THE "LABOR OF LOVE" PROJECT

(I XOXO meaningful work and recently got involved in a project with Designing Spaces, Kids in Distress, generous donors, countless volunteers making a difference, and a couple of very cute kids.)

This evening is the big Reveal Party at Kids in Distress (KID)...which I will be missing since I am out in Seattle. But there will be plenty of people on hand to celebrate the "Labor of Love" project -- this year's "Spaces of Hope" collaboration between Designing Spaces, KID, and generous donors.  At tonight's Reveal Party design improvements to the KIDS lounge and play center will be unveiled. It's a before-and-after celebration starring the Designing Spaces Dream Team, KIDS employees, community volunteers and sponsors who made the transformation possible either via funding or muscle. On August 2nd and 9th, Designing Spaces will air the "Spaces of Hope: Labor of Love" show.

Entering the KIDS campus

While the reveal party unfortunately coincided with a pre-planned vacation, I was able to get my butt down to the KIDS Wilton Manors Ft. Lauderdale headquarters last week to see, at the very least, the beginning stages of "Labor of Love." My first visit happened to coincide with Florida Panther Ed Jovanovski's visit.  Ed came down to lend some star power to the project. He painted, hung out with some of the kids, gave out t-shirts and signed autographs. Need I tell you, because you can see for yourselves, that Ed is totally adorable. That's all...excitment over, now down to work!

Ed in the middle with Mark Dhooge, KIDS Pres/CEO, far right

I had to shoot the jersey so I'd be sure to spell his name correctly!

Being in the midst of painting, cleaning, unpacking -- basic renovation chaos -- felt familiar. During  my tenure at Country Living Magazine, I was involved in many house projects whereby we would decorate from A-Z, beginning with the paint and ending with the perfect teeny weeny props. The Designing Spaces "Labor of Love" project would include fresh paint and vinyl "wood" flooring throughout, decorative changes in the main play room, plus the creation of a library and teen area.

Just some tools of the trade.

Ross and his son Joel measure out cork for the back wall.

one side of the large common area

Library to be, compliments of Reading is Fundamental

Teen Room painter volunteers are from Blue Interactive,

In addition to checking out the project, KIDS Marketing Manager Brittany Soule took me on a campus tour. The 5 acre campus  is a gated community consisting of about 15 buildings including a pre-school, shelter, state-of-the-art dental clinic, and eye care clinic. Many of the buildings feature beautiful painted wall murals. There are also lots of nice playground areas. I was particularly intrigued by the highly organized warehouse where donations are received, inventoried, and stored.

The warehouse (top)  and dental clinic.

When I left Kids in Distress last Friday, The Designing Spaces Dream team was installing the flooring with many more upgrades and installs to come. I am excited to see the end result, filled with books, games, electronics, furniture, artwork and most of all kids! When I am back from my trip, I will definitely head down to see. Of course, I probably shouldn't blog about it till it airs later this summer. Stay tuned.

NEEDED: TILE-OVER IN THE LADIES ROOM

I don't profess to be a tile expert, but I find it kind of hard to believe that this particular tile was approved and installed just so for the women's bathroom at DCOTA, South Florida's to-the-trade-mostly design monolith. When I walked in to use the loo today, I nearly jumped. Then I realized the reddish streak was just odd and not very attractive veining.  I vote for a re-tile!

I WANT PHILLIP PHILLIPS......to win

photo of the next American Idol from here

Dear Phillip:

I really WANT you to be the next American Idol (sorry Jess!) I liked you best from the start.  Eyes, smile, voice, humility. And your facial expressions...well, yes, sometimes you looked a bit awkward, but they convey your passion and process, and I quite like the way you get into it. And, being a bit of a junker, I love that you're a working man in a pawn store.

Last night, though Phillip, you gave me a scare. It began when you walked out on stage in your white undershirt tee. I thought you were contemplating dressing up a bit for the finale. I usually like the jeans and t-shirt look, but your loose white one looked a bit frumpy and I read into it as "I'm not in the race. I don't care enough to even put on a nice shirt." That classic white tee just doesn't work at the evening finale of a huge national televised competition. Next time try gray -- it's still very casual, but has some depth.

Then you sang "Stand by Me"... and it was totally underwhelming especially after Jessica+Whitney= lots of emotion. It was painful to watch. I was cringing. I am so NOT a musician, but I actually think you tinkered with the melody too much, and the song felt burdened and uninspired. Jessica triumphed in that first round.

Then came your Billy Joel song, which was noticeably more engaging, especially after the initial 20 seconds which also felt a tad down. I was muttering, "Step it up P-squared." On a finale show, I want to be excited and roused. I want to smile big and clap for you. Just like Randy, I felt Round 2 was a tie. I predicted it'd be just that.

"Home" was your glory. PHEW! And you let everyone bask in it and feel great again. Everything about the production was stellar. The melody coupled with the pitch of your voice was uplifting and promising. And you wore navy blue which suits you very well. You looked and performed like you finally showed up to win

Good luck Phillip Phillips. Please wear something nice tonight. Consider a button down that isn't white. I want you to win, and celebrate with your family, and then I want you to go and take care of yourself
                                              XOXO,
                                                             jane

P.S. Why weren't you in the Ford commercials? Was it health or principle? I've been wondering.

Kids Draw the Insides of their Homes

I am not sure what the exact assignment was, but I found these wonderful drawings outside of Ms. Trotter's 2nd grade classroom. She may have instructed the kids to show areas of their homes where electricity was used. I am not sure and I don't really care, because I just XOXO their crude perspective and sense of color.

the orange ceiling fan is kind of neat!

In Honor of the High Point Furniture Market: "Fancy Furniture" Word Search

I am an ace at word seach puzzles and happy to report that both of my kids are aces too. Sammi and I often do a puzzle as part of the "tuck-me-into-bed ritural. Flipping through her puzzle book the other night, we saw this "Fancy Furniture" word search. I XOXO it because along with "Needlepoint" and "Pick-Up Hockey", it's just so random. It's kind of a short puzzle though - sigh! I think they could have thought the theme through a bit more and added words such as these: tufted, gilding, marquetry, inlay, brocade, velvet, and ormolu.