Like It or Leave It

Looking for a soothing & neutral color palette?  Here's a good one from ZGallerie.

 

What do you think of mixing these tonal hues of blues, creams and grays together?  I'm kind of liking it.  It's a neutral palette with just a subtle hint of color.  It's an easy enough palette to work with.  I think this can work in just about any room.  Dining Room, living room, master bathroom maybe?  

How about you, like it or leave it?

image via ZGallerie's facebook page

Nate Berkus Comes to Calico

How awesome is this!

Nate Berkus has arrived at Calico Corners.  Make sure to check out his exclusive fabric collection here.  I think you will be totally inspired.  His collection is both handsome and pretty.  In my opinion, Nate does not disappoint.  I think you will find something you'll like and at pretty decent price points as well.

I'm completely obsessed with the entire collection, but here are a few of my favorites.

 Belle Terre

 Akis

 Marais

 Ahmar

 Patras

 El Convento

Desi

Have you seen it already?  What are your favorites?  Let me know!  I just added to my To Do list this week, a visit to Calico Corner to see if I can check out the collection in person myself.  Anyone want to join me? 

Oh, by the way...Calico is having a Nate Berkus Facebook Contest.  Click here to enter.   Or, you can go to Calico Corner's Home Page to win a chance to win Nate's book, The Things That Matter.  And just for signing up you automatically get $20 off a purchase of $100 or more.  How's that for an incentive to try out Nate's new fabric line?! 

Happy Monday everyone! 

top image via calicocorner.com

Happy 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  Cheers to 2013!!!

Out with the old, in with the new.  We've all heard this before.  I know.  But what makes this different from past years {for me anyways} is that this time I'm actually listening and determined to do something about it.  I came across this quote on Facebook, of all places.  It was a good reminder for me.  It has become my new motto.  And what better way to start 2013...

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma which is living with the results of other peoples thinking. Don't let the noise of others opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition."

  -Steve Jobs

With all that said {thank you Steve Jobs} I started making a few changes in my life and I will probably continue to make more changes as times goes on.  All positive and for the better, so no worries I assure you.  Baby steps people, baby steps.  I really did learn more about myself in 2012.  I think after turning 40 this past September that was my true turning point in my life.  I honestly want to say that I do believe 40 is the new 30.  Boy, what a difference more positive thinking, changing your outlook on life and doing even the smallest things differently than before can actually make on a person.  Does that makes sense?!  

I'm so looking forward to 2013 and what it will bring both personally and professionally.  I also want to THANK YOU, my readers for stopping by this 'lil blog of mine.  It really does mean alot to me that you take time out of your day to read what I have to say, or don't have to say :)  I sure do hope you will continue to drop by and join me on this new journey.  Stay tuned.

Wishing you and your family a very Happy, Healthy & Prosperous New Year!  HAPPY 2013!!!

xoxo 

Jen

- images via 1 | 2

Les Miserables the Movie

Can I tell you how excited I am for this movie?!  SO EXCITED!!!  I absolutely loved the original Broadway play.  I know I will love this movie version as well.  It has the storyline, the beautiful music and an amazingly talented cast. 

IMDb

Here's the official movie trailer just in case you haven't seen it already.

via

If you follow me on Facebook then you already know that I picked up my free movie vouchers earlier today.  It was part of Banana Republic's 12 Days of Joy.  I'm all set and planning on taking the hubby along with me to watch.  So, thank you Banana Republic for providing us with a date night!  Now just have to patiently wait until the movie opens Christmas Day.   

Will you be seeing Les Miserables too?  How excited are you about the movie version?  Did you see the original Broadway play? 

- last image via jen fernandez

A Day to Be Thankful

I am thankful for all I have, but most importantly for the people in my life who I share it with every single day.  I feel very blessed to have a home, a husband who loves me unconditionally, five great kids and to be doing what I love to do.  I am thankful for my family and friends both near and far.  Know that I think of you often.

May you enjoy this day surrounded by family and friends and know that your are loved.  Today is a great day to be thankful.  Happy Thanksgiving!!!  Oh, and can't forget about the yummy food too.  Enjoy!

- images via Hostess {With the Mostess} & the Hunted Interior

Let the 2012 Holiday Season Begin

The holiday season is quickly approaching.  Can you believe it?!  Halloween came and went and now we have Thanksgiving just around the corner.  That means the holiday of gift giving will be here before we know it.  So, to kick off the holiday season and to get into the spirit of things I thought I would share some of my favorite gift options I found in the IHOD Holiday Gift Guide 2012.  This is a digital gift guide that was kindly put together by Anna of the blog In Honor of Design. 

 In Honor of Design

This lovely guide is filled with affordable gift options and exclusive discount codes.  It also has a number of handmade gift ideas and recipes from a creative bunch of bloggers.  Anna did all the work and she even links to the appropriate sites.  You just have to click on the item | photo image and it brings you to the actual site that sells it.  How convenient and awesome is that?!  Here are just a few of my favorites.

 Floral Heart Print | Rifle Paper Co.

I love My City Print, Red |  Judy Kaufmann via Etsy

Sticks Throw Pillows | Skoopehome via Etsy

French Country Home Botanical Sachets {Scented Aromatherapy} | Gardenmis via Etsy

Single Initial Gold Charm Necklace | Waiting on Martha

 Cicely-Gold {bracelet} | Velina

 Small Gold LOVE Print | MadeByGirl

 Cotton/Linen Tea Towels {set of 2} | PrintingGrounds via Etsy

 Alphabet Zoo Stick & Stack Animals | Oompa

 Girl's Simple Felt Bow Hair Clips | Natty Bratty via Etsy

Card Holder Elk-Hide | Freshly Picked

To see Anna's complete IHOD Holiday Gift Guide 2012 go here.  Make sure to check it out and let me know what some of your favorite gift items and ideas are.  I would love to know!  

And a big thank you to Anna.  She said by putting this holiday guide together it was her way of giving back to the handmade community, one that she once was a part of and to also support small business America.  Isn't she sweet?  I hope by passing this along it makes your holiday shopping more enjoyable.  I know it makes mine a whole lot easier :)  It also introduced me to a few more new shops and sources I wasn't yet aware of.  Yipee!

Happy Holidays...Happy Shopping...Happy Giving!

-images via 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

I blame it on Pinterest

Okay, so that is entirely not true.  I have no one but myself to blame.  A few weeks ago {six to be exact} I saw this necklace on Pinterest.  I automatically pinned it as I did with everything else I liked.  It's the lily mineral necklace from anthropologie.  Isn't it pretty?  After pinning it I couldn't get it out of my mind.  Don't you hate when that happens?!   

Well, this past weekend I totally caved and bought the necklace and all its' ombre loveliness.  Three simple reasons- I LOVED it, I had a GIFT CARD and it was the LAST one.  Did you ever have one of those moments in a store {like HomeGoods for example} where you have to remember to shop knowing that if you see something you like you better buy it because it might not be there the next time you come back?  Well, that was one of those moments.

As I was being rung up the sales associate told me how lucky I was because the necklace was just returned 10 minutes earlier.  She said the woman returning it had a hard time letting it go.  Her husband was making her return it because according to him she had already spent way more than she should have.  Lucky me, it was meant to be :) 

Have you ever pinned something on Pinterest and said to yourself that you really need to have this?  Have you ever liked something so much that you couldn't stop thinking about it?  What did you end up doing, forgetting it or buying it?

-image via anthropologie