The Midriff Trend.

I am not this daring, but I can’t help but admire her. I am actually typing in between crunches. I have abs envy right now!

Tell me are you a fan, or this look baring too much skin for your liking?  xx

{images: Harpers Bazaar, stylesnooperdan.com}

Trim Touch-Ups and Molding Make-Overs: A Guest Post

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Much like the effect created by a hand with painted fingernails, the trim and molding in your

home can either elevate or cheapen the look of a room in one fell swoop.

Think about it: people who chew their nails try to hide that fact by slapping on a coat (or five)

of paint. But that superficial bandage doesn't address the root of the problem...they're still nail

biters!

Inevitably, those who bite their nails wind up chipping the paint, and at the end of the day, they'd

have been better off leaving their nails bare because all the painting did was draw attention to the

poor condition of the nails.

The bottom line is that painting your fingernails only works when the underlying nails are in

great condition, and this philosophy also applies to the trim and molding in a room.

If you try to hide the underlying damage to your woodwork - like scratches, dents and dings –

by slathering on coat after coat of paint, you merely highlight the problems instead of concealing

them.

Fortunately, you don't have to scrap your trim and start from scratch because the medicine for

what ails your molding is within your grasp!

Here are some inexpensive ways to repair your room's trim and molding to make even the worst

woodwork look flashy, pampered and polished in a flash!

Trim Toolkit

Here are some of the tools you should have at the ready when you're undertaking a trim or

molding repair:

Wood Putty/Filler

There are tons of wood repair products available on the market in a multitude of colors (premixed to match your existing wood stains) but a safe bet for an all-purpose trim repair product

is one in a natural color. This way, you can repair your gouges and paint over them without

worrying about color inconsistencies.

*Tip: Using a more substantial product like wood putty or filler is great for pet-originated issues

like chewed up baseboards or trim that has been used as a scratching post.

Putty Knife

A putty knife is something everyone should have, whether they own or rent, due to the multifunctional aspects of this handy little tool. Not only can you apply wood filler to damaged trim,

but you can also use it to fix holes in drywall, as well as many other DIY repair projects.

And the best part is that a plastic one (2" wide or less) can be had for about a buck!

Sandpaper

You can use either sandpaper or a sanding sponge for your trim repair toolkit, just be sure you

use one designed for "fine" sanding.

An easy to use option is a dual-angled sponge that allows you to address the decorative crevices

in your woodwork as well as the flat surfaces.

Wet Sponge

A wet sponge is always good to have on hand during molding repair for a number of reasons,

the main one being clean-up. For example, if you need to tighten up the perimeter of a repair job

(too much caulking or wood filler smeared around the edges, etc.), a damp sponge wipes away

any excess.

*Tip: A quick wipe with a wet sponge before you sand will help keep the dust to a minimum!

Caulking

This is an essential item for your DIY arsenal! Not only can you use caulking to repair cosmetic

issues with your trim, but you can also use it to weatherize your doors and windows – leading to

even more savings now and in the future!

Moreover, caulking will solve many woodwork inconsistencies all on its own:

• Use a bead of caulking to seal gaps in between window ledges and the rest of the

casement.

• Caulking fills in the small holes that result from nailing in your baseboards and shoe

molding/quarter round.

• If you have mitered edges that do not line up exactly, a quick application of caulking can

create the appearance of perfect alignment.

*Tip: If you're repairing trim or molding in the bathroom, use a mold and mildew-resistant

caulking that addresses those ever-present bathroom concerns due to the heightened humidity

and moisture levels.

Paint

Classic white paint for your trim and molding provides that traditional elegance and makes your

doors and windows really pop!

However, you can use creativity when painting your trim and go with whatever color speaks to

you!

Once they are fully repaired, paint your wood trim pieces with a semi-gloss finish to really make

them shine.

A good practice is to work in an entire house woodwork wipe down every couple of months (or

more frequently depending on your individual circumstances – pets, kids, messy husbands, etc.).

Sure, it's more work up front but it could save you tons of time and expense in the long run!

What are some of the ways you have repaired damaged trim and molding in your home?

Thank you so much Angelo for such an informative post!
 Angelo DiGangi is a Home Depot sales associate in the Chicago suburbs and is a frequent

contributor on windows and doors on Home Depot's website. Angelo provides tips on both

exterior and interior doors, as well as DIY advice on topics related to molding and other trim. Blessings and a wonderful day to everyone. XX

{images: nicety_journal}

Falling for Brown.

The mornings here are already brisk and cool. Coupled with the colour changes in the landscape, one can officially say Fall is here. I see a lot of brown in the color changes around me. It’s earthiness and warmth make me feel all warm and fuzzy, especially when I’m sipping a cup of coffee. Yes, I am definitely “falling for brown…”

Can you imagine how delicious an orange(my favourite ) and brown combination would be?  Blessings and a very happy weekend to you all. xx

Matters of the Heart: Autism, an Impromptu Celebration and a Winner!

First, congrats to Becca Ann, comment #159 who won the giveaway!  I am so thrilled for you Becca and will be in touch with you asap! Thank you to everyone for your impressive participation!

I started this post months ago, but always abandon it because i get so overwhelmed with emotion. Our sweet boy Zion was diagnosed with mild to moderate autism back in February. However, there were signs before then. He was diagnosed with a speech delay at around 20months and he started speech therapy at the age of two. At two and a half years old, he was examined by a psychologist to determine if he was autistic or not, but no diagnosis was made because he excelled in so many of the categories that they use as measuring tools.
When he turned 3, the symptoms became more pronounced and he was reevaluated soon after. Although I knew the diagnosis was coming, I still hollered my eyes out.  Why him?

he was a year old in this pic and the one on the left above

I was the crazy first time Mom who wore Baby Plus on her tummy every morning to work because she wanted to communicate with her baby. I was the crazy first time Mom who read everything about shots and their implications AND made sure to stagger all his shots. He never received them all at once. I was the crazy first time Mom who... I could go on and on. But, despite all my crazy efforts and sometimes obnoxious protective behaviors (I have to admit I was a bit like a momzilla), I do still have a child with autism.

School.

We placed him in a preschool when I returned to work after having Ian. Things were going great because he had a great teacher(who actually has an adult daughter who was diagnosed with Aspergers as a child). Therefore, she knew exactly how to interact with Zion. He blossomed under her watch, but then she had a stroke and things went downhill. The others didn't care so much and let's just say we had a "falling out". He was home briefly. I even entertained the idea of homeschooling.  Thank goodness I was no longer teaching because  I am able to be the warrior and advocate that he deserves. At one of those ritual IEP meetings, his team timidly suggested that he be placed in a special needs classroom. I say timidly because I had made it very clear that I didn't think such a setting was for him or would promote and challenge his growth.  You see, Zion is a genius. No exaggeration. His brilliance astounds everyone. Nonetheless, we were assured that his teacher was the BEST and not all the students were autistic, but they all had IEPs. The hubby and I discussed it and decided to give it a shot. So.happy.we. did.

His new Teacher.


There was only a month left in the school year when Zion started his new school and met his new teacher. Before the end of the week, she seemed beside herself with how smart he was/is.  She voiced early on, that his knowledge surpassed what was being taught.  Fast forward to this school year. He went back to his same teacher in the Special Ed Pre-k classroom(he is still only 4 years old),  but it wouldn't be for long.
New Beginnings.

His teacher made the recommendations for Zion to be placed in a regular Ed Pre-k classroom and only 8 days after school started, it came to be. I had an IEP meeting last Friday where again Zion's brilliance was noted again and his above average scores. Again, I cried(the norm). But this was through my happy smiles.  I met his new teacher whose background is Special Ed and this was her first year teaching a Regular Ed class. Coincidence, I think not. Zion has a his angels watching over him. His special Ed classroom teacher was also not a coincidence. In fact, the "falling out" at the other school was a blessing in disguise.



The Impromptu Celebration
On Sunday, we had an impromptu celebration to recognize this great accomplishment for Zion. I used his favorite things and items from my party stash. Dad drew his favorite character, Thomas on the chalkboard wall in the playroom. He ate cupcakes( a rare treat), but that's also a fave of his:-). We told him how proud we were of him.

after too many cupcakes

his favorite character, Thomas, thanks to Dada

Autism and Us.
Therapy sessions, IEP(individual educational plan) meetings are now apart of our lives and that is fine. Zion receives speech therapy and occupational therapy(for sensory issues). He has made immense progress and now we can't keep him quiet.  Many of his issues are socially related. For e.g., he will now initiate play with other children. He used to totally ignore them.  He has taught us so much and has given me a new and fresh perspective on the world. It hasn't been easy, but we have been blessed. He has the best people on his team. He is our genius who happens to have some quirks. Today was his first day in his new classroom and I can’t wait to get him from school to hear all about his day! I have so much to share with you all! It is liberating to tell you our story.  Blessings and a beautiful day to everyone! xx

My Budget Friendly and Stylish Tablescape.

Simply put, one can entertain in style on any budget. I have been frequenting one of my local Goodwill stores of late because I realize that there are some amazing scores to be had there. For today’s post, we’ll look at a simple, but stylish tablescape showcasing all thrifted items from Goodwill.

I wanted to add some "bling" sprinkled with black for a somewhat glamorous look. I scored these vintage plates for $1.50 each. The knives with the black handles were approximately .50cents each.  The crystal candle holders were almost $2 each(definitely a score!). The vintage cups with the gold handles and cute floral design are my fave. Those were also under $2 each. I bought 4 of each item, because it’s a small scale get together.

a close up of these gorgeous cups. i already had simple white saucers that would go perfectly with these.

Although I purchased my finds at a Goodwill store, do not despair if you don’t have one in your area. Usually most thrift stores will have a home ware section. Let’s keep it stylish and entertain on!. Blessings and happy weekend my friends. XX

In. Love.

Adjectives escape me right now. However, I can tell you that I have a serious crush on this space, the architecture, the furniture, the understated elegance of the mantel styling… Love. it. all. How is everyone? Feels like I haven’t blogged in forever.  Blessings and one love. XX

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Light it Up Giveaway from Lamps.com!

As we embrace the season where the days become shorter, and we begin to cocoon indoors, it is important to have great lighting.

As natural light begins to fade, artificial lighting begins to play an important role in our daily routine.

With that said, the wonderful folks at Lamps.com would like to help us preserve our eyesight and light up our home by offering the lovely readers of Design Addict Mom a chance to win one of their lamps(almost $150 value)! Spectacular, right?

You get to make your pick from any of these choices below:

• Pablo Designs Pixo Desk Lamp w/ USB charger (any color)
• Pablo Designs Tube Top Table Lamp (14” version, any color)
• Pablo Designs Piccola Accent Lamp (any color)
• Dimond HGTV Clear Table Lamp
• Dimond HGTV Brushed Steel Table Lamp
• Adesso Spot Light Table Lamp

Just click each link above to view the lamps and make your choice.

So Here’s how to enter this fab giveaway.

If you’re already a reader/follower, simply choose the lamp of your choice and comment below. Not a reader/follower; follow via bloglovin or gcf. That’s it!

Additional entries:

• Tweet about the giveaway and post in the comments section.
• Pin the giveaway and post in the comments section.
• Post giveaway on facebook and post in the comments section

#Please include your email in the post(if your link doesn’t link to one) so I can find you if you win!  Thank you!

This contest will end on Saturday, September 14th and the winner will be chosen at random.

PS: This giveaway is only open to US & Canadian residents.:-(

Thank you to Lamps.com for this great giveaway!

Good Luck to all!!! XX

{images via, via}
Google

Something Old is New Again: Trending

I realized recently that quite a number of items that I’ve had for years (and have even considered selling) are trending right now. Yay me!?

This copper textured top table with its black base was purchased years ago from Pier 1.  Today, it’s trending as what’s hot because it’s copper and of course those sexy black legs that would give Tyra a run for her money make it an even more delicious piece. Who knew? I bought it because I loved the lines and they beckon to that mid-century era which I really love.

And then there is this bar cart that I had parked in a closet for the longest time. It has a kind of oil rubbed finish with traces of black too. It is superbly made and the top part is detachable(great when entertaining). I’ve been seeing similar looks/types of bar carts in magazines, etc.

 While I try not to get caught up in trends or let them dictate what I purchase for my home, it still feels wonderful to have these pieces that are considered ‘en vogue’ or trendy. With that said, before you go out and purchase an item from one of these trend categories that you love and must have, take a look around your home. That trendy piece may already be there; probably hiding in a closet or waiting for a simple diy or some paint to make it  into that enviable  piece you covet.  I hope those of us who celebrated Labor Day had an awesome long weekend! Blessings. XX

{images: my own}