Tree Houses!

As a child I used to dream of living in a tree house. Not simple and rustic, the ones in my dreams would be fairly elaborate, including elevators going up the trunk of the tree complete with wrap around porches. The pictures below make me very happy! Although I do enjoy any tree house now.

The TreeHouse Workshop is a Seattle-based company that takes the art of constructing tree houses very seriously. They build an average of one tree house per month and hire extremely able builders and carpenters to construct their projects. Their finished works vary in luxury but some even include fireplaces!

Designed by Lukasz Kos. Posing as a Japanese lantern on stilts, Kos’ creation floats within the fir trees on Lake Muskoka, Ontario, an elegant slatted structure that scales the trees and lets light radiate down it’s core.

Found in Alnwick Gardens is this tree house. At 6,000 square feet, it’s one of the largest wooden tree houses in the world.

designed by Takashi Kobayashi - this tree house is in Japan and was designed for a Nescafe commercial that is shown in Japan.

Words of the Day

Better Homes and Gardens

Sara's Art House

Run Alice Run

Vinyl Vineyard

Vinyl Vinyard

Why not spend time laughing this weekend? :)

I will be away next week, but don't worry, I have some great posts lined up while I'm gone!

Decorating with Red

msummerchick

Since Valentine's Day is only a week and a half away, I thought it would be fitting to feature the color red. Especially, how we can use it in decorating.

Red is actually my favorite color so I'm loving all the photos I found! I'll have to post some of my wedding pictures one day as red was my main color! (Along with ivory and chocolate brown)

My favorite way to use the color red is in accessories around my house. Since having an entire room painted in red can be a bit overwhelming, I appreciate smaller amounts of the color for a bit of drama. The following photos show a few ways to use accessories. In my home, I love to change the accessories for the seasons, a much less expensive alternative to replacing furniture or textiles!

How about pulling out all your red colored books to place on display?

*Cinnamon

Or create an edible centerpiece using strawberries or red apples.
Chennette

Pillows, pillows, pillows!

Better Homes & Gardens

Or, if you can, how about a red accent chair?

Better Homes & Gardens

Some other ideas I use are: candles, cloth napkins or dish towels as a table runner, or red flowers.

Here's a really neat child's bedroom. Love the wallpaper!

Better Homes & Gardens

The following photos are ones that I really liked using paint and accessories.

Better Homes & Gardens

Better Homes & Gardens

Better Homes & Gardens

What are your ideas for decorating for Valentine's day?

Come back tomorrow to see a great Valentine's day treat for kids!

Go here to enter for a chance to win a handmade purse!

It's the Little Things

*Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the purse giveaway!*

Welcome to my first ever It's the Little Things list! The pictures below are all my simple pleasures that I find delightful in each day. You know, the little things that make my day more pleasant! I like to reflect on those little things especially when my day isn't going how I imagined it would. We all get days like that, right?

First off, I like to start my day off with a steaming hot cup of tea or coffee. I like to switch it up depending on my mood.

(decor8)

Although, I don't use it everyday, my red Kitchenaid mixer makes me happy every time I look at it. I've wanted a red one for as long as I can remember and I finally received one as a wedding gift!


My little ivy plant brings me great joy. I love flowers in the summer (well, all year) but this plant does me good all year round. I've even managed to keep it alive!




I love candles. There's rarely a time I'm not burning one!

This here is my all time favorite fabric softener. Downy Vanilla & Lavender. There are no words to describe how good this smells. I especially love it on our sheets!

I can not go a day without spending some quality time with my dear hubby. Although some days we may only be able to see each other at dinner time.

Here's the fun part, my first giveaway! Since I've been having so much fun lately sewing purses, I've made one for one lucky commenter. Here it is:

I'll leave the giveaway open until Friday night (February 6) and announce the winner on Monday. I'm sorry but I can only make this available to Canadians or those in the US. Now go ahead and comment away! If you tweet, stumble or subscribe to my blog you'll get an extra chance to win. Just comment a second time letting me know what you did to promote this! Thanks so much!

Now here's your chance to play along with your own list of It's the Little Things. Please link up with Mr. Linky and show me all the delightful things in your everyday life!

Some Flowers For You!

Here are some flowers to brighten up your Monday! Enjoy!

Flickr - yoshiko314

Flickr - moonchild41

Flickr - sara+h

Flickr - alvidk

Hooked on Bedding

I'm bored with our bedding. I'm a simple gal when it comes to decorating but I think our bedroom needs a bit extra. I think I'm dreaming if I think my husband will go for a new set since we did get new stuff for our wedding about a year and a half ago. But, my husband has never stopped me from dreaming!

I quite like this one. Not too ornate. (See, I like simple.)

Home Outfitters

Isn't this one neat? I love the rushing! It's by Marie Claire

Home Outfitters

Boring. But I do like the red sheets! I could always do that quite easily with our exsiting duvet...hmmm.
Macy's

I think this is one my husband would like. Manly.

Home Outfitters

This one might be too boring again. Although it is calming!

Gluckstein Home

Go visit Julia at Hooked on Houses to see what everyone else is hooked on!

Winter Calm

I'm not sure about you, but as soon as the hustle and bustle of the holidays are over, I can't wait to put all the decorations away. Create a clean slate. No clutter, just space. I do keep a few accessories around but they're mostly candles or white/cream objects. Cozy throws are still a must because after all, it is still winter!

For me I find the inspiration in the snow covered views. Everything blanketed in white. The following photos are the definition of the winter calm, in my eyes.

(source unknown)

(source unknown)

(source unknown)

(Delightful Home)

(Design Inc)

(clockwise from top: restoration hardware, Martha Stewart, Inside Avenue, Restoration Hardware, Restoration Hardware)

How do you like to decorate in the winter after the holidays are over?

Winter is Beautiful

(Photo by zurirolf)
(photo from stock.xchng)

(photo from stock.xchng)

(photo from stock.xchng)

(photo from stock.xchng)