The progression of the Turquoise Room – Making it Zebratastic with a rug from Mohawk Home

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Photo by Petula Pea PhotographyLast week I showed off my new, bright wall.  While the couch and the wall look amazing in that room, something I may have failed to note is that’s all that’s in that room. And yes, I realize the wall doesn’t count as something “in” the room. Details.

I’m going slowly in the decorating process. Moving to a house 2.5x larger than your previous abode means you have to go in stages to get things done. Also, if you suffer from Shiny Object Syndrome like I do, you may get distracted with other areas, or events, and just live with a painted wall and a couch and call it a decorated room.

When it comes to the Turquoise Room (whose new name is only slightly less strip club sounding than its previous name of “The Chandelier Room”) I have a very exact vision of what I want it to be. I want it to be high(er) design - an adult room.  A room that hosts people over 4 ½ feet tall in style and comfort. I want people to leave my house and comment, “Wow, I loved that room…” Yes, I want to make you jealous of my fabulous, precisely decorated room. And at the rate I’m going, it will be ready to make you green with envy sometime in 2015.

As you may have noticed in the pictures of the new house and the Turquoise Room, we have a large expanse of travertine tile floors. Cold and hard to clean, they are begging for rugs. For the past 5 years I’ve been obsessing over a Zebra rug. In fact when during one of my first visits to this house I fantasized about a beautiful Zebra rug adorning one of the floors of a downstairs room. As if the angels were listening to my pleas (or arguments with Jason over how much I was going to spend on said Zebra rug), a few weeks ago I got an email from a representative from Mohawk Home asking me if I wanted to review a rug. And guess which style was available for review? Seriously, it was kismet.

Soon after, an 8x10 100% nylon Zebra patterned rug called Watamu, showed up at my house.... and I fell ever so deeply in love.

While I was a little nervous that the color (it's actually shades of beiges and browns instead of a traditional black and white) wouldn’t be right, it’s actually perfect. And while I will continue to desperately try to claim this room as one for adults only, the more neutral tones in this rug means the kids can play on it and people can walk across it and I don’t have to worry about staining the bright white parts. And the best part? This rug is totally affordable, with the 8x10 size retailing for under $450 (not to mention it’s on sale right now at Kohl’s for under $250!)

EVEN BETTER THAN THE BEST PART?

I’m giving one away.

One lucky reader will be able to share the love of Zebra print with me with their very own Watamu rug courtesy of Mohawk Home.

Here are the 2 simple steps to enter:

1) Visit www.mohawkhome.com - click on your favorite retailer that sells Mohawk rugs and doormats. Pick one and in the Comments let me know which one you would ask Santa (Or Hanukah Harry) for. Please include a link so we can all oohhh and aaaahhh over your choice.

2) “Like” Mohawk Home on Facebook 

Want a few bonus entries?

If you want to throw your name in the random hat another more time – Tweet this:

@HipMamaB is giving away a @Mohawk_Home Zebra print rug! http://ow.ly/3bFdW Enter before 11/23

And/Or post a link on your Facebook wall to this contest – remember to tag me or the LaLaLa fan page so I know you did it.            

Entries will be accepted through MIDNIGHT PST on 11/23/2010. Winners will be selected via Random.org on 11/24/10.

Good Luck and may your dreams be in Zebra print!

 

The best fairy tales are the real ones

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It was 1981 and I was 6 years old. My mother, who lived in London in her 20's and was always a bit of an anglophile, woke me up at 3 or 4 am. Greeting with a cup of hot chocolate, we sat together in the dark, and watched the making of a real-life princess. 

I have vivid memories of sitting there watching the procession of Lady -soon to be Princess - Diana. In her fabulous white fairy tale gown, her crown and that TRAIN...it was like my princess books come to life. I was enchanted. My mom, who always loved Charles, cried. It's a memory I will have for the rest of my life.

While we all know how that fairy tale ended, we now have a new Princess tale to fantasize about... the little "commoner" girl who meets the dashing prince at school and wins his heart. Now in line to possibly be Queen of England one day. It's the stuff Disney movies are made of. 

Congrats to Prince William and Kate! SO CAN'T WAIT for that wedding! I may need to have a sleepover with my mom that night.

 

RE-POST: Sugar Me Timbers - Sugaring Hair Removal at The Encinitas Spa

I'm reposting this entry because of a special, one day deal to The Encinitas Spa today... see below for details..

According to ancient lore, sugaring, as a form of hair removal, became popular thousands of years ago in ancient Arabia. During a time when hygiene was harder to maintain, women in North and East Africa found it easier if they were hair-free from the neck down. Of course, the styles and varying levels of body hair have changed throughout the years, from hairy armpits in the 1960's to Holly Madison's aptly quoted "fur bikini's" of the 1970s and 1980's, you can tell the time period of a woman by the way she wears not only the hair on her head. 

A few week's ago I had the opportunity to try out and adorable little local day-spa, The Encinitas Spa. Nestled close to my ALL TIME favorite Mexican restaurant, El Callejon on South Coast Hwy 101 and Encinitas Blvd, Suzanne taught me all about the benefits of sugaring hair removal over what is now the "traditional" waxing. 

With her brand new day-spa, Suzanne plans for the spa to specialize in, and become known for, sugaring. So, what's the hype? Well, according to the all knowing internets, sugaring has the following benefits:

 

  • Pulls with the hair's natural growth which means it will hurt less than traditional waxing techniques.
  • Can remove shorter hairs so you'll be smoother longer.
  • Longer lasting, means fewer visits.
  • Pulling with natural growth also means fewer to no ingrown hairs. 
  • After service skin has no bumps with mild to no redness.

Now, I won't tell you that it doesn't hurt. It's hair removal via yanking out small hairs on a sensitive area, it will hurt, but honey, BEAUTY IS PAIN. Get over it. And if you have sensitive skin, it does treat your skin much better than waxing. 

So, here is the deal. Buy With Me is doing a special with Encinitas Spa - $25 for this normally priced $65 treatment {sorry this deal is no longer}. Plus Encinitas Spa offers an interesting monthly $39 monthly Brazilian Membership, which really helps you to maintain whatever "hair style" you chose. Or if a facial is what you need, the Buy with Me deal is also offering an $85 facial for just $45!

Go forth! Venture! Try something new! And if needed, you can always treat yourself to a house margarita at El Callejon post-sugar.