Beautiful Living Rooms

While I was thinking about where everyone would sit in my living room for the Super Bowl, I was inspired to see where others gather, hang out, and enjoy each other's company. These living rooms are certainly inspiring with wonderful decorating ideas.

bright bold and beautiful via house beautiful, bright bold and beautiful

via apartment therapy, house of turquoise via gorgeous shiny things,

real simple, country living, coastal living

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Bright Ideas: Beat The Winter Blues and Smile

Are the Winter Blues getting you down? Here are some tips to be happy and energized! For me, I instantly feel happier when I make my bed, get outside, connect with friends, do something good for someone else every day, and smile! Even if your smile is a fake one, it will instantly make you a little bit happier. Go ahead, try it right now...

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. ~ Phyllis Diller

Beauty is power; a smile is its sword. ~ Charles Reade

Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important. ~ Janet Lane

I just like to smile, smiling's my favorite. ~ Quote from ELF

So go ahead and Send Flowers to someone you love!

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Related "How To" be Happy during the Winter

Apartment Therapy: 1 Simple way to be happy in the New Year

Real Simple: 9 Things You Can Do to Be Happy in the Next 30 Minutes

Martha Stewart: Body and Soul Challenge

photo: Beautiful Smile

And the winner of Real Simple's 869 New Uses for Old Things is ...

Talia! Congratulations! Please email me ashley (at) decorologyblog (dot) com with your shipping address and I'll get it out to you asap! Thanks to everyone for participating!


If you didn't win this time, don't fret, tomorrow I'll be announcing another book giveaway, so come back tomorrow. And just to get you excited - here's an image from the book I'll be giving away.

Tasty huh? Come back tomorrow to enter the giveaway!

GREAT book giveaway! Real Simple's 869 New Uses for Old Things!

Lucky you! One of you can win this awesome book! It's like a bible for Real Simple's popular monthly feature "New Uses for Old Things"


Here are a few of my favorite from the book:

birdbath: Swap birdsong for blooms. Plant flowering succulents in an underused birdbath.

baby powder: Prevent sweat stains on white shirts. Sprinkle powder on the underarms and the collar, then iron. The powder acts as a barrier. (I have lots of whites so I'm gonna try this one!)

bowl: Peel garlic. Place cloves in a bowl, cover it with another bowl to form a sphere, and shake. The papery skins will flake right off.

ketchup bottle: Driplessly parcel out pancake batter. Pour it into a clean bottle, then squeeze onto the pan, whether in plant=size rounds or silver dollars

coffee filter: When snapping a close-up, soften the brightness for a more flattering photo by placing a paper coffee filter over the flash. (I HATE using the flash so I'm going to try this one next time instead of taking photos that are way too dark!)


One of my personal new uses for an old thing is using rubber bands on hangers to keep cami's and other delicates from slipping off. What works best for me though are the thick rubber bands that are used to keep bundles of broccoli and other veggies together.

So how do you get a chance to win? Just leave a comment on this post - and feel free to share your own ideas! On Tuesday Dec. 7th I'll draw a winner at random and announce the lucky reader the next morning.

The book can be purchased on Amazon.

Good luck!

disclosure: I received this book as a sample

Gorgeous styling with beautiful natural objects and wistful beauty

Nature lovers will love this feature from Real Simple. It's simply beautiful and being fond of decor that is from the earth, I really dig it.


The lamp is perfect, the giant shell a great contrast with the wood beam.

Great juxtaposition with the velvet tufted chaise and the wood and reed elements.

You can click on each image for a larger view - you'll especially want to check out the detail in this montage.


and this one ---I really like wood bowls.


Really really want this coverlet. It's on my wish list on Wists - and available at Bloomingdales.

What do you think?
Images via Real Simple

Great inspiration for hanging art and some good old eyecandy

I'm having trouble accomplishing anything today, but I thought the least I could do is get a post up!

These yummy pics are from Real Simple mag - and show some clever ways to display beloved art.


I like art on the floor leaned against the wall. It's modern and keeps things from looking "too precious"

No one will be able to resist walking up and taking a closer look when a small piece has a solo performance above a dramatic mantle.

This is a new idea - create a horizontal line out of family photos or art across a long empty wall space - no space between frames required!


via Real Simple

Tosca Radigonda's gorgeous home and photography

Tosca Radigonda is a familiar name for many photography enthusiasts. She specializes in photography of babies, children, and mother's, but she's also done work for Martha Stewart and Real Simple, among others. She started her career with hopes of being a fashion photographer, but quickly found her niche photographing babies. I was lucky enough, however, to find a few inspiring lifestyle and interior images of Tosca's.

A project for Blueprint...so pretty!

Via the wonderful Snippet and Ink... (the little girl 2nd row from the bottom- thanks Kathryn ;)

via Real Simple

and look...the photographers awesome Austin home!

Love the Polaroid wall...





Images via Martha Stewart