Decorating Accessories

A home is a home is a house without accessories. Color is nice, furniture is functional and cozy, but without the accessories, a house is not a home. Needless to say, I am not a minimalist. I like the look of clean lines and everything out of sight. I also like white rooms, and I now know that doesn't work. The minimalist look does not work with me, either. So, I limit my accessories to a few good pieces and make them a focal point. And if I can make them, better yet.

Going back to the model home tour my friend and I took last weekend, there were items I know I can make, and I am always looking for ideas.

Take this bird. I can do this. All this is is a mold and then paint. I do this type of work in ceramics, and really, if you have a half-way steady hand, you could, too.

You could buy the piece in any ceramic shop or at a hobby store that sells ceramic bisques (that's the piece that is already cleaned and fired). Since you are not going to be eating on a decoration, you can use acrylic paint (found at any hobby store or Walmart or a store such as). Paint the bird any color, any way you want. After you are finished, take the bird outside and gently spray an acrylic finish on it -- either matte or glossy, depending on what look you want it to have.

On any piece of ceramic, as long as you are not going to be eating on the plate, bowl, etc., you can use acrylic paints and simply give it an acrylic finish after you are finished.

I love paintings, so I had to include this. Whether if you paint, make, or buy a set of pictures that flow together, the look is stunning. This was behind a dining room table, and I was wondering if I could do this. If I ever try, I would get a piece of canvas then trace a picture on the canvas, and then fill in with paint. I think I should try something like this one day.

Then there is fused glass. This is what I am learning how to do and I understand this piece. Fusing glass is simply melting/firing two (or three) pieces of glass together then putting the fused glass into a mold to get a shape. This vase's outside glass is made with that design. Then, the inside of the vase is white opaque. I really want to learn a lot about this art form.The dish shown is the same fused glass with a tourquoise/green piece of glass and a clear piece of glass fused together and then shaped by having the piece of glass fired again in the mold. So far, I know of three ways to work with glass -- stain glass (where I have made a few pieces), fused glass (where I have also made a few basic, very basic pieces), and blown glass (which I know absolutely nothing about but I think it really cool).

Finally, there was a piece that I thought unique and I am thinking how I could use the idea.

My cousin gave me a piece of white birch when I was in Illinois last summer. Initially, I was going to use it for picture frames, but I am wondering if I could soak the bark off the branch and shape it into a form similar to one seen here. Then, the bark would have openings where I could put flowers, plumes, leaves, etc. Something to think about.

I am busy all the time with my crafts and writing, so this attempt is on my to try list.

And for me, I think I can make anything, or at least I think I can.

Which brings me to something I bought from the men in the wood shop. This is a leaf (right) and they put the base inside a piece of tree. I thought this so cool I had to buy it. Probably cost them nothing to make but time. I paid $25.00. A bargain for a unique piece.




Until tomorrow...have a great day.

Decorating Ideas

Continuing with the model homes tour, kitchens and bathrooms are a must to sell a home, but whether if I have just seen too many kitchens and bathrooms lately, these are the "normal" kitchens for today's houses. The bathrooms were so boring, I did not even bother to take a picture. Sorry.

The kitchen shown at the left is the basic kitchen seen in most models.








What I did like, though, was the tile shown here. It was almost mirrored, yet, it had a good, solid brown shade.







.

The kitchen at the right is your basic white with
stainless steel appliances. And yes, that is the
only type of appliance I saw. So, stainless is still
in. This kitchen was opened to the dining area so there was a nice flow. But, while touring the homes, many had formal dining areas away from the kitchen. That was unusual for today's lifestyle, I thought.









My friend did rave at one kitchen which had an open concept. She loved the counter top and commented that the island counter was not placed high where you needed to elevated bar stool to sit, but had a "regular" size counter. As you see below, the rooms are all opened to one another and the kitchen area is along the back wall. We decided that you could easily seat 20-30 people in this area if you extend to the outdoor dining also pictured here.

But, seriously, this is for the warm countries instead of the northern states with only 3 months of outdoor living. But, hey, a grill is a grill, and who doesn't like food cooked on a grill!

Colors were everywhere, but I thought this bed was a novel idea. What it is is a sofa turned bed. Since I am into repurposing so many pieces of furniture, I could see a worn sofa being cut down and reupholstered and used as a bed. Handyman, please!

 Most beds had the fabric headboards instead of wood, and once again, the rooms were filled with color. I like this idea because it is one of mine. I take a plain off-white room with light furniture then decorate in colors. I figure furniture cost a lot, but I can continually change the accessories and the look of the room with a bit of handiwork and a few bucks, and of course, paint.

Until tomorrow....have a great day!

Decorating Ideas from Model Homes

Saturday, a friend and I went looking at model homes. I sometimes look at these opened homes for decorating ideas, and I can always use one or two as I decorate my house. What I want to show today is what the decorators did with a bit of crown molding on walls.














Both of these rooms show the crown molding cut as picture frames.
That is easy to do with the crown molding and a miter saw to make the corners square. The living room has the frame around the coral painted part of the wall and then simple slats of wood, painted white, are evenly placed on the coral wall, then the decorator put a coral mirror in the middle and you have a focal point for the room. Nifty idea with a bit of paint and wood.

The bedroom above (right) simply prepared the crown molding/picture frames and put them on the wall. I don't see why I could not simply use already made picture frames, paint them a color for the wall and hang (or nail or glue) to the wall. Another idea I noticed and I am trying to see if I can incorporate this into my decorating plans is the painted border near the ceiling. I really like the idea. The ceiling also had the squared frames on it, then crown molding, then the paint, then crown molding again. I like this effect.

More ideas with the same concept -- left shows the squared idea with the tv,

The bedroom simply shows the effects of the squared look with a geometrical design.

Last, but not least is a decorating idea that I believe is relatively new. Above, you see the same squared look but on the wall inside the square is laminate flooring. As my friend and I went around and saw this concept, she said she has seen the laminate flooring on the walls in other model homes.
I told her my niece and her husband just put laminate flooring on their ceiling. And it is so cool.

This is the picture of their ceiling as they are working on it. My nephew said the wood was repurposed and he obtained it off the internet. Completely gives the room a different look.




The right shows the room completed. I love it. What do you think about this idea of using laminate other than floors?





Hope you enjoyed the different ideas today. Tomorrow,
I will show some more ideas.

Until then....have a great day!

A Monday Joke

There was this blonde who really wanted to win the lotto. So she prayed that she would win big. The first day went by and she did not win. She couldn't figure out why, so she prayed more and told the dear Lord that she really wanted to win the lotto. The second drawing went by and she didn't win again. She couldn't figure out why her prayers were not being answered. She prayed again. Then, she heard a voice. Buy a ticket.


until tomorrow...have a great day!

The Fitbit

I really am not that much of a consumer. If places of businesses had to rely on me to make money they would soon starve because I do not shop. But there is one recent product that I have bought that is making a difference in my life.

The Fitbit.

I selected the Fitbit Charge (without the heart monitor). Initially, I wanted to see how many steps I take in a day, and although I tried pedometers, etc., they never seemed to really work for me. What I am finding is amazing.

I have the fitbit synchronized to my smart phone and I can now say I am obsessive at checking the stats, and I am constantly putting in my food and water intake.

My fitbit counts every step I take and even though I know I should walk 10,000 steps a day, so far I can not get in that many steps. I average anywhere between 6,000 and 8,000 steps a day, even when I have the recommended 30 minutes of active minutes.With this data it also tells me how many miles I walk in a day and how many calories I have burned by the activity level. It also tracks floors that I walk, and I have only had that shown a couple of days since I have had the fitbit.

I got the fitbit February 24, so I have approximately 1 month of wear.


Once I input my food, it also tells me if I am in zone or if am over or under for my caloric count for the day. Everything resets at midnight. I also register how much water I drink. Here, I thought I was drinking tons of water a day, and I am really not getting in the 8 required glasses. I am averaging 6-7 glasses a day, so I am consciously trying to increase that level.

Since I am trying to lose a few pounds (I lost 5 pounds this week by simply tracking everything), I needed to find out my percentage of body fat. I searched the internet and did find a site that helped me calculate my body fat. Go to www.active.com. Follow their directions for calculating the body fat, and it will give a good estimation. I believe you can also calculate your BMI on this site, too.

Finally, and this is what I find really amazing. I wear the fitbit to bed and it tracks my sleep. It tells me how long I sleep and when I am restless and when I am awake during the night. What I have found is that I thought I was getting about 8-9 hours of sleep a night, and in reality, I am averaging about 7 1/2 hours a night. And the really restless nights for me are averaging between 6 and 7 hours.

What it has really shown me is what I think and what is reality are two different things. I do believe that with this device and some effort on my part, I can change my body and my health. Which is very good, by the way.

This is not a paid advertisement. I am simply excited about this product. You will find with me that I rarely am excited about a product, and I am on this one. I wanted to share this with you and everyone I talk to.

That is what this blog is all about. Change. And this one device is helping me change another part of my life.

Until next week...have a great weekend.

The Transatlantic Cruise

I do not think cruising is expensive, in fact from what I learned on the cruise ship, it may be the most economical way to travel across the oceans. When I first checked the cruise boarding in Barcelona and arriving in Tampa, Florida, the fare for an inside cabin, double occupancy was $588 pp + taxes, fees. The longer you wait until boarding the higher the price is, but if you book ahead you can get some good prices. And then there are the specials the cruise lines run, such as 2 for 1 or 30% off or spending money onboard. I learned early on when I knew I wanted to travel that I needed to do my homework, and lots of it. The entire trip was for 15 days. Even if the fare is $1500 USA money for 15 days, that includes food and entertainment, and I think that is a good deal. And they do entertain!

We sailed Royal Caribbean, and every night they had a show -- some were excellent, some were so-so, but they did entertain. Then there was the show before the show. Actually, I really enjoyed these because the actors were really the crew that did the dances, etc. from their native countries (and I think many, many countries were represented).

Here, the dancers are readying before going onstage. I think these people were from Thailand, or from Indonesian. Most of these people were our servers and cabin attendants.

These three photos with the bad lighting (due to the ship's lighting) portray the actors showcasing a story from their native land. The problem was that everyone onboard wanted to see these special shows and very few of us could get close enough to really enjoy the shows. That was my suggestion to the cruise line, I would have loved to have seen these showcased on stage instead of the middle of the dance floor. They were spectacular. This is probably the only one I truly was able to enjoy from the four that were offered to us. And I saw this from standing in a corner.


Along with main attractions, there were lectures, trivia, karaoke, dancing and dance contests, cake decorating lessons, napkin folding lessons, gambling, fitness center, swimming and belly flop contests, sun bathing, get togethers for solos, anything that you could think of.

On top of this, I had the opportunity to meet some very nice people. One of the persons I met was a lady from Canada. She and her friend flew from Canada to Barcelona and crossed the ocean to reach Florida. She explained this was cheaper than flying from Canada since the Canadian money has devalued so much. She then was going to spend the winter in Florida and do the reverse cruise to go back to Canada.

Then, at the dining table in the main dining room our seatmates were so much fun to meet. The one couple travel a couple of times a year and lives in Florida, not far from where I live. The other couple are in their 80s and travel all the time. They explained that some 30-35 years ago they sold everything they had and started out. She said then it was bareboned, sleeping in hostels and camping out. And what a life they have had! They now have a small place in Florida to hang their hat between trips. Yes, they are still fit and ready to go.

The six of us (me, my travel companion, the other couple and the traveling couple) had the pleasure to get together in Florida once we returned and she was so right. She had photos (an entire closet full) of photos around the world. I zeroed in on China.

Also, on the cruise ship I learned of people who traveled that way for socialization. Some people were in their 90s and they attended the lectures and entertainment. Some simply enjoyed the sun while reading. People came from everywhere.

Since I talk to everyone, I wanted to know more about the crew. Hairdressers I talked with were from Romania and Serbia, They loved, loved their job and was learning English as they worked and got to know the people. Our attendant was from Malaysia, and he had a family there. Charming guy, and we learned all about his family, sons and grandson. Our main server was from Tortuga (Haiti) and the attendant server was from China. I think she was new, she looked scared to death in the beginning but warmed up as the cruise went on.They work hard, long hours while cruising but only work 9 months of the year. The rest of the time they go home. And I could tell they were a close knit group. Shoot, if I was young, I might try for that job. Meet people from all over the world and get to see the world. Not a bad deal.

The closing night the captain and the crew gave their own show with flags representing all the countries that worked on the ship.

Even though this picture has too much red, due to the smoke and lights of the show, this crew member was from Turkey showing the belly dance.

It's all way too much fun. I am waiting for my next cruise.

I could tell story after story of people I met on this trip and on this cruise line. It was simply so much fun to sit next to someone, say hi and learn about that person to never meet again. But what great impressions I have of the people around the world. I want more.

My tale of this trip is over, but I am sure as time goes on I will refer back to it with another story or another person I have met. It seems as if every trip I take, whether to Yellowstone or Barcelona or cruising is the best trip I have had. Isn't that nice that my experiences are so appreciated and grand!

Until tomorrow...have a good day.

Madeira

Madeira -- an island off the coast of Morocco in the Atlantic Ocean, under the rule of Portugal, known for its wine and flora and fauna, and I must admit, a fascinating place to see.

We stopped in Funchal, the capital of this island, and my travel companion and I decided to take the tour "Panoramic Scenic Drive with Madeira Wine Tasting". It was worth the time and money. What struck me the most was the land.

Houses were built on the sides of the mountain and each one of those rows pictured at the left is someone's farming plot. They used to grow sugar cane but even though that is now grown some, much of the land harvests bananas -- small, green and sweet. They also harvest tamarilho, the English tomato; the custard apple; and a pinapple fruit that tastes like a banana. Now, mind you, there are no roads to the farm plots so people climb to their plot to tend their harvest. Talk about being in shape!



Madeira is also world renowned for its hiking. From the bus, I did view one person hiking the hills of Madeira. The tour guide said people come from all over the world to hike these lands for their vacations.

We saw these lands on the way to the top of a mountain. We ventured up a very winding, narrow road where when we arrived was a most spectacular view, and, of course, a shopping area. (I can say, though, that there were not many opportunities to shop by taking the tours. We actually toured instead of having shopping as a destination. So it was with this tour also.)

From the lookout point we were able to see the wide open Atlantic Ocean that we were crossing (above). Every harbor has its lighthouse (top left), and to the left is the scenery from the top looking onto Funchal away and below the mountain.





The town was quaint with an old charm I like to see when I travel to Europe. We do not have that in America -- our cities are new with skyscrapers, and looking beyond, the cities' border towns have their shopping malls and further from the cities are the rural small towns that are slowly disintegrating. So, I really enjoy Europe's charm. And Europe has a fantastically long history. I like history.

Madeira seeps in history but it is best known for its wine. Whoa! I was not prepared for this wine. When we first entered the bar, we were asked if we wanted sweet or dry wine. Sweet. I was expecting something like the Moscato wine I favor, but not at all! I thought I was drinking brandy. Strong, robust, and I could not taste any sweetness to it. But that is me. Some people loved it. Come to find out, it's one and maybe the only one where a person can open the bottle and it is still good after a year! Now that is robust. It's all in the making of the wine.

As we walked the streets of Madeira, their were wide boulevards and narrow side streets that slightly climbed -- and there was a Ritz Carlton. Wasn't expecting to see that hotel there, either. There were just so many surprises when I visited this town.

But, it was the colorful fishing boats that got me. Loved, loved, loved them. Had one of these photos enlarged and I will be putting it on my wall.

All in all, a very pleasant way to spend a day. Although I am not a hiker, I do believe that this town warrants another trip -- not a long trip, but a stopover for a day or two to explore some more.

Tomorrow, on board the ship.

Until then...have a great day!

Gibraltar

The Rock of Gibraltar is a huge limestone rock jutting from earth for all to see from miles away.





Gibraltar, itself, is a tiny (2.6 square mile) land surrounded by Spain, the Strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean Sea. It is under the British Crown, and according to the tour guide, Great Britain's Royalty have not toured the grounds for 50 years.

I found it small and weather-beaten. Riding on the bus through town the buildings needed a good scrape and paint job, and I can truly understand that due to its location. Even though we did not get off the bus on our way to tea and a stop at The Rock, I noticed the buildings were all together, and the sidewalk was narrow and by the road. I felt claustrophobic and I was not even walking on the streets.

Afternoon tea was a delight. We sat at tables of 10 and enjoyed tea, small sandwiches and scones. A wonderful way to enjoy the day.

After the tea, we took a ride to a lookout point.There were many ships in this harbor due to being able to gas up before heading to the open sea.

I really enjoyed watching the numerous ships with tugs and without going into and out of the harbor.

 What would a harbor be without a lighthouse?

This is the lookout point area. On one side there was The Rock with a Mosque in the foreground (to the right)


And below is the scene looking into the Mediterranean. On a clear day the tour guide said you could see Africa as it is only 9 miles from Gibraltar. And our day was clear, so in the horizon, I did see Africa! (see below)

















But what I thought amazing, and probably the only place in the world this happens is the airport's landing strip. It is in the middle of a road! Or maybe I should say the road is in the middle of the landing strip.

Since I want to see everything I can in this world -- see how people live, how they act, who they are -- I am glad that I saw Gibraltar, but I do not need to go back. There are too many other places I want to see, or revisit such as Barcelona and Malaga.

Tomorrow, to Portugal

Until then...have a good day!

Malaga

MALAGA -- a part of theAndalusia community, situated in the Costa del Sol of Spain, the birthplace of Picasso, and a splendid port to visit and to revisit.







Walking the streets of Malaga was like taking a trip back in time. Here is where the Alcazaba, the Moorish fortress of the 11th century, stands. Although it was one of the offers for a day tour, I opted to see the town and see where Picasso was born and where he lived as a young child. I wanted to walk the same streets he walked, to see the same buildings he saw, and to wonder what he was thinking as a child. I was not disappointed, but knew I had to see more of Malaga some other day. (I keep saying I need to go back to Spain -- to Barcelona and now to Malaga.)

To the left is the apartment's balcony where Picasso lived as a young child. To the right is one of the streets around where Picasso lived as a child. He grew up here, played on these streets, probably drew some of his first drawings about these streets.

Then, the tour guide showed us the church, Santiago Parish, where Picasso was baptized. Amazing, and truly a step back in time. A very small church with alcoves covering its sides with statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mother.

We arrived on Sunday so we were unable to go to Malaga Cathedral, also called "The One-Armed Lady", due to mass being said during our time there. The reason why it is called The One-Armed Lady is the south tower was never finished for a couple of questionable reasons, one being the money was spent by giving it to Americans during their war against Great Britain; the other being the money was spent on the renovation of a roadway called "The Way of Antequera". This is definitely a cathedral I would like to see, so it is on my bucket list.

The other part of the tour was taking a bus trip to a park overlooking the city and a bullring. What a beautiful port town Malaga is!

We asked about the bullfights, and the guide explained that does not occur in Malaga at this time. Which, to me, is good since I do not think I could watch the goring. Remember, I did not even like the Rodeo in Wyoming.

Really, though, the bullring is a magnificent structure, and huge! I could almost hear the Oles as people watch the sport while I looked down on this arena.

And then, the time was up and time to go back to the ship. Long face....

There was so much I wanted to see and did not have the time to do. I did ask the tour guide how much it would cost to rent an apartment in Malaga. He told me to stay on the beach it would be about $2000/month. I am sure it would not be that much money in town or out of season, but if I were to spend an extended time there, I would consider renting a studio or small apartment. There is the history, the beach, buses and trains, and so, so much to see and do. Once again, the people were so hospitable, I would not have any doubts that I would be welcomed to explore their great land. 

Tomorrow, to Gibraltar.

Until then...have a great day!