Well hubby and I finally decided on a design plan for our bedroom.....YAY!  So now the fun begins!  I have found the first piece for the room, which is the chandelier to go over our bed.  I always like to pick my lighting first along with my wall color.  Once I have these two items resolved, everything else just falls into place.  I found the chandelier on www.overstock.com and it was even on sale (which I love a good sale)!  Now to just lock the hubby down to get the walls painted and then we are on our way!  

So today while websurfing a ran across a article on basic bar/entertaining glass sets.  It got me to thinking...hmm.  Let me do a test to see if I had all the basics covered.  So I go to my cabinet where I keep all my bar glasses (pictured below).  I must admit I felt pretty confident that I had all the  glasses as far as the basics go.  Well much to my surprise I was WRONG!  I am missing the brandy/cognac set!  How could I have let this slip through my hands :)  Then I got to thinking that I know that I have served brandy at my home before.   Did my husband break all my brandy glasses (he is known to break a glass or two every now and then)?  Did they not make it here in the move?  Did I give them away? Then I just came to the realization that I don't think I ever purchased any.  Well I am proud to say I have now ordered my set and once they arrive I will be complete in my quest for maintaining the basics.  Although, while searching for my brandy/cognac set I ran across the most beautiful set of champagne flutes on the napastyle.com website(pictured below)...I think these will be in my cabinet soon also :).   

So it ran across my mind yesterday while driving to Michaels...hmmm.  What are 5 things most people don't know about me:

1.  I am a certified art framer.  I worked a couple years- part time in a frame shop and that is where I gained my certification.  Loved doing that and gained so much experience and had the opportunity to see so many beautiful pieces of art and photographs.

2.  I have never eaten rice in my life!  My mother could never get it in my mouth as a baby and to this day I have never tried it, nor will I try it...ewwww.

3.  My favorite color is green.  Some of you who know me are going OH BOY DO WE KNOW! Something about the color green (apple green) just brightens my mood and makes me happy.  It is such a fun color!

4.  I secretly love westerns!  Well I guess it is a secret no more :).  I can watch Bonanza and Big Valley all day long!

5.  I love Sims2!  Yes I am a geek!  That is another thing I could do all day long is play my Sims 2.  I have purchased every sims2 computer game (Sims College, Sims Business, Sims Vacation..ALL OF THEM)on the market.  My husband just shakes his head, but BOY IS IT FUN!

There are so many beautiful ways to fold your napkins for your table settings.  Of course accenting them with Nikris Design napkin rings will only enhance it even more :).  Well, to be honest my favorite way to display my napkins on my table scapes is by using a simple two fold method and simply wraping the napkin around your plate.  It is VERY simple, quick and brings clean lines to your table. 

Here is a picture of the fold from my casual table setting I had when friends were visiting.  For dinner that night I had a casual fondue style dining.   Was so simple to just fold the napkins over their plates.  With all the other things required (such as getting together the food and sauces) for fondue night, this napkin fold made my life easier with the table setting portion. 

So very quick in the mornings to set your casual breakfast table.  On my husband off days when we can have breakfast together, this is the classic fold that I use to set the table.  I guess I should try and switch it up for him a bit :)...but it is so EASY! 

I even used it this past Christmas for my table setting. 

It even works great with a single plate using napkin rings.  See below with our Nikris Design napkin rings. 

Well Valentines Day Is Here!  What a beautiful day to celebrate LOVE!  Well looks like I am lucky for the evening.  The hubby will wine and dine me.  If you love amazing food (especially seafood) then Charleston, SC is the place to live.  I have already put the bug in my husbands ear that I want to go to my favorite restaurant in Charleston called "Charleston Grill".  If you are ever in Charleston you must go!  Very romantic atmosphere and amazing food, music and service.  They have a live jazz band which are amazing.  

One of my favorites are the Coconut & Kabocha Soup!  The flavors just burst in your mouth.  It is divine. I am also in love with their Butter Poached Maine Lobster.  I have already checked and on their Valentines Day menu they have the "Charleston Grill Crab Cake" with Creek Shrimp, Lime Tomato Dill Vinaigrette.  I think it is calling my name :).   Nevertheless, you really feel special and satisfied when you leave this place.  It is one of my all time favorites and I know that I will leave very satisfied.  

This week I had been keeping my eye on this Michael Aram wine set I REALLY WANTED!!  It is simply exquisite!    Well I receive a Michael Aram's gift certificate from my beautiful friend  today.  I had the biggest smile on my face.  She knows me too well!!  So of course I ran and ordered my beautiful piece of heaven I had been staring at all week online.  What a beautiful addition to my wine and bar collection.  I will treasure it forever!

Ok, so Valentines Day is right around the corner!  Funny story (well not quite that funny when it actually happened).  Valentines day 2007 I made my hubby this amazing breakfast tray with all the trimmings.  I took so much time preparing and it was to perfection.  Walking up the stairs to take him the tray I tripped and then entire tray flew out my hands and all over my beautifully (newly) painted walls!  I was devistated!  So since then I have avoided any valentines day morning surprises for my husband.  Well I think I am going to try again this year, but with simplicity this time!  I found this cute little idea which I think I am going to do for him this year.  Very simple skewer with chocolates and mini pastries.  I think I will do a few with his coffee valentines day morning with a sweet little note attached to the skewer instead of ribbon like in the picture.  I will have it waiting for him on the kitchen island with his coffee before he goes to work.  Simple, easy and no walking up any stairs....haha!  

If you are reading this, then of course you are aware of Nikris Designs new look!  This is well over due and the beginning of 2012 is the perfect time to introduce our new sleek logo and colors.  I am loving the simplicity of the new colors and design.  Anyone who knows me knows that green is my all time favorite color, so of course my logo must contain that :).   When I asked my husband how he liked the new look he said he loved it.  I asked what he liked best and his response was that the logo was actual also my initial and his.  I thought this was too cute and a sign that I had went in the right direction with the logo. Hope you all like it as much as I do.   Read all about the change and upcoming Nikris Design items in the February newsletter.  Be sure to subscribe to the newsletter on our homepage.