Thursday, March 1, 2012

My Twenty-Five Random Things...

When I first Read Shaunna's random list of 25 things from her stream of consciousness, I thought it was great! Then I began seeing others doing it, and I decided I would not jump on the bandwagon. After all, my life is about as boring as it could possibly be to ME, so why would anyone else want to read 25 of my thoughts?


Then, my trusty sony cyber-shot point and shoot broke. While my daughter and I were in the middle of Brick Town in Oklahoma City, I was snapping some photos of her, then my camera did something strange - it would not turn off. It was like the the on button was stuck in it's depressed mode. I had to remove the batteries to turn it off. Then it wouldn't turn back on. 


SOOO, I decided doing a 25 things post might be a good idea after all! And at the end of it, I could ask your opinions about what sort of cheap point and shoot digital camera you might suggest I buy to replace my Sony. 


Here goes my 25:



  1. I am not going to say anything like "I'm dead in the water." I will be positive. I will replace my camera and get my rear in gear and sell some stuff to make up for the expense. 
  2. Right now, some strange program is on my tv - people are wearing spongy suits and falling from strange devices onto large spongy things. I realized it was annoying me even though I was not watching. Some white noise is not white. I like my white noise of the non-annoying genre.
  3. Sometimes I don't notice something is uncomfortable or annoying for quite a long time. 
  4. It's 7:30 and I have not had dinner. I had a peanut butter sandwich on Ezekiel bread for lunch, and it has worn thin. Pizza sounds good...but I'll probably make myself an omelet when I finish this post.
  5. I admit it - I worry about stats. I don't have a clue why I do, since I have finally decided this is not the answer to increasing my income. I'm a church admin assistant. It goes without saying that my income needs to be increased. My stats went crazy high last week and I don't know why. This week they're back to normal.
  6. Today at my work/church, there was a women's luncheon - the speaker had a message about how we are all 'performers' for someone. We want to be loved for who we are. We try out different audiences, and they leave us unfulfilled. We finally learn our only audience should be our creator. A message like that's always a good reminder.
  7. We have a few new employees and I have been training one of them - I am not sure if her position is a good fit for her. I should not judge so quickly and be more full of grace. 
  8. I just went to GW and bought more stuff - good stuff, and I'll use it, but I should've probably gone camera shopping instead. 
  9. I bought another lamp. I think I'll paint it orange and do a funky drum shade for it. It will go no where in my house, but I am planning to take some of my cool stuff that I don't want in my house to a cool shop who buys local and handmade stuff. I think she'd like an orange lamp. I could easily own a lamp store and be a happy camper - if people actually bought my lamps.
  10. I met a new woman at Bible study last week, and we seem to have a lot in common. Last night I suggested we have coffee this weekend. I wonder what she thinks about blogs?
  11. If I have coffee with the nice woman, and I go to my friend Debbie's son's wedding, when will I paint more in my living room? Maybe I'll hang a couple of the light fixtures...
  12. I need to get back on a low-carb diet. I ate lots of carbs during the holidays, and some evil crave button got turned back on. Now, I am craving carbs - and eating them. Pizza...mmmmm.
  13. Now I'm rationalizing - "But I can't even remember the last time I ate pizza..." Rationalizing is bad.
  14. I need to make a list of the odds and ends I need to finish a few things I have going. I also need to make a list of which things I will try to work on this weekend. Maybe the orange lamp...
  15. It is March 1, and my son and his dog have missed yet another deadline for moving out of my house. I am at a stalemate until they go. I can't finish my living room while she is still scratching up the paint on and around the front door, and I really want the half-eaten sofa out of the house. Empty space will be better than a half-eaten sofa. I want to turn his room into my studio...
  16. Maybe when you tell me your camera ideas, you can also give me some words of wisdom for getting an almost 24 year-old to move out, while still maintaining a loving and supportive relationship. 
  17. If they move out and I get rid of all the dog hair and repaint everything, maybe I can sell my house for twice what I paid for it and move to Oklahoma City when my daughter moves there...
  18. We ate breakfast twice at Panera Bakery last weekend. CARBOLICIOUS. While we had time to eat carbs, we didn't make it to the Annie Sloan stockist - probably a good thing, since I now have to buy a decent-ish camera.
  19. What am I going to wear to the wedding on Saturday? I may have carbed my way out of my cute gray suit. Getting dressed is hard around here during March. One day, it will be 78 degrees, the next day, it will be 29 degrees and windy. Layers are good.
  20. I need to stick a couple of loads in the laundry tonight. 
  21. I wish I could've found some cute shoes in OKC. I looked at the new outlet mall there, but didn't find anything I liked. I don't wear super high heels and I don't wear platforms. I like pointy toes with low-ish kitten heels or thin heels. I need some shoes that would look spring-y and still be warm. If I could order a shoe right now, it would be a pewter, pointy toed, maybe with the toe cut out, 1.5" heel. That would look so nice with gray, blue, coral, aqua and other colors I like to wear. I'm tired of black.
  22. Doesn't anyone make cute sensible shoes anymore? Or cute clothing with sleeves? I'm tired of sleeveless - not that I actually wear it, but I find it annoying how much it limits the options available for someone like me. I like 3/4 sleeves for summer. Even most of the skinny younger women I know don't wear sleeveless things.
  23. I love winter and fall, but I am looking forward to longer daylight hours. I want to paint things outside again and take photos after work. It's hard to blog without a camera. Decent photos are CRUCIAL. Wow - I never thought about the root of that word. 
  24. My life really is boring - just as I suspected. If you're reading this, you deserve a nice carby reward. I know...you could order a pizza! 
  25. "The Office" is now my white noise. I've heard it's really good, but I have never watched it. I just heard some guy say, "Bloggers are obese. Bloggers have halitosis." Hmmmph. And I haven't even ordered pizza yet!
OK, now I'm wondering if you actually do anything with these 25 thing things other than just post them? I can't imagine sharing this at a linky party!

So how about it? Anyone have any good advice about cameras, parenting, shoes, pizza or anything? I'm all ears. 

Word for the Day:


Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.


Blessings to you during this new month,


-Revi

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

A Nice Glass of Milk



Well, not exactly a glass of milk... I must confess, I'm not much of a milk drinker. 




Lately, though, I have found myself attracted to milk glass. I only buy it when I find it for pennies. 




I have seen it for 5 or 6 bucks, but I don't touch it at that price. 




I gravitate to the pieces I find for 25c, 57c - you know I like a bargain!




Last fall, a young couple from my church were married. They had decorated their reception tables with sweet little vignettes of milk glass, old books and tea cups filled with white candies. It was lovely. Each was different than the others. 




Since that time, I've been grabbing it as I find it - as long as it's under a buck. 






You see, I have a lovely daughter who's almost 21. Before long, she might just have a need for a sizeable collection of sweet milk glass. 




Then again, I just might need some myself! You never know what God has planned...


If I do find myself in such a position, you'll be the third to know!


Word for the Day:


Numbers 13:27


They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit.
Tuesday

Knick of Time  Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Cowgirl Up!

Wednesday

White Wednesday
Wow Us Wednesday
Penny Pinching Party
What’s it Wednesday
Would You Buy It Wednesday
Thursday

Under $100 Link Party
Suzy's House Party
Thrifty Thursday
Thursday Favorite Things
Time Travel Thursday
Treasure Hunt Thursday
Thrift’n on a Thursday
Saturday

Saturday Nite Special
Show and Tell Saturday



Sunday, February 26, 2012

Color Theory #3 - Successfully Using Bold Color in Home Design


Using bold color in home design can be tricky - even intimidating!

We probably all have a story about how a certain attempt at using color ended up with less-than-desirable results.

For some, bold color is too much stimulation. An all white or neutral environment is very calm and soothing.  Even in these environments, using neutrals complementary undertones helps keep the all-white or neutral room interesting and non-sterile feeling.



For those who like color, sometimes a simple pop of bold color is all that is needed. 


But for others, a roomful of bold color is just the ticket!


When used well, bold color is dramatic, opulent, elegant and unique. Have you ever wanted to use bold color to achieve such a look?  

Here are a few pointers. All the lovely photographic examples were found on Pinterest:


Note: This is my third post on color theory. The first post was an overview of color theory - terms used and primary colors. The second post was about secondary and tertiary colors. 


Primary, secondary and tertiary colors are all pure-saturated color. This means they are in their pure, brightest forms, like the colors below:




All the colors of the color wheel work together. See how the wide array of color below works? It is pure, saturated, color-wheel color for the most part, with no pastels or grayed colors to spoil the effect:




ANALOGOUS COLORS - Colors located on either side of each other on the color wheel. (Example - red violet, red, red orange.)


COMPLEMENTARY COLORS - Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. 


The color wheel below shows colors in order, but separated by their complementary color. See how dramatic and energetic the contrast is between complementary colors? They actually seem to "vibrate" with energy. 




BOLD ANALOGOUS COLOR SCHEMES:


The safest way to introduce bold color is to use close-value, analogous colors. 


Below is a room using red violet walls, red carpet and sofa with red orange pops of pattern in the pillows. Notice how this room is "grounded" by using black and white. 



In a similar analogous scheme, the photo below uses violet & red-violet patterned wallpaper with red-violet chairs, red pillows and red-orange ottoman. Black and white again offer a bit of calm in this highly-patterned and boldly colored room.


Below is a similar use of analogous color, though the color is used to punctuate a mostly-white room.



The photo below uses close-value blue chairs, blue violet structure and violet flowers.




In an indoor analogous color palette, the room has a blue-green chest, blue walls, with blue-green, blue and blue violet  in the painting. Notice the use of white as a "grounding" neutral again.




Below, see the use of yellows and greens, with white and wood tones to ground the space:




BOLD COMPLEMENTARY COLOR SCHEMES:


While using your favorite analogous colors is a fairly safe way to go bold, using complementary colors offers an even bolder, more dramatic look!


The photo below shows blue-green and red-orange on the stairway. Yellow-green is an accent to them. Again, black and white are used in this ultra-bold scheme.



Below are some good examples of successful red/green color schemes:



Blue and orange complementary color pictured below shows how dramatic the color scheme is:










Below is an example of a complementary violet and yellow scheme - the most difficult color scheme of all:




The room below uses strong violet, but the yellow is grayed down to a deep rich gold tone. While the dramatic effect of using complements is still present, it is much less jarring to the eye. 




Which brings us to the subject of CHROMATIC GRAYS.  


Chromatic grays are saturated colors that are mixed with some amount of their complement or a close complementary color to gray them down. 


Yellow with a touch of purple is deeper and more golden. Keep adding more purple and it gets deeper and olive-greenish. Chromatic grays are beautiful. They are non-jarring to our eyes/brains, so they are used most often in home design. 


Upcoming information to watch for:

  • Using Chromatic grays
  • Using lighter and darker values of color
Word for the Day:

Acts 16:14
One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

May our hearts be open and our responses be quick today and every day!

-Revi

Linking with:
Sunday
http://www.homemakeronadime.com/ Creative Bloggers Party Hop
http://www.thegirlcreative.com/ Just something I whipped up
Monday
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com Metamorphosis Monday
http://makingtheworldcuter.com/ Making the World Cuter Monday
http://www.craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com/ Motivate Me Monday 
http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/ Show Off Your Cottage Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/ - What’s it Wednesday
http://junkernewbie.blogspot.com – Would You Buy It Wednesday
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/ Under $100 Link Party
http://savedbysuzy.blogspot.com/ Suzy's House Party
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/ Transformation Thursday
http://www.the36thavenue.com// Share Awesomeness Thursday
http://thriftydecorating-nikkiw.blogspot.com/ Thrifty Thursday
http://katherinescorner.com/ - Thursday Favorite Things
http://www.savvycityfarmer.com/ thrift’n on a thursday
Friday
http://www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com/ Furniture Feature Friday
http://www.remodelaholic.com/ Fridays on Remodelaholic
http://redoux.blogspot.com/ Friday Redoux Link Party
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/ Frugal Friday
http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/ Frugalicious Friday
Saturday
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/ Saturday Nite Special
http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/ Show and Tell Saturday