Meet Tracey from Notes from a Cottage Industry:

She has a beautiful blog and has her own custom made robin's egg blue color that she has used throughout her home:

Before we talk paint, I need to say Happy Birthday to my mom!

She is an amazing woman and what I hope to be someday. I'm always asking myself "what would mom do??" Montana is a long way from Texas, and I miss her a ton. I hope you have the best day, Shuz! I love this picture of you and Landon, spit up and all!

Meet Layla from the Lettered Cottage:

I knew that somehow I wanted her to be a part of "my favorite paint color" week here at 320 Sycamore because of her fabulous eye for the right colors. I am so thrilled that she is beginning the week for us! She has a true passion for decor and the details~if you haven't been to her blog, it is a must-see. She and her husband are transforming their home room by room and the change is just remarkable. You've really got to go see the befores to appreciate what they've done so creatively on a budget.

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Okay, it's confession time.

At the last Frugal Friday, hosted by the wonderful Wendy at the Shabby Nest I showed you how I was so crafty and green thumby with real live succulents. Well, the succulents bit the dust. The one I put away from the window didn't get enough sun and it turned very yellow and yucky:

The other one by the window succumbed to my sons' miniature digger truck while I was away. Real dirt inside the house is just too much of a temptation to a 2 year old and 4 year old, I'm afraid. Soooo, I'm going back to fake for this edition of Frugal Friday. Would it have been more frugal just to go with fake in the beginning?
Yes, but that would be too easy for Melissa. She always seems to make things more difficult than they need to be.

I found these big boxwood balls at TaiPan for 9.97 a piece. I was thrilled at that price, because I have priced them on the Internet, and can't find them for less than $18 a ball. We're not stopping here though, because I have two little spots I need a green touch to.

Soooo, get out you're scissors! We're going to cut this beauty up. It actually came apart in half quite easily, then I cut another third off the half.

You know whenever Nester hosts a party, it's going to be a good time! I'm joining her lampapalooza today:

I had a lamp in my family room that needed a little ooomph, a little somefin. It kind of just blends in with the walls behind it. I got it at Target a few years ago at their Global Bazaar clearance. (it would also help to have it in focus)

When my mom, sisters and I get together, one of our favorite things to do is shop. Here are a few stores we hit (all in the Salt Lake City, Utah area):

Hello! I had a fabulous little vacation~I wanted to share something that my sister, Kristin did that I loved:
she took an old cabinet door when they replaced their bathroom vanity and painted it, then added some vinyl lettering: