We Have a Giveaway Winner! Also, Small Space Storage on a Shoestring

The winner in the first ever Jewel Box® Home giveaway is Laney!  To make this completely fair, I had my 20-year-old pick the winning name randomly out of my favorite china bowl.  And I just have to share Laney's insightful, creative entry comment. 

...oh my...we would all love to have fresh flowers everyday of the year...but for many of us that is just not possible...but...we can mix real with the not so real...i have an gorgeous forever orchid in a pot with real moss from my back yard surrounding the base...and i use fern leaves from the porch everywhere...my easter table had fresh moss out ot the yard mixed with tiny pretend violets... everyone who comes through the door always goes to touch the flowers...there are no "nevers" in making your home beautiful and special...

When you get a chance Laney, email your contact information to me at genevieveferraro@comcast.net.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this Jewel Box@ giveaway.  It was such fun to hear all the opinions on fresh versus artificial flowers.  Based on my informal Jewel Box® survey, our group overwhelmingly prefer fresh!  And a quick hello to Doug, the only gentleman to leave a comment.  Click here to see Doug's blog. Thanks for joining in the fun with the ladies Doug!

Now for today's main event, here are Amber's great tips for small space storage on a shoestring.

Those of us in smaller homes know that it can often feel as if clutter will bury us alive.  That is when I covet my friends and neighbors who have ample closet space and multiple junk drawers! So I'm always on the look-out for creative, savvy and stylish storage solutions that are easy on my family's budget!  Here are a few ideas I have found helpful.

I love re-purposing items that I either already own, or can buy for pennies at a Flea Market or discount shop. It gives me a feeling of satisfaction knowing that I have snagged a bargain and what could be better than using that bargain to solve sticky storage problems.

Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

This coffee table was created out of old crates and a barn door.  It's perfect for housing magazines, books and television remote controls without being fussy.

Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

Using old moldings or ceiling tiles from an architectural salvage store is a fun way to create shelving for dishes and it can show off your beautiful serving pieces at the same time.  Bonus decor!

Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

I know you've heard me talk about how I used old mailboxes to store my kids' art supplies and school papers.  Look at this darling catch-all solution for mail, car keys and sunglasses!  I love it.  

  Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

A birdbath in the bathroom?  Why not!  Storage for bath salts, lotions, towels and powders?  Perfect.  Whimsical.  Creative.  Right up my alley!

 Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

Baskets are my friends!  I love their handy storage-friendly space for blankets, linens and sheets.  These stack-able baskets are ideal for vertical storage.  Think how many blankets I could get in that stack!  I am always on the look out for discounted baskets at my local craft store.  Many with slight flaws are in the clearance aisle and you can get them for a steal!

 Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

I delight in re-purposing old furniture!  I have used armoires, old writing desks and hutches for anything from bookshelves to media centers to a makeshift linen closet.  (Can you tell I have a lot of linens that require storage?  I am a sucker for vintage tablecloths and they always need a home.)  Just look at this pantry made from an old cabinet.  Does your pantry look that tidy?  I know mine doesn't.

Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

Instant magazine rack!  Or crayon holder, or sock drawer or towel rack or television remote container or any number of uses...

 

  Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

Can't forget Rex!  My favorite re-purposed solution...old childrens' chairs fashioned into an eating center for your doggie. 

Happy weekend!

~Amber

Post Title → We Have a Giveaway Winner! Also, Small Space Storage on a Shoestring

Jewel Box® Home Giveaway!

I'm excited to bring you the first ever Jewel Box® Home giveaway!  

As many of you know, one of my favorite ways to add beauty and life to a smaller space is with flowers, greenery and fruit.  Now, most of the design heavies out there think only fresh will do.  I remember Nate Berkus on Oprah saying that anything but real flowers or fruit are considered tacky.  I happen to really like Nate, but I disagree with him on that point.  Artificial flowers and greenery can look just as wonderful and of course last longer.   

Here are a few arrangements from my home.  

Photo Jewel Box® Home website

Fresh white casablanca lilies and lemon leaves near my front door.  I carried these lilies in my bridal bouquet and like to pick them up at the grocery store whenever they are on sale.

Photo Jewel Box® Home website

White casablanca lilies and roses, with lemons and limes, fresh fruit in a glass bowl and granny smith applies by the kitchen entryway.  I always keep fruit here for the boys to eat and I had quite a job 'protecting' the fruit from being eaten before this photo was taken.

Photo Jewel Box® Home website

Dried and artificial pomegranates, pears and figs with greenery in a large white urn.  This arrangement reflects my husband's Italian heritage and the pear trees I grow in our side yard.

Photo Jewel Box® Home website

A simple buffet centerpiece of fresh honeycrisp apples and variegated euonymus leaves from my garden on a large white platter.

And now for the giveaway!  One lucky winner will receive this premium white orchid plant from ProFlowers, a $99.00 value.  

How do you enter?  Just leave a comment with your opinion of fresh vs. artificial flower arrangements.  You know where I stand, I like them both.  But tell me what you think.  I'll randomly pick a winner SUNDAY, so get your comments in quickly!  For anyone leaving an anonymous note, don't forget to leave your email so I can reach you.

Genevieve

Post Title → Jewel Box® Home Giveaway!

Someone will be sitting under the shade…

Of a LOVELY umbrella this summer!

Maybe sipping a lemonade…or a salted margarita

After counting and recounting and ending up with 182

official entrants

That lucky winner is:

Melifaif

“This is simply an amzing giveaway!

Wow. I would, love, love, LOVE - beyond love -

to sit in a set decked out in the Bravada Limelite fabric.

Swooning over here...thanks for the chance! Stunned. Shocked. Wow. Pleeeease.”

A BIG thank you to everyone who entered the contest…You are all amazing..

.and if it is at all possible to love invisible readers and friends...I do! Well, save for the lovely chinese commenters that like to sneak in.

It was a ball seeing all of the color combinations you came up with! Wish each of you could have won!

If I was ruler of the world…you would!

really really!

But…you all do win a bit…Cushions and Umbrellas is offering a 10% discount

to Lime in the Coconut Readers!

Simply add LIMEINCOCONUT10 to your order. Easy breezy peasy.

See…

It IS your lucky day!

Lucky Ducks!

Post Title → Someone will be sitting under the shade…

:: GIVEAWAY::…Beautiful umbrella and four outdoor pillows…’cause summer is a comin!

Yes….

It is umbrella time friends.

the sun is slowly warming

and outdoor living is coyishly calling…

Images: Pottery Barn

And all the hardworking colorful umbrellas in the world

just wanna get to work…

protecting

serving

doing what they do best.

Little itsy umbrellas in training...we all start somewhere…no?

In a most generous offer…and they are a charitable give-back kind of

small family owned company…my favorite kind.

is giving away

a 9 foot Market Umbrella

with the sunbrella fabric of your choice…

woooo…choices! Who doesn't Love a good color choice?

and four indoor/outdoor cushions

at a value of $416.00! did I say generous?

To one lucky duck~Lime in the Coconut reader…

check it out HERE

Now please tell me i am not the only one that has duct taped the broken rib on my umbrella?…which FYI… doesn’t work so well

This umbrella being given away…in all of it’s gloriousness

has fiberglass ribs…

No more broken or bent ribs from windy conditions or bad falls. The fiberglass ribs are typically 4 times stronger and up to 30% lighter than metal or wood ribs. In wind tests performed by the University of Miami, it was shown that the bending and flexing of the fiberglass ribs, spilling wind energy around the umbrella, makes it wind resistant up to 50 MPH!

who knew?

So….

Get your umbrella and pillow

color picking juju going…

All you need to do is:

~Pop on over to Cushions and Umbrella then leave me a comment here…

tell me which color combo you would loveto wrap your summer in.What is the color that floats your boat?or sails your umbrella?

~~~~~~

Want additional chances at sitting under your fave color umbrella this summer?

and who wouldn’t?

Blog, Twitter or Facebook about this giveaway and leave a separate comment on this post with each link.

**kindly add the generous Cushions and Umbrellas link to your post or message too**

Become a Facebook fan of the store, and you can earn yet another chance.

So in all you can earn 4 chances... if you want.

Not bad for the splendor of beautiful shade and a pillow for your head…and your feet…and each arm…

Want to REALLY increase your odds of winning?

Go outside right now…look to the direction of where your new umbrella and pillows will be...

and sigh. Contentedly.

really.It works. Trust.

Winner will be chosen on Thursday April 22nd at midnight. And announced on Friday.

Wanna know something else groovy?

umbrella in Afrikaans is sambreel
umbrella in Dutch is paraplu
umbrella in German is Rekenschirm,
umbrella in Italian is parapioggia, ombrello
umbrella in Norwegian is paraply
umbrella in Portuguese is guarda-chuva
umbrella in Spanish is paraguas
umbrella in Swedish is paraply

umbrella in Australia is umbrella…with a cool accent.

Cushions and Umbrellas ships internationally using BongoUS.

They will ship for free within the US, but international shipping will need to be paid by the entrant.

International winners or buyers can set up an account here.

Go…Look…Pick

Dream.

Summer…it’s a beautiful thing.

sigh.

Post Title → :: GIVEAWAY::…Beautiful umbrella and four outdoor pillows…’cause summer is a comin!

...And the winner is...

Search RANDOM.ORG
True Random Number Service
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:4

...don't drive or use heavy machinery...blah blah blah...yadda yadda yadda

So commenter #4 it is!

Congrats to...

Bumpkin on a swing

Send me your address...and I will pop your little box'O'Summertime

in the mail to you.

Thank you ALL for your wonderful, creative and even duplicative (word?who cares) responses

to the header. I loved reading each of your ideas as to why you were attracted to one or another. And I truly felt the love!

I have been playing with them, and trying each one on the past few days.

and now I have a headache.

But in honor of Bumpkin (and soo many of you) I'll be

wearing #4 for the next week or so...to see how it fits.

hey...looky there. Commenter #4 and choice #4.

do doo do doo do doo do doo

You all are the bestest bestest! I heart each of ya's...smooch!

Now if you could help pick out a paint color...

kidding!

wouldn't do that to ya

Post Title → ...And the winner is...

Pick my header...and WIN some summertime!

1.

Ok...I know this may make some

of you crazy.

Others eat this kind of thing up with a spoon.

2.

I'm playing with a new header

playing would be the operative word

3.

I've kinda sorta maybe
have nailed down my fave images
and font...

4.
this is one you see above
which one floats your boat
moves your sails
makes ya go Ahhhhh....

I'm sorry they are so tiny...but try and use your imagination.

5.

Or
do they all
just look the same
6.

and make you go
eh.

'Cause that's precisely what my kids would say

Do a gal a favor and vote (1,2,3,4,5 or 6)

If you don't have anything better to do on a Lazy Sunday afternoon

~AND~

One of you most amazing and talented readers randomly picked on Tuesday at 11:00 pm will recieve

a little package of

*summer*

which will include a favorite Botanicus glass votive candle

with the scent summertime. and a few other

summer goodies.

Yuuum!

'Cause I luv ya

and I need help picking.

*******POST SCRIPT.... I liked Sharons Idea, and will be trying some out the next few days...all of your comments are interesting...keep 'em coming!

Post Title → Pick my header...and WIN some summertime!

A winner!!

...more than 73 little slips of hand written

paper...apparently the best "bowl"

was a horse riding helmet.

whatever works.

My amazing helper girls mixed them up...

very carefully

....and...Drumroll please...

...A Winner!!!


Congratulations Shirl @ Got More Time than Money!!!
...Now you have some yummy peppermint
cleaning products to go with all of your time!

Send me your snail mail address, Shirl...
then you can clean your little heart out... peppermint yummily


Thank you to each and everyone of you...for entering.
For your wonderful comments!
You are truly THE best!!

Post Title → A winner!!

To 2009! And...a smelly,er...scented, giveaway...

Putzing that is a word, yes? in my kitchen this morning, I wanted to share

just a few of my favorite things...version 2008...1.0.

not including the most important, of course... family, friends, big black dog dog yadda yadda yadda.

I found me some Mrs. Meyers Peppermint dish soap...heaven in a squirt bottle
Yep. Heaven.

A hint of vanilla and peppermint goes a long way to curing

the ole dishwashing blues! If you find it. Get it.

It's that good!

As a matter of fact stock up on all of her stuff. They have

parties under the sink. Yes...really, really.


As I type...I still smell the intoxicating aroma of my most fave candle and I am in my room, it's in the kitchen!

Capri Blue...Volcano #6. Exotic, fruity.heady.

ahhh...be still my nasal cavity.

find it here.



Not enough to be said about the perfect simplicity of Penzeys spices.

A once Ma and Pa company,

dedicated to finding and bottling the best herbs and spices the world has to offer.

Catalog is full of recipes.Wonderful gifts. Prices are really decent. It's spice, people...

Trust me this once. Please. You won't be sorry!



You all... yes, You are also my favorite things 2008, version 1.0!

the last few months have been a complete rush!

Love finding all of you. Double love your comments and ideas!

A big thank you...and smooches...



And,to give back...cause that is just the way I roll...I will be sending one of you,

one of my favorite things...for being so good, so nice, so you!

just leave me a comment...let me know which of those is YOUR fave too!

...and sometime next year. Well, Sunday to be exact,

I will randomly pick a winner...and you will recieve one of the goodies I have

shown above. Mention this on your blog, even just a leeetle bit, and
I will submit your name twice just remember to tell me in your comment!

ready, set...Go!

Best to you and yours in 2009!

It'll be a good one.

I can just smell it!!

Post Title → To 2009! And...a smelly,er...scented, giveaway...