Monthly Archives: August 2011

Napoleon: The Emperor. The Cream Puff.

By Ginger | Published August 21, 2011

I need to give you an update on Napoleon (not really his name, but the name we use for him here in the Blog, in order to preserve his privacy). It’s a name that reflects the fact that he tends to “rule” our household with an iron fist, albeit, a toddler fist – but still.

Anna James Photography

We first met the little guy over two and a half years ago. This is a little boy with an enormous personality. Thinking of our family without him would be like thinking of a room - empty, cold and boring. He fills-up our life with dizzying energy and side-splitting antics. It’s like living in a three-ring circus sometimes.

But with the sweets also come the sours. This amazing little guy has needed every ounce of his strong personality and buoyant attitude – he was born with some physical disabilities; a heart condition requiring future surgeries, chronic lung disease, swallowing difficulties, and he requires a gastric-tube. We have been through some terrifying scares with his health.

Anna James Photography

Things are fine at the moment, though, and we need to celebrate a momentous occasion… We now have officially adopted him! That makes him officially stuck with us!!

This milestone is being marked by – what else? – redecorating his bedroom! Out with the “house guest” feel, and in with the (spoiled rotten and adored) Newest Member of the Family status (officially! ) feel.

Anna James Photography

So. There’s your update on our precious and precocious Napoleon… and a nice segue into an upcoming Blog subject…decorating and design for kids with special needs.

Posted in FAM, Interior Design | 5 Comments

GET-AWAY GOT AWAY

By Ginger | Published August 15, 2011

In an effort to at least “act” like I have time to have a LIFE and relax in Summertime, like you’re supposed to…. we packed-up and went for a little Get-Away to Bear Creek Lake in Cumberland, Va.

The whole Family; humans and canines. We kept it simple – which, I am beginning to learn, just might be the key to having a really enjoyable trip.

As I check-in to our quaint little cabin, I am thinking (as if it were a Mantra)…

“simple, quiet, no-drama, no work.
simple, quiet, no-drama, no work.”
But, somehow, even as this phrase is repeating in “background” thoughts, my eye scans the room, and I automatically start re-arranging the dreadful furniture layout like some Decorating Zombie wandering the earth without knowing why.

Not exactly my style:)

Naturally, the quiet and simplicity of this glorious woodland retreat was so profound…

that I HAD to make it noisy and complex!

And what better way than to … invite family!

Oh yes I did! My beautiful sisters, their Type A husbands, their darling children, and my WONDERFUL parents!

NOW we’re talkin!

It’s like trying to do Meditation…. About 4 minutes of peaceful, placid and serene… is all I can take.

Chula and Karis could stay like this forever.

Did I mention we brought the dogs?
Apparently, they misunderstood our plans. WE said we were going for a Get-away… the dogs HEARD … “ Let’s Go- away! “ Enticed by all the great outdoors, ( Bear Creek is surrounded by the 16,000-acre Cumberland State Forest) puppy Karis, the Boston Terrier, took a hike ! She was missing for 24 hours.

We were all terrified and the whole thing created quite a big, unwanted project. Including the creation of a zillion WANTED posters, with Reward offered, and posting them everywhere.

Good thing we did it though, because it worked. She was found and back with her family the next day.

Our cabin for the week.

She has tons of stories about this “journey” of hers. HER version of the story includes her confronting a BIG bear and chasing it away from a child ( uh huh )

and swimming in the 40-acre lake where, she claims, she caught a fish in her mouth for her dinner. She is posting all this on her DOGBOOK page and bragging endlessly to her on-line dog-friends. As I’m sure you know, you can’t believe half of what a dog tells you!

All-in-all everyone had a great time AND can’t wait to do it again next summer. I highly recommend you visit Bear Creek yourself, especially if you have young children.

Posted in FAM | 4 Comments

GO ON RED

By Ginger | Published August 7, 2011

People are such wooses about color and decorating. Drives me nuts sometimes.
Let’s be real – it’s not like you’re a Rocket Scientist deciding whether to fill the tanks with hydrogen or nitrogen … it’s just a room! And there is no color decision I know of that cannot be un-done. (and, honestly, once you let the color in you almost never actually want to undo it later)
Of all the colors that people seem the most afraid of.. Reds have got to be about the boldest.

HOME TO HOME

TRADITIONAL LIVING

'TO THE TRADE' RUG

ALICE WICKER PURSE $195

WOW ALERT! ROSE WALL BROOCH-RED- 16"DIA x 10.5"H, 8"DIA x 9"H, & 13.5"DIA x 9.5"D

But – oh my gosh – if you take the leap, it will elevate you from ho-hum suburban run-of-the-mill house… to Architectural Digest-will-be-calling-any-moment Fabulous!

YOUNG HOUSE OF LOVE

NCA AT HIGH POINT MARKET

THOMAS BRITT

Red is almost a neutral. There really is very little that is won’t go with. There are so many beiges, tans and earth tones around – and there’s no place that Reds love better than hanging around these colors.

'TO THE TRADE' RUG, SIMILAR TO ONE AT NEIMAN MARCUS

The right shade of red will also Blow-over your Blues, Greaten the Greens, and Wow your Yellows.
Red is versatile; oh, sure, we all associate it with sexy, but it is also the country look of a red barn, the sweetness of a poppy, little-girl polka dots, English Estate tartan rich, and a gazillion other looks.