UPDATE



Mini Social currently has Right Bank Babies (where I bought Ellie's skirt) on sale for great prices! I just bought a few more pieces. Oh, and did I mention the skirts are reversible? Buy yours here. Only good for the next 89 hours.

What I Wore

Ellie picked the shoes and I based my outfit around them. I think I am going to have to change it up a bit or Ellie is going to have me in heels every day so from here on out I am going to let her pick which sandals or which heels, etc. Then again by the end of the year I could have some killer calves, ha! I also thought I would add where Ellie and KJ got there outfits since so many of you ask.


Going to Church: Shoes are Nine West, dress Dace which I am thinking about selling simply because I do not have the top half to hold it up. Let me know if you are interested.
Ellie: shoes Target, dress from Hijkids and by Cupcakes and Pastries.


Running errands: Shoes are from payless, purse Coach, top from j.Crew, skirt from a little boutique in Mobile, Al.
KJ: Tee from Crewcuts, shoes from Gap, shorts from Target.
Ellie: romper and sandals from Target.

I have had a few of you ask what I would wear if I weren't doing this series, well I am one to wear what I show on a daily basis just with a few more sandals. I like to dress up and a dress is much more comfortable during Alabama hot summers. As for my usual uniform for the rest of the year this is pretty much it, just add a tunic (always long enough to cover any undies lines) and cardigan with boots or oxfords...


shoes are from Bakers last year, legging are J.Crew, and top was bought from Piperlime and is by Sanctuary Clothing, necklace bought from Gilt by Gara Danielle.
Ellie: shoes are Target, top Crewcuts, skirt is Right Bank Babies bought from Hautelook.
KJ: tee Crewcuts and shorts Target.

A Local Cottage









This home is another local real estate find. For the actual locals it's in Homewood. I feel like this home must belong to someone who loves design, maybe a young designer or a wanna be like me? All the lighting quickly grabs my attentions. I wouldn't mind a close up of the dining room chandelier and sconces. For me lighting is so important. It can definitely make or break a room. I also love how clutter free each space is which in turn helps all the stunning antique pieces stand out, of course this could have been done for staging purposes but I doubt it with all the attention to detail this home possesses.

Want more info on this home? I will be more than happy to send out the listing agents info.

A Bit of Charm



While browsing the ever fabulous Design Sponge I came across the home tour of Laura Nelson, prop stylist and interior designer. I instantly became smitten with her home. Her mix of new and old is right up my alley. This eating nook is now housed in my inspiration folder. The discounted Anthropologie table paired with craigslist chairs that have been reworked is my idea of perfection. I also love the shelf filled with vintage bottles which has inspired me to display mine. I just love attainable design.

Green & Aqua

Ellie's room is about to go through a little redo. Nothing too grand, but I am in the mood to change something so her room wins. Here it is in it's current state...


The green walls she picked out herself so those will stay. What will be new are the curtains and bedding. I am doing the curtains in Paula Prass Flights of Fancy Garden Trellis in aqua with green piping along the top. The fabric width is only 45 inches, but will work fine for one panel on each side with lining. I will also make two euro pillows for the bed.


I will also be sure to mix in Ellie's love for pink. She currently has a raspberry basketweave linen lumbar pillow that will be used once again. I then want to move her bed between the two windows and hang my own version of this Sugarboo art piece. This is her lullaby that we have sang to her since birth.

Pretty art in white ribba frames would add more pink that Ellie loves.


Of course, this print will make it's way into the room. A gift from Brooke that I just adore.


I will continue to use the tall ikea lamp by the bed and add a white garden stool for when she reads in bed and needs a place for her books. I am thinking the bed may need a paint job too, but haven't decided on the color of that yet either. The bedding will get a simple white duvet. I would love to add our entry way table into her room since she is about to start kindergarten but I am not sure it will fit with the kitchen and doll houses. I will have to play around and see.

So those are a few of my ideas of late. Oh, and did I mention we are also transitioning KJ's room into an official big boy room? I will share more on that later.

Laura Day

I really wish I could remember how I came across Laura Day's webazine, Laura Day Living, but alas I can not. This issue focuses on her summer living and her Bridgehampton farm house. I am smitten with the simple design of the master. The soothing colors come alive with texture. Oh, and the vertical bookcase filled with books is officially on my want list...


And this shot proves it's so very kid friendly. Such a doll, right?


What I Wore

Ellie picked the shoes and I matched the outfit. Ellie is just having a blast doing it and it makes me not wear the same outfit everyday. Definitely a plus for the husband. I am also thinking having a tripod would make this all a bit easier. Balancing the camera different places does not always make for a straight picture. Neither does having Ellie take the pictures, which she loved, but I am not quite sure the Mr. loved me having our 4 year old hold our pro cameras, ha! We are quite proud of her work though...


Ellie said I didn't have to wear shoes since we weren't leaving the house, but she did pick the top. Both top and bottom from J. Crew.


Ellie picked the fancy shoes as she likes to call them. These were my mother's when she was pregnant with me, I know I know. They are unbelievably comfortable for such a high wedge. Ugh, once again all J.Crew.


Went on a date with one of my best girl friends. We went to go watch/listen to Act of Congress which her husband also happens to be in. They rock. Anyway, shoes bought at Ross about 2 years ago. Dress J.Crew. I love it mainly for the pockets. This dress also happens to be the dress I mainly shoot weddings in. So comfortable yet chic. At least that's what I like to tell myself. Oh, and don't you love the bandage on the toe. Sliced it right before I left. It hurt.

A Place in the Hamptons










This may be my favorite issue of Elle Decor yet and I have been receiving this magazine for years. I absolutely adored the sneak peek into Meg Ryan's summer home on all my favorite blogs, but once I actually received the issue I was elated with Timothy Whealons summer home in the Hamptons. He made the purchase on a snap decision and had to redo the whole place. I think he did a mighty fine job, so much so that I keep on rereading the article and keep on studying all the pretty pictures. I simply can not put it down.

ART



{sorry for the awful reflection, it's driving me nuts}

I had quite a few inquires about the walls that I was standing in front of in this post so I thought I would show you more. The first is a small wall off the kitchen and keeping room that I painted out in chalk board paint, but we have yet to actually draw on it. The art is strung on twine and is changed out constantly. It makes the kiddos feel extra special. The second is made up of old windows that I snagged when my old college apartment building was getting new windows. I simply took 6x6 prints of our favorite pics, scotch taped them on the back, and then used scrapbook dot adhesive to attach them to the backside of the window pane and when I say I, I really mean Kellen. We also change out a window every new season. We like to keep things fresh.

What I Wore


Sandals by Franco Sarto, dress Target


Sandals by Franco Sarto, dress Ross, headband J.Crew

Well, I have only two outfits to share this week. I thought you wouldn't be interested in my husbands tee's that I wore the rest of the week. I have been sick, so very sick. Barely have made it out of bed. Painful aches, nausea, fatigue and headaches kept me company most days. Anyway, Ellie was good to me and picked my new sandals 2 days in a row. Much better than the hooker heels she has been picking every other day. Oh, and did you notice that I wore things other than J.Crew? It happens time from time.

Symmetry










I know I browse the real estate listings a little too much, but what can I say, I enjoy it. What caught my eye the instant I saw this home is the symmetry of it all. The home's facade and the garden seem so serene and orderly. Two things I always crave. After seeing such a gorgeous outside I always expect to be let down a bit with the interior, but this one has no disappointments. The gorgeous lighting and color palette are perfection. That kitchen ceiling, wow. The mirror hanging in the bath is truly stunning. The kids rooms also are simple and livable, but still quite lovely. Oh, and don't even get me started on the armoire in the top of the stairs den.

As always if you are in the market for a home and this one strikes your fancy be sure to email me and I will get you in touch with the listing agent.

Growing Tomatoes




I would absolutely adore having a raised garden bed although as of right now that would take way more energy than I have right now. My next best solution is growing a few things in pots. Yesterday the kiddos and I planted heirloom and a yellow variety of tomatoes. I got the pots from Ikea and the trellis from Home Goods. Now here's to hoping that they actually grow.

Simply Stunning



After seeing The Design Capital Kitchen in Melbourne on Apartment Therapy I became quite smitten. It reminds me of a bit of moomah in New York which is where I got the inspiration for KJ's big boy room. This eatery has everything I love, industrial touches, gorgeous woods, planted herbs, and such a gorgeous and simple color scheme. Oh, how I wish I could have all those baskets to line my upper cabinets, just gorgeous. Be sure to go here to see more of this stunning place. The rest of it is just as breathtaking.

{images via Kelly Green}

Bump It Up


I received an email from one of the lovely ladies over at Ruby Press about a San Francisco based book signing/party on May 26th with Amy Tara Koch, style expert and author, and I am quite smitten with it. I got a preview of the book and it is quite witty and full of great information and inspiration. The illustrations are such pieces of art. I so desperately wish I had more style while I was pregnant. I definitely sported way too many sweatpants and tees with crocs, oh my what was I thinking. Along with the book signing there will also be spa treatments. If any of you are able to go, please oh please let me know how it went.

Oh and be sure to RSVP: rsvpsfevents@whotels.com

Kitchens, Baskets, and Painting...

In our kitchen we have a lot of dead space between our cabinets and ceiling. I am not into decorating above the cabinets with ivy and knickknacks so I have just left it bare. I have always loved the idea of putting rows of cake plates on top, but the space is so high it would have lost the impact. Some time ago I came across this image and saved it into my inspiration folder, I recently came across it again and became quite enamored with the baskets above the cabinets. I love the natural feel it brings without any fuss.


So this brings me to our kitchen. I have started my basket collection. I have two so far and rather like how it fills in the dead space. So if any locals come across any lovely baskets for great prices then be sure to let me know. These two came from Home Goods. Also my wall paint color is reading a bit more yellow than it should in the shot. I swear it's because it's the color of the cabinets (more accurate color interpretation found here). My wall color is sherwin williams rice grain. Doug I am sure you will be so excited to hear I am back on my wanting to paint kick. We are in this home for the long haul so I mine as well make it the best that it can be, right? I am thinking this would make a superb birthday present to me.


I am thinking a color similar to Farrow and Ball Hardwick White without the price tag. Then again maybe I should take the plunge? As you can see my mind is not quite set. Something close to this...


I know this color would go with my decor quite nicely. Any of you know a color like this that you absolutely love or if you think I am going in the wrong color direction let me know? Also has anyone used Farrow and Ball? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Thank you all for your sweet comments on my last post. You all had me blushing. I suppose a picture or two a week would be no big thing.

What I Wore

I remember hearing Jenna Lyons in an interview saying she lets her little boy pick out her shoes every morning and she does her outfits around them. I thought this to be an adorable idea and decided to give it a go with Ellie and KJ. The last outfit was all me, we were out of town sans kiddos shooting a wedding but I thought I would share anyway.

Day 1


Out running errands. Top, pants, cardigan all J.Crew. Shoes Payless, belt I have had it so long it may be considered vintage.

Day 2


Working in the garden and I am gross. Top to bottom J.Crew.

Day 3


Running errands with the little man. Shoes converse, tank J. Crew, romper American Eagle (yes, I know I am too old to shop in there this is my only piece mind you).

Day 4


Rehearsal dinner. Dress J. Crew and shoes Nine West.

Day 5


The wedding party ran a 5k first thing in the morning. I took pictures. Top to bottom J. Crew. Belt vintage.

Before I started I thought this could make a fun weekly post, but then I soon realized by the second week all my outfits start looking the same and getting pictures everyday is a pain. Also this is a lot of me on here and well that's just not that interesting. If you all really do care about what I wore then maybe I can an outfit a week or something. I will let you all decide.

A Pick Me Up




I have been feeling a bit under the weather. I am thinking food poisoning, but alas I am still not feeling back to my old self. Well, I have been seeing peonies all over blog land lately and they happen to be one of my favorite flowers so yesterday I went out and bought a bunch. They make me happy.

Images taken with my blackberry (I was being lazy) and then uploaded using this. Thought it made my bad pics not so bad, ha!

Inspire Me

Here are a few images that have me going back and back again so I thought I would share just in case you missed them...

This gorgeous table set for Easter makes me want to make Easter dinner more of an event for the kiddos. My husband is a pastor so we don't get to see him Easter weekend so it's just me and the kiddos. I want to make sure I still make it special though. I also would not mind having that light fixture, GORGEOUS!

This lakeside retreat has me swooning. What can I say all the white leaves it looking fresh, the cowhide stool is calling my name, the subway tile is a favorite of mine, and that lamp, wow.


Loving this cabinet. The coral inside makes me want to break out my paint brushes. Of course the fabulous wallpaper behind makes it all the better.


I always love seeing snippets of Jennifer's home. She's always changing things around and is a continual inspiration. Our sideboards are even painted the same color. I kindly asked her if she would mind coming over and doing my entry table. I am in desperate need of a new eye. I think she thought I was joking.


It seems in this market we will be calling our house home for quite some time so of course I want to make it the best it can be. Our garden has my full attention for now. This shed makeover has my wheels turning. Isn't it darling? No, we don't have a shed, but we could right?

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