Bookshelf Changeup

BOOKSHELF CHANGEUP

We recently had some pretty fantastic snow days here in Alabama, and I actually was able to do some productive things while we were out of school. It doesn’t matter that the productivity didn’t actually happen until Saturday when the snow was mostly melted. Hey, I thoroughly enjoyed my SNOW days by staying warm under the covers rewatching Big Little Lies. They’re winning all these awards, and I felt like an eight episode show wasn’t too much to binge in a few days.

But Saturday came and I was feeling the creative bug, so I took my gallery wall apart. And then promptly put it right back together because I don’t have anything else I’d like to put in its place. I have a lot of things in my cart at Minted but I don’t have a lot of money in my bank account to pay for all those pretty prints. Story of my life.

So then I walked to my bedroom, looked around and realized the drapes in my cart at Ballard don’t really go along with my bank account either. Sooooo…I decided to rearrange the books on the bookshelf. I knew I wanted a more streamlined look somehow. I didn’t want the messy look of all the randomly placed books. I’ve been craving simplicity in my decor, and the mismatched spines on the bookshelf didn’t fit that for me.

Here’s what it looked like before. This was about a year ago in March. At the top are all of my cookbooks and a few children’s storybooks I’ve collected. You can see there’s no real rhyme or reason to the way I shelved the books. It’s not necessary for there to be a rhyme or reason to shelving books, but like I said, the creative bug had bitten me, so I went for it.

Here’s what it looks like now.

I decided to shelve the books by the color of their spines. In keeping with the need for simplicity I started with white and black and just kept going. I know I didn’t follow Roy G. Biv, but it works for me.

The cookbooks on top got switched to stacks instead of the unlevel, upright position they were in. There’s a lot more yellow in those cookbooks than I would like, but since I don’t have Erica Berry’s kitchen from Something’s Gotta Give (that post here) and nowhere to put my cookbooks in my kitchen, this will do. I like it much better already.

I also decided to hang a picture over the bookshelf. Paul went to school with a guy that works at one of Arnold Palmer’s golf courses, Bay Hill. For a wedding gift, he got Mr. Palmer to sign a photo for us. But it wasn’t just a photo, it was a large print that he personalized for us. It was so special to Paul, and we had it framed so that we can enjoy it always. (Thanks, Josh!) I think it looks lovely hanging above the bookshelf, and I don’t know why it took me so long to decide it belonged there.

I know this wasn’t a drastic change, but I love when something small makes a big impact. I hope that you’ve gotten some ideas on how to update your bookshelves or inspired you to hang a fun photo. Do you arrange your books in any certain way? Do you hoard books like I do? Do you have any special photos, posters, and/or works of art? Let me know in the comments.

Sharing the Love: Favorite Home Bloggers

SHARING THE LOVE: FAVORITE HOME BLOGGERS

In the spirit of February and the love that’s in the air, I thought I’d put together a post each week this month to showcase some of the bloggers, YouTubers, and Instagramers that I love to follow. Today I’ll be sharing five of my favorite bloggers that are mostly home decor and diy. In no particular order, here they are:

Our Fifth House

Carmel over at Our Fifth House is actually in her sixth house. They live in a beautiful home in Charleston, and I think it may be my favorite exterior I’ve ever seen. It’s so happy with that pink front door.

She is a lover of the color red which is pretty much banned in this house because Paul is such a die hard Auburn fan, but I love the red accents she has throughout her home. She is a great diy-er and is soon attempting a small bathroom renovation that is sure to go from builder basic to stunning. She’s also a fellow Beautycounter consultant, so I love that she is helping to spread the mission of safer beauty to her readers.

And check out her office. It’s my favorite.

Before I hit publish on my very first blog post I reached out to Carmel for any tips she had for first time bloggers. She gave me some excellent advice, and I love that she was so kind to respond to me. Check out her blog and her Instagram account. She’s fun to follow.

The Elizabeth Street Post

How can I not love this one, right? It does have my name in the title. 🙂 Actually I’ve shared this one before. I talked about a house I couldn’t stop obsessing over that belonged to Alaina Kazmarski. Well, this is her blog, The Elizabeth Street Post.

Her style inspires me so much. I find myself wanting to paint every wall in my house white. Everything is just so timeless and chic. I could easily have her come decorate every home I live in for the rest of my life.

Alaina is the cofounder of The Everygirl, a website that is chock full of information for girls of all ages and stages of life. They post everything from career advice to fashion and literally everything in between. She also is expecting her first child, and it’s a little boy, and I can’t wait to see the final nursery reveal. She’s a true talent in many areas and shares more than just home decor. She’s got a great fashion sense and writes excellent posts about travel. Check out her blog and her Instagram account. It’s one of my favorites to follow.

Addison’s Wonderland

If you’re lover of color and pattern, you’ll be an instant follower of Brittany at Addison’s Wonderland. I fell in love with her former home and styled my previous home with items inspired by what she had. Her dining room was one of my favorite parts. I bought that rug and painted my own version of that colorful abstract.

She and her family now live in this gorgeous, 100 year old home that they’ve COMPLETELY renovated. It’s so lovely. She’s a Georgia girl, entrepreneur, wife, mama, business owner, and expert color and pattern mixer. So talented.

See what I mean about bold pattern and color? She does it so perfectly. I would never have the guts to just go for it, but I sure do learn a lot from how she does it. Go visit her blog and take the home tour of her current house and her former house. And don’t forget to follow her on Instagram too.

Elements of Style

Erin Gates should be a name you know in your household. If she isn’t, you’re seriously missing out. Her book, Elements of Style, is my favorite home decor book. It’s so much more than that. Seriously, if you get it, read it. She’s so transparent in it, and I like her a lot.

Erin is a super talented Interior Designer who also has her own line of home accessories. I’ve recently seen them popping up in our local TJ Maxx. There were several pillows, which were all perfect. Especially some fur ones that I almost sent my Christmas present back for. I decided not to since I’m still unsure of my master bedroom design, but I hope someone got them and loves them. They were amazing!

That’s Erin’s entry to her house. I mean….YES! If I ever have stairs, it’s more than likely going in this direction. Stunning.

Another thing that I love about Elements of Style is the Fashion Friday posts. Style doesn’t stop at interiors for Erin. She’s got a great fashion sense and come award season, she’s my go-to blog to read the rundown of everyone’s dresses. She’s very candid and always offers up way better suggestions for those red carpet don’ts.

Erin is also coming out with a second book! EEEK!!! I can’t wait. And she has the sweetest little boy, Henry. He’s so stinking cute, and she shares a lot of Henry on Instagram. So follow her blog and Instagram account for all kinds of design inspiration in fashion and interiors.

So, did any of you know about these four bloggers? There are several more I like to follow, but these are the ones bookmarked on my desktop. I don’t miss too many of their posts and always catch up when I do miss. I hope that you enjoy perusing their sites and get lots of design ideas for yourself.

Movie Set Monday- Sex and the City 2

MOVIE SET MONDAY

Welcome back to Movie Set Monday! I am still having the most fun putting these posts together. Interior design and home decor really are some of my passions. I may not always be great at putting it together myself, but I love to look at spaces that have been expertly styled. I learn so much from them. And that’s no exception today.

SEX AND THE CITY 2

In the second movie of the Sex and the City franchise we see that Carrie and Big decided not to live in the beautiful 5th Avenue penthouse we saw in the first movie (that post here), but they did get a stunning apartment that we’re going to look at today. I’m a sucker for wallpaper. I know that many people, my parents included, have probably sworn off wallpaper after scraping some from the 80s or 90s off walls and ceilings. Yes, ceilings. There was pineapple wallpaper on the ceiling of my parents’ kitchen when we first moved into that house. Nowadays we have things like removable wallpaper, so if we want to try a bold pattern on the walls, we won’t feel so bad about taking it down in a few years when the trend is over. I very seriously thought about doing wallpaper in our bathroom, but I think, based on my budget, I’d better stick to paint.Okay, back to Casa de Preston. I love a foyer with a table in the middle. I guess that room looks as if it’s technically serving as a mini library, but the table right in the center is one of my favorite ways to style a space like that. It’s the perfect excuse for fresh flowers. And that light fixture is just perfection. I am loving interesting light fixtures more and more lately. This bubbly one is very chic. Moving into the living room brings that beautiful ceiling. I love architectural details. That’s what really gives a home it’s character. Another thing I love about this space (because it feels like it’s breaking the “rules” a little bit) is that light fixture. I can’t quite figure out if it’s wooden medallions or bronze ones or maybe brass? Anyway, I think it’s very interesting, but I also like that it’s not centered over the table or the center of the living room. It’s just right in between the two spaces looking pretty. What a great idea to store your books upright on the coffee table? I never would have thought to do this. See-I’m always learning things. And an added bonus to doing this is the great bookends you get to use.
I notice that Carrie must really like the color blue. Remember the last apartment was all bright and, I feel like, quintessentially Single Carrie. But as she and Big got married and have merged their lives together into one space, she didn’t forget her favorite color. (Just wait for the kitchen backsplash.) She just used it in different shades. The whole apartment is covered in different shades of blue. In the picture above there’s the navy couch, the cornflower blue ottoman, and the teal Foo Dog bookends. And then those drapes. They cover the room in yet another shade of blue, and it all just works. Here’s another lesson I’ve learned in home decor: It’s okay to mix patterns and prints…as long as you have a color that brings them together to help the space make sense. Nearly every piece in this living and dining space is a neutral or has some shade of blue.

Another light fixture I love is that lamp below. I am definitely a fan of the curved lamp stand. You have to look carefully, but you’ll see the black swan-like neck of the lamp’s stand, and she’s lovely. Way more fun than a traditional table lamp. I’m digging the open floor plan and really loving those built-ins. The lights inside each shelf that illuminates them from within is so pretty and really showcases what you’ve got on the shelves. We also get a glimpse of that wild kitchen. Hello, Carrie’s apartment shade of blue. 🙂 I really love these chairs. The shape, the pattern, everything. And see the light? Is it wood? Is it brass? Is it bronze? Whatever it is, it’s pretty. The kitchen almost feels a little retro to me. Maybe it’s the tile backsplash (feels a little sixties mod) or the light (a little bit 50s). Maybe it’s the color of the wood on the lower cabinets that reminds me of some of the movies made/set in the 70s. Or the style of the table and chairs. Or the lack of hardware on any of the cupboards. I do love the big rug in the middle of the kitchen. It’s so unexpected. Again, breaking those rules. The open shelving is really nice, and it appears the fridge is just to the right of it. I also really love the floors. When I first saw this movie and they finally arrived home from Stanford’s and Anthony’s wedding, this was the room that had my heart all aflutter. The wallpaper was speaking my language and then I saw it mixed with the patterned headboard and those inky blue drapes with the gold fringe trim. Yes! Yes! Yes! Another master with a sitting area. I fell in love with the idea when I was putting together the Something’s Gotta Give post, and there’s no exception this time either. I love this little space. I could think of so many things to do in a sitting area in my bedroom. I may need to make this happen…
Also, the drapes on every window a real statement. They are so beautiful. Window treatments are like the perfect piece of jewelry to a room. It just adds a finishing touch that nothing else could accomplish. My mom always says curtains makes a room feel “homey”. I agree. I think they are inviting, and I think I want to plop right there in the seat by the window and have a cup of coffee and read a fashion magazine as Carrie would.

Or perhaps I’d sit at this lovely desk next to that window and write more about this glorious NYC apartment. 🙂 What a gorgeous piece of furniture, right? I love it’s shape and that wood grain on the inside is so pretty. Well we’ve come to the end. Just like the last SATC set post, I’ll leave you with a view of the perfect closet. His and hers. Again, I love that it’s perfectly imperfect and breaks the rules of symmetry, which I actually happen to love, but this is custom perfection. His is warm and masculine, and hers is light and feminine. And it’s wide enough for a place to sit and fasten your strappy sandals or zip up your boots or tie up your sneakers. And of course she’s still displaying her fabulous clothes as art. Thanks for coming back to Movie Set Monday. Same time, same place next week, right?

Currently Loving- January 2018

CURRENTLY LOVING- JANUARY 2018

Sort of felt like January drug on and on. I didn’t exactly want it to end, but it seemed like it wasn’t going to. I’m currently mouth breathing and couldn’t taste my dinner because of a cold. (And praying it doesn’t turn into the flu.) So, January didn’t end on a high note for me, but hopefully February brings health and wellness.

But that’s not why we’re here. There were some great things about January and I’m going to share them with you right now.

SNOW!

Y’all! It snowed again this winter!! I am a major lover of cold weather and the winter season, so the second snow and three snow days were very exciting for me. I know not everyone shares in my enthusiasm, but I loved it. Here are a few pictures of our place and a shot of my parents house.Our backyard is basically the back of downtown retail space, so it’s not exactly picturesque, but anything covered in snow is beautiful to me.

Year of Yes

I posted this book on Instagram right before the new year, and no, I haven’t finished it yet. However, it’s so funny! Shonda Rhimes has such a great sense of humor. Every time I pick it up I don’t want to put it down. I’ve just finished her commencement speech, and it was so true. She basically told a bunch of college graduates that the real world is hard. But that you have to get out there and do stuff to make it great and make it work for you. Sadly, I don’t even remember who spoke at my college graduation. I couldn’t tell you if it was a man or a woman, and I surely couldn’t tell you what they talked about. But I can tell you that I was clueless as to what the real world was going to be like. And Shonda’s right, it’s hard! I can’t wait to finish it and hope to do so soon. I’ll report back when I do.

Young Living Lavender Lip Balm

Are any of you familiar with Young Living? If you are, you know all about the essential oils that they are most famous for. Well, let me tell you what else they have. The greatest lavender lip balm there ever was. I’ve been using it for over a year now almost every night. I love the lavender scent and it’s so creamy and moisturizing.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m still loving my Beautycounter Peppermint Lip Conditioner. But during this flu season, I’m reaching for my Young Living lip balm more often than the lip conditioner. I’m a teacher who doesn’t want my germy fingers in the little pot the lip conditioner comes in for obvious reasons.

And with all that mouth breathing I’m doing, my lips are super dry. So thank you Young Living!

Lysol

Yep.

You guys, Paul has been following me around with a can of Lysol for the past two days. Tonight, he didn’t let me cook dinner or clean up the kitchen because he didn’t want me contaminating anything. (Let me just remind you that I don’t actually have the flu. I have nasal congestion.) He’s too much! But I might milk this for a little while longer. I could get used to him doing all the cooking and cleaning up the kitchen. 🙂 Those two scents above (Lemon Breeze and Early Morning Breeze) are the least offensive of the Lysol scents. I never liked the smell of regular Lysol and think the pink can is just as bad. But the yellow and purple actually smell okay. I’ve been using them like crazy at home and school.

The Greatest Showman

During the cabin fever that came from three snow days, Paul and I ventured out to the movies to see The Greatest Showman. I’ve been listening to the soundtrack for a while now, and it is the BEST! But the movie….y’all! If it’s still playing, go see it. It’s meant to be seen in the theater. The dancing and singing and the story is so powerful. It’s motivating, empowering, entertaining, and pulls at your heartstrings. I’ll be buying this one. I asked Paul to go see it again with me and he gave it a hard pass. So, if anyone in town wants to see it, I’m in! 🙂

Popsockets

I received a popsocket for my phone for Christmas. Where has this been all my life? It’s one of those things that you didn’t know you needed until it comes into your life. It just makes so much sense. It’s this little sticky, pop-up handle for your phone. And it’s the greatest prop for when you watch videos on your phone too. (I do this every morning, so if you get it for only this reason, it’s worth it.) Mine came from The Pineapple, and they had so many cute ones to choose from. This rose gold one with a black base is the one I have.

Suits

If you’ve been around for more than one post you know that I love TV. I’ve recently watched The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel twice, and Good Girls Revolt (very good) on Amazon Prime. I was looking for something else on Amazon to watch, and I had heard Suits was a good show but never cared to actually try it. I went for it and have already made it through season one and quickly working my way through season two. I am quite enjoying it. It’s a very interesting story and very entertaining. I’m a little nervous to find out what happens to Meghan Markle’s character now that she’s gone and gotten engaged to a royal. It’s not going to stop me from watching, though. I’m in, now. Hook, line, and sinker.

I’d love to hear any of your thoughts on my favorites of January. Especially any of you Suits watchers. Does it stay this good?

I hope y’all had a great January. If any of you got sick like I did, here’s to getting well and breathing through our noses again! And here’s to a February filled with lots of love.

Movie Set Monday- Sex and the City The Movie

MOVIE SET MONDAY

Welcome to the second installment of Movie Set Monday! I’m sharing one of my all time favorite apartments that belongs to none other than Carrie Bradshaw. If any of you are fans of the show Sex and the City you’ll remember her apartment being nice, but not overly styled or cohesive. We can all agree the walk-through closet was pretty sweet, but there were no real show stopper pieces in her apartment. Okay, maybe the leather chair she bought from Aidan but not much else. I’d say her clothes and shoes were the real show stoppers.

SEX AND THE CITY THE MOVIE

But then came the movie, and with that came *SPOILER ALERT* a jilt at the altar, a new hairdo, and (my personal favorite part) a newly decorated apartment.

I was googly-eyed, crazy in love with this wall color. I don’t know what it was. (Probably that it was Carrie Bradshaw’s color so, naturally, I loved it.) I tried to paint the third bedroom of our house in Louisiana a similar color and had different shades of blue painted on the walls trying to find the right one. The ending to that story is I chickened out on going so bold and painted it grey…womp womp. Anywho, I still love this color. I don’t know what room I’d paint that color, but I do know that the decorator, Lydia Marks, who put this look together is fearless and I love her for it!And how smart was it that as Carrie started to actually feel like herself again that her outfit matched her new apartment. I loved that tiny detail. Everything went from dark and depressed to bright and cheerful. It was a lovely moment in the movie. (Just so y’all know, I’m rolling my eyes at myself over here. It’s just that I’ve seen this movie and the TV show so.many.times. I have practically studied the decor and outfits of every episode and movie, so I’m just a big ol’ SATC nerd. And though I may be rolling my eyes, I’m not sorry I know so much about it. AND I could put names of some of you right here that have watched it just as many times as I have. Sometimes even WITH me!) 🙂 The color and pattern mixing are just right. And I love all of the white window treatments and trim and still more white accents here and there throughout the apartment. I think it calms down all that bright blue so that it’s just right and not too much. One of my favorite things is her entryway. I really liked the L-O-V-E wall decal. It was (here comes the nerd part again) such a perfect, full circle moment for Carrie given everything she’d been through with Big. She still believed in Love because she, like me, knows that Love does conquer all when it’s all said and done. Also still obsessed with that bomber jacket. ↑ The storage around her TV was another design element I loved about this apartment. It was so simple and sleek and functional. How perfect is that for when you have company coming over unexpectedly? I’d literally stuff everything in there if I had a messy house before guests arrived. Can’t end this post without a little closet love. This is a photo from the movie. I love the pendants and the runner. And displaying the clothes is the perfect “art” for this space. Carrie always had unique outfits, so hanging them outward was a great way to show them off. I imagine that she liked to switch them out so she could enjoy all of her beautiful clothes. And who can forget this moment?

The penthouse on 5th was exquisite. But this closet…. all the heart eyes for this closet. Did we not all gasp the moment those doors open and we saw this?Yep. I think we’ll end on this good note. Hope y’all enjoyed the walk around Carrie’s apartment. Come back next Monday for another movie set. Have a great week, y’all!

Movie Set Monday- Something’s Gotta Give

MOVIE SET MONDAY

Last week on Instagram I posted two different posts about movie set homes that stopped me in my tracks. It got my wheels turning, and I decided to start a new series on my blog called Movie Set Monday. I get so much inspiration from movies, magazines, and of course, Pinterest, so I’m very excited to get this series started. I hope you enjoy it too!

Something’s Gotta Give

I’m starting with the great Nancy Meyers film, Something’s Gotta Give. (Just a heads up- there’s going to be a lot of her movies in this series.)

Erica’s house is in the Hamptons, and how positively perfect is this home? I love the color and the shingles, the giant porch and all those windows. It’s so beautiful on the outside, but the inside is my favorite.

Now, coastal style is not always my thing, but how can you not think this is stunning? I like when I can look at a style I don’t particularly feel drawn to and can still appreciate it for what it is and find it beautiful.

The windows get me the most. One of the things I look for in a home is how much natural light comes in. There’s no shortage of that in this house. Throwing open those three sets of French doors would be great when entertaining. I’d probably open them up when not entertaining to hear the ocean and let that salty air come inside.

More French doors and more windows. I love interior French doors. I think they add so much character. And what a great way to add privacy but still let natural light be able to bounce around the house. And that beadboard on the built-in is a perfect coastal design touch.

Yes, Yes, Yes. Everything about this kitchen is right up my alley. I love a white kitchen. And with black and white being my favorite color combination, it’s no surprise that I love the black countertops and hardware. And more windows…there’s just never enough in my opinion. I think a bright kitchen in the mornings is delightful. The kitchen in our apartment is full of natural light every morning, and I love that. That island is what dreams are made of. Look at all the storage and space. I’d love for my cookbooks to actually live in the kitchen like they do here.

I’ve never thought too much about needing a big space for a master bedroom. I’ve really only had a bedroom big enough to sleep in. You know, bed, nightstands, dresser, and that’s really it. The master we have now is probably the biggest one we’ve had as a married couple, but I have still managed to fill it up with stuff to keep it from having a sitting area or any room at all it feels like. (But that’s a whole other topic for another day-How to quit your hoarding habit. Stay tuned. Haha.)

Anyway, this room made so much sense to me. There’s a place to sit and enjoy a book, a place to work-again with the windows-perfection, and a place to sleep. I loved that Erica retreated to her room to work on her play. Why wouldn’t she? She had the dreamiest setup. I feel like when you’re a creative person you need a work space that inspires you. I think that view of the ocean is pretty inspiring, and I see why the set decorator thought to put her desk in that window.

Overview

First, if you’ve not seen this movie, please do so immediately! It’s available on HBO Now if you subscribe, and if not, I bet the library has a copy. Or head over to Amazon to get a DVD copy for eight bucks. You’ll be happy you did so you can see what I’m talking about with this beautiful house.

Second, let’s give it up to the set decorator of this film. Beth Rubino is a talented lady who helped Meyers’ ideas come to life. I think the house perfectly represents Erica with her clean, bright style and easy-going personality. The mostly white canvas of the house is exactly what I’d expect from that character, and the splashes of light blue and pale yellow are perfect coastal accents without being to “beachy”.

Come back next Monday for another round of Movie Set Monday. And tell me what you think of this house. Is it your style? Do you like all those windows? Are you a fan of white kitchens? I’d love to hear it all. Just leave me a comment.

Have a great week, y’all!

Bathroom Makeover- Before

BATHROOM MAKEOVER- BEFORE

I wrote a Thursday Thoughts post yesterday saying how I couldn’t believe that we’ve been living in our apartment for almost a year and a half. I also mentioned that I’ve got some big and fresh ideas for our apartment to make it more functional for us. It seems to be my pattern to need to live in a space for almost a year before I really know what I want to do in it. If I want to change anything, paint anything, add anything, etc. I have come up with some ways to help make our bathrooms a little prettier and use the space we have to be super efficient.

I have always just known when a house or apartment was right for us. When we bought our house in Louisiana, I went to see it without Paul and knew right away that it was our house. I told him I thought it was the one, he came back for a second visit with me, and we just knew it was right. I sort of felt that with our apartment now, but it was in a different way. I knew we were going to move in to this apartment when we decided to move. It was a bit of a site unseen situation, but I knew I had to trust that it was going to be alright. When I finally did see it (just before we moved), I knew that it was right. It was smaller than what we were used to, but it was going to work for us.

Front Bathroom

I’ve had a tough time figuring out what to do in this space. Part of that was because I didn’t know how long we’d be here, and I didn’t know if it would make sense for me to do anything to it. If I wasn’t going to be here long enough to enjoy it, I’d probably not want to invest the time, money, and effort into making the changes. But as I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I am feeling quite happy here in this apartment. It seems to be the right time to customize the things we can and want to do, because we don’t plan to leave anytime soon.

The previous tenant had the bathroom walls repainted, but the job wasn’t up to my standards. I know that makes me sound like a snob, but there were paint brush hairs stuck to the wall. Nothing wrong with wanting to fix that. Also, I really wanted it to be bright and white. The beige color is a bit warm for my liking, so at the cost of a gallon of paint, I could really make this space over.

You can see some of the imperfections in this photo. The white mark under the towel bar is an imperfection in the paint job.

The Plan

I want to first say that there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING wrong with this bathroom. Everything works perfectly. I just wanted to make some changes that make it a little bit easier on the eyes…well, my eyes and that would make it function in the best way possible.

Here’s what I’m planning to do:

Paint the walls, baseboards, and door bright white
Paint the vanity black
Change hardware on cabinet doors
Add shelving above the toilet for extra storage
Rug or runner

Things I’m keeping:

Light fixture
Faucet
Shower curtain
Flooring
Shower/Tub insert

This will in no way be a gut-job. It’ll be a little mini-makeover. Like getting your hair and makeup done. 🙂

Here’s the inspirational photo that most accurately shows what I could do in my bathroom.

I’ll keep you updated on the progress. The colder temps deter me a little from painting because it doesn’t dry as well. I’m hoping it’ll be a quick weekend project, though. I’m looking forward to putting this in motion and showing you the results.

Have any of you done a mini makeover? How did it go for you? Let me know in the comments.

Have a great weekend, y’all!

Thursday Thoughts: This is Me

THURSDAY THOUGHTS: THIS IS ME

I’ve been thinking a lot about where I live. More specifically what I live in.

It hit me today that we’ve been living in our apartment for almost a year and a half. It’s not necessarily where I thought I’d be at this point in my life, but if I’m being honest, I have no idea where I thought I’d actually be. I suppose if you’d have asked me three years ago where I thought I’d be, I would have probably said in our house in Louisiana. We had no intention to move back or any reason to really. But when we got word that it was looking like we both had jobs and a place to live here, well, how could we not at least consider it?

Fast forward to now. We’ve moved to our hometown, we’re still in the apartment we moved into, and we have no real prospects as far as a house goes. Yes, my grandparents’ house is still available, but it just doesn’t feel right. I’ve always felt something when we were looking for a place to live. I just kind of know when it’s the right one, and I feel like someone else is meant to have that house.

That being said. I don’t feel like our time in this apartment is over. I suppose tomorrow someone could show me a house I know we’re meant to have, but today, right now, I don’t think we’re supposed to go anywhere just yet. This little place was meant for us during this season of life, and I’m kind of happy about that.

I wrote a blog post that hasn’t been published yet about my plans to give our guest bathroom a facelift. I started it off talking about living here in Greenville and in this apartment, and when Paul read it he said that it sounded like I was miserable. Like living in the apartment was something I didn’t like. The truth is, it couldn’t be farther from the truth. I actually really like living here. Sure I’d like to have more space, more square footage, really like a pantry, but I don’t need it. The beauty of this apartment is that it’s the home we moved into when we decided to start this chapter of our lives. We came back home. We might not stay here forever. We might not stay here another year. We have no idea what the future holds for us, but the thing I do know and am learning to accept each day is that I have to be authentically me. And if that means living here in a small apartment that I’ve grown to love, why would I do anything but that?

If you’ll allow me to get a little deep here…doesn’t that always happen in Thursday Thoughts posts? Sorry. Well, actually I’m not sorry. And here’s why…I’ve been reading and seeing and hearing a lot of things lately that keep telling me to be me. Be who I am and not who everyone else thinks I should be. And be proud of it. I am finding that to be one of the most difficult things about growing up (I’m a people pleaser.) and one of the most liberating.

I have a family member, well probably a few, that think we need to get out of Greenville. We need to get out of this apartment and move on to a place with more opportunity. So, I bought into that idea initially. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always said I’d never come back to Greenville. I’d never live here again, never raise my kids here. There’s a great big world out there and I haven’t seen enough of it. I need to leave the small town life, move to the big city and not come back.

Never say never. Because here I am. I’ve moved back to the very town I said I’d never come back to. I’m not currently raising any children, but I hope to be one day soon. And it’s looking like I’ll be raising them right here-maybe even in this very apartment. I’ve seen a bit of the world. Louisiana was a whole different world than Greenville, Alabama. It may not have been a big city, but I can get my way around the popular parts of New Orleans, and that’s a pretty decent sized city in my opinion.

My point is that living here in this town and in this apartment is exactly where I want to be right now. And technically I live “in the city”. I live downtown…in a loft apartment. Sounds pretty “city” to me. I can walk to the post office. I can walk to stores to shop. Heck, I’ve done both of those things. I like living here. Sure, there are certain careers that wouldn’t do well here. I can’t shop at certain stores because they aren’t here. I can’t eat at certain restaurants because we don’t have them. But does that really matter when I’m trying to be authentically me? When I know that my husband is happy and wants to be here? When I know that being close to our parents is one of the greatest things because we’ve been away from them for so long? Call me crazy, but what’s so wrong with any of that?

In an effort to just be me and be proud of it, I’m embracing this apartment like never before. I am looking at it with new eyes and fresh ideas, and lucky for me (and you) it should make for some good blog content. Starting with that bathroom makeover. Look for that post in the next few days. I’m just so thankful to be in a place that is unique and fun and in a town that is spectacular and historic and special. Here’s a peek at the before of the bathroom.

The song below is what has triggered this thinking. I’ve yet to see this movie, but I cannot get enough of the music. The first time I heard any of the music was from this particular video, and I was in tears. I’m not a greatly oppressed person. I know people are way worse off than I am, but we all have our struggles and our issues, and this song was like a wake up call saying, “Get over the things that make you feel like you’re less than or weird. You are who you are. Change the things you can make better. And accept the things that you cant. God will take care of those. Be yourself and be proud of it.” So that’s what I’d like to do. And that’s what I hope you do too. Life’s too short to be anyone but you. Live where you want to live and be who you want to be. Don’t let anyone bring you down or tell you otherwise.

As if the video wasn’t enough, I’ll leave you with one last thing. Perhaps my favorite quote of all time. “The things that make you strange are the things that make you powerful.”- Ben Platt.

You do you, boo. 🙂

Currently Loving- December 2017

CURRENTLY LOVING- DECEMBER 2017

Better late than never, right? I know we’ve gotten through half of January now, but I came across a few things that I just couldn’t not share with you.

Before we get into all that, I hope y’all had a great holiday season. I enjoyed a much needed break and spent some quality time with family and with myself. 🙂 I know so many people lost loved ones and dealt with family members in the hospital, but I still hope there were a few moments of wonder and joy that you were able to find during the holidays.

Oh, Christmas Tree

My Christmas tree was my favorite thing about my Christmas decor. It was so twinkly and magical. It went through a few phases (One and Two), and I miss it. I can’t wait until November to put it back up and see what kind of inspiration strikes me then.

Winter Skin Savers

This winter has brought some very cold temperatures. I know we have a winter every year, but this winter seems a little extra cold to me. I’m not complaining. Winter is my favorite season and cold weather is delightful to me, but my skin doesn’t love the cold temps with the heat on inside all the time. Thankfully I’ve got a great skin care regimen that helps keep my skin moisturized. I shared them in a post here. And if you want any of these products, you can shop them here.

Christmas Break

I have always loved Christmas Break. It comes at a much needed time when children’s excitement is at an all-time high. And I’m a bit of a procrastinator, so I’m always grateful for the time to finish my shopping during the week instead of on crazy, busy weekends. But I also manage to spend a lot of time doing this…

Hallmark movies are on loop, I get to sleep in a bit, and then there’s lots of time spent with family and friends. I know most teachers would agree with me that Christmas Break is one of the great perks of the job.

And with the Break Comes the TV

It’s no surprise that I’ve found another show to watch. If you’ve been around for a while, you know that I love movies and television. I love to be entertained, and I almost always have a favorite show or movie on in the background. I recently discovered The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon. Y’all….it’s one of the funniest shows I’ve watched in a really long time. Rachel Brosnahan is brilliant and deserved the Golden Globe and Critic’s Choice awards for her portrayal of Midge Maisel. Trust me, you’ll laugh out loud and want to watch it all over again. (I did!)

I also rediscovered Sex and the City again. It was on E! for a mini marathon one night. I started watching it and kept going all the way through to the end (finished on Amazon). Sometimes it’s nice to “revisit old friends”. I love when I go back to old shows and watch them through more grown up eyes.

Auburn Basketball

Over the Christmas break I went to a basketball game in Auburn. We got general admission tickets, so we got there really early and got floor seats. It was a great view, and we were even on TV! 🙂 Auburn’s doing really well right now. If you’re a fan, you should watch on TV or even go to a game! It’s pretty inexpensive and is always a great time.

Reading

Breaks from school always allow time for reading. I finished a great book, Behind Closed Doors, over the holiday and wrote a little review about it here. It was exciting, scary, and thought-provoking. I highly recommend this one.

Snow Day

This was such a great day! I love snow and cold weather. And when we get it in Alabama, I’m the happiest girl. I think I’d do just fine in Chicago or NYC. The pups didn’t love it so much, though. And neither did Paul. But I sure did!

Have a great week, y’all!

XO,

Elizabeth

Beautycounter: Winter Must-Haves

BEAUTYCOUNTER: WINTER MUST-HAVES

This cold weather in wreaking havoc on my skin. I’m itchy all the time. And because it’s so cold I take really hot showers which only perpetuates the vicious cycle. I know we’re all guilty of this, and we head straight for the lotion afterwards to help combat the dryness.

Luckily, I’ve discovered some of the best products from Beautycounter that work wonders on dry skin.

Hydrating Body Lotion

This is seriously the best lotion I’ve ever used. I have used countless lotion, as I’m sure you have, but I’ve never used a lotion that actually absorbs completely into your skin the way this one does. You know when you put skinny jeans on after you’ve put lotion on your legs and they just won’t slide over your skin because the lotion makes them stick to you? And then you’re so uncomfortable in the jeans all day? Yeah, this doesn’t happen with this lotion! Trust me. I’ve tested it!

The Citrus Mimosa scent is so fresh and bright yet subtle and understated. I really enjoy it. This is the scent of most Beautycounter body products. I love that I can go from the body wash (one of my faves) to the lotion and not have separate scents competing with one another.

The price tag is $24, and I can’t stress enough that a little bit goes a long way with our products. It is a fantastic product that will last you much longer than you thought and keep your legs (and entire body) moisturized and happy in and out of your skinny jeans. 🙂

Body Butter

Two words: Game Changer

I have been using this on my hands pretty regularly and before it got cold, I was using it on my dry heels. Sandal season can be awful on our poor feet, but when I used a thicker layer of the body butter on my feet and put them directly into socks, they were noticeably better after two nights of that. I did this routine right before getting into bed. Seriously, two nights!

But now that it’s cold, I’m using it on my upper body. My shoulders, the backs of my arms, and my upper back are all very dry during the winter, and this brutal one is no exception. I get very itchy from the dryness in these particular areas, and I’ve found that the Body Butter works a little better for me there than the lotion does.

The Body Butter is also quick-absorbing and has the lovely Citrus Mimosa scent. The price is $39, and again, a little goes a long way. This is a top-notch product at Beautycounter, and though it may seem a little indulgent to spend $39 on a body butter, it will make your winter skin feel smooth and hydrated throughout the entire year. You won’t be sorry you made this purchase.

A Few More

This lip conditioner with a cooling, peppermint scent will help keep your dry lips hydrated and feeling great throughout winter. It goes in my purse with me everywhere. $20.

This body oil is a step up in the hydration game. I can really tell a difference when I use this on the extra dry spots where I typically use the body butter. It’s not overly oily and doesn’t leave you feeling greasy. It actually absorbs pretty quickly into my skin and smells yummy. I love the smell of rosemary, so I’m a little biased. At $73 it’s the most expensive moisturizer of my must-haves, but it’s truly delightful and most importantly, IT WORKS!

Safer Beauty

So yes, all of these things are great and wonderful in hydrating your dry, winter skin, but these products are taken a step further with their safe ingredients. It’s amazing how well they absorb into my skin and how well they do their job. But the most amazing thing is that I feel good that a super absorbing, hydrating, moisturizing line of products is actually safe for me to use. I don’t have to worry that what’s going into the biggest organ of my body (my skin) is going to cause long-term harm from toxic ingredients that are in them. Because they aren’t there. Thanks to our Never List, these products are always safe for us to use.

If you’ve never heard of Beautycounter, I’d love for you to read this. And then you can find out why I decided to join this great company. And if you’re ever in the mood for more info, you can join my Facebook group. You can also visit my Beautycounter website and shop, research products, learn about the company, and even learn how to sign up as a consultant with me.

Want to Try My Winter Must-Haves?

If you’re interested in trying any of these products let me know. I know some people that can help you out if you’re in Louisiana, And if you’re here, I’ve got all of these products that I’d love for you to try out for yourself. Let’s make 2018 a year of Safer Beauty.

I hope y’all have a Happy Friday and a great weekend!

XO,

Elizabeth