Emily Ann Interiors

Lovely

2012-01-25T02:17:00.001-07:00

Hi all!

I'm enjoying a bit of a break for the next few days. Here is something pretty to look at in the meantime!

Found here via Pinterest

Follow me here

Have a nice rest of the week!

Emily

Closet 45 Min Redo

2012-01-24T04:16:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Last Friday it was a yucky day out so I decided to stay in and accomplish something. We have a huge closet in the master bedroom.....I mean, huge. We have a full regular sized closet and then this little room off of it. It's crazy huge....so because we have so much space we have ended up throwing random crap in here. Hence the before shot:

Yes, we had 2 ceiling fans in there (I had already removed one), boxed up maternity and baby clothes, luggage, the bouncer, and playmat, bumbo seat, purses, and a few odds and ends of clothes.

I took 45 min and purged what we didn't need and simply organized the rest. We had this extra dresser, which I removed from the guest bedroom as seen here. I decided to add a lamp and organize my jewelry in an effort to wear it more often.

I have several clutches from my late grandma that I set out because I love seeing them everyday. I just used a tray we had in the kitchen to organize it all.

It's a far cry from anything spectacular and it's probably not how it will stay but for 45 min and a free project both Jacob and I are happy with it!

Emily

Things I'm Loving Lately

2012-01-23T04:08:00.001-07:00

Hi all!

It's been awhile since I did a post about what I'm loving lately. If you're new here I love hearing about new products so I figured, why not share what I think works well, or tastes delicious!

Never in my life have I had dark circles under my eyes until 7 months ago when a little miss was born. I have been using Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser (color-brightening) and I really like it. It lightens under my eyes and when I put makeup on I almost look normal. ;)

Jacob's aunt and uncle brought Black Box wine to Christmas and they are quite the wine connoisseurs. We were kinda surprised to see wine in a box but I have to say, it is delicious. We don't drink during the week so it's nice to be able to open it and still have it be good the following weekend. Oh yeah, it's 4 bottles of wine in 1 box and is around $25.....we love the Cab Sav.

I have given up pop and sugar in an effort to lose the last of the baby weight. I do miss my afternoon Coke but I found a replacement that I like! A cup of Vanilla Chai Tea and a tangerine are my new afternoon friends. :)

Remember how I said I gave up sugar? Right. Well, I gave it up, then took it back up all in 1 day last week when I found these cookies. You see, M can't have dairy so that means I haven't had dairy for almost 3 months. It's really not that big of a deal but I do miss ice cream and a good cookie. When I saw these and that they are dairy free and no high fructose corn syrup.....YES PLEASE! So, I binged and I'm back on the wagon.....but these are a great organic alternative to Oreos and they taste just like the real thing!

I have been using Cera Ve as a daily moisturizer for years now. When I saw a segment on the Today Show about Cera Ve PM and how it is such a great deep moisturizer and I couldn't agree more. I love it and it's only $12 a bottle at Target.

As part of my Christmas gift I got 2 great shower/bath products and I love them both. Pair them with a glass or two of Black Box wine and it's pretty close to a great night for me....add in a few cookies and I'm in heaven. :)

I have really dry skin and both of these products are awesome. I love L'Occitane!

Any products you are loving?

Emily

Before and After

2012-01-19T04:55:00.001-07:00

Hello!

I am back today to show before and after pics of the guest room with the new end tables. This is a room that we have spent little money and attention on so far. The bed was Jacob's from before we got married and was the inspiration for the room in making a more masculine room than what I typically do. I bought the duvet on super sale at Target, but it is back and full price again. Weird. The blue blanket was cheap from IKEA and the frames are from Wally World with a butterfly calendar in them.

Before Pics

This angle is from the door:

I forgot to add I got the lamps on super clearance at Target a few months ago.

After Pics:

The new end tables and the matching lamps definitely are starting to create a cohesive look.

Still to do:

Paint the room-I'm wavering between a light tan and a darker warmer tan
Get a dust ruffle
Get something for over the bed
Curtains
Potentially change out the butterfly art. I love it but I need something to take up more space visually. Maybe a leaning mirror near the door?!

We are coming along!

Emily

$100 Month: January 2012 Edition

2012-01-18T09:37:00.005-07:00

Hi all!

As promised I'm here to share a project. You may remember that last week I posted about being more intentional with my money (I get $100/month for DIY) and not starting projects I'll put a ton of time and money into (and probably never like....I'm picky....let's be honest). One area of our house that I have decided to tackle is our guest room. We actually have 2 guest rooms but this one will always be the guest room, the other one will eventually be Baby #2's room.

So, a few weeks ago I took my $100 and headed to IKEA where I knew I could get a lot of bang for my buck. I'm hilarious. I know. Anyway, I picked up 2 of the RAST dressers for $34.99/each.

Here's the RAST:

It's an unfinished small chest of drawers and I knew I wanted to use them as end tables

I used some off white paint from the powder room and some stain I had from an old project (I suppose random DIY pays off because I have a ton of paint, stain, and spray paint).

Here's what I came up with:

Not too shabby for $75! Yeah, would I like to change the knobs....yes, but waste not want not and I would rather spend the remaining $25 of my money on something else. I'll change them eventually.

I'll be back tomorrow with pics of the guest room and some before and after shots.

Have a good one!

Emily

The Paints Still Drying

2012-01-17T14:07:00.002-07:00

Hi all!

I was hoping to have pics of the beginning of my guest room makeover but the paint's still drying on a few pieces. Literally.

Here's a teaser:

I'll be back tomorrow with pictures!

Emily

Pinterest Pretties!

2012-01-16T04:09:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

I hope you had a great weekend! I had a great weekend with M and my mom while Jacob was out of town. I'm working on my first post about how I'm spending the first part of my January home money. No idea what I'm talking about?! Click here to read about a new series I'm working on.

In the meantime here are a few pictures I'm lovin'

Click here to follow me on Pinterest!

Have a nice day!

Emily

Follow Me!

2012-01-13T07:22:00.001-07:00

I'm finally getting around to organizing my Pinterest boards so FOLLOW ME! ------------->

I am always looking for new people to follow so add me and leave a comment with your name so I can follow you!

New Blog Feature

2012-01-12T02:07:00.000-07:00

Hello!

I'm excited to share a new blog feature with you all. As many people do when a new year begins, I started thinking more about my life and our finances. Something Jacob and I have been doing for awhile is allotting me $100 a month to spend on the house. I can essentially do whatever I want with it and for the past several months I feel like I have wasted it on DIY projects, which I thought would be inexpensive but ended up costing a decent amount and then not being something I love. Been there done that....right?!?!

I have vowed to be more intentional in my choices for our home including how I spend money towards the house. While $100 is pocket change to many of you, because we are living on 1 income it feels like a privilege to me. I'm starting a new series where I will post at least once a month to share what I have spent the $100 on and how I have stretched it.

As I'm vowing to be more intentional with our money I'm excited to share a few projects I have in the works. On a separate note, we are also intending to redo the landscaping in the front of our house and redo the deck and put in pavers in the back this spring. I'm also wanting to start collecting more forever pieces of art for our home, so I might be sharing some of that search with you all as well.

I'm still searching for that clever title for my $100/month. Post suggestions!

Emily

Collections

2012-01-11T07:24:00.003-07:00

Hi all!

Sorry for my absence! Things have been busy around here and I'm deep in planning mode for a new blog feature, which I will be sharing very soon so check back.

One thing I am striving for in our home is more of a collected look as opposed to "I bought everything at Pottery Barn and Homegoods look". I don't really collected anything per se but I am drawn to dishes and mirrors and my husband would tell you picture frames but he doesn't get they are like shoes and have to match where you're going to put them (like you can't wear 1 black heel with everything....you need different kinds). I digress.

In an effort to create a collected and very comfortable feel in our home I have already mixed several fabrics (another way to create a unique and comfortable look) and am now thinking more intentionally about collections. While I don't want 30 clocks on 1 bookcase or anything, it is something I'm giving thought to. Here are a few examples of collections:

Do you collect anything?

Emily

A Play on Neutrals

2012-01-06T01:41:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday!

As I have mentioned before I love neutral pieces. This is a bit more extreme than anything I would do in my own home but I do think it is beautiful.

A lot of traditional influences, which all work well together. I love the herringbone tile in the bathroom! All images found here.

Have a great weekend!

Emily

Eye Candy

2012-01-05T01:56:00.000-07:00

What better way to start out the new year than with some pretty images. Here are a few I came across on Pinterest that I like and wanted to share:

Hope you have a great day!

Emily

Dog Pretties

2012-01-03T03:16:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

My friend left today, which was the last of our company. It has been a great 1.5 weeks but I am glad to get back to normal. In catching up on Pinterest I came across this picture from the Spring 2011 Rue Magazine.

here

I love it!

Things will be getting back to normal around the blog shortly!

Emily

Happy New Year 2011

2011-12-31T08:03:00.002-07:00

We have a fun day planned with friends and my mom is watching baby M. Hope you all have a wonderful New Year!

here

Happy New Year!

Emily

Pretty Little Vignette

2011-12-30T04:39:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

I'm taking an unplanned week off and I have to say I'm loving it! My mom is here and we are accomplishing a few things but mostly relaxing and I'm loving all the naps I've taken. Here's a pretty pic I pinned today:

here

Be back next week if not before. Happy New Year!

Emily

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T03:45:00.000-07:00

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Have a wonderful holiday!

Emily

Christmas Table

2011-12-23T03:31:00.000-07:00

Good morning!

I'm here to share my Christmas table. Please keep in mind that we have no dining room table or chairs and that this room is far from finished.

The tables are 2 banquet tables we borrowed so it is quite wide. I made the tablecloths with fabric I purchased and everything else I had on hand. The runner is more fabric I had, the wing backs are borrowed from the living room and the other chairs are from the breakfast nook table.

I took extra tree trimmings to make the centerpiece and added a few fake berries.

I made the wreath around the cake stand like so:

I intertwined burlap into the greenery to tie in the linen napkins and add some texture

2 days till Christmas!

Emily

Christmas Decor

2011-12-20T03:44:00.000-07:00

Good morning!

I'm happy to say I have kept my word and I have pictures of our Christmas decor. Here ya go!

I have some simple decor in a few other rooms but this is the main stuff. I'll share the dining room with you when I photograph our Christmas table.

Have a good day!

Emily

Easy Christmas Centerpiece

2011-12-19T07:14:00.004-07:00

Good morning!

I wanted to share this easy DIY centerpiece I just whipped up for our breakfast nook table. I had everything on hand so it was free but you could grab the supplies for a bit of nothing.

I got the runner after Christmas at Target last year for around $5 and I had forgotten about it until I found it last night. Score!

I started with a bowl and stuck extra greenery (I ALWAYS get extra when we buy our tree.....it's free and you can do a lot with it around the house) under 1 apple. I then layered a few more apples and stuck in a few pine cones. I then tweaked it a bit and stuck in a bit more greenery and trimmed some of it back. Done!

Easy Peasy!

Emily

Pretty Vignette

2011-12-19T03:17:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

Can you believe it's less than a week to Christmas?! I need to get my butt in gear and take some Christmas decor pics for you all to see. TOMORROW. See, now I have to do it or I'll feel guilty. ;)

Here's a pretty pic I'm diggin'. I always love to throw a lamp into a table top vignette. I like that this one doesn't and it yet it seems so cozy and balanced.

Happy Monday!

Emily

My love

2011-12-15T03:15:00.000-07:00

My sweet M just turned 6 months and it's pretty unbelievable. Here are a few pictures from an impromptu photo shoot I did this weekend.

I mean seriously, isn't she adorable (says this proud Mama)! I apologize for the lack of design posts lately. I am working on a few things but mostly I'm Christmas shopping and planning Christmas dinner (which started out as 4 adults and jumped to 8 adults and 3 babies/toddlers).

Pics of our Christmas decor coming soon!

Emily

Pretty!

2011-12-12T04:19:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

I hope you all had a great weekend! Here are a few pretty pictures to look at this Monday morning!

found here

Have a good one!

Emily

Bedroom Inspiration

2011-12-09T03:12:00.000-07:00

Here is just another image that is making me think we should go dark with our bedroom. We have a dark 4 poster bed and white bedding. I love the matching bed skirt and pillow.

found here

The other inspiration I have found is here. Super pumped to have a low key weekend at home!

Happy Friday!

Emily

Plaid

2011-12-07T04:10:00.000-07:00

Good morning!

Are you all getting in the Christmas spirit? I think I have finished decorating. Well, I'm probably not finished but I think I'm ready to drag the bins back down to the basement. I am over half way finished with my shopping, so that is good.

I don't know about you but when I think of Christmas I think of plaid. Here are a few inspiration images that I'm loving:

I am on the lookout for a plaid runner for our table. I'm hosting Christmas dinner and it will be perfect with the tablescape I have planned in my head. :)

Have a good one!

Emily

Kitchen Perfection!

2011-12-05T04:03:00.000-07:00

One of my good friends pinned this kitchen last week and I clicked through to find all these pics in their yummy goodness. I think this is pretty close to what my dream kitchen would look like if we ever have the budget for it. Here is the kitchen at Life in Grace:

I love the juxtaposition of the chandelier and the industrial pendants!

Love the island with open shelving!

The gray cabinets are the perfect shade and the mix of dishes and pottery a great combo

What do you think? Perfect, right?!

Emily

Christmas Pin-speration

2011-12-02T06:47:00.001-07:00

Happy Friday!

The house is decorated and we are off to get our tree tonight! I'm excited to share pictures next week. For those of you still looking for some Christmas inspiration, here you go!

Have a great weekend!

Emily

Inexpensive Christmas Decor

2011-12-01T03:49:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

I guess I must be DIY'ed out this Holiday season. Luckily I have a ton of Christmas decor from when we hosted a few years ago in Florida. We are on a tight budget as far as decor goes so I'm using a lot of what we have. I did buy a few new things but for the most part we're keeping it low key.

I have been browsing around and these Christmas decor items seem like a good price to me....if you too aren't wanting DIY and instead buy some inexpensive decor.

Set of 2 Lighted Garlands $20

here

Set of 3 Lighted Wreaths $30

here

Mercury Candlesticks $10-$16

here

Set of 4 Bottlebrush Trees $20

here

Crystal Garland $5

here

Topiary for$15

here

Not too shabby if you ask me!

Emily

Pretty

2011-11-30T06:01:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

I'm posting and running. Enjoy these pictures!

Have a nice day!

Emily

A Quick Change

2011-11-29T06:48:00.003-07:00

Hi all!

I want to share with you a quick change I did a few weeks ago to an area in the main part of our home. It's the pass through between the kitchen and the formal dining room and the powder room is off of it (I'm standing in the powder room to take this picture). We call it the Butler's pantry and it houses the kitchen appliances we don't use everyday, our china and crystal, vases, serving trays, and table linens.

Here is what it looked like until this fall:

When M came in June we had a pack n play downstairs with a changing area attached to it. However, in about October we got rid of the pnp since she was taking all of her naps in her crib and we were just using it for diaper changes.

My plan all along was to use the Butler's pantry as our changing area downstairs (rather than walking up the stairs to her room each time or buying another piece of furniture and sticking it somewhere). So, for a few months this is what our changing area looked like:

I decided something a bit more kid friendly would be nice. She is getting old enough to look around (and that is only going to intensify) so I wanted some things for her to be entertained with, without going overboard. I wanted to space to say kid.....not SCREAM it (without spending much money). Get it?! :)

For $10 this is what I came up with:

Now I realize this isn't that exciting but it was an easy change that defines the space. I had both baskets, one holds toys and the other holds the wipes, hand sanitizer, desitin, etc. The books, changing pad, frames, and the cards in the frames (they are flashcards we were sent for free from Similac when M was born) we already had. I cut out butterflies and stuck them to the sides of the frames and up under the cabinets so M has something to distract her.

I bought the lamp at a thrift store for $3 and spray painted it red with spray paint I already had. The shade was $7 and I made the paper garland out of scrapbook paper I had lying around.

All and all it was a good change for $10

Emily

Almost December!

2011-11-28T07:40:00.002-07:00

Good morning!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We spent the day just the 3 of us, eating, sleeping, and just being a family. It was wonderful! My mom came for a visit and we did some shopping on Friday and she watched M on Saturday and Sunday so Jacob and I could accomplish a few things.

Like most people, we drug out our Christmas decor this weekend. Since we're in a new house this year I'm struggling to figure out where I want to put things. We are hosting Christmas, which kinda makes me want to go crazy but at the same time I'm wanting to scale back. I'm guess I'll do a few DIY projects and make what I have work. :)

Here is an image that I'm loving!

Have you started decorating for Christmas? Are you going all out or scaling back?

Emily

Amazing!

2011-11-26T08:20:00.000-07:00

That is the only word to describe this kitchen.

That and the fact that I'm enjoying the holiday and don't want to type too much!

Have a great one!

Emily

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T02:29:00.000-07:00

I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving! I have so many things to be thankful for this year.

My loving husband who provides for our family and puts up with my constant need for a project

My beautiful healthy baby who continues to grow and amaze us

Our wonderful supportive families

Our health

The fact that we are close to family and friends when we once were so far away

Our beautiful home that we have worked so hard for

My furbabies, who always make me smile

The list goes on and on. My cup runneth over.

I urge you to take a moment today to share with someone that you are thankful for them.

“Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” W.T. Purkiser

Blessed Thanksgiving!

Emily

Love!

2011-11-23T02:03:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

I hope you all had a great weekend! I realize I'm a bit late saying that but we have been traveling (shocking, I know). We are finally finished traveling for awhile and are SO excited to just be home!

When I ran across this photo on one of my favorite blogger's Pinterest I had to repin it as inspiration for our stairwell. I love how homey it feels!

Thoughts?

Have a nice day! I'm running some errands and cleaning the house today in preparation for Thanksgiving. :)

Emily

"Once Upon A Time"

2011-11-17T20:02:00.001-07:00

I watch too much TV. Anyone watching "Once Upon A Time" on Sunday nights? Jacob and I are hooked. Anyway, I thought you might appreciate the Evil Queen's office from Snow White. In case you don't watch the show they go back in forth between real life and the fairytale. In real life the Queen is the Mayor of a small town the this is her office:

How perfect is it that the Evil Queen's office is black and white with the birch wallpaper?!

I don't think I could have decorated the Evil Queen's office any better myself. You? What would you have done differently?

Emily

Inspirational Images

2011-11-17T01:34:00.000-07:00

Good morning!

I am posting and running this morning. Here are some images I'm loving. Enjoy!

Have a nice day!

Emily

Green Dresser Reveal

2011-11-16T07:46:00.005-07:00

Good morning!

Thank you all for your kind words about Tatum. We are hanging in there....taking one day at a time.

Last week I showed an inspiration picture of a green dresser here. With that in mind I took this dresser and gave it a makeover. I moved it from the guest bedroom to the hallway where we had a blank wall. I want it there to store games and other toys as Madeleine grows.

Here is the before:

And the After:

The color is Sherwin Williams 6445 Garden Grove and I love it!

I wanted a kelly green color but not too bright and this color was perfect.

You can see the little nook I was working with and I think this fits perfectly. I used the same knobs just stuck them on bamboo skewers to spray paint them and it worked like a charm! I plan to hang a few frames above the dresser but I was too anxious to share so I put a few things on top and snapped a few pictures. I'll do a full reveal when it's finished....but who knows when that will be! :)

Not too bad for a 30 year old piece of furniture that started out as my brothers, then my baby dresser.

Emily

Tatum

2011-11-13T17:28:00.006-07:00

I'm sad to write that our beloved Tatum passed away last Wednesday morning.

He was perfectly fine the day before.....I gave him a bath, he laid on the deck in the sun for hours, drank out of the spigot outside (which he loves) and he went to bed with us like he always does. I brought up his blanket (I had just washed it) and he fluffed it into a bed, I scratched his butt and he put his paws up on the bed for Jacob to pet him and we said goodnight. He was all comfy this morning on his blanket, so I thought. He left us sometime in the night without a sound in his sleep. It is fitting that even in his final moment he did not think to trouble us or even wake us up.

We are so happy Madeleine knew you and that we captured this image

Tatum-you were the best dog we will ever have. Thank you for all that you taught us and for being our first baby. We loved traveling with you and we know you loved being in the car. We miss you so much. The house just isn't the same with out you snoring and farting in the next room. You will be forever in our hearts and minds.

Everybody who knew Tatum, loved him.

We love you more than you will ever know. We can't wait to see you again one day.

Emily

Buffalo Check

2011-11-10T04:38:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

One thing I can't get out of my mind is buffalo check. I am working on reupholstering a chair and I almost went with a check but I changed my mind at the last minute. However, I am lusting over a red and white buffalo check throw pillow or two for Christmas decorating.

A quick search on Pinterest turned up these images. Are you with me?

I think the key is to make sure it's a buffalo check not gingham otherwise you run into a country feel.

Emily

A Little Project

2011-11-08T03:41:00.000-07:00

Good morning!

Here is the inspiration for a little project I'm working on.

I sure hope it turns out well as this is one of the easier projects on my To Do list!

Emily

Kitchen Love

2011-11-07T04:15:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

How was your weekend? My nephew was baptized yesterday, which make for a lovely day.

I was talking to a friend about kitchens so I thought I would share a few ideas I came across with you all.

I love this gray kitchen from Southern Living.

Look at the detailing on the cabinet glass!

Barn wood Ceiling

I'm digging the green cabinets

I love the mix of rustic and sleek, modern and traditional, old and new

Amazing galley kitchen

Love the mix of rustic and clean modern lines

Love the gray cabinets!

Amazing wine cooler

I hope your week gets off to a great start!

Emily

Etsy Lovin'

2011-11-03T04:07:00.000-06:00

Hi all!

I haven't looked at Etsy in awhile so I spent yesterday afternoon doing some browsing while M was sleeping. Here are some items I have added to my favorites. Yes, please!

Peacock Stemless Wine Glasses

Decorative Bird Pillow Cover

On the Sea Watercolor

Enlightenment Watercolor

Airstream Print

Buffalo Check Pillows

Say Your Prayers Sign

What are you loving on Etsy lately?

Emily

Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas

2011-11-02T04:54:00.000-06:00

Good morning!

We had a lovely Halloween with friends. I hope you did also! Is anyone else already mentally moving on to the next holiday? I am! Even though we aren't hosting Thanksgiving this year I thought it would be fun to compile a few centerpiece ideas for those of you that are.

Here are my favorites all via Pinterest:

I love a natural, organic feeling tablescape if you can't tell! :)

Have a great day!

Emily

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T06:25:00.002-06:00

I didn't buy M a specific costume since she's too little to go trick or treating but we do have a great evening with friends planned. Any night that involves chili soup, wine, candy, and good friends is a great one in my book!

We are excited for trick-or-treaters in our new house!

Hope you have a Happy Halloween!

Emily

Fall Weekend!

2011-10-29T04:20:00.000-06:00

Happy Saturday!

Have a nice weekend!

Emily

Bedroom Inspiration

2011-10-26T04:40:00.000-06:00

Hi all!

With the thought of finally settling on a color for our master bedroom I have been doing a lot of bedroom searches. Here are some pictures I have run across along the way and thought I would share:

I love the bamboo shade and colorful pillows

The hanging drum shades are genius!

This reminds me of our bedroom with dark furniture (a 4 poster bed) and white linens with pops of green

Hope you're having a great week!

Emily

Navy Obsession

2011-10-25T04:44:00.000-06:00

Hi all!

We are coming off a great weekend at home....it's the first weekend we will be home in all of October and November. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. One thing I have been enjoying thinking about is pulling together the master bedroom. It has been on the back burner but when I saw this picture by Bryn Alexandra I was inspired.

The majority of our furniture has an espresso finish and our bed linens are white with a bit of bright green detailing. It's a very large room with 3 large windows so it's a pretty airy feeling space. I think I might be able to pull off such a dark color.

Here are a few other navy rooms I'm liking:

What do you think? Should I go for it?

Emily

Little Girl's Room

2011-10-21T03:44:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday!

Here is a pretty image that I'm going to leave you with to start your weekend. I have started saving pretty rooms like this for when M gets bigger.

I'm excited to do a bit of shopping with my mom this weekend.

Hope you have something fun planned!

Emily

Gazebo Cheese Soup

2011-10-20T05:23:00.000-06:00

Good morning!

I like soup. Therefore, I'm going to share yet another soup recipe. This is Jacob and I's favorite recipe to make when it's cold out and today was the perfect day.

Ingredients:

1/2 stick butter

3 chopped green onions (I use the whole thing)

3 stalks of celery, chopped

2 finely grated carrots

2 cans of broth (I use vegetable but the original recipe calls for chicken)

3 cans of cream of potato soup

8oz grated extra sharp cheddar cheese

parsley flakes

coarse ground pepper

salt

8oz sour cream

Directions:

Melt butter over low heat and saute onions, celery, and carrots. Add broth, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

Add potato soup, cheese, parsley, salt, pepper, and sour cream simmer for 15 minutes

That is it! It really is an easy soup to make and it's so filling and is great with bread and wine!

Perfect for a cold rainy day like today! I always double the recipe because the left overs are yummy too

Enjoy!

Emily

Holiday Gift Ideas

2011-10-18T06:32:00.008-06:00

Can you believe it's already mid October? I certainly can't! It's crazy to think that the holidays are right around the corner and so are all those great parties and get togethers. I'm starting to think about Christmas early this year as well as buying a small hostess gift for a few parties are planning to attend.

Here are a few ideas I came up with that I figured I might as well share. If you're like me you're always looking for a new idea or two!

West Elm Owl Measuring Cups $19

Crate and Barrel Astoria Candleholders $17.95-21.95

Pottery Barn Antique Silver Condiment Set $49

West Elm Olive Wood Paddle Boards $19-39

West Elm Slate Coasters $16/4

Z Gallerie Bling Placecard Holder $12.95/4

Pottery Barn Bulldog Bottle Stopper $16.50

Since we're Bulldog people I had to include the bottle stopper....PB also has a Bulldog pourer. Adorable!

I might just have to add a few of these to my Christmas list!

Emily

Practically Perfect

2011-10-14T04:07:00.000-06:00

Good morning!

It's hard to believe yet another week has gone by already. I'm walking my first half marathon on Sunday. Wish me luck!

I love all the textures in this room. I think they are what pull the room together and make it feel cozy yet exceptionally sophisticated. Yes, please!

Have a great weekend!

Emily

Kid Spaces

2011-10-13T01:49:00.000-06:00

Good morning!

I'm jumping way ahead thinking about big kid spaces but I had fun browsing around on Pinterest and these are a few of my favorites. I have to admit half of this post is just so I can remember these ideas when M gets a bit bigger.

I love the colors of this room and the chandelier!

I love this idea for a little nook

I love all the bright colors and organizational bins. I think it's great to have a kid area that still flows with the rest of the house!

Emily

South Carolina on my mind

2011-10-12T08:46:00.002-06:00

Sorry for my absence I have been here for the past week enjoying some quality time with family. I must say it's hard to be back but once I get myself in order I'll be back to posting in no time.

Miss M is off for her 4 month appointment today. I can't believe how time is flying!

Emily

Sunday Inspiration

2011-10-09T04:56:00.000-06:00

Hi all!

Today is the last image in my week long series of inspirational images.

I love the mirror topped dresser in the middle of the closet. Yes, please! I also love the light fixture. This image comes pretty close to perfect for me and my dream closet. You?

Emily

Saturday Inspiration

2011-10-08T04:56:00.000-06:00

Good morning!

Today's image is a bit different. Rather than featuring a whole room it's an idea of how to decorate with jewelry. I love this idea!

It would be incredibly easy to thrift a few cups and saucers and make this look your own for not a lot of money. I have several key pieces I wear a lot so this would be perfect for my favorite items.

Emily

Friday Inspiration

2011-10-07T04:55:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday!

Here's another crisp airy image today. Right up my alley!

I love the mix of pattern and sophisticated feel. I'm loving the fresh flowers in separate containers.

Emily

Thursday Inspiration

2011-10-06T04:53:00.000-06:00

Hi all!

Today's image has a much different feel than yesterday's. It's much more light and airy.

I love the natural feel with the wood and the crisp white sink.

Emily

Wednesday Inspiration

2011-10-05T04:52:00.000-06:00

Hello!

Today's inspirational image is a bit moody. What do you think?

I love the mix of navy and apple green. Since I'm considering navy curtains for our formal living room they get a thumbs up from me. I love the zebra rug and matching lamps!

Emily

Tuesday Inspiration

2011-10-04T04:51:00.000-06:00

Good morning!

Here is your picture of the day. This one might be my favorite of the whole week.

I love the cozy chairs and the accordion table, which is on my wish list. I think the mix of frames make it feel welcoming yet sophisticated.

Emily

Monday Inspiration

2011-10-03T04:50:00.000-06:00

Hi all!

I'm taking the week off but I'm not going to leave you hanging! I will post an inspirational image each day that I am loving for one reason or another.

I love how cozy this room feels. I like the mix of fabrics and the neutral color palette.

Emily

Eye Candy

2011-09-30T04:50:00.000-06:00

Hi all!

I'm posting and running. Here are a few pretty images to look at in the meantime!

Hope you have a great start to the weekend!

Emily

Fall Touches

2011-09-27T04:30:00.001-06:00

Hi all!

Are you getting sick of me talking about fall? I promise this is my last post for a bit. I wanted to share a few peeks at my fall decor. I had grand plans but once I got down to it I decided to save my energy for Christmas since we're hosting this year.

Here is my fall mantel. I liked the idea of keeping it neutral. I made the moss wreath for around $3 and the rest of the decor cost around $11. Not too bad!

This is in front of the tv......just a few pumpkins!

A small floral arrangement in the formal living room

This is the yarn wreath I made. It was easy to make!

I love my Cinderella pumpkin!

The sink area was one of my favorite parts of the house when we were looking at houses.

Front door

I bought mums that aren't blooming yet. I can't wait until they do!

Emily

Fall Pillows

2011-09-26T04:43:00.000-06:00

Good morning!

I hope you all had a great weekend! One of my best friends came to visit and we had a wonderful time shopping, playing with M, and just hanging out. I am slowly working on my fall decor and will be sharing it soon. I bought a few pumpkins for outside and plan to buy a mum or two this week.

One thing I always want to do around this time of the year is buy new throw pillows with an autumn feel. I think I'll hold off this year and try to buy some at the end of the season.

However, here are a few types of fall pillows that I love:

I love the idea of a few velvet pillows in coordinating colors. The bad thing is that I only want them for a few months and then I want to put out red and white buffalo check pillows for Christmas. :)

Emily

Fall Favorites

2011-09-22T03:30:00.000-06:00

Hi all!

I apologize for the lack of in depth posts lately. Miss M is on a sleep strike so I'm not firing on all cylinders this week. In an effort to not totally fall off the face of the earth I figure it's better to at least post pretty pictures than nothing at all.

Here are a few Fall Favorites I have pinned recently:

Here's hoping I get more sleep and am feeling more crafty in the upcoming days!

Emily

Fall Etsy Favs

2011-09-21T04:08:00.000-06:00

With fall in the air I have been searching Etsy for inspiration and project ideas. Here are a few things I have come across that I love.

Autumn Leaves Paper Garland

Flash Cards

Glass Acorn Necklace

3 Small Wool Pumpkins

Ghost Pumpkins Photograph

Autumn Watercolor

12 Wool Acorns

Adorable!

What are you loving on Etsy recently?

Emily

Eye Candy

2011-09-20T05:27:00.000-06:00

Hi all!

I hope you're having a great week so far! Here are a few images I am loving:

Have a good one!

Emily

A Good Morning

2011-09-16T07:56:00.002-06:00

Now this is what I call a good morning.

Coffee: check

James Taylor on iTunes: check

A Fall Craft: check

Cinnamon candle burning: check

A hint of Fall crispness in the air: check

Sweet baby M asleep in her swing: check

Love it!

Emily

Lonny Magazine Sept/Oct 2011

2011-09-15T06:33:00.007-06:00

Hello!

I am happy to be back after a bit of a hiatus with family. While out of town I had a severe allergic reaction to something and broke out in a combo of hives and other itchy rashes over most of my body. Ugh. I was miserable for days and after a misdiagnosis and a day and a half of not holding sweet baby M I am happy to know I'm not contagious. I'm still not sure what I had a reaction to but I'm thinking it was something seasonal. Either way, I'm ready to look normal again but am mostly thankful to be less itchy and not having to stress about contaminating everyone around me.

Needless to say it has been a stressful few days! Today we are enjoying temps in the 60's, which I'm pretty happy about (partly because I have to wear pants and long sleeves to cover my bumps) but also because it's starting to feel like fall! I'm off to do some fall decor shopping today!

Have you seen the latest issue of Lonny Magazine? Here are a few images that struck me this morning.

I'm inspired by the greenery on the mantle. I need to keep my eye out for something similar.

I love the neutral palette!

I hope you all are having a great week!

Emily

Lovely

2011-09-12T03:50:00.000-06:00

Perfection!

Happy Monday!

Emily

Bookcase Before and After

2011-09-10T04:53:00.000-06:00

Hi all!

A good friend of mine recently painted a bookcase she was gifted to match her decor a bit better.

Here is the before:

All sanded down and ready to paint:

After:

It looks great Jess and it matches your black table perfectly!

Emily

Pin-speration

2011-09-08T05:07:00.001-06:00

Hilarious.....I know. Anyway I'm busying hanging with family so here are a few pretty pictures for you to look at in the meantime!

Hope you're having a good week!

Emily

Gold and Gray

2011-09-06T05:39:00.000-06:00

Hi there!

We had a great weekend with family. I hope you did too! Over the weekend I was browsing Pinterest for inspiration and came across these images of gray and gold.

The mix of the two colors creates such a warm, rich combination. I love it!

Emily

DIY Fixed Roman Shade Tutorial

2011-09-02T06:13:00.003-06:00

Good morning!

This is a little project I have been planning on doing for a few weeks now. I finally got my supplies and got started yesterday. Jacob hung it last night and I snapped a few pictures this morning.

This is a fixed roman shade meaning it is inoperable but I like that it gives the appearance that it does actually work. The whole project cost me around $20 for fabric, blackout fabric, a 1x2 inch board, and a packet of L brackets.

Here is how I did it.....(I followed Darby's tutorial found here):

The materials I used are pictured below:

fabric

blackout lining

measuring tape

1x2 inch cut to fit the exact measurement of the window

L shaped brackets

and not pictured a sewing machine and hot glue gun

I measured my window and added 2" to the width and 4" to the length. For example: the window was 23" + 2" = 25" width x 47.5" + 4" = 51.5" length. I started by cutting my fabric to 25 x 51.5 and hemmed the 2 sides and top by 1/2".

I then cut the blackout lining to the 24" (the size of fabric less 1/2 " on either side) and less the hem allowance at the bottom. I folded the edges under and hot glued it to my seams all but the bottom.

I was left with a nicely lined piece of fabric (except for the unfinished bottom seam)

I then folded the bottom edge under 1/2 " and then up 3" like pictured below. Sew a straight stitch.

From here I winged it as far as measuring and choosing my folds. I just did what looked nice according to how far down on the window I wanted it to hang. It worked for me to end up with 3 folds. I pinned and sewed a straight stitch on each one.

I then stapled my fabric to the wood and Jacob mounted it for me. I chose blackout lining so I could fake it and hang the shade much higher than the actual window creating the illusion of a taller window.

I think it really dresses up the bathroom and for $20 even though it's far from perfect I like it! I'm glad that I went with a fabric that that not only has blue in it to tie in with the paint (RH Silver Sage color match) but has pink. This is the guest bathroom as well as Maddie's so I can bring in pink accents to make the bathroom more hers as she grows.

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

Emily

I'm in Love

2011-09-01T07:37:00.002-06:00

with a picture. Not sure exactly why but I love this image. Something about the green textured wallpaper with gold accents and white trim.

A lot of times I just get a feeling one way or another when looking at a picture. This one makes me feel warm and fuzzy!

Emily

Summer White Corn Soup

2011-08-31T09:07:00.006-06:00

Good morning!

I don't believe I have ever shared a recipe with you all and today that is about to change! This is one of my favorite summer time recipes that is perfect for this time of year with all the corn out in stores and farmer's markets. It's pretty easy to make and a delicious healthy soup perfect for any get together. In fact, I think it would be great for a Labor Day party!

Serves 6 if you make a salad and serve it with bread. Jacob and I eat it and there is a small amount of leftovers. I would probably double it if I wanted to make it for a crowd.

Ingredients:

5 ears sweet white corn, shucked

1/2 cup milk

1 tbl unsalted butter

1 tbl olive oil

1 large yellow onion, chopped

2 celery stalks (I didn't have any so this time I left it out)

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 large Yukon Gold potato (I used 2 Idaho potatoes to make up for not using celery but I'm not fussy about cooking and ingredients)

4 cups vegetable broth

1 tsp salt, more to taste

1/2 tsp black pepper, more to taste

16 fresh basil leaves (I do have to say that fresh basil is so much better than dried in this recipe...it's worth buying fresh)

Directions:

1. Start with 5 ears of corn (although I used 6 b/c it was 6 for $2 at the local farmer's market) and what could be wrong with more corn in a corn soup. Nothing, I tell you.

2. Here is a trick I just learned: to make shucking the corn (husking?!....I might be showing my redneck roots with the work shucking) easier-- pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 min and the little strings come off easier. True story. Try it!

3. Cut the corn kernels off the cob

4. Add corn and milk to saucepan and bring to a low boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes then remove from the heat and set aside.

5. In a separate large saucepan, melt butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and reduce the heat to low and cook until the onion is soft and translucent (10 min). Add celery and cook until soft (4-5 min). Stir in garlic and saute stirring constantly for 1 minute, be careful not to brown the garlic.

6. Add the potato(s), 4 cups of broth, salt and pepper and bring to a low boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes are soft. Stir in the corn-milk mixture and half of the chopped basil.

7. Ladle half of the soup into a food processor or blender after it cools slightly. Process the soup slightly (about 10 seconds or until it's smooth) then pour it back into the pot.

I serve my soup with a great wine and a french baguette and possibly a summery salad

Sprinkle the rest of the basil on top before serving and enjoy!

And just keeping it real this is really how we eat our meals. A flower or fruit centerpiece?! No. We prefer a baby.....a stinkin' cute baby at that! (Oh, and a kitty on a chair too)

Hope you make and enjoy the soup as much as we do!

Emily

Featured!

2011-08-29T09:13:00.003-06:00

One of our newborn pictures was featured on Spearmint Baby today! Check it out here!

Thanks so much Shari!

Emily

Pretty!

2011-08-29T07:21:00.003-06:00

Hi all!

It's Monday after a great weekend with friends and I'm pooped. Enjoy these images while I'm off to take a nap!

Emily

2011-08-26T04:16:00.001-06:00

Happy Friday!

We have a ton of company coming this weekend and I couldn't be happier! I am stalled in my project but I plan to finish next week and share it with you then.

In the meantime, I wanted to share this photo. There are several great things about this picture: the curtains (I love the rod), the light fixture, and the cabinetry. However, the reason I have this image saved is the bar stools. I love the print and how it coordinates with the dining chairs peeking out from the corner.

We have 2 bar/counter areas in our kitchen and I'm on the hunt for 4 bar stools for not a lot of money. I love the idea of an upholstered back that is different from the seat!

Anyone seen any great deals on bar stools lately? I have been searching high and low and let me tell you they are expensive!

Have a great weekend!

Emily

HG Favs and A Few Great Finds

2011-08-24T04:25:00.001-06:00

Hello!

I made it to HomeGoods the other day for the first time in months and I thought I would share some of the favorite items I found.

Well, this isn't a favorite.....but I had to share. A plush dresser (like a fuzzy stuffed animal)....

WOW...

Sea Glass lamps- these were beautiful and I could see them in flanking a bed on the nightstands

I loved this guy! Perhaps on a casual buffet in a dining room?!

This was a great gourd inspired lamp that would look great anywhere but I pictured him on a great entryway table with a mirror and some fresh cut flowers

They are still going strong with yet another (different) sunburst mirror

I love this lamp! I wish there had been two as I would have seriously considered them for our guest bedroom. It was chunky with a perfect linen shade!

A great rustic inspired mirror

Another rustic inspired item

This is fabric I'm considering for a project I'm working on. I think I need to just go ahead and pull the trigger!

And these are a few items I picked up at a local thrift store last week. The candle holders were only $3.50 each. I already have 4 mercury candle holders in varying sizes and they are perfect for everyday use (ours are on our mantel right now) and they're great for decorating for Christmas as well. The white urn was only $3 and while I don't have an immediate use for it I couldn't pass it up. I'm sure I'll think of something! :)

Lots of great finds!

Emily

Idea Board

2011-08-23T05:26:00.005-06:00

Good morning!

We had a great weekend with family yet again. My mom was here and we went shopping and she watched Maddie while I was able to accomplish a project or two. As I mentioned last week I have a few things I'll be sharing with you in the upcoming week or two.

One of those is an idea board for a client looking for inspiration for her formal living room. She wanted the space to feel sophisticated yet comfortable. She wanted it to look pulled together and inviting not a room that is off limits to children and guests.

We were essentially starting from scratch as far as furniture. My only parameters were that she wanted the room to have a bit of blue in it to tie in with the adjoining formal dining room.

I'm happy to say the room was a hit and she plans to get started on it immediately!

If you are interested in an idea board please email me for more information. I offer several tiers of boards to accommodate your needs including a "Board on a Budget"- you give me the budget and I will work within it to accomplish the look you want!

Have a great day!

Emily

Happy Friday!

2011-08-19T17:28:00.001-06:00

Just thought I would pop in and say Happy Weekend!

I'll be back with a few fun projects next week!

Emily

Neutral Obsession

2011-08-18T04:03:00.000-06:00

Hi all!

I hope you're having a great week! I'm excited to share with you some new projects I'm working on in the upcoming week! In the meantime here are some images I love. It's no secret that I am a fan of neutrals.

I would die for french doors and a fireplace in my master bedroom like these!

Look at that ceiling!

I love the chippy dresser, frames up the stairs, and white cozy furniture

Layered rugs....interesting use here

I love the doors, fireplace, and the gold mirror

As if I could name all the things I love about this room

I love the floors, the moulding and the collection of frames

Be back soon!

Emily

Mirror Before

2011-08-16T14:29:00.003-06:00

I had to restore the settings on my iPhone (its dying a slow death.....can't wait for the 5G to be released soon) and when I did this picture was loaded back on my phone!

I guess that is one good thing about wiping you calendar and everything clean. I restored the settings to the last time I synced, which was last November. Oops.....guess I should do that more often.

Here is the mirror that I got for free on Craigslist!

and here is the after

more details about the mirror here

I love finding lost things!

Emily

Wallpaper

2011-08-15T07:09:00.005-06:00

Hi all!

We had a great weekend with family. We rented a house with my brother's family and my mom and after a bad storm the power was out overnight. Let's just say that no power + 2 babies and a toddler makes for an interesting night. We are just thankful that it was cool outside and that we were able to come home and take a long nap yesterday! :)

One thing that I have been thinking about a lot is wallpaper. I would love to feature it in one room in our home but I'm just not sure where. To be honest it isn't something we would be doing soon.....it's just me dreaming.

Here are some rooms featuring wallpaper that I am drawn to:

What do you think, are you a wallpaper person?

Emily

Living Room Progress

2011-08-12T03:19:00.001-06:00

Hello!

As promised here is another project I have been working on. I'm dying to pull the formal living room together so it is what I have been focusing on lately.

This last weekend Jacob hung the newborn photo prints I framed (IKEA RIBBA Frames- $10 each with a mat- such a steal). We have 5 in this room and 5 for in our bedroom.

I was so sick of staring at that blank wall. It looks so much better!

I also finished another project that I have wanted to do for awhile but could never figure out how to accomplish it. I wanted to personalize a bus roll like you are now seeing everywhere. Jacob and I have lived in several cities (almost 10) since we met and several states since we got married in 2007. I wanted a way to showcase them and thought this was the perfect solution.

It occurred to me that my mother in law has a Cricut machine and that would make the project pretty easy. So for $25 I completed a custom bus roll.

I blurred some of the words because I'm weird about the whole world knowing everywhere we have lived. :)

So this is the other side of the living room. It's the short wall that is to the right as you enter the room from the entryway.

There you have it! Next on the list is curtains and a rug!

Emily

Inspirational Images

2011-08-10T04:02:00.000-06:00

Hi all!

Did I share that I figured out Pinterest? If not, I'm sorry but I did.....finally! I emailed them and received a prompt response with specific directions and they worked. :)

Here are some images I found this morning:

Genius! I love the mason jar DIY sconce

These vases are wine bottles cut off. What a great way to recycle!

Have a great day!

Emily

Mirror Makeover

2011-08-09T02:03:00.000-06:00

Hi all!

I have been busy with several projects around the house. I'm anxious to show you them over the next few days.

The first was a mirror I got on Craigslist for free last fall in Florida. I am kicking myself for not taking a before picture. I thought I had one and now I can't find it. Ugh. Anyway it was bright blue and all beat up.....but when I saw it and it was free, I knew I had to have it.

After sanding and spray painting it black, Jacob hung it for me last night (I told you I hate hanging stuff!) over the buffet in the dining room.

You may remember that I purchased the dresser for $20 and gave it a makeover. Details on that project here.

As you can see I haven't touched the brass chandelier, which will change at some point. I might take it down and spray it black since we won't be purchasing anything new until we buy a table.

At first I was worried about the scale of the mirror and the fact that it is pretty big over the buffet. However, it's growing on me. A matching pair of lamps are on my list to flank the mirror. I simply grabbed things from around the house to stage these pictures.

It's amazing that this whole project only cost $10 for 2 cans of spray paint!

Emily

Confessions

2011-08-08T02:52:00.000-06:00

Hi there!

I have a few confessions to make.

It seems in blogland you either love or seriously dislike (I hate the word hate) Young House Love. I have to admit I'm generally not a fan. However, every now and then they post something that I really like, which is why they are still in my reader.

I confess that I love what they did to their daughter's closet. That's right, I said closet.

You see growing up I dreamed that I had a little room off of my closet that I could go into and read. I'm not sure why but I always wanted a secret room. Well, this kinda reminds me of it and I think it's adorable. I wish we could do this in M's closet but it's simply not big enough.

I did start stenciling her closet this spring but it was a ton of work and the paint I was using was too light. Maybe I'll try again one of these days because I think it's a fun idea.

Another confession from someone that loves all things decorating. I can't stand to hang things. Unless it is a one nail kind of a job, I make Jacob do it. The good news is that he usually doesn't mind and he's really good at it. I just hate figuring out the measurements and I usually end up with more than one hole in the wall. It really is something I need to get over.

Another confession: I have a picture frame problem.

I drive Jacob nuts because I have about a million frames in a closet upstairs that I have bought or been given over the years. Yet I often still want to buy a new one. I think they are like shoes for me...... I may have 5 pairs of black dress shoes but I never have the style that I want to go with the new dress I just bought. ;)

I try to use the ones we have but some of them aren't my style anymore. I should really just give a bunch to Goodwill and be done with it.

Alright, that is all I can think of right now. Do you have any decorating confessions?

Emily

Happy Weekend!

2011-08-06T03:49:00.000-06:00

Have a great weekend!

Emily

Home Decorators Collection

2011-08-05T04:44:00.000-06:00

One store that I haven't thought of in forever is Home Decorators Collection. I received their magazine in the mail randomly the other day and I was impressed. I always found them pretty hit or miss with some over priced items and others that looked cheap. Here are a few pieces I like:

I love all things tufted so these 2 pieces are awesome in my book. I especially love the sofa. I wish it was in the budget because it would look lovely in the reading nook of our bedroom.

They are now carrying the ever popular aluminum bar stools. I think they are pricey at $149

A buffet that isn't bad for less than $300

I love a pedestal table

A pretty rug that would look nice in our entryway

Bathroom sconce that is different from the usual suspects

A lovely traditional mirror. I would love it over a modern dresser

Cheery bistro set

What do you think? Are you loving' HD like I am? Check them out here!

I thought I should mention I'm not getting any compensation for my opinions :)

Emily

All things Gray

2011-08-03T06:04:00.004-06:00

It's nothing new that gray is a hot color these days. I am among the millions of gray-lovers so I thought I would share some of my favorite images. Our formal dining and living rooms are Behr Ultra Ashes (a soft silvery gray) and I am loving pulling those rooms together as we speak.

I love it!

Emily

World Market

2011-08-01T04:56:00.000-06:00

Good morning!

I hope you had a nice weekend. It was Jacob's birthday on Friday so we had a nice weekend celebrating.

My mom was here to help babysit and she and I did some shopping with M on Saturday. One of our stops was World Market because I had a $10 gift for being a member of their rewards program for my birthday. Did you know about this? It's great and I had 15% off anything in the store. I wish I could say I bought something really cool but money is tight so I settled for a new hand towel (below) for the powder room.

I hadn't been in WM for a long time so I thought I would show you some of the things I saw and liked in case you're like me and haven't been in awhile.

I love this towel. It is super soft and looks very luxe.

I am eyeing these stools because we have 2 bar areas in the kitchen

I love the detail of this mirror

They had a lot of velvet pillows.....perfect for fall

I like this plate. I almost bought it for the kitchen but I restrained myself as I already have several on the wall

Cute little soap dish

Have you been to WM lately and seen anything you like?

Emily

2011-07-27T05:21:00.000-06:00

Good morning!

Now that M and I are settling into our daily routine I'm starting to think about decorating again.

When we moved into our house in January I was 20 weeks pregnant. I made a list of the things I wanted to accomplish by June, which included: painting several rooms upstairs and the entire downstairs, putting together the perfect nursery, making the outside presentable with new flowers and shrubs, tying together the family room with a rug and new pillows, and several other things.

What this left was 2 guest rooms that have been pulled together with things we already had, meaning I don't necessarily like how they look. And several other rooms that are about halfway to where I want them to be even though to outsiders I think they look pretty nice.

One of the rooms that is 3/4 of the way finished is our formal living room/piano room. It is to the right as you come in the front door and houses our apartment grand piano, 2 white wingback chairs, a small table, and a few stringed instruments. We painted the walls Behr Ultra Ashes and I purchased 2 colorful pillows.

I have ordered prints and purchased frames, which we will hang this weekend. Besides a few other things on the walls what the room is screaming for is curtains. When I came across this image the drapes struck me as something that might just be perfect for the living room.

here

I'm on the hunt for navy curtains!

Emily

Things I'm Thinking About

2011-07-25T04:28:00.000-06:00

Hello!

I hope you all are staying cool. It's so farkin' hot here. I'm mostly staying inside:

1. because there is a heat index of 105 and above most days

2. I have a 6 week old

3. because I'm tired ;)

I have been trying in my free time to figure out Pinterest with not a lot of success. Luckily, I have found I'm not the only one having problem adding the Pin It button. I'm still enjoying doing searches and browsing around. A few of these images are from Pinterest but a few are ideas I have had bookmarked for awhile.

I need to try this braid!

found here

I might try to make these this week. I have a great friend visiting and I know she would help me eat/drink them! :)

found here

These are Popsicles served with Prosecco. A delicious, easy and the perfect summer treat!

found here

I'm eyeing this print from Etsy. We're from Ohio and it's where our heart will always belong

found here

I have been thinking about stenciling a wall in our dining room (which is a similar light gray). I even borrowed a large stencil in a graphic pattern from a friend.....I just need the time to do it!

I think this is so cute and would look great in a nursery or really anywhere to add a pop of color

found here

What projects are you thinking about? I'm ready to start something....I just need to decide which one!

Emily

Things I'm Lovin'

2011-07-22T00:59:00.000-06:00

Here are a few pictures I'm lovin' this morning!

found via Pinterest

Have a great day!

Emily

Love!

2011-07-21T05:33:00.000-06:00

Hi all!

I'm recouping from a trip home. M and I had a great time but I'm pooped! I want to share an image with you that I love. Do you ever come across a picture that you just LOVE?! Well, I do every now and then and it makes me so happy when I get that warm fuzzy feeling about an image.

It happened to me a few days ago with this picture

I LOVE it!

Emily

Monday Inspiration

2011-07-18T04:00:00.000-06:00

Hi all!

I'm still hanging out with family so this will be a post and run. Enjoy!

Have a great day!

Emily