To Rug Or Not To Rug?

As I noted in a previous post, the Master Bedroom is my refuge. Retreating into my comfy bed to read a book, watch T.V, or waste away cold weekend mornings just cuddling, is one of my favorite ways to relax. (Unfortunately, I don't get to do it as often as I'd like.)

Anyways...

The space is still lacking a major desgin element: PATTERN. I've managed to bring a bit of it into the space through the bedding, but the walls and floor are desperately plain. I do have a plan to get some pattern on the wall very soon, but today I want to throw out some options for the floor.

I desperately want a rug. I know I don't need it (there's carpet on the floor currently), but that big empty space in front of the bed is just crying for a rich, gorgeous rug. My dilemma: the space is awkward and...there's carpet. If I had wood floors I'd have no problem selecting. But whatever rug I choose, I don't want it to clash too intensely with the carpet. (Note: we do have tentative plans to take out the carpet...but not in the near future.)

Here are some of my options, the first two are my favs, but I really love them all:

Featured Blog- An Introduction To One of My Fav Blogs

Today's featured blog is Young House Love from super cute couple Sherry and John Petersik. With their comedic Chihuahua, Burger, and the latest addition to the family, baby Clara, this family has done some serious expanding in the last year. To accomodate their growth they've just purchased a new home, so there's bound to be some very exciting projects ahead!

What I love about Young House Love is their approach to DIY projects. Sherry and John have no training, licensing, or previous experience; they've learned all their lessons the old fashioned way...just diving in and rolling with the punches. For new home owners and designers, their projects page is an especially valuable tool summarizing nearly everything they've learned along the way.

*Photo courtesy of www.younghouselove.com

Get Sexy! Chicago Women's Bootcamp

For my 17th birthday I asked for a gym membership...weird, I know. Ever since then I have been working out at least four days a week. In the last year I gained weight due to a combination of factors; less intense workouts, increase in food intake, jam-packed schedule, higher levels of stress, and age all probably contributed. Since I already worked out quite often, I knew that I would have to give 150% if I wanted to dramatically shed pounds.

I knew I wouldn't give 150% on my own. (Who DOES that?)

For about four months now I've been attending the Chicago Women's Fitness Camp three to four days a week. The camp is led by Michelle Rossfeld; I haven't been yelled at so much since high school basketball practice. In addition to the bootcamps, Michelle also provides her clients with individualized cardio programs for the weekends. With the combination of these two workouts, I've lost about 13 pounds in three months. I haven't been assessed recently...but I'm hoping the number of pounds lost is even higher now.

Though the camp does seem to focus on women that are interested in losing a significant amount of weight (10+ pounds), many of the women who have already lost weight tend to stay on as clients. The reason: you won't get a better workout. Anywhere.

If you're in the Chicago area and are interested in losing weight OR you just want to challenge yourself with an amazing workout, I recommend attending the camp. First time visitors are always free.

*Photo courtesy of www.chicagowomensfitnesscamp.com

Blog, blog, blog

Just found a very informative list of tips and tricks for starting a blog. It was written by Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project - amazing writer and blogger. While some of these I have already learned, I find the rest to be quite helpful. Enjoy!

Lessons learned, forgotten, and re-learned

I got a great deal on two tall bookshelves via craigslist last week. Originally they were $25 each, but the seller ended up giving me two for the price of one...yay! As they're just particleboard, I probably could have gotten them for pretty cheap at Target, but I prefer to buy for even cheaper and then cusotmize a la Centsationalgirl. (Tangent - I heart Kate's site and home. Check her out.)

Right now I am in the middle of priming and painting them. It's been so long since I've painted anything that I forgot some of the little tips and tricks that I've learned in the past. Aside from the basics, here's a refresher course on the little details that will make your painting project go much smoother:

1) Always have paint-mixing sticks on hand. They're cheap and so precious during a project like this.

2) For anything with corners, also have an angled brush available. For everything else, use a roller. So much faster.

3) Speaking of corners, do corners and edging first.

4) Paint in a well-ventilated and well-lit area. (Seems obvious, but easy for us northerners to forget when we want to paint and it's 40 degrees outside.)

5) Paint is meant to be applied at 70 degrees Farenheit and in moderate humidity. If you're painting in different conditions, use an additive such as Penetrol or Floetrol to allow for even coverage.

6) Don't bother with a manicure until the project is COMPLETE.

I'm Scared

There, I said it.

I've been talking about it for months and now it's nearly here. I am this close to giving birth. Not literally of course. According to my TO DO list, I will be spending the next nine months, developing, establishing, outlining, and beginning my own business. No MBA program, house purchase, or other general life goal is in my way. I have bought and decorated the house, graduated with a double Masters, shed 15 pounds, started volunteering again, obtained a second [eventually primary] source of income, and basically crossed out every other thing on my list. I am free.

Yet I am scared. In an effort to make myself accountable to the Universe I have told everyone dear to me about my plans. We've had other opportunities fall through...which in my mind is a sign from Madame Universe that I am MEANT to do this. I am MEANT to tear the band-aid, jump without a parachute, swim in my uncertainty, and DO THE DAMN THANG.

I've read enough of other entrepreneurs' experiences to know that I will be my own worst critic. I will second-guess myself to death. I'm there already. Scared, uncertain, timid, trembling, doubtful. (Wait a minute, back up. Did I just call myself an "entrepreneur"? Freaky.)

But I have conceived. You can't see the bump yet. I feel no kicks. I am still sleeping soundly. But there is a small sense of nausea at the back of my thoughts; I expect soon it will be a daily occurance. I shall go into labour on August 1st. Baby name to be announced in the future...

Are you a fan?

As an amateur designer I know the floors and the ceiling should never be ignored when creating a space. Until now I have completely ignored this rule, as a matter of inconvenience (how do I uninstall/insall) and expense (carpet was laid down by previous owners). But now I'm wondering if it's time for me to step up my game and install a pretty ceiling light in the Master Bedroom?

Here are a few of my choices. My favorite is the first one shown.