Bright Ideas: Beat The Winter Blues and Smile

Are the Winter Blues getting you down? Here are some tips to be happy and energized! For me, I instantly feel happier when I make my bed, get outside, connect with friends, do something good for someone else every day, and smile! Even if your smile is a fake one, it will instantly make you a little bit happier. Go ahead, try it right now...

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. ~ Phyllis Diller

Beauty is power; a smile is its sword. ~ Charles Reade

Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important. ~ Janet Lane

I just like to smile, smiling's my favorite. ~ Quote from ELF

So go ahead and Send Flowers to someone you love!

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Related "How To" be Happy during the Winter

Apartment Therapy: 1 Simple way to be happy in the New Year

Real Simple: 9 Things You Can Do to Be Happy in the Next 30 Minutes

Martha Stewart: Body and Soul Challenge

photo: Beautiful Smile

Decorating Ideas - How to Arrange Art on Your Walls

When a customer purchases one of my watercolor paintings, I often get asked the question, "How should I arrange the art on my wall?". Even though this is a very good question, there is no right or wrong answer. Some formal dining rooms call for symmetry, while modern living room spaces might entertain a mix matched collage. It simply is a matter of your personal taste. After all, people buy art that pleases them and makes them happy; therefore, do what feels natural and right to you. I have collected an assortment of wall displays to give you some ideas.

photos: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Enter to win $200.00 towards your choice of Watercolor Paintings.

Related ~ Done in a Day - Salon Wall via Southern Living

How to arrange and hang picture frames using butcher paper via apartment therapy

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How to Organize Your Jewelry with Decorative Bowls

How do you organize your jewelry? I love my decorative bowls, and I use them to keep my jewelry separated and in groups.

When I saw the above image on Emily Clark via Martha Stewart, I went right upstairs and took a photo of my Anthropologie bowls.

Related: Organize your home with Pottery Barn

More Organizing Tips and

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Light Up The New Year with Fire and Ice!!

Happy New Year!! We will be outdoors tonight enjoying some fireworks on New Year's Eve. We will be watching them from a dear friend's beautiful outdoor patio. I was trying to come up with a wonderful hostess gift and decided to make some Ice Sculpture Luminaries.

I have always been fascinated by the the combination of Fire and Ice. I love the warm ambiance it creates. Of course they can be made with just water, but I love the rustic feeling the addition of evergreens and pinecones bring. Here is a wonderful how to pictorial I found:

You need two bowls, one much larger than the other. Fill 1/3 of the large bowl with water. Add pinecones and evergreens.

Place the smaller bowl inside the larger bowl

Weight the smaller bowl down with a large rock. Freeze several hours outdoors or in your freezer - it's been so cold that for us outdoors works fine!!

To unmold run warm water over the larger bowl to release ice sculpture. Add a candle and enjoy!

Happy New Year, my friends!! Looking forward to sharing even more wonderful things with you in 2011!!

(photos Southern Living & Bolig)

Step into October with Jewel Tones

Beautiful rich jewel tone colors of Autumn... Frilly feathers, succulent wreaths and bright watercolors. I hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with exciting plans or some much needed quiet time. Whichever the case may be,

have a bright bold and beautiful one!

Click here for step-by-step instructions on how to plant and care for a succulent wreath. Other favorites this week ~ A beautiful hue of blue and plum pretty too... A wonderful post on making Basil Pesto, cool double wrap bracelets from Stella and Dot, far East pinks, bold and romantic rooms.

Love this post on Home is where the Art is... and I am dying over these fabulously chic dresses! Love the black and white ballgowns, hmmm... maybe some inspiration here to paint more dresses.

Porch swings and a piano engagement shoot...

photos: dustjacket attic, bhg.com, lauratrevey.com

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Bright Ideas: How to Care for an Orchid

I was so excited to receive this elegant orchid from a friend for my birthday. It goes perfectly on my desk, and even coordinates with my watercolor painting on the wall. I did some research on how to care for an orchid, since {I am afraid to say} this is my very first one! Sonia Uyterhoeven, Gardener for Public Programs at the New York Botanical Garden, gives great watering and fertilizing tips.

Watch this video on How to get your Orchid to rebloom.

Related resources:

Martha Stewart: Orchids 101

Orchid Care Tips: Watering

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