Sandberg Ramblings

A new contributor post on Dream Till Green today! Go read my tips on how to choose the perfect companion(s) for your bed. I've shared a roundup of my favorites as well, just in case you need some help with your shopping :) 

I hope you don't mind if I post about what's going on in this little life of mine every once and a while for my friends and family, who I hope still follow me even though I've switched to business mode. Iowa has been good to us and I can't believe we will be leaving in December! Time has flown by. This has been such a great experience for Landon and I. We have grown closer and have enjoyed our time here.  There are tons of bike trails here so about a month ago we both finally got bikes and have loved getting out on them when the weather cooperates. It's been pretty cold here this Spring but has finally started warming up this weekend and we are loving it!  Last week I managed to make strawberry jam, and it even turned out without the help of my amazing mom. Before we moved out here I made some with her, but it was long gone several months ago, so I am happy to have my freezer stocked again.  Landon finished his monster project final for estate...

Those of you who follow me on Instagram know what I'm giving my mom for Mother's Day, but do you know what you're getting your mom? Here's a roundup of some of my favorite gifts for mom if you need any ideas, or if you need to give your husband some ideas :)  1 You can read my review of this amazing book here .  Heaven Is Here by Stephanie Nielson AMAZING! 2) I've received my Birchbox for 2 months now and it's so fun to get in the mail!  3) Loving this print . 4) Ruby Snap . THE most amazing cookies ever.  If your mom lives in Utah, I'm sure she would love a box delivered to her door!  March's cookie, Lucy, is a lime dough with a cheesecake center topped with lime curd. I'm drooling just thinking about it.  5) Wrap up some flowers using this cute idea . 6) My favorite hand lotion from Anthropologie. Smells so good. 7) It's probably a little late for this one, but there's always next year!...

 As I've said before, and as many of you know, I'm a pattern lover! I'm loving these fun wall treatments I've been collecting. One day when we own a home, at least one of my walls will be filled with personality like these.  Which one would you deck your walls with?   DIY Honeycomb & Sharpie Wallpaper   MUR Removable Wall Tiles Patterned Wall Tiles & Stripes (I don't think I'll ever get sick of them!) Spotted Dalmation Wallpaper via Metallic Squares (dots would be fun too!) & Abstract Hand Painted Wallpaper

Danielle Oakey did a glider roundup over on her blog yesterday. She included many of my favorites, including the Joya & Empire  rockers. I know lots and lots of ladies expecting babies this year, and a comfy rocker or glider is probably on the priority list.  It may seem like a big chunk of change, but if you buy a quality chair with durable fabric, it can last through baby after baby :) Danielle's roundup includes chairs in many price ranges, and I've added a few more of my favorites.  Just make sure you test it out and do your research  to make sure it is both functional and beautiful!  1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 

I'm so sorry to you, my dear readers, for my slacking last week! I was a little under the weather, and not up to my blogging self. I hope you can forgive me! Start by feasting your eyes on these lovely things I'm loving this week... 1 Dress Up Your Closet - Hanger DIY 2 Lovely Little Print 3 Watercolor Pet Portraits 4 Mangala Pencil Dress 5 Hanging Chair 6 Voluspa Candle - SO Yummy! 7 Wooden Box DIY 8 Textural Heels 9 Party Garland 10 Striped Inlay Chest

I'm talking all things lighting over on Dream Till Green today.  Go check it out!  I've shared some fun table lamp finds as well! 

If you're replacing old kitchen appliances or remodeling/building your dream kitchen, does your mind immediately go to shiny, new stainless appliances?  Well you may want to take a look at a couple of the newest trends first.  White finishes are on the rise again, this time with a more modern look, with stainless hardware.  With light and bright kitchens being so popular right now, I think a white finish on your appliances can really give your kitchen a seamless look, rather than having stainless appliances that are the center of attention because they contrast against your white cabinetry.  I'm loving these kitchens where they've used white appliances... via via via If you're going with darker cabinetry, GE has also recently come out with a new matte finish called Slate . It has a similar look to stainless without all the upkeep and finger prints. Rachael Ray is sporting it in her studio kitchen... ...

Some pretty dreamy bathrooms I've seen lately... My dream bathroom includes a gorgeous pedestal bathtub and light and bright finishes. And of course, probably some gold accents.  What's inside your dream bathroom? Via 

Happy Saturday! Today I'm here to share a few of my favorite recipes with you and a bonus is they are all pretty fast and easy to make! White Chicken Chili  2 cups shredded chicken ( I just shred a Costco rotisserie chicken) 1/2 medium onion, chopped 2 tblsp. oil 1-2 tsp minced garlic 2 cans of great northern beans, drained and rinsed 1 can chicken broth 1 small can chopped green chiles 1 tsp salt 1 tsp cumin 1 tsp oregano 1/2 tsp black pepper 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper 1 cup sour cream or greek yogurt 1/2 cup whipping cream Add oil to stock pot and cook onions, garlic, and chicken. (This is why I love the Costco rotisserie chickens, because you don't have to wait for it to cook)  Add beans, broth and seasonings and bring to a boil. Simmer for 30 min. Add sour cream and whipping cream.  Salmon Tacos 2 lbs salmon fillet Salt & Pepper Cumin 1 3/4 cup mayo or greek yogurt 2 tblsp water 2 tblsp ...

1 DIY Gold Leaf Monogram 2 Chair & Carpet = To Die For! 3 Zebra Scarf 4 Cute Little Print 5 Encaustic Tile 6 Watercolor Throw Pillow 7 Striped Darby Loafers 8 Amethyst Pendant Light 9 Gold Bamboo Console 10 World Traveler Blocks 11 Crocheted Apple & Pear Pouffes 

Have a patterned sofa or chairs? Not sure how big it should be?  Not sure where to look? I'm here to help.  Choosing an area rug can be hard, especially if you are working with existing furniture. Here are my top tips to help you out.  1) Don't be afraid to mix patterns. Just because you have a patterned sofa doesn't mean you have to have a solid rug. In my post on how to mix patterns over on Dream Till Green, I address the basics on how to make it work.  But remember that if your rug and sofa are patterned, you probably want to keep any other large pieces such as an ottoman or chairs in a solid fabric. via 2) The bigger the better. Your area rug should encompass the entire sitting area, not just sit under the coffee table or ottoman. Make sure, at the least, that all the front legs of your furniture grouping are on the rug. ( Here is a great post that goes into more depth about how big your area rug should be depending ...

Recently I have been seeing a lot of talk/use of encaustic tile and I'm loving it! It adds such a fun element and burst of character to a space. Don't know what encaustic tile is? Well here's a definition for you... Encaustic tiles  are cement tiles  in which the pattern or figure on the surface is not a product of the  glaze  but of different colors of  clay . They are usually of two colors but a tile may be composed of as many as six. The pattern is inlaid into the body of the tile, so that the design remains as the tile is worn down. The amazing Caitlin Creer , posted this picture on her Instagram of some encaustic tile that is being installed in the laundry room of one of her clients. After I saw it I went on a mission to see where it can be purchased and I found the same pattern available here .  If you're up for a little DIY-ing (is that a word?) Jessica, from The Eagle's Nest, gives a budget friendly tutorial on how to get the l...

It was really a coincidence, but probably not :),  that General Conference was this past weekend. It couldn't have been at a better time for me. There were definitely talks that spoke to me and I really needed to hear that beautiful version of the primary song "Faith."  Here are a few of my favorite printables I've seen floating around Pinterest. I will definitely be choosing  one or two to adorn the wall.  Which talk and/or musical number really spoke to you? Via Via Via Via Via Via

A few weeks back, my mom sent me this email she got from a friend. I have many reasons to be happy right now, but when those times creep in on me, it's good to have something like this to read to keep you in check. I especially need number 14 & 15.  1. Don't compare yourself to others. Everybody, and I mean everybody, starts out in a different place and is headed on their own journey. You have NO idea where someone else's journey might lead them, so drawing comparisons is a complete waste of time. 2. Never obsess over things you cannot control. While it's often important to know about other things--like the economy, the markets that you sell to, the actions that others might take, your focus should remain on what you actually control, which is 1) your own thoughts and 2) your own actions. 3. Know and keep your personal limits and boundaries. While your job might sometimes seem like the most important thing in your world, you're killi...

Choices, choices, and more choices. That's what designing and decorating a home is all about. Choosing an ottoman or a coffee table for your living or family room is one of those many choices. So how do you choose? Let's discuss. Ottoman -comfy spot to put your feet up -kid friendly -adds warmth to a space but  -can be visually heavy -no place to put your drink  -harder to clean Coffee Table -fun space to show off books, flowers, accessories - Usually pretty easy to clean - Perfect for the family room dinner eaters :)  but - doesn't say kick back and relax - causes more bumps and bruises - can be a clutter magnet But what if you could have the best of both worlds? I love the look of layering a coffee table and ottoman. In my own living room I have an ottoman and a small side table that sit side by side and ...