Wonderful giveaways!

 I love this blog universe. So many wonderful people, so many fabulous giveaways!

Three of them are happening now and you only have a few hours to take advantage of them:

Let's start with the darling Zaira from Little Emma English Home.

She's giving away a beautiful scent directly from Provence:

and another wonderful gift, the latest issue of "The English Home"
magazine directly from England (gorgeous pages of inspiration):

Next you can go to Jenni's blog: Nest to Keep and see her first giveaway.
A copy of this wonderful book:

The same book is also the item of a giveaway at Cristin's site
(of which I am a proud new follower!), Simplified Bee. 

If you haven't visited these three wonderful blogs, check them out. 

These ladies are stylish, fun, and well...all around wonderful.

Buena suerte! Good luck!

Pick Me Up Colors

I was feeling somewhat sluggish this morning, like I needed just a tiny little push to get me through the day.
Then I thought...hm...a shot of caffeine? Should I just go out and breathe fresh air? Nah. I went straight to my pink laptop and to Amy Butler Design. Yeah, that did it.

Remember that Sting song "When I'm feeling blue, all I have to do, is take a look at you, then I'm not so blue"...that's exactly how I feel when I go to Amy's inspiration page. Honestly. I do that.

I love the photographs. I love her prints. My seratonin levels shoot up to the sky and my brain starts thinking clearly, energy runs through my body and I am READY for all my weekend plans. I think most of us understand the psychology of colors. Try to look at these pics and see if you feel like getting up and roaming around the countryside or starting a new project. I cannot be the only one that feels this way after looking at them:

I am ready for the weekend. Hope yours is as wonderful as you dream it to be.

Happy Friday, chicas!
oops, sorry! and a few "chicos" too.

Inspiration from Garbo, Sweden

I hope you had a wonderful weekend and that Monday finds you ready for a week of work, adventures, fun, rest, and anything else that will add interest and happiness to your life.

When I have a busy week ahead, I browse through Garbo Interiors website from Sweden. It reminds me that simplicity tends to be (at least in my world) a synonym for comfort and personality. These spaces help me grasp the concept that less is definitely more. Each piece of furniture seems to say "the person who owns me has a beautiful, carefree style that just happens without even trying". What do they say to you?

My mom used to have a garden full of these. 

In Spanish they are called "Corona de Novia" which 

basically means "Bridal crown". 

Their fragrance? Amazing!

This built-in!....yes...I want it...

What a beautiful chair.
I tend to be quite contemporary in my style choices, 

but one unique piece like this one in
the midst of modern

would be the perfect addition to my bedroom:

I can't get over the tranquility I feel when I look at this photograph. 

Is it the flowers? The beautiful window? 

The serene shade of white paint? A combination of all these?

Very simple color palette: white and red with just a touch of green. 

Not my cup of tea, but so fresh, clean, organized, calm.
Of course, my home would not be as organized.
Let's face it. There would be shoes on the beautiful wood floor,
a few books here and there, and the blanket (certainly)
would be on the floor as well.
Life just happens in my home.
I wonder...does anyone really live in a home as organized 

as those shown in decor magazines?

I will look at this site over and over this week and dream that sometime during the weekend, I will add my own personality to my home: just what I like, my own color palette. My home won't ever be as organized, or as clean or perfect, and then again, I don't think I want it to be. I want my family to enjoy it, make it their own. Of course, I have certain rules to keep it as organized as possible. But all I really want is that my home becomes a reflection of who we are, what we like, and what are lives are all about.
Happy Monday, chicas!

Thursday Thank Yous

I am starting a new feature on Thursdays to thank wonderful new friends. I hope you will like learning about amazing, creative people out in the blog universe upon whom you may not have stumbled yet.

Let me start with the fabulous Laura Trevey. Laura is an amazing artist. Owner of Watercolors by Laura Trevey on Etsy and blogger extraordinaire on Bright, Bold, and Beautiful, Laura continually amazes me with her sophisticated taste and colorful paintings. Life and happiness jump off her watercolors. I will be getting this one for my darling granddaughter who takes ballet lessons:

Isn't it just beautiful?

I was lucky enough to win the giveaway Laura was offering a few weeks ago. YAY! I was so excited when I read the good news on my blog. That's how I got to meet the also wonderful Alison from AMK Jewelry on Etsy. This is what I chose:

A bracelet which I personalized with names of
those so close to my heart:

And...these super fun turquoise earrings:

Some of the girls in my family have already hinted their birthdays are coming up while pointing at the bracelet. I wonder what they mean....
I invite you to visit Laura and Alison and enjoy creativity, loveliness, and artistry at its best.
Happy day to all and get ready for my FIRST giveaway next week!