A RED living room rug!

If you had told me last year that we would have a red rug * in the living room . . . I would have called you crazy! But somehow it's happened. I blame Sarah Richardson. If you've seen her Farmhouse mudroom you'll know what I mean.
I blame the perfect storm of . . .
-Lee spilling slurpee on the beige carpet this summer (a stain that is more stubborn than any surly teenager).
-The previous purchase of a wool rug that was way too thick and had us tripping over it on a daily basis.
-Sarah Richardson's Farmhouse Mudroom.
And
- The fact that we're into the colder seasons, where a nice warm color palette is oh so appealing!

So without further ado . . . may I present "Lucy" (I named her that because she's red like Lucille Ball's  hair!)

 The addition of  a little red pillow on the couch helped make Lucy (the rug) feel more at home!

  I hope you like it as much as we do. It warms the room up so much and makes everything feel cozy.

 I can't wait to add some red Christmas accents!

p.s. You can find the rug at Ikea. It's called the Kattrup Rug.
I'd LOVE to know what you think . . . Layered rugs YES or NO?? 

Check back this afternoon when I finally reveal my Birthday Gift!! 

 *Contains Sponsor Link.

Lessons I've learned, and a Birthday Giveaway!

This Giveaway is Now Closed and our winner has been notified. 

Thank you SO much to everyone who entered!  

Happy Birthday to Me! :)

Today I turn the BIG 2 9! Wow, 29 years old here's a condensed list of everything I've learned in my 29 years.

1. Always keep your mouth closed when using the toilet brush to clean the toilet.
2. Vinegar is an amazing product, always have some in your home. From softening your laundry to getting out carpet stains, right down to pickling your cucumbers . . . Vinegar is Awesome! 
3. You cannot please everyone, that's true in real life . . . and in blog life! :)
4. You will always find what you seek out. I know that sounds very touchy feely, but I have found that when you look for the good you'll find it . . . when you look for the bad you'll find it, when you look for faults you will find them.Try to look for the good.
5. Being on time shows respect.
6. Sometimes you have to give up control of things you had no control over in the first place :) haha. This made sense in my head, I hope it makes a bit of sense when you read it.
7. When posing for photos always assume your grandma is going to see them! 
8. Friends are the family you get to choose, and family is everything. 
9. Everyone loves someone who gets to the point quickly!
10. Marry Lee, he makes life awesome! (sorry girls he's taken ;) haha. 

 That's my list . . . I'm sure there are other important life lessons I've missed like . . . don't eat yellow snow and don't poke the bear, but this is what I've learned in the 29 years I've been here.

So since it's my birthday I thought I'd give something away to you!!!!

 I made another batch of fabulous soy candles and fancy tea towels and I thought I'd give some away! :)

I'm so excited to be giving away some of my very own creations!

Here's the details: 

To Enter: Follow us on Facebook! Pop over to our page here give us a follow come back and let us know!!
Bonus Entry: Follow us on Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram! Come back and let us know . . . or follow us on all of them and enter to win 4 more times! :)

Prize: One Large Soy Wax Candle (Lavender Scented) over 40 hours of burn time and Two Fancy Tea Towels!
Open to: EVERYONE! World Wide.
Contest Closes: Friday, November 23rd, 2012 at 11:59pm PST.

*Check back this evening for a bonus post about what Lee picked out for my present this year . . . he hit it out of the park this year!!!! :)

Flowers on Friday: Farewell to Fall

We hosted some friends and their super sweet kids on Halloween night. It was so much fun to trick or treat around with the kids and walk through the haunted house!
As a thank you for having them we were given a beautiful bouquet of fall flowers!

I thought I'd share them with you today because after this it's going to be all Christmas Flowers! Paper whites, poinsettias, mini spruce trees, amaryllis, the list goes on.

Here's our farewell to fall!

We have tons to show you next week . . . we have a giveaway, some book reviews, and a couple great project! I can't wait to show you!
See you then!!!!