I still love you, Wallpaper.

I haven’t posted on wallpaper in…well, a very long time…and I sorta miss the stuff. So, I thought I’d dive back in with this little ditty. It’s wallpaper that your kids (or the kid in YOU) can color in. How fun, right?

Check it out…

You start with this…I know…hilarious…

And do this…

My daughter would be ALL OVER this!

You could even do your own. Just get plain wallpaper and make the eyes yourself with a sharpie. Then let your little one go to town.

Or get the classic Graham & Brown version…

Yeah, love that one. Would love to throw some pictures in there too. That’s a good one for the kitchen.

Or, if you don’t feel like covering the whole room, you can use just a bit of oldie but goody wallpaper as art. Like this…

Or a little bit of this one from AphroChic…

images found here, here and here and here.

A Lesson About Can Openers

Here’s my two cents for the day: Don’t confuse the can opener for the food inside the can. Here’s what I mean. Sometimes in life, we are shut off, closed off or stuck and dream of something or someone that will come along and change that. And, miraculously, after a bit, that someone or something comes along. And they open us up again. And we THINK that they are the source of our joy and reconnection with the earth/universe/self.

And we fall. Hard. And they get confused. And we get confused. And everything seems like a mean trick.

But, what if – WHAT IF – this person/situation/thing just came into our lives as a can opener? They were MEANT to make us feel this way and open up again. They  poised us for the REAL prize/cahuna/love/job…whatever? And what if, in the midst of our despair, THAT showed up? Would you recognize it? You might not.

This happened to me when I was in my 2os. I was kind of stuck. And disillusioned. And then I met someone who was, for all intensive purposes, a can opener. And I mistook him for IT, the LOVE I had been searching for forever. And held on for dear life. Until it became very clear that this was NOT it. And almost immediately, someone else, someone very kind and caring, came into my life. And I could not, for the life of me, see him for the kind, caring, loving soul he was. I was still stuck on the can opener.

Be grateful for something/someone who opens you up when you’re shut down…but see them for what they are. And be open to receive something REAL. You can’t eat a can opener but you can eat the food inside.

xxxooo

U

Real Change

I am reading “Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg and was struck by the following statement:

“Real change will come when powerful women are less of an exception. It is easy to dislike senior women because there are so few. If women held 50 percent of the top jobs, it would not be possible to dislike that many people.”

She is doing amazing work. She has started a site, mastermind groups and a blog to support the book. It’s all very exciting and neat to see someone like that “reaching down.” I think that we will all benefit from her work. We, as a society, need something like this. In my humble opinion, this will help put America back on top.

image via vogue.com

True Connecting

I have to admit, I have always yearned for connection. True connection. I think we all do. Some come by way of it easily. We are born into families or areas that naturally fit with our soul needs and grow up feeling content and taken care of. Others of us are born into situations where we feel a little askew.

I fall into the latter category. I am a wild hair. I’m unpredictable and an innovator. I think outside of the box. And I was born into a place that thinks inside the box, colors inside the lines and is generally conservative in nature. It has taken me YEARS to see that there is nothing wrong with me. For years, I tried to be that inside of the box thinker, doer, be-er. (And luckily, I get sick when I drink too much or I would have been a be-er with beer.) Being outside of the box in an inside of the box space is lonely.

It’s not only lonely in a social way, it’s lonely in the way that you get separated from your own innovative, creative thoughts when you are not around others who are innovative and creative themselves. It’s why my city has what is called “the brain train” – people getting on a train and getting out.

The most creative people I know travel. A lot. I’m not sure if this is universally true – no matter where you live, traveling is an impetus if you’re outside of the box – but, the innovators I know all spend a great deal of time traveling. I guess it’s one of my checkpoints to see if I’ll connect with someone. How often do you spend traveling outside of your own city? Out of your country?

I don’t spend nearly enough time traveling. But, that is going to change. I have realized that, if I want connection – with my own inner goddess and with others who I connect with on a soul level – I am going to need to travel more and get outside of the box of my small town. (Yes, I totally consider St. Louis to be a small town. It’s a big city but it thinks like a small town.)

Image via 123rf.com

Maxi Fun!

Ooh, do you love the Maxi skirt the way I do? It’s so versatile…can be dressed up or down. White tee and Bensis or a nice white shirt and Manolos. Here I am with my new fave and a black top…

Cover image found here.

Jamba Juice

We’ve started juicing. I’m not crazy about the juicer itself but am crazy about the results. Loved this one. Beets, Carrots, Lemon & Apple. BAM.

Got Mocksy?

My daughter. The funniest kid on earth. I am telling you, I love that kid more than anything in the world. She’s quirky, smart and creative as all get out. And she is an entrepreneur! Go figure.

We started a bank account for her this month. After a week, she asked if I could put $20.00 more in it. So, I did. Then, yesterday, she asked for me to put more money in it. I said, “You have to earn the money and put it in yourself. Why don’t you sell something? How about selling something to do with dogs? (She is nutty about dogs.) How about making dog biscuits and selling them?” She wasn’t so crazy about the idea. “What if I walk dogs in the neighborhood for $10?” I agreed to that. “I’ll make a sign,” she said. Great.

Then, when I picked her up from school today, she said to me, “I got a job. Sophie is going to pay me $5 a month to be her assistant.” Hilarrrrrrrious. “She is going to hire me to plan parties.” Very nice. Love her go getter attitude.

After I dropped her off at her Dad’s, I went home. My neighbor came running out. “That is very sweet that Isabella wants to walk Missy but I think she’d be too hard for her to walk,” she said. “What?” I replied, having no idea what she was talking about.

“Isabella put a note under my door asking if she could walk Missy.” Ohhhhh. Too funny. She means business, my daughter. Want a saleswoman? This one was born with mocksy. And. I. Love. It.

Guest Post

Hello, all! I’m so excited to be here with you at Candy Colored Buddha with a guest post from Arcadian Home blog. It’s a wonderful place to find lots of decorating inspiration including beautiful home decor ideas from round mirrors to fabulous pendant lighting of all sorts and so much more.

Today, we’re going to take a fun look at dogs and interior design. Earlier this year, Ursula blogged about Padding for Paws. She wrote, “Knowing so many Designers and dog lovers and having a daughter that is absolutely dog crazy is more than enough reason for me to get involved. So, I have decided to adopt Padding for Paws as my company’s philanthropy.”

I am always intrigued by how many interior designers and design bloggers have canine companions who “assist” them in their creative endeavors. This collaboration begs the question:do dogs love great interior style?

Please enjoy our little visual essay on the subject and see what you think!

~ Mari

Can we agree that these beautiful fellows seem to think this stylish space is as comfortable as it is beautiful? The Starving Artist Patchwork square ottomans are stunning. Decorative trays like this metal one are perfect for protecting soft surfaces.

This beautiful animal is as elegant as the living room in which she poses. I would say without reservation that this lovely space meets her high design standards.

This charming country hallway was decorated with the family dog in mind. From doggie wallpaper to comfy bed with toy dog, this space awaits its canine inhabitant who surely approves of his personalized home.

Here, a loyal companion awaits his favorite person’s return. Doesn’t he look handsome as he sits at this gentleman’s vintage desk?

This patient guy seems quite content in a pale turquoise dining room with sisal rug. Modern pendant lights hang above the large round table.

Just relaxing and enjoying the view from the Cappellini sofa in the glow of a vintage chandelier, these sweet guys appear to love their well-designed home in Paris.

It’s a dog’s life at the beach in this charming coastal living space. It’s a stylish, yet comfortable home in which to enjoy long summer days.

We leave you with a peek into a Miami Beach high-rise, home to this fine fellow. When it comes to design, he’s one discerning canineóhere he poses in front of a Berner Venet steel sculpture in the home’s living room. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

What do you think of these spaces for pups? Leave us your comments below and be sure to stop by Arcadian Home for more home decor and lighting inspirations!

Can I get a what what?

When I first started blogging way back in the Dark Ages, I thought that it was the coolest thing EVER. I didn’t care about finding advertisers or what my blog header looked like. I didn’t care who read it and wasn’t thinking about making money from it. I was just enjoying taking the one thing I’d always loved to do – making collages – and turning it into something else. I started off with a bang. Clipping and pasting photos from here, there and everywhere. It was a hoot. I met all sorts of cool people from all over the world and really enjoyed doing it.

And then, somewhere along the way, reading others’ blogs and seeing all of the money/fame/adulation they were getting, my view of blogging changed into something not so fabulously pure. I started writing like…well…like I don’t know who. But, it wasn’t me. And the people coming around weren’t me. And nothing was flowing. And I got frustrated and left my blog. Many times. I said good-bye and then came back. Countless times. Like a Lover you can’t quite get over. There was always something there that I wanted to come back to. We had a history, Candy Colored Buddha and I.

And I really liked the fact that I was attracted to the whole Candy Colored thing before it got big and before you saw it everywhere you looked. I liked that. It made my special feelings for this silly little blog even more special.

Anyway, today, I am more jazzed about this blog than ever. After a year of basically writing nothing (or very little), I am back and jazzed and pumped. I did spend the year writing – on Caring Bridge.com – and in many ways felt the same way I did when I first started writing here. Honest. Fulfilled. Safe. Part of an awesome community. So, if you have been reading this blog since the Dark Ages, Thank You. And if not, Thanks too. Glad to be back.

Oh, and if it’s different (the background) every time you come back, don’t worry. That’s just me. I like to switch things up a lot.

xxxooo

Ursula

Fun with paint chips

Avril Loretti is clever. I’ve been a follower of her Etsy shop for several years now. And she always comes up with the cutest ideas. These days, she has paint chip items that are just darling. Check them out…

 

Dot Love

I love this shirt. Green dots. What’s not to love?

STL Bloggers

When I first started blogging 5 years ago, I searched high and low for interesting bloggers from my town and found only a few. Now, thanks to the popularity of blogging, there are tons of talented bloggers here…and there is even a monthly meet-up for all of them. I just stumbled upon this meet-up on FB about a month ago and this wkend, enjoyed not one but TWO blogger-related events. What a trip.

I found the people who attended these events to be fun, laid back and interested in the same sort of stuff I am. What a fun find. Here are a few pics.

The first, sponsored by Scarlett Garnet, a hip, fun jewelry store on Cherokee Street, was a vintage cast offs sale. You picked out an item and they worked it over for you. I got a skirt and they shortened it for me. So utterly cute.

The shop was adorable.

And they had complimentary drinks. Nice.

Then, today I attended an official STL Bloggers event at Vino Nadoz. I was really impressed with both the venue and the fabulous people it attracted. We had a great time trying out their fruit and veggie juices, quinoa salad, fruit and desserts. Next to Nadoz Cafe, Vino Nadoz opened up a few months ago and has so much to offer.

Sorry I didn’t have any pics from this event. My camera is acting a little tempermental. I’ll post pics when I get them from my new bloggie friends.

Brilliant Marketing

Fun. It’s a major selling point. Not taking yourself too seriously is both liberating and money making. My friends at Niche Home Furnishings are a case in point. Check out the photos they posted on their FB page. After seeing these photos, wouldn’t you be likely to a) like them on FB? b) to to their site c) go to their store d)buy something from them?

They are having fun and being silly. The point of this photo is not to sell the bed. Or is it? You decide.

 

Color Play

Turquoise and yellow? Turquoise and Cobalt Blue? Turquoise and Orange? What color  will POP with Turquoise in my kitchen? Green? Tomato Red? Hmm…

 

The Reveal

So the crew has come and gone and I’m left here with a totally different living room. It has been an interesting couple of days.  Fun but also extremely stressful. When I was a little girl, I dreamt of being an actress. I thought that it would be so fun and glamorous. Lights. Camera. Action.

I took acting classes in Middle School and High School and really enjoyed it. When I was in High School, I saved up my hard earned money and went to a performing arts camp in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. It was worth every penny. In college, I started out majoring in Communications and then, during my Sophomore year, switched to Drama. My parents were outraged. And soon after, my Dad got sick and I came back home. After a “sabbatical” (which included a life changing trip to Israel), I came back to St. Louis and finished up my degree – in Communications. After that, I let the acting dream go.

I always sort of wondered “what if.”  But, then when I found Interior Design, I was able to completely let that dream go. So, being in front of the cameras was strange. I felt awkward and really realized that I probably wasn’t cut out for that whole acting thing anyway. It was a nice one shot thing. They are going to shop the pilot around but I am certain that I won’t be in it. My room was transformed and that was the point of the whole thing anyway.

Here are a few shots I took during and after the process was over (yesterday morning.) I didn’t take any shots of it when it was “perfect” – after they staged it and before I put some of my stuff back, moved around stuff but you can get the general idea of what they did from these shots.

Looking forward to spending time lounging around in my new space.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And after the reveal, when I moved some stuff back in and messed up the perfect room…