Germageddon and Downton Abbey Randomness

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Hey there,  how's it going?  Did you see my sad Thanksgiving story I posted at the beginning of Flaunt it Friday last week?

What a way to kick off a party with a depressing story about illness on Thanksgiving.

Long story short, my whole family was sick on turkey day, half of us with a stomach bug, half of us with a bad cold.  My prediction was that we would switch illnesses at some point and guess what, my prediction came true.  I predicted this occurance on my own without consulting the Dionne Warwick Psychic Friends Network (does anyone remember that??) or any other psychic hotline.  Impressive, huh?  I should start playing the lottery with these psychic skillz.  Yeah... right.

Anyway, the cold hit me Thursday morning and the stomach bug hit me Saturday night and I am still exhausted and it's Wednesday.  Walking up the stairs makes me feel like I just ran a mile, usually it only makes me feel like I ran a half mile or so.

Besides missing Thanksgiving, I'm now totally behind on my Christmas decorating.  I'm so bummed because this year I was so excited that Thanksgiving was early so I'd have an extra week to enjoy our Christmas decor.  Not really happening.  I at least got the kids tree up before our house was struck by Germageddon.

On the bright side of things, I've lost 6 pounds since Saturday.  I do not recommend this "diet" to anyone but hey, I'll take it.  Now if I can just keep it off I'll be set for my normal 5 pound holiday weight gain.  At least I'm ahead of the game on that.

I also was able to catch up on Season 2 of Downton Abbey while laying around recovering.  Just in time for Season 3 happening in January... so that's another perk.  Do any of you watch that?  SO good!  Besides the drama it's great just for the scenery, costumes and especially the house castle... all beautiful.

Highclere Castle plays home to Downton Abbey. Photo credit Flickr user Richard Munckton

Are any of you as excited as I am for season 3?

Million Dollar Decorators, I love to hate it...

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Oh my, this completely ridiculous reality show is back on TV and I'm watching it.

Again.

I'm so disappointed in myself.

Over a year and a half ago I wrote this post all about the first season.   This season I don't think I will be so kind.  I'm already completely annoyed and it's only the first episode!  Can I will myself not to watch this show full of obnoxious and egotistical decorators?...


Hello lovely friends!  I don't have time to watch much tv but there are a few shows I record on the DVR that I watch when everyone else is sleeping.   Recently I've added Million Dollar Decorators on Bravo.

Have any of you been watching it??

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

I don't know if I love it or hate it.  Maybe I love to hate it??

I can't stop watching it even though some of the decorators are reedonkulously annoying and seem to get all the air time.

I am floored by the outrageous amounts that people spend on pieces of furniture (I know, I know, it's Million Dollar Decorators, of course they are going to be spending insane amounts of money)  BUT, my Chic on a Shoestring brain says, NO!!  You could totally get that at HomeGoods for $89.99!! 

Even if I was a millionaire, I wouldn't spend $25,000 on an end table.  I just couldn't do it, I don't care who made it or how old it is, it just doesn't make sense to me.  I'm not saying that it's not ok for people to do it because I think people should spend their money how they want to, I just couldn't do it.  Just sayin'.

So, on to the cast...

via Bravo, from left Mary McDonald, Jeffrey Alan Marks , Nathan Turner, Kathryn Ireland ,  and Martyn Lawrence-Bullard

The show has some big name decorators that are super talented with big personalities (of course, it is reality tv ya know).

Mary McDonald is my favorite, I love her style, elegant and glamorous.  She also has great fashion sense.  She's a little bit of a "Miss Priss" but I think the show tries to make her appear worse than she really is.  She is kind of funny and I like that she seems to tell it like it is.

Here is a bedroom from her portfolio, I think it's fabulous even though it's definitely not a look that everyone could pull off in their home.  That's why she decorates for millionaires.  ;)




via Bravo

A lovely living room by Mary McDonald which could be pretty easily recreated on a much lower budget.

via Bravo

Kathryn Ireland (not the swimsuit model) has a very eclectic and warm style.  It's not really me but I can definitely appreciate it and she is great at it.  She seems to not take herself too seriously (kind of a goofball!) and always have a drink in her hand.  It could be the producers making it appear that she always has a drink in her hand??  Who really knows?!  She couldn't be too goofy or drunk all the time because she is so successful.

This bedroom by Kathryn is just so cute!

via Bravo

Next is Nathan Turner.  He owns a popular furniture boutique in LA.  He seems like a nice guy and doesn't get nearly enough airtime on the show probably because he's a nice guy.

This is a  beautiful table scape he did, I love the Ikat table cloth I'm also loving the pillows in the background.

via Bravo

Next on the show is Jeffrey Alan Marks, he is very talented but he takes himself way too seriously.  On the show he says "some days my job is more important than the President".  What?!  Are you serious?!?

He really said that.  Yuck.  Give me a break Jeffrey Alan Marks, you're killin' me.

So even though he takes himself way too seriously he is super talented which is why I can't turn it off. Look at these beautiful rooms!

via Bravo

Ok, it looks cool but I'd always worry that the boat hanging from the ceiling was going to come crashing down and kill me in my sleep.

via Bravo

I absolutely LOVE everything about this kitchen!

I saved the worst for last.  Martyn Lawrence-Bullard.

However incredibly talented he may be I can not get over his snobbish personality and super-annoying Thurston Howl III accent.

The first time I watched the show I almost fell out of my chair because of his ridiculous accent, I thought he was joking... like doing an exaggerated impersonation of someone else (like Thurston Howl III).  But that's just really how he speaks!   It's unbelievable.

I need to stop myself  now because I was raised that if I didn't have anything nice to say I shouldn't say it. :)  Watch the show and make your own opinions dear friends.

Here is a room from his portfolio...

via Bravo

As someone who loves decorating I enjoy the show, even though it drives me nuts 90% of the time.  Have you watched it?  What do you think??


© Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

The Following Things Are True About Housework...?

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Hi dear friends!  I am low on posts this week because in the past 24 hours I have worked full time (being a stay-home-mom I'm on call 24/7!) plus two decorating installation jobs and hosted my ladies bible study group at our home (meaning I had to clean like a mad-man and cook in between my full time job of being a mom and my part time job of interior decorator).  

I am NOT complaining, I love both of my jobs.  I'm just plain tired out after all that work in such a short amount of time.  I'm also bummed that I wasn't able to hang out more with you guys this week.  Some weeks are just like that...  everything happens all at once.  

Anywho.  After all the cleaning I did this week I thought I'd share a few funny anecdotes about housework by Andy Rooney. 

 

Andy Rooney: The Following Things Are True About Housework

Source

Vacuuming a large rug is the easiest housekeeping job. Anyone doing it gets more credit than he or 
she deserves. This is partly because the vacuum cleaner makes so much noise it gives the illusion 
that someone’s working hard.

Putting away the vacuum cleaner is harder than vacuuming.

The single easiest thing to do in exchange for the most credit, is mopping the kitchen floor. It sounds 

like a big deal but it isn’t.

Forgetting to put the trash out by the curb on the day it’s picked up is the single worst mistake a 

homeowner can make.

No matter how many times it happens over the years, it’s always a big surprise when a fuse blows, or 

a circuit breaker breaks.

There are parts of a stove where grease collects that I don’t want to know about.

No soap, detergent, scouring pad, brush or grease-remover that claims to make cleaning easy makes 

cleaning easy. It’s hard no matter what you use.

An easy way to get out of housework is to go get something at the store.

Whenever I iron something, I think of my mother. Every time she ironed, she said, “I enjoy doing a little

of it.” I realize now that what she was really saying was, “I hate to do a lot of it.”

I thought this little list was funny and somewhat true.  Putting the vacuum cleaner away 
is worse than vacuuming, all that cord winding, it never fits back on right.  Then stuffing 
it back in the closet, makes me sweat just thinking about it.  

Mopping the kitchen floor is a big deal to me, more like a total pain in the fanny.  All that 
sticky old food that's too stuck for the mop to take off.  Bet Andy Rooney didn't live with 
a 3 year old when he wrote this one.

Forgetting to take out the trash IS the worst mistake a homeowner can make.  Been there
done that and it included 2 week old stinky diapers by the time it was over... makes me 
gag just thinking about it.

I don't consider flipping the switch after a circuit breaker breaks to be house cleaning.  It's
too easy.

And going to the store never gets me out of any housework, it's always waiting for me 
when I get back home. :)   

What do you think about good old Andy Rooney's take on housework?

Let's Talk About Me

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Hello lovely friends,  I've missed you!  I hope you all enjoyed my guest posts while I was vacationing.  There were some really great ideas shared and I enjoyed "meeting" all of you.  It was so nice to be able to help out some talented bloggers get some extra exposure and for me to be able to check out of blogland for a while.

Now that I'm back I have mountains of laundry to do, mail to sort, groceries to buy, Easter decorations to take down, yada-yada-yada.  Plus, clean the house.  We cleaned before we left for vacation so we could come home to a nice and tidy house.  For some reason, less than 24 hours after we got home it looked like a bomb went off in here. Why does that happen?? Oh well, until I get all the above done, I can't work on my fun decorating projects.  Booo.  And, since I've been gone I don't have any great projects to talk about, instead I'm going to talk about myself.

Ummmm, awkward...

I'm not really one to talk about myself much but I thought maybe you'd think it was fun.  Yeah, fun. Maybe...

Anyone??

Anyone?

Bueller? Bueller?...

Anywho, I always like it when other bloggers share a bit about themselves so thought you might like it too.
If not, no worries, these will be few and far between.  :)

Sooo, what do you want to know??  Hmmmm, good question.

Well, how about this, my real name is Kathryn, no one calls me that except when I'm in trouble.  My best friend started calling me Kathryn in college just for fun, I have no idea why but it stuck and she still calls me Kathryn to this day.  I introduce myself as Katie and I go by Katie to most.  People close to me call me Kate, and all of you guys.  (You should feel special, huh. :)

Kathryn?

Why do I go by Kate on the blog?  Well, it was kind of random.  When I started the blog I had this cheesy idea of calling it "Kate Loves to Decorate" or something like that.  See, it rhymes, Kate, decorate... get it?  Then, I wanted my blog name to match my decorating business name so I decided that was much too cheesy.  I ended up leaving Kate on my blog mostly because Kate is part of my email address.  I didn't think it would end up causing so much "confusion and delay". (10 extra points if you can name that tv show)

Katie?

I've actually thought about changing my signature to Katie on here because it has confused some of my clients.  My clients have all come from referrals of someone else who introduces me as Katie, my business card says Katie too, then they see my email that says Kate and my blog that says Kate and they get all confused.  Seriously!!

Kate?

You wouldn't think it would be such a big deal but really, 75% of my clients are like "Um, do you go by Katie or Kate?" and then I'm like, "Either is fine" because really, either is fine and then I can tell they feel like they don't know what to call me because they always hesitate before saying my name and it's a little awkward.  Then I always end up feeling bad about it!

What a silly thing.  So if I changed to Katie on here would you guys all freak out??  Probably?? :)

Kate, Katie, Kathryn? (note the long straight hair)

Ok, besides having 3 names I also have naturally curly hair!  (I told you guys this was going to be tons of fun learning exciting things about me... curly hair, just fascinating!) You can't tell by my pic but my hair is way curly.  Since my youngest baby was born (you know having babies does strange things to your hair don't you?)  my hair has multi-personality disorder.  Part of it is way curly, like tight spiral curls that I would've died to have in junior high when I was getting spiral curl perms and using Rave hairspray.  Now that I have it, totally not in style.

Curly hair picture from 2 years ago, my curls have gotten multipersonality disorder
 since then and I don't have any pics of it since I always put it up or straighten it when it's down.

There are also some strands of my hair in the back that are not curly at all, more like slightly wavy.  When my hair is down the wavy hair hangs 2 inches longer than the curly hair.  It's like having two different hair styles on one head, amazing!  I wear my hair in a ponytail or some other up-do (does anyone say up-do anymore that's not talking about prom in the 90's?)  about 90% of the time due to my hair multipersonality disorder.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't hate my hair and I'm very thankful to have a head full of healthy hair, but as a woman, I've got the right to vent about my crazy multipersonality disorder hair. :)

Rocking the "up-do" (as usual)

I really like to wear it straight but my hair is pretty long.  Flat ironing every day will totally fry it because it's so curly (most of it) and besides, I am too lazy who has time to flat iron their entire head of long hair every single day? Not this mom. :)



Another fun fact about me:  I love to golf!  In fact, I used to be a pretty decent golfer and played for my high school  and college teams.  In college I played pretty much 5 days a week in-season.  I met Mr. Chic in college when we worked at the same golf course.  Our first date was a round of golf and when we started "going out" we played golf pretty much every day.  Which leads to my next fun fact... we got engaged on a golf course!

Mr. Chic had arranged for my dad to stick the ring box in the hole on the 10th green (just behind my parent's house) just before we got there.  When I putt the ball in I found it, he got down on bended knee right there on the green!  I was completely shocked and excited of course!  For us it was very special and completely romantic.

I always tease Mr. Chic because that was about the worst round of golf I had ever seen him play and he wasn't even upset about it.  Usually we are very competitive and play pretty evenly.  I was beating him by about 10 strokes and he was all smiles. :)   We don't play much any more because we don't have the time but hope to get back into it as our boys get a little older, I'm already giving them lessons in the backyard.

The local newspaper came right after the proposal and interviewed us and did a little story on our engagement, they put the below picture in the paper.  It is a very sweet memory. :)

This is a picture of the newspaper article picture so it's a bit fuzzy.

We were married 11 months later 11 years ago. :)

Well, that's quite enough about me for one blog post.  I hope you found this post to be at least slightly entertaining.  If not, I'll be back to my decorating adventures soon enough! :)

So, whaddaya think?  Should I change to "Katie" and confuse the entire blogosphere?? (more like just a few folks who read my blog) :)

Linking: Whatever Goes Wednesday

Fun Food in Vegas!

FREE IMAGES Wow!  I'm back!  I have been a very sporadic blogger over the past couple of weeks but I should be getting back to normal starting today.  Why, you ask, have I been so sporadic lately??

Well, Mr. Chic had to go to Vegas on a business trip for 17 days...

17 DAYS!! 

He rarely has to travel more than 1 night at a time for work so this seemed like an eternity.  Hats off to all of you moms with hubbys in the military overseas for months and sometimes years at a time and same to all of you single parents out there.  It's a tough gig.

Thankfully, I was able to join him on day 13 and enjoy some time sans kiddos.

Have you ever been to Vegas??  It's a crazy place and worth seeing once if you never have (but not if you're easily offended).   This was my second time there, both times we've been I was accompanying Mr. Chic on business which was nice because it's not really one of my top choices for a vacation destination, it lacks one of my main vacation necessities, a beach.
I thought I'd share some of the highlights of our trip for those of you that have never been to Vegas (and others of you that are just nosy. :)

So what's the deal with Vegas??  Well, for non-gamblers like me (I do not count playing penny slots to be gambling) it's all about food, poolside lounging and  taking in all of the design/decor of the hotels, restaurants, and some of the best people watching, ever.

Let's start with food.  (Don't worry, I'm not going tell you about every meal I had, just a few of the standouts.)


My favorite meal we had at a place called Hash House a Go Go,  from the outside it looked like it used to be a Long Horn Steakhouse.   But I didn't go for the atmosphere, I went for the food.  They have an amazing and creative (and delicious) menu.  Their shtick is "twisted farm food".  They serve HUGE-MONGOUS portions on plates platters big enough for your Thanksgiving turkey. 

We split Sage Fried Chicken and Waffles...

Have I ever mentioned that I love fried chicken and I love waffles?  Now you know my secret.  I've been wanting to try this combo for a  long time but it isn't something they serve in the Midwest (and I'm not brave enough to make it on my own.)  This meal did not disappoint, it was outstanding! 

After eating this I decided that fried chicken should always be served with real maple syrup, even if no waffles are involved.  (don't judge, just try it).   I forgot to mention that there were strips of bacon cooked in the waffles... just heavenly.

We made the mistake of ordering a side dish (like we'd be able to eat it, HA!).  I'm not sure what it was called but it was cheesy bacon potatoes, sounds simple enough but it was completely delicious, even though I only could manage a few bites of it.   I think the waiter said they put the cheese on the griddle... mmmmm... cheese.

We also ate at The Sugar Factory in the Paris Hotel.  I didn't know anything about it before eating their but apparently it is a popular joint for celebrities and they are known for their "couture candy"... especially these

blinged up "couture pops".

I think this is kind of a lame idea.  What are you going to do with your blinged out sucker stick after you eat the sucker??  Ummm, throw it in the garbage.  Ok, then.

Anyway, the food was decent and we had a great time eating outside watching the fountains at the Bellagio across the street.  This was our view...

This was also a great place for people watching.  Oh my, you see it all in Vegas....

For dessert I ordered a chocolate cupcake with white frosting, kind of boring but I know this is Mr. Chic's favorite combo and we were sharing. 

It was decorated cute for Halloween but unfortunately did not taste good.  I think it was old, the cake was all dry and crumbly and the frosting was a bit yellowed on top like it had been sitting out for a long time.  We were disappointed but would definitely try one again, think we just got a bad one.

After we finished dinner we wandered through their candy store where I spotted the cupcake case.

 Aren't those fondant ghost cupcakes the cutest thing?!  All the cupcakes look pretty and delicious (if only they tasted as good as they look!).   

Here are a few views of the inside of The Sugar Factory. Very chic... 

Inside the "Chocolate Lounge", love those cozy booths!  picture via Sugar Factory

Inside the dining room, set up a bit like the Cheesecake Factory but fancier, picture via Sugar Factory 

Inside the candy shop, bling pops galore! picture via Sugar Factory

We ate at some other great places but these 2 were worth sharing.  I''ll be back soon with more Vegas fun and sharing some Halloween decorations of my own. 

PS:  I finally started my upholstered headboard!!  Will be sharing asap. Sorry it's taking so long, I know you've been losing sleep over it ;)

Restoration Hardware's "Wish Book" Publication

FREE IMAGES Hello lovely friends!  Have you seen the new Restoration Hardware catalog "Publication".  They are calling it their new "Publication" instead of catalog as it it 600-something pages long and includes some articles.  Mine came via email and I had fun scrolling through it.

They have some really unique new pieces so I thought we should discuss. 

Restoration Hardware has lost me a bit over the past few years because they became very monochromatic in shades of grey and kind of, dare I say... depressing.  They've also taken on a very masculine look that wasn't there 10 years ago.  I can really appreciate the masculine style they are going for, it just isn't the look I want in my home.  But that's fine, I still like to look. :)

*All pictures in this post are courtesy of Restoration Hardware.
 

This pic is an example of why they've lost me a bit...

 Restoration Hardware still had some fabulous stuff of course, their prices are just TOO HIGH! 

Like, insanely high. 

Like even if I were rich I would still think twice about spending $4000 on a replica of WWII Celestial Binoculars (Yes, I am serious... scroll down to see photo) to sit in my living room and collect dust.
That's why I'm looking and not buying.

Anywhooo.  Let's check out some of the items from their catalog "Publication".

I was blown away by the light fixtures, very unique, some fantastic, some, just plain different.  The first that caught my eye was this bird cage chandelier.  I've never seen anything like it.  For some reason, to me it's screaming "Moulan Rouge".  Definitely very interesting and a conversation piece if you were rich brave enough to put it in your home. 


$2995



Feminine Bling meets Masculine Metal??

Special $2195



 This one looks like it's missing something...

A "steal" at only $750

BIG for $1175

These chairs are great ($329 each and a somewhat easy knock-off) with the table and metal chandy.

These chairs are really masculine and kind of odd dining chairs if you ask me (they didn't ask me).  I like the light fixtures and even the moose antlers! :)





Ok, here's the $4000 WWII replica Celestial Night Binoculars... (for people with so much money they don't know what to do with it.)  I know what I'd do with it, not waste it on these replica binoculars! :)

Restoration Hardware has been doing these 1940s Hollywood Studio Floor Lamps for the past couple years.  Interesting but not very practical for most people at  $1995 on Special for $1695.  I like the use of the metal chandy in here with the very cool aviation coffee table, an awesome man-cave piece.

 



More man cave stuff...  The aviation metal pieces are really striking and cool.  Definitely masculine pieces for manly men. 

Aviator Wing Desk
$2195

These next photos are pieces and styles that I still love about Restoration Hardware.

Fab mirror, couch and throw pillows.

 

Love the whole look of this dining room.

 

Lovely bed and chandelier and beautiful overall.

 

Another fab vintage looking chandelier

Well, since there are 600 pages in the Restoration Hardware catalog "publication" I could go on and on but I'll stop now, hopefully while you're still reading. 

I was not paid to do this post, I just love design/decorating and love getting my new catalogs in the mail or email.  This "publication" had such interesting stuff in it I had to discuss it with someone who cared (Mr. Chic was not interested in looking at a 600 page catalog and discussing decorating trends with me, can you believe that?!) ;)

Have you read the latest RH "publication"?? What do you think of it???

Last Day of Summer, Cutting Edge Stencil Giveaway Winner!

FREE IMAGES The winner of my $50 credit to Cutting Edge Stencils chosen by random.org is #29, Stacey from Embracing Change!  I'll be in touch Stacey, Congratulations!! 

The Last Day of Summer

Somehow, summer has disappeared.

POOF!

Just like that and it's gone. 

Technically, it's not the "real" last day of summer.  According to the "real" calendar, (not the school calender) fall doesn't even start until September 23rd. 

BUT, school starts tomorrow for my little guy, so that means the end of summer for me.  I'm sure a lot of you moms out there with kids in school will agree with me, summer is over when school starts.

This summer has seriously been the fastest summer of my life.  It was strangely, almost obscenely fast. 

We didn't do a bunch of crazy stuff to take up all our time and make it go fast.  We just kinda hung out and had a lot of  lazy days.  Lazy summer days should not go fast, they should go slooooowwwww.

But they didn't.

They went FAST!

I purposely didn't sign us up for too many summer activities so that we wouldn't be rushing to games and lessons every single day.  We had just enough to do.

Today we had a special "Last Day of Summer Fun Day". 

We spent it at the pool (that was practically empty), then a picnic lunch, walk around the lake, and ice cream.  It was perfect.

We were busy this summer, busy doing nothing. 

It was absolutely fabulous. 

Have you had your last day of summer?

Million Dollar Decorators are you for Real??

FREE IMAGES Hello lovely friends!  I don't have time to watch much tv but there are a few shows I record on the DVR that I watch when everyone else is sleeping.   Recently I've added Million Dollar Decorators on Bravo.

Have any of you been watching it??

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

I don't know if I love it or hate it.  Maybe I love to hate it??
 
I can't stop watching it even though some of the decorators are reedonkulously annoying and seem to get all the air time.

I am floored by the outrageous amounts that people spend on pieces of furniture (I know, I know, it's Million Dollar Decorators, of course they are going to be spending insane amounts of money)  BUT, my Chic on a Shoestring brain says, NO!!  You could totally get that at HomeGoods for $89.99!!  

Even if I was a millionaire, I wouldn't spend $25,000 on an end table.  I just couldn't do it, I don't care who made it or how old it is, it just doesn't make sense to me.  I'm not saying that it's not ok for people to do it because I think people should spend their money how they want to, I just couldn't do it.  Just sayin'.

So, on to the cast...

via Bravo, from left Mary McDonald, Jeffrey Alan Marks , Nathan Turner, Kathryn Ireland ,  and Martyn Lawrence-Bullard

The show has some big name decorators that are super talented with big personalities (of course, it is reality tv ya know).

Mary McDonald is my favorite, I love her style, elegant and glamorous.  She also has great fashion sense.  She's a little bit of a "Miss Priss" but I think the show tries to make her appear worse than she really is.  She is kind of funny and I like that she seems to tell it like it is. 

Here is a bedroom from her portfolio, I think it's fabulous even though it's definitely not a look that everyone could pull off in their home.  That's why she decorates for millionaires.  ;)




via Bravo

 A lovely living room by Mary McDonald which could be pretty easily recreated on a much lower budget.

via Bravo

Kathryn Ireland (not the swimsuit model) has a very eclectic and warm style.  It's not really me but I can definitely appreciate it and she is great at it.  She seems to not take herself too seriously (kind of a goofball!) and always have a drink in her hand.  It could be the producers making it appear that she always has a drink in her hand??  Who really knows?!  She couldn't be too goofy or drunk all the time because she is so successful.

This bedroom by Kathryn is just so cute!

via Bravo

Next is Nathan Turner.  He owns a popular furniture boutique in LA.  He seems like a nice guy and doesn't get nearly enough airtime on the show probably because he's a nice guy. 

This is a  beautiful table scape he did, I love the Ikat table cloth I'm also loving the pillows in the background.

via Bravo

Next on the show is Jeffrey Alan Marks, he is very talented but he takes himself way too seriously.  On the show he says "some days my job is more important than the President".  What?!  Are you serious?!?

He really said that.  Yuck.  Give me a break Jeffrey Alan Marks, you're killin' me.

So even though he takes himself way too seriously he is super talented which is why I can't turn it off. Look at these beautiful rooms!

via Bravo

Ok, it looks cool but I'd always worry that the boat hanging from the ceiling was going to come crashing down and kill me in my sleep. 

via Bravo

I absolutely LOVE everything about this kitchen!

I saved the worst for last.  Martyn Lawrence-Bullard.

However incredibly talented he may be I can not get over his snobbish personality and super-annoying Thurston Howl III accent. 

The first time I watched the show I almost fell out of my chair because of his ridiculous accent, I thought he was joking... like doing an exaggerated impersonation of someone else (like Thurston Howl III).  But that's just really how he speaks!   It's unbelievable. 

I need to stop myself  now because I was raised that if I didn't have anything nice to say I shouldn't say it. :)  Watch the show and make your own opinions dear friends. 

Here is a room from his portfolio...

via Bravo

As someone who loves decorating I enjoy the show, even though it drives me nuts 90% of the time.  Have you watched it?  What do you think??

The Big "O"... you know, Oprah!

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What did you think my title meant?  This is a family friendly blog silly! 

Before you get really excited let me just tell you- No, I didn't get picked to be a guest on the final season of Oprah due to one of my very creative and witty blog project/posts. ;)  But, I got tickest! 

I was scrolling through my Flaunt it Friday party and found this fun post by The Single Nester about her trip to the Martha Stewart show.  She's been 3 times! lucky duck!  I found it to be very interesting having never been... it's always kind of neat to see what goes on behind the scenes. 

Then I realized that "duh, I went to Oprah, people might like to hear about it and think that is interesting too".  If not... sorry about this really long post about my experience at Oprah. 

I went to the O show taping just a few short months before I started blogging so I never posted about it.  Plus, the Oprah show allows absolutely positively NO CAMERAS inside their studio!  I think if you try to sneak one in they will turn you over to Chicago PD.  Not kidding. 

Anywho.  I will tell you about it even though I don't have any cool behind the scenes pics. 

Let me preface by saying that I am not a crazy Oprah super-fan.  I enjoy her show (sometimes more than others) but I don't idolize her or watch every episode.  I've always been interested in going to a show taping because it's just about the only real tv show filmed in the Midwest.  I can make a day trip out of it, plus sneak in some great food and shopping... it's kind of a cool Chicago experience if you can get tickets.

Ok, ok... and maybe, just a little bit because I wanted to be on her "Favorite Things" taping.  Doesn't everybody?! 


Oprah's Favorite Things

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