Choosing paint colors for your house - a huge question mark

I have a problem. I am terrible at deciding paint colors. I love all colors, yet I like my house to be cohesive. I want to be able to move items from room to room and have them "go." Which is why, since I've lived in this house (purchased in 2004), I've gone with earth tones throughout, whether paint colors, furniture colors or accessories.

Currently, this is the breakdown. Since every room can be seen from the living room, I have all room colors based off of an area rug in my living room. That way there's cohesiveness. I've never been a fan of each room having it's own identity as far as colors are concerned. To me, it makes the entire house seem disjointed. Unless you are Dina. Her entire house is full of color, which I adore. And it works. She has the magic touch.


Here's the breakdown (all of these colors can be found in my area rug):

Living room/foyer/common areas: taupe
Dining room: currant red
Kitchen: taupe with brown glaze treatment
Guest room: butterscotch-ish/dark mustard-ish
Office: (was dark green) now is a very very VERY pale warm gray/beige
Craft room: (doesn't count, nobody sees it but me)
Master: pumpkin/terra cotta

I do have these same colors as accent pieces in other rooms. For example: My taupe living room has currant red sofas. The butterscotch guest room has white bedding with currant red and brown accent pillows. Etc.

In an effort to change things up a bit, I'm trying to not only paint rooms that are just too dark, but trying to maintain the cohesive earthy feel...just lighter.

Office is now a light warm gray/beige (Chocolate Froth by Behr). Here's my question. What if I want a lighter color like that in several rooms? Should I repeat paint colors? Or choose another? Would it be weird to have 3 versions of a warm gray/beige/taupe in the house in different rooms?

I'm just not good at this part. I mean, it would seem kind of boring to have the same taupe or gray all through the house. Yet, wouldn't it be weird to have 4 or 5 variations of it? What would the point in that be?

How did you decide on paint colors? Do you also crave a cohesive feel throughout?

Childrens art and Etsy

There's something pure and inspirational about children's art. While it might consist of simple doodles and drawings, there's such whimsy in it. I love when children are encouraged to be artistic, don't you? More art, less video games please!

Since I don't have children myself, I found a great little Etsy store. The woman who set it up has a daughter who is a buddy artist. Not only that, she is an avid animal lover. Win-win! You send her pictures of your pets, and her daughter will create pet portraits from them. Check out GioPetStudio and support this little artist!

Here's the portrait she made for me. Cute, no?

Blogs with no pics = zero fun

Hi! I've been a busy little bee working around the house - on my master bath, in the yard, some crafty stuff - but I can't get picks to upload. Blogger is frustrating that way. Blogs with no pictures is zero fun and inspirational. I'll be back soon and hope to share some fun things, as well as ask for everyone's opinions on other things.

Thrift store score

I love a cozy quilt, don't you? Even better, a vintage handmade quilt. These are fairly expensive and aren't easy to come by unless you happen upon one at an antique store.

A few months back I was checking out a thrift store and saw this quilt. It has a beautiful star design and is in really good shape, minus the "age stains" that you see, which I should be able to remove. No matter, it was worth the $20 I spent on it (talked down from $35, which would have been a steal anyway)! It's entirely hand stitched. I just love it.

It's been a long time

Lots of changes. Some good, some bad. Some happiness, a lot of sadness. Hoping to reconnect with wonderful blogger friends and get back into the groove of thrifting, crafting and creating!

Gooey goodness

If you've ever looked for the perfect cookie recipe, this just might be it. It's super easy, so easy that I could do it, and it tastes like a little bite from heaven.

Recipe courtesy of Paula Deen:

Ingredients

* 1 (8-ounce) brick cream cheese, room temperature (I used low fat)
* 1 stick butter, at room temperature
* 1 egg
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 (18-ounce) box moist chocolate cake mix
* Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Beat in the egg. Then beat in the vanilla extract. Beat in the cake mix. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours to firm up so that you can roll the batter into balls. Roll the chilled batter into tablespoon sized balls and then roll them in confectioner's sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake 12 minutes. The cookies will remain soft and "gooey." Cool completely and sprinkle with more confectioners' sugar, if desired.

These are very good. They taste like chocolate doughnut holes, only not as heavy or rich and not too sweet. Just about perfect.

Photo courtesy of me. :)

Debbie Downer

Well folks, I've been quite the Debbie Downer lately, been in a huge funk, so I've stayed away from the blogs as to not spread my funkiness. I'm so frustrated about not being able to find a job. There's so very few things out there for me apply to in my field. When I do find something fitting, I apply. Then I receive the dreaded "thanks but no thanks" emails. I just don't get it. Some of these jobs I could do in my sleep. What's frustrating is that it seems 10+ years of experience and an education mean nothing these days. *sigh* The stress of it all is weighing so heavily on me. I'm having trouble sleeping. I feel like I'm losing my sanity. It's creating tension between the hubs and me. I feel desperate and, sometimes, hopeless.

But then reality hits. I realize that as bad as I feel like things are, it's really nothing compared to the struggles others are going through. A sweet blogger friend, Lindsay, is having to deal with some major health scares right now, and yet her attitude and faith shine. My friend Diana lost her sweet 10 year old daughter this year to brain cancer. And so on...there are so many folks struggling out there, struggling with things that I can't even imagine. That's when I need to step back and thank God for blessing us. Times are tough for a lot of people. Some people share, others don't.

I know God has a plan for all of us. Sometimes it's realized sooner than later. Sometimes it's not. What's important is to keep in mind that there is a plan, have faith, and keep a shining attitude. I'm thankful for the lessons I've learned from others who are struggling. That alone is a huge blessing.