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Nikon Review and Decorating

Back in November,  my hubby bought me a Nikon DSLR 3000.  I have been playing around with it, buying accessories such as other lenses, light box, external flashlight etc.  At night, I have been studying different blogs and reading as much as I can about photography, where I pin information on my Photography board.  I am even contemplating taking a photography class at the local community college during the summer.

This weekend I was at my brother and sister-in-law's apartment.  And yes.  I took my Nikon with me.  I took random shots of their place.  (First time I have been there, and I knew they had great decorating tastes. My brother and his artistic talent, and my sister-in-law's great taste--can you guess the results?)

My brother and his wife made us dinner and desert. Overall, we were spoiled by those two! They win brownie points.  They made stuffed grape leaves.  STUFFED. GRAPE. LEAVES.  Proves we are special because these are literally made by hand--piece by piece.  There as also an Arabic rice dish called "Uzi" and Fattoush salad. Desert: Strawberry Shortcake! Yum!    Here are some pictures I took:

Take a look at some of the fabulous decorations that I took with my Nikon:

                                                   Love this chair!  It is waaaay better in person.

Guest Post: The Insider’s Guide to Creating a Stylish Nursery

By Celebrity Nursery Designer Mary Bauer

Moms seem to instinctively understand the importance of creating a special nursery space where they can bond and interact with their baby. According to a recent Playtex survey, an overwhelming majority of moms (87%) agree that it’s important to put time into making the nursery a great area for their baby.  Maybe that’s because it’s not all about baby: on an average day, about two thirds of moms (67%) spend (or expect to spend) three or more hours a day in the nursery.  Since the nursery is a place where moms spend a great deal of time, ensuring the right care in preparing the nursery is essential.

Creating a nursery can be a daunting task, however, as moms strive to ensure that this special room provides style along with the necessary functionality. Mary Bauer, celebrity nursery designer and owner of Bratt Décor, offers simple tips on how to create the stylish, healthy, beautiful nursery of your dreams.

Ease up on Themes and Colors: Bright colors and busy patterns are loads of fun, but use these elements sparingly. Too much can overload the senses and make the room feel crowded. And don’t go overboard on the themes – look for less obvious elements that speak to your theme, and keep them to a minimum.

Make the Most of Your Room Size: If you have a small space, avoid using small scale furniture; instead, use a few normal-sized pieces, and choose furniture that can do double duty – like a changer that's a dresser, or an ottoman with a storage compartment. Also, use soft cool tones to make your room feel larger. Make a large room feel intimate by using low light when appropriate and taking advantage of fabulous floor coverings to minimize sound. And dark walls feel cozier – think navy, ochre and browns.

Create a Convenient Changing Space: Ensure that your changing table is well-stocked with baby wipes, diapers and an extra set of clothes right at your finger tips, so you never have a reason to leave your baby unattended. Position your diaper pail right next to the changing table and choose a pail that makes the whole process as easy as possible. The Diaper Genie II Elite® Pail offers a convenient foot pedal, allowing you to hold your child and dispose of a diaper at the same time.






Secure your Sleep Haven: Whatever your budget is, don’t scrimp on the crib – it’s the place where your baby spends the most time without you and should be a safe and comfortable space. Check out new crib regulations released by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission before making your purchase.

Keep the Whole Room in Mind:  Moms often focus on one element, be it the furnishings, wall treatments or bedding.  Consider your floors, ceilings and trim too, finding unexpected ways to make the room pop, like layering a zebra skin rug over your wall-to-wall carpet, or painting a high ceiling navy blue.  

Make It Personal: Adding personality to your decor doesn’t have to be super expensive – create your own personal touches in your nursery to make it meaningful to you. Include vintage photographs, your baby’s silver cup, framed family heirloom christening gowns, or anything else that means a lot to you. This gives heritage to a brand new space, and makes it all your own.
   
Create a Timeless Feel: No one wants to redo their rooms every year with the changing trends.  Keep furnishings, which are the big ticket items, timeless in design, and add trend with more affordable accent items like bedding and paint.

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