Hair mania...

How is it that our self-esteem is totally wrapped up in our hair? You know, after you leave the salon with the perfect new cut and color you suddenly feel great...until that evening when you freak out about restyling it and wondering if it even looks close to the way it did at the salon. We go with clippings from magazines...I want a little of this and a little of that but not too much of this... Our poor stylists. What we do to them!

I am guilty of having a hair file, full of shades of red and auburn and blonde. I used to be a blonde, but will likely never go back. I feel more myself as a redhead. Think about that. I absolutely identify with my hair. Is that crazy?? Apparently not, since after a few days of conversation on the topic, I am really not alone.

I was able to do an interesting social experiment when I made the shocking switch in hair color. I found that going from long & blonde, to shoulder length auburn I was both taken more seriously at work (and produced far greater sales results) and was looked at more often by men. The kind of men you would want looking at you.

This is all surfacing because I inadvertently got a haircut far shorter than I ever intended. I let my stylist have at it with the scissors and didn't realize what he was doing until off went 6 inches of hair! I have received several comments that I look like a "working woman" though I feel like I belong on the six o'clock news. That or driving a minivan with kids screaming in the back seat. I don't think this cut will last for long, but I did find it interesting how much a few less inches of hair can totally mess with my psyche!

The new do...

Choosing a Paint Finish

There seems to be a LOT of confusion on this topic, and the wrong choice of finish can lead to poor outcomes. (V!?!) I want to give you a basic where-to-use-what guide to help. They guys at the paint counter, while experts in paint, are not experts on interior decor and can often lead you in the WRONG direction. I found a pretty good explanation that speaks to the finishes. I have edited the original below. The full text article can be found here. My comments are in parentheses.

• There are many different types of interior paint finishes, all of which essentially refer to the final paint finishes reaction to light. Different manufacturers of paint sell paint in any combination of finishes, though generally not all of them. The following descriptions of interior paint finishes refer to interior latex paints.


• Flat and matte paint finishes have no real sheen when the paint has dried. Rather than reflect light, flat and matte paint finishes absorb it. Both paint finishes are good for hiding small surface imperfections and imperfections in application, such as brush or roller marks. Flat and matte finishes are good choices for interior walls in rooms that receive little traffic or for painting ceilings. Both paint finishes are generally poor choices for kitchens, baths, and kids' rooms because they do not wash as well as other paint finishes. (**I have never purchased flat paint)


• An eggshell paint finish is similar to a matte finish but has a tiny amount of sheen to it when dried. It is a good choice for interior walls and washes slightly better than flat wall paint. Eggshell paint finishes are sometimes interchangeable with matte paint finishes in certain brands of paint. (**I prefer this finish for most interior walls, color looks rich & opaque)


• A satin paint finish is often the glossiest paint finish a decorator will recommend for any room save the kitchen and bath. It is not a high-gloss finish, but does have a smooth, velvety shine to it when dried. Satin paint finishes do not hide imperfections in surfaces or application as well as the aforementioned finishes, but they are forgiving enough for novice painters to use. A satin paint finish will reflect more light than eggshell and is a great choice for kids' rooms and trim as it stands up well to washing. (**I prefer this for the kitchen & bathrooms)


• Semi-gloss and high-gloss paint finishes are at the other end of the spectrum and reflect the most light of any paint finish when dried. Semi-gloss is a great choice for kitchens and baths as the finish can stand up to water and frequent cleaning better than other finishes. Many people also choose to paint trim with semi-gloss paint for the same reasons. High-gloss paints are not generally popular choices for walls, but many people choose gloss paint for painting furniture especially for a modern look or durable paint finish. (**while the guy at the paint counter will tell you to use semi gloss in a bathroom, I highly advise not. Satin will hold up just as well and make for a prettier color finish. I tend to use semi-gloss for trim only. I have used high gloss on furniture and it has held up beautifully)


• Choosing the right interior paint finish is mostly a matter of personal preference; just remember that the higher the sheen, the more durable the paint is (**but carries less color wow) in the face of frequent traffic and washing. Keeping in mind the use of the room you are painting will help you to select the right interior paint finish. It's choosing the right color that's the hard part!

Paint, Paint, Paint!!!

Paint is one of my personal obsessions. Being an art minor, I have always loved mixing, experimenting and artfully combining colors. From canvas to walls to furniture, I am obsessed with finding the perfect color.

My sister-in-law is in the middle of a huge home renovation and has repainted most walls in her home. She introduced me to a website that is the most amazing color site I have seen. If you have a bit of time to kill and are thinking about repainting...you have to check out MyPerfectColor.com!! She now swears by the Benjamin Moore brand of paint. I cannot yet personally attest to this, but she says the quality and hue is far better quality than the Behr paint she used before.

Some of the great features you will find on MyPerfectColor include:

• Expert designed multi-color palettes for throughout your home


• Converting a color from one brand, to the same color in a different brand
  
• 16 oz mini samples to test a few colors before you dive into one color


• Aura, a collection of colors, that ALL go together so you dont have to worry if all of your house flows!


• A BLOG!!! There is a GREAT informational blog about paint & painting that I highly recommend!

Have fun!!! Always feel free to email me if you want to talk about color--I love it and have helped a lot of people choose the right ones. :)

Rusty Update

Rusty was diagnosed with Boxer Cardiomyopathy, a common heart defect in the breed. We are treating him with beta blockers and anti-arrhythmia drugs, but there is no guarantee that they will prevent sudden heart failure.

Learn more about the Cardiomyopathy here.

Please say a prayer for our little boy. We are heart broken.

[credit: Photography by Kim]

CPR for DOGS

Well this weekend we had a huge wakeup call. About 2 am Saturday morning, our beloved boxer, Rusty, stopped breathing. My [almost] doctor husband reacted quickly to my panicked screams and sprung into action using his people medical skills to save our dog. After a day of testing we still do not know what is wrong. My husband detected an arrhythmia immediately following the episode and the vet suspects Rusty has a heart condition which is a common problem in boxers. We will know more after he has an EKG.

If I didnt have my husband and his medical knowledge Rusty would probably not have made it becasue I wouldnt have known what to do. I am taking it upon myself to implore you to learn the animal CPR and HEIMLICH if you are a pet owner. You never think you need to know it until you have an emergency; then you wish you did. I will make it easy for you. Please, please, please follow the links below to teach yourself this knowledge. You may just save your four-legged friend's life.

DOG CPR

DOG HEIMLICH

The following books can be purchased from the American Red Cross and are specific to DOGS or CATS.

Flickr Love...

So when my sister in law, Kim, introduced me to Flickr, she neglected to tell me how addictive it is! Household projects (not fun enough to post) have been keeping me busy as we prepare our home to be put on the market. I have managed some photography here & there...

wanna play?

[This one got a large amount of love on Flickr]

sunbathing

[this one got some love, but I am particularly proud of it]

I'm so excited...and I just can't hide it!!!

Well...that dangling carrot has finally been caught-by ME! I found out today that I earned high enough rankings in my company to be part of President's Circle, which comes with a 5-Star trip to...GERMANY!!!! When I first joined my company I remember sitting at meetings watching the fancy vacation reel every year and half heartedly paying attention, thinking it was so far out of reach for me. Well...a year of busting my butt & it is paying off! I put over 45k miles on my car this year and spent more long workdays & overnights than I care to remember, but it will all be worth it in June. I will blog it all! Promise! I must improve my photography skills by then so I can have beautiful things to share! Sadly my hubby wont be able to join me since he will have already begun residency so I am making it a girl's trip...Tori get ready!!!!!!

Here's the scoop:

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE - GERMANY

Hello and Congratulations on being named to the 2007 President’s Circle! The purpose of this letter is to provide you with some general information regarding this year’s program.This year the President’s Circle Program takes us to the home of Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, beautiful Germany! We will begin by visiting Berlin, a dynamic city, featuring traditional and historical architecture such as the Brandenburg Gate and completely new buildings such as those in the Potsdamer Platz along with fabulous museums and shopping. The second part of our trip will take you and your guest to Munich, “The village of a million inhabitants”, known as such for it’s village-like intimacy and yet being a city rich in culture and history. From here, you and your guest will have an opportunity to not only tour this beautiful city, but to visit some of the most spectacular outlying regions of Bavaria. We are very excited about the program planned for you this year, and we look forward to you having an experience you will remember forever.

HOBBY LOBBY---NOW ONLINE!!!!

My favorite go-to craft & home project store just launched their online site! EVERYTHING is 25% off right now and...are you ready...here's the best part: if your order is over $25, shipping is free!!!

Check it out:::::: www.craftsetc.com

Currently Coveting:

I just wish the cork & whiteboard were reversed so I could write my weekly meal plan out on the little sliding stripe! I promised myself (and my husband) that I would not purchase anything more for the current house. Waiting for the next home to determine the "spruce up" budget & new place needs...

Magazine Files...Made Beautiful!

This week brought the much welcomed return of my husband to the hospital...halleluia! You see, I married a man that just was not equipped to be anything but ridiculously busy. When he isnt busy, I am the sole recipient of his attention which means I get nothing done! So away he went...remembering every day just why he wanted to be a surgeon...and here I am...finally getting back to creative projects!

I have wanted to do something with my eyesore magazine files that I bought with the intention of painting. I was going to paint them to match my bookshelf so they just blended in, but obviously that is too boring for my taste. So I brainstormed & brainstormed and was inspired by a fellow blogger. Two Straight Lines is a blog by a Wondertime Magazine craft contributor. Her use of magazine files was what I based this project on...and I am dreaming of that lovely piece of IKEA furniture she uses; it is surprisingly cheap! My next investment...for my next home...

But back to magazine files. I use them to organize everything. I have folders & envelopes inside to organize project clippings, office supplies and anything else I need an arms reach from my desk. I bought these cheap black magazine files from target with the intention of removing the ugly grommet (which I did on one) and sprucing them up.




I started the project with the files, 12x12 scrapbook paper that I picked up on sale at Hobby Lobby, Clear Contact Paper, my Creative Memories cutting system, ribbon, and a credit card (and a screwdriver for removing grommets)

I cut each 12x12 sheet in half and cut a piece of contact paper to cover the sheet, with about three inches on all sides of the paper.

Since all of the magazine files I found were just taller than 12 in, I had to get creative to make up the gap. I didnt want any of the black showing, so I cut a piece of ribbon (which actually is the same ribbon I used for my Linen Pinboard project) to make up for the space the paper couldnt cover.

I then stretched the contact paper over the end of the magazine file and used a credit card to be sure there were no bubbles under the paper. I had also pre-bent the paper over the sides of the file just to give me a guide when I put the contact paper over it. I used contact paper because given my tendency to redecorate yearly, I wanted to easily be able to remove this patterned paper and replace it in the future. Nothin' like planning ahead!

Then, I wrapped it tight on all sides like a present. I cut some of the contact paper out on the corners, just so the excess was managable to fold over itself on the inside of the file.

There's the first one!

Such an improvement!

And now it's complete. Uniform & much better looking than the black. Now time to tackle the matching bookcase on the other side of the window!