Make your bed!

The Raleigh News & Observer's Home Section did a nice article on bedding 2 weeks ago and included me in it.  I love that paper and have been a subscriber for a long, long time.  It's unthinkable to me to start the day without at least skimming through the local paper.  After this article came out, I received so many nice comments, but almost everyone especially liked my admonition at the end of the article to make your bed!

"Cutsom" pillowcases, aka homemade, DIY, handmade. Whatever you call them, they're fabulous on your bed!

Here's the link to the article " Linens In Winter" by Mary Beth Breckenridge (click on the title).  Enjoy!  And I hope you've made your bed.

Ciao,

Anne

DeCocco Design is growing!

Things are really hopping in the office and I've got a couple of announcements to make.  The most important one is that Gail Healy has joined DeCocco Design as a Design Associate.  Sound the trumpets please. I am so glad she's here!

Gail has run my workroom for many years--that means she makes the beautiful custom window treatments that I design for my clients.  She's super talented and a lot of fun to be around.   Her company, "It's Curtains" is well known in our area (and beyond) for creating the best of the best. Gail trained as an  interior designer, specializing in kitchen design, but just liked sewing better. I've convinced her to come on board to help me launch a related product (next announcement, coming very soon). 

I know she would want me to post a very professional photo.  But this one shows you the true Gail:

Her passion is water skiing.  Doesn't that look like fun?

Welcome Gail!

Ciao,

Anne

Find of the Week!

TJ Pappas of Soft Wind Soap makes really wonderful products.  I'm sure I've told you about his soaps before--everyone in this house uses them.  Grandboy uses the oatmeal soap in the tub because he has very sensitve skin.  Hub likes the shampoo bar (yes, shampoo in the form of a bar of soap!) and I use the Tea Tree complexion bar for my tissue-thin little face (replaces prescription soap).  Late last year TJ sent me some lotion disks to try. They are FABULOUS!

The lotion disk comes in a sweet little tin.  I pull the disk out at bedtime and rub it between my hands, which warms it up and releases the rich lotion.  I really work it in over my hands (you can use it on legs, arms, feet, etc. of course) and they have NEVER looked better.  While it doesn't turn back the hands of time (oh, almost a pun there), it does stop it in it's tracks.  It costs $4.00 a tin!  One tin lasts me 5 weeks.  Lots of fragrance choices, including unscented.  I like the Lavendar and Gardenia best.

If you're moaning about your dry hands, contact TJ by clicking on his name and order up a couple of disks to try.  You can also find Soft Wind Soap on FB. You will love them.  Can you tell I've just discovered the Text Background Colour tool?  Fun!

Ciao,

Anne

A Joyful Noise

I'm a lifelong Roman Catholic, although am sure I'm the kind that makes the Pope roll his eyes. Yes, I'm a pick-and-choose Catholic, believing and not believing in all kinds of things my church does not.  But I love the Mass, the music, the priests and the community here in my tiny part of the world.  This Sunday, during Mass at St. Francis, we had a guest speaker by the name of ValLimar Jansen. 

ValLimar doesn't just speak.  She also sings (what a voice!) and is a performer of the highest level. It was jaw dropping and fabulous. Catholics are generally a quiet bunch. ValLimar is a Catholic like I've never seen. She is on fire with her talent and love of life. It was joyful, uplifting, entertaining and just completely awesome! She will be performing for the next couple of days at St. Francis of Assisi and I hope to see her at least one more time.  ValLimar is the embodiment of a joyful noise!

Ciao,

Anne

Unplugging a bit on MLK Day

I worry that the Wii that Santa brought is going to take over Grandboy's life.  It is fun, we all play, he's often moving and strategizing, BUT it's still staring at the tv, which I'm not a fan of.  So today I made him look in the cabinet for some of the other things that Santa brought.  He pulled out the paint-by-number set.

Such a cute kid.

The masterpiece.  Love it!

Ciao,

Anne

Just made me laugh

West Elm's latest ad

This ad from West Elm was in my email today and when I saw the photo I had to laugh.  These are all examples of end tables in the homes of friends and family members 30, 40 and 50 years ago.  What goes around sure does come around!  West Elm has added a couple of fun colors to freshen things up and they're all fairly affordable.  They're also the kind of things many of us look for in thrift shops to buy for a song and spruce up ourselves.  Either way, they've got great, classic lines and can work in just about any room. 

Ciao,

Anne

Making a beautiful space takes....TIME!

Whoo baby, I have been busy!   One project is starting to wind down, which means that installation time is upon us.  Cabinetry is being finished, walls painted, lighting installed, furnishings delivered (slowly, slowly).  Still many layers to come, but I thought I'd show you a tiny peek of the progress.  Here's a "before" picture in one of the rooms:

And here's a shot of the sofa with it's new slipcover and the fabulous stacked travertine wall:

This is  not the final layout--wait till you see what's next.  But for now, look at that lovely stone wall!  That was completely my client's idea.  She and her hub are very creative and a joy to work with (and they're my friends--what could be better?).   If you were in the room, you would see that the stone sparkles!  Makes me swoon it's so beautiful.  Swoon is such an old word, but it's apt so I work to keep it alive.

Will show you more when I can.  I've got pics from some other projects that I keep meaning to post.  It's been a wonderful year for DeCocco Design, despite this awful economy.  Clients have wanted some serious creativity and have really let me soar.   To see designs coming to reality and becoming warm, inviting, liveable and beautiful homes is gratifying.  It's a lot of work, and worth every minute of it, because there's no place like home. 

So I've got lots going on.  Fall in NC is gorgeous.  Temps in the 70's and 80's with the humidity (finally) gone.  Soccer games with Grandboy, still training the goofy dog.  Hub is enjoying his job.  Oh, we had our first tiny bonfire in the backyard last week.  Let me find that picture for you.

It started as a BIG pile of sticks from the yard.  Burned down quickly while we ate our dinner of gorditas on the picnic table close by.  Then we roasted marshmallows--I think those were Grandboy's first.  He wasn't thrilled with the taste, which made me laugh.  I don't think it's the actual taste of burnt marshmallow that we all love.  It's the setting and the experience and the memories of it all.  We'll have to do it again!

Ciao,

Anne

A coup d'etat--and the dog is victorious

 A lot to catch up on.  Late this summer I found this favorite treat from New England at The Fresh Market on Falls of Neuse:

Whoopie Pie!  They're really good.  Really good.  My mom used to make these.  The filling was shortening and confectioner's sugar.  Seriously.  Shortening. 

So I mentioned that we got a dog, Dixie .  Then I disappeared.  While I said that I knew how much work it would be, my true memory is obviously quite dim.  But one nice thing about having a new dog is that I have to take her outside A LOT. As I walk and stand in the rain, in the dark, in the early morning, in the afternoon... hopeful for some doggy drainage, I have nothing to do but stare at the beautiful tree trunks in the yard.  And the beatiful "stuff" growing on the trunks is interesting.  I don't know if it's called moss or lichen or what.  The colors and patterns are lovely.

I've also seen quite the variety of mushrooms.  All kinds of colors and shapes!  Who knew?  But here's the one that stopped me in my tracks and made me go get the camera:

No, I do not have a dirty mind, but come on--is this freaky or what?

Back to Dixie.  We got her on Labor Day weekend, so we all had plenty of time to get to know each other.  but then Tuesday came and Hub went to work (YAY!) and Grandboy went to school (YAY!) and when they both disappeared out the door together, this is Dixie looked like:

She's looking a little scared to be left with me, don't you think?  I'm the one with all the treats, but I'm also the one who insists on good behavior.  Bummer.   Gosh, she's cute.  Gosh, people with new dogs are such a bore.  I don't care.

So this is what I've purchased since getting the dog from the truly fabulous folks at the Wake SPCA:

the dog (bargain priced)

pretty collar 

a harness style leash (SPCA recommend)

a retractable leash (my choice)

repairs to the invisible fence (Dog Guard of Raleigh is fabulous)

a lead (the vet's choice)

a Gentle Leader (another freakin' kind of leash, works great, phew)

approx. 8 very tough toys (she's a lab, can chew up a tennis ball in 10 minutes)

a vet visit (Care First Animal Hospital, a wonderful place)

3 months worth of heartworm and flea preventatives

Benadryl (she came with an upper respiratory infection)

obedience lessons at Petco with the talented Corianna

dog food - training treats

hot dogs - training treats

chicken - you get the drift

cheese - I'll try it all

packaged treats - they see me coming

a barrier for the car (she wants to drive)

I'm sure I've missed a couple of things

So my hope to purchase a kayak this Fall will be seriously delayed. I know all those purchases may not sound necessary to you, but you're not the small woman in her 50's being dragged across the yard by an exuberant, sparkling, spirited dog who just saw a deer and then a squirrel and don't forget about the CAT!!!!  It takes some serious motivation to gently break this wild pony and bring her up to our own low, but civilized standards. And Grandboy loves having her at his side.  They run and tumble and the TV hasn't been turned on all week.   So there.

I won't talk about the dog anymore.  It's out of my system now.  Well, I'll try not to. 

Ciao,

Anne



Dog in the house!

Her name should be Goofy, but it's Dixie (Chick).  This picture is from the shelter--she hasn't stood still long enough for me to take a picture.  She's about 8smonths old.  Full of energy.  Arrived here yesterday, don't think she's slept yet.  I swear I saw the cat give me the finger this morning.

Will  eventually do a post about designing around animals, but right now have to go take something out of her mouth...

Ciao,
Anne

Find of the Week

My hat is off to households that get kids out the door to school every morning and then back in--then to handle all the details of getting them ready to do it all again the next day.  Of course, some people struggle with getting themselves out the door!  I can relate to both. My Find of the Week was seen at Target .  This is helpful when packing lunches and snacks, whether for kids or yourself.  It's called a Chill Pack.  It's by Aladdin and the containers come in a couple of sizes, such as sandwich and snack.  They're plastic containers with lids--no big deal, I know.  But wait--they've got an ice pod attached under the lid!  LOVE THAT!  It comes right off for easy cleaning and for storing in the freezer.

 

Grandboy's sandwiches are cooler and safer, his grapes for snack stay nice and chilled.  I couldn't find a picture of the exact ones I have, but this is from their website.  They've got all kinds of things, and many of their products feature sustainable and recycled components.   I think I paid just under $5 at Target for the sandwich containers and quite a bit less for the snack container.  Maybe these have been on the market for years, but it's a find for me and it's brilliant!

Ciao,
Anne