Basking in Barcelona

I'm back from my recent European jaunt to Barcelona and down the Italian coast. What a fantastic trip it was. My three traveling friends and I managed to pack each day full of sites and experiences. Over the next few post, I will share some of these special places with you. I have been posting pictures on my Facebook Fan Page, so I thought I would share them also here for those that are not on FB. 

We started our trip in Barcelona, Spain on Wednesday, July 13th. There was lots of twisting and turning as I tried desperately to take in all the sights around me!

This was my very first shot. I was already impressed with the Spanish architecture.

The tile and mosaic work in the buildings are incredible. Heading into the Parc de las Ciutadella. (Park)

The Spanish Arc de Triomf. The grand entrance to the park. Close up of the angels tooting their horns and offering wreaths.

I  could have spent hours exploring in this park. So many beautiful sculptures and fountains. But since this was our first outing. It was time to move on.

Time to stop for the first of many glasses of Sangria and tapas! They have these funny two ft. long straws to use for sipping! The Dolphin Cafe was a great people watching place. Barcelona is very busy this time of the year. I was surprised at the overall size and mass crowds.

The next day we started off with a stroll down La Rambla. La Rambla is very crowded (that helps to make it a high crime area) but worth the risk to see all the beautiful buildings and the sites.

Gorgeous flower stalls are up and down La Rambla.

The entrance to the Mecat (Market)

These look like a painting. The presentation at each stall was amazing.

Meats of all types are on display and also some that were not suitable for this photo opp. Not for the squimish!

Garlic, peppers and wonderful seasonings make the food oh so delicious!

The mimes are all up and down the street posing for pictures to earn euros.

Our next place to visit on our walkig tour was The Port of Barcelona

Here is the marina at the Port. My husband had told me to be sure and get lots of boats and marinas for him to see. No pictures could do this area justice.

and of course they can not have an ordinary walking bridge

This is our feathered friend Jorge.  He stayed with us while we sat on the pier and watch the boats come and go. He had no fear and I was surprised he hung out with us, since we did not have any snacks to share!

Before heading back to our hotel to get ready for dinner, which was usually late around 10:00 PM, we had to stop and enjoy a "Happy Hour" glass of Sangria. We were four tired gals, from so much walking. But it was oh so worth it!

I will be back soon with some more highlights to share!  Adeu (for now)

*I love for you to post comments and share your thoughts with me. 

Make room for Daddy!

Father’s Day is just around the corner and if you’re looking for the perfect way to appreciate the special man in your household, create a space just for him. Luckily there are great options to create the perfect retreat using manly options that fit the interior design of your home.

Creating an Island of Comfort within Shared Spaces
The chair is the most important element of a great space for most men. It has to be comfortable and durable, but it doesn’t need to be a stuffed recliner with fuzzy fabric. I know you care about aesthetics, so let’s look at more stylish options that fit within your family room or even a dedicated space just for him:

Leather is a great option, but if you have pets with claws, be aware that you may see scratches on the surface. Some people consider the inevitable marks part of the patina. Other durable fabric options include ultra suede or commercial fabrics because this chair will be used frequently.

           
Fabric protection is a great option to protect from stains, so you can still use lighter colored fabrics if it fits the interior design of the room. Nail head trim is a great decorative element that adds the “clubby” masculine feel to the piece and it blends nicely with more sophisticated pieces without the extra detail.

If he likes to read or just watch sports in the evening or on his days off, be sure to include appropriate lighting. Add a table or cabinet with storage for the remote and other miscellaneous gadgets he wants close to him that you don’t want to display.

Outdoor spaces:
This is the perfect time of year to create an outdoor space for entertaining, and it can include a built-in grill or even an outdoor kitchen for all types of entertaining. He’ll enjoy impressing his buddies with his grilling skills and you can relax while he takes charge.

If you’re really serious about creating an exterior family room for casual entertaining that looks as if it is an extension of your interior space.
Outdoor furniture options are endless with fabrics that look as if they could fit in your family room.

Summertime Projects:
Another great gift is a workshop that is organized and stylish. Who said the garage is just a utility area to store your cars and lawn tools?
Whether it is a space for tinkering, serious woodworking or storage, a functional space can be attractive, too. Yes, you can be the envy of every other garage on your block.

There is always the "Man Cave."  Don't leave him to his own designing~

Not Sure What He’d Like?
I design functional and stylish spaces whether it’s inside or outside. Call me to order your “Designed for Men” gift certificate for a personal consultation. He’ll like it much better than a tie and cologne, don’t you think?

Which One???? Print vs Digital

I love to read! I finally got a Kindle this year for Christmas and I really enjoy it when I travel and for going places where I have to wait ( Doctor's Offices) But I haven't given up on my hardback books. I am not very fond of paperbacks. The verdict remains out on magazines. There is something about being able to hold a magazine. Pick it up when I have time and flip through it. Mark pages with my colored post it flags. These are easier to find later than dog eared pages! I have a huge collection of torn out pages in my Interior Design swipe file. I just don't like reading magazines on my computer. I personally feel that print is not dead. I think there is a need for both types of magazines. I am going to share links to my top ten digital publications. Post a comment and let me know what you think!

http://www.lonnymag.com/issues/19-trad-home/pages/1#p1

                     http://www.lonnymag.com/issues/28-may-June-2011-issue/pages/1

http://anthologymag.com/blog3/2011/05/23/issue-no-3-spring-2011/

http://www.highglossmagazine.com/

http://www.houseoffifty.com/

http://www.nestingnewbies.com/magazine/issuethree.HTML

http://www.ruemag.com/

http://issuu.com/surroundings/docs/surroundings_may_june_2011

http://roomplanners.com/RP-Mag-April-2011/index.html

http://southernflourish.com/

These online magazines are best viewed with a full screen. You can zoom in and out as you need to get a better look. A feature that is necessary, but that I don't like.  Just to much "clicking." All of these are chocked full of great pictures and articles. It is best to look at them on your computer. If you try to download most of these magazines, they will take a very long time. You could run out and buy the print edition and be back home before your download is complete! Most are free, including their back issues. Southern Flourish

is by subscription. It does have a good article about Gena Knox. Gena will be the June Speaker for Women Source.

http://www.womensource.info/

Women Source is an organization in Gainesville, Georgia for Northeast Georgia Women. Gena will be the guest speaker on Thursday, June 2nd and I highly suggest you make a reservation and come find out more about this great organization and some amazing women!

Don't forget.....let me know what you think. Are print magazines on the way out? Also which one of my top ten magazines did you like the best. There are a number of new fashion and other lifestyle magazines out in a digital format. But that is a topic for another day!

A house is not a home until it has a DOG

I am writing this blog today for a very selfish reason. On Good Friday we took our Jack Russell, Miss Priss, for her final visit to the Vet. Prissy had been a member of our family for over sixten years. She had been a very health sixteen, until about the middle of March. Something happened to make her health start to rapidly decline. Johnny, my husband, and I had to make the most difficult decision that a "Pet Parent" can have to do. We had to take away her pain and let it become ours.

Our house is so quite now. I especially miss her when I am here in the office workng. She would lay on the sofa as long as I remained in the room. As she got older, she had to have a small ottoman to help her get up on the sofa and in the last few weeks she would lay on the floor next to my chair. I realize it is not her pictures that upset me, but the day to day routine in our house that she was such a part of that I miss the most. I found the above quote by Gerald Durrall and understand to well the meaning. "A house is not a home until it has a Dog."

 

"My little dog: a heartbeat at my feet."
--Edith Wharton

"Children and dogs are as necessary to the welfare of our country as Wall Street and the railroads."
--Harry S Truman

"When you leave a dog in the morning, it will stick its nose in the door crack and stand there like a portrait until you turn the key eight hours later."
--Erma Bombeck

"The ideal age for a boy to own a dog is between forty-five and fifty."
--Robert Benchley

Sir, this is a unique dog. He does not live by tooth or fang. He respects the right of cats to be cats although he doesn't admire them. He turns his steps rather than disturb an earnest caterpillar. His greatest fear is that someone will point out a rabbit and suggest that he chase it. This is a dog of peace and tranquility."
--John Steinbeck

"Being patted is what it is all about."
--Roger Caras.

"The dog was created specially for children. He is the god of frolic."
--Henry Ward Beecher

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive."
--Gilda Radner

"We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made."

--M. Facklam

"No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as a dog does."
--Christopher Morley

"A dog is the greatest gift a parent can give a child. OK, a good education, then a dog."
--John Grogan

To err his human, to forgive canine."

My goal in life is to become as wonderful as my dog thinks I am."
--Eileen Green

"Dogs' lives are too short. Their only fault, really."
--Agnes Sligh Turnbull
(Prissy and Jake after a day at the beach)

Rest in Peace Miss Priss!