Another Good Mail Day

Once again, I came home to some good mail. Not one of those junk mail days. Oh no. First, was this package:

Do you remember that giveaway I won about a week ago? It was a piece of jewelry designed by Julie at Monkey Grass Hill. So, what was in this super cute pink package?

This beautiful necklace! The stones are a dark gray, with just a hint of blue. After just a few emails back and forth, Julie suggested this unique design that I will treasure for years to come. Thanks so much, Julie, you really made my day!

So, what else showed up in the old mailbox? 

A package of travel documents and park hopper passes to . . . you, guessed it . . . Disney World. Yes, we're taking the kids on their first trip to the land where dreams come true in just a few weeks. I'm a little anxious because, well, because it's Disney World. It's a bit overwhelming, but the children are beyond excited. Luckily, the grandparents are accompanying us to provide money back-up.

Oh, and I got a Ballard's catalog . . . 

How about you? Good mail day?

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!