Easiest Hard Boiled Eggs, Plus Avocado Egg Salad Recipe

While browsing through Pinterest (my obsession) I stumbled across a pin that blew my mind. Fresh Family Meals claimed that you could get the results of hard boil eggs by putting them in the OVEN!

OMG. Mind Blown.

So, of course, I have to try it! I admit that I was doubtful, but what was the worst thing that could happen?! Nothing because it's AWESOME.

What You Need

• Eggs
• Muffin tin
• Oven
• Cold water

It's so easy and the best part is that the shells practically fall off the egg! I love it!

When you place your eggs in the muffin tin, if they can wiggle a bit, then add some muffin liners for "cushion" because they may wobble as they heat up. If they are snug in the tin then you can skip this step.

Conscious Box (Monthly Samples of Green Products)

UPDATE: I have recently tried to cancel this subscription because they did not stop shipments on both of my gift orders after the 3 months after Christmas (only one ended, the other was renewed and I have never been reimbursed or explained as to why this happened) , there was missed shipments to one of the recipients, and as I became unhappy with customer service, I decided to cancel my subscription. This is a very difficult company to a) get ahold of customer service b) follow through with cancelation orders. I would now suggest not ordering from this company due to these issues 


I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I was when I heard about ConsciousBox! I already have subscribed to BirchBox and BarkBox so needless to say that I'm kind of obsessed with all things in boxes. This was right up my alley!

But Conscious Box is different than any box I've seen before! Primarily what sets it apart is the natural approach to selecting products, but they also give you samples in a lot of different areas like food, beauty products, natural remedies, cleaning supplies, and supplementations. You also get choices in what kind of box you receive. Conscious Box even let;s you pick from a classic box, gluten free or vegan box.

Yes, choices!! I love choices!! I picked the gluten free box because I thought it would be more Paleo friendly. You also get to choose if you want a non-contract subscription so you buy it when you want it or if you want to commit for 3, 6 or 12 months. The longer you commit, the more money you end up saving!

If you order you will receive the box mid-month and it looks something like the picture to the right. And when you open the 2nd part of the box you will be amazed at how much they packed into the Conscious Box!

It had 15 items to sample plus a post card, including a full size bottle of supplements, two snack bars, and lots and lots of other goodies!

I didn't get everything in the picture because I kind of thought that an included brochure was information (aka trash) and I threw it to the side. However, there were more samples of products like toothpaste, mouth wash and gum in there. Oops!! Don't worry-- I saved them, but only after I tore through all this other amazing stuff first!

The items that I was initially most excited about were the Butter Creme Salve and the L-Theanine Supplements!

The Salve is completely organic which I love!! And it's lavender... oh, I do love lavender! It was nice and thick and quickly absorbed into the skin.

L-Theanine is a natural supplement which is basically the healthiest part of green tea without the caffeine. It helps with anxiety, insomnia, dementia, high blood pressure, and aiding in the effectiveness of cancer drugs. I've actually read a few articles about how amazing this natural supplement is so I was VERY excited to see it in my box. This sample came with 10 pills so it's enough pills to see how it will actually work! I'm excited!

To Purchase: Doctor's Best Suntheanine L-Theanine .

I took one right after I wrote my first rough draft of this post and then I promptly passed out on the sofa... I think that means it works! Especially considering that I never take naps and I have a hard time sleeping. The effects can last up to 10 hours and I'll say that I was feeling pretty good. :)

It also came with a ton of other products... here are a few!

ALMOND BUTTER! You can't go wrong with that stuff. It's delicious!! It's nice and thick-- very similar to the consistency of peanut butter.

To Purchase: Barney Butter Smooth Almond Butter

So this is a huge pack of "sample" throat lozenges. Their sample pack is about the same size as a regular pack of normal lozenges at CVS. What impressed me most was the ingredients! With ingredients like Manuka Honey (that's the GOOD stuff), aloe vera, and orchid... well, it just sounds like it should be expensive.

So, of course, I tried one. It's so yummy! It tastes just like a green apple candy and it's really sweet too, but surprisingly it has very low sugar content. It's that amazing honey!! It seemed to last longer than a normal lozenge too. This stuff is great! You can purchase at Fontus Science.

More stress and relaxation supplements. Apparently they know me already. Careful though if you're taking any GABA meds.

Tea! You can't go wrong with tea! This one is supposed to be energizing like a cup of coffee. I might need that on Saturday when I have class ALL DAY. Yuck!  Runa Guayusa Tea Box

Menopause supplements for night sweats. Not applicable to me, but I will be giving this to one fine lady I know. However, it is worth to mention that this "sample" came with 60 pills. Crila¨ for Menopause, 100% Natural, 100% Organic, 60 capsule bottles

Super Toddlers Bars. I do not have any toddlers so this became Super Sherri Bars (that has a nice ring to it, right?). It isn't exactly "Paleo" because it's based on organic brown rice and organic sugar, but I had to try it, right? I am writing a blog about my opinion and how can I give my opinon if I don't try it? Right?

Okay, it's all an excuse. I just wanted to eat it.

No regrets because it was so yummy! It is pretty sweet, but hey-- kids like that! If I was a toddler I would eat it every day.

There was also an immune booster, coconut oil, protein powder (vegan), tooth paste, mouth wash and gum. Whew! Lots of samples!

My recommendation is to go buy a Conscious Box BEFORE the 7th of the month so you can get one during the next shipment cycle. I am sooooo in love.

Enjoy!

Now excuse me while I go eat an entire tube of Almond Butter.

African Black Soap for Skin Care

Prepare to get your mind blown. Remember these words: African Black Soap is AWESOME. You can quote me on that. ;)

From the first time I used it I noticed a difference-- my skin glowed, and then my pores shrunk, and as I continue to use it my fine line and wrinkles continue to decrease. Uhhh... thank you, Africa!!


Seriously, I'm in love. So I decided that I needed to share my love with you all!

In this blog I talk about lot about beauty products and honestly I believe in them all. However, this product is something special. I don't even know if I can even convey to you in words how much I love it and the amazing results I have seen, but I'll try!

There is one con: it can be drying so always follow it up with a good moisturizer. You can read about some of the natural moisturizers I've used by clicking this link: Moisturizers.

I also recommend only using it once a day at first (either day or night) to make sure your skin isn't too dry. I actually only use it at night and my skin does fine with it because I realized that I got great results only using it once a day. Why change?!

I purchased Shea Terra Rose Hips Black Soap (which is 100% natural) mainly because I had a gift certificate, plus I LOVE most of SheaTerra Organics line and I've been thinking about black soap for quite a while! I'm so glad I did! However, if you want to use plain old African Black soap--- knock yourself out! You'll get very similar results to this product simply by using a good quality African Black Soap. I like Coastal Scents African Black Soap, 16 Ounce and (UPDATE) I use it more as the SheaTerra Brand, but only because it's much quicker.

DIY 2-Ingredient Carpet Cleaner with Odor Remover

In life there are some things you simply don't want to wake up to:

1. Freddy Krueger
2. Alien abduction, especially from the Alien Queen. 
3. Vomit

Unfortunately, I experienced one of those things this morning, and no, it wasn't alien abduction, but based on the fact that I'm writing about carpet cleaners I bet you knew that. I'm sure that stories about Freddy Krueger would provide you with a much more riveting story line than what really happened: vomit! Lots and lots of vomit. {sad face}

My dog, Hercules, barfed all over my bedroom carpet. To make matters worse, during the "event" I tried dragging him into the bathroom which caused him to leave a trail of puke all across the carpet. Once we were in the bathroom, he (of course) miss the tile and vomit on my white bathroom rug, my scale, my favorite pair of jeans and he barely missed the cat. {sigh}

It was horrible. It was everywhere.

The point of that horrible story is to tell you that I decided that this is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate how awesome my mom's Emergency Carpet Cleaner works! She has a kitty who peed on the guest bed and this got the smell out. Amazing, right?

 If you have children-- don't worry! It can also work for their bodily functions, too. {wink}

I think that picture speaks for itself, right? I took it after a single application of the DIY Carpet Cleaner.

What You Need

• 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
• White Vinegar
• Spray Bottle

Simply mix the ingredients into the spray bottle at a 50:50 ratio. You don't need a lot-- just enough to make the carpet damp. 

After you clean up what you can, squirt the mixture directly onto the "contaminated" area. Let it sit for 2-3 minutes and then use a scrub brush to really work it into the carpet. Let it sit for about 30 minutes and then assess the situation to see if you need to reapply.

If you think that the stain hasn't lifted enough, repeat. If you are happy with the results, then use your vacuum to clean up any remaining residue. 

You'll get the best results on fresh accidents and the vinegar really helps to dissolve the smell. Of course, your carpet will smell like vinegar until it dries, but I'll take that smell over the stench of vomit any day! 

My poor pup isn't feeling much better though! Doesn't he looks so sad?!

He FINALLY starting eating some food this afternoon so I hope he holds it down! Poor Hercules!

If you'd like to join my Natural Living Support Group on Facebook please fill out this form!

Date and Bacon Chicken with a Tomato and Green Onion Salad (Gluten Free/Paleo)

I hate to toot my own horn, but this is pretty darn good AND super easy. The sweetness of the dates pairs perfectly with the saltiness of the bacon and when you add the shallots, garlic and that creamy goat cheese.... well, it's basically heaven in my mouth. And it's ready in less than 20 minutes.

Bam! Take that Food Network!!

Seriously, this is so easy and so delicious! I was inspired by a meal card at the grocery store and I thought that it really had some potential to be a delicious paleo meal, so I made a few alterations and now it is a delicious, easy, go-to Paleo dinner which is perfect to make when you don't have much time.

What You Need

• 1 lb Chicken Tenderloins
• 1 TBSP Chicken Seasoning (I like Weber Garlic and Herb)
• Salt and Pepper (if desired)
• 6-8 dates, pitted and chopped
• 1 shallot, sliced thin
• 1 tsp garlic, minced
• 2 slices of bacon, coarsely chopped (I used Turkey)
• 1 cup of white wine 
• Goat Cheese (optional, but highly recommended)

Season the chicken with the herb seasoning and add salt and pepper if desired.

Homemade Elderberry Syrup

Nature's Flu Shot. Hahaha! I crack myself up.

My nursing background has shown me that we can protect ourselves from many kinds of respiratory infections by doing a few simple things:

• Wash your hands
• Avoid touching your face 
• Eat a well balanced diet
• Take a high quality multi-vitamin

But what nursing school never mentioned was:

• Drink Elderberry Syrup

Not only is this shown in research, but even The Walking Dead talked about it as a way to boost the immune systems of the characters while they were all sick! See- it was on TV. It's totally legit. {wink}

Seriously! It works! Elderberries have been used in other countries with a lot of success,

But it also has a lot more uses than just helping to boost the immune system. It can also help discomfort, support healthy vision, and promote a healthy cardiovascular system (plus a lot more). 

You can buy Elderberry Syrup at stores for about $15-30/bottle. A small bottle that will last nearly one month for one person. And since I'm cheap, I decided to make my own!

Cost Comparison
For 3 cups you will pay less than $10 compared to 5 oz for $15. That is what I call SAVINGS, thank you very much! 

WARNING LABEL:

If you have an immune system problem like MS or RA, then you will probably want to avoid elderberry because it can make the nervous system go into high gear and make the symptoms you experience worse. Do not take if you are taking IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS (like steroids) or DIURETICS without talking to your primary health care provider! 

Talk to your doctor before starting Elderberry if you are diabetic as it does have some effect on lowering blood sugar. 

What You Need:

• 1 c DRIED elderberries (never eat raw elderberries!) I used Elder Berries (Organic)
• 4 c Water
• 1 Lemon, juiced
• 2 Cinnamon sticks
• 1/4 tsp grated ginger
• 1/2-1 c of Raw Honey (depending on how sweet you want it)

1. Over medium-high heat, add the elderberries to a pot of lightly boiling water. Cover and simmer for 1 hour. Be careful not to boil the berries-- only simmer-- as boiling can degrade some of the medicinal properties of the elderberry. 
2. Strain the berries from the juice. Make sure to smash the berries a bit as you strain the product to make sure you get all the health benefits possible from them! 
3. Add the juice back to the pot and put over medium heat. Add the lemon juice, cinnamon, and ginger to the pot. You can also add cloves, rose hips, elder flower, dried echinacea or other immune boosting natural supplements as well. Go wild! 
4. Let the mixture reduce by about 1/3 which should take about 15-20 minutes. Remove from the heat and let seep for at least 20 minutes. 
5. Strain the contents from the pan and into a glass jar. Add the honey and stir (or shake carefully). 

You're all done! Now take 1-2 TBSP/day to boost your immune health through the flu season or you can take 2 TBSP on the onset of a respiratory infection or flu.

So how does it taste?

That's always the question on everybody's minds! Honestly, it doesn't taste bad, but I wouldn't want to drink a gallon of this stuff either. It tastes like berry flavored cough syrup or like tolerable juice. Either way, for the benefits, I'll drink 1-2 TBSP of the stuff without complaint. You can always add more honey if you need to make it sweeter.

Does It Work?
I know that this has helped me tremendously with my sinus health and I am healthy as a horse!

Have you tried Elderberry syrup before?

More Home Remedies
Wet Sock Treatment
DIY Cough Drops

Product Review: BirchBox Monthly Beauty Boxes

I swear that I'm obsessed with all things that come in a box. In June I reviewed the BarkBox (which is awesome) and this month I'm going to talk to you about BirchBox.

It's so much fun because every month they send you a little box filled with beauty goodies!

Birchbox has a two subscription boxes: one for men and one for women. You can pay a higher premium and be able to cancel at any time or pay a lower premium for a longer subscription.

In the boxes there are a variety of beauty supplies: lotions, nail polish, perfumes, makeup, creams, shampoos and conditioners. Sometimes you even get small accessories like cute bobby pins or hair ties. You get about half a dozen samples a month from various different lines that are recommended by the BirchBox consultants. Birchbox introduced me to one of my favorite natural lines: Shea Terra and I'm soooo thankful! Love that stuff!! I use their Rose Water daily and their Banana Body Creme is to DIE FOR!

However, BirchBox does not have subscription choices so you can't pick natural or organic. The boxes don't alter in their contents due to your preferences in those matters. Trust me, I've asked.

If you are very health minded, then I would not recommend BirchBox simply because of the amount of organic and natural products that they sample are very low. If you don't mind using some unnatural products, then it's a fun little box and they are never boring. Each month they have a different theme which is always fresh and new.

If you like something in the box, then you can order it on their website and earn points that can be used towards future purchases or boxes.

You can sign up for one here: Birchbox under the Box tab.

I've really likes quite a few things in my BirchBoxes, but simply because of the amount of unnatural products I'm switching from BirchBox to a new box. I'm really excited to get this new product and tell you guys about it, but it's a surprise for now! Check back soon!

I have not been paid or compensated in any matter for this review. This is simply my opinion of the product and not affiliated with any other group or individual. 

Paleo Chocolate Cake with Ganache with a Paleo Nutella Mousse Recipe

Inspiration comes in all shapes and flavors

I stumbled upon this cafe in Orlando called the "Drunken Monkey" and with a name like that how can you not go in, right?!

I was just amazed that they had all these desserts for people on special diets-- vegan, vegetarian, gluten free.... yada yada. It was like my own little corner of heaven!

Doesn't it look yummy?!

So, of course, after I got home I was so inspired to make something delicious and paleo that isn't traditionally "healthy" and included chocolate.

Lots and lots of chocolate.

How about some Paleo Nutella, y'all!

Oh, and cake. ::wink::

DIY Leave In Conditioner & Moisturizer plus Anti-Frizz Serum

Living in central Florida during the summer is not the kindest thing I could do to my hair. That's why I decided to share with you my tricks and tips on having manageable hair using only natural products.

For starters, you should know what kind of hair I have: thin, fine and my scalp leans towards dry. Since I've been using my own hair rinse and using a great shampoo bar, my hair has become softer, more manageable, thicker, and can even hold a loose curl now.

However, with Florida summers, my hair was starting to look a bit dull from all the sun exposure and I was battling the frizz caused by all this humidity.

Rose Water Spray

• 2 TBSP Pure Rose Water
• 2 TBSP Distilled Water
• 1 TBSP Vegetable Glycerine
• 2-3 drops Argan Oil (optional)

This is great because the rose water protects your hair from the sun!

I put the ingredients into a small misting bottle and I spray it on my hair every morning or after a shower.

First, I have to say that I LOVE the way it makes my hair smell. Rose water has to be one of the most feminine and romantic smells in the world.

I have noticed an improvement in the dullness of my hair. It definitely looks more shiny and has more moisture. My hair looks and feels healthier! I love it. It helps a little for combating frizz for those extra humid days. You can spray it on dry hair or wet hair.

My hair never feels oily or looks greasy after I use the product. It's very light and easily absorbs into my hair after just a couple of minutes.

How to Clean Granite Naturally the RIGHT way

There are so many different formulas to how to clean granite on the internet and many of them contain vinegar. Unfortunately, that information is not good information. Vinegar would eventually ruin your granite because acids dissolve the bonding agents in granite which would equate to very dull granite. I don't know about you but I didn't pay $$$ to dull my granite.

There are actually quite a few rules of granite cleaning which can be simplified in one statement: Use neutral pH cleaners

Okay, so what does that mean? It means that if you're going to clean your granite the cleaner should have a pH around 7. If you remember your chemistry classes, then that means should not be an acid and it should not be a base. And NO OILS!!! (essential oils are fine for scent or added cleaning power)

Paleo Pizza: Thin Crust

Lately I have felt like the world was torturing me with commercials about pizza. Since I've started the Paleo diet, I haven't been able to eat traditional wheat and even though my body is feeling better because of it, my mind misses it. A lot.

I've experiment a bit until I found a recipe that I was happy with and here it is! I really hope you like it as much as we do!

The crust is thin, soft, yet crunchy with mild flavors of herbs and garlic. If you're looking for a pan pizza, then you've come to the wrong place! But for a thin crust pizza, this is pretty darn good.

Our Naked Truth: Naked Juice has Formaldehyde By-Products.

If you've ever had a naked juice, then you unknowingly have introduced synthetic formaldehyde by-products and other chemicals into your body.


You are probably thinking to yourself "But aren't naked juices labeled non-GMO and all natural"? Why, yes, they are. But the truth is that they are not natural and, in fact, some of the ingredients have been associated with the development of cancer.

Now I know that you're probably wondering how this happened. I mean it seems pretty shady with the chemicals, the improper labeling and all that advertising that makes you believe they are so healthy. But the answer is actually quite simple...

It happened because Pepsi knowingly mislabeled about the natural products in Naked. Not only did they use synthetic vitamins (probably because the pasteurization and the irradiation kills most of the natural vitamins), but some of the other ingredients are by-products of formaldehyde and a proprietary synthetic digestion-resistant fiber produced by Archer Daniels Midland and developed by a Japanese chemical company. These ingredients aren't currently regulated by the FDA because they are on the FDA's GRAS (generally recognized as safe) list. So, that's safe, right? {rolls eyes}

The FDA recently has been removing items on the GRAS list and other countries have been banning items which are on our GRAS list. It is my opinion that the USA doesn't have proper labeling laws for natural or GMO free products. In the US, companies can pretty much put anything they want on the box without having to go through testing like they do for USDA organic labels or the non-GMO project labels (which is optional and cost the seller money). When they put claims on the box, then we have to believe that they are telling the truth. In terms of food labeling and restrictions, we are far behind our friends in Australia, Japan, Germany, Ireland, Austria, Hungry, Bulgaria, Greece, France, Italy, Russia, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland.

I think it's time we caught up.

And, this may be a little off topic considering that we are talking about Naked and Pepsi, but I want to give a little shot out to the French President for being so awesome and standing up for his people and what's right when it comes to GMO crops. Way to go, Mr. French President!

Optional testing for companies
to verify non-GMO products.
Trust THIS label! 

And because we don't have people in our government like the French President, Francois Hollande, to stand up for us, Pepsi was able to put potential carcinogens into Naked Juice and labeled it so the health minded people in the world would buy it.

In fact, they included 11 unnatural chemicals into their Naked Juice, including GMO soy when they have clearly labeled as "non-GMO" and as "all natural". In fact,  The Naked Lawsuit was brought by a consumer (not the government) because she recognize the problem. I love you, Gina Parks. You are my hero!

I don't know about you, but that makes me mad! How can a company put GMO ingredients and synthetic ingredients which are formulated from a known carcinogen into a beverage and just label it how they want. This is more of a reason that we need mandated government labeling of GMO and natural products! If we can't trust companies to be honest to us, then they have to be accountable to someone!

Because of this "incident" Pepsi has paid a measly $9 million dollars and has agreed to pull the labeling "all natural" and off the bottles, but not "non-GMO" even though there are GMO products!!!! They said that they will have the non-GMO Project label in the coming years. That's an improvement, but they should have been doing it all along.

Just take a look at Pepsi's Naked Facebook website-- This is their official statement:

"Naked juice and smoothies will continue to be labeled "non-GMO," and until there is more detailed regulatory guidance around the word “natural” —we’ve chosen not to use “All Natural” on our packaging. To ensure that our consumers most concerned about that issue can feel even more confident about Naked products, we plan to enlist an independent, third-party to confirm our non-GMO status across the entire Naked brand portfolio. From our ingredients to our practices, we always strive to do the right things."

They make it seem like it's their choice rather than due to a lawsuit. They can still use non-GMO because there is less restrictions for that label than all natural. It's ridiculous! Pepsi is still being dishonest and yet claiming to do the right thing. I can't wait to see about this non-GMO testing!!

And Pepsi is paying out to the consumers. If you have proof of Naked purchases then you can received up to $75 and if you do NOT have proof of purchase you can still receive $45 from Pepsi for their mislabeling. Does that seem like something they'd do out of the kindness of their heart?

If you want claim your $45 or $75 from Pepsi then go to www.NakedJuiceClass.com and fill out the form! You have until Dec 2013 to file.

And if you need another reason to despise Pepsi... they are testing and possibly using aborted baby cells as flavor enhancers.  I don't care how you feel about abortion, but that's just nasty.

I don't trust Pepsi. If they can lie to us by putting ingredients that they  know may be damaging our health without any feelings of responsibility to the people, what else are they capable of? I'm not interested in supporting a company who only cares about their own profits at the risk to our health. If they can lie about this, then what else are they lying about?

I think we need to make a statement to Pepsi and any company who is doing the same kind of practice that when they lie to us then we stop using their products. Then they will know that they will lose that thing that is most precious to them (money) when they hurt their consumers. Let's definitely ban Naked Juice, but think about this...

Naked is only a small, small part of Pepsi. If we want to make them an example, then the entire company needs to take a hit to get the message. Let's give the power back to the people! It will be plain to the government that they need to step in and make sure foods are properly labeled. So, friends, will you join me?
Let's Boycott All Of Pepsi's Brands:

• 7-Up
• Aunt Jemima
• Aquafina
• Brisk
• Cap'n Crunch
• Cracker Jack
• Dole
• Elma Chips 
• Frito-Lay Chips (sunchips, doritos, tostitos, lay's, cheetos, funyons.. etc) 
• Gatorade
• Hickory Sticks
• IZZE
• Life
• Lipton
• Mother's
• Mountain Dew
• Muller Yogurt
• Naked
• Near East 
• Pepsi
• Propel
• Quakers
• Rice-A-Roni
• RockStar Engery Drink
• Sabra
• Seattle's Best Coffee
• Sierra-Mist
• SmartFood
• Sobe
• StarBucks Ice Coffee, Frappacinno, and Double Shot
• Tazo
• Tropicana
• Walkers Chips (UK)

This also includes their Restaurant chains: Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell. 

Pepsi also conveniently made a shopping list naming many of their products that you can find here: Pepsi Products If you want you can print it out and take it to the store with you so you can avoid all things Pepsi!

Now that's MY Naked Truth! As Gandhi said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world".  I may be the only one, but I hope that you join me wherever you are. Together, we can change the world.

God, I sound like a John Lennon song.

Red Beach Themed Guest Bedroom

Over the last year the idea of decorating the guest room has been one of those daunting tasks that float around in my brain constantly, but I keep pushing it away because it just seemed like so much to do. Since I have limited space I am making my spare bedroom function in two capacities: Guest room and Craft room, but because of the small space I had no idea how to make it work. 

I was really concerned about making the space livable for guests, but also a functional work space for me without making it look tacky. It's so difficult keeping a smaller room multi-functional and looking organized and I just was never sure where to start. 

But then it happened. The man's mother said she was coming for a visit and that put some urgency into the decorating situation!

I never took a before picture of the room as it was when I purchased the house, but it was painted navy blue. The Man didn't think it was "that bad", but it just wasn't me. I had to go!  

This is what it looked like partly into painting:

BEFORE:

I know. I know. It's a horrible mess. I don't even like looking at this picture. Ugh!! 

From the same angle, this is what the room looked like afterwards.

AFTER:

So much better, right?

I decided on painting it red because red gives you creative energy (or at least so I have been told) and most of my house is gray and blue so I thought a little dramatic ump would be nice! However, I didn't want to do a bright red. I wanted a romantic red that would be soft and warm so I turned to my favorite pillow for inspiration.

My entire color palate for my house is based off a pottery barn pillow that I found and I fell in love with  called the Josephine Lumbar Pillow. So I took that pillow to Ace Hardware and I color matched the red color to Spiced Apple Cider by Benjamin Moore and it is PERFECT.