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Welcome to our Home with Gallery Direct

December 18, 2011 by Melissa

For the last several months I’ve been involved with Gallery Direct as one of their Ambassadors. I can honestly say our home has never looked so good. We’ve recently received our 4th piece of art and this particular one was Rob’s pick. He’s been admiring their landscape and beach scenes and finally narrowed his choice to the below gallery wrapped canvas.

gibraltar lighthouse gallery canvas wrap

view from living room

gibraltar lighthouse vertical gallery wrap

view coming up stairs to main floor

Europa Point Lighthouse sits on the southern most point on the Rock of Gibraltar and on the clearest of days has views of Morocco, Spain and North Africa. Unfortunately this particular image is no longer available but there are others points of view of the same scene. Be sure to drill down in the Stock Images to find that just perfect print or photo for your home.

This image along with our Ferris Wheel canvas from Gallery Image represent our love of the ocean and remind us of the beach, our favorite place to be. We chose a tall appealing print to be the welcome as people come into our home. I love walking up our entrance steps and seeing this monolith towering over me. The colors are ethereal and inviting but it really makes a beautiful statement.

Gallery Direct.com has become a favorite place to go and play around with different images and photographs and framing options for different rooms in the house. We personally like the gallery wrap aesthetic but there is a framing option for every style of home and décor.

Visit GalleryDirect.com, on Facebook or on Twitter to get the latest sales and seasonal deals.

Decorating for Halloween with #PotteryBarnKids

October 24, 2011 by Melissa

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays to decorate for. I like it fun, festive and cute. Rob and I went into a Pottery Barn a couple weeks back and bought this cute spider candle holder. It was the first decoration that appeared in the house for the holiday.

What a coincidence that I received an email a week later from Pottery Barn asking to review some Halloween décor and costumes. I opted out of the costumes since the kids has already decided what they were going to be but told them send me whatever for decorations because I liked everything.

This is how we decorated this year.

I like to keep it fun with happy pumpkins and cute skeletons. I don’t like the gore and blood and cobwebs that invoke a spooky or creepy feeling. Pottery Barn has tons friendly and lighthearted décor for parties and home. I thought about getting a banner that read Happy Halloween but I wasn’t sure where to put it.

Get your child suited up in their best Halloween costume and submit it to Pottery Barn’s Spooktacular Costume Contest for the chance to win 1 of 5 $100 GC.

This one brings back memories

October 10, 2011 by Melissa

Home Décor has never been so much fun now that I’m working with Gallery Direct. You seen Rob’s Father’s Day Gift and our bedroom addition, now it’s time to see the unique twist I installed in our living room.

Merrymaking IV from M Drake

I had a long wishlist of art that I wanted for the house in all different styles. I am particularly drawn to florals and landscape scenes but when I found M Drake’s Merrymaking collection I was in love. It reminded me of vacations at the beach and how little time we spent there this past summer. I wanted to capture a piece of those memories and be able to see it each day. Merrymaking IV is the Ferris Wheel installation and it’s so much fun to look at. With greens and purples it doesn’t match our living room at all but it doesn’t matter. Each person that has seen it is instantly taken a back and mentions how much they like it. I’d love to get another piece but I am all out of wall space in this room.

Gallery Direct is proud to be a sponsor of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. We’ve all seen the extraordinary transformations of families all over the nation. If you take a closer look inside the homes you’ll see lots of my favorite pieces and artists being represented. You can see M Drake’s pieces here at Boys Hope Girls Hope Baltimore.

Take my word for it; Gallery Direct has so much to offer and the quality is awesome. Take a peek around and don’t forget to check out their Facebook page; they often have coupon codes and giveaways going on.

Protect yourself using Swingline Stack and Shred and Giveaway

October 5, 2011 by Melissa

I don’t know about you but we have piles and piles of receipts, warranties, purchase orders, instruction manuals, statements and other forms of paper from accounts and purchases made over the last 10 years. Recently we were able to dwindle this pile down to something that makes sense.

After reading dates and contracts we kept what was needed and properly disposed of the rest using the Swingline Stack and Shred Shredder. Every home should contain a shredder. Its really the only safe way to dispose of credit card statements, past utility bills and other important identifying materials.

The Swingline Stack and Shred allows users to stuff up to 100 sheets of papers into the hatch, close the door and come back to a shredded mess in the attached waste basket. The size of the Stack and Shred is small enough to fit under a desk without being in the way. Since we don’t have a dedicated office space this stays in the garage with the filing cabinet and office supplies; it just makes sense that way for now.
With the holidays and New Year coming up we all have finances to deal with. Whether it’s shopping or pulling together documents for tax time or disposing of junk mail you should take the extra moments to protect yourself against identity theft.

Win a Swingline Stack and Shred Shredder ($250 value) from LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! Let me know how you handle your junk mail and old receipts.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry above. Please note the changes to the entries and frequency, entries that don’t follow rules will be disregarded/ignored/deleted.

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Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Wendesday, October 26, 2011. The winners will be emailed and will have 24 hours to claim their prize. This contest is open to Continental US residents only. For complete rules please read our contest rules page.

It’s time to clean out the closet with Scout by Bungalow

September 27, 2011 by Melissa

I really like the house we live in. We have great living space, a modern kitchen, a HUGE outdoor space for the kids and everyone has their own room. What we lack is sufficient closet space in the master bedroom and linen closet. This means that my “work and dressy” clothes, purses and shoes go in Shae’s closet and our sheets sets go in Shaun’s closet. We actually aren’t infringing on their space because they don’t require all the space but it was becoming a mess.

shae's closet before cleaning

shaun's closet before cleaning

The kid’s closets needed some help. There was a little bit of everything everywhere so I was able to consolidate with a Scout by Bungalow Junque Trunk storage toteto get their sheets and towels in one space. As you can see from the before and after pictures that the tote itself fits so much stuff and keeps it looking good.

shaun's closet after organizing

Scout by Bunglow is a unique but functional bag collection that also ventrues into storage, organization and insulated food bags. I was already a fan of Scout by Bungalow. I currently use their Daytripper on a very regular basis when we head out for the day as a family. Take a peek at all the fun patterns and options Scout by Bunglow has to offer and shop today

A Big Boys Room

September 24, 2011 by Melissa

Shaun is a big boy. I’m not talking about his size (but yes he’s tall) I’m saying he’s not a baby anymore. It recently became time for him to get a bedroom that reflected his growing interests and personality. Beyond Bedding provided new bedding and we bought a new bed and gave him a mini makeover.

When I showed him his pattern options he instantly pointed out sports theme bedding. Hs previous bedding was sports but this new set was a bit more mature. What I did like about the set was the bed skirt. It wasn’t girly and allowed us to continue to utilize the space for storage without looking sloppy or messy. When the set arrived we washed it before using it. This softened up the sham and comforter but also shifted the batting inside. It ended up being more lumpy than I liked but the color stayed true and the stitching remained intact and it didn’t get pilly. As you can see in the picture the comforter doesn’t quite reach the bottom of the mattress. One thing I hate is having sheets show especially when they don’t match.

big boy sports bedding

sheet peeking through

The bedding set came with a valance but Shaun has 2 windows so we aren’t using it. I think I might be able to put together some throw pillows with it; I just need some smaller pillow forms to start with.

Recently Beyond Bedding added a Custom Bedding option to their already extensive collection of baby, teen and adult options. Select your size, item, color, trim and pattern to create a bedroom that reflects exactly what you envision for a perfect sleeping haven.

Artwork for Every Room #Giveaway

August 27, 2011 by Melissa

A pop of color, a bold graphic or a serene landscape are all great ways to update an existing drab or lifeless room. I’ve already showed off our great pieces from Gallery Direct; a custom photo canvas for Father’s Day and a beautiful floral art for our bedroom makeover. They teach made drastic changes in the rooms they occupy and that’s because they are some of the highest quality products that can be found at reasonable prices.

The selection at Gallery Direct is amazing. Using their website makes it simple to get just right piece of artwork of whatever space you are decorating. A pink playroom can benefit from this dramatic image

Even if you don’t have a beach house you can have the view

Every image you select is available as framed wall art on paper, canvas art, fine art on acrylic, metal art and even imagery presented on mirror; or, make artwork from your photos. Turn yourself into a work of art. Not even the online canvas printing services can compete with us: not on price, not on quality, and not on customization.

A LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! reader is getting the opportunity to win ANY artwork of their choice (up to size large) just by taking a peek around Gallery Direct and telling me 2 favorite images you’d love to own or gift to someone.

Subscribe to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via email or RSS feed, bottom of page
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Follow Mom and Dad and GalleryDirect on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway 1 time per day, please leave your twitter link each time, tweet a form of this message: Winner’s choice of art/frame from @GalleryDirect &@LkWhtMomFound @AndDadtoo http://bit.ly/pTBh5u
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Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Saturday, September, 17 2011. The winners will be emailed and will have 24 hours to claim their prize. This contest is open to Continental US residents only. For complete rules please read our contest rules page.

DIYs I Want to Try

May 1, 2011 by Melissa

I’m a handy girl at heart. I love renovation and antiquing shows and love the people who bring back something they find hidden in basement or grungy attic. I don’t have that special eye to look at something blah and know it’s potential. I live for renovation, repurposing and antiquing shows; it gives me hope that someday I might have a little spark of inspiration and run with it.

Some things I would love to try:

Sewing-more than just a simple pair of fleece baby jammie pants
Stained Glass-I have one piece that my mother bought for me and I want more
Bread baking-pizza dough I can do but I’m scared of bread
Wood Refinishing-I see old cabinets and tables at thrift stores and wonder if stripping and staining would give it new life
Rose Gardening-Everything I’ve read has me so intimidated to even attempt 1 rose bush
Pottery-Graceful I am NOT. I can already see a crooked bowl or uneven coffee mug

Ever visit 30 Days of Lists? This is where I got the idea to write this post. Lots of great writing inspiration over there.

Green is the New Black

April 13, 2011 by Melissa

I’ve talked about it many times how my family has made changes over the years to be more green. A lot of my choices were obvious like recycling but some were made doing research. I’ve compiled a list of these resources that can be found at your local library, bookstore or used bookstore if you’re lucky enough to have one and of course online. Each book below covers a different element of life like parenting, healthy eating, cleaning green, gardening and much much more. Do you have a favorite source for green living? Share with me and everyone else where you get your green ideas.

Green Goes with Everything by Sloan Barnett
Packed with common sense and sass, product picks and practical tips, Green Goes With Everything is a must-read for anyone who wants to be green AND clean, and for everyone who wants to take simple steps to safeguard the health of their family and the planet.

50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth by John Javna
The 5 million copy bestseller that sparked a green revolution in the 1990’s is back with a new message: The best way to save the Earth is to pick just one issue you care about…and make a sustained, committed effort to work on it. This book shows you how!

Organic Housekeeping by Ellen Sandbeck (this on e is a personal fave and what got me to make a lot of the changes)
This book has everything! From clearing your clutter to protecting the health and well-being of your family. Further, everyone wants to make a difference, and the ideas in Organic Housekeeping make a difference for our fragile, endangered planet.

Eat Where You Live by Lou Bendrick
Finally–a fresh, funny and positive approach to eating locally! By now you know that everyone is eating locally and sustainable and maybe you want to do it too–to reduce your carbon footprint or just to ensure the freshest, healthiest food for yourself and your family. Whatever the case may be, this easy-to-read, hilarious and informative national guidebook will help you find it, cook it, and enjoy it

Raising Baby Green: The Earth Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth and Baby Care by Alan Greene (seriously, his last name is Greene)
Pediatrician Greene, a leading figure in the green baby movement, enthusiastically discusses everything from what to take with you to the delivery room to questions to ask hospitals/birth centers, about how green they are. “Buying Green” text boxes give contact info for recommended retailers or products of all types, useful for comparison shopping.

Generation Green: The Ultimate Teen Guide to Living an Eco-Friendly Life by Linda Sivertsen and Tosh Sivertsen
We all know about the Earth’s environmental crisis, but there is someone who can truly make a difference: you. If you text your friends or chat with them online, download music to your iPod, or toss bottles and papers into recycling bins, you’re already more eco-savvy than you think. It’s just as easy to do even more to help save the earth, and Generation Green shows you how.

The Big-Ass Book of Crafts by Mark Montano
The Big-Ass Book of Crafts is packed with ideas for sprucing up your living space; concocting fabulous, all-natural body products; designing your own unique stationery; and creating countless other crafts that will convince your friends and loved ones that you’re the secret love child of Martha Stewart (only much, much cooler).

Garden Girl, Urban Sustainable Living by Patti Moreno (DVD)
Patti Moreno, the Garden Girl, host of Public Televisions’,Farmer’s Almanac TV and how to web video diva invites the world into her home to inspire generations x and generations y to live more in harmony with the natural world. Patti Moreno will help you produce more and consume less in ways that will make you and your family live a healthy lifestyle; by eating an organic diet and save money by growing your own organic produce, as well as, bring up the net worth of your most valuable asset, your home.

Green Your Work: Boost Your Bottom Line While Reducing Your Carbon Footprint by Kim Carlson
Today, many companies are flourishing by delivering high-quality products while pursuing policies that leave the world a cleaner, better place. Those policies can help retain customers, energize employees, and serve as brand-building tools. This book shows managers practical steps to make their companies environmentally responsible while staying profitable and efficient. Environmentalist and businesswoman Kim Carlson shows managers how to green company operations by moving to a paperless office, recycling at work, setting up employee carpools, developing eco-friendly packaging, using green building products, and more. She explains in detail topics ranging from green marketing to setting up a carbon footprint assessment for the company. With this book at their side, managers can turn green into profits.

Sleep for Success | Giveaway WSRW Blog Party

March 29, 2011 by Melissa

My bedroom is slowly becoming my oasis. We’ve started moving furniture around to keep only the things that belong in a bedroom in there. When the kids have gone off to bed it’s time for me to catch up on some emails or writing I like to sit in my bed. When the work is done I like to pull the covers up flip on a nonsense show and veg out. All of these things have become way more doable thanks to my new Comfort Reader pillow.

The Stress Ease™ Comfort Reader™ Pillow is the first support pillow built specifically for your pre-sleep ritual to provide superior comfort while resting. Sitting up in bed is now comfortable because the pillow is constructed with an independent lumbar compartment providing support for your lower back or when flipped upside down; support for the shoulders and upper back.

The pillow is a large square, with a dense firm half and a softer fluffier half. I use it with the dense firm half on the bottom. Doing this makes me sit up straighter, less slouching which then mean less aches when it’s time to move. Rob keeps trying to steal it from me but he doesn’t sit in bed the way I do so it’s stashed on my side permanently. This is NOT a sleeping pillow; I haven’t tried so I can’t attest to the comfort level during the night. The pillow includes a white case with a pouch for the also included hot/cold pack.

“Research tells us that the key to a good night’s sleep and better tomorrow is to reduce stress and relax before bedtime, and the Stress Ease Comfort Reader pillow is the perfect way to help prepare for the onset of sleep,” explains Dr. James B. Maas. Dr. Mass has teamed with bedding manufacturer United Feather & Down to introduce this pillow as part of his Sleep for Success!™ program.

Click HERE to buy the Comfort Reader Pillow

Win a Stress Ease™ Comfort Reader™ Pillow ($50 value) and a copy of Dr. Mass’ newest book Sleep for Success here at LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! Tell me your bedtime routine. Is it an elaborate ritual or do you pass out where you land?

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Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Friday, April 29, 2011. The winners will be emailed and will have 24 hours to claim their prize. This contest is open to Continental US residents only. For complete rules please read our contest rules page.

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