7.31.2012

Dream Home Inspiration

If I had all the money in the world to decorate and style our home...it would look a little bit like this...

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Or this...

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With a hallway like this...
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And I would get ready in a bathroom like this...

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I'm in love with all of these images...pretty huh??

Happy Tuesday!

7.30.2012

Our 2nd Wedding Anniversary

Today is our 2nd Wedding Anniversary, and I feel so blessed to have the husband that I do.  It has flown by, and we have been through so much.  I am so thankful to have him by my side every day.  I thought it would be fun to relive a few moments from our special day with you guys today!










In case you missed our fun Wedding Week in March, you can see more about my wedding here:



It's fun to look back at such a wonderful day.  Here's to an amazing 3rd year of marriage!  Have a wonderful day friends!

7.27.2012

Fall Fever ~ Fashion & Favorites

Another pre-Fall post from me today!  Yes I know it is not even August, but September 1st is Fall in my book.  That is when I whip out the decor and start getting ready for the season!  I can't help myself.  Why not enjoy every moment of my favorite season...even if it is a little early.  Well, I'm not decorating yet, but I am loving all the Fall fashion and goodies I see coming out in my favorite stores lately.  Here are a few looks I am totally going to be sporting this Fall...

I pinned this outfit on Pinterest, and love the corduroy skinny jeans paired with the cognac boots


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Kate can do no wrong in my book.  I love how effortless Fall fashion can be...Boots and scarves are the best!

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How cute is this outfit?  Love it all.  I have to say, I didn't totally love my boots...so I am still on the hunt.    The pair below is from Aldo, and I love the style.  I am looking for something more structured and not so slouchy...any suggestions?

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Here are some more of my favorite Fall things...

Pumpkin Spice Lattes

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Glitter Pumpkins


Scarecrow Crunch

I got this recipe from my friend Audrey, and now I make it every year.  It is so yummy and easy!


~ Recipe ~

4 c Quaker Oatmeal Squares cereal
4 c tiny twist pretzels
1 22oz bag Autumn Mix or plain candy corn
1 6oz box chocolate Teddy Grahams
1 bag Reese's Pieces
2 6oz boxes caramel corn *

*Sometimes I mix in white chocolate covered kettle corn or plain kettle corn instead of the caramel corn

Aren't these adorable!  She packaged some up and added a cute label to give as gifts for neighbors.  Love this idea!




P.S.  Who's excited for the Opening Ceremonies tonight?!?  USA! USA!




I love the Olympics and am so excited to watch gymnastics, swimming, and track and field!  We will be at the beach next week, and are all excited that the Olympics will be going on while we are there!

Enjoy your weekend!


7.26.2012

The Evolution of a Desk ~ A Walk Down Memory Lane

Today, I wanted to share some pictures through the years of my favorite desk.  I call it a desk, but it is really an antique table from my grandparents shed!  My grandmother told me how this type of table used to be used as a kitchen table, and the little drawer was used to hold silverware...isn't that cute??  I have been using it as a desk through my college years, and I thought it would be fun to look back through the years.  I had a red, black, and white color scheme going on throughout college...isn't it amazing how busy decor typically is in college dorm/apartment life?  At the time, I LOVED this bedroom.  It is so funny to see how my style has changed!  Below are pictures from my apartment in 2005 that I shared with my friend Torrey our Junior year of college at Belmont University.  We lived in some old apartments called Sterling Court right on Belmont Blvd.  This building was right next to one of our favorite spots for drinks/sushi...a bar called PM.  It was super old, but had so much character...and by character I mean no dishwasher, hardwood floors throughout, window AC units, and no elevators!


You can barely notice the desk because of all the stuff!  Below is the other side of the room just for fun!  FYI the stuffed frog is there because it was our sorority mascot...I'm not a freak, I promise :)


This is the desk when I shared a condo with some girlfriends.  I lived in the basement and had this massive room all to myself...still a bit busy :)  See the closet to the left?  That space was meant to hold a TV, but we put a rod and some curtains up to make it a closet.  Can you see my nursing text books on the floor??  Lots of studying went on in this room!


And here is my pretty little desk currently in our bedroom.  This room is still a work in progress, but for the first time I feel like you actually notice the desk and not all the stuff around it!  I love the character it brings to our bedroom too.


It's so fun to look back through the years to see how things have changed.  I love this piece and it is very sentimental to me, as it came from my grandparents.  Do you all have any antique pieces that have been passed on through your family?  I think those are some of the most interesting aspects of a home.


7.25.2012

Frugal Finds

I get so excited when I find a great deal...do you??  I wanted to share some of my recent frugal finds with you guys today, and where you can find some of your own!

This little pale is from Target, and it already had the chalkboard label on it...Found it in the dollar spot for $1!  I feel like the dollar spot was one of the smartest things Target ever did.  


The geometric pillow was a Stein Mart find for $11...I love the pop of color it brings to our otherwise neutral living room.


I bought this tray a few weeks ago from Sample House for $4.  Sample house is one of my favorite boutiques here in Dallas, they have amazing candles, home decor and gift items.

I also bought this little silver shaker from World Market for $2.  I filled it with Cinnamon to sprinkle on my coffee & oatmeal...I am totally getting excited for Fall...can't wait!


I found this little Tea Pot Tea Bag rest for $4 at Crate & Barrel, and thought it was so cute.  I know it is not really a necessity, but I am a sucker for cute little things!  The splenda holder is also a Crate & Barrel find from a while ago.  I love when everything has a place, can you tell??


And finally, I wanted to show you my little owl.  I grabbed him from Marshall's for $5!  Owls are pretty popular right now, and I didn't want to spend a ton of money on one, so this was perfect.  He is not sitting pretty on our kitchen shelf.


Have you all found any great frugal finds lately??  Would love for you to share your favorite places to shop.  Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Wednesday!


7.23.2012

Bachelorette Recap & I need your HELP!

Ok, who is glad that Emily picked Jef?!?  I sure was!  I went to a little party with my girlfriends last night, and we made homemade pizzas, drank wine, and had a ball.  I thought this was seriously one of the sweetest Bachelor finales ever...and I know I say this every time...but they really do seem SO in love!  I did like Arie, but was glad she let him go the way she did.  Jef was so genuine and sweet, and I am so excited she chose him.  Yay for Emily & Jef!  What do you think...where you a fan??



Now, on to the most RANDOM thing ever.  Last year, before I had a blog and Pinterest, I would read blogs all the time and pull & save pictures that I thought were really pretty for home decor inspiration to an album on my computer so I could remember certain decorating ideas that I liked.

I saved these pictures below because I loved the paint colors and decor in this bloggers home...but I didn't bookmark where it was from, and it is starting to drive me crazy!  I would LOVE to know if any of you know where these pictures are from/which blog??  I would love to continue to read up on this blog, but have no clue where to find them.  I think I must have seen them in a holiday link up, because I loved the holiday decor too!  Please, help me!  I promise I'm not a creep, just loved her house! haha!











Please share if you know who's beautiful home this is so I can stalk their blog...Thanks!

...and tell me I am not the only freak out there who has had this problem...

Peace out!





7.19.2012

Our Hallway ~ Painted Stripes Sneak Peak

The last several days I have been working on painting gray and white stripes in our hallway.  I enlisted the help of 3 of my best girlfriends yesterday to come over and help me level, tape, and paint.  I am not quite finished, but I wanted to share my progress with you guys because I am too excited to wait.  These stripes were a labor of love for sure & much harder than I anticipated.  But, the result is pretty awesome, so I think it will be worth it when it is all said and done!  I'll share the full post next week, but until then, here is a sneak peak from my iphone!


I really love how my gallery wall came together.  I don't have any personal pictures in the main living/dining area, so I wanted our hallway to feel warm and reflect our little family.  


Those bookshelves were a nightmare to tape off/level!


Here is the view looking into our living room.


...and someone got into the paint...


Thanks for reading, and I hope you like the stripes.  I'm in love :)

Have a wonderful day!



7.18.2012

Guest Bedroom Ideas

I've been brainstorming about our guest bedroom lately and trying to figure out the direction I want to go with this room.  Most of our home is pretty classic & traditional, with a few modern touches...SO, I want the guest room to be totally outside my comfort zone.  I still want it to be classy, but much more bold than I would probably choose for the rest of our home.  I guess you could say it will be the room where I take some design risks.  I have been really inspired by the dramatic fabric headboards I have been seeing, would love to create one to be the focal piece when you walk in the room.  The image below is one of my absolute favorites...the shape and Otomi fabric is pretty amazing!

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I am leaning towards dramatic navy walls, and this color is beautiful.


Farrow & Ball ~ Hauge Blue


As for the headboard, here are my top fabric selections.  I plan to create the headboard with my husband,  using a similar style to the headboard above.  Option 1 below is my favorite choice right now, but I've included some other top contenders below.


Option 1


Option 2


Option 3


Option 4


Option 5


Option 6


Option 7


I would love to hear what you think!  Do you all have any rooms in your home where you have gone outside of your design comfort zone??  Can't wait to keep you posted on this.

I have some girlfriends coming over today to help me finish painting stripes in our hallway.  Will share that as soon as I get it all done...but I have to say...so far, it is looking awesome!  

Happy Wednesday!