KITCHEN CABINETS - PAINT PAINT PAINT

I love warm wood tones, but for some reason

in a kitchen

I prefer them on the floor

I love a painted kitchen!

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Meet Me at The Moksi Homes

This week I am writing as a guest blogger

for my friend, Maureen

Her fantastic new blog, The Moksi Homes,

 focuses on experiences and homes of expat women

Maureen and I have been virtual friends since my blogging beginning

She's a Dutch mom living in Dubai,

and the third person I know who was born in Suriname :)

She is such a delight and full of positive energy

When Maureen asked me to write about 

what it was like to make an international move, I jumped on it

I don't think I've written about it on my blog

It's a positive post (you know me), 

but I'll tell you, that move was one of my most overwhelming moments

I hope to see you over at The Moksi Homes

:)

EXPLORING THE KITCHEN BACKSPLASH

I love kitchens

Which is a little surprising based on how little time I have to spend in them these days.

But I can't help it.  I love kitchens -

They are the heart of the home.

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Down Came The Rain...

We have had rain by the bucket-loads

for the past month

For the second time this season,

the river jumped the banks and flooded the street

This has never happened in my four years of living here

You know it's a big deal
when the locals are taking photos too

Although it is a mild inconvenience,

I find it sort of interesting to have a weather related 'incident'

For the most part, houses and buildings have been fine

It's mostly fields that have taken the brunt

My friend wondered if the flooding coincided with the full moon

And sure enough, the flooding occurred just two days after the full moon

with all its tidal gravity

Funny to see swans and sea birds swimming in pastures

Today... blue skies and not a drop of rain :)

Have a great week

RENEW WITH COLOR

EVERYONE SEEMS TO HAVE A PROJECT FOR THE NEW YEAR

What is yours?

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BORING WALLS? WE CAN FIX THAT!

There is no excuse, my friends, for boring walls....

Especially when you can get quality frames for so little $$$.

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CLEAN AND AIRY

The Mustard Ceiling

Choosing a color for your home, especially if it is an open concept floor plan and all rooms flow together, can be a little difficult. 

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Vacation In A Bottle

When you go on holiday,

do you bring anything back?

A coin, a postcard, a rock?

We've started to collect beach sand

when we travel

from rivers, lakes and sea

I write the location and date on the bottom of the base

(bottles from local craft store)

My kids love the collecting

and I love the different colors and textures

Each bottle represents a family vacation

filled with wonderful memories

Do you have a collection from trips?

A KITCHEN WITH DETAILS

That is what we desire.

Oft times we just get a 'kitchen'.  

Without adequate storage.  

Without enough food prep areas.

 Without adequate lighting. 

 Without details. 

When we are able to make some upgrades,

in light of the inadequacies, the details are often the last things we pursue.

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MELLOW YELLOW

Yellow is a popular choice for walls and for warming a room.  However, it isn't always the best choice to lighten a room - or to make it feel more spacious.



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Visiting London With Teens

When visiting London,

of course you will visit the famous landmarks

- Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge -

But what if you have a teenager (or grown up)

who needs to do more than just sightseeing?

Here's a few suggestions

*

- RIVER -

Zoom down river at a hair-blowing 35 knots
on a RIB speed boat past many of London's landmarks

Or look for ancient treasures along London's river shore
with a local archaeologist

*

- SKY -

Day or night,
enter a London Eye capsule
for a spectacular vantage point
You even can rent your own capsule for a special occasion
with food and drink included

Or take an elevator to the top of
the tallest building in the European Union
(and one of London's newest skyline additions),
The Shard

For the adventurous,
climb the rooftop of the O2 arena
for an unusual aerial view of London

*

- EARTH -

Hit the sidewalk for a 2-hour walking tour with first rate guides

Jack The Ripper, ghost walks, and filming locations
tend to be popular with a teen crowd

Or pedal through London on a guided cycling tour on a British Pashley bicycle

*

- FOOD -

Ever wanted to savor crickets, kangaroo, crocodile, or other exotic cuisine?
Here's your chance at Archipelago

Select your Japanese dish from a clever conveyor belt
passing by your counter at YO!Sushi

Play other guests and order your meal
on your computerized tabletop at Inamo

Don't miss a foodie's afternoon tea in this creatively decorated restaurant: Sketch
(check out those egg capsule restrooms!)

Chocoholics will appreciate the chocolate artistry at Choccywoccydoodah
(sit down and enjoy a dessert and warm drink upstairs)

Finish off your day with nitrogen smoking ice cream at Chin Chin Labs,
offering some very unique flavors

*

- SPORTS -

For tennis fans, there is nothing like touring the grounds of Wimbledon

Lord's Cricket Ground Tour will appeal to cricketers
while football /soccer enthusiasts won't want to miss Chelsea FC Stadium Tour

*

- ENTERTAINMENT -

For Harry Potter fans,
a trip to Warner Bros Studio Tour is an absolute MUST
Although it is a bit outside London,
it is definitely worth the trip

You'll need the full hour to escape out of a locked room at Hint Hunt
Currently ranked as #1 Attraction in London by TripAdvisor,
this interactive game is 60 minutes of unforgettableness

Sit in a television audience
by applying for tickets in advance
or get a 'behind the scenes' tour at BBC

Watch a current film on the BIG screen
with 832 other movie-goers
at Odeon West End Cinema

For current events, refer to TimeOut London

*

'There's nowhere else like London.
Nothing at all, anywhere.'

                                                                   - Vivienne Westwood, fashion designer

( all photos my own )

an unsponsored post

REFRESH

the blue house

I just had to share this beautiful transformation with you.  It was so fun to design, and to see to its completion.  The homeowner is wonderfully creative and knows exactly what she likes.  My amazing friend, Shawna Henrie (bleudog fotography), provided the photography - which is why this post is going to be full of lots of wonderful pictures!  Enjoy!

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WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014!!