Beach Photography

Hey guys! Hope your summer is off to a good start!! I have been busying moving into a new office and trying to spruce things up a little bit. I would love nothing more than a giant Gray Malin photograph to help cover a sad, sad wall. His work is amazing.

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But sadly it is not in my budget so I have been searching for an alternative and found an amazing substitute until my ship comes in..

Beach Print
28 x 42 framed with mat...Yes, that price includes framing!!!
Plus with code FRIENDS you can save 20%
You can check out her other work at Pottery Barn here
and her Etsy Store
She has incredible photographs!!!
Can't wait to show you what I am getting!!

Colorful Christmas

Looking for something different this Christmas? Not a red and green girl? 
Thankfully, there are now a lot of options for adding some merry and bright to your holiday decor.

Tree Skirt, Tree Skirt, Tree Skirt, Pom Pom Garland, Advent Calendar, Christmas stocking, Stocking, pink pillow swan pillow, vintage ornaments, vintage ornaments tree topper tree topper

So what are you? More traditional or ready to add some hot pink to the mix?

All photos here

Fall Fashion

 Time for some fall fashion updates. 

I LOVE a good pair of cropped flare jeans. In fact I have been living in my white cropped jeans since this summer (thank you Cats B. for the tip) I loved them so much I also bought them in black and may go back for the blue denim. They look good with flats, boots and heels. I have spent a pretty penny on jeans lately but my most favorite pairs are from Old Navy. Surprising, right??

I have to warn you, if you follow the link below to Old Navy you will be disappointed. Dreadful styling. Don't let the red pumps - why oh why - scare you away. And the awkward stance in the picture with the black denim might make you want to pass these by...don't!! My sister has gotten two pairs and several friends have purchased them as well. I promise you will like them...or at least I am pretty darn sure. Check them out and let me know what you think!!

jeans, jeans jeans jacket t shirt tunic boot boot heels bag bag

PS When I was typing this up yesterday afternoon the white was sold out but I am hoping they might have some in stores or even restock them. I do have a thing for white denim mixed with black for winter. 

all pictures from here

Macrame Regret

You know how they say that when you look back on your life it's the things you didn't do that you will regret the most? Well, that is so true!! I so regret not buying these Zara Pom Pom Macrame shoes when I had the chance. 

I thought they weren't practical. That they may be a little too much. What has happened to me? Impractical and over the top used to be music to my ears.  I used to take risks. I have got to step up my game....

While looking at some fall clothing I realized the Macrame shoes would have taken any of these pieces from nice to dynamite. 

Dress,  Jumpsuit,  Frill Wrap Skirt, High Rise Fray Denim, Dress, Wide Leg Denim

OK, the wide leg denim needs more than fabulous shoes. You would need to add something better than the mom tee, but you get my point.

And they would have been the perfect shoe for my Oompa Loompa Jumpsuit.

I have found several pairs on Ebay but so far not in my size...I'll keep searching and in the meantime, learn from my mistake and get while the gettings good. 

Anything you regret lately??

Christina Juarez in Elle Decor

I am obsessed with Christina Juarez's home in the October issue of Elle Decor. Her fabulous home shows that the more risks you take the bigger the pay off. Room after room of color, patterns and textures makes me want to move in!! And borrow her clothes! 

Something else I love about her home is her ability to mix high and low. Her living room is a perfect example. The lamp, black and white pillow and cocktail table are available online and can be yours with a click of the button. 

fiddle leaf fig, coffee table, green and black pillow,   purple ikat pillow

Black and white pillow,

fur stool,  chair, wool rug, Floor lamp

Have your heart set on the Margarita wallpaper in the first picture? See it here

I need to have about 6 things recovered at my house and this may have motivated me to go bold....what about you?

Clay's Room

Last weekend we took Clay to school. He handled it better than I did. It's his second year so I should be used to it, right? But he's only in 11th grade, a mere junior in high school. I thought I would have him at home for a few more years. He's happy so I am trying to be a big girl about it. 

But one of the things that really bugs me is his room. I get that he doesn't care how it looks, but I care! I tried to explain to Clay and Bill how much joy one decorative pillow would bring me. You won't even see it, they said. But I will know it's there, I replied. They rolled their eyes and we left without one damn decorative item except for a sad rug. You can only argue for so long in the aisles of Target before you have to give up. 

I wasn't even going to do that much. One pillow, a great rug, beanbag chair for lounging, better desk chair and a few knick knacks. No big deal.

So based on the duvet cover he has from Ikea I came up with a few items I would like to use to fix up his sad little room. The pillow I really like sold but I found another good one!

Duvet cover, pillow, rug, rug, globe lamp, lamp, bean bag chair, desk chair, book ends, zebra hook, twig hook

That's not so bad is it???

My Goldilocks Dress

I have a favorite new dress. The Sorell dress

from Doen.

I call it my Goldilocks dress. By accident I ordered an XS. Have you seen me lately? I'm NOT an XS. Sure I could have worn it, but I would not have been able to lift my arms. No problem, I jumped online to order a S and they were out. Hmmmm, at this point I knew I had to have this dress so I decided I could make a M work. A few days later it showed up and yes, it was too big. So I did what any good shopper would do and stalked their website until a S showed up. And guess what? It wasn't too small or too big..it was just right. 

It is a wonderful light weight cotton that comes in two colors. And it comes with a matching slip!! Perfect for summer and down here in the south it will be great into the fall as well. I feel terrible for being a difficult customer so hop on the Doen site and buy yourself something cute. You will feel better and so will I. I wore mine all over New York and loved it!!

My only regret is not wearing the matching belt. In my defense I looked half this size in my mind - and other lies I tell myself :)

Similar dresses include this, this, this, this 
Next on my want list is this fabulous top. 
Now I have to decide if I should get white or black...thoughts?

My necklace is by Twine and Twing and I swear it goes with every outfit I own. My other necklaces are getting jealous. 

Summer Reading

Happy Summer!! Can't believe it is August. I start to feel anxious around this time of the year because it means summer is slipping away. 

It's been awhile since I did a book post so I thought I would share a few of the books I have been reading. 

1. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane Oh, how I loved this book!! I read it to the twins when they were young and I have pulled it out again to read with Locke. One of my all-time favorites and a must read. Through his adventures the china rabbit learns to love. Sniff, sniff. For those of you who loved The Velveteen Rabbit this will be right up your alley. 

2. Wonder Also on my must read list is Wonder. I think it should be required reading for all teens. The story follows a young boy with facial deformities as he enters middle school. This one will choke you up too and I hope you can read it before you see the movie.

3. The Orphan Keeper This is a wonderful book based on the true story of a young Indian boy kidnapped and sold to an orphanage. He is later adopted by a family in the US. It is very similar to the movie Lion but is based on different events. While I really enjoyed this book I thought 4. The Rent Collector  by the same author was even better!! My suggestion? Read them both!

And a few more that I have really enjoyed. Click on the link for more info!!
(PS Just because I wrote less doesn't mean I don't like these books as much, it just means that I'm tired....)

5. Salt to The Sea One of my favorites!! A misfit group comes together to escape a war torn country. Please read and let me know what you think. 

6. The Widow of the South  A quiet book that sucks you in. 

7. The Pearl That Broke It's Shell A fascinating look at another culture.

8. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane Lisa See once again takes you into the lives of a Chinese family and their journey to give up their old ways and accept the modern world. 

What have you read lately?? I would love some recommendations. 

Sissy


And I still haven't found a book I loved as much as The Nightingale

Eat, Watch & Be Merry

Just popping in to say...

Eat this...

While watching this video

I promise it will be a good experience.

I don't know what she is doing with that bear but keep watching until the end so you can see the out-takes.

That's all for now!

Friday Update

So..on my mind....

Me Before You.. The Movie

Trailer here

Take a deep breathe, we can get through this together. 

See, if you read the book you will know that while you think she is changing his life...he is changing her life (loud sobbing in the background).    

My favorite part? The bumblebee tights. 

What was your favorite part? 

After I watch this movie I will probably need a little pick me up...

And I am loving these shoes...aren't they...I don't know...perfect?

They would look great with this dress, dress, top  dress

But I am not just about the high dollar items...

you could look just as fab in this, this or this

Get shopping and happy weekend!!

Fun Fashion

Just a quick post to show you some thing I am liking on the web...

and to let you know I am alive and well.

This jacket is good. Very good.

Super cute shoes

And my new uniform pants.

I have been wearing these jeans for 3 days straight. And I'm just getting started.

They bring me joy...and eating room.

Wednesday Check-In

Emerson Fry is killing it with their spring line. 

I ordered myself this dress and I just wanted to give you a heads up in case you see me wearing it... no I am not pregnant, it is just a very full dress that gives me a little extra room for french fries.

Also loving this dress...

But think the length would be unfortunate on me...

And on Monday I got a box full of happy!!

New lamp colors to have and to hold...big love!!!



This is the triple gourd lamp in Egg Blue....can you stand it???
So far it's a good week, and it's March which is almost April which is almost summer!!! 

Getting Creative

If you follow me on Instagram 

You may have seen this picture over the weekend.

OMG! So much great art!!! I picked three of my favorite pieces from my Pinterest Art Board

Furbish

Todd Chilton

Fun DIY

   Then Cricket and I grabbed an old canvas from the attic (you wouldn't believe what I have in my attic!!! I wouldn't say I am a hoarder, but I do like to be prepared) painted over it and got to work. 

The canvas is a beast...3 x 4 feet so we started with one corner. So far I am very happy!! Just hoping I don't see something shiny and run off in another direction before I am finished!!!!! Cricket and I were a little impatient and dug all my old acrylic paints out of the cabinet...now that I am liking the direction it is taking I am wondering if I should switch to oils...any thoughts? Not sure if it is worth the cost or extra drying time involved...

What do you think????

Florence and the Wallpaper

Back in January I asked for help tracking down some fabulous wallpaper and thanks to Kathy, Nicky and Katie, I found out 

it is by Florence Broadhurst.

My readers are the best!!!

It comes in a ton of colors each one better than the last. 

This wallpaper brings me lots of joy but sadly joy is expensive. Plus I had to get out my calculator and convert Australian dollars to American dollars and math just sucks the joy out of everything. 

But lets not let a little multiplication and division bring us down, for an uplifting look at fashion and decor be sure to follow me on Istagram. 

Big Love on Instagram

While y'all were probably watching the Super Bowl, sniff sniff, I was on Instagram and got so lost in all that fabulousness I almost didn't make it back out. Which now that I think about it may not be a bad way to go...

Here are a few of my favorites. Some I have been following for a while, some are new, all are good, real good. 

Vita Kin

Can you stand it??? I can't.

Danika Herrick

Those chairs!!! Let me say it again...those chairs!!

It's like a rainbow, a unicorn, and a marshmallow all wrapped up in one chair. 

And I need one, well, really I need two. Who knows what these are called. I may have spent a good part of my night searching for these on Ebay and Etsy. 

Gaia for Women

The bags, the jewelry, the pillows...ugh...it's all so good!!!

Thank you Stuart for introducing me to this fab line!!

My pocketbook does NOT thank you!! :) 

And this just speaks for itself...big heart eyes for this dining room.

Angela at The Painted House is killing it!!! 

The painted panels...she did that herself!!

Check out her blog here and Instagram