Thursday, May 2, 2013

My New Website and Blog Are Up - EcoHappy Style!


My new website and blog are up and running! Please come over and check out the brand new EcoHappy Style website and EcoHappy Blog !

I hope you like it! I've been working on this idea - living "EcoHappy" - celebrating what's both fabulous for you and good for the Earth in a conscious and stylish way for a while now, and took the last month to build the new website and blog using Wordpress (with a lot of support from a very talented team!)

My motto for my new EcoHappy Blog is Fabulous Green Design and Smart Eco-Friendly Living. Please come by and tell me what you think! I would love to hear from you.

Loretta

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Shabby Apple Giveaway!

Do you like vintage clothing?

Don't you love this Shabby Apple dress - and Made in the USA!

Shabby Apple makes gorgeous vintage clothing, and is giving away a $50 gift certificate! To enter, follow this blog and leave your name and contact information in a comment below. An extra entry if you go to Shabby Apple and choose your favorite item in their shop (I love the dresses!), just leave an additional comment with your choice!

Winner will be drawn May 8, 2013 at 12:00 noon EST.

Good Luck!
Loretta

Monday, February 25, 2013

Taking A Blogging Break

{stop and focus - this photograph I took in Vermont captures that feeling for me}
One of my ambitious goals this new year was so switch this blog APPLESandRUBIES over to a new blog with a new title and a better focus on eco-friendly design and living.

I'm overwhelmed, and having a hard time getting the new blog off the ground while writing posts, and have to, NEED TO  take a little break to focus on getting the work done. I might move the blog to Wordpress, or stay in Blogger, and need to figure this all out.

So, I WILL be back - just give me some time to get my new act together. If you've ever wanted to add a comment to a post please add one here- I really would appreciate any encouragement to move forward!

Loretta

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Mythic Paint Can be Mixed in Benjamin Moore Colors!





{Mythic Classic Interior Latex Non-Toxic Paint}

I bought Mythic Non-Toxic Paint to paint my new windowseat addition and living/dining room. I was happy to find Mythic will color match any paint company's colors!

So here's one of my cans of paint, mixed up at Green Conscience Home in Saratoga Springs, New York. To match Benjamin Moore's Yarmouth Blue in Mythic's Classic Latex Eggshell Enamel it's (B = 0,34,0 C=0,1,0 D=0,11,1)

I'm looking forward to trying this non-toxic, ultra low odor VOC-free paint.

Loretta

 p.s. I choose Mythic based on this New York Times review of non-toxic paints...

Monday, February 18, 2013

Snow and A Sweet Horse

We have a nice blanket of snow on the ground here in Albany, New York - and enough cold weather that the snow is sticking around. Which is good, because if it's cold I want my snow!
{Son H and Tom}
I took the kids to out to the snowy countryside visit my Friend N and her sweet horse, Tom.

{still and quiet}
Such a pretty scene. My friend boards her horse at a beautiful farm. The day was bright, sunny and not a hint of wind - amazingly peaceful.

{Evie by the horse barn}
{All-American Barn and Blue Sky}
{Rosie and Tom}
 
{Evie and Tom - same hair color!}
Each kid got a chance to feed, brush and ride Tom.

{Tom loves the attention!)
What a great way to spend a sunny winter day! Do you have snow on the ground?

Loretta

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Organic Cotton Target Sheets on Sale, and A Winner!

{Target Threshold 325 Thread Count Organic Cotton Sheet Set in Purple Floral}
I am  minimalist when it comes to sheets in the house - a simple two sets per bed. I bought new sheets for the girl's beds two years ago at a big box store in the sale bin - they were a cute pink floral pattern and only $20 a set, BUT they were thin as tissue paper out of the packaging, and started pilling as soon as they were washed.

So how happy was I to find these organic cotton sheets on sale at my local Target?


{just the pattered sheets were on sale at the store}
... and just under twenty dollars! We have a set of these Target Threshold 325 Threadcount Organic sheets on my queen size bed in solid white and in solid grey, and they have held up very well.

Just the pattered sheets were on sale at the store - I guessed that they must be retiring those patterns to make way for new designs. Later, I searched the Target website, and here's some new patterns I haven't seen yet on the store shelves:
{Target Threshold 325 Thread Count Organic Cotton Sheet Set}

I actually like the simple purple floral pattern I bought better than the fussier new floral patterns.  But I do like the new grey and white check pattern. It would be perfect for a boy's room. Son H might get a new set, soon!


{Loretta Fontaine Jewelry Sterling Silver Maria necklace with Crimson Rose}
 ...and I have a WINNER! Congratulations to lucky Danica S. for winning my Valentine's Jewelry and Chocolate Giveaway! Thank you to everyone who entered!

Loretta

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Happy Valentines Day! (and GIVEAWAY)



{love}
Happy Valentine's Day! The restaurants will be crowded, so our family will be cooking a heartfelt, homemade dinner for five, and finding a good excuse to use...

{my red transferware - photo from a 2010 post}
 My late grandmother Honey's romantic red transferware dishes. I don't think they are technically "china", but we call them "Great Grandma Honey's Fine China." We have a full set that comes out for special occasions. We are missing Honey this year, she passed away last October at 100. (And she actually visited China! Honey had a love for travel!)

Her vibrant red dishes will make any meal full of love.

{GIVEAWAY! Loretta Fontaine Jewelry Reversible Maria necklace with Crimson Rose}
Don't forget to enter my ongoing Valentine's Day Giveaway (find the giveaway post here) to win my romantic Maria necklace. I am drawing the winner February 16th at noon.

{Albany, N.Y.'s finest - Krauses's Handmade Candies chocolates}
The winner also gets a tempting box of chocolates? How can you resist that!

What are you doing this Valentine's Day?

Loretta