A Pop of Color

I ran across this ad in Elle Decor and loved how they used the pop of color on the ottoman and throw pillow. Gray and turquoise...always looks so sophisticated. Couches are at Minotti.

A New iPhone/iPad App - miTypewriter

I am really enjoying the miTypewriter app for both the iPhone and iPad. It makes the click click sound, gives you the choice of two typewriter fonts and even "bings" when you hit the return.
miTypewriter for the iPhone 99¢
miTypewriter for the iPad $1.99

New Contest at Coffee On The Patio - Win a $300 Target Gift Card

Just click on the dog's nose to get details.

Casanova Restaurant - Carmel

One of my favorite things we did while in Carmel, was have breakfast at Casanova's.  It is one of the most charming restaurants I have been in. When they brought my latte out on an individual little tray, in a latte bowl, I was beyond delighted. After devouring my french toast, we wandered to a small, private room that hold's Van Gogh's table - the table he ate at in the 1890's during the last few months of his life. Outside there's this wonderful little car. Casanova's has a website, but it seems to be down. There are more pictures and information here.

Road Trip with my Best Friends

Don't you just love road trips with girlfriends? In November, Susan, Tricia and I celebrated Tricia's birthday by driving to Carmel for the weekend. If you have never been to Carmel...it's a treat. So cute, right on the beach, lots of shops, adorable bed and breakfast places to stay and lots of good food, coffee, wine and chocolate. Loved these napkins.

Top Ten Tips From My Favorite Magazines

I haven't posted one of my favorite things articles since Sept. So I am going to bunch, Oct, November and December all together. So here are my Top Ten Tips From My Favorite Magazines for the end of 2011.

1.  House Beautiful has some wonderful bedroom ideas. I have been thinking of painting my bedroom a lightish brown, but this color is just so restful.

2.  This bedroom was also in House Beautiful (which I downloaded on my iPad via Zinio). I have often had bedrooms with strangely placed windows. The large pieces of art between the two windows creates a beautiful space that could have been hard to work with.

3. I first saw this portable fireplace at Glo.  I long ago lost my preference for a "real" fireplace, after spending 3 winters chopping wood to keep my little cottage warm. I want a fireplace that I can turn on with a switch. The flame in this fireplace is generated from ethanol. Now on sale for $788.40. 

4.  And here are biofuel pillars for outside. Pretty cool. How's that for curb appeal?

5.  I have a real thing lately for purple and red. I have a purple door but it is not as deep of purple as this one featured in Martha Stewart's Living. She has a whole section online devoted to Decorating By Color.

6.  These "Diva" cocktail napkins from Sharyn Blond Linens just make me smile.

7.  The October issue of Country Living has some terrific tips for decorating small spaces including "Ornate, embellished details give even the tightest spots a sense of grandeur."  I love a chandelier in a small kitchen or bathroom.

8.  Two things I really love from this ad. First is the purple MOEL armchair. Second are the wonderfully colored lampshades. How fun to have all those hanging from a ceiling.

9.  Real Simple magazine always has the best tips, including 66 all natural cleaning solutions. Who knew you could do so many things with lemons.

10. Also from Real Simple - 20 Little Ways to Drop Pounds. I also read recently to just change one small thing each week. Real Simple's list of 20 is a good way to cover the first 20 weeks.

I'm Back and It's The Perfect Time To Play Catch-up

As I mentioned in my previous couple of posts, I have been spending all my blogging time at Coffee On The Patio. I also have been working on new calendars for Brush Dance - for 2013!

I have missed my little blog a lot. As you can see by the header I have made a few changes...A Shimmy In My Spirit is now Cynthia's Blog. The old url will continue to work so no need to change your bookmarks.

Yesterday I was reading a terrific blog by Adria Richards called But You're a Girl. Great blog for us girly geeks. Anyway, she is running a contest...just for today. The challenge is to write 25 blog posts on New Year's Eve. That's a lot of blog posts to do in one day. But it would give me the motivation to catch up on A Shimmy In My Spirit...now known as Cynthia's Blog. And...Richard and I have no New Year's Eve plans....so consider this to be post #1. Just 24 more to go.

Update:  Okay clearly I am not going to make it to 25 posts. I have 18 more to go and it's 7pm. Off to make some dinner and watch the ball drop in Times Square on t.v. See you in 2011!

Not Much Happening Here - Busy At Coffee On The Patio

I hope to be back soon, but right now I am putting all my blogging energy into Coffee On The Patio. Come by and see me there. We're also giving away a $250 Target Gift Card!