Harry Potter Infographic

This semester I am taking Journalism 529, Advance Infographics.  Our first assignment was to create an infographic using only one illustration on the Harry Potter books and film series. This was hard for me considering (1) my first draft had 5 illustrations (oops) and (2) I have neither seen nor read the Harry Potter series! However, I managed to do it and was quite happy with the finished product! 

Dining Room Redo

Two weeks ago my dining room got a much needed reno.  Since this is a rental, you are not allowed to paint the walls (or rip down the terrible 1980's railing separating the dining room from the sun room)... which was driving me crazy. 

However, my ingenious cousin Lesley came up with the perfect solution! We hung red fabric (that I already had) from the ceiling using two thin pieces of wood cut fit the angle of my ceiling, my hand dandy staple gun and picture hanging nails. 

The fabric 1) give the dining room a much need splash of color and 2) hid the terrible railing! 

BEFORE


 Before hanging the picture!

My grey and white chevron chairs 1) gives them an updated/modern feel and 2) brings in the colors of my living room! I also kept my same center piece from last year and spruced by my owl napkin holders with a bottle of silver spray paint.  

On the wall opposite of the fabric I added a new wine picture ($2 at a local yard sale) as well as an old window Lesley etched for me.

The red fabric was quite bold so Lesley quickly drew a silhouette of a wine bottle on an old canvas that I had previously purchased at a thrift store for $5. 

My handy mother hung it from the ceiling using eye hooks and fishing line . 

To top off the room I added two silver IKEA wine racks ($5 at a thrift store).  Overall, the project only cost about $25 and it looks sensational... especially compared to before! 

Don't be afraid to be thrifty with your rental, there is always to put your on spin on the place in a cost efficient way!

Dining Room Chairs

This summer I have been working on and decorating my first "big girl house".  I am using a lot of things from my my last apartment, however, I am switching up the color scheme with decorative pillows, fresh paint, accessories and even new dining room chairs. My apartment last year was mainly bland neutral colors so I am spicing up the greys and creams with a gorgeous yellow and deep brown. 

One of my first projects was to re-do my moms old dining room chairs she was getting rid of (why throw away something that just needs a little TLC).  I did away with the 90's red and blue print and covered the seats in a charcoal and white chevron print. I love them!

BEFORE

AFTER

Color Scheme for our Living and Dining Room!

Keep checking back for photos of the completed house!  It is going to be fabulous when it is finished!

Smoking: "Don't be a Maybe"

Smoking in Germany is almost as common as eating. Unlike most of Europe and North America, smoking in public buildings and restaurants is still allowed which is rather odd considering Germany is a rather health and environmental conscious country.

When you walk out of our hotel room you begin to smell the aroma of smoke and it follows you wherever you go. It appears that smoking is promoted throughout Munich and it does not discriminate between age groups. Side walks and streets are covered with "cigarette vending machines", Marlboro advertisements and cigarette butts.

Not only is smoking allowed and promoted in public places, it is also allowed in restaurants. Just the other day at lunch our group noticed our server was smoking while breaking from tending to us and it is almost unusually for person sitting at the table next to you not to be smoking. When speaking with Dora Meyer, a professional nutritionist, about smoking in Munich she said that smoking is not looked down apron by Germans as it is by Americans. She pointed out that Americans have almost made it for someone to smoke, especially in a public setting like a restaurant.

In Germany alone 110,000 to 140,000 people die each year from smoking and almost 3,300 people die each year due to passive smoke related diseases. I will be excited to get back to a smoke free environment!

Germany: Day Five.... The Nude Garden

Today was a very... interesting day in Munich.  After a lovely lunch in the "English Garten", my friend Geena and I decided to do some exploring, little did we know what we were getting our self into when we wondered into the Schonfeld Meadow.  

The Englischer Garten is a large public park located in the heart of Munich, Germany. It was originally created in 1789 and has grown to be one of the largest urban public parks in the world. In the English Gardens lies the Schonfeld Meadow, commonly known as the Nude Meadow.  Nude sunbathing has been permitted since the 1960's, it has been popular even seen making the English Gardens well known even outside of Munich. 

Geena and I saw more than we were expecting but it was quite the "European" experience! 

Germany: Day Four

Today has been my favorite day in Germany thus far! We visited the Neuschwanstein Castle located near Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany. The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria and was the inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle (obviously one of my favorite things about it!). The pictures from my iPad don't do it justice but I will post what I have until I can upload pictures from my camera!

Germany: Day 2

today was day 2 of my Munich adventure! I didn't take photos on my iPad but I do have pictures of souvenirs I found today in a local market! a train book, gummy bears and of course an owl figurine... how appropriate. when I return to the US I will post pictures I was able to capture from the top of a bell tower.. they are beautiful of the city as well as two beautiful churches!!