Turquoise Hair Gallery

Dream like New York (or Decorate like it)

In Texas there was a certain look, in the mountains of Wyoming there was another.  Here in Nebraska I've noticed local trends too.  I'm not a fan of all of them, but they do influence my design, both in taste and for re-sale preparation.

So when I was going through a NYC phase (I've wanted to visit the city for decades but the time has never been right--even now its not, I get claustrophobia thinking about it), I decided to gather decorating inspiration from homes that are in the Big Apple.

Do you see anything in this collection that inspires you?

Contemporary Bedroom by New York Photographers Robert Granoff

Contemporary Living Room by St. John's Photographers Becki Peckham

Contemporary Bedroom by Other Metro Architects & Building Designers Lo Chen Design

Eclectic Kitchen by New York Photographers Ira Lippke

What strikes me about many of these is the drab almost matching of city skyscraper grey.  Mentally that wouldn't work for me.  So the orange accent thrown in the next picture is a delight.

Industrial Living Room by New York Architects & Building Designers David Howell Design

The green and white?  Even better.  I'd need some brightness wherever I could get it.

Contemporary Living Room by New Hope Interior Designers & Decorators Gacek Design Group, Inc.

Contemporary Kitchen by New York Interior Designers & Decorators amanda nisbet

Modern Family Room by New York Carpet & Flooring Carini Lang

Modern Living Room

Modern Bedroom by Jersey City Interior Designers & Decorators Beekman Lane

I'm a fan of the table and benches in this studio below.  It's so similar in function and looks to the country style Farmhouse Tables that are popular right now.  Just switching the legs to the industrial looking pipe really ties it into a loft sensibility...and gives me ideas for switching up our dining table plans.

Industrial Dining Room by Los Angeles Photographers Chris A. Dorsey Photography

Do you have a city you'd name as your decorating muse?

Green Hair gallery

As I sit here with boring brown I'm dreaming of yet the next wild hair color.  Indulge me while I explore this fantasy :).

Next up?  

Turquoise.  Stay tuned :).

Excerpts from my Journal

2/16/2015

I need writing catharsis and my body is too tired and in pain to go sit on the floor to meditate like I usually do.

It's Friday.  My hands are gnarled and swollen with arthritis today.  I've been in a slow way progressing, though.  I think this medicine was slow getting started but I have noticed subtle changes.  It takes patience to pace myself each day and accept that my health is weak again that day.

I fought it right when I got off steroids.  I went into a week of vigorous roller skating and dance classes to prove something about what a fighter I was.  What it did is weaken me and I got sick.

Man it is hard to be patient.  I struggle to be proud of myself for the little things I contribute each day, like a load of dishes or keeping Lane fed and changed.  Sometimes I'll get a room vacuumed or a book read.  I AM making the effort daily to get down to the smallest, simplest of victories and let my smile come and my feeling of accomplishment warm my heart.  It helps keep me happy and being happy is important for my health.

Quotes from Reading

"You become the sum of the five people with whom you spend the most time.  If you don't walk away from a conversation feeling bigger or more empowered, then you need to hang around with some new folks.  That's the #1 mistake that young people make.  They hang around with the wrong crowd for the wrong set of reasons, and they end up living a smaller life because the people they are around do not think big thoughts."

-David Wood-

"Before I turned 30 years old, I had already read 500 books on business, on relationships, on marriage, on finances, on many different subjects that I wanted to study.  Those books became my mentors.  Those books became my advisory board."

-Patrick Bet-David-

"Clarity is power."

-David Wood-

10 Edgy Up-Do's

I am in search of an interesting, unique short haircut in order to get rid of some of what I have FRIED trying so many crazy colors.

So, like I should expect...when looking for short hair ideas I found lots of great LONG ones!  I'm really digging these up-do's for super long hair, that give a funky look without any chopping.

See anything you might try?

Bathroom Pallet Wall

Instead of a full wall, we decided to go all the way around our little downstairs 1/2 bathroom.   It's goes up about the height of a high chair rail.

I cleaned and roughly stained the boards using a variety of leftover stains and Dutch oil.

After attaching the decorative boards to the plywood Casey had put on the wall previously,  he added two coats of a spray lacquer for water protection.  There will be a wood chair rail put on top, and of course, a mirror, light fixture...that sort of thing :).

Still I wanted to give an update on our progress.  First of all, it'll be so nice to have a toilet on the ground floor.  But besides that, I'm really excited to see Casey and I's designs come to life.  Making this house our home continues to be rewarding (especially on the finished end).

Bobisms: my quotes on life