I'm Alive!

Since everyone was wondering... (haha all 5 loyal readers/non-immediate family members)... just kidding. We all know everyone forgot about this dusty blog! Except maybe Kimbo. But I think I lost her long ago. Anyhow.

I came to write a post and ended up deleting three entries. I have no clue where to start updating this ol' thing... or if I even should!

I came to post an annual Christmas list- but after 3 hours of google searches, I realized I really don't want much this year. (I know, check my temperature!) I blame it on my sister mostly. She's on a minimalist kick and I feel obligated to curb my spending around her. I haven't been to a Nordstrom Rack in 3 months. Somebody check my pulse now.

After a few months of purging, I had no desire to replace the things I got rid of. I hope it lasts. This whole "contentment" thing is not so bad :)

THEN, I came to write a post on the one thing a million people on instagram kept asking, how I lost weight for the wedding... only I feel like a fraud since (in typical wedding weight loss fashion...) after a few months of wedded bliss, packed half the weight back on. Kind of. I'm 12 lb away from the wedding... but it seems like so much more! I lost 40lb total, but I feel like I didn't stick to what I thought was going to be a lifestyle change. I'm ashamed to admit I used the change as a quick fix/diet and I burned out. Anyhow, once I get back on my feet again, I promise I will share the secret. (Ok, I'll spill the beans now. Diet, exercise, proper sleep, water! OMG whodda thunk it... no short cuts!)

I do miss blogging, I honestly forgot how to log in to blogger and the set up has changed sooooo much I felt like a newbie! But I hope to post regular posts throughout the holidays and while I have spare time on my hands. Be glad to post on whatever y'all deem post-worthy :)

For now, I shall enjoy my cozy house... and keep resetting the breakers... I have so many Christmas lights on inside my house the fuse keeps jumping! It's that time of year!

Uh-Oh... Bit By the Redecorating Bug...AGAIN.

I know, I know... I really need to stop and focus my energy on other things... like school perhaps? But I can't help it. Enough is enough. I caved. I realized I hate how I spend 95% of my time upstairs. I'm NEVER downstairs! The 5% I am downstairs it's to use the kitchen- not the living room. Well, that got me thinking, what makes my living room so unlivable?? I've always known I reject my downstairs, but it was confirmed by a friend who didn't want to watch a movie here because it was "uncozy". *GASP* Uncozy has always been a bad, bad, bad word growing up in my "cozy" household... It was used to describe New York alleys, and freezing floors with no socks on... how could a Parast have an uncozy living room??? I immediately started brain storming uncozy features:

1. Large, white marble tile flooring. I HATE carpet. I vowed to never have carpet because of the filth that gets trapped in them and we fail to see. So, I have white marble floors and as open as it makes the place, I don't know if the trade off for being uncozy was worth it... I bought a big brown rug to add warmth but it seems like that's not enough
2. Modern furniture. I have 2 really nice couches that were given to me by my sister and her husband a few years back that I know weren't cheap and I LOVE them, but they're just so uninviting (to anyone other than Bandit). Bandit isn't allowed on them because they're so nice, but I know his hair doesn't just float to the top... he obviously sneaks on when I'm away. I wonder if I need a darker brown...
3. The color scheme: chocolate and brown. I know this color scheme was/is huge and I just went with it. But now I'm so over it and am debating to just sell everything and start fresh, or work with everything. I have a baby blue wall that I recently painted about 2 months ago, and the accent wall on the fireplace is brown... so I wonder how impractical changing would be... 
4. The layout. I can't do much with the door/stairs/fireplace/laundry room doors... so I'm limited to seating arrangements and tv. I just decided my 32" tv was way too small for the living room and too random on a side wall, so I sold it today to get a bigger one to place on my mantle. The 32" looked awkward on the big shelf so I'm looking to get something that would be a better match. I'm not big on tv (NEVER watch anything) but I hate that a lot of my friends are and I can't offer them comfortable entertainment. So, for all the friends that have come over and voiced their opinions, I'm listening :)

So those are some things to consider. I'm trying SO hard not to act spontaneously and do the whole make over tonight... I asked Ordy Boy to bring his drill just in case hahaha. 

Here are the only pictures (please excuse the graininess- phone pics!!!) I have of my living room, but they are from when I first moved in. So the rug is different (the new one is brown with baby blue and beige leaf pattern) and a few other stuff. I swapped the brown recliner with the bookshelf from the picture so that's different. 

I really wish I had half the guts as most designers do to experiment with color (in places other than my office haha). I realized, I'm single (not married) now and it would be BEST to get to do whatever I want before I have a husband to run ideas by!!! I mean, now is the time to get away with a pink throw pillow (NEVER thought I'd hear myself say that, but for design purposes and nail polish- I can manage pink...) but that's just an example. Just saying, while I'm young and "free" I should experiment! Before I have to go into "neutral" world hahaha. I mean what husband would allow my adorable, chic rose pillows?? (It adds such a soft touch to the masculine chair!!)  I might as well get all my "glamorous" out of my system... haha

Another "staple" that I love (that I'd like to work around) is my amazing beige mirror. 

So far, I have beige "modern" couches, a brown leather recliner, a glass "modern" coffee table, a beige studded mirror, and brown damask drapes + rug that I spent more money than I'd like to ditch so soon. I guess I need to accept the living room and just do small changes to make me happy (different tv over mantle, rearrange...) or do what I always do and go drastic. Ha, I honestly don't have time to even be thinking about this right now, I can't believe I'm even blogging instead of reading... I know one person who's going to yell at me for this! 

In a dream world, I would love this (I'm still researching):

and this for my dining room:

Any suggestions/ideas? I know I am blessed to know design savvy friends... am I wasting time? To be honest, I'm probably going to do something, and it is more than likely GOING to be drastic... so might as well shoot me suggestions/pictures/etc! I'd love to see any ideas that I've missed!