Colors that make us HAPPY!

Squeeze in Some Citrus Happiness!

Better Homes and Gardens

Green Grass, Yellow Sun, Orange Citrus these all boost our happiness factor! 


As you know, or maybe you don't, Tangerine Tango was picked as the color of 2012! So why not take a bland and neutral room and pop it in, like this room featured on the BH&G website. It's gives this bedroom a wake of call, if you will. I love how the addition of color and pattern gives the room a new energy.

Better Homes and Gardens

This lemon inspired fabric gives this dining a real hit of happy! So you don't have to go crazy with the citrus craze,  just adding these two settees to the room keeps the room from being too serious! Always opt for a little unexpected in a room!

Tangerine and green glamor! I know Pier 1 has a similar fabric as the green chairs. What a fun way to refresh your dining room or breakfast room. Would you be brave enough to go orange on the walls? It works in this room because the subtle damask pattern tones it down. I love the fresh pops of white throughout the room.

A little FYI! Did you know that the essential oils in citrus fruits do actually boost your happiness! 

Try this happiness boosting cocktail: Citrus Spritzer

1 part Sprite Zero (to save calories, of course!)

1 part Pinot Grigio

Add frozen slices of lemons and limes

Budget-Friendly Wedding Favors

Destination wedding on the beach? Try these super easy and inexpensive wedding favors. They only cost $1.50 and the supplies are at your local craft store.

All you need is small glass bottles with corks, bags of sand, bag of small sea shells, jute string, and craft paper in your wedding colors. 

I filled the bottles about half full with sand, then put a layer of the shells on top. I cut pieces of the craft paper into rectangles and cut the other one 1/2 inch smaller, after printing the couples name and date on it. I simply glued the pieces together and punched a hole in one corner. After tying on the jute ribbon, I glued a perfect little shell to the corner for that special touch.

I have to say this has been so much fun helping my sister with her wedding! I wish the best for the happy couple and hope for many joyous years together!

Three Rules For Buying a Sofa

My real-life Sofa, she turned 10 this year!

I think the biggest and scariest decision to make when you are doing your living rooms is the SOFA! We've all been there lost in the furniture store with a sea of sofas, knowing we have to pick just one! Ten years ago I was doing the same thing and I have to say I made a good choice. I will be purchasing a new one soon, but I have never regretted buying her and here's why. I followed these 3 simple design rules:

1. Keep it Classic!
Make sure the lines of the sofa can stand the test of time. Not too modern and not too traditional. My English rolled arm with nail head trim has been around for ever and will never go out of style, it's a classic!

2. Keep it Neutral! I always say you change the pillows to suit your taste, but you can't change the upholstery on the sofa with out dropping some cash! If you keep your big ticket upholstery neutral, it will be as versatile as your favorite pair of jeans!

3. Quality Matters! This is a long term investment for a lot of you! I always say save and spend a little more to make sure you get a piece that can stand the test of time - and the kids and pets! Pick a high traffic grade fabric and a well built kiln-dried hardwood frame and it will!

It really is this simple!  I can vouch for the fact that my sofa has been with me through 4 moves, 2 kids, 3 pets and several style and color phases. I will be sad to see her go, but trust me, I will follow these same rules with the next one and hope to get a century out of her, too! Hope this helps you in your next sofa purchase!

This will hopefully be my next sofa. She's a classic, clean-lined beauty by Kinkaid.

The Alston Sofa by Kinkaid

Save $100 a month on your grocery bill and no coupon clipping!

Let's get creative in the pantry!

After my pantry clean out to other day I realized something, I throw away a lot of food! I had 2 grocery bags filled with expired food. I estimate at least $50 worth of food!

Our family of 4 spends $150 a week average on food. That's $600 a month, not including  the little trips in between for incidentals. I tried the coupon thing and just didn't have the patience and time to do it right! I do use them when I can, I am just not a coupon "Krazy" girl.

I decided, as I was throwing away all this food and $$, that I would try something different. I would go one week of the month only spending $50 on groceries.  That should save me $100 a month! How you ask? By using items in the pantry and fridge and building meals off of that. So I had to get creative! Here are 2 recipes that I came up with by using some of these items.

My grocery bill this week was only $47.63! 

Bean and Artichoke Cilantro Lime Salad

I found that I had several cans of beans left, a can of artichokes, and a can of Rotel . Here's the recipe I created with these three items:

Bean and Artichoke Cilantro Lime Salad

1 can of black eyed peas (Drained and rinsed)
1 can of black beans (Drained and rinsed)
1 can of artichokes (Drained and rinsed)
1 cup of frozen corn (already in freezer)
1 half small onion chopped
1 can of  Mild Rotel (drained)
1 cup of chopped fresh cilantro (the only thing I had to buy)

For the dressing:
2 Tbs of Olive Oil
2 Tbs of white wine vinegar
2 cloves of minced fresh garlic
Juice of one Lime or few drops from your lime juice container (I always have lime juice)
Salt and Pepper
Dash of oregano


Mix all ingredients together and let sit for 1 hour in fridge.
Serve with Chips or baked whole grain tortillas

I also added the left over salad to my chili recipe. That one recipe gave me 3 meals!
 

The other recipe is a quickie! I had half a box of Chex Rice Cereal left over from a holiday recipe and I made a gluten free healthy snack!

Mix the Chex and a few nuts of your choice - I had walnuts, cashews, and almonds.
Drizzle with honey and bake for about 20 minutes on 350.

I ate as a snack and with my yogurt for breakfast. Mmmm!

So instead of wasting food and money, look at what you already have and build your meals off of that one week out of the month! Google your ingredients and search for recipes.

I hope this has inspired you to stop wasting and start saving! Maybe you could use some of the extra money and donate to your local food bank to help others who are really struggling. Not to mention extra decorating money! You know I had to say it!

Design Trends for 2012!

West Elm - Spring 2012

It's a global affair! Looks like the design trend for 2012 is still mixing classic pieces with Turkish and global inspired textiles.  I think if you start with a classic lines and a neutral palette and pop in your global finds, you've got the perfect mix!

Let's talk color! Peacock Blues, Aquamarine and Teal/ Green are still HOT! 

West Elm

Now let's splash in Pantone's Color of the year - Tangerine Tango!

Nate the Great! Global touches and pops of blue and tangerine are the perfect mix!

I love the way 60% of the room is neutral and the other 30% is the tangerine. It makes it a more livable color combo. I use the old designer rule of 60-30-10. That's 10% of an unexpected color that compliments the other hues in the room!  Both of these rooms splashed in a little blue, which is oranges compliment.

Where do we go if we want this look on a budget? Well, HomeGoods, Pier 1, Marshalls, and Cost Plus World Market to name a few. Why not hit the flea and antique markets! Finding a great piece with good lines and painting it one of those fantastic colors. I am headed out on the search for some "Fab Finds" of my own. 

Hope I have inspired your own hunting and gathering! I will be sure to share my finds with you! Please be sure to share yours!

Reclaim Your Space! The Pantry

Does your Pantry look like this? Well, I am embarassed to say, this was my pantry as of this morning. A cluttered mess! Well, I decided to reclaim my space and make some sense of this mess! First, I had to empty the entire thing out. I had a trash bag ready and threw away anything that was expired or just plain didn't need. Next, I went in search of storage pieces that I could use to contain some of the clutter. I found 3 baskets, 1 rubber made large container, and a storage basket with a lid. Then I started putting everything into categories. Snacks and crackers, breakfast, can goods and dinner foods, party supplies, and paper products.

I made these easy labels for everyone to know what's inside.

I used the baskets to contain things that were in bags such as rice, pasta, sugar, coffee, and nuts. This keeps the items contained. Things in bags just don't stand very well on shelves, so the baskets worked great. Because they weren't clear I needed to label them. I used card stock in 2 colors and cut the blue paper 1 inch smaller and glued the 2 pieces together. Then using a hole punch I made holes and threaded the jute through the holes. Then simply tied label to the baskets. Now that's stylish storage!

A place for everything and everything in it's place!

I am proud to say that this is what my pantry looks like now! Everything has place and is easy to find.  

Here are my quick tips on organizing your pantry:

• First clear it out and clean the shelves
• Throw away anything expired or that you just don't need
• Put the items into categories like: breakfast, snacks, dinner, tableware, paper products
• Use baskets or containers to hold items in bags or smaller items
• Put bigger bulkier items on the bottom 
• Use larger containers for paper towels and tableware that is used for entertaining 
• Use the top shelves for items you don't need to access as often

I hope my day of organizing has inspired you to reclaim your space!

Design Rules! The Bedroom

I think of design as more than just adding color and accessories to a room. It's about also setting the right foundation for the room to make it more functional and ultimately more livable!  You ask me all the time why your rooms don't work. They just don't have the right design foundation! So let's get down to the basics of good design!

With my new blog "Design Rules!", I will give you the right formula for every room to create harmony, rhythm, and balance - the basic essentials of every room!

This room works and has that designer look because of symmetry

The balance of colors and scale in the room give it that well designed look. 
  You would not believe how many bedrooms I walk into and I don't see side tables with lamps! Then you say to me, "It doesn't feel right!". Well, that's why!  You have to anchor the bed, by flanking it!
 
So if you fall into this category here's the design rules to follow:

1.  Create symmetry with bedside tables on either side of the bed it makes the room feel more balanced and anchors the bed. (Make sure the scale, which is designer speak for size, of the furniture works with the size of the bed.)
2.  Add lamps to the table for a softer ambiance. Nothing spoils the mood of a room more than over head lighting!
3. The next most important thing is the bedding. This should be where you get your color inspiration for the room. I like to keep bedding simple and serene and layer texture and pattern with pillows and a throw. 
4. If you have the luxury of having windows on either side, it's yet another opportunity to add  balance and drama! Just make sure you ALWAYS hang draperies floor to ceiling! Mounting the hardware at this height give you that designer look!  
5. Art above the bed is the finishing touch to balance the room. Choose art that compliments the colors in the room and you will have achieved that harmonious well designed look! 

Rule Breaker - Your side tables don't have to match exactly. Just keep them in the same scale and color family and you'll be fine!

I am working on building my blog followers, so many of you are fans of my fb page, thank you!  I would love for you to follow my blog, as well. You'll get more in depth information on how to create your best home in 2012! You don't want to miss anything!

Recycle, Reuse, Re-invent

Do you have stuff destined for your next garage sale or trip to your local charity. Well before you toss out that old lamp, table, bookshelf, or picture frame, make sure you check out my weekly "Recycle, Reuse, and Re-invent" blog. I will help you save money and create beautiful decor by re-inventing your junk! I will also show you how to use ordinary items or even recyclables to help you create a more functional home. For instance, did you know box lids make great drawer organizers? 

With the economy the way it is today, many of you think you can't afford a new style. Well, I will help you re-invent your old stuff for pennies and give you a whole new look! 

Look at this lamp my Mother-in-law had in the donation pile!

All it took was a can of spray paint and a new shade. So for under $20, I was able to give this lamp an updated sophisticated look! 

I am looking forward to having some fun with this blog. One more thing, send me a picture of a piece of your junk and I will give you ideas on how to re-invent it!

Home Inspiration for 2012!

Every year we look at a new year as a time to refresh and renew our lives. But times are different today and budgets are tight. This is no different for SH Creating Home! I am so excited about this upcoming year, as I begin to look at all aspects of the home and offer you inspiration to make it the best it can be without breaking the bank! By either following me as I re-create my own home or finding inspiration on the web, I hope to inspire you to do the same!

How inspiring is this kitchen from Traditional Home! Gorgeous!

This kitchen is so inspiring! Yes it looks expensive, but I can offer you ways to pull off the look with out the price tag! For instance, color alone is an inexpensive way to change your space. Maybe just simply going green will give your kitchen a fresh look! For a true green try BM Dill Pickle 2147-40 or try a calmer green, BM Ivy Lane 523. 

Look at the simple earthy accessories add a small herb garden on a tray or a beautiful basket for fruits and bread. Go to your local flea market and find a simple table to recreate this island for more workspace and storage. Or even just simply add a pop of pattern with a new rug or window covering. These simple and inexpensive changes can make a big difference to renew your space!
 

Over the next week, I am going to share with you my ideas for different weekly blogs I will be posting. Everything from budget-friendly dinners and entertaining to reclaiming your space through quick and easy organization ideas. Always taking into consideration our real lives and real budgets!

So invite your friends and lets create our best home together in 2012!