We made it through Prom weekend and we couldn't have asked for worse weather. It rained all weekend. But, like you do, we had been on rain watch all week, so plans were reworked to allow all of our picture taking to be inside. Luckily, we live close to Harrah's Casino in Cherokee and decided that it would be a great spot for pictures of our big group.

  

It's a beautiful facility that has just recently allowed kids under 21 year to visit the 2nd floor, which is full of restaurants and shops and is 'gambling-free'. You may remember that this is the same place we have our big Gala each year {Disco Gala and Here's to Hollywood} . We picked our spot right in front of the big glass lit balls that dropped from the ceiling. They made a pretty cool backdrop.

*It was a bit dark so some of the the pics are a little blurry.

Our lovely ladies looked beautiful from the front..

as well as the back. 

{Tate, Maris, Steph}

These 3 besties were honored to be on the Prom Court. Miss Tate Silver Sequins took the Queen honor.

 

 

Lovely corsages were had by all. Can you guess which one I made???

 

 

 Jack and his friend Kennedy made a darn cute couple.

 

 

 But, I was a bit partial to this couple.

 

For those who are new here, this is my daughter Maris (17) and my son Jack (14). This prom will be the only one in which I will have both of my kiddos in attendance together so it was a real treat to get to tag along for pictures.

 

 

This is Maris' boyfriend, Cal. It has been such fun to witness these 2 grow in their fondness for each other. He's a sweetheart and they are a pretty great couple. Truth is, Cal's not a huge lover of having his picture made 300 times by 40 different parents, but he held up nicely. This can be especially trying when you are with someone who loves nothing more than posing for the paparazzi parent brigade. yep, that would be my kid.

 Those are hurdle jumping legs, ladies and gentlemen.

 

These kids are the best of friends and had such a great last big party together.

And my very favorite image of the night...

 

sweet, sweet times...

 

 

 

Guess where these 2 snaggle-toothed, curly headed babies are headed this weekend.....

 

 

the Prom...

*sigh*

I'll share a picture or 2 ;)

 

 

 

With the idea of open concept still a very hot trend in our homes, it is important to have the open spaces relate to each other to create a connectivity. Normally, standing in one room allows you to see into all, or part of, another room or rooms. One of the ways to unite all of the spaces is through color. Obviously, you could paint all your walls in an open concept home the same color and call it 'connected', but let's look instead at the technique of subtly weaving color throughout. 

Bonesteel Trout Hall is a California design firm that consistently excels in their restrained interiors and the relationship of colors throughout the space. They are so good that sometimes you have to walk through the spaces several times to figure out why the house is so wonderfully appealing.

   

 

In this living room, the pillows and the striped rug have accents of blue. There is also a beautiful smoky chocolate that is used on the leather of the sofa and velvet sofa pillows.   

 

 

When you move into the adjoining kitchen, the cabinets are stained in almost the exact shade of the living rooms chocolaty brown accents and the blue gray is repeated on this oversized custom island. The heavy doses of white used on the walls, trim, wainscotting, and kitchen countertops is a unifying color that allows these deep rich colors to remain fresh and unmuddled.

 

 

Moving through to the dining room, the dark wood tones of the table, chairs and countertop are again repeated and the blue shows itself as gorgeous grasscloth wallpaper. And remember the stripe detail on the pillows in the living room?? Check out the detail on the curtains about 2/3 of the way down, peeking through the chairs. I know!!

 

 

 

I wonder where their beautiful color palette came from???

 

{all images via Bonesteel Trout Hall}

 

 

 

The last Saturday of April each year is a big celebration in our little town. This will be the 16th year that we celebrate 'Greening Up the Mountains', a festival held in downtown Sylva, to welcome spring and the beautiful colors it brings with it. We get really excited when that lush green slowly creeps it's way up our North Carolina mountainsides.

 

   Strengthened by its early roots as an Earth Day celebration, the festival includes a focus on environmental protection, sustainability, and promotion of local businesses and civic groups. Our tiny main street fills with around 11,000 people who come to experience a talent show, craft demonstrations, musical acts, a 5K run, a kid's stage, fun storytelling, inflatables and great food. Adjacent to the festivities, our Farmers Market will be open until noon with beautiful cut flowers and plants, homemade jams, soaps, and fresh veggies.  

 

One of the sponsors of the event is our hospital, Medwest/Harris. They are undergoing a big project -- The New Generations Birthing Center. We are all really excited about this $3 million renovation project of the mother and baby section. There are big plans for the Birthing Center which include increasing the number of available labor and delivery rooms, implementing new technology, new furniture and fixtures, and offering a specific operating room for Caesarean sections. {Remember last years '70's Gala' that raised $60,000 for the renovation!!}

 

 

I was asked to paint a little photo op board for the hospital to use at the festival. I propped it up in the backyard for it's own photo shoot yesterday before delivering it to the hospital.

  

 

If you are at the festival, make sure you stop by, stick your head in and smile for the camera! Then visit their facebook page to see your cute baby pics.    

 

 

 

We are deep in the throws of our planning for this years Gala {our BIG fundraiser} at Harrah's Casino in August. Any guesses on what this years theme might be???