Shabby Apple Giveaway

Happy Monday! I've got a great giveaway for you this week from the online dress shop Shabby Apple. If you haven't checked out their designs, you are missing out. Shabby Apple offers women's dresses and little girls' dresses in classic silhouettes at a great price point. Here are some of my favorites . . .

The Gondola

The Nantucket

The Overboard

And this classic, the Azure Coast wrap dress, can be yours through this giveaway. 

Isn't it cute?

To enter, simply become a follower of this blog (if you aren't already) and leave a comment. For an additional entry, you can "Like" Shabby Apple on Facebook, then just come back and leave another comment telling me you did so. The giveaway will close Sunday, July 17 at 9 p.m. CST, and the winner will be announced next Monday, July 18th. Good luck!

My First Giveaway

I'm hosting a great little giveaway from CSN to help you invest in your fall decorating or wardrobe. As many of you know, CSN Stores has over 200 online shops where you can find everything from stylish handbags to modern bar furniture to great lamps and decorative accessories. Some of my current favorite items are:

This Harry Allen-designed pig.

He comes in different colors, but of course, I love the golden pig. Isn't he cute?

The Philippe Starck-designed Ghost Chair by Kartell. I already have one of these and love it so.

It looks great anywhere.

The Napa Sunburst mirror.

Some people are over sunbursts, but not me.

This wool Soho rug by Safavieh.

Looks very Madeline Weinrib to me.

This brass and granite coffee table. Very spare and chic.

Would look great in a Miles Redd-inspired space.

And some cool Robert Abbey lamps: 

Doughnut "C" Floor Lamp

 

Harriet Table Lamp

KineticPharmacy Desk Lamp

 Hmm. Lots of gold in my choices. Coincidence? I think not. 

The giveaway is for a $35 credit to be used toward the purchase of your choice at any CSN shop. To enter the giveaway, simply hop over to CSN Stores then come back and tell me what item you've got your eye on. Become a follower of this blog for a second entry (if you're not already), and for a third, simply mention the giveaway on your blog (and just let me know you did so). The giveaway will be open through Tuesday, October 26. I'll announce a winner on Wednesday, October 27.

Thanks & good luck!

Sources: Elle Decor and Blue Hydrangea

I Won!

It's a miracle . . . I won something!

Do you remember this giveaway I mentioned a few days ago? Well, I won! And, I never win anything. This is one for the record books.

Julie from Monkey Grass Hill and I have exchanged a couple of emails, and she's thrown out a couple of ideas for my very own piece of her jewelry.

I am so excited. There's nothing quite like jewelry to perk up a girl's day. I'll, of course, share photos of the finished item once it arrives.

Thanks again, Julie, for the opportunity to win an amazing piece of jewelry! Check out Monkey Grass Hill to see more of Julie's beautiful creations and read about her journey to make her house a warm and inviting home.

And the Winner Is . . .

No, I'm not announcing the winner of some super giveaway because, well, my blog's just not that popular yet (however, see below if you're interested in a giveaway). 

I'm actually announcing something much more exciting (well, to me anyway) - the paint color that will go in most of my house. Okay, so it was never really a competition, but it kind of felt that way. 

So, without further ado . . . the color will be: 


Wheeling Neutral by Benjamin Moore.

Sorry, this photo is not great. I tried to download a swatch off the Benjamin Moore website but it didn't work. So, this is the sample I painted on poster board. 

Special thanks to Marianne of Haven and Home for suggesting the color!

Honestly, after a while all the paint started to look alike . . .

And, after 11 samples, I was a bit bleary-eyed . . .

But, after all was said and done (and painted), Wheeling Neutral emerged as the favorite for its lack of pink or yellow undertones. If anything, it might have a hint of green but overall it's a clean, crisp neutral that I believe I can live with for years to come.

Armando (my favorite painter) is booked for Monday, and I can't wait. Don't you just love saying "Armando"? It makes me think of some hunky guy from a Telemundo soap opera. Trust me, he's not.

In other news (that I hinted at above), there are a couple of great giveaways I've run across on other blogs in the past couple of days.

Julie over at Monkey Grass Hill is offering a fabulous jewelry giveaway. The best part - she makes this jewelry herself, and it is beautiful! Very vintage-inspired and unique. I love it. 

Plus, while you're over there, check out her blog as she shares before and afters from her home and muses over whether or not she has too much zebra stuff (something we all can relate to). She's very unpretentious and down-to-earth - my kind of girl.

And the second giveaway is a great Gold Sunburst Mirror (who wouldn't love one of these?) from From the Right Bank.

Ally of From the Right Bank has clocked some serious travel time (she seems to be almost as well-traveled as my father), and has recently hosted a spate of guest bloggers as she has been in India - poor dear. Her blog is very entertaining, check it out here.

That's all for now. I'll keep you updated on how Armando's doing next week!