The Lovely Side

I think one of the hardest places to decorate is the area over a couch. Sure, a gallery wall looks great. But I already have one in my office and two gallery walls in one small space is not my ideal. I prefer something that makes a bigger, bolder impact – like a large painting that occupies most of the wall. For a while, the wall was blank. Then, I hung my Gone with the Wind poster up. And it just kinda floated there – in an expanse of purple wall. So when 1st Art Gallery offered me a hand-painted piece of art to review earlier this summer, I couldn't say no!
1st Art Gallery is an oil reproduction company that creates and supplies made-to-order oil on canvas paintings to clients in over 120 countries around the world. All of their paintings are hand painted to order – on campus – by the most talented reproduction artists available and using the finest oil paint and materials on the market. (You can watch videos of how their paintings are made here.)

Just dropping by to share this infographic with my fellow cat-lovers. It's full of tips to help you make sure that your home is a purrrr-fectly safe and comfortable place for your beloved felines, too. Check it out right meow and I promise to stop with the puns. ;)

In case you missed it, last January I read and reviewed A Small Indiscretion by Jan Ellison.
My Review, in short: I loved it. I couldn't put it down. (It's not often I devour a book in four days.) And I highly recommend it to you if you're looking for an engrossing, multifaceted story that combines drama, mystery, and romance with beautiful, graceful, and believable writing. It's the story of a woman's past secrets coming back to haunt her. And there's nothing cliche about it.  Reading this involved going a little off the beaten path. I usually read historical fiction, but I'm so glad I tried something different. I gave it 5 stars over at Goodreads. (You can read my full review here.) 
So today, I'm super thrilled to announce that I have the huge honor of giving away 2 signed copies!

It's the most wonderful time of the year! (At least, I'm just telling myself that until I'm no longer wishing I were in sundresses and sandals. Ahhh, summertime, how I miss thee.) But really, once I get past the shock of the first snow (last weekend) and my hardy Iowan spirit sets in, there's a lot to love about winter. Mostly: the holidays.
It's time to hunker down and get cozy. 'Tis the season for sipping hot cocoa and eggnog, spending time with loved ones, eating savory meals, wearing those super-soft fleece pants all day long, decorating the house in a festive spirit, and (of course) enjoying the delightful holiday scents like fresh pine and warm cookies. Those scents (and those fleece pants) are just such a magical part of this time of year.
Speaking of those wonderful scents, Air Wick sent me over some of their holiday scented candles and scented wax melts to help create the holiday atmosphere in my home!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Create the Good. All opinions are 100% mine.



I have a confession to make: It's been years since I volunteered. Back in high school, I volunteered at our local auditorium. I was a member of the tech crew – handling everything from lights and sound to ushering and striking the set for professional, touring shows. It was a blast. I made friends, I gained responsibility, and I was able to contribute to something I dearly loved: theatre and the arts.
Here and there, I'd occasionally volunteer in college. But life got hectic – even more so when I landed my first "big girl job," left my college town, and went out on my own. Working full-time, I sometimes have enough of a hard time finding the time to blog, craft, DIY, or write... but for the last couple years I've had a nagging feeling that I need and want to do something more. Don't get me wrong – I feel purpose in my career, I find meaning in what I write and cre…

I'm so late in getting around to posting about this project! (I did this DIY on a humid, 98-degree day... and today it's a rainy, dreary 58.) Earlier in the summer, I nabbed this lovely dining chair from Goodwill for about $10. I had the perfect project in mind – using the chalk paint Chalk Country sent me to review. But before I got to the chalk paint, this chair's seat needed a makeover, too.

This post brought to you by Tivoli Audio. The content and opinions expressed below are that of The Lovely Side.


From the sleek, compact design to the circular knobs and speakers, I've always had a soft spot for vintage radios – especially the mid-century modern ones. Despite being easy to find hiding in antique stores and thrift shops, they're not always in working order – and obviously, not caught up with today's tech. So when Tivoli Audio gave me the opportunity to pick out and review one of their new Model One BT Bluetooth radios, I swooned over the collection of radios that combined a timeless vintage look with modern convenience. And seriously... how lovely does it look on my tv stand?!

I recently posted about the struggle that has been decorating my office/guest-room – brought on by the pesky floor vent that needed to be uncovered for the cooler months to allow the furnace to intake all the air it needs.