The Clock is Ticking...

Time is running out! The deadline for the first Decorum Design Forum Giveaway is this Saturday, February 28th. In order to be eligible, you must register and have 10 posts by the deadline. Remember, you can do this by starting your own topics or commenting on topics that were created by other members. Read all of the details for the giveaway here. If you need some ideas on what to post about, click here.

Image via Twig Hutchinson

Feeling Under the Weather

A Dreamy Bedroom by Mary McGee

I feel completely awful today. My nose is stuffy, my head hurts, and my stomach is in knots. I guess today's blog posts will have to wait until tomorrow, so I hope you'll check back! I think I will be spending the rest of the day curled up with a cup of hot tea and The Memory Keeper's Daughter, which I just started reading. I also have an itch to watch a good chick flick so I may do that, too. I'm crossing my fingers that I will feel better by tomorrow!

In the meantime, check out a preview of what's to come when The Hills returns to Mtv. As staged as most of it probably is, I actually look forward to having it return after the complete fakeness and lack of drama on The City. What do you think? Do you plan to watch?

And P.S., if you are a member of Decorum, remember that the deadline for our first giveaway is this Saturday! A winner will be drawn on Sunday. You can get all the details here.

Sponsor Spotlight: Circa Lighting

Circa Lighting has become synonymous with timeless, classic, well-made lighting. The company was founded in 1998 in Savannah, Georgia by Gale Singer. However, she was in the business ten years prior to opening her first store, as she used to work for Visual Comfort (owned by brother Andy Singer), the company which manufactures most of her lighting. After the Savannah store proved to be a success, flagship stores were opened in Atlanta, Charleston, and Houston. The company continues to grow and will hopefully expand into other parts of the country in the future.

Circa's mission is to offer "quality lighting, lamps, and accessories that are as beautiful as they are timeless." The product line is comprised of thousands of items, each of which come in a variety of finishes and all of which are sure to appeal to various design aesthetics. The pieces in the collection were designed by some of the country's foremost designers including Alexa Hampton, Thomas O'Brien, Michael S. Smith, Clodagh, Barbara Barry, Bill Blass, Sandy Chapman, Eric Cohler, Suzanne Kasler, and J.Randall Powers. There is something for everyone from traditional hand-finished bronze pieces to crystal lamps, and industrial-inspired ceiling fixtures.

My love of Circa Lighting is very well documented. I think that it is a fantastic company with products of phenomenal quality. Every fixture is handmade and all of the metal finishes are done by hand. Circa is a company that forgoes the trendy and the "now" for pieces that work as well today as they would have forty years ago and will forty years into the future. The designs are timeless, the service is attentive, and the quality is superb.

I have put together a collection of some of my favorite fixtures, including new and classic items. Please keep in mind that these images are not to scale and refer to the Circa website for measurements. If there isn't a Circa Lighting store in your city, make sure to visit the comprehensive website that includes a vast selection as well as a fabulous design portfolio featuring a handful of well-known projects which have utilized Circa Lighting products in their designs (the images of interiors in this post are from Circa's portfolio).

Gilded Age: The Paris Flea Market and Percival Chandeliers

Industrial Redux: Country Industrial Pendant, Eugene Pendant, Yoke Pendant

Elegant Minimalism: Caged Lantern with Paper Shade and Morris Lantern

Lucky Clover: Basil Flush Mount and Quatrefoil Floor Lamp

Pretty and Pristine: Double Twist and King George Sconces

High-Glam: Savoy, Ida, and Ruhlmann Sconces

Architectural Elements: The Berkshire Obelisk Lamp in Quartz and the substantial Belgravia Lamp in White Marble

Gold Standard: Fang Gourd Lamp in Antique Burnished Brass and the Crescent Table Lamp made of Quartz on Antique Gold Leaf

Modern Eclectic: Lucille Table Lamp and Lotus Table Lamp

Classic with a Twist: The Kate Table Lamp in Polished Nickel and the Tall Terri Table Lamp in Quartz

Red Carpet Winners: The 81st Annual Academy Awards

Anne Hathaway looking radiant in Armani Privé

I really enjoyed last night's Oscar ceremony. I liked the format with the classic songs and the outlining of the process of creating a film. I found it interesting and refreshing. My husband found it tedious and boring, but I digress! One thing that did not disappoint this year was the fashion. There were some truly beautiful gowns present. With the exception of Sophia Loren's monstrosity (we'll excuse her though, because she looks incredible for her age), I can't really think of any major misses. I didn't love Kate Winslet's dress and I was on the fence on Tilda Swinton's Lanvin ensemble. I thought it could have used one less ruffle, but I wanted to like it. All hesitation aside, here are some of my favorites from this year's Academy Awards.

Natalie Portman is absolutely gorgeous. She has the most divine features! Despite the fact that she would even look beautiful in a potato sack, I thought her pink Rodarte was perfection.

Best Supporting Actress Nominee, Taraji Henson looked lovely in a cream Roberto Cavalli gown and Fred Leighton necklace.

I don't think Marisa Tomei has aged at all! What is her secret? I think she is 39, but she could easily pass for 24. The Versace gown she chose looked gorgeous on her.

Penélope Cruz said she had had her eye on this Balmain gown from 1950 for ten years. The lovely confection was perfect for an event like the Oscars. Though I thought she looked beautiful, I do prefer to see Penélope with her hair down and in a slimmer silhouette. I feel it suits her better.

Sarah Jessica Parker, often a fan of a full silhouette, looked lovely in Dior Couture.

I really liked the simplicity of Angelina's Elie Saab gown. It served as the perfect background for her gorgeous face and the divine Lorraine Schwartz jewelry she wore.

All images via Oscar.com

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