Did you hear that thud?  It’s the sound of me falling off my chair this morning when I found out that Kim (yes, THE Kim from the TomKat Studio), my party planning HERO!, has featured a few of my photos in her newest Project Nursery blog post. She even sent me a heads-up message on Facebook this morning, which made my day even better.  And then I saw the article – so cute.  It’s all about decorating with tissue paper Pom-Poms, so she featured photos from Harper’s birthday party AND her bedroom.  Yay!  Thanks, Kim!

Click here to go check out the full post!

…but I’m messing with the blog a little.  So if you’re reading this and the page looks CRAZY – my apologies.  I get my themes from the selection at Elegant Themes and I love them.  Now if I could only get them to work the way I want…

Hello.  So…whatcha been up to?  Oh, I’ve been enjoying the holidays…a little too much!  My December stats for the ol’ blog are stinkin’ big time, but can you blame me when this is who I’ve been hanging out with??

And Glenn has also been off for vacation. And while I’m sure most wives would be able to get MORE done on vacation with him off also…I seem to get less done.

I also seem to try to get this room clean, organized and decorated somehow every other day…but it simply collects EVERYTHING and is constantly messy!

We did manage to take the swirly-90′s headboard and footboard off of our bed! I seriously thought it was part of the frame and couldn’t be done…it technically is, so I need to be careful on the corners, but it gives us a fresh new start! And it has also made me realize how much I need some art in there. And we did replace the bright-as-the-sun light bulbs from our side lamps (look for lower lumen output!), which allowed us to take the black handkerchiefs off. Notice the painted chair rail! No ceiling done yet…

Another reason I’ve been neglecting the blog – WORK! Bills gotta be paid…so I get to play with fun things like this; tile, carpet, paint, furniture, lighting. This is a client’s family room project that is in the works – woo hoo! (They chose the tile and carpet, I’m working around it with the rest).

I also have a few weddings in the works – including one this Saturday (January 2nd) that my sister-in-law and I are styling, and I’m getting the ideas together for presenting to another bride soon.  My current obsession series for inspiration; We Like It Wild on Design*Sponge.

And these are only $3.99 a piece over at Save-on-Crafts:

What else am I loving right now? The portfolio of the husband and wife team of Robert and Courtney behind SixxDesign.  Wow…I wish Santa would have brought me their new book!

I also cannot get over this story of Jenny’s (the design blogger behind Little Green Notebook) Christmas Eve at-home (but not planned to be at home!) super quick birth of her baby girl Evelyn – their little Christmas Evie.  Congrats!  I only hope my next one is that quick…as opposed to my 36 hours of hurry-up-and-wait!

So that’s what I’ve been up to for now…while we’re on this break I’m hoping to do a little painting, but Glenn is over in the next room waxing his snowboard and Harper is constantly bringing me her new toys to play with so I don’t see it happening!

I did get a couple of PERFECT Christmas gifts from Glenn and the in-laws that I’d like to share…lucky me!

Glenn got me this tag combo necklace and I bawled my eyes out when he gave it to me! It’s stamped with Harper’s name, birth date (08.07.08), and it has her birth stone (Peridot) on it.  You can get one here from Mama Beth Bling on Etsy.

And Glenn’s parent’s got me my very own CRICUT!!   If you don’t know what a Cricut is, you need to go check it out. It’s an electronic cutter that you buy different cartridges for – you can cut different shapes, letters in different fonts, etc. and you can cut them out of paper, cardstock, vinyl, magnet material, fabric and more.  Great for cards, banners, scrapbooking, signs, etc.  In searching what I can do with it online, there is a wealth of resources out there to give great ideas!

Anyway – my 2010 resolution – blog more!    Thank you for hanging in there with me!  xo, L.

I just had to share this (and get an extra entry into her fabulous Fabulous Necklace Giveaway by doing so! Muah ah ah ah!). {ohbrooke} is a regular read of mine, and you should check it out as well!  Especially if you’re interested in graphic design, interior decor, blog tips, sewing tips and more! She has a special place in my Bookmarks Toolbar…reserved for a select few blogs.    And I just realized that 1/2 of the links up there are preggo girls’ blogs…including Brooke – she’s expecting a little baby boy!  There must be something going around…I better be careful so that Harper doesn’t become a big sister any time soon!!

Anyway…back to Brooke.  Click over here to enter to win a fabulous necklace from Lisa Leonard Designs.

This one is my favorite (the Oval Monogram Necklace) – many are available for customization.

Can someone please tell my husband that THIS is what I want for Christmas??  I hinted around for something like this as an anniversary gift…and nada.  But I guess if I win I won’t have to ::try:: to hint any more.    Wish me luck!!

And if you’re curious about who else is sperminated like Brooke…visit Sherry here…and Katie here.  Congrats, ladies!! 

xo, L.

Hey everyone!

I am just popping in really fast because I don’t have a chance to write a big post…we are getting an Infrared Energy Audit done on our house today so it’s cutting into my regularly scheduled time to blog – but I’m very excited about it! More on that next week!! Very interesting stuff…

But I have a few links to send you to…first – don’t forget – my Rosebud Cards giveaway is going on through the weekend, so head over there to enter for a chance to win your choice of 3 of their sweet cookie cards!

And secondly, today I have my very first guest post up on another blog! Michelle of When I Grow Up (an amazing life coach) is moving to her newly purchased home (congrats!!) and wanted to keep up on the blog in the process, and she graciously allowed me to tell my practical-to-creative-career path story. Check it out: Black Sheep. I hope you like it, it was quite a process to organize my thoughts and bang it out.

Black Sheep by dreamel.  I love this image that Michelle picked for my post…

Also…I am proud to announce that Glenn started to paint the bedroom (in following my paint plan) and he likes it!!  He really, really likes it!!  And so do I…but I already knew that I would…muah ah ah ah ah!!  More on that next week!

And as usual, have a GREAT weekend!!

xo, L.

Just a little note, reminding everyone to check out the advertiser bar on the right side of the page!  You’ll find some great treasures over there, and I want to thank all of them for their support.

First up is Mahogany Ridge Guest Ranch, a quaint (and beautifully decorated) guest house in beautiful Jess Valley, California.  It is a great vacation spot if you’re looking for nothing but peace, quiet and relaxation.  They have 3 rooms, 2 bathrooms, a gorgeous deck and hot tub, and all of the comforts of home and more!  Be sure to visit their website for lots more information.

If you’re in the market for a new home in California, be sure to get in touch with Jennifer Enz, a Sales Associate of United Country Stevenson Realty and Auction Services.  She is very professional, and will definitely take care of your needs as a seller or a buyer!

Have you checked out the CalFinder website and blog yet?  This is a handy nationwide service connecting homeowners and contractors, which are all reviewed by the CalFinder team!  You simply choose your service that you need from the drop-down menu, put in your zip code and they’ll connect you with right contractor, or they can give you FREE estimates!  Pretty sweet, right?  They also have a great remodeling guide, along with a blog and links to some other helpful sites.  Check them out today!

That cute little yellow guy in the bunch clicks over to B’s Wig Shoppe!  A blog authored by Hannah B., who is a talented graphic designer, and an Etsy shop owner!  Right now she’s blogging about Disney cartoons, their characters, their music and why Disney is so successful, which is a fabulous read, so you have to click over there and check out her stuff! But sadly, she does not sell wigs. 

Raise your hand if you’re interested in learning about becoming a better photographer.  That’s what I thought!  If you’re reading this blog, then you’re most likely interested in creative things, and how else do you learn about or chronicle creative things than through beautiful photographs?  And taking beautiful photographs isn’t something that you can just do; it takes practice and direction.  That is where sites like Rachel B.’s Bloom: A Photo E-Course come in.  She takes GORGEOUS photographs (like the one below, from her Etsy shop), and can teach you how to as well.  Come on…I know you want to check it out!

I love, love, love Etsy.  If you hadn’t noticed.  I love that anyone who creates anything can open up their shop and offer their products to anyone around the world.  Like this handcrafted jewelry shop, Kasia Blue.  So beautiful!  I also love that she’s offering a special in her shop for Breast Cancer Awareness Month:

“October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and in honor of that all items marked “Think Pink” will be on sale for 20% off (reductions already taken) with a 10% donation towards the Etsy Project Embrace Campaign (through the American Cancer Society)for your total purchase. Now you can look good and support a means to an end! Remember…THINK PINK!”

Like this necklace here.  Enjoy!

Now who out there thought that mobiles were just for babies?  I did.  But I want one of these for me – not for Harper!!  Check out this Etsy shop called “Salty & Sweet,” which sells mobiles made for anyone.  Like fishing?  There’s a mobile of a fisherman catching a whale in her shop!  Like roller derby?  Go check out the mobile of roller girls skating around in mid-air!  Need a little inspiration for your yoga practice?  You can find a mobile of meditators made just for you!  My favorite is the mid-century modern chairs mobile…but that’s just me!   They would make great Christmas gifts!  And they would be perfect for any space that needs a little dimension and movement, don’t you think?

Next up is an online shop called Rocket Assembly that sells postcards with a little quirkiness – and you know how I am attracted to all things a little quirky!  Cat’s 2009 collection of sketches are so unique, you can’t help but want to buy a pack to give away.  Or I would even frame them!  They also sell original paintings that you HAVE to see!  You should also follow Cat on Twitter because her tweets crack me up!

And last but not least, you’ll notice the long advertising banner below (which is featured on all post pages), which will take you to the website for “Hella Handmade.”  Hella Handmade is a San Francisco Bay Area Craft Fair which will be featuring many of the crafty folks in that area on December 6th.  Ana behind the blog Rearranged Design is heading it up and it is sure to be a complete treasure trove of all things crafty.  I wish I lived closer.  Until then I’ll just have to keep clicking over to the Hella Handmade website and the Rearranged Design blog to stay updated and see what they’ve got going on!  If you live in the area and are interested in participating, then please get ahold of Ana!

These wonderful Likely Design blog sponsors will be featured in their advertising spots until November 15th, 2009.  Please visit my Advertising in Likely page if you’re interested in advertising  here!  Likely Design offers very affordable advertising options for websites, independent business owners, blog authors, shop owners, special events etc.  Your link will be featured in a post once during the month that you advertise with me – such as this post today!

Would you like to offer a giveaway to my readers instead?  Or I can review your product and write a post on it (but it will be clear that I am reviewing your product honestly, and sponsored by you.)  I love to support those who support me.  Feel free to e-mail me at lindsay@lindsaychristensendesign.com if you have any questions, or would like to reserve your ad space.  And please check out the links above – you guys rock!!  xo, L.