Back-To-School Shopping–The Adult Version

August 2, 2016

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This past weekend was a big back-to-school shopping weekend here in Atlanta. It was a tax-free weekend and most school are starting back this week or next so shopping had to get done.

Even though I knew the stores were going to be crowded, I ventured out for a few hours to see if there were any deals to be had. And boy or boy were there.

I never really took note of it before but shopping during the back-to-school season has its benefits. Most of the big box stores like HomeGoods, Target and Macy’s had beefed up their inventory levels and had some great decorative pieces to decorate dorm rooms. Not only were the prices good, but many of items could work just as easily for home decor.

p.s. if you haven’t noticed, dorm decor has really become style statement these days. Far from the posters I hung on the wall.

So I know you’re asking yourself what does this mean for all of us that aren’t going off to school.

It means back-to-school season is a great time to shop for home decor items.

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Here’s a list of home decor products that are worth shopping for NOW during back-t0-school season and some great pieces you might want to snag:

Bed Linens–there are lots of fun patterns including plaids, stripes and geometrics out for back-to-school.
Organizing Items–I spotted lots of amazing baskets and cloth storage bins as well and space-saving door and under-bed storage pieces.
Office Decor–caddies, trays, boxes and bins plus lots of cute bulletin boards and wall units.
Lighting–especially tabletop and desk lamps many of which are priced better than those styles marketed for home decor.
Accent Furniture–if you’re in the market for a small side table, ottoman, pouf or stools, you’ll find lots to choose from.
Bathroom Decor–great under cabinet pieces, towels and vanity accessories.

Shop these looks:

Palm Leaf Quilt //Modern Anywhere Chair // Two Head Task Lamp // Faux Marble Clock // Enchante Wall Storage Bin

Wood and Metal Storage Boxes // Rope Medallion Pillow // Enchante Pillow // 2 Drawer Accent Table // Claudette Wire Hamper

Did anyone else find any great home decor deals while school shopping?

Summer Entertaining: Ideas to Inspire

July 27, 2016

SUMMER ENTERTAINING IDEAS

Outdoor entertaining takes on new meaning this time of year. Finding new ways to use pieces you already own & incorporating the bounty of the season will help make entertaining outdoors even more fun and exciting.

♦ Put on twist on a caprese salad by replacing the tomatoes with sweet Georgia peaches.

♦ Use oversized glass jars as serving bowls for salads and fresh fruits. Jars allow food to be visible while adding impact to your buffet setting.

♦ Instead of expensive flowers for the centerpiece, let the food be the focal point. A long wood board piled high with a variety of cheeses, fruits, meats and nuts will be the center of attention.

♦ Get creative with the things you own. A recycled canoe makes a charming outdoor serving station of finger foods.

♦ Place those delicate china plates with small rustic wood cutting boards which function just a good as traditional serve ware.

♦ Keep thing simple but elegant and create personalized place setting with oversized dollies. Use a Sharpie to pen the name of guests or pull out that collection of letter stickers and give each dollie its unique spin.

♦ Use elements from mother nature as decor for your party. A handful of pretty leaves and a metallic pen is all it takes to make these stylish name cards.

♦ Make a single bouquet of flowers go the extra mile by mixing in greenery pieces you cut from the yard to create a dynamic centerpiece.

♦ And when impact is called for, drape the center with an assortment of summer lanterns surrounded by lush greenery and foliage.

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Summer entertaining is about letting loose, having fun and enjoying the season!

Image source: 1) Say Yes 2) Crate and Barrel 3) Plum Pretty Sugar 4) Simple Bites 5) Style Me Pretty 6) Paper Mart 7)La Crema 8) Wedding Colors 9) Elle Decor (photo by Jenna Elliott–One Eleven Photography)

SEVEN things I’d by during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!

July 25, 2016

Hey there friends. Sorry I skipped out last week here on the blog but things have been extra busy and I just didn’t have time (or energy) to complete all the blog post I had planned for you. My busy schedule included 5 days at the Atlanta Gift and Home Furnishings show followed by two days at the Blog Life University Conference and I’m tuckered out. I’ll be sharing more about the gift show and the conference later this week but today I’m sharing one of my favorite shopping events of the year, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.

When I lived in Seattle, I actually planned a couple of vacation days around the sale so I could be at the flagship store the day the sale went live. I didn’t want to miss out on any of the deals. Now I shop my local Nordstrom or when I don’t want to deal with the crowds, I hit their website. That’s just what I did Saturday afternoon while I crashed on the couch.

There are so many great items in this years sale but a few really caught my eye and I just had to share them with you.

Here are my top picks from the sale…

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A classic backpack is a handbag staple in my book. They are great for traveling and weekend shopping when you want your hands free. I love the sleek lines of this Sole Society Ellie Backpack and the tassel charm on the flap. And you can’t beat the $29.90 price.

Cardigans are my go-to fashion item during fall and this Halogen Cashmere Kimono Cardigan has so much going for it. I love the oversized fit, the soft drape and the fact that is it cashmere. This piece is available in three colors and is on sale for $98.90. ($148 after sale)

I never met a tassel I didn’t like, especially if it’s an earring. These Sole Society Tassel Earrings are such fun and will look great with sweaters this fall. $36.95

The combination of the cord necklace and crystal pendant is what caught my eye. This is a perfect piece to wear day-to-night and with everything from jeans to dresses. Bauble Bar Bijoux’ Pendant Necklace $42.00

I’ve been wanting this Jonathan Adler Zebra Porcelain Stacking Dish for ages and couldn’t pass up the $15.90 price and my new favorite color, navy. The gold version is also available but at a higher price.

In addition to clothing and shoes, you can find some great home decor items in the Nordstrom Sale. This Levtex Diamond Straw Basket is perfect to hold blankets or just about anything you want. $38.90 Available in natural & navy and natural & tan.

An oversized sweater and jeans is the perfect fall outfit in my book. This Halogen Ribbed Cashmere Poncho has a great shape and subtle ribbed texture. Available in 4 colors. $148.90

So now that I’ve got you ready to do some shopping, here are some tips I’ve learned from shopping the sale for many years…

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Insider Tips For Shopping The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Shop early! I can’t stress this enough. Many items will sell out within the first few days of the sale so plan to do your shopping early. p.s. this years sale ends on Aug. 4th.

Did you know that Nordstrom has personal stylist to help you shop? This free service is great if you’re needing special pieces or want pulling together outfits. You can schedule an appointment or ask for an available stylist when you’re at the store. p.s. the stylist have all the inside tips on products and can often find items that are sold out in your area.

For even better deals than you can find in the main for jewelry and accessory department, shop the Brass Plum department. You can find the latest styles and designs at a fraction the price. This tassel handbag didn’t make my top 7 list but is definitely a great buy.

If you’re stocking up on fall clothing, purchase the items you’re interested in, take them home to try on them on and return what you don’t want. The dressing rooms are typically crowded during the sale so take items home so you can try them on in the comfort and space of your own bedroom.

If your local store doesn’t have the size or color you want, a Nordstrom sales person can order the item for you at no shipping cost.

Nordstrom offers samples of almost any beauty product in store every day. During the Anniversary Sale you’ll find limited-edition offerings, plus 300 beauty and fragrance exclusives so just ask for a sample at the counter.

Think Christmas gifts. This is a great time to buy higher priced items and save a little money, especially on handbags, footwear and mens clothing.

Happy shopping!

Inspiration Notebook–July 2016

July 4, 2016

Hello July!

This month my inspiration notebook is all about Love, Life, Happiness and the little things in life…

♥ July Inspiration Notebook ♥

4th of July Decor Ideas to make in under an hour!

June 27, 2016

Decorating for a festive holiday can be fun and easy. Heres a round-up of simple but festive 4th of July decor that will take you less than an hour to create and don’t require any major crafting skills.

1) Scrap Fabric Flag–this fun twist of the American flag is made from scraps of ribbon, fabric and paint. Depending on where you want to hang it, you can make one in any size. I think one hanging on the front door or a couple of hanging for a deck railing would look great.

2) Make your own mini American flags using wood skewered and flag ribbon. These are great as a cake topper or to use in flower arrangements.

Flag ribbon is on sale for $2.00 per spool at Hobby Lobby.

3) This may not work for everyone depending on the temperature where you live but I love the look of the 4th of July candles. Just wrap red, white or blue pillar candles with decorative red/white/blue paper and you’re all set. After the 4th remove the paper and your candles are ready for the next project. p.s. scrapbook paper is 50% off this week at Hobby Lobby

4) Use that same decorative paper you used to wrap your candles and make your own paper pinwheels. These are so easy to make and are sure to bring back some great childhood memories. Find my tutorial here.

5) Turn inexpensive bandanas into a festive 4th of July flag banner. You can cut 3 to 4 triangle piece from a single bandana.

6) Another fun way to decorate with bandanas is using them as table linens. Line a handful up down the middle of the table for a quick and easy holiday runner.

7) Turn a watermelon into a stylish and fun 4th of July floral centerpiece. Punch small holes (about 1/2″ deep into the watermelon and insert flower stems. Once the party it over, cut watermelon open and scoop out some watermelon to enjoy.

So what plans do you have for the 4th and how are you decorating?

top image via Country Living

DIY Monogram Straw Hat

June 21, 2016

In a couple of months we’ll be setting sail on our 8th cruise to the Caribbean. This time around out ports of call will be Aruba, Bonaire, the Dominican Republic and Grand Turks. #soexcited

I’ve already started picking up a few new items for the trip, one of which was a new sun hat for me. A plain straw hat would have worked fine but I had to give my hat a little extra something-something.

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DIY MONOGRAM STRAW HAT

Here’s how the project started…

I bought this basic wide brim hat from Wal-Mart for under $5.00 ($3.35 to be exact). You can see that it has a thin brown cord as a decorative touch but the brown wasn’t working for me. Neither was the plain brim.

So I replaced the cord with a black and white striped ribbon and added my monogram to the back of the brim. Instant style!

All it took to replace the cording was a few snips with the scissors and some fabric glue to attach the new ribbon.

To create my monogram, I purchased some white iron-on letters from Hobby Lobby. These are the same brand of letters I used to make my monogram napkins.

What I love about these letters is they allow you to create a true three-letter monogram.

The only downside is the letters only come in white so your design options are limited.

I came up with an easier solution and all it took was a Sharpie. To get the black letters I wanted, I used a Permanent Sharpie Marker and colored over each letter.

All that was left to do was to position my monogram onto the back of the hat and iron it in place.

(before ironing, cover the letters with a piece of fabric so you don’t get ink on your iron or burn your letters)

This was such an easy update and now my hat that looks like it was made for a Mediterrian cruise.

The hat is available in four other colors so take your pick and make your own chic summer sun hat.

Musing for the first day of summer!

June 20, 2016

Hooray for the first day of summer! Is anyone else as excited as I am that summer is officially here?

Even though the calendar didn’t reflect it, I’ve been acting like summer was here for a couple of weeks. This is undoubtedly my favorite season of the year so I though I’d share a few things that are on my mind on this first day of summer.

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I have always loved being out in the sun and although I was born with a natural tan :), I still love soaking up the rays and getting a little extra glow on my skin. If I were to design my dream outdoor space, it would look a little something like this–an area to entertain in and a stylish and relaxing lounge space next to a pool because I also love to swim.

house beautiful

And speaking of entertaining…isn’t this tablescape just gorgeous? Pattern mixing your dinnerware and glassware is a great way to create an eclectic placesetting and infuse your table with color. And creating extra spot at the end of the table runner is pretty genius.

apartment therapy

If you’re not the one hosting the summer gathering, here’s a really unique idea for a summer hostess gift. #ideasworthstealing

one kings lane

I usually don’t make many decor changes this time of year but when I’m working with design clients, here are two simple summer decorating ideas I share with them.

♦ Replace ceramic and solid colored flower vases with clear or colored glass jars and bottles. Glass provides an airy feel which is perfect for a seasonal decor statement.

better homes and gardens

♦ One of the quickest and most cost-effective ways you can give your decor a summer refresh is by switching out the pillows on your sofa. Try a colorful mix of patterns and textures.

tip: when possible, buy pillows with removable covers to you can reuse the inserts

better homes and gardens

One of the things I love most about this time o year is all the fresh fruit. I discovered a couple of u-pick blueberry and blackberry farms about an hour outside of Atlanta so we’ve added this to our summer bucket list. #yum

source

Don’t be surprised if you pass me on the road that I have tunes blaring in my car. #itsasummerthing. I had this song on repeat all weekend long to usher in my favorite season.

Enjoy Your Summer Friends!

Celebrate National Ice Tea Day

June 10, 2016

Today is National Ice Tea Day so I thought I’d get you in the mood to enjoy a glass of tea southern style by sharing some beautiful southern porch inspiration.

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No southern porch is compete without classic rocking chairs. No matter what type of seating you have on your porch, patio or deck, add decorative pillows for color and comfort and lots of potted plants and flowers for southern charm.

Country Living

I dream of having a daybed or porch swing one day. This porch has all the elements that create a cozy spot to enjoy a lazy summer afternoon–wispy drapes to shield the sun, a painted ceiling to add a sense of coolness and loads of pillows to add a welcoming touch.

Country Living

Just like you do with your indoor decor, develop a color story for your porch decor. This is the perfect time of year to showcase your American pride using red, white and blue decor.

HomeGoods

A chic sun umbrella and a stylish chair is all it takes to create a relaxing spot on the porch or deck. If your umbrella doesn’t have trim, you can easily add your own outdoor trim and waterproof glue.

Country Style

Keep the heat down by hanging a ceiling fan on your porch and using an outdoor rug to keep your feet cool.

BHG

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Here in the South, National Ice Tea day is something we celebrate every day of the year and our pantries are stocked with all the essentials to make the perfect glass of southern ice tea.