This stuff is goooood.

Stay with me till the end for the Bomobob giveaway winner! :)

Speaking of Bob, I had to brag about my advertisers yet again, cause you know -- they RAWK.

My newest advertiser, Amanda at Imperfectly Beautiful, has the caaaaautest Etsy shop you ever did see. When I saw these on her blog, I had to have them. They were even packaged so sweetly when they arrived, I could just die:
Squeal! I did! I squealed! YES, they are Christmas decorations. YES, I am going there. It's only FOUR months away peeps. That's like, only a third of a year. Geez.

The blocks were much bigger than I thought they would be. I love all the details -- some of the paper even has sparkles (hard to see here):

Squeal! Sparkles!

I can't tell you how pleased I was when I opened this up. Amanda does a great job, you must go check her out here. She's working on an upcoming giveaway for you lovely folks too:And at Cara's giveaway post for The Sheet Boutique, I told you how I bought the EzzzySleep fleece sheets.

They came super fast and uh. my. gawd., they are they most amazing sheets we've ever had!:
I know the picture doesn't convey how comfy these are. They are so soft, I'm not even kidding. When I opened them up I was a little worried they would be too hot, but they are so comfortable, even though it is still fairly warm around here. I am SO thrilled with this purchase. Like sleeping in a fluffy cloud.

The winner of Bomobob's fantastic giveaway is (randomly picked) Erin from Home is Where the Heart is! Erin, e-mail me and I'll get you connected with Bob!

Come back tomorrow -- I have some fun little projects to share. :)

Finland Selected by Formex

Mer från Formex... den här gången hade man tagit fram ett nytt koncept som man kallade för 'Selected by Formex'. Genom den här utställningen ville Formex lyfta fram sina nordiska grannländers design. Först ut blev Finland och designföremålen är handplockade av Stefan Nilsson från Trendgruppen. I pressmeddelandet för 'Finland Selected by Formex' stod det så här:

- Finland kokar av spännande, ny design, säger Stefan Nilsson. Finsk design handlar om ärlighet, att vara sig själv och lite jävlar anamma. Sisu helt enkelt. Det blir mycket trä och naturliga material.

Och så här såg det ut.

Would you, Could you, in a Barn?

The handy man and I celebrated sixteen years of marriage on Friday, and in true form, we celebrated it surrounded by our family while we camped our last camping trip of the season. We are not fussy or complicated, nor has our marriage been; and that is just fine with us. Because we love to tease each other, the inevitable question always pops up each year: would we do it all over again...and my favourite way to pester him: discussing at length how I would plan our renewal of vows (because we really would do it all over again, except there will be no vow renewal...the handy man thinks that is just plain silly!!).

Now, we had a relatively modest affair - though it was as big as I'd ever want it - and it had its fair share of pomp and ceremony. Still, if I were doing it all over again, I think I would do it this way:

• Outdoor venue: why not a barn? Of course make it one that has never housed animals and the resultant manure, of course!

Simple, homemade wedding favours and table decor:

Whimsical ways of involving the guests, like a simple string of photos of the happy couple. Don't you love this?

And what would I wear?

A simple cotton frock, with cowgirl boots underneath?

Nuh, uh!! No way!

I would pull me a Carrie Bradshaw and wear something like this:

After all, it's my fantasy wedding, isn't it?

****************************************

all images: Martha Stewart.com

If you want to read about the best frugal, yet stylish, wedding of all time, check out those crazy kids over at Young House Love. Don't you just love them and their smokin' creativity?!

Open letter to a new Momma

Today we celebrated the upcoming birth of a new baby boy. The mom-to-be is one of my last friends to have their first child, and there is something so incredibly special about that. Something so special you just don't get when you are pregnant with that first baby. You wonder why everyone has constant big goofy smiles, fluffing all over you and can't keep your hands off your belly. :)

And then you have that baby. And you know.

So Momma B., this is what I hope you remember over the next few weeks:

For at least the new two years, probably more, you will have very little control over your life. It starts with labor -- you can't plan it (I know, it killed me too!), you can't tell that little one how or when to come, and you can't control how the labor will go. All you can do is relax, let go, breathe, and realize you have to give it up to the people that know best...the nurses, your doctor, God.

After the baby is here, you will have zero control over your life because that itty bitty patootie will rule. your. world. You will feel exhaustion like you've never known. You will want to give your right arm for a few straight hours of sleep. You will have to plan to leave the house well ahead of time. And when you do leave the house, it will be 30 minutes later than you had planned.

Speaking of sleep, even the best sleepers (ours slept through at FIVE weeks) will drive you absolutely mad at times. They will sleep three hours at a time for a few nights...sleep for six one night...you will get on your knees thanking God...and then that next night they will will wake up every two. It is a bit maddening. There are also nights when they just don't want to sleep, thank you very much. They would rather just lay there staring at you, thank you again.

Because of this, there may be times you will look at your child at 3 a.m., begging him to PLEASE JUST GO TO SLEEP. You may not even like him much at those moments. YES -- I said it, there are times you just are not nuts about them for being itty bitty and helpless and ruling your world (at 3 a.m. nonetheless).

And then that moment passes, and in the middle of the night, you will look at your baby's sweet eyes in the dark, rub his tiny head and you may just cry because you are so incredibly blessed to have this child. To be rocking this child at 3 a.m. You will realize there is no place you would rather be, ever.

You will be overwhelmed at how people love your baby. Yes, you know your friends love you. But you will realize you didn't have a clue how much they love you until you see the way they love your child. You will realize how much you mean to the people around you, because of the way they love your baby. It will overwhelm you, the love you will feel in those first weeks.

A few weeks after that sweet bubby is born, you will start needing a little somethin'. Just a little -- a little something in return for all that feeding, loving, feeding, smooching. And then. THEN, your child will smile at you. YOUR CHILD. He will smile at you like you are the sun and the moon and the stars and it will be one of the best moments of your entire life.

You will spend the rest of your days trying to get your child to smile at you like that again.

One of the biggest changes I noticed after our son was born was the new "weight" of being a Mom. It's the best way I can explain it. It's like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, in a good way. You now have a life to look after, and that is a really big deal. Sometimes that weight is really noticeable. You will feel it all the time -- but mostly when you leave the baby with Daddy for an hour. Or with Grandma for an evening so you can go out with friends.

From the day that baby is born, you are ALWAYS, ALWAYS thinking about them, worrying about them, wondering about them. You may not realize it, but it's always there. That weight lessens as they get older, but it's only because you get used to it. You are now a Mommy, and that comes with so much wonderful responsibility.

Your life is about to change for the better. You will never be the same. You will come back and read this a few months from now and have a whole new appreciation for these words. And when someone you love has their first baby, you will try to express to them the crazy, indescribable love they are about to feel, and you won't be able to put it into words for them either.

You are about to meet the love of your life, and I am so happy for you.

100th Post!!!

I noticed this morning that this is my hundredth post! What a wonderful ride this has been- new friends, information and ideas flowing through cyberspace. I have been blessed to make incredible personal connections both near and far, which I have come to value and treasure. I am excited to keep posting about all the things that inspire me in home decor and design both here in the US, and internationally. I hope Willow Decor continues to evolve and change as I continue to grow and learn. I know exciting things are just around the bend!

I thank you for reading and commenting, and sharing this journey with me. It has been a gift beyond my greatest imagination.

xxx-Gina

.

Photos: 1, 2 - Shannon Bowers/Veranda, 4- Real Gustavian

Formex hösten 2009

Nu är jag hemma från Formex igen. Det är alltid lika spännande att se trenduställningar, lyssna på lite föredrag och spana in alla nyheter. I år hade Formex bjudit in bloggare för pressfrukost och en liten diskussion efteråt. Jättetrevligt! Kul att vi bloggare nu uppfattas något mer seriöst än tidigare och även toppen att få träffa andra bloggare. Jag hade sen förmånen att få springa runt med Annika, Charlotte och Frida och diskutera trender och tävlingsvinnare m m. Så kul!

Formex egen utställning var som alltid tankvärd och tänkt att spegla tidens trender. Den här gången var det designern Paula Malm som hade utformat en blandning av järnvägsstation och kontinentalt hotell med vänthall och spa. Så här står det i pressmeddelandet:

– Jag vill skapa en känsla av ett gammalt, patinerat hotell från en svunnen tid och samtidigt ge miljöerna ett modernt uttryck, berättar Paula Malm. I utställningen dominerar grönt och naturtoner. Den gröna färgen refererar både till jugend-stilen och tankarna på en grön framtid. Det är också mycket trä och snickerier i utställningen som omfattar bland annat hemtextilier, kuddar, doftljus, tvålar, väskor, plädar, vagnar, cyklar och ljusstakar.

Bilderna är mina egna.

Blå inspiration

Har inte hunnit sammanställa från Formex än, så det blir lite blå inspiration från fotograf Trine Thorsen istället. Blått är flott eller hur?

Bomobob art giveaway!

Giveaway is now closed!

Well hello there! I'm so happy you love my tile project as much as I do! I'm thrilled that I inspire you -- I've never done any tiling in my life, and I did it in a weekend on a wing and a prayer. I couldn't believe how well it turned out. YOU can do it too! For reals!

To continue the month o' giveaways, my friend and advertiser Bob from Photos by Bomobob has offered one of you another one of his beautiful prints!
Just in case you don't remember, take a look at some of his gorgeous work:
How fun for a playroom? Kid's room? Office? The colors are just beautiful:

Sigh. I love this:

His photography showcases how the simplest subjects are the most beautiful:

Seriously. Amazing.

I love the whimsy of this carousel:

Oh, how fantastic would this look in a cottagey kitchen or bedroom?

Bob is offering one print, (size 8x8 or 8x10, depending on the original dimensions) or one of his 4x6 print sets of your choice! To win one of these beautiful prints, leave a comment here, then go to Bomobob's Etsy site here and pick out the print you want to win. Come back here and let me know which one you would love to have.

That's it! Thanks Bob for this great giveaway! This one ends at 8 a.m. this Monday (the 31st).

A few announcements -- I'm hosting a Before and After bloggy party on Monday, September 7th! It can be anything -- a painted room, a craft project, an organized space, changing out accessories, whatever! All you MUST have is a before picture! :) I hope you can join me!

I did a guest post for Kennesha over at Me and My House this week! Go check out my Goodwill Survival Guide post when you get a chance.

Finally, don't forget to head over to houzz.com to comment on my feature there and get in on a chance to win the large Ballard Designs pear! The entries end at 5 p.m. EST time on Sunday the 30th. (I just saw that even my Stepmom and Dad commented on there! Sniff!)

Oh yeah, and have a GREAT weekend!! :)

Hemmet stylat i tv?

Har du suttit framför tvn och undrat hur det skulle varit att få hemmet stylat av 'Äntligen hemma' gänget? Då har du chansen nu för de söker nya objekt till nästa programserie. Kanske är det ditt hem som kommer i tv nästa gång. Läs mer om det här.

Cape Cod in Blue and White

I am having trouble downloading my pictures from my trip so until I can figure it out I wanted to share a beautiful home on Cape Cod designed by Catalano Architects (do they ever sleep?!)

Look at the entry to this home! The gate provides a perfect framing for the home. I love the brick driveway with the herringbone pattern and edging in cobblestones. Perhaps my favorite feature is the grass down the center to soften the hard lines.

Here is the back yard. Notice the shingle style feeling. Some features which stand out are the covered porches, I especially like how the round porch balances the round section of the house itself. The chimneys also have some wonderful decorative detailing.
A beautiful entryway with incredible light. Notice the moulding details on the staircase and around the windows.
The blue and white color scheme of the kitchen gives you a classic beach feeling with marble counters and white cabinets. The rounded breakfast nook is lovely with its built in seating and
interesting ceiling design.

Here is the view from the family room. It is important to notice the use of interior windows in this home. The walls entering the kitchen are thick and wide which give the home a feeling of substance and in my opinion the richness of a bygone era. The internal windows then give the spaces a more light and open feeling. Also notice the internal transom windows over the doorways in the kitchen.

The family room from the other direction. Notice the ceiling detail. Touches of blue keep the room soft with out feeling kitschy. The chandelier, anchor andirons and framed flag add a folk-art/Americana feel to this room.

The formal living room is awash in pale pinks. I imagine this room is really pretty in the evenings by lamplight. The pink chairs have interesting upholstered arms.

Perhaps my favorite room is the bedroom. The aqua silk curtains and interesting mirror, along with the white upholstery and bedding make this room very Veranda -esque.

No beach house is complete with out a bunk room! Four bunks each with their own lighting and bookshelf - I like the varnished floors and sliding ladders - it really evokes a nautical yacht like feeling.

Let me know your favorite aspect of this wonderful home on Cape Cod!