Follow my blog with Bloglovin Casa Bella: February 2010

Feb 28, 2010

WELCOME MARCH!

Oh dear March: How happy I am you are here, finally. Though a snow storm or two may still fall here on this side of the Rockies, I don't care. I am joyful that the first day of spring is only 21 days away. And that's that.

While you are here, dear March, I will enjoy:
1. Watching the bulbs that have been dormant until now, sprout and grow:

2. Opening the windows to let the fresh air in:

3. Using all my delicate white linens and bed throws:

4. Going on my first trip (definitely not my last) to the nursery:

My goals for March:
1. Enjoy my Birthday and celebrate life
2. Decorate the house for Easter
3. Exercise at the gym 4 times a week (for 1 hour). Swimsuit season is coming soon!
4. Open my Etsy store!
5. Show love to those around me.

What are you planning to do this month?
Happy March, everyone!
All photos by the fabulous Hanna. Visit her beautiful site here.

Feb 26, 2010

I found heaven

Keeping with my turquoise theme for the week I found a thing of beauty. Look! It's the Martha Stewart Blue Collection for KitchenAid. Unfortunately, I already have a KitchenAid stand mixer in black that I rarely use. I bought it in my "I like everything black" stage a few years ago (which explains why my fridge, microwave, and dishwasher are black). You can purchase the set or separate pieces here.
I don't think I would use any of these pieces often, but I would love to have them in my kitchen, just because the color is fabulous! Thanks, Martha.

Feb 25, 2010

Feb 24, 2010

Colors I love this week: shades of turquoise and green

It seems that turquoise is a hot color lately. I've always liked it and will continue to love it even when the craze dies down. Turquoise brings to my mind feelings of all things coastal and fun vacation spots (thinking Seychelles or Maldives, oooh, neat).
Turquoise shades paired with green just make me feel happy and alive:


Be happy, go get something turquoise or green :-)

Feb 23, 2010

Thinking of Easter

I love the Easter holiday. Maybe because it brings with it the beautiful spring flowers and warmer weather. I went to a local store, Evans GateHouse no.1, and saw these Easter decorations. I may do something similar to this table runner (just not so cutesie!):


I am still trying to decide if these are pretty or scary:
 
  
 
And of course, the traditional eggs:
 
This got me inspired to work on some Easter decor of my own. I will show you in a few days.
Cheers and happy Tuesday!

Feb 22, 2010

Inspiration Designer of the week: Hampton Design

I am a total woman. I keep on changing my mind. Although at times I seem to have a defined test, I am quite eclectic (however somehow I rarely want to admit it). I do love clean lines and dark furniture, but once in a while I like to mix old and new. And sometimes I totally love coastal design (sort of a Barefoot Contessa, East Hampton type of thing). Hampton Design is my clean-line, fresh and airy design inspiration this week. Check out these kitchens:
I am thinking of using this tile for my kitchen, in a greenish shade to coordinate with my cabinets. I love the glassy-clean look of these tiles. They remind me of the ocean. What feeling do they inspire in you?

I also love the light blue accent in the vanity doors:

Now THIS is a mud room:



I wouldn't mind doing laundry here (you have to know that I'd rather clean a toilet than do laundry):
May you have a wonderfully inspired week, ya'll!

Feb 19, 2010

When is spring coming....pleeeeease?

I live in the Rockies, in a beautiful valley. So why am I complaining? Because I live in the Rockies, in a beautiful valley, which means...it snows, and snows, and snows, sometimes until mid-May. Yes, no kidding.
I've been thinking Spring for a few weeks now, and I am trying really hard to continue with my happy thoughts. However, I look outside the window and it is..yes, you guessed it, snowing. And it will snow this weekend, no sunshine until Monday.

So I went to one of my favorites sites. Not only this wonderful woman is from Argentina, my native country, but she is a wizard with flowers and with taking beautiful pictures of them (and yes, it is summer down there now, so I am so jealous). Look at these roses, just beautiful and rosy, and aw! I want to smell them:
 
I can't remember what these are, but my mom's garden was full of them. I wish they would grow in my area, but well...they don't. I love their bright purple color. 


You can check out her blog: here.
More beauties:


Ok, now I feel better. I can stand the snow for a few more days. Thanks, Maria Cecilia. Gracias.

Creative finds Friday

So I'm starting a "Creative Finds Friday" category, which means every Friday I will post fun stuff I find out there in the blog universe that I would love to have at home...but you already figured that out, didn't you. These are from The Beautiful Life. I love this super colorful vintage apron. I want to wear it with pink high heel shoes and a nice tweed shirt and imagine I am June Cleaver. I want this one.
 

Now, I'm not much of a shabby style gal but somehow this old box re-purposed as a desk accessory looks really fun to me. This is one of those "why didn't I think of that?" moments. I had a box like this one and threw it away. Darn it.

I admit it. I have a thing for ribbons. I always have. So I'm posting this one just because they make me feel happy.

And last but not least, if you don't want to get your own pop cans and bend them yourself, I recommend you get these soda can cuff bracelets from The Beautiful Life. If this isn't creative, I don't know what is. So, the lesson learned my darlings is to look at things from a different perspective. Maybe that old box can be reused, and pop cans can become really cool bracelets. I love The Beautiful Life for their vintage stuff, but also because their products are sometimes outside the box. Kudos.

Inspiration from Paris (O-la,la)

Why I'm so in love with Provence and Paris, I don't know quite yet. Maybe is the quaint style that looks carefree and natural. You know like when you are cool because you don't even know that you are...(once you know you are cool you are no longer cool - Do I sound like a 16-year old?)
Well...let me explain with pictures. Click on them to make them larger.
The wood floor is reminiscent to me of most homes in Buenos Aires, where I am from. It takes quite a bit of work to get them looking great, but they add so much character and richness to a room. I love the old chest and the tassel detail. That's what I mean. If I would do these things in my home they would feel I am actually trying to make them happen. Here in this Paris apartment, they look just thrown together without much thought. Let's continue:
And this Louis XV inspired furniture?
I would probably get some curtains on that gigantic window, but wouldn't it be nice to take a bath in this amazing bathroom? What a view...
So if you feel like flying to Paris for a week and need an apartment, go here and rent it. I know I will take some inspiration to redecorate my house from these pics.  I will show you what I'm doing in a few weeks. The main thing is to do what feels right to you, and you will create a style of your own. Don't force it. Put YOU in your style and your home. Do people understand what you're all about when they enter your home? If they don't and if you don't, what's missing? Whatever you do, enjoy what you have now and make little improvements as you are able. Enjoy, mon cherie friends.