Room with a View

via Freshome Blog

It's winter and I'm loving all pictures with snow. We don't get snow in Austin, unless it's a freak thing, which has happened but rarely. I love the arrangement of this living space, with the main living area and then the cozy 2 chairs off by the windows. 

Page Road House located near Boston and designed by Andrew Cohen Architects.

Year-End Review

One of my favorite things to do at this time of year is evaluate my year (hence, the title, Year-End Review) and map out the next year of things I want to work on/accomplish. It's like re-energizing my life...love it!

Last year I decided to choose a word to live by, that word being love.

So, how did I fare? Hmmm, I've given this some thought and rather than say, I did a great job, or I flunked miserably, I've decided to list the things I did this year that I loved/enjoyed.

1. Silk Dance- this is something I'd been wanting to try and found a 6-week program to give it my all. I learned rather fast this wasn't a class I wanted to continue once done. I think one 3-hour class would have given me the info I needed. However, being true KJ, I jumped in cannon ball style, half-way to the bottom WTHaaaayyyyy am I doing? I chalked it up to adventure.

2. Boxing- wanting to work my core and strength, a friend invited me to try Pink Glove Boxing. I loved it, absolute blast and on the way home from work. Great stress reliever while waiting on traffic to die down. Highly recommend this class to the Ladies.

3. I decided to keep my blog. I was debating ending it completely, but found something I enjoyed in the design world and opted to share with my 3 readers:-) I steady post pictures of things I love. It's the most posts I've done in a year, UBER exciting!!!

4. I started painting with acrylics on canvas and even started a TINY ETSY site. I LOVE this more than anything in the WHOLE wide world. Now anything I see gives me a new idea of something I'd like to paint. Now patiently waiting on what I see to actually be on the canvas...never turns out quite like I expect, but I enjoy every single minute of it!

5. Last but not least, I got a dog this year, Bronco. This has been a huge life changer. He has temporarily taken me out my social life, but we'll slowly get back to that in 2012. 

Overall 2011 was a great year!!!

Bronco

Loves of the Week

Things I've loved this week...

via Here

I'm so excited about my new camera. My other one died a year ago, and it was one of the first digital cameras to the market...yay, for new gadgets.

My patient model.

Purple house in 'hood, love it!

Now off to figure out all the features to my nifty camera.

Happy Holiday Monday

via Pinterest

“What you do speaks so loudly that I can not hear what you say.” 

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Merry Christmas

I swear it's the final post on the DIY Christmas. I won't torture you with the details but here's what I did for my dad. There were some rough moments and stressful texts to my sis debating if I should run out and buy him something, just in case. Without further ado:

Christmas Eve

Remember if Christmas is a disaster we're blaming my sis. Just setting the record straight. Ok, my mom's painting had a few starts, stops and do-overs. The beauty of painting on canvas you can just paint over your mistakes and begin again...it also, adds texture to your painting, win-win as far as I'm concerned. Alright, here ya go...

First pass, not diggin' the placement of the square, and the base has too much of a pink tone.

Deciding to start over.

Ok, liking this coloration better. Not saying you can tell a difference, my iPhone has a scratch on the lens so pix will never be clear, but then again do any of the 3 of you care that much??? Noooooo.

Wanting to add 1 more thing to the painting, this didn't make it.

And we're done! Thank goodness because I still have to do my dad's painting. Don't worry, I wrote this post on Monday the 19th:-) 

Room with a View

via Sketch42 Blog

What I wouldn't give to have floor to ceiling windows with a killer view. Coffee, wine always with a book curled up in a comfy chair. This room is heavenly to me!

All That Glitters

I'm not over my sparkle fetish. Sparkles make me smile!

via House of Turquoise

Let's see who can guess the win-win of the picture above:-)

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via pvedesign

Monday

I just realized this is the last Monday I'll work for this year:-) This is great news!!!

via Scott Meacham Wood

"The difference between great people and everyone else is that great people create their lives actively, while everyone else is created by their lives, passively waiting to see where life takes them next. The difference between the two is the difference between living fully and just existing."

~Michael E. Gerber

A DIY Christmas

Let's just say this might be the scariest Christmas my family has ever experienced, and they have no one to blame but my sister. I asked Jenny what she wanted this year, and she replied with, "I want you to paint me a Fleur de Lis." Uhhh, really??? I think battling the mall during holiday season on the last Saturday before Christmas is easier than granting her this wish. So, I've decided to show you how this went down. DISCLAIMER: I'm not a painter so keep that in mind when judging my art work:-)

Practicing with pencil on paper is a good idea.

Gold background on using a palette knife. 

This isn't centered and it kinda bugs, BUT I've let it go...

Hope she likes it...

Happy Friday

via Pinterest

"Good humor is a tonic for mind and body. It is the best antidote for anxiety and depression. It is a business asset. It attracts and keep friends. It lightens human burdens. It is the direct route to serenity and contentment."

~Greenville Kleisser

Loves of the Week

The random things I loved this week...

via Weburbanist

Super cool project, "Crono Project," which brought artists from all over the world to decorate abandoned buildings. The one above is in Lisbon. I think this is a brilliant idea!!!

via Material Girl's Blog

Obviously, this makes me think of the Rolling Stones.

via Mrs. Steven's Blog

Yes, I still love peacock blue! This picture is perfect because it adds in some purple, which I'm also loving.

via Pinterest

Who couldn't use a champagne cooler, sign me up!

via Trendir

Love

via Pinterest

"Love is the only thing you get more of by giving it away."

~Tom Wilson

Favorite

via Here

I think this is the perfect modern space, huge windows, clean lines, earthy tones and wood pieces making it an inviting room.

Chin Up

via Pinterest

"Like a magnet, we draw in what we constantly

think about. If you're always thinking positive,

happy, joyful thoughts, you're going to be a positive,

happy, joyous person, and you will attract

other happy, upbeat, positive people."

~Anonymous

December

Holy Cow, it's the last month of the year, and the holiday season...where did the time go. So much to do in this month...a few more goals need to be checked off the list, year end review, then plan for 2012. Sheesh!!! But in this moment I'm just going to breathe and do everything I can to keep my head on straight for this holiday season.

Cartier NYC 2011

Bergdorf Goodman Holiday Window 2008

Zilker Christmas Tree

via Here

via Here