tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57432147832042349462024-03-19T14:47:52.936-07:00Jiminey Cricketgillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.comBlogger169125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-88006666971446272582013-01-14T19:10:00.002-08:002013-01-14T19:10:34.972-08:00Weekend WorthyYou know those weekends you look back and think 'what did I do?' But with a smile on your face? No? You have no idea what I mean? Well, that's a shame. That is what this past weekend was for me. I did absolutely nothing significant, but at the same time I had an absolute blast!<br />
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My in-laws came into town to cheer me up which was pretty nice. I'm one of those lucky people that actually enjoy my in-laws, which is good because they come and visit quite frequently! LOL. After more than a TWO year boycott, I finally decided to join the gym again. It had been almost two months since my last "real" work-out (I put that in quotes because, while I do long walks often I rarely consider that a work-out) so it was time to get back on the wagon! We went and saw a movie at the theaters and ate amazing food (again, good I returned to the gym). ;)<br />
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Yesterday the hubby and I spent the entire day on the couch watching White Collar. It's a new series we started watching on Netflix. Gotta love those streaming services which allow you to watch endless amounts of shows you never knew you wanted to watch. Whatever, I enjoyed being a fat lazy bum with my two loves-Bailey & Ry. Oh, and the weather in Hampton Roads has warmed up. I'm not one of those people that get bad at a nice day in winter. I'll take the little break of scraping ice off my car in the morning, thank you!<br />
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All in all, this weekend has be raising my hands screaming Hallelujah for the good, but certainly not too memorable, time. (In case you're having trouble imagining what that might look like, I've trusted Google to illustrate it for me).<br />
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How was your weekend?gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-80508739403752231592013-01-11T17:57:00.000-08:002013-01-15T10:06:38.250-08:00New and Old<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Am I the only one who finds the new "old" or "vintage" trend interesting? It seems buying vintage or thrifting is a hot trend both in fashion and home decor. Take an old piece of furniture, like my dresser turned TV stand, buy it and turn it into a new piece by sanding it down and painting. Or take a 1950s inspired dress and remix it with a new belt, colored tights and booties and it's a classic outfit for the office. A mixture of old items, made new.</div>
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While at TJMaxx the other day I saw this beautiful bowl that looked vintage but it wasn't. The delicate flower detail with light blue coloring reminded me of my grandmother's kitchen wallpaper but there was something that just appealed to me. Screamed "take me!" So I took her home. She now sits on my jewelry stand giving my pearl necklace and skinny headbands a home.</div>
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<br />gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-37943121914067668032013-01-05T21:13:00.001-08:002013-01-05T21:13:44.640-08:00The New YearDid everyone have a wonderful Christmas? I sure did. Loads of time with family. :)<br />
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As you may have noticed, I have taken a little break from blogging the last two months. Without going too far into details, I do like to keep some of my private life private, I have had some personal things going on. In addition to those personal things, I have also been thinking a lot about who I am and what I want to write about.<br />
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I read a lot of blogs for work and personal. For my job, I love to work with home decor/DIY and even entertainment bloggers. But personally, I have been really stalking fashion blogs. One thing I have read over and over again with the fashion blogs, you have to be true to yourself and you can't feel the pressure to be anyone else or keep up for appearances sake.<br />
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I've been out of high school for over ten years; you think this mentality would have sunk in by now but it hasn't. Regardless, I'm just about there...now. So that's my New Years Resolution when it comes to the blog. It's not going to be defined because I will write about whatever is going on in my life. I'm excited for the clarity that I am finally starting to have and I'm looking forward to all the 2013 has to bring. Happy New Year folks! :)<br />
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<br />gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-53140154665547066852012-12-25T18:23:00.000-08:002012-12-25T18:23:46.650-08:00Gallery Wall UpdateGallery walls have been huge in home decor this year! I took my first stab at a <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/2011/07/calling-all-design-peeps.html" target="_blank">Gallery Wall</a> awhile ago, and our wall has been like that since but now it's time for a change. I mean look at the amazing gallery wall in Shelley's House of Smith's home. With those as inspiration, mine needed to be revamped big time.<br />
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For my birthday my lovely sister-in-law bought me the amazing pictures I wanted for the <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/2012/09/holy-stripes-batman.html" target="_blank">guest bedroom revamp</a>, and instead of using them for the guest bedroom I decided they were just TOO good looking to keep in that room! I mean come on....look at them again!<br />
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So with that, I decided to make a different gallery wall type thing for our living room. I wouldn't really call it a gallery wall per se, I think it has too much symmetry and is only 5 frames but I still like it. <br />
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On the hunt for inexpensive frames I was on my way to TJMaxx but stopped by Garden Ridge just to check it out. I don't go to Garden Ridge typically....actually, I never go there. But for some reason I had a hunch to stop by & Jiminey Crickets I'm stoked I did! I found four silver frames that were perfect for the 5x7 pictures for $5 each; but I took the photos that were suppose to be in the guest bedroom. So now I am going to use the left over frames/photos from the gallery wall in that room {another post}. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is in our entry way!</td></tr>
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In addition to sending the four 5x7 photographs, the seller also sent two 4x6 photographs. I used those in a frame for our entry way, so I can seem them each time I walk in the house. :) So what do you think? I'm pretty happy with it but it takes some getting use to since the previous one had TONS of photos to look at. But I think the new and improved wall has prettier photos!gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-9976704916615497132012-11-24T09:19:00.000-08:002012-11-24T09:19:04.511-08:00Stylin & Profilin'I have spent an inordinate amount of time stalking fashion blogs these last few weeks. It started while I was stuck in the house during Hurricane Sandy, then it became a crutch when I was drugged up on cold medicine. Regardless, I'm hooked. <br />
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So you know my love for Pinterest right? {I've shared this love affair many times on <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/search?q=love+pinterest" target="_blank">the blog</a>} Well, while pinning some apparel options I found a pin from Audrey at <a href="http://www.puttingmetogether.com/" target="_blank">Putting Me Together</a> and decided to visit her site. What started as an innocent pin turned into hours of sifting through her blog. I've been looking at my wardrobe lately thinking of pieces I need to purchase to be "trendy" or look more professional for work (at Homes.com we have <strong><em>tons</em></strong> of good lookin' ladies who make our department feel more like a fashion runway then a marketing department). <br />
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But Audrey has helped me look at my wardrobe with a new set of eyes. Her series on <a href="http://www.puttingmetogether.com/p/building-remixable-wardrobe-series.html" target="_blank">building a remixible wardrobe</a> is brilliant! It helped me develop a whole new appreciation for the current pieces I have and ways to rework them with others in my closet.<br />
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While her tips seem pretty basic, I just didn't think to look at my shirts and say 'oh, I can take this blouse and make you fit with these pants, plus add a belt!' Please don't tell me I'm alone on this one. Audrey is solely responsible for me waking up one morning and spending an hour on the floor in my closet jotting down 50+ different ideas with my current clothes. Okay...so maybe <strong><em>I am alone on this portion</em></strong>. ;)<br />
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The next person I've been spending WAY TOO MUCH time stalking is Kendi from <a href="http://www.kendieveryday.com/" target="_blank">Kendi Everyday</a>. This is a wicked talented lady who snaps photos of her stylish attire each day (yup, each day) on her blog. She's also a boutique owner of Bloom in Texas, a speaker, photographer and all around great gal {listen to me, like we're besties or something}. Her style is pretty quirky which is something I've been accused of (I have friends who say 'oh, that is a Gill outfit'. So clearly I have a distinct style.), so I really enjoy the items she pairs together. <br />
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Both of these fine ladies have definitely helped bring new life to my wardrobe, which isn't actually all that stellar, but have challenged me to make it work with what I've got. My husband appreciates their inspiration completely! ;) So bottom line, I'll be sharing a couple of my new and improved outfit ideas on this blog. I'm not at all a fashion person, although I secretly hope to be as stylish as these ladies, but I do get a sense of joy when I've put together an outfit I'm especially proud of. May not come from a mannequin at any store I've ever seen, but it'll put a smile on my face which is just as awesome!<br />
<br />gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-54097981103247281562012-11-19T06:49:00.002-08:002012-11-19T06:49:22.371-08:00Entertainment Stand RevampWhile I totally love my decision to re-do the <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/2011/08/beautiful-diy-dressertv-stand-complete.html" target="_blank">dresser turned entertainment stand</a> for our living room, I have since questioned my decision to paint it the way I did. And while I was evaluating our living room for the <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/2012/10/pallet-wall-fail.html" target="_blank">pallet wall fail</a>, I kept looking at the entertainment stand over and over again questioning it more. So what would a DIYer do when she's questioning something in her home? Revamp it! ;)<br />
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So that's what I did and boy am I glad I did!! I have some left over paint from my guest bedroom revamp {updates on that soon} so I used the same paint on our entertainment stand. Here's the before...<br />
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And here's the after!<br />
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Wasn't super tough, but it has been a decision I was struggling with because everyone else liked the green. For me though, with our green couches, curtains and green/blue focus wall {previously the fireplace wall} it seemed like too much green. And with my wonderul <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/2012/05/coffee-table-delight.html" target="_blank">iKEA coffee table</a>, the white goes very well.gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-5410197717540776862012-11-13T17:31:00.001-08:002012-11-13T17:32:29.452-08:00GratefulSo this post was suppose to go out last week, but it didn't. I'm LAME! Been a little MIA lately, in case you couldn't tell. With Hurricane Sandy coming through the East Coast (no major damage on our end), me coming down will a killer flu (out for 7 days) and a death in the family, I just haven't been able to visit the blog. Sad face. <br />
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Luckily I'm starting to come out of my fog and just wanted to share with everyone how grateful I am. I've been watching on the news how devastating Hurricane Sandy has been to other areas and I'm really grateful that we did not see that side of her. There are many who are without homes, without power and/or can't contact their loved ones because of that. It's really scary to think so many are struggling right now.<br />
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Even with me being sick this past week, our refrigerator deciding to stop working and other stuff, I'm really grateful for the family and friends I do have. I'm really grateful for the roof over my head and the ability to feed my family. I am grateful for my relationship with God who always looks over me. I saw this sign the other day on Pinterest and I really hit home...<br />
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I have contemplated buying (or creating) something like this and putting it in a prominent place in my home. That way it'll always serve as a reminder that each day I need to remember what I have and be grateful. What are you grateful for?<br />
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Photo source: <a href="http://www.craftyscrappyhappy.net/" target="_blank">Crafty Scrappy Happy</a>gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-48372573691058303802012-11-05T05:32:00.000-08:002012-11-05T05:32:20.404-08:00Dallas Cowboys Football GameAs you may recall, Ryan and I just celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary! WHOO HOO! ;) My gift for him was football tickets to the Dallas Cowboys football game in Baltimore on October 14th. Yup, that's right it was this past weekend.<br />
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We've never been to a NFL football game before, but it was SO MUCH FUN! I'm not sure if you saw the game or not, but it was an amazing game to watch. Although Dallas lost 31-29, it was a action packed and we were fighting to the VERY end. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half time</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2nd half kick-off</td></tr>
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So if you didn't watch, the Cowboys were losing 31 to 23 and at the two minute mark they were in the Ravens end zone. After several third downs, we finally scored a touchdown to make it 29 to 31. Then, in an effort to get the two point conversion, Tony Romo threw the ball to a reciever who caught it but the ball slipped out of his hands! AHHH! Cowboys then kicked an on-side kick & recovered the ball. WHAT? That's right, they got possession AGAIN. They moved a couple yards, but time was ticking down so they decided to bring on their fieldgoal kicker......alas, they missed the field goal. Urgh! But the last two minutes of the game was action packed. No one knew if Dallas was going to tie it up or end up winning!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TailgateFever from Homes.com & ForRent.com</td></tr>
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I had an absolute blast with the hubby. The stadium was packed with 71,000+ fans in the stands. I couldn't believe how many people were there (I'm such a newbie). ;) I really want to try and do this again sometime-even though I'm not much of a football watcher, I appreciated the sport by being there and becoming a part of the game.gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-35083602067841551962012-10-17T13:06:00.000-07:002012-10-17T13:06:30.912-07:005 Closet Organization SolutionsLately I've been stalking someone. Have you heard of Jen from <a href="http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">I Heart Organizing</a>? Her blog is amazing! Chalk full of home organization solutions. I am so jealous by her creativity for organization. I use to really pride myself on organization when I was younger. I was actually pretty anal with my organization. Several years and a husband later that is NOT the case anymore. <br />
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So the other day I was on Jen's blog and it struck a nerve. I needed to get my lazy butt up & get organized! I looked around my bedroom and immediately found a couple areas I could improve. The first on the list was our master closet!<br />
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Our master closet isn't very big. It's a decent size for a starter home, but nothing to brag about. That being said, with two adults it gets pretty full of stuff and isn't super organized. That's about to change! At a recent trip to Garden Ridge and Lowe's, I picked up a few things to help me get started. For less than $20 I was able to get something organized and easier to access.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: red;">1. Purse storage:</span></strong> I've always heard that when you have storage problems you need to "go up" and use wall space. I've also heard to make sure to use every space possible, including doors! So with that, I bought a couple decorative hooks from Lowe's and attached them to the back of the door to hold my purses. Easy to do and so nice when I want to quickly change my purse for the day! Total cost for this solution was $6.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: red;">2. Hat storage:</span></strong> In our office I bought a hat rack for Ryan so all of his baseball hats had a home {not that he puts them there that often}; but for my hats, I like them upstairs when I'm getting dressed. Mostly I use them when I exercise and I'm getting dressed upstairs for that. With that, I bought some Command Strips and placed them on the wall for each hat to be hung. I think I spent a total of $5 for this solution.<br />
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3. Belt Storage:<br />
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4. Scarf storage: <br />
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5. Sweater storage:<br />
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gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-66478441796882315732012-10-14T14:39:00.000-07:002012-10-14T14:39:27.068-07:00Pallet Wall FAILThe other day I saw a picture onFacebook from Brittany at Pretty Handy Girl. She posted a blog, and photo, of her <a href="http://www.prettyhandygirl.com/2012/10/how-to-install-a-scrap-wood-wall.html" target="_blank">AMAZING pallet wall</a>. Here's the pix:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3fsRDlup-QD3Am1VESQ-YF9GuAof_6n7sr5hjxYYrtl5KbRq_uvWQatyJnGNABQDBSaQ_zcOgbzp7DOdiVKH5AYjXGi_Kwdp3ffjp2HmUBoG1UIMiF9i_sB6bYmnGfEg0hyphenhyphenz7buj-5Fk/s1600/studio_view_from_angled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3fsRDlup-QD3Am1VESQ-YF9GuAof_6n7sr5hjxYYrtl5KbRq_uvWQatyJnGNABQDBSaQ_zcOgbzp7DOdiVKH5AYjXGi_Kwdp3ffjp2HmUBoG1UIMiF9i_sB6bYmnGfEg0hyphenhyphenz7buj-5Fk/s640/studio_view_from_angled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As you can see, totally cute and something that would absolutely appeal to me-right? We have a wooden wall in our house, remember our home was built in the 70s, so this seemed like an easy thing I could put inside my home. I already had green paint from our kitchen, the blue color from our <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/2011/07/fireplace-reno-complete.html" target="_blank">fireplace wall</a>, and white paint for the <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/2012/09/guest-bedroom-revamp.html" target="_blank">guest bedroom</a>, so I thought I'd take a stab at recreating this for our home {Ryan was even okay with it, which meant I needed to HOP on it QUICK!}<br />
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So I went to labeling some of the wood pieces for the colors I wanted. I thought it would be easier to start painting once I had a game plan of where the colors would go.<br />
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Once I did that, I started with the green paint from the kitchen. I got about half way done with the green paint when I stepped back and looked at the whole space.<br />
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And that's when I decided the pallet wall was a major FAIL! See, while I LOVE the idea of a pallet wall and the colors, asthetics work perfectly with the home and my style, it just didn't work well with the other patterns inside the space. Given that we have open concept with our living room and dining room next to one another, that means the dining room needs to play nice with the living room. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIeTeWZ_vf-Oy2LgGRU2q4Bx3nJsihY0rI4UZc8on1zsgnSHBAcND-3ArFR53dscIFkPrcFbth-5J5_E74rlllYYLFg27NJkO5EC1RBY7Zoc_xS13nH21lCtc-6P8-OVZ3HNXDeGGuoLri/s1600/DSCN1619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIeTeWZ_vf-Oy2LgGRU2q4Bx3nJsihY0rI4UZc8on1zsgnSHBAcND-3ArFR53dscIFkPrcFbth-5J5_E74rlllYYLFg27NJkO5EC1RBY7Zoc_xS13nH21lCtc-6P8-OVZ3HNXDeGGuoLri/s640/DSCN1619.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are our curtains, slight pattern.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entertainment stand I painted a while ago.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rug on top of our carpet.</td></tr>
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You might think I'm crazy {and if you do, and strongly believe I made the wrong decision please let me know! I could be airing on the side of caution when I made the choice, but can easily be talked out of it!} but I just didn't think the pallet wall would complement the other pattens in the space. The curtains aren't too crazy, but they do have stripes at the bottom. The entertainment stand has a pattern as well with the green and white on select locations and finally, the rug; which I actually think would complement the pallet wall if it didn't have the other elements.<br />
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I don't know....I struggle with mixing patterns and fabrics together in home decor. In apperal I'm all over it but in home decor I doubt myself and decide to opt out. Maybe I'll attempt it again when I'm feeling more confident. Today I'm going to consider it a FAIL! LOL.gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-58427155508294550272012-10-11T05:23:00.000-07:002012-10-11T05:23:36.381-07:00Mini Pumpkin TreatsPinterest is a dangerous place...I always have the urge to make something after just 5 minutes on the site!<br />
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This is another Pinterest creation, like my pin wheels; I saw this one morning and just had to make them the same day! So I saw this pin for <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/61220876155850350/" target="_blank">mini croissants filled with pumpkin</a> {have I declared my love of pumpkin yet? Another blog...} so my interest was peaked. After looking at the super easy recipe on <a href="http://www.shakentogetherlife.com/2011/10/taste-this-tuesday-fall-baking-series_10.html" target="_blank">Shaken Together</a>, I decided to get the necessary ingredients while at the store.<br />
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So you start off with all the ingredients: 2 rolls of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls (I used the reduced fat kind), Pumpkin Spice, Sugar, 1 can of Canned Pumpkin and 4 oz. cream cheese (I used Weight Watchers to reduce some calories). <br />
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I first started by mixing the filling first; I've noticed with the Pillsbury Crescent rolls lately that if they sit at room temp for too long they are incredibly hard to pull apart. So I mixed half of the can I bought (there are smaller cans at the store), 4 oz of cream cheese, 5-6 tablespoons of sugar (the original recipe called for 3-4 but I tasted it and it needed a little more sugar. Add as you see fit.) and 2-3 tablespoons of pumpkin spice.<br />
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Mix until you get a fluffy mixture with this kind of consistency....<br />
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Now here's the tricky part. You'll need to cut the crescent rolls in half, so there will be a total of 36 mini crescent rolls. Then you will need to put some of the pumpkin mixture on each crescent roll and roll them up. Be prepared to get messy, as the pumpkin mix will squish out!! The recipe called for you to roll the mini crescent rolls in the left over sugar and pumpkin spice, but I just took a spoon and poured it over the crescent rolls. {After cooking, I now see why the recipe recommended rolling in the extra ingredients. I will be doing this step next time, adds a great crunch!}<br />
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You then bake them at 375 degrees for about 17 minutes. And them come out nice and warm! Even Ryan, who's not a big pumpkin fan, enjoyed these guys!<br />
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gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-15378921229475020382012-10-07T14:40:00.000-07:002012-10-07T14:40:28.716-07:00Bloggy ConferenceAs you can tell I've been a little MIA on the blog these last couple weeks. I'm going to blame it on one thing....the Bloggy Conference. If you're not familiar with this conference, it's another blogger conference like the <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/2012/06/heading-to-haven-conference.html" target="_blank">Haven Conference</a> I attended earlier in the year. The Bloggy Conference, however, was located in Cincinnati, OH. It was hosted by Tiffany Noth from Bloggy Moms. After several months talking to her via email, it was really nice meeting her in person. She is such a sweet & talented person!<br />
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Anywho, so two weeks ago I traveled there for work as Homes.com was sponsoring. Several weeks of preparation getting the brand ready to be represented to this network and it was finally here! As soon as I landed at the airport, I was a busy bee getting everything set-up with my co-workers. When I wasn't doing things for the conference, I was working remotely so things kept moving in my absence. <br />
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Don't get me wrong though, I was able to play while working! One night the three of us went to this steakhouse Jimmy G's and it was AMAZING. Had some delicious wine, a fantastic steak and we all split the side items family style. <br />
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The following days were whirlwind of meeting new people, sitting in on education sessions and having fun! Our booth was busy with people eager to meet with us and stop by our super fun photo booth. Check out some fun photos from the event!<br />
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There are more on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151175203104086.431875.280285049085&type=3" target="_blank">Facebook also</a>.<br />
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It went by so fast and even though I tried keeping up with work while there, I had some catching up to do with budget season. So this past week was extremely busy and I was mentally done by Wednesday! LOL. Since my week didn't end then, I pushed through till Friday. <br />
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So there you have it.....my reason for being out of touch, but now I'm baaaccckkkk! ;)gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-31341263380566415942012-09-24T17:00:00.000-07:002012-09-24T17:00:23.413-07:005 Year Wedding AnniversaryThis past weekend the hubby and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary! Wow, time has flown by..... I can still remember that day like it was yesterday. <br />
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What did we do to celebrate?<br />
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Well, we both slept in pretty late, which was awesome! Then the hubby woke up and made me breakfast in bed. :) Yup, I'm pretty spoiled. We spent a couple hours in bed watching a television series we just started, called Happy Endings (super funny). And after that we started getting hungry, but it was only 3:30pm. So we just decided to do what old couples do....made dinner reservations for 4:30pm at a very nice restaurant!<br />
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We went to Sonoma Wine Bar in Virginia Beach. It's located in Town Center, aka Downtown VA Beach, and it was such a nice day so we decided to walk around down there. When we arrived the very nice staff sat us and helped us select our anniversary meal. I had a smooth, light white wine to complement my pasta and Ryan had an oaky, dry red wine to complement his pork chop. Appetizers and dessert were a must!<br />
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And those lovely people at the restaurant even paid for our desserts, "on the house", since we were celebrating a momentous occasion. :) It was cool too, because we saw a bride and groom taking pictures right outside the restaurant by the fountain. They have the same anniversary as us!<br />
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And I have to say, both Ryan and I did a bang up job picking out gifts for one another. He bought me a gorgous sapphire and diamond band to complement my bridal set and I bought him tickets for the Dallas Cowboys & Baltimore Ravens football game October 14th and a gift card to buy a new jersey so he could represent our Cowboys in style! <br />
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It was a fantastic day and truly special spending it with the love of my life {gushy, I know}. I am so blessed to have him as my best friend. I'm looking forward to 50 more years with this man!<br />
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I love you babe!gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-8128053879458737052012-09-23T11:38:00.000-07:002012-09-23T11:38:15.329-07:00Holy Stripes BatmanLike that? We're talking stripes today! Oh what fun. ;)<br />
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Continuing on the <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/2012/09/guest-bedroom-revamp.html" target="_blank">guest bedroom revamp</a>, I'm showing off the wonderful (yes tooting my own horn) stripes on the feature wall. As you saw on the before photos I've painted a stripe before in this room, but doing multiple stripes on one wall I've not done before. That requires a bit more calculations and measuring to make sure each stripe is equal distance a part. Not that it's hard, it's not, just a bit more time consuming.<br />
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So I used our measuring tape and with a pencil calculated the entire wall surface from the base board. Then I divided it based on the amount of stripes I wanted, four, and marked each spot for the middle of each stripe. It worked out because the wall was a total of 96 inches. Divided into 8, four stripes need a top and a bottom line which makes it 8, and you get about 12 inches in between each stripe. Yup, that's right I was good at math in school. LOL<br />
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And after two coats of the stripes and a couple hours later, I finally finished the wall!! Taking a blanket that we had from downstairs, the bed now has a softer color. I'm not in love with the blanket but I'll need to hunt for a replacement one.<br />
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I'm not in love with the space yet. The paint and stripes certainly make a huge differnence, in a good way, but I need more color and some art work for the room. That will help to make it more of the relaxing oasis I want it to be. And I'm searching craigslist for a dresser so I can paint that the coral color! Whoo hoo. And in case you didn't notice, the curtain is a reuse from the <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/2012/01/im-on-organization-over-drive.html" target="_blank">laundry room makeover</a>. That's another DIY project in the future. ;)gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-49312480774702980102012-09-21T05:39:00.003-07:002012-09-21T05:39:39.836-07:00Inside a Blogger's PurseI really love the blogger purse series on the @SNAPConf <a href="http://snapcreativity.com/" target="_blank">blog</a>. I think it gives you a great insight into each blogger and a little bit of their personal life. And while no one is banging down my door to see what's in my purse, I thought I'd show off what's in my purse none-the-less! ;)<br />
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As you can see I have a couple things that are typical and some that are totally fitting for a blogger, marketer and home/DIY enthusiast!<br />
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<ol>
<li><strong>Brown Michael Kors purse:</strong> Love this bag! It's perfect for storing so many things. The hubby bought it for me last Christmas. <3 it.</li>
<li><strong>Wallet:</strong> An obvious, of course, but one given as a Chirstmas gift by my best friend Megan. </li>
<li><strong>Cell phone:</strong> DUH! Need this at all times. I feel so naked without my cell phone. Don't you?</li>
<li><strong>iPad:</strong> I just recently got an iPad from work and I love having it. It's so easy to just turn on and off versus my laptop. Plus I can quickly search things, update social networks, check email, etc. I've never had an Apple product before, but I'm digging this one.</li>
<li><strong>Business Card Holder:</strong> This was a gift from my friend Amanda. Don't you just love the color orange! Never hurts to have your business cards on you at all times. Never know when a networking opportunity will present itself. </li>
<li><strong>Paint Samples</strong>: I love going to Lowe's and picking out paint samples. It makes me inspired for a new DIY project. These samples are left over from picking out colors for the <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/2012/09/guest-bedroom-revamp.html" target="_blank">guest bedroom revamp</a>. The green color samples are a potential for another room (ah...another blog). ;)</li>
<li><strong>Ear phones</strong> are a must. Not only for me to grab when I go for a run, but for work. In a cubicle situation it can sometimes get loud-so having ear phones to listen to music is a must!</li>
<li><strong>Misc Items:</strong> Tissues, pens, chapstick, lint roller, ID badge and car keys are regular things typically located in many women's purses. </li>
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There you go! A look inside my purse today. I don't always carry all this stuff around, you just caught me on a good day. ;) If you feel inclined to share the contents inside your bag be sure to comment and let me know so I can visit.gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-52483012427430873702012-09-19T05:41:00.000-07:002012-09-19T05:41:00.550-07:00We Rocked The 1/2 Marathon!A few months ago I convinced a very eager {sarcasm} friend of mine Missy to sign up and train for her first 1/2 marathon! She had finished the Wicked 10K here in Virginia Beach a few months ago, and still had the "bug" to continue running. Mwuahahaha! {Insert running friend willing to take advantage!}<br />
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So all summer we've been training for the race to take place September 2nd, Labor Day weekend. Each Saturday on our 'long run' it was record temps with a lovely breeze and slight overcast. Ideal running weather! The day of the race? Not to much. It was HOT and humid (90% humidity). Urgh....<br />
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We started off strong, had a great pace but the heat was tough to bare. That, combined with her ear buds not working {and any runners can tell you that's a HUGE disadvantage} and legs that feel severed makes for a hard run. But my friend persevered and finished her first 1/2 marathon!<br />
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I'm so proud of her. Running 13.1 miles is quite an accomplishment and something she can hang her hat on forever! gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-82358312128504182752012-09-17T10:54:00.000-07:002012-09-17T10:54:32.969-07:00Root Beer Themed Party IdeaIn honor of my dad's birthday I decided to throw him a little root beer themed party! Who says adults are too old for themed birthday parties? ;)<br />
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I wanted to get inspiration for the party, so where did I go? Pinterest of course. And I found a couple cute ideas, but the one that stuck out the most was this printable from Rachel at <a href="http://www.familyeverafterblog.com/2012/06/free-printables-dads-root-beer-stache.html" target="_blank">Family Ever After</a> for a Dad's Root Beer Stache party. She did it for Father's Day but I totally reused for my dad's birthday instead. <br />
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Remeber the <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/2012/09/pin-wheel-craftiness.html" target="_blank">pin wheel craft</a> I did earlier? Yup, those are making a small appearance in this party as well. <br />
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I printed out the mustaches and attached them to popsicle sticks with a glue gun. I thought it would be fun to have a couple pictures of the family with mustaches!<br />
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Aside from the decor of the party, Ryan thought it would be cool to have the food match the theme. So we did just that! Ryan found this recipe for <a href="http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/18/Pulled_Pork_With_Root_Beer_Bar53969.shtml" target="_blank">pulled pork with a root beer barbecue sauce</a> for the main dish. It was pretty easy to put together. You brown the pork in a skillet before putting it in the crock-pot. Then inside the crock-pot you put the pork, a cup of root beer and two onions cut up in small wedges. About 30 mins before the meat is done you make the spicy root beer sauce-sound weird? It's not! Ryan happened to have made the sauce a little spicer than probably intended, but its a good thing we have a family that enjoys spice! ;)<br />
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And from a recipe we saw in our Taste of Home Magazine, I baked <a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Root-Beer-Cupcakes" target="_blank">Root Beeer Cupcakes</a> for dessert. You start with a boxed cake mix and add root beer concentrate {which we found at Walmart}. Then the frosting is simply Cool Whip with some root beer concentrate whipped together. Simple, easy & tasted frothy just like root beer. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl9bm0y999cENJZSwkgUAnchZ_YsB4Jbu18p3nd5WKCfPc1GQEP7lslc_Ogj0qm0cyyIHrp7Z0nS2vmRakl5OQUFjhhnbOiJKdVYXsne4geq6vd15R1ecwQNg_fTqKm2htGWojs4-A8GN/s1600/Root+Beer+Cupcakes+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl9bm0y999cENJZSwkgUAnchZ_YsB4Jbu18p3nd5WKCfPc1GQEP7lslc_Ogj0qm0cyyIHrp7Z0nS2vmRakl5OQUFjhhnbOiJKdVYXsne4geq6vd15R1ecwQNg_fTqKm2htGWojs4-A8GN/s640/Root+Beer+Cupcakes+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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With all that root beer goodness, how did the party turn out? Glad you asked! Here are a couple photos from the blessed event. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAKB-2tfvIRspaaKJ4g8wFexc4rcim3SiMvxX4uXmJXiM24_R0mV0wv4BOEmC0O82oeS0l5PjpO9mM-l7TmkePw1SELc11vB0ySJ5cBxOb16Re75b4OXfoGw_Hlytt7CloWIKJ_M0xiVX/s1600/Root+Beer+Sample+Bar.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAKB-2tfvIRspaaKJ4g8wFexc4rcim3SiMvxX4uXmJXiM24_R0mV0wv4BOEmC0O82oeS0l5PjpO9mM-l7TmkePw1SELc11vB0ySJ5cBxOb16Re75b4OXfoGw_Hlytt7CloWIKJ_M0xiVX/s640/Root+Beer+Sample+Bar.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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The party was a HUGE HIT! My dad really enjoyed the theme and the time with family. YAY. :o)<br />
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<br />gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-5333265887510552592012-09-16T07:26:00.000-07:002012-09-16T07:26:32.227-07:00Pin Wheel Craftiness I see so many funny ecards about Pinterest that just crack me up-because they're SO TRUE! Take this one for example...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsbPse7B9zBbBJy1FZbnOXoPiKb52RFP2nfc_caoY9riRpHSTEqumGx3eSqOrpdXCywAHlVUZV_7jhceg8dQcjHjyyevkBwfEMb_FGsGR1JRSVvwi0JE8ZIdlWnqNB7WYa05hV4j_UWnI/s1600/ECard.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsbPse7B9zBbBJy1FZbnOXoPiKb52RFP2nfc_caoY9riRpHSTEqumGx3eSqOrpdXCywAHlVUZV_7jhceg8dQcjHjyyevkBwfEMb_FGsGR1JRSVvwi0JE8ZIdlWnqNB7WYa05hV4j_UWnI/s640/ECard.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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I mean how true is that statement? ;) So the other day I was feeling rather crafty after exploring Pinterest for a couple hours (can I get an AMEN). I saw these instructions for <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/61220876155799012/" target="_blank">how-to make pin wheels</a> and thought 'I could do that!' It's really very easy and since I have a new craft space in <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/2012/05/office-makeover-gillians-desk.html" target="_blank">my office</a> I took a stab immediately. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNa0ygB3XY85PN_USwKGoVF6cidNkoLsKtoxnv1KxNlupnq-6s3zY0doXOOFV5HCmHDHieoBYV3gKoj6yDbSi-8qdCyl3w4Dnh0ljY0UlRhXck3QPHMzp0LDACQvwZE-bP-OJw499Cvobs/s1600/Pin+Wheel+Supplies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNa0ygB3XY85PN_USwKGoVF6cidNkoLsKtoxnv1KxNlupnq-6s3zY0doXOOFV5HCmHDHieoBYV3gKoj6yDbSi-8qdCyl3w4Dnh0ljY0UlRhXck3QPHMzp0LDACQvwZE-bP-OJw499Cvobs/s640/Pin+Wheel+Supplies.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_mAaQyLBrzteMnH3F54M4CCRgAh1OSciR4bbhmV2LJBa0C21TpWqwI29BqUQaOqDEmtv6OYfGIQI5GcUwA8gLGgdHQpADVA8w0mc6-mcgsqOlQ9_bAv_Zmwb_1bXTkm9Cguyk2JrQ3PF/s1600/Pin+Wheel+Instructions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_mAaQyLBrzteMnH3F54M4CCRgAh1OSciR4bbhmV2LJBa0C21TpWqwI29BqUQaOqDEmtv6OYfGIQI5GcUwA8gLGgdHQpADVA8w0mc6-mcgsqOlQ9_bAv_Zmwb_1bXTkm9Cguyk2JrQ3PF/s640/Pin+Wheel+Instructions.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<ol>
<li>Basically, to get started you need to cut a 4-inch x 4-inch square out of a piece of paper (I used a 6-inch x 6-inch square since that's the card stock I had). </li>
<li>You should draw diagonal lines across the square to join up the corners. Then, mark the center of the square with a dot, and draw an additional dot at each of the corners. (You can see from the picture above for an example) </li>
<li>Using scissors cut along the diagonal lines. Then, use a hole punch or pin to punch a hole through each of your dots. </li>
<li>Line the dots on the outer edge of your pinwheel up with the dot in the center. Push a tack (like the patterned one I used above) through the dots to hold everything together. </li>
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You can attach the pinwheel to a pencil eraser or straw; then it's ready to use! So what do you think? I plan on incorporating these for future parties given how super easy is it to make. <br />
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gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-8992881658149596602012-09-10T07:50:00.000-07:002012-09-10T07:50:21.394-07:00Guest Bedroom RevampAs I mentioned in my <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/2012/09/its-time-for-change.html" target="_blank">earlier post</a>, my guest bedroom is desperately in need of a change. So with that, I took to Pinterest and pinned a couple images to get some ideas started. <br />
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I really want this room to be have a relaxing feeling. It's a space that my husband doesn't care about so I don't have to take his feedback into consideration (which is awesome) so I can do whatever I'd like. I'm giddy with excitement. ;)<br />
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So first I went to Lowe's, my home improvement store of choice, to pick out some paint samples. I want something like and airy, so I immediately went to the creams and light biege colors. I picked out Valspar Honeymilk as the main paint color for all the walls and Valspar Vanilla Steam for the stripes on the feature wall.<br />
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Here are a couple before photos of the room:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzVsD1z9qxii4aYf9xhjJfil9Qe1qBquRPioMy8s9So5eoAjyfpx5rxbX-NG34wedOjU3tVWLzsp0ayOavHt6sZAl3aIXBIDmQWdQ_4LRJuoaMGs4Teh2Kiu-EgweGORDoGTu3ns_5fXw/s1600/Guest+Bedroom+Ribbet+collage+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzVsD1z9qxii4aYf9xhjJfil9Qe1qBquRPioMy8s9So5eoAjyfpx5rxbX-NG34wedOjU3tVWLzsp0ayOavHt6sZAl3aIXBIDmQWdQ_4LRJuoaMGs4Teh2Kiu-EgweGORDoGTu3ns_5fXw/s640/Guest+Bedroom+Ribbet+collage+.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now I'm geared up and ready to get this project going! ;) <br />
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And here are a couple after photos with all of the walls now a blank slate!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_MP0Lt6Is5bhQTw0qcC3_uOWrLfLuuRhkL66Nr2h4ZoZTE0KRJCdjVVOINxWURNz9YTPK1zT39vghMB_fs_yNhAYfqIQlStXhRVtkPsPFYjops_7GcVopF5lTTiMGhjbTJgv7bEjdoW4/s1600/Guest+Bedroom+Ribbet+collage+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_MP0Lt6Is5bhQTw0qcC3_uOWrLfLuuRhkL66Nr2h4ZoZTE0KRJCdjVVOINxWURNz9YTPK1zT39vghMB_fs_yNhAYfqIQlStXhRVtkPsPFYjops_7GcVopF5lTTiMGhjbTJgv7bEjdoW4/s640/Guest+Bedroom+Ribbet+collage+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm actually very tired from painting two coats on all of those walls (negative with the husband not caring about the guest bedroom? I don't get his help. BOO!). So the stripes will be coming up soon! ;)gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-39215329607308454492012-09-09T05:18:00.003-07:002012-09-09T05:18:55.687-07:00A Man with A BabyIs a man with a baby the cutest darn thing? I always love seeing my husband, Ryan, with my cute little puppy. They are my two boys and they both hold my heart. That being said, seeing my hubby holding my precious little nephew Camden certainly pulls on the heart strings!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3P7UsTZaEvnDMGbjc7KL-GimC9xk4GUNwi73L4KqGkv4rYo0FnbfMdLIUdAIQZprV5Hlv0DUJC7Z-fvKX6TvXqmE6KGwPtX4F1RmMxEYq90dH3SH5MHkprIbJMCAAQ2VpeWVAp1AbXfRP/s1600/Ryan+&+Camden+Ribbet+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3P7UsTZaEvnDMGbjc7KL-GimC9xk4GUNwi73L4KqGkv4rYo0FnbfMdLIUdAIQZprV5Hlv0DUJC7Z-fvKX6TvXqmE6KGwPtX4F1RmMxEYq90dH3SH5MHkprIbJMCAAQ2VpeWVAp1AbXfRP/s640/Ryan+&+Camden+Ribbet+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Are they not the cutest darn thing? I wonder how much of me giving them that title is because I know and love the both of them, or whether it really is the 'man & a baby' thing where women are drawn to men holding a baby. I think it has something to do with seeing their, men, facial expressions and demeanors as a way to see how they will embrace children and potentially our kid(s). And I'm sure you can tell that Ryan certainly seems to be "okay" with Camden. I really love the bottom right photo because it shows Ryan's mischevious smile which is totally kid-like itself. ;)<br />
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Oh, and just so my other nephew doesn't feel left out, I also want to show my big boy nephew Aiden. He started Pre-K a few weeks ago. I can't believe how big he's getting!!! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_rBRR-ids2EGO5q-x2UrJnTe_0SLVK50V96ICVprb3tl_CFA9DGKi0_-CcH2OGZ0SmmCVPq1rgPruO2XYOW0UDh8Y7PoStGXF_NECcd4OHGHsZTf0vQ0nBcBCCpK6bU7XNGNM8SWr2K0/s1600/Aiden's+First+Day+of+School.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_rBRR-ids2EGO5q-x2UrJnTe_0SLVK50V96ICVprb3tl_CFA9DGKi0_-CcH2OGZ0SmmCVPq1rgPruO2XYOW0UDh8Y7PoStGXF_NECcd4OHGHsZTf0vQ0nBcBCCpK6bU7XNGNM8SWr2K0/s640/Aiden's+First+Day+of+School.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm so blessed with the best & most beautiful family. gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-50771289295950471852012-09-07T17:41:00.000-07:002012-09-16T09:26:11.664-07:00It's Time For a ChangeYup....it's that time again. Time for a change in good ole Luce household. This time my eyes have set their sight on the guest bedroom!<br />
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I'm not sure I've ever talked about the guest bedroom before. When we first moved into our home 4 years ago, my sister-in-law was living with us and it was her bedroom. So she picked out the paint and decor to make her style. It's been several years since she's moved out and we've just had the rules hold our futon and other junk items when my in-laws come to stay (which is actually quite frequent). <br />
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So with that in mind and my need to change something up, I've made a board on <a href="http://pinterest.com/gillian_luce/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> to get some inspiring ideas!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKSehS7pHKJ0_v4TV5DtpG87vJarkrCDexuccmNCYRJdUCzhWC5QfxuWyc3swTiQDVx4J4hnaZmVsuyWfZrAzSVKyG2b2R83pcdAhDmg0v-uMDCyK3C_PYho-zpL7Yatwd27qjT9FdbPA/s1600/Guest+Bedroom+Pinterest+Board.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKSehS7pHKJ0_v4TV5DtpG87vJarkrCDexuccmNCYRJdUCzhWC5QfxuWyc3swTiQDVx4J4hnaZmVsuyWfZrAzSVKyG2b2R83pcdAhDmg0v-uMDCyK3C_PYho-zpL7Yatwd27qjT9FdbPA/s640/Guest+Bedroom+Pinterest+Board.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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As you can see, I'm trying for a light color scheme for paint but adding some personality with accent colors. This is the room where my <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/2011/06/first-diy-project.html" target="_blank">first DIY chair</a> is located which is an apple green color which is why green is showcased in this board. But I also LOVE blues-I mean have you seen my house-so I know that'll be incorporated. But there's something about the stripes that draw me in. So I think I'd like to try my hand at that on a feature wall.<br />
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These gorgeous photos of the beach have stolen my heart!! I really want to get them (although they are a little pricey on the <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/61220876155526616/" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a>) because they are so beautiful and encompass everything I want this room to feel. Calm, relaxing and just plain beautiful!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvKWxwoJjeYlGfvPtDPMy6edu2KrvEaRxpsjFzddCd1vQQ_IS3oxDOboSm4rrprZtkYqnd8sZNUeHobsZtdqj31Fwjux_lmLr0wI6-9nw3mqkT-Yv3-RSlCyMfsr1x82JuE65jKVRFQdn/s1600/Beach+Pictures+on+Etsy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvKWxwoJjeYlGfvPtDPMy6edu2KrvEaRxpsjFzddCd1vQQ_IS3oxDOboSm4rrprZtkYqnd8sZNUeHobsZtdqj31Fwjux_lmLr0wI6-9nw3mqkT-Yv3-RSlCyMfsr1x82JuE65jKVRFQdn/s640/Beach+Pictures+on+Etsy.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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But I'm curious whether I can have a piece of furniture that is coral to go with these photos, when I already have blue and green going on? If not a piece of furtniture, I am certainly going to do like knobs on a dresser or something. How cool would that be?! <br />
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I've never done this before, but I love how my girl Shelley from <a href="http://www.thehouseofsmiths.com/" target="_blank">House of Smiths</a> does stenciling in closets/pantries. So I think I might take one weekend and accomplish this. I mean how cool is this!?!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg778v_H-ZjsAqDEtbFvOZG08UtWEGf3NZTzFhoALdJsHpZ5K1MyjpTO0ls-0E-foHy3mCeaDjmZwM9kvS1Iua9YVMiM2A21uPJuAtCxofqb4sHruiKO8aPlC0g1RyzE4j_yrAB9PmFQJVi/s1600/Frugal_Friday_welcome_to_heardmont.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg778v_H-ZjsAqDEtbFvOZG08UtWEGf3NZTzFhoALdJsHpZ5K1MyjpTO0ls-0E-foHy3mCeaDjmZwM9kvS1Iua9YVMiM2A21uPJuAtCxofqb4sHruiKO8aPlC0g1RyzE4j_yrAB9PmFQJVi/s400/Frugal_Friday_welcome_to_heardmont.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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And the other thing I totally want to do is another gallery wall, but include some family portraits with a vibrant background & maybe have Bailey's picture span into two frames like the cat below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_g9IEqvlyKDLZQUxZH36vfDSj_vpQl92gSeSguf_jFOh57g37XZCFapw-IIGw_hIol3fheSPfXRgIZhGCa6C8has3nsXk8M_NnvwKX04hXQOW7KUsudh5kK7lTJe8OPlqjiwPBH8sx49/s1600/Family+Portraits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_g9IEqvlyKDLZQUxZH36vfDSj_vpQl92gSeSguf_jFOh57g37XZCFapw-IIGw_hIol3fheSPfXRgIZhGCa6C8has3nsXk8M_NnvwKX04hXQOW7KUsudh5kK7lTJe8OPlqjiwPBH8sx49/s640/Family+Portraits.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm super excited about redoing this space. Not necessarily for my in-laws, but because I want a space I can be proud of and currently it's not that space. Plus, eventually it'll be a nursery and I think having some neutral colors on the wall with a few pops of color will work perfect when it comes to decorating a space for little baby Luce. :) Stay tuned for more updates on this space!gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-62714353058771429902012-09-05T11:19:00.000-07:002012-09-05T11:19:49.655-07:00I LOVE Homes!That statement is two fold; one, I totally love my home and all things home and two, I love my job at Homes.com!<br />
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This year has gone by wicked fast and it's because we've had no shortage of things going on. If someone would have told me last year all the amazing things we've done this year I would have said they are CRAZY. It would seem impossible, but that's exactly what's happened-the impossible. <br />
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I don't typically talk about my work accomplishments on this blog, this blog is usually for personal stuff and my home/diy projects, but since I have done some pretty great things I felt like taking a moment to do so! (So sue me) ;)<br />
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<ol>
<li>In February we launched a <a href="http://blog.homes.com/2012/02/homes-com-launches-pin-it-if-you-love-it-contest/" target="_blank">Pin it If You Love It Pinterest contest</a>. It was the first one we ever launched and the first in our space. It was hugely successful and I wrote a <a href="http://blog.homes.com/2012/03/learn-effective-strategies-on-pinterest-with-homes-com-pinterest-white-paper/" target="_blank">Pinterest whitepaper</a> as a result. This contest & whitepaper landed me an interview with <a href="http://www.ragan.com/Main/Articles/Brand_reveals_strategies_that_work_best_on_Pintere_44685.aspx" target="_blank">Ragan Communications</a> and <a href="http://getpinterested.com/">GetPinterested.com</a>. </li>
<li>In March we launched a new <a href="http://blog.homes.com/" target="_blank">consumer blog</a>. The design and organization is unlike a WordPress blog I've worked on before. It looks like it's own micro-site. LOVE IT!</li>
<li>In May we launched a <a href="http://blog.homes.com/2012/05/homes-com-launches-spring-into-the-dream-pinterest-contest/" target="_blank">Spring Into the Dream Pinterest contest</a>. Unlike the first one, this was specifically for the bloggers network we've build relationships with and it was SO much fun. I had never participated in a contest like this and it was wildly successful. Even landing us in <a href="http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/pinterest-contest/" target="_blank">Social Media Exaiminer</a>. </li>
<li>The Red, White & BBQ campaign this past July comprised of our first ever <a href="http://blog.homes.com/2012/07/red-white-bbq-means-what-to-you-tell-us-for-a-chance-to-win-big/" target="_blank">Instagram contest</a>, <a href="http://blog.homes.com/2012/07/the-red-white-bbq-tour-continues/" target="_blank">Twitter chats</a>, partnership with the lovely Courtney Dial from <a href="http://pizzazzerie.com/">Pizzazzerie.com</a>, and our first <a href="http://blog.homes.com/2012/07/homes-com-shares-red-white-bbq-entertainment-guide/" target="_blank">ebook</a> on outdoor barbecues. It was a fully integrated campaign that surpassed everyone's expectations and help launch some content strategies we'll be implementing for future campaigns!</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjz8XISxGOtrB8-9X_X8rJA_G_RhWniMz7YWoRG8raASpJm8zo7FjQByH6JsM-7JgV9kOJZO8UpSXMc0M_VRxrXQtFMM8XdOQwcQF1gvKeqURVAgIqA64w4dho4vpSfgTf7F4NQ312WROZ/s1600/Blogger+Presentation.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjz8XISxGOtrB8-9X_X8rJA_G_RhWniMz7YWoRG8raASpJm8zo7FjQByH6JsM-7JgV9kOJZO8UpSXMc0M_VRxrXQtFMM8XdOQwcQF1gvKeqURVAgIqA64w4dho4vpSfgTf7F4NQ312WROZ/s320/Blogger+Presentation.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<li>Featured in <a href="http://www.atlantahomeimprovement.com/blog/2012/08/23/top-3-kitchen-remodeling-trends-for-2012/" target="_blank">Atlanta Home Improvement Magazine's Blog</a> on an article referencing the top 3 kitchen trends for 2012. </li>
<li>Gave a presentation to Dominion Enterprises employees on blogger outreach. This accomplishment is pretty dear to my heart because I feel like Homes has really worked hard to bring bloggers into our current marketing mix; so it was especially rewarding to discuss this topic in front of other Dominion businesses on our success. Plus, I just genuinely love the bloggers we've built relationships with so it gave me an opportunity to sing their prases! ;)</li>
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This list is not all inclusive. There are tons more we've worked on that's helped us do more this year, but these are some highlights.<br />
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Again, this might seem like a boring post but I have been a little busy bee at work and home and I have a feeling that it won't stop the rest of 2012 and into 2013! Goodness gracious. gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-41500494490327939682012-08-28T13:01:00.000-07:002012-08-28T13:01:33.181-07:00DIY Greeting Card StyleI put on my <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-30-before-30-list.html" target="_blank">30 Before 30 List</a> that I want to make greeting cards for each occassion. I haven't accmoplished that this year, but I'm thinking if I start now I might hit all the occassions/holidays by the time I'm thirty! ;) <br />
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So I decided to start with my best friend's birthday this month. She's really the least DIY person I know, she actually jokes me for my DIY/craftness projects {secretly she loves me, she just plays tough} so it seemed fitting that I make her a fully do-it-yourself birthday card! ;)<br />
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My grandmother got me this card making magazine subscription so I looked through it and found a really cool idea for making an accordian circle to offer a 3-D perspective to the card.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0So380V_UasWYVoIJ8b0gX1sY7yBvba40VEJ8BXN7r5sD-HVRLvCkCAsibsoJhacKHViSWi6zstqaXZGff2bPb156Gb53IFnI223dPMt4q90B4nVz2KeFtGpe9zc9KQwk29IgbgS8sT2/s1600/DSCN1393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0So380V_UasWYVoIJ8b0gX1sY7yBvba40VEJ8BXN7r5sD-HVRLvCkCAsibsoJhacKHViSWi6zstqaXZGff2bPb156Gb53IFnI223dPMt4q90B4nVz2KeFtGpe9zc9KQwk29IgbgS8sT2/s640/DSCN1393.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_IxnEydh9cROXL_QGvz7YvregzGczYYyWR6L_riBawT-uyNNSPxjA9VcHQYKbmbjvykDkh84AVHXh-r030ySCVIEmbAjqM-G7Q-LvkRM6bvufzmgrn4oNS9CexRBLOiv5ebO8Y9-WV9Y/s1600/DSCN1392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_IxnEydh9cROXL_QGvz7YvregzGczYYyWR6L_riBawT-uyNNSPxjA9VcHQYKbmbjvykDkh84AVHXh-r030ySCVIEmbAjqM-G7Q-LvkRM6bvufzmgrn4oNS9CexRBLOiv5ebO8Y9-WV9Y/s640/DSCN1392.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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So I looked through my newly <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/2012/06/home-office-reveal.html" target="_blank">organized office</a> to find some card stock and scrapebook paper to make a cool card based off some ideas in my new little magazine. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3ccAHHBZaewjxt12HB6hbUy8BhCNy3WENZVB1SdxwsXF3yL6F7LcAcXEbuS3g6o-b58IR7Bm1dNMkqZbs9aU5nBLpxlpN105ZG20GUOCjgn11rFLC2QJ_PjtYG7fLy5ZZu_G-V3wKQ59/s1600/DIY+Greeting+Card.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="452" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3ccAHHBZaewjxt12HB6hbUy8BhCNy3WENZVB1SdxwsXF3yL6F7LcAcXEbuS3g6o-b58IR7Bm1dNMkqZbs9aU5nBLpxlpN105ZG20GUOCjgn11rFLC2QJ_PjtYG7fLy5ZZu_G-V3wKQ59/s640/DIY+Greeting+Card.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I added some colorful paper on top of the silver cardstock, then using the same paper I made the accordian circle.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpgN4x9D5TrfchYp7vBDJEDiYNl3zponRoF7FRDiMkeCDsu8YrGsC0RQqnXyoLfiUkA2rzLE6DLd4vz-U-Sj7ONvJlqa_JbBLWPCbcs5DVXIcowD-svg46Mcpcc1CDOhv3_QRvzdWPgue/s1600/DSCN1398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpgN4x9D5TrfchYp7vBDJEDiYNl3zponRoF7FRDiMkeCDsu8YrGsC0RQqnXyoLfiUkA2rzLE6DLd4vz-U-Sj7ONvJlqa_JbBLWPCbcs5DVXIcowD-svg46Mcpcc1CDOhv3_QRvzdWPgue/s640/DSCN1398.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I added a metal grommet and a 'Happy Birthday' tag to seal the deal. And in case you have any questions who made it, a 'handmade by yours truly' stamp will let you know! ;) </td></tr>
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It's actually pretty easy to make the circle itself. You just cut a piece of paper and fold it in like 1/4 of inch sizes. The tough part, for me at least, was fanning it out into a circle and gluing it together while still holding it's shape. It might also have something to do with the glue I was using. Now that I know that Gorilla Glue isn't good for craft projects, maybe I should get myself a little glue gun! </div>
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I'm looking forward to doing more greeting cards like this in the future. Halloween will be a fun time to get creative with some stamps and fun patterns....but before then is my dad's birthday. I'm already thinking of what I can make for him. I just love being crafty! HA!</div>
gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-19206257174854141492012-08-24T06:14:00.000-07:002012-08-24T06:14:55.684-07:00Checking Off the ListIt's been awhile since I've worked on my <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-30-before-30-list.html" target="_blank">30 before 30 List </a>(since the <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/2012/06/once-in-lifetime-adventures.html" target="_blank">camping fiasco 2012</a>) so I thought I'd remind you where I'm at now and what I recently checked off the list.<br />
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1. Get another dog (Bailey needs a playmate)<br />
<strike>2. Mend broken relationships</strike><br />
3. Do a full marathon (run/walk)<br />
4. Take a cake decorating class<br />
<strike>5. Take the next step in my career (management)</strike><br />
<strike>6. Buy a new car (that I LOVE)!</strike><br />
<strike>7. Have a professional maid come in and clean my house</strike><br />
8. Do a home renovation project on my own!<br />
9. Become a mom<br />
<strike>10. Create a piece of art (painting or drawing) I’d be willing to hang in my house</strike><br />
11. Get back into scrapbooking; make scrapbook of home renovations<br />
12. Pay off my student loans<br />
13. Read the Bible cover-to-cover<br />
14. Finally be happy with my body<br />
15. Redo two bathrooms in my home (gut & start over) <span style="color: purple;">RENOVATED ONE BATHROOM, SO 1/2 A POINT! ;)</span><br />
16. Visit all the wineries in Virginia (that’s 156 wineries)<br />
17. Go to Boston and see the RED SOXs play<br />
<strike>18. Do another tropical vacation</strike><br />
<strike>19. Go camping</strike><br />
<strike>20. Not have a farmer’s (soccer) tan for one summer!</strike><br />
21. Take a cooking class with Ryan<br />
<strike>22. Go on vacation and bring Bailey</strike><br />
23. Paint a mural on a wall in my home (future baby Luce room)<br />
<b style="color: red;">24. Take one full day to watch old classic 80’s movies </b><br />
<strike>25. Keep a plant alive for longer than 1 week!</strike><br />
26. Convince in-laws to move back down to Virginia<br />
<strike>27. Get a Smartphone</strike><br />
28. Run in a race with Ryan (5K, 8K, 10K…whatever!)<br />
29. Make my own greeting cards for every occasion<br />
30. Throw/host an elaborate black-tie affair! (Perhaps for my 30th Birthday)<br />
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Making pretty good head way on this list, don't you think? My 28th birthday just passed so I've still got some time for some of these items {especially the more expensive items}. But can you take a guess on which one I crossed off most recently?<br />
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Yup, the red highlight probably gives you a good clue. ;) A few weeks back I got sick, out of no where, isn't that extremely inconsiderate of illnesses not to give you warning? Anywho, so I got sick and had to take off work. With the hubby out of the house and me on again/off again asleep I decided to rock some 80s movies! What was the movie of choice for this sick person? I'm not ashamed to say it, Lethal Weapon......ALL FOUR MOVIES.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7zmFBVNFMLf4FJwwLIf6QPucKIahctdEYM_UFooVFFxIjI6Jkdl9CKbKI_xPuvor8eCgEfmPs9Ux-2i9IW2XQdRdwC1sXlF8Tumy1zTmQMG96ue16-FmXsD9dvRaSQgyHgm2PR4pQu2E/s1600/LWfilms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7zmFBVNFMLf4FJwwLIf6QPucKIahctdEYM_UFooVFFxIjI6Jkdl9CKbKI_xPuvor8eCgEfmPs9Ux-2i9IW2XQdRdwC1sXlF8Tumy1zTmQMG96ue16-FmXsD9dvRaSQgyHgm2PR4pQu2E/s640/LWfilms.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now I know not all of them were filmed in the 80s, but I pretty much consider them 80s type movies. I mean do you remember Mel Gibson's hair??<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlLmkw8ukshhDiikkNEe_SP_8QxxdBGOojmNiO0l_OY3nr8i9ITrRyxb-acF6UTaXgqmCozsEe0bONVZljx7JKcn1mU2aA-6DvQ9u3y5EUIzWSvfqh8R0pGPB2HCuQDARjgVREg5KjWMG/s1600/Lethal_Weapon_3_49138_Medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlLmkw8ukshhDiikkNEe_SP_8QxxdBGOojmNiO0l_OY3nr8i9ITrRyxb-acF6UTaXgqmCozsEe0bONVZljx7JKcn1mU2aA-6DvQ9u3y5EUIzWSvfqh8R0pGPB2HCuQDARjgVREg5KjWMG/s640/Lethal_Weapon_3_49138_Medium.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I had forgotten everything from those movies, of course it has been forever since I watched them, but it was pretty entertaining. Danny Glover and Mel Gibson really did have a great relationship on screen. Their banter, along with Joe Pesci and Rene Russo, cracked me up! And if that wasn't enough 80s for one day I also happened to catch this classic on TV after my nap....<br />
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I certainly think that day marks number 24 off my 30 before 30 list! What is your favorite 80s movie?gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5743214783204234946.post-68341771452337944452012-08-20T18:04:00.001-07:002012-08-20T18:04:11.984-07:00The Best Birthday GiftMy 28th birthday was last week and I posted <a href="http://gillianluce.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-grown-up-birthday-wish.html" target="_blank">here</a> some things I thought would be good gifts for my birthday-should anyone be looking for suggestions-but what I received was so much better than what I could have imagined.<br />
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When I came into work, I really felt the LOVE with balloons and flowers on my desk along with a couple cards. Then one of my work besties made raspberry lemon cupcakes....take a look! They were AMAZING!<br />
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Aren't those just the cutest darn things?? We then had a celebratory lunch at Havanna's. Their chicken nachos are delicious and I ate way too much. Of course. Then came to the evening in which the hubby and I were going to see The Campaign, with Will Ferrel and Zack Galafanakas, at Cinema Cafe. It was a funny movie and I had a great time.<br />
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For dessert I had a rockin mint chocolate chip ice cream cake courtesy of my parents. Ryan surprised me with flowers, a bottle of wine that I love, Starbucks gift card, a DIY magazine (does he know me or what) and a beautiful card.<br />
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And if that wasn't enough, he also reserved me a 50 minute massage at the <a href="http://www.foundersinn.com/spa-en.html" target="_blank">Flowering Almond Spa</a> at The Founder's Inn on Saturday. <br />
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I have had a very tough year thus far. Nothing atrocious and certainly not life & death, but it has been very tough on me emotionally, physically and mentally. And Ryan knows that. So it was so wonderful of him to allow me some time to pamper myself with an aromatherapy massage. I had never been there before, but oh my! It was BEAUTIFUL. The place was so relaxing as soon as I walked in I was greeted and directed to a locker which had a robe and flip flops for me to change into.<br />
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It had a lounge area for me to wait, read a magazine and get some cold lemon water before the blessed event. The lady, Bridgette, called my name & brought me into a room. I picked ouy my scent, tranquility, and then disrobed. The bed was heated, yup heated, so it was warm and cozy. The music was so soothing that I just closed my eyes and enjoyed all the senses that filled my nostrils. Hot towels were also given for my neck and back which added to the relaxing feeling (who doesn't love a warm blanket or bath? feels like home). I didn't fall asleep but the time went by too fast nonethelss.<br />
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I truly had the best birthday this year and it was all because people showed me how much I meant to them. It also allowed me some "ME" time, which I don't do enough of. Bring on the new year!!!<br />
gillian lucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862205585459679006noreply@blogger.com0