by Roxanne -

Romantic Living Room Before & After

You may remember that in adding romance to my life this year I decided to add some to our living space. I started with the bedroom and bathroom. The dining area followed. Now the living room.

You can see the inspiration ideas from a previous post here. Below is an inspiration picture that I liked for its energy, lightness and fun colors.

 

Photo Angie Hranowsky

Our space needed to lighten up. I wanted joyful color with plenty of white and a summery feel. My desire was to add more layers, with space for books, candles, plants and space to entertain. The futon would remain, as it serves double-duty as a guest bed. Plus the space needed to be compatible with adjoining dining area and kitchen spaces since those are being re-done as well.

Whatever was done would need to flow with the rest of the townhouse. Colors shouldn’t be jarring with the bedroom and bathroom. And of course it shouldn’t cost much. I prefer to donate money rather than spend it on decorating. But economics shouldn’t prohibit creating a beautiful space with light, energy, warmth, casual feel and hospitality. At least it’s never stopped me in the past. 😉

I forgot to take a before picture – but previous colors were red, gold, sage, white with light teal. A sage blanket was on the sofa. A brown runner anchored the sofa and coffee tables. It was OK, but some new energy was needed.

Here’s a picture from three years ago so you can get an idea of the space.

I removed pillows and other accessories. The sofa, now a futon, has since moved to the opposite wall. The coffee table was given to a friend and the two end tables serve as coffee tables. Last summer, book cases from the small bedroom were moved to the wall opposite the sofa (not seen in this photo).

Searching my linen closet, I found the rag rug for the table and an Indian cotton throw for the sofa in similar colors. A new candle and some fun toys (jacks, Silly Putty, Playdough et. al.) in the glass hurricane on the coffee table are just for fun. Next, new cotton rugs were layered under the tables. I purchased four new colorful pillows and pulled one from a bedroom. We found the rose-colored chair and ottoman on Craigslist.

Now the space is totally changed. Before, the artwork seemed to compete with the room. Now the artwork sets the color and tone, supported by the entire room. Candle light adds to the warm, romantic look.

Here’s the more romantic after.

Photo R. Meshar

Now it’s light, bright, relaxed. We enjoyed dinner in here tonight. Easy and comfortable . . .

You may also like Romantic Living Room Inspiration, Romantic Bedroom Before & After, Romantic Dining Area Before & After and Romantic Bathroom Before & After.

by Roxanne -

Thinkers Anonymous

Photo WPromote.com

“It started out innocently enough. I began to think at parties now and then
— just to loosen up.

Inevitably, though, one thought led to another, and soon I was more than
just a social thinker.

I began to think alone — ‘to relax,’ I told myself — but I knew it
wasn’t true. Thinking became more and more important to me, and finally I
was thinking all the time.

That was when things began to sour at home. One evening I turned off the
TV and asked my wife about the meaning of life. She spent that night at
her mother’s.

I began to think on the job. I knew that thinking and employment don’t
mix, but I couldn’t help myself.

I began to avoid friends at lunchtime so I could read Thoreau, Muir,
Confucius and Kafka. I would return to the office dizzied and confused,
asking, ‘What is it exactly we are doing here?’

One day the boss called me in. He said, ‘Listen, I like you, and it hurts
me to say this, but your thinking has become a real problem. If you don’t
stop thinking on the job, you’ll have to find another job.’

This gave me a lot to think about. I came home early after my conversation
with the boss. ‘Honey,’ I confessed, ‘I’ve been thinking…’

‘I know you’ve been thinking,’ she said, ‘and I want a divorce!’

‘But Honey, surely it’s not that serious.’ ‘It is serious,’ she said,
lower lip aquiver.

‘You think as much as college professors and college professors don’t make
any money, so if you keep on thinking, we won’t have any money!’

‘That’s a faulty syllogism,’ I said impatiently.

She exploded in tears of rage and frustration, but I was in no mood to
deal with the emotional drama.

“I’m going to the library,” I snarled as I stomped out the door.

I headed for the library, in the mood for some Nietzsche. I roared into
the parking lot with NPR on the radio and ran up to the big glass doors.

They didn’t open. The library was closed.

To this day, I believe that a Higher Power was looking out for me that
night. Leaning on the unfeeling glass, whimpering for Zarathustra, a
poster caught my eye. ‘Friend, is heavy thinking ruining your life?’ it
asked.

You probably recognize that line. It comes from the standard Thinkers
Anonymous poster.

This is why I am what I am today: a recovering thinker.

I never miss a TA meeting. At each meeting we watch a non-educational
video; last week it was ‘Porky’s.’ Then we share experiences about how we
avoided thinking since the last meeting.

I still have my job, and things are a lot better at home. Life just seemed
easier, somehow, as soon as I stopped thinking. I think the road to
recovery is nearly complete for me.”

Author, unknown.

You may also like Myth of Objective Reporting, Question the Culture, Truth or Consequences, and Exercise Your Mind.

by Roxanne -

Walking Chicken BBQ

Photo Colleen Duffley Productions
Photo Colleen Duffley Productions

It’s always fun when you can find an idea that is really a base for other imaginative variations. Here’s just such an idea:

Walking Chicken BBQ from FreshHomeIdeas.com Easy, neat, portable.

Using a small, wide-mouth mason jar, serve BBQ chicken with wooden cocktail skewers, outside on the patio. Add a beer or sangria and it’s a relaxing evening with friends (Fresh Home Spring 2010).

This idea is a great platform for other ideas –

Why not grilled shrimp with pineapple and lime?

Or yellow and red cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cubes or bocconcini and basil?

Or chicken breast cubes, mandarine orange slices and pitted Kalamata olives?

Or Spicy Italian sausage and peppers?

Or. . .

Walking ice cream sundaes? Sweet.

Photo AtHome.KimVallee.com

Here are two other platform ideas – No-Cook Marinera & Pasta and Picnic in a Jar.

by Roxanne -

Evening at Lake Harriet

When you live in the Twin Cities, an evening at Lake Harriet is a rite of summer – or at least hoping summer will arrive and stay awhile.

Our friend J suggested we meet tonight at the Lake Harriet Bandstand and hear Dan Newton’s French Acadian folk music.

The weather was perfect. The lake was calm. The sail boats drifted on the lake across the windows of the bandstand. The company was relaxed and relaxing. Even the dogs enjoyed it. What’s not to like?

Boats were out – canoes and sailboats.

Photo A. Meshar

It ended all too soon.

Photo A. Meshar

You may also like Beachy Days, Frozen Custard, Ice Cream & Gelato and Apple Blossoms.

by Roxanne -

Secret of Wealth From Ancient Babylon

Photo USMint.gov

What does it mean to “live within your means”? A SNL skit with Steve Martin, Don’t Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford, is based on this idea.

This skit takes a new look at ancient wisdom. In ancient Babylon people had already learned how to steward resources. And we do steward them. The resources we have are not ours. We don’t take anything with us when we leave this earth.

Here’s the secret Babylonian wisdom that will provide you with wealth and prosperity as long as you live:

1. Give 10% away

2. Save 10% for emergencies and retirement

3. Live on the remainder

Give first. Give back in gratefulness some of what the universe has generously given to you. You will care for others. This is necessary for the benefit of living within a society or living with others. Our society creates systemic poverty because we haven’t yet figured out how to meet every one’s basic needs equitably. Situational poverty will continue to exist because accidents happen, people get sick and people are born with health problems and disabilities. Those who can earn need to contribute to the social safety net for those who struggle.

Next, pay yourself. You will be providing for yourself in old age and you will have resources should you encounter hard times. It is enough to save 10%. Notice that it isn’t even necessary to invest in real estate or the stock or bond markets. It is enough that you simply and consistently save 10% of what you earn.

Finally, live on the remainder. You will be living comfortably within your means. Being an adult means learning that we can’t have everything we want. Being an adult means having the maturity to plan for the future and the discipline to deal with what actually is, today.

Foster a sense of contentment within yourself. How best to do this? When we stop comparing we are more likely to be content. Turn off the TV. TV is junk food for the mind. Without TV you will have less opportunities to make comparisons.

Learn to use what you have in unexpected ways.

Don’t purchase something if you can borrow it or substitute it with something else that will work just as well.

Learn to not cling to material things. After all we are not our homes, cars, clothes, jobs or successful children. Develop a sense of detachment. This is not indifference – but rather, it is not allowing external things or circumstances to determine our self worth and happiness in life.

In the end, what we have is all we need.

You may also like Happiness is a Choice, The Richness of Simplicity, A Year Without Buying Clothes and Do You Need a High Approval Rating?