NOLA

Last weekend was my first trip to New Orleans. And despite returning home with a nasty head cold, I loved my time there and cannot wait to return. I only had two days to explore the small city and what I saw in the French Quarter and Garden District left me nostalgic of my weekends roaming around Prague and Paris during my semester abroad. Old World architecture sat atop cobbled roads and large, rusted lanterns lined Royal Street. Artists and antique dealers opened their doors while musicians with violins and trumpets set up outside. It was like being transported to another world, in another time. Sometimes it was hard to remember Bourbon Street was just a block away (I'll exclude pictures from that part of the trip). As promised, here is a short photo album of some of my favorite architecture and scenery in good ol' NOLA.

I couldn't get enough of the shop signs hanging above. Why don't we have these in Chicago?

a walk through the Garden District

Happy Weekend, dear readers!

Man, do I love a good deal!

For those of you who have not heard, I have been sick. And this is a big deal because I'm never sick. Occasional headache, yes. Hungover, sure. But so sick you might get all your other friends sick too just by sneezing near them? Rarely. Hence I've been a bit out of commission the past few days. So, while I'm in my final stages of recovery and catching more zzz's than usual, I've got one more short post today - two new additions to my dining room that didn't cost much - and tomorrow I promise you a wealth of eye candy from last weekend's, girls-only trip to New Orleans (now the sick part is starting to make sense, eh?)

You may remember when I posted about buying these candlesticks from Ikea for $1.99 a piece in the as-is section of the store. Well, they're now nestled on my dining room bar...

Pretty, yes?

Oh and the white vase next to them was $1 at my local Salvation Army. It's things like that that make me giddy.

Secondly, I fell in love with this lamp by Jill Rosenwald forever and a day ago. Sadly, at the time, I was however many hundreds of dollars and a lifetime away from owning it. Enter my very first trip to HomeGoods (thank you, blogosphere, for the introduction). All in all a lackluster trip but I see why people love it. A few good deals on some mirrors, and wow! you can get a great price on a rug... but I was ready to leave the store empty-handed when...

Ahhh!! Imagine glorious rays of light streaming out of this lamp (more like the Holy Grail, and less like it was plugged into an outlet)! A near replica to my lust-worthy Rosenwald lamp!

Price tag? $66!

Snatched that right up, brought it home, and plopped it on my entry table, which coincidentally, is also in my dining room.

Done and done.

Pottery Barn Quilt Giveaway

Today's a good day to be an LCY fan! Why? Because my favorite gals over at Pottery Barn have offered this beautiful and insanely soft Colebrook patchwork quilt (queen-size) to one LCY reader! That's a $200 value! For free! The quilt practically screams "SPRING," yes? (I can daydream as I sit here nestled under my faux fur blanket and wool slippers.)

In order to win this prize...

1. You must follow this blog (in the left-hand column, under my profile). If you already follow, just leave a comment below and let me know. If you are not a follower, become one and then leave a comment below letting me know! Note: you do not need a blog or anything to follow.

2. You can enter again if you Tweet this giveaway and leave another comment.

3. Enter again if you blog about this giveaway and leave another comment.

The winner will be chosen next Tuesday, March 2!

So check back then!

Here's another close-up shot of the quilt. Love the soft colors!

Good luck, readers!

Also, congratulations to Ashley for winning the fabulous West Elm Chicago Giveaway that was featured last week on LCY!! And thanks to everyone who signed up!

On a final note, sorry I was MIA yesterday. I have been super duper sick and sleeping non-stop trying to get better. And thank you, thank you, thank you to all the positive feedback about my office! I love the way it turned out, and it makes me feel that much better knowing you all like it, too! I've had a few requests to feature the before/after images on other blogs to which I say a resounding "yes!" Please send me the link - I'd love to see it!

Office space: The Big Reveal!

Do we all remember what I started out with back in December...?

This is my home office so I had to make use of it immediately after moving in. Not too shabby given the circumstances...

Then I drew up a plan to make it better. And blacker...

And randomly one Sunday, I woke up, ran to the paint store, came back, and got to work.

That single quart of Benjamin Moore's Black Jack was all it took to cover this small office wall. Twice over. Kind of looks charcoal grey in the photo. Intriguing.

Scary and exciting...

Almost done.

The greatest invention ever. A trimming brush. You don't even need to tape off the edges.

Finito!

But it's missing something...

Ah yes. A little art here...

and a little art there...

You get the picture...

And THAT is how you hang photos haphazardly. Grab a piece of art and a nail, and go! I really love that there is still more space on the wall to add to my personal art gallery.

Drum roll please...

Tada!!

and for one last before/after comparison

Here is the sketch as explained on January 6:

And here is the almost finished product!

I want to spruce up that bulletin board a bit and add window treatments. But I am awaiting higher temperatures before I can paint the trim of the bulletin board. And I'm too lazy and too broke (damn you, fabulous trip to Thailand) to go find window treatments I love.

Anyway, I hope you like it as much as I do! It's so fun and pretty to sit in here and stare at all day. Which is what I do. At least 9 hours a day. 8 for work + at least 1 for blogging.

Good thing I love it!