A Flower for the Children of Newtown

Today my heart is heavy as I continue to pray for the community of Newtown, Connecticut.

This is a picture that my son painted for me when he was in elementary school. He is now a college-bound teenager, and I haven’t been more grateful to have him and his brothers in my life than right now.

To me, this flower represents the beauty and innocence of childhood. Posting this photo is my way of expressing my sorrow for the children who were lost in such a senseless tragedy. Their parents will never have another painting or drawing from the child they lost…not another picture to hang on the refrigerator. That breaks my heart. I can only believe that these children are now like the most beautiful flowers in the eternal garden of Heaven. They are vibrant, colorful, free and they are in the presence of God.

We may never understand why these precious children were taken away but I will continue to pray for their families because, even in the face of tragedy, God is the greatest comforter and the greatest love I know.

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December 16, 2012 | Filed Under Tribute | 2 Comments

Inspired By Olympic Gold {and Gabby Douglas}

As the 2012 Summer Olympics begin to wind down, I have been truly inspired by all of the amazing athletes from around the world.

Being a proud American, I am especially thrilled for Team USA! They have won over 40 Gold medals and 90+ overall! So, being the design/color blogger that I am, I couldn’t resist featuring a few golden ideas for your home – and I have a special shout-out to gymnast Gabby Douglas after the pictures:

{elledecor}

{architectural digest}

Gold accessories and accent furniture pieces work well with any color scheme.

{sheknows}

{decorpad}

Now to my shout-out:

I’m proud join a group of fellow bloggers who are posting, tweeting and pinning our love for Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas. In this year’s games, Gabby has won two gold medals in both the team and individual all-around competitions. She is the first American gymnast to do this at the same Olympics. Gabby is also the first African-American gymnast to become the individual all-around champion. That inspires me.

I wish I had embodied Gabby’s courage and perseverance when I was a young, aspiring gymnast many moons ago. I was actually pretty good…but I wasn’t confident enough to believe that I could be great. Gabby knew she could be great even when she looked around and rarely saw other gymnasts who looked like her.

So, congratulations to Gabby Douglas – America’s Golden Girl and a true inspiration!

PinExt Inspired By Olympic Gold {and Gabby Douglas}

August 10, 2012 | Filed Under Accent Color, Accessories, Color Schemes, Tribute | 2 Comments

A True-Blue Tribute To Lena Horne

Today I pay tribute to the legendary Lena Horne. She was a beautiful, talented and elegant lady who demonstrated class and poise throughout her distinguished career as a singer, actress and all-around performer.

She paved the way for so many African American women, and along the way she encouraged U.S. troops, stood at the forefront of the civil rights movement, and even entertained children {Remember her on Sesame Street?}.

In looking through old photos of her, I’ve come to a conclusion — this lovely lady adored the color blue.

Over the years she was photographed many times wearing blue ensembles, even for her album covers. So today, I’m not only inspired by Ms. Horne’s legacy, but also by the color in which she strutted her stuff! This post showcases pretty things that are as sophisticated as the performer herself: