{West Elm Wish List}

West Elm is definitely one of my favorite home decor stores - that's no secret. Every time I go into the store {and even look through their magazine because the closest store is 3 hours away - boo...} it's actually kind of ridiculous how many times I hear myself saying, "ooo, look at that!", "aww man I really want that!", "Oh my gosh, I think I really need this!", or "this would be perfect in my (fill in the blank anywhere in my house)"! And as there are a few people out there that can vouch for my..lustful behavior, if you don't do the same thing when you walk into the store, then you just don't get it and should turn around and leave {lol}! Let's just say you should consider yourself lucky that you weren't around when I put this wish list together - trust me there were lots of ooohs and ahhhs goin on...enjoy!

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1. Parachute Duvet Cover

2. Mongolian Lamb Pillow Cover

3. Hammered Disc Hang Strand

4. Globe Pendant – set of 3

5. The Way We Live in the City by Stafford Cliff + Gilles de Chabaneix

I'm thinking bedroom makeover? Hmmm.....you know I love a project {the devil on one shoulder is saying "you should drive to Charlotte on Saturday, you do have a 3 day weekend", and the little angel on my other shoulder is saying "I have one word for you Jessica.....Italy"} ~ ugh!

{Dining Out}

I love good food, not a fan of chain restaurants, and am a sucker for lovely ambiance.

Now if this restaurant was mine {one of my many dreams}, instead of serving some sort of 5-star menu - I would only serve the best gourmet burgers {please click to find the most amazing burger recipe from one of my fave NYC restaurants - 5 Napkin Burger} and fries with homemade dipping sauces. I'm a foodie to the heart, but there's nothing better than a good ol' greasy burger and fries.

{All photos via Dress, Design, Decor}

Just dreamin today.... 

{Before & After: Console Table}

Over the weekend I had a lot of fun putting together my console table area simply by pulling things I had from around the house. After listening to your comments {THANK YOU!!!!}, I tried to implement just about all of them into my space. So without further ado - here is my Before & After...

Jackson Console Table - Crate & Barrel

Glass Ball Lamp - Z Gallerie

White Ceramic Owl - Z Gallerie

Round Glass Paperweight - Crate & Barrel

"I Will Not Ride In Cars With Boys" painting - DIY {see below}

Greenery - Smith & Hawken

Sailor's Knot - DIY {see below}

Gold Pig - DIY {see below}

Feel free to contact me about any of the pictures - I can tell you where I got each. I'm proud to say for this project I only spent $30.00 {$20 for the owl & $10 for the rope} everything else I already had.

Check out some of the DIY projects below:

I saw this sailor's knot on Design Sponge last week and knew that I wanted to add it to my console table. And in Design Sponge fashion, she provided step-by-step instructions {and video} for how to make it. That evening I went to Home Depot to purchase my rope and after several attempts - it's not perfect, but it works. What do you think? {Click here for instructions}

At the Raleigh Flea Market there is this man that has a truckload of metal and rusty findings. Every time I go I go search through the piles of "junk" and usually I find something that comes home with me. I found this little pig and decided to add it to my table for a little whimsy {you know me} - oh and I spray painted it metallic gold for that touch of glam.

I loved the painting that was in my Nate Berkus post and I decided to create one to add a little touch of humor to my space. This canvas was in my closet and I simply painted in black, let it dry, and with a white paint marker {and a steady hand} decided to go with "I Will Not Ride In Cars With Boys". Ha - I love it now, but not so much when my parents used to say this to me.... many many years ago. {lol!}

So overall ~ what do you think?

Wondering where the Blog of the Week went? Well... I've decided to put it on hold for a little while in an effort to have an opportunity to post more lovely finds, DIY, Before & Afters, and personal stories. Have no fear, I'll still showcase all the fab blogs that I come across - it will just be in a different format, so stay tuned. For all of the blogs that I've gushed about over the last several months, and many many more to come, they have been added and will continually be updated on my blog roll! Any objections?

{Weekend Plans}

TGIF Peeps!!!

So what are your plans this weekend? Hopefully you'll have some time to escape this crazy heat and relax. Don't forget to sign up for the Satin & Sass giveaway by 2PM this afternoon - good luck!!

Have a fantastic weekend!!!

{Elle Decor UK: Role Reversal}

Your outdoor space should be an extension of your home and your lifestyle... a place where you relax and unwind one day, and entertain guests the next.  Some of us may wonder how that can be possible. Isn’t outdoor furniture stiff and boring? Won’t fabric be ruined outside? Well, lucky for us there are endless options available to create a gorgeous outdoor living space. For example Elle Decor UK shows us below how you can add bold color and vibrant textiles to take your outdoor space to the next level. And if it's truly an extension of your home, it should work just as well in the living room as it does in the garden...

{The grey woven sofa...come on now - so fab}

{The green chair, fuchsia cart, and teal stool...all you need to do is a take a trip to your local flea market for a great deal on some metal furniture, grab a couple of cans of spray paint, and go for it...LOVE}

{The colors here are doing it for me - the teal combined with the rich burnt orange accents mellowed out with that comfy looking grey arm chair...perfection. I'm telling you - Elle Decor UK, you've got it goin on.}

All painted backdrops by artist Kristin Perers - kp{at}kristinperers.demon.co.uk

{Satin & Sass + Giveaway}

“I wore a bird in my hair” said our fave SATC friend Ms. Bradshaw {now Mrs. Preston} lol! I think that the most fabulous brides all have one important thing in common—they all pay special attention to the details that make them look unique. One way to ensure your distinct sense of style on your big day is to shop for handmade, unique pieces that you instantly fall in love with. Like my friend, Allie of Satin & Sass, Etsy is full of fun little gems like these wedding hair accessories, so it makes it a great place to start. Allie recently started her shop on Etsy, and I got the chance to ask her a few questions about how she got started, her influences, and trusting your creative intuition. Check it out:

 

Q: What made you want to start your own hair accessory line?

A: It was a matter of chance, really. My best friend recently got married and I was asked to create the rehearsal bouquet from the leftover bridal shower ribbons. I was quickly disappointed with the traditional method (which involves tying the assortment of leftover ribbons to a paper plate and calling it a day) and remembered seeing in a magazine how to make ribbon flowers. I gave it a shot and the end result was an elaborate bouquet of ribbon roses. I tested a couple different methods of making different flower shapes and had the half-brained idea to put them on hair clips...and the rest was history.

Q: What inspires you/who are your influences?

A: I find inspiration in many forms. Sometimes it's in the fabric of a vintage dress. Other times it's in a random idea gone wrong that turns into something else entirely. I try to stay open minded during the process and fun things tend to happen. More specifically, I gravitate towards the timeless and feminine styles of Old Hollywood. I am a huge fan of Ginger Rogers and the amazing costumes featured in many of the classic "Fred and Ginger" films.

Q: What do you love most about Etsy?

A: Etsy has so many great qualities....how to choose?! But to love the most, I'd say it's the sense of community that you can acquire with fellow artists. It's always nice to have the support and inspiration of being surrounded by other creative people, and with Etsy's "conversation" feature and chat rooms, it's so easy to share ideas, get and give advice, and ultimately create a support group for your business.

Q: What other thoughts would you like to share?

A: If you have the itch to be creative, trust your ideas and just go for it. Even if the ideas don't work out the way you initially envision them, something else even better often comes out of the effort. There's something so satisfying about creating something that is a unique expression of yourself. Go out make something! It's fun! And well....if you're not the creative type....check out Etsy and you'll find some cool stuff!!

HOW TO WIN:

1. Click here to visit Satin & Sass

2. Leave a comment below with the name of the Satin & Sass piece you like the most and why {NOTE: only comments left below will be included; comments left on my Facebook or Twitter, even though I always love to hear from you, will not count} 

3. Giveaway ends on Friday, June 25 at 2pm, ET, and a winner will be randomly chosen using the Random Number Generator. Please check back on Friday to see if you are the lucky winner!!!

Good luck & and congratulations Allie on your new shop!!!

{I love a project}

{Real Talk for a sec, if you don't want to hear me vent - skip to the next paragraph...}. Yesterday I woke up on the wrong side of the bed and honestly I was pretty unpleasant to be around. I didn't have a specific reason why,  I wasn't upset with anyone or anything - I just didn't feel like being "on" and unfortunately I wasn't able to hide it. Though it may seem on my blog that I’m all rainbows and unicorns - the truth is, I have moments when I want to scream, throw stuff, crawl back in the bed, and be alone - that's just real talk. So thanks to my lovely friends at work {you know who you are, thank you for putting up with me}, the short break from the office, and an oreo frosty from Wendy's, I became less of a crab and put my serious case of poor me aside. I promise, today I've got a new attitude and ready to get back on my unicorn and jump over a few lovely, genius, and sh-mazing rainbows...LOL! Speaking of which...

If you know me even a little bit you know I love a project {and any reason to shop and decorate...especially if you're crabby, lol} and as you can see below I need some major help with styling my console table and the wall space above it. This little area is definitely a space that I walk past constantly every day and...ignore it. So this week I plan to use pieces I have around the house {and maybe a piece or two that I find at one of my fave stores - Anthropologie, Z Gallerie, Home Goods, and Crate & Barrel - I know , I know, I'm on a shopping freeze saving for Italy, but one or two things won't hurt....right? } and style this area up.

I've done a little research and below are some pics that truly inspire me. BUT - I would also love to hear from you on any ideas you may have for my lonely space. What are my must haves? What elements should I not {or should} go without?

{Love the wall full of framed art...}

{Love the leaning art, the greenery, and that wonderful wooden "bowl" to hold all my fave magazines...}

{Love the hammered silver bowl, and the wired vase, and the styling of books here...}

{Love the simplicity here - the gold mirror and matching lamp look...}

So many ideas - how do I decide? I'm sending out an S.O.S!!! Comment below with your suggestions and be sure to come back next week {Tuesday} to see the results.

{Blog of the Week: Smitten Kitchen}

So today I am going to stray away from the beaten path and bring to you one fantabulous foodie blog. I think we can all agree that there is nothing more wonderful than really good food. Something magical happens to you when you taste something truly, blissfully delicious. If, like me, you are always looking for inspiration in the kitchen... I highly recommend you check out Smitten Kitchen. The lovely cook behind the blog is Deb Perelman. Her enticingly simple recipes with food images that are just as engaging as her fun and informative food commentary are what makes this blog fantastico!

I mean honestly- how can you look at these pictures and not want to 1. eat them all 2. learn how to make them and 3. love deb because she has made every recipe fool/idiot proof. Take a peak at a few of my faves below, and click here for more of where these come from {psst...Deb has a yummy looking recipe for homemade oreos, and pop tarts...shaking my head at the ridiculousness...}

{click here for the recipe}

{click here for the recipe}

{click here for the recipe}

Is your mouth watering yet? And as if Deb's blog isn't all that and a bag of chocolate chips, she just signed a book deal! We have to be patient though, it won't be ready until 2012 - but how amazing will it be to have a Smitten Kitchen Cookbook of your own? Can't wait!

Enjoy your day and....happy cooking!

{This is why my dad is better than your dad...}

{My dad used to play beauty shop with me (before I had 3 other sisters to play with) and I got to put barrettes, bobby pins, balls, and even ribbon in his hair. Now come on - you have to agree that's some great dad! Note: he's now bald because of me and my sisters - sorry dad!}

{My absolute favorite game when I was a kid was Memory ~ and my Dad would play it with me over and over.....and over again - at my request of course. Note: wow! look at that table and chairs - now that's some Elle Decor material right there - LOL!}

I could go on and on about how great my dad is from the piggy back rides to bed, to endless hours of Pac Man on our Atari 2600, to standing outside in the cold with my mom at 4:00 in the morning trying to get me a Cabbage Patch doll for Christmas, to attending every gymnastic meet - every cheerleading event - every Thursday night band practice and Friday night high school football game, to washing my clothes when I came home for the weekend from college, to all the way down to his famous fried chicken. Dad I love you to teeny tiny pieces and today I celebrate all that you are and all that you do. You're the bestest!!!

{Weekend Plans}

TGIF Peeps!!!

Enjoy your weekend ~ make it lovely!!!!

{Real Talk}

Minutes ago I read this poem on Makeunder My Life - and it spoke to me so clearly, so so clearly. It's amazing when something is meant for you to hear, that it's spoken with such clarity. We all have our "demons", our "things we are working on", "decisions we are pondering" - so I hope this speaks to and inspires you, as it has me...

I:

I walk down the street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I fall in.

I am lost…

I am helpless.

It is not my fault.

It takes forever to find my way out.

II:

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I pretend I don’t see it.

I fall in.

I can’t believe I am in the same place.

But it isn’t my fault.

It still takes a long time to get out.

III:

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I see it there.

I still fall in…It’s a habit.

My eyes are open.

I know where I am.

It is my fault.

I get out immediately.

IV:

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

I walk down another street.

- Portia Nelson

{Etsy Lust: Frosted Willow}

I've done it again!!! I've stumbled upon another amazing Etsy designer, Frosted Willow, who makes these lovely AND affordable {$9.50 - $24.00} bangles. Katrin Lerman, after a happy childhood in Germany, her plans were to come to the US as an AuPair for a year, and perfect her English. Instead, or in addition, she met her future husband and never left.{hmmm...what do you think, maybe this will happen to me when I go to Italy???}

After graduating New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk University in Boston, we loved working as an Interior Designer, but after having her baby girl, she returned to her first passion of creating jewelry. Interior Design as well as creating jewelry is all about color, form, and texture – and that’s what she integrates into her jewelry designs. Check em out...

Fab right? With these designs and prices, how can you not visit the shop and order one....or some?

{Pretty In Pink}

This past weekend I watched Pretty in Pink - and it made me realize how much I miss the 80s (click here if you grew up in the 80s - can you relate? lol!). Pretty in Pink is such a classic {Wait a minute! We don't got none of this... we don't got doors on the stalls in the boy's room, we don't have, what is this? What's this? We don't have a candy machine in the boy's room! lol - gotta love Duckie...} and I love how Andie was sort of a misfit but she always stayed true to herself and her style. So as a tribute to one of my fave Brat Pack movies....check out my Pretty in Pink wish list - just kicked up a notch {make that a couple of notches...check out Andie's dress for those of who haven't seen the movie - gasp!}

{1. Emersonmade Necklace; 2. Tory Burch Clutch; 3. Vintage Blush Pink Ring - Good Girls Studio; 4. Handmade Off the Shoulder Shirt - Chicca Style; 5. Tretorn Pink Sneakers; 6. Vintage Clip On Earrings - West & Plum}

PS. That ring is mine...don't even think about it!!