Favorite Things: 2014 Home Trends

Happy Monday!  I thought I'd share some home trends with you today.  I have totally been swooning over black and white items, as well as gold accents.  I hope to incorporate some of these in my home this year as I tackle projects. Be sure to take a look at each link below. They each have great photos and inspiration!

Blacks & Whites

 via \\ Our Fifth House

via \\ Jones Design Company: 

via \\ Jones Design Company 

Black and white stripes are so timeless and classic.  Paired with gold or funky art or furniture, and they look updated and hip.  

 via \\ The Hunted Interior: 

via \\ The Hunted Interior

How absolutely adorable are the black and white spots?  I love, love, love them and may just have to find a way to bring them into one of our rooms.

via \\ IKEA 

Gold Accents

via \\  Stephanie Creekmur 

via \\ House of Smiths

via \\ The Homes I Have Made 

via \\ Keep.com

via \\ Caitlin Wilson   

via \\ Target 

Ahhh, gold. Whether it is used on a gold foil art print, as a polka dot feature wall, upholstery fabric, or a side table, I am absolutely smitten.  Gold has made a comeback and it is better than ever!

What are some new trends you'd like to incorporate into your home this year?

Operation Sister Share:Polka Dot Focal Wall

Happy Friday, everyone!  Aren't you glad it's the weekend?  

I finally got the ball rolling on a project this week: converting my girls' separate bedrooms into one shared bedroom and playroom. After being in our home for a year and a half, I know that this is the best use of space for my girls.  They will not sleep in separate rooms. Period. End of story.  So Operation Sister Share is now fully underway. 

Here's a reminder of what we started with when we moved in, in the room that will now be shared. (It was Ashlyn's room):

And here is what it looked like after: 

Whimsicle Bedroom 

I got the room cleared and started painting over the tree.  Good riddance, tree. Nice knowing you!

So, this is the reality of my girls' sleeping arrangements for the past couple of months. Ashlyn camped out on the floor in Katlyn's room.  I started back in late October/early November trying to get started on this project, and with all of the holidays, I just couldn't get it done. 

I'm so excited to share with you what I got done this week: the focal wall. It looks amazing.

I decided to do large polka dots on one wall of the room.  I am trying to keep this whole bedroom switcharoo as budget friendly as possible, so I am not painting the whole room, just the wall where the tree was.  I bought a quart of white paint, and that added with the white paint I already had was enough to paint the wall. 

I started by making a template by tracing a bowl onto cardboard, then using the template to randomly draw polka dots on the wall. I didn't want symmetrical.  I wanted a random pattern.  I then filled in the polka dots with an angle brush.  They aren't absolutely perfect, but I like that about them. 

*I want to apologize for the awful pictures.  I took tons of pictures and the lighting is awful in all of them!  Hopefully I can figure out how to remedy that for future posts.

It's hard to tell, but those dots are gray.  I can't tell you exactly what color because I mixed it myself.  I had small amounts of a few grays left over from other projects and mixed them together so I wouldn't have to buy more paint. I then added white or black until I got the hue I liked.  Yay for using what you have and saving money!

It doesn't look like a very large wall, but that is where both of the girls' twin beds, which I will pick up today, will go.  Also there will be a nightstand in between and a little room spare.  

I will be revealing projects from Operation Sister Share one at a time as I get them finished. I will include tutorials on any DIY projects I do, so be sure to check back! 

2014: Possibilities

In looking to the new year, praying for focus, and writing out my goals, one word kept coming to mind.  Possibilities.  

For the first time in a long time, I am excited and invigorated!  I'm thankful for the creative outlet I have in writing Cultivate Create blog, have momentum going forward with my weight loss and healthy living, and am slowly building my blog and decorating business. 

I am so hopeful and excited to see what this year has in store!  The possibilities are endless.  

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

– Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

Weigh-In Wednesday #10

 Good morning!  Are you starting to thaw out yet?  Even just a little?  It's a bit warmer today and I am so glad. Cold weather and I don't get along well. 

Just stopping in briefly this morning for the weekly weigh in.  But, first, I wanted to touch base about the 7 day cleanse that I talked about last week.  I got through the first two days, and I had to abandon it. It just wasn't for me.  The cleanse calls for the first four days to be strictly fruits/veggies with a little dairy on day four.  I was struggling without eating protein.  I usually eat a high protein, low carb diet because I have to for my body type.  (There are three body types...Endomorph, Mesomorph, and Ectomorph.  To find out what type you are, go here.  It is very interesting and helpful.)  My type is mainly Endomorph  with a little Mesomorph and I have had success eating the way suggested for my body type.   

Great article on how to train for your body type here. 

I wasn't expecting the cleanse to be easy, but it put me flat on my back. Literally.  Day two I was in bed at 4pm with no energy and a terrible headache.  So, next time I want to do a cleanse, I will just stick to Phase 1 of The Maker's Diet (how I ate the first couple of weeks when I started my weight loss journey, losing 10 pounds the first week).  I did make the "Miracle Soup" a couple nights ago.  My whole house smelled like Kimchi.  It was very strong.  It didn't taste bad, but it isn't something I think I could force myself to eat three meals a day.  

Today's weigh-in:
Starting weight-- 304 lbs.
Today's weight-- 279 lbs.
This week's loss-- 2 lbs.
Total weight loss-- 25 lbs. 

I am so excited about those 25 pounds!  I started the week before Halloween and have made it though Halloween candy and Thanksgiving dinner and the entire month of December!  That time of year is often hardest for me.  I often gain during that time.  

I am setting a weight loss goal of 5 pounds for this next week.  I am ready to hit the 3o pound mark!  

If you are struggling, I want to tell you something.  You can do it! You can.  Just keep making healthy decisions one day at a time.  One meal at a time.  It gets easier.  

***I issued a fitness challenge last night on Cultivate Create FB page.  I think I will start doing that at least once a week!  Be on the lookout for it!

To view the post that started my weight loss journey, click here. 

2013 Year In Review

2014 is in full swing, but I couldn't leave 2013 behind without first naming some MVPs from this past year.   Now is the perfect time to catch up if you are new to Cultivate Create or missed any posts.  Thank you all so much for reading!  I truly do appreciate you all.

Most Memorable 

First. Post. Ever

Most Improvement

Kitchen Remodel

Most Colors on One Wall

Chevron Wall

Most Mixed Metals

Mixed Metallics Fall Centerpiece

Most Vermin

The Great Mouse Debacle of 2013

Most Posts in a Series

Revising Home Series

Most Pinned Post

Get the Printable here. 

Most Anticipated (by me)

The Chapel Market

Most Viewed Post

My Struggle

Most Blue

Painted Front Door

Most Input From the Neighbors

How to Stain Vinyl Shutters

Most Pumpkins

Little Pumpkin Baby Shower

Most Thankful

Thanksgiving Tablescape

Most Christmas Spirit

Home Tour

Hope you enjoyed! I can't wait to see what 2014 holds for Cultivate Create. I'm excited at the possibilites!

January Special Offer

Ready to organize or give your space a fresh look for the new year?  Take advantage of this special offer on Room Redesigns in the month of January!

***Book between now and January 31st, 2014 and only pay $75 for a single room and $70 for three rooms or more!That's a savings of at least $25!

Contact me to get started and take advantage of the savings this month!

**Available for local clients in Covington and Coffee counties, AL.

Weigh-In Wednesday #9

Happy New Year, everyone!  New year, new start.  I love the fresh slate and renewed focus each new year brings.    Today, I am ready for a fresh start with my eating.  Over the last week and a half, we have had five Christmas "get-togethers," a birthday dinner (why yes, I'm 29 again!), and a New Year's bash, all of which boasted lots of fattening, calorie dense foods.  

Let's go ahead and get the weigh-in over with!

I didn't gain a thing!  I stayed the same weight, even through all those Christmas goodies. 

Total weight loss is 23 lbs!  I was extremely happy with maintaining through the holidays since I haven't worked out and have eaten things that I haven't in two months.  

I think the reason I was able to maintain is that I didn't just say, "Forget eating healthy. I'm gonna eat whatever I want this week!"  I allowed myself those foods at gatherings, was choosy about what treats I had, didn't gorge myself out on those foods, and I tried to make all the meals in between healthy.  I am beyond thankful that I didn't gain the average ten pounds that Americans gain during the holidays. 

Even so, I still feel yucky.  Eating those foods I haven't been used to in a while just makes me feel kind of weighed down and lethargic.  So, I decided to start a seven day cleanse this week  to rid the toxins from my body. 

 Here is the one I am trying out:

source

I started this cleanse this morning.  So far,  I have only eaten an orange and a handful of blueberries.  I can already tell this is going to be hard.  But, it's only a week so I  think I can handle it.  It will be worth it to feel better.  I've never done a cleanse like this, so I'm not really sure how it will go.  


Since it is the new year, I decided to set some fitness goals for myself.  Here they are:
1. Participate in at least five 5k runs this year. (Can't wait to break in those new running shoes!)
2. Continue Boot Camp classes so I will get stronger.  I want to be able to knock out those fifty push-ups and all the other exercises with no problem!
3. Push myself out of my comfort zone. I want to do something I've never done before.  (Not sure what that is yet, but I am on the lookout for it)
4.  Be more active with my husband and children. 
5.  Make my health and fitness a priority.  

What about you guys?  Do you have any health or fitness goals for 2014?  Do you have a cleanse diet that has worked for you in the past?  I would love to hear about it.  I'm always on the lookout for new knowledge when it comes to health and fitness.   

I'm all smiles about the new year for the first time in a few years.  I finally feel like I'm out of the rut I was in for so long.  I am looking forward to the possibilities of this new year.  Bring it on, 2014!  Bring it on! (I'm gonna go eat an apple now.)

To view the post that started my weight loss journey, click here.