever it is that YOU take time to recharge, create, get organized, or just relax.  Why is it special to you?   How does your existing ‘Mom Cave’ help you stay organized, unwind, or simply be a better Mom?

B) OR, answer this question in your post:  How would a $250 gift card help you create your own ‘Mom Cave’?  Don’t forget a picture!

*If you do not have a blog, please submit your written entry (with at least 1 picture) to centsationalgirl@gmail.com on or before October 25th. 

So . . .

Please mark your calendar for Monday October 25th!

I’ll be making some organizational upgrades to my own home office space, and I plan on showing those on the 25th too.

Can’t wait, this will be FUN !

.