Apartment Therapy Review

Happy Weekend! Hope your weekends are going great! It's a fun and relaxing weekend over here. Today I am out in the yards. Now that Summer is over I can finally plant some color. Both the yards  were bare here when we moved in, except for 1 gorgeous shade tree out front, 2 queen palms, and 2 half dead sage bushes. I'm planting some lantana, a coral bush, a yellow bells bush, and a red Bottlebrush bush. I'm sure I won't be able to finish today, but hopefully get them planted by next weekend.

Today I am so incredibly excited to share with you the book I am featuring today (affiliate link) 

Apartment Therapy Complete and Happy Home by Maxwell Ryan, Janel Laban, and Melanie Acevedo (Photographer).. Do not let the title fool you, this book isn't just for apartments, townhomes or condos, but it really does encompass your home, whether it be a seaside cottage, ranch home, or studio, it covers your complete home. It is filled with gorgeous ideas about decorating, organizing, cleaning, and even repairs, to help make your home a happy one. Since we just moved about 4 months ago, I've found this book very helpful in turning my new house into a home for my family.
From choosing the right colors, we'll be putting in new flooring after the holidays, so this book couldn't have come out at a more perfect time! This is one book I would definitely have out on my coffee table for all my guests to look through.

Over the years I've enjoyed reading Maxwell Ryan's blog Apartment Therapy, and was curious to know how he came up with the name for his blog. You really can learn so much about a blogger from their About (Me) page. Maxwell is not only a decorator, but personal life coach, as to earn him the nick name the "Apartment Therapist". His goal is to help his clients and us how to make our home happy and healthy. That is how his blog began with him sending out newsletters to his clients, and now he reaches out to help all of his readers through his blog, and now his books.

3 Things I like about this Book:

• The photography is amazing. There are pictures of every room and style, color you could ever dream of, even neutrals (black, white, grey), even outdoor living spaces is covered. If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you know how much I love pops of color, and this photo just leaped out at me. It isn't just a book for inspiration, it is full of wonderful tips and ideas to help you create the home that suits you and your lifestyle.
  

  
• The book is divided into sections, from finding the home of your dreams, styling your home with color, the right flooring, lighting, even plants. One section is completely devoted to each room of the home, including outdoors. The final section is a helpful home repair section and resource listings. If there is a design, I just love, turning to the back I can find the resource to help me recreate that look
• It has a monthly cleaning schedule and quick cleaning tips that I found very helpful. I've often wondered when the best time and how many times a year I should be cleaning, say my drapes, as well as learning and enjoying something new each month, from menu planning to visiting a new place, to becoming a mixologist. Also, several 8 hints for a happier home are given. My favorite tip about trends, "Ture style is about confidence, so following your heart whether something is "on trend" or not, is always going to yield the most powerful results".

To read more reviews on (affiliate link) Apartment Therapy Complete and Happy Home  via Amazon, click the photo below.

Hardcover: 320 pages

Publisher: Potter Style (September 15, 2015)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1607747227

ISBN-13: 978-0770434458

Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 1.1 x 10.3 inches 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Until next time!

xo,

 

Disclaimer: I received my copy of Apartment Therapy for review purposes from

 Blogging for Books but all opinions are my own.

Follow Friday #33:Fall's Beauty

Happy Fri-Yay!  I'm glad you stopped in to visit me today! Happy Labor Day Weekend! Let me just start by saying, that I am super excited for this weekend, mostly because it is a long one!! It's been monsooning all week, everyday we've gotten rain and cooler temperatures, and yesterday when I was taking the kids to school, not only was it cooler, but I love the smell, it wasn't just the smell of rain, but there was a smell of Fall in the air! Then last night, and this is why I love this time of year, all our neighbors left their houses to come out and enjoy the night air, seeing all the kids getting outside to play! Now I can get out of the house and actually do things, living here in the desert feels like the reverse, we don't get snowed in, we get shut in from the heat! Today it's supposed to be in the low 90Fs and I am loving it!

With that, I am going to be sharing 4 Autumn/Fall decorating, baking, styling, decorating and gardening blogs for Follow Friday!

Here's a bonus, if you love Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Lattes,

here's your chance to pick one up Early!!

Beet, Cheddar and Apple Tart by ClockWatching Tart

This time of year I love Apples, and not just in pies, cakes, and breads! When I found this blog, which if you love food and travel, you are going to enjoy reading it, but this recipe just reminded me of Nana, when she ate her Apple pie with a slice of cheddar on Top, and I thought that was the strangest thing, but if you haven't tried it you should. This recipe, also intrigued me, because I only recently began enjoying roasted beets, I would never touch them before, until my Sustainable Cooking glass when one of the other students, twisted my arm to try them. This savory recipe, is on my to make list!

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Fall Planting Ideas via The Gardening Cook

Great Fall Gardening Ideas from preparing gardens for the fall, planning for a Spring garden, Seed saving, to What to plant now!

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Autumn Coffee Filter Wreath by Recaptured Charm

I don't know why I haven't seen this blog sooner, amazing diys and decor ideas! I love this whole wreath, with dried flowers, sunflowers, artichokes and feathers, and the best part it's a DIY!

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Autumn Porch by My 1929 Charmer

Another blog, I can't believe I hadn't found before. Her blog is both beautiful and charming. Ok, I've said it before, I am starting to get a little obsessed for decorating with roosters, but I love how cozy and inviting her porch is, from the window box, to the plaid pillow and throws!

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Hope you all enjoy your Labor Day Weekend!
Until next time!
xo,

French Inspired office a White to Bright Style Challenge with Chairish

Happy Thursday! Hope your weeks are going fabulously! Last week, I shared with you my Master Bedroom Coastal Palettes, this week, I am excited to share with you my White to Bright Office inspiration board. For those of you that have been reading my blog for any amount of time, know that I love color. I definitely shy away from neutral colors, and an all white room for me personally, would drive me crazy staring at those white walls. I want my office to be fun and energizing, a place where I can find creativity, and going bold and bright sounded perfect for me!
 I was recently introduced to Chairish, and I am ever so happy I did!

 

Chairish is a fabulous, curator approved, online marketplace for vintage furniture. It’s a wonderful way for design lovers to sell and purchase pre-owned pieces. I am and have been since high school obsessed with anything French, which when I saw these Antique Victorian Eastlake Velvet chairs, it was love at first sight!  Since this is going to be my office, my husband and I had this talk about how he has his office at his shop, the office at the house should be mine. Only fair, right! Which is when I saw these chairs, I knew, my office was going to be a romantic and charming in varying shades of pink, and it has to have a chandelier!

French Inspired office with Chairish by christyaz214

Here are all the lovely details!


Antique Victorian Eastlake Velvet chairs 

Pink color Pallet by BHG I'm leaning towards the Barely Blush by Glidden GLR20
(the large blush pink, 3rd from the top)

Minature Cranberry Lamp

19th Century Louis XV Style Ladies Writing Desk

Magenta Chroma Overdyed Rug 9' 12'  

Maple and Iron Side Table with Antique Mirror Top

Pink Velvet and Chenille Pillows

Vintage Brass and Crystal Chandelier

19th Century French Giltwood Mirror

Bjørn Wiinblad Pink & Gold Mounted Print


It really was fun designing with Chairish products. I love color, but found that even brighter and bolder colors, really do have that uplifting and energizing feeling! 

If you are in the market to buy or looking to do a little window shopping, you can 

SHOP MORE CHAIRISH ACCENT CHAIRS HERE !

Connect with Chairish:

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Pinterest

Hope you all enjoy the rest of your week!
Until next time!
xo,

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Master bedroom Coastal Color Palettes

Happy Saturday! This weekend, is looking like a real fun one over here! With the monsoons, drenching us with much needed rain, I can easily plant my rosebush, which I've been waiting to plant, because the ground has been so rock hard. Back to painting I go!


My husband and I were talking about painting the exterior of our house, because when we bought the house, although the paint isn't that bad,  it's not fresh! The sellers only touched up the areas, that needed it. Starting with our Fall check list, we decided to paint the whole exterior of the house, and start painting one room at a time! We're deciding on either his office, or the Master Bedroom. If you've been reading my little blog, then you know my husband and I don't seem to see eye to eye sometimes. In the Masterbedroom, we have this chocolate brown accent wall, which I really love, and he strongly dislikes it with a passion. We both agree however, that the room it self, ok, the inside of the house has been freshly painted, except it's too dark of a sandy tan, and I like light, not bright white, but when the sun goes down, I have to light a thousand candles that burn like the sun to see anywhere in the house. We have lights, but the color of the room gives off this bad lighting effect that really messes with my eyes. Here's a sample of the two tone colors. The Master bedroom, actually has three shades, one accent wall, two walls are medium, and the third wall is almost as light as I'd like, but it's still too dark.

Have you seen or used Design seeds before?

Design Seeds- Mental Vacation

Two of the walls are painted the 5th color and one wall is painted the 6th!

Design Seeds-Color of the Sea- The 4th color the chocolate brown is our accent wall!

Here are several color pallettes I'm using for Inspiration and
 a couple Coastal Master bedroom Designs, I am using for inspiration, as well!

Design Seeds- Color Escape

Design Seeds-Caribbean Color

Design Seeds: Horizon hues image via 

How serene and peaceful does this look? I love this color pallette the most!

Photo by Erica George Dines via House of Turquoise

This one is a little too white for me and I don't really care for the tile, but I do love the turquoise lamps, the rug, the dreamy light blue wall color, and the accent pillows.

via OUTinDesign

I can not take my eyes off this ceiling. I love the gorgeous color!

via Richard Bubnowski

This one, maybe just a little too white for me, but I love the throw and those shutters!

via Patrick Sutton

I love everything about this room, except the hanging canoe!
 I'm pretty sure, I have this fear of it falling on top of me!

via DonnaElle

This one is my favorite, although it is also too white, I love the chandelier, and the pale blue through out. And that view! I wouldn't mind waking up to that every morning! 

Which one of do you like the best?

Have a beautiful weekend!

Until next time!

xo,

Follow Friday #32 : Sweet, Sweet Summer

Happy Fri-Yay! I'm glad you stopped in to visit me today! Hope you all are enjoying the sweet last weeks of Summer!! Where has the month gone? I just realized it is the middle of August already!! It's been a busy week over here! Fridays are my favorite day of the week, because I can look back at the week, and say, we've come along way baby! On Monday, I had the sweetest call from my daughter in Washington. The rest of the week has been a blur of baking and painting!  It's looking like next weekend will be better for us to go up North! I'm going to finish up the hubby and me project! Before starting something new, look for an upcoming Fall project, featuring my favorite Mason jars!

Here are a couple of Favorite Things, I saw to start the weekend off Right!! I adore Lilies, and how charming is this coastal seashell basket, against the turquoise chippy door! Beautiful!

via

For Follow Fridays from now on, I will be featuring 4 different blogs, one cooking/baking, one gardening, one décor/style, and one crafting

15 Cold Treat for Summertime via Cookie & Kate

I know I promised I wasn't going to talk about how HOT it still is, but it was 113F today y'all,
and I seriously felt like I was melting!!
Think one of these recipes is getting made tomorrow!!

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A Summer Trio from Peonies and Posies

Every post is an enjoyable display of vibrant blossoms and blooms! On Monday's she posts a meme, what she is arranging in a vase, and she also offers some very resourceful gardening advice.

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Fall tablescape from Lilacs and Longhorns

There is nothing I love more than a pop of color, and again I apologize for wishing it was Fall already, but I just couldn't help myself, those lil' white mini pumpkins are just too cute! I absolutely love the chalkboard and the gallery of plates, the large buffalo check chairs, with the pops of orange and blue colors. It simply feels like Fall!

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DIY Chalkboard Dipped Planters via Lemon-Thistle

When the temperature starts to cool down more, I am going to be out, painting pots and planting my garden here at the new house. It was too hot when we moved in for me to really do anything. When I saw this DIY, for me it was perfect! I had a black thumb for so long, that is until my Lil' Lindsay started helping me in the garden, to help me remind me not to kill the plants!

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Hope you all have a relaxing weekend!
Until next time!
xo,

5 Ways to Update your Bedroom for Summer

Dreams of a far away place, with sandy white beaches, 

and charming cottages by the sea; 

where one could go and spend time relaxing and refreshing 

as if you were staying at a beautiful b&b,

 is right where I want to spend my time in the Summertime. 

This is what I immediately thought of,

on ways to refresh my bedroom
for better Summer Living with Parachute!

Recently, I learned about Parachute bedding, and the vision, it's entrepreneur, CEO Ariel Kaye, had of recreating the feel of an amazing hotel bedroom experience she had on a trip to Italy. She wanted to create an  affordable, premium line of bedding to ensure we get our best night of sleep! Her studio is based in Venice Beach, California, and as a direct-to-consumer bedding brand, Parachute  offers luxurious Egyptian cotton bed linens, woven in Italy. With Parachute, providing direct-to-consumer, the company's costs are unbelievably lower than standard retail. Another good thing to know about Parachute, they give back. They've partnered with Nothing but Nets, to provide an insecticide-treated bed net to protect from malaria-carrying mosquitoes. For every sale of their signature Venice bedding set sold, $10 is donated.

My hopes of an early fall were crushed this week, 

when once again, we are experiencing another heat wave, 

mixed with late afternoon intermittent rain showers, 

bringing on the sweltering humidity.

 Over the years of living in Arizona, I've learned how to prepare for Summer 

and how to create a bedroom that is not only cool and refreshing, 

but comfortable and relaxing. 

With August still being a hot Summer month, 

today I am sharing 5 easy ways to refresh a Bedroom for Summer.

via pinterest

1. Vintage fan

It's a well known fact, that temperature effects the way we sleep.

The cooler the temperature the easier and more comfortable we sleep.

Not all parts of Arizona, have central air, 

and even though we do have A/C, I've found that running an oscillating fan,

 helps to keep the cool air flowing. 

 It really helps relax and cools you down, 

especially if you spend anytime out in the heat,

 nothing feels better than a refreshing breeze, 

as it blows through the room.

(affiliate) Holmes 12" Classic Metal Table Fan - Oil Rubbed Bronze

courtesy of Parachute

2. Crisp White Linen Sheets

There is nothing I love more after a long busy day, than to climb into smooth, white linen sheets, that feel cool and refreshing. This time of year, I usually leave off the top sheet, and opt for a thin, and airy down alternative duvet, instead of a heavy comforter or on cooler summer nights after a summer rain storm, when the temperature drops twenty or more degrees, I love to snuggle with a soft cashmere throw.

courtesy of Parachute

3. Soft, and Elegant Sateen Pillows

Another intersting fact about me is that I love big, comfy pillows. We have four on our bed, and I sleep with two of them. I like  big, soft, cool pillows, like clouds of comfort, that I can sink into. I almost fall asleep immediately as my head hits the proverbial pillow.

(affiliate)

4.. Romantic scented candles

Growing up in Southern California, we didn't have central air, 

so at night; this is from another time, 

when you could leave your windows open, 

and as I drifted off to sleep, 

the cool night air brought the intoxicating scent of 

Nighttime Blooming Jasmine, wafting on a breeze, 

its fragrance took me off to dreamland. 

Using candles, creates a relaxing atmosphere with 

the aromas of jasmine, lavender and orange blossom.

 giving a room a more romantic feel. 

The mesmerizing glow of the candlelight, helps to create that dreamy mood.

Aqua Ocean Photography

5. Peaceful Wall Art

If I can't be near the beach,

 then I might as well create a serene beach scene to look at. 

Choosing a Wall art piece helps set a peaceful focal point to gaze at, 

something that helps remind of the ocean waves as they rock you off to sleep.


How do you refresh your bedroom for Summer?

Hope you are staying cool and relaxing this weekend!!
Until next time!
xo,

  
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Follow Friday #30: What I am Obsessing over this Week!

Happy Fri-YAY! How has your week been?

I am so happy it is Friday, because I am so ready for the weekend!

This week, I've been working together with the hubby on a project that I haven't mentioned

before!
I have most likely mentioned before that he owns

 his own cabinetry and custom woodworking business.

Over the years, I've watched his business grow, and I am proud and impressed at all he's accomplished. This French Country Vintage dresser it will be coming in my future (near or far)!

What we've been working on, is a lovely gift he made me when he first started his business,
and I've been admiring it in the garage, so I brought it in,
and it's been sitting in our bedroom,
 while I dream of ways to make it pretty!
I'll be sharing more about this soon!

 For Follow Fridays from now on, I will be featuring 4 different blogs, one cooking/baking, one gardening, one décor/style, and one crafting.

Obsessing with Mirrors via Chateau Chic
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My new obsession as well....mirror love!

Honey Grilled Watermelon Caprese salad via How Sweet It Is
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No Ice Cream this week, instead I wanted to share a new love of mine, tomato caprese salads. To celebrate the bounties of fresh vegetables, especially heirloom tomatoes. For years, I haven't been a huge fan of tomatoes, actually it's only been the last year or so, I've taken a liking to them, once I drizzled them with balsamic, and add some fresh basil, mozzarella cheese!
 Is it lunch yet? I'm starving!

Higgledy Garden

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After, I stumbled onto this blog, I went out and purchased a few bi-annual seed packets. I'm not lying. I've always wanted to start a lovely cutting garden, and this is all the inspiration I needed!

DIY Rustic Outdoor Chandelier via Crafts Unleashed

This is going to be my next garden DIY project! I would love to have a chandelier to outdoors, to  light the night up while I entertain friends and family!

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  Hope you all have a beautiful weekend!

Until next time!

xo,

  

 

 



We're Painting the White Roses Red...

Happy Thursday! How's your week going? This week, I am enjoying the ups and not so many downs, in this roller coaster we call life. Yesterday, I had a scary start to my day....as it happened, it was early in the morning, I decided to do my grocery shopping (which I never do) and get it done, while it was still cool out, but as I pulled into the parking lot, my check engine light went on! Long story short, and the good news is, it's not my engine, bad news is it's my A/C! The exciting part of my week is this weekend! First my son turns 15 on Monday, which is hard for me to believe. He really doesn't want a party, just to hang out with his friends, have dinner and see Jurassic Park, and of course I'll bake him a cake! This is something I've only done once, and it was when my oldest daughter was just a wee one, we had our special mommy-daughter tea party. This Saturday, the girls and I are throwing a Mad Hatter Tea Party, and they are super excited about that! Hope you will join me for a cup of tea and sweet treats!

The story of 'Alice in Wonderland', did inspire this post, as well as the prompt for IG, one day it was 'minimalism'! I am really not sure if I got the perfect capture for the prompt, but for this post, decorating with red and white! l admit, the only times you will find red around my house are Valentine's Day, Patriotic holidays, and Christmas! I really need to change this, because red is a rare gem of a color! It's exciting, it has a way of making a room more warm and inviting! It is a bold and beautiful color! For today's post, I am sharing my love of Red and White; it's not just for Holidays!

 

via

 

I know, this is Red, White and Blue, but I thought how gorgeous the Red and White rose bouquet went with the Ginger jars and bowl.

 

via Country Living

 

I love the red toile. For me, I'd go with less, minus the lamp shade! I love the mirrors, just on a smaller scale!

 

 



 via French Country Magazine

 

It's the small pops of color, like the book covers and the red trim around the pillow!

 

 

via Homedit

 

I would love to find a vintage white pail and fill it with really any color of fresh, blooms!

 

 

Veranda House

 

This is an interesting contrast between the flourish print of the curtains and the bold red and white buffalo check!

 

via

 

I've been thinking about what to do with my great-grandmother's chair, and I've decided to make slipcovers to keep the original orange tufetted velvet fabric safe! I fell in love with this ruffled red and white French ticking and toile table cover, which would make a very pretty slipcover for her chair. If only I knew how to sew! Sigh. Next up on list, learn to sew! Should be an adventure for sure!

 

via Cote de Texas

 

Not only do I love the French farmhouse table, but those candlesticks are to die for! Off to the side of our kitchen, is the dinig nook, with bay windows, this buffalo check valance would fit perfectly. I am thinking of turning the breakfast nook into a quaint French bistro design.

 

via

 

When I was younger, I would have loved this in my room! I was enamored with all things French in High School. Did you know I took 4 years, and can barely speak a word of it now?!

 

via ebay (no longer for sale)

 

If I can find a similar sign, I would love to hang this in our breakfast nook!

 

Have you decorated or do you have a favorite red and white decoration?

 

Until next time,

xo