Easter must be close.....



because the egg tree's are blooming !!!

{via pininterest}

{urbangraceinteriors}


{rue magazine via pininterest}

 I just love this black flock silhouette dog wallpaper in a guest bath....

It's available, for a pretty penny, at Fabrics& Paper.  

One of the highlights of last weeks Furniture Market was a luncheon I attended with other bloggers,
 Marketing Yourself by Design: Insider Tips. And trust me, the tips came from folks who know how to
market themselves superbly.
 





Recognize these folks?? I happen to be a big fan of all of them.
 {lleft to right} Maxwell Gillingham Ryan,
Margot Austin, Brian Patrick Flynn and Tobi Fairley.

Yep--that's a gooooood panel. 



Tobi's design business is based in Arkansas. Her award winning designs for high-profile and celebrity
clients have been featured on HGTV and have been published on the cover of House Beautiful,
 Traditional Home, and Better Homes and Gardens special publications.  
 


 Maxwell Gillingham Ryan is co-founder and CEO of the wildy successful Apartment Therapy blog.
 This cutie patootie has such an interesting story--did you know he was an elementary school teacher for
7 years?? His next idea was to head-up a group of 'hired by the hour designers' all over NYC. They
were even going to have their own little cars like the Geek Squad! This idea never really grew legs.... 
Currently, his team puts out around 100 posts a day {!!} and during the luncheon, he repeatedly
referred to his blog as 'small'! Oh, such modesty.



Margot Austin is a magazine editor and stylist in Canada. Margot has covered fashion, beauty,
 entertainment, home renovation and design. She is currently senior design editor at style at home,
a Canadian magazine read by 1.6 million people per month {me included!}.
You can also now check her out at her own blog, margoaustin.ca. 

 

And last but not least, Bryan Patrick Flynn, the uber talented guy behind the uber great blog 
Decor Demon. He is also a television producer turned self-taught decorator/designer.
Brian's TV production credits range from news at an NBC affiliate in South Florida to design
and reality shows on Discovery Channel, HGTV, TBS and Fox. In addition to being an associate
producer, Brian is also the set decorator and on-air design talent for the TBS series,
Movie & a Makeover. And he shared with us that he just wrapped production on the
 new season of Design Star on HGTV! I can't wait to see how he spiced up this 'much in
 need of spice' show.  


{I have this ridiculous expression on my face because I was asking Donna if she had ANY idea how to use a camera...}

Brian was kind enough to sit with me, answer questions and offer all kinds of great advice. I must
 say, that I have never met anyone who talked as fast as Brian...thank goodness we were sitting at
the same table with him so we could read his lips while he was speaking!! He is full of energy,
unapologetically honest and has a fabulous sense of humor! 

I left with a ton of notes from this highly informative session. I always get inspired hearing
others path to success. They graciously shared so many tips, and just as important,
so many 'what-not-to-dos'.  

A little design detour today in honor of my special moms birthday.  2 years ago, we threw her a
surprise party. No easy task since I live 3 hours away from her. But, with lots of help, 150 of her
closest friends showed up.

Yep--this woman is loved. 

This was her night-- a night that will go down as one of the most special nights I will ever remember.
I wasn't blogging then, so, I thought today I would share a few pictures of the event because I know
some of you who read my blog were at the party!

  

I had old pictures of mom everywhere--framed, mounted, on banners, posters, vases...even hanging in the trees.
 








Here's the birthday girl surrounded by her family. That's my brother, David, and his wife,
Brooke on the right. {my kids look sooo young!!}


 {Doesn't she look good for 70!!}

This is one of my favorite pictures of mom in the 70's, in pigtails, being silly, sticking her tongue out at my dad!









Maris {my daughter} put together a beautiful powerpoint video showcasing 70 years of Mom's life in
photos put to her favorite songs. You see us laughing, but, don't think we didn't also shed some tears!
  


Here, mom is dancing with our beloved C.T. This photo is so precious--
 he just last month went to dance in heaven.
 


We shared special stories of how Gigi {my kids call her this} has touched our lives. Her friends had
also written stories before the party, and we shared those as well. 
  





This is the place that makes her the happiest-- in her grandkids arms.


{I love the way this image captures Jacks' admiration for his Gigi}

Mom--you are THE youngest, full-time-working 72 year old that I know! I wish we could party like this on
your birthday every year! And I also wish we were together today, but, since we're not, always know...    

I love you, Mom! Happy Birthday!!