Long before I could afford decent furniture it occurred to me that I could transform my bland railroad-style San Francisco apartment into a lush, sophisticated environment simply by painting the walls in rich, saturated colors.

One buttercup yellow kitchen, split-pea-soup green living room, and brick red dining room later, I was proud to show off my stark, but glamorous pad.

Since then I’ve been a big fan of turning to paint to make household statements, so when the new book Color At Home: Creating Style With Paint, by Meg and Steven Roberts, arrived on my desk, I was smitten.

But this book is not just about the chic drama of a bright pink house exterior accented with black window treatments or a deep blue bathroom, though these elements can be found within the thick glossy pages.

Color At Home is 206 pages of inspiring photographs of what to put on, in front of, and above the walls to create successfully memorable–and decidedly colorful–environments.

Anyone with a passion for design–or the desire to dress up a room or a whole house–will appreciate this book.

Erika Lenkert

Technorati Tags: design book, paint, echo design group, color at home, decor, ideas, how to, inspiration, meg and steven roberts

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If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile you may recall that I mentioned I was working on a top secret project that afforded me the opportunity to meet Jennifer Aniston’s supercool yoga instructor, among other things. Well, I’m delighted to say I can spill the beans!

Check out uPumpItUp.com — it’s a wellness program powered by Crystal Light that I’m really proud to be a part of. Hosted by Mandy Moore and the above “wellness experts” (myself included–I’m the expert in connecting with others), it is a destination for women to meet, empower and inspire themselves and each other, and challenge themselves to bring more joy and satisfaction into their lives.

Please pay the site a visit and sign up for one of my challenges–or make up one of your own. If there is one thing I know for sure, it’s that it’s not only gratifying to challenge yourself, it’s a lot of fun!

And, hey, you can also check out the super hot Mandy Moore! And what’s not to like about that?

Erika Lenkert

Technorati Tags: crystal light, mandy moore, upumpitup.com, kraft foods, erika lenkert, website, mandy ingber, bobbie thomas, cynne simpson

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Forgive me for not posting a lot lately. I’ve been overwhelmed. But the good news is that what’s been bogging me down is the upcoming expansion of Glam’s lifestyle content. We’ll be launching the new and much larger and more exciting GlamLiving in February. Expect lots more tasty food content, and morsels for the home and leisure in your life, too.

Meanwhile, as Valentine’s Day approaches, it’s time we all start thinking about love and romance–how to create it, reignite it, savor it, or strive to achieve it. Whether you’re single, married, or considering either state of existence you will benefit from heeding “America’s Love Doctor” Linda Olson’s sage advice, which follows.

Great Relationship Advice From America’s Love Doctor

1. Praise is a wonderful gift and is so easy to give. Look at the things that make your partner or new boyfriend unique and develop the habit of praising him for those very things. It will bring out the best of him and you.
2. If YOU want to feel special make your partner feel special. Always remember what you GIVE is what you GET.
3. Women love to feel connected with their partners and nothing accomplishes this better than romance. For some, its flowers, cards, or a small gift to feel special. Some look to a night out on the town, dinner or dancing. Women respond to romance - and most crave more of it.
4. As a couple, work at giving each other time to relax, talk and listen to each other. This will make both of you feel wanted and special.
5. Remember: Love sees conflict as a doorway to greater intimacy and knowledge. It is through your disagreements that new insights can be gained as a couple. Ask yourselves how can this draw us closer as a couple?
6. Keep in mind: Love is not so goal oriented that it loses sight of the relationship and the emotional connection.

Erika Lenkert

Technorati Tags: relationship advice, romance, Valentine’s Day. how to, tips, America’s Love Doctor, Linda Olson

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It’s an exciting time around our house. Over the holidays our 2-1/2-year-old Viva decided it was time to begin the potty training process. It’s an adventure to say the least, but it’s also a cue that soon we can transform the nursery–now dark and gloomy with blacked-out windows for better naps and overwhelmed by a big crib and changing table–into a full-blown girl’s bedroom.

When I purchased a Ritz-Carlton king bed last month, I anticipated this time and tacked on a single bed to the order. It’s sitting in the garage as I type, so this morning’s arrival of Design Public’s email announcing DwellStudio’s new “Junior” bedding couldn’t have come at a better time. Now I can dream in Technicolor. Check out their additional offerings here.

Erika Lenkert

Technorati Tags: children’s bedding, Dwell, sheets, linens, kids, modern, color

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