Isla Mujeres parte tres

Traveling back to the States today. Here are a few more photos that really capture how beautiful this place is. The first one just might be my new desktop background. So gorgeous. Will post more once I'm home and have a faster connection. Enjoy!

Alaina's in Mexico and needs a guest blogger take 2: Emily of Emily A. Clark

Thanks so much to Alaina for asking me [Emily of Emily A. Clark blog] to do a guest post while she's away, basking in the sun. Since I'm sure she'll bring back lots of great vacation photos (to make us all green with envy!), I thought this would be a good time to share my love of gallery walls with you. Although not a new idea, they are a lovely way to share your family photos or favorite artwork while making a big, and relatively inexpensive, statement on that huge bare wall that always stares at you. While not everyone can afford a huge piece of artwork, a large grouping of frames can have the same dramatic impact as the focal point of your room or hallway.

While I love the look of the eclectic gallery wall with all shapes, sizes and subject matters. . . .

Lately I've been feeling the uniform, symmetrical displays (maybe due to the general lack of organization in my own home!):

But, let's face it - to achieve maximum impact, you need a lot of frames and a lot of frames can add up, even at $10-15 a pop at places like IKEA. So, I'll share my source for cheap frames (and do-it-yourself mats): the 2-pack utility frames at Michael's craft store. These may not be a secret to most, but I just discovered them a few months ago and love them! They are metal and come in white and black and can easily be spray painted. You can get the 11 x 14 size in a 2-pack for just $7! Then, just walk over a couple of aisles to the poster board section and pick up a 5-pack of the 11 x 14 size and you have instant mats. No, I don't cut them out; I place the photos right on top of them. It may not be the proper thing to do, but it sure is fast--and a huge cost-savings!

Here's a small collection I recently did for my daughter's room:

And, another collection of the frames for a client's room that we painted hot pink:

Need more ideas on what to frame? Try searching Ebay and Etsy for vintage postcards, magazine covers, photography books, colorful note cards or even old sheet music. Go bold, and go big. The possibilities are limitless!

Isla Mujeres parte dos

This is me. Happy. Drinking beer and watching the sunset.

Just a few days left in paradise. Hasta Luego!

*all images are my own*

Alaina's in Mexico and needs a guest blogger take 1: Carlee of Deliciously Organized

Hi, this is Carlee over at Deliciously Organized. I was thrilled when Alaina asked us to guest post this week and decided to share one of my recent projects with you all. I've been wanting to try chalkboard paint for a while and finally picked some up. I had a couple of mirror frames that I really couldn't find a place for in our home so I decided to paint them. It was such a breeze. Here is my before...

I taped it off and then painted:

after:

I don't plan on writing [with chalk] on this frame... I love the texture and color the way it is.

I also did an old larger frame that wasn't being used...For this frame all I've done is painted 2 coats of the chalkboard paint over the glass:

You can use a chalkboard to label cookies, etc.

You could also paint a couple of jars and add flowers with a message or add a label to a spice jar...etc.

If you haven't tried out the chalkboard paint yet, I highly suggest it. There are so many different uses for it. I've seen it at craft stores but here is the brand I used and loved:

*all photos from deliciously organized*

Isla Mujeres parte uno

*all images are my own*

Sunday morning wake-up call.

Ok. I'm up.

Hasta Luego!

Beach Vaca Packing Wishlist by LCYblog featuring Banana Republic

Well dear readers, I am off to Mexico! I leave tomorrow morning. And I still need to pack. Eeek. Oh how easy that task would be if I was filling my suitcase with the glamorous and colorful items above. Unfortunately the only thing I am going with out of that mix are the OPI nail colors. My first mani/pedi since summer and it was diviiiiine.

Fear not!

I will be posting next week, along with a few guest bloggers. Oooo who will they be?? So keep checking back in every morning with your coffee, or on your lunch break, or when you'd rather be doing anything but cooking dinner. Whenever it is you DO visit LCY, keep on coming.

On another note, I saw the image below on Lanalou today and clicked over to see more. Not positive this is Mexico, but I love the colors (not to mention they match my packing wishlist items)!

*images by Jessica Claire*

Have a good weekend!

Ladies and Gentlemen, We Have a Winner!

Congratulations to Sarah (comment #58) for winning the Twinkle pillow! I am thrilled the giveaway was so popular - we had 94 comments (!!!), and participants were Tweeting and blogging about the giveaway, so thank you, thank you!

*NOTE: I am not sure, but I assume more than 1 Sarah signed up, so you would have received an email from me if you are the winner.*

And a big thanks to All Modern for offering this giveaway. I am not sure if you're familiar with the company, but they are a part of CSN Stores, a company that has over 200 stores that sells pretty much everything from outdoor furniture, to bedding, to mail boxes... in other words, I definitely recommend checking them out next time you're on the hunt for something for your home.

Tomorrow I leave for Mexico! Stay tuned for one more post today...

Artist Snapshot: Suzanna Bierwirth of Binth

Meet Suzanna Bierwirth of Chicago design house, Binth. I saw her Lincoln Park townhome featured on Martha Stewart's website and immediately Googled her company to see what this stylish lady was all about. I'm never surprised to learn that the people living and working in the beautiful spaces we see on blogs and magazines are actually fabulously creative people. Suzanna is another perfect example. Suzanna and the Binth team specialize in graphic design, illustration, and photography creating beautiful products available to the public. On their website and in stores nationwide, you'll find posters, stationary, calendars, and their best-selling Baby Book, all of which are produced right here in the Midwest. I fell in love with what I saw and am sure you will, as well.

Here is her cozy urban abode from the outside. Each floor is approximately 500 sq. feet so Suzanna has had to get creative with space allocation. i.e. she chose having a dining room instead of living room on the main floor.

The great thing about this room is how the metal accents in the furniture contrast with the wooden ceiling beams. Mixing is always the way to go.

When it comes to kitchens, people, I've got three words: white is right.

The dining room might be my favorite room in the house. The lucite folding chairs, wooden table, oversized cabinet, amazing fireplace display (pictured below), and perfect chandelier make this such a happy space. The abundance of natural light doesn't hurt either.

The coat rack in the entryway is made from old shoe forms; Suzanna found it at an architectural salvage shop. I want to know where I can find this shop!

I don't know what I love most in this picture: the light blue settee with nailhead trim, the charming pillows by Binth, that black and yellow plaid throw, the lucite end table, or the pooch. That is a space done right.

I spy a black wall. Love this bedroom except for the lighting. I like the idea but not the look. But the shutters! Oh how I adore shutters!

Once again - love the wall color in the bathroom and the chandelier. And it would be so easy to change up the decor by switching out the hot pink towels for any other color.

What you see below is a section of her son's bedroom, and I really like this play/workspace for a kid. It's open, uncluttered, and colorful. Buuuuut I do not understand why anyone would place a $250 designer chair in a kid's room - even if money is no object. That adorable artwork, however, hanging above the desk is the Numbers Poster also from Binth.

Here's a selection of some of the beautiful items Binth offers:

Crow Cuddle Pillow

Mum Notecards

Alphabet Poster

Baby Book

City Prints

*images from MarthaStewart.com and Binth.com*