Serena and Lily 25% off ends tomorrow. So be sure to stock up on your favorite goodies while the sale is still on! I could seriously live in a Serena and Lily store. ![]()
Last Minute Christmas Gifts: For the Home
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The Best Skinny Jeans: Rag and Bone The Skinny in Kensington
Okay y'all know my most favorite jeans are the Rag and Bone The Skinny in Kensington. I talk about them a lot. If you could see in person what they do to your inner thighs (aka, make them vanish) you would talk about them all the time too. Anyway, thanks to a reader tip I just took the plunge on purchasing the exact same pair on sale at Bloomingdales. Be sure to use code: MERRY at checkout to take the price down to $148 with free shipping. Not bad ladies. Cheaper than lipo. Done.
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Christmas Wine Bar | Monogrammed Acrylic Tray
I'm smitten with my new acrylic Christmas tray from luxe + lillies . As soon as I took it out of the box I knew it was going to be the perfect way to bring a little more Christmas into our kitchen. I used it to set up a little bit of a mini wine bar. Nothing fancy, just a cheerful place to pour my glass of wine in the afternoon. I mean evening. No, I mean afternoon. Let's be real.
I've been a big fan of Keely's style since I first started blogging and it's no wonder love everything in her shop. Girl has great taste. I selected the zebras in clover with a red monogram. I'm really loving all things red and green this year. That's new for me. I really like that the pattern keeps it fun and it's not too over the top Christmas that I can't use it year round.
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acrylic tray from luxe + lillies c/o | Pottery Barn Monogrammed Wine Glasses | Crate & Barrel Plaid Dishtowel
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I've also loved stringing our Christmas cards up in the kitchen this year. I just taped pieces of twine to the wall with gold duct tape and then used clothes pins to clip them on. I keep adding new strands as the cards arrive. I'm not sure why I've never done it this way before.
Speaking of Christmas Cards, I just finally got around to addressing ours last night. Is any one else really behind this year?
I've been a big fan of Keely's style since I first started blogging and it's no wonder love everything in her shop. Girl has great taste. I selected the zebras in clover with a red monogram. I'm really loving all things red and green this year. That's new for me. I really like that the pattern keeps it fun and it's not too over the top Christmas that I can't use it year round.
I've also loved stringing our Christmas cards up in the kitchen this year. I just taped pieces of twine to the wall with gold duct tape and then used clothes pins to clip them on. I keep adding new strands as the cards arrive. I'm not sure why I've never done it this way before.
Speaking of Christmas Cards, I just finally got around to addressing ours last night. Is any one else really behind this year?
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Cocktail Dresses for New Years Eve
How are we doing? Thursday before Christmas. Countdown is on.
Wells had her last day of school yesterday so we're officially on break. Which really means no break. But that's okay. I've been pretty proactive about Christmas this year. Except for our Christmas Cards which still aren't finished. Please don't think you're B-list this year if you haven't gotten yours yet and normally do.
Y'all know from our instagram that I like to put together a cute outfit, especially on the kids. But let's be real. Half the time the kids are in their pajamas until lunchtime and most days I live in leggings or jeans and my uggs and no shower. With a Target wife-beater and fleece on top. So I really relish the times I get to dress up and get fancy. We don't have official plans for NYE yet but I'm boucing around some ideas to force us into putting on something special. Thankfully Matthew balk at the chance to wear his tux.
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Here are a few (okay, more than a few) of my favorite cocktail dresses right now. A girl can dream right.
So tell me, do you get fancy for Christmas or New Years Eve? Little Black Dress or sparkles? Where is your favorite place to find pretty dresses?
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Wells had her last day of school yesterday so we're officially on break. Which really means no break. But that's okay. I've been pretty proactive about Christmas this year. Except for our Christmas Cards which still aren't finished. Please don't think you're B-list this year if you haven't gotten yours yet and normally do.
Y'all know from our instagram that I like to put together a cute outfit, especially on the kids. But let's be real. Half the time the kids are in their pajamas until lunchtime and most days I live in leggings or jeans and my uggs and no shower. With a Target wife-beater and fleece on top. So I really relish the times I get to dress up and get fancy. We don't have official plans for NYE yet but I'm boucing around some ideas to force us into putting on something special. Thankfully Matthew balk at the chance to wear his tux.
Here are a few (okay, more than a few) of my favorite cocktail dresses right now. A girl can dream right.
So tell me, do you get fancy for Christmas or New Years Eve? Little Black Dress or sparkles? Where is your favorite place to find pretty dresses?
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Boxwood Wreath Over Mirror
I just love wreaths on mirrors. Do you? I also love paying $45 for a mirror I've had my eyes on since it was $99. And even that price was a steal.
I'm not ready to sign off yet my friends, but I imagine things are going to be slow around as things pick up the pace in my life. I promise to keep some fun things coming through the New Year. I hope y'all enjoy your last weekend before Christmas!
Also, I just hopped over to Nordtrom and noticed they still offer free shipping by Christmas Eve! Talk about your perfect last minute shopping place for a gift or Christmas outfit!
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Last Minute Christmas Gift Idea
Treat your loved ones to a photography session. All sessions purchased before December 31st but scheduled in 2014 will receive the current prices and image structure. I have some changes planned for 2014 session pricing. Perfect for newborns, children, families, or engagements. Email me at juliakyleryan@gmail.com for pricing or to schedule a session!
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Serena & Lily 70% Off Year-End Sale
Okay friends, you can't get free shipping in time for Christmas but Serena & Lily has started their 70% Year End Sale! Don't miss it!
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Nordstrom: Free Shipping By Christmas Eve
Okay y'all. Today is the last day to shop at Nordstrom and still receive FREE SHIPPING BY CHRISTMAS EVE! That pretty much rocks for all the procrastinators out there. Happy Saturday Shopping!
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Santa Success
We just got our pictures from Santa in the mail the other day and I'm in love. This couldn't have turned out more perfect! These two make my heart melt. Wells was so excited to meet Santa this year. Big improvement from her tears filled experience in the past. And Tagg was just along for the ride, of course. He looks like he's tolerating life. Maybe next year he can sit in Thomas the Train's lap and we'll get a giant grin out of him.
Merry Christmas!
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Merry Christmas Anxiety (maybe?)
Today I should be sharing a Christmas Home Tour. Which isn't done. Let alone staged and photographed and edited and shared. Tagg broke almost all the ornaments from our tree a few weeks ago and our small little fake tree doesn't look quite right when not stuffed with decoration. We have a few wreaths up because my daughter's school sold them as a fundraiser. I'm so glad I purchased several. They are perfect. But seasonal decor is expensive and I'm still saving up for curtains that I'll want year-round.
Today I should be showing off a pile of perfectly wrapped presents under our tree. I got just two done yesterday before I was called to the next thing. I'm so thankful Santa doesn't wrap. I'm having buyers remorse over all of the presents I bought. They weren't enough. Could have been more thoughtful. I never did place that order for pictures of the kids to give the grandparents and great grandparents. Our family blurb book is still not done this year either.
Today I should be sharing my favorite holiday recipes. But I'm drinking coffee and skipping breakfast and will probably give my kids hot dogs for lunch. I'm okay with that. My inlaws will be here for Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas morning and it never crossed my mind that we should be planning ahead for that. Sharing a special meal. In fairness, my husband and mother in law handle these things. And did, months ago. We're having beef tenderloin and roasted potatoes with asparagus and breakfast casserole the next morning.
Today I should be sharing our favorite elf on the shelf or other favorite holiday tradition. But we don't have any yet. Does building a gingerbread house and playing with the nativity set count? Baby Jesus and the angel have loved riding on Jake's pirate ship and the donkey has been driving the school bus. Are we the only family with small children who don't have an elf? Will our kids even care or remember that we did specific things?
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I wasn't really sure what to post about this morning. Not because it felt like work to write a post. Quite the opposite, I have so many ideas running through my head right now. All fun ones. Good stuff. Full of organizing and sorting and getting things ready. Planning and hosting and designing and creating. But it feels like those ideas are better left to January. They don't feel very appropriate for two days before Christmas.
I do this. Before big things, I cling to order. If you ask if I'm stressed over the holidays I will easily smile and say no. I don't feel stressed. But my head is full. And I'm feeling anxious that my new 2014 day planner with a notes section starts in January and I have things I need to write down today. So instead of focusing on what I have left to do in the next two days I am planning a larger than life trunk show cocktail party for spring and organizing the kids' sock drawers and buying twin size sheets for a bed Tagg neither owns nor is ready to sleep in? Deep breathe.
Christmas feels like a big deal this year. I know, celebrating Jesus' Birth is a big deal every year. But overnight I have two people dependent on me to make it magic. They will wake up the day after tomorrow and this will be the first Christmas Wells might remember. Did Santa fulfill her little sugar plum dreams? Did mommy and daddy decorate with enough lights and tinsel to make her world shine? Should we do something fancy or stick with our regular every day cheerios for breakfast? Will she notice that Tagg's train table is larger than life and her pile doesn't add up? Tagg's getting a train table. Nothing else will matter to this little choo-choo man. He'll be over the moon.
Please tell me I'm not the only one that struggles with this? It's hard to slow down and enjoy the holidays for some people. I feel like I've slowed down too much and missed an opportunity to make this season the best one yet.
I'm officially signing off this morning for the holiday! I hope all of you enjoy some quiet happiness with your loved ones this week.
Merry Merry.
Today I should be showing off a pile of perfectly wrapped presents under our tree. I got just two done yesterday before I was called to the next thing. I'm so thankful Santa doesn't wrap. I'm having buyers remorse over all of the presents I bought. They weren't enough. Could have been more thoughtful. I never did place that order for pictures of the kids to give the grandparents and great grandparents. Our family blurb book is still not done this year either.
Today I should be sharing my favorite holiday recipes. But I'm drinking coffee and skipping breakfast and will probably give my kids hot dogs for lunch. I'm okay with that. My inlaws will be here for Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas morning and it never crossed my mind that we should be planning ahead for that. Sharing a special meal. In fairness, my husband and mother in law handle these things. And did, months ago. We're having beef tenderloin and roasted potatoes with asparagus and breakfast casserole the next morning.
Today I should be sharing our favorite elf on the shelf or other favorite holiday tradition. But we don't have any yet. Does building a gingerbread house and playing with the nativity set count? Baby Jesus and the angel have loved riding on Jake's pirate ship and the donkey has been driving the school bus. Are we the only family with small children who don't have an elf? Will our kids even care or remember that we did specific things?
I do this. Before big things, I cling to order. If you ask if I'm stressed over the holidays I will easily smile and say no. I don't feel stressed. But my head is full. And I'm feeling anxious that my new 2014 day planner with a notes section starts in January and I have things I need to write down today. So instead of focusing on what I have left to do in the next two days I am planning a larger than life trunk show cocktail party for spring and organizing the kids' sock drawers and buying twin size sheets for a bed Tagg neither owns nor is ready to sleep in? Deep breathe.
Christmas feels like a big deal this year. I know, celebrating Jesus' Birth is a big deal every year. But overnight I have two people dependent on me to make it magic. They will wake up the day after tomorrow and this will be the first Christmas Wells might remember. Did Santa fulfill her little sugar plum dreams? Did mommy and daddy decorate with enough lights and tinsel to make her world shine? Should we do something fancy or stick with our regular every day cheerios for breakfast? Will she notice that Tagg's train table is larger than life and her pile doesn't add up? Tagg's getting a train table. Nothing else will matter to this little choo-choo man. He'll be over the moon.
Please tell me I'm not the only one that struggles with this? It's hard to slow down and enjoy the holidays for some people. I feel like I've slowed down too much and missed an opportunity to make this season the best one yet.
I'm officially signing off this morning for the holiday! I hope all of you enjoy some quiet happiness with your loved ones this week.
Merry Merry.
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Menu Planning: New Years Eve Appetizers
Blueberry Basil Balsamic Mozarella Crisps | Grilled Honey Pear and Brie Crostini | Goat Cheese Olive and Cranberry Tartines (would also be yummy on a cracker) | Cheese Plate (see how to build the perfect cheese tray here) | Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus
Well hello there friends. Did everyone have a great holiday? We had an awesome Christmas full of lots of family and lots of love. Matthew was home last week which was a treat for me and the kids. Everything is better when he's here.
It's hard to believe a new year is already upon us. But I'm ready.
Do you have big plans for New Years Eve? We don't. I'm not much of a night owl so a celebration that focuses on midnight is pretty hard for me. I've prepped some of my favorite appetizers for you just in case you're more adventurous than I am this year.
I'm working on a New Years Brunch so I'll be back with that menu and some ideas later. That's more my speed anyway.
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Perfect Recipes for a New Years Day Brunch + NYE Links
Sweet Pear and Rosemary Honey with Havarti Grilled Cheese | Prosciutto Gruyere Croissants | Asparagus, Ham, And Swiss Cheese Crepes | Strawberry Shortcake Kabobs | Apple Cheddar Quiche
One of the hardest parts of dealing with my kids' food allergies has been the loss of my favorite meal: Brunch. A cross between breakfast and lunch, brunch is my favorite meal of the day.
In the early morning I prefer coffee in my p.j.'s. Brunch gives you a chance to blow dry your hair. You can enjoy morning food without the rush but still be finished by early afternoon.
No eggs. No dairy. Read: no butter, no cream, no milk, no cheese. No Pork. No bagels, danishes, or donuts. No pancakes or french toast. No rice takes away grits and half of the cereals out there. But no worries, I've left y'all with the most delicious ideas for your own brunch. Just be sure to tag me on instagram if you make any of these brunch recipes so I can oogle your yums!
So tell me all your big plans! What are you doing to celebrate the beginning of 2014 tonight?
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Be sure to check out:
1. // Delicious Champagne Cocktails //
2. // I'm in love with this dress and this dress for NYE //
3. // My girl Mallory planned a fab Champagne Brunch //
4. // I'm in love with this rustic New Years Eve Party with instructions for a $1 party favor mug //
5. // Even though we don't have big plans for tonight, I still plan on popping some bubbly. This blackberry & thyme champagne cocktail sounds like the perfect drink //
6. // Cute Sparklers Printables //
6. // Cute Sparklers Printables //
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2014 | Thoughts on the New Year
It's hard to believe that another year has passed us by. I only know that because Tagg woke us up crying at 11:45 last night. I would have happily slept right through ringing in the new year. It's never been my favorite holiday.
How quickly these things come the older I get. The days are long but the years go by fast. Truer words were never spoken. I feel like it was just yesterday that I sat down to write this same blog post. Thoughts on the new year. I felt overwhelmed and uneasy. The future had proved to be something unreliable and scary. That uncertainty wasn't welcome in my head or my heart.
I asked for things not to change. For constant.
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What I got was an upheaval of my family in our home, yet again. I got a baby who would begin a seven month stint into weekly physical therapy. I got a baby and a toddler who were diagnosed with drug, outdoor, and, food allergies. I got a one year old with eczema so severe it literally kept him, and me, up all night. I got sleepless nights and long days with two children, one of whom doesn't nap. I got the exhausting job of raising two small children who vehemently prefer their mother to everyone and refuse to let anyone else care for them or help them. I got the lonely task of being a stay at home mom to two small children without the safety net of a large group of girlfriends.
It's taken me up until this morning, as I write this post, to realize that constant is exactly what I got. I got the consistency of finding comfortable shelter for my family, even if that was technically under four different roofs. How blessed are we to have these options. I got the constant excitement of buying a new home in a neighborhood we love with wonderful neighbors. That feeling still hasn't worn off. I got the consistency of never worrying how I would pay to feed my family and a community of help to show me endless allergy-free options. I got a baby who would learn to walk and then to run and then turn into a little boy. I got a little girl who would blossom at school and learn independence and confidence in her little self. I got to share my children's world this year. I got to form closer friendships with a few good friends who actually live in my town.
I got a husband who is my constant. I got two loving children who are my constant.
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So this year, I'm feeling a bit more sturdy on my feet. I'm not going to ask for more of the same. I'm going to embrace change and seek it out proactively. I'm working on my goals for this year, which I'll share with you as soon as I do them. Both professionally and personally. I want to utilize my time better. Focus in on what I really want to accomplish and carve out time to succeed.
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Our family mission statement remains the same. Create a life that feels good on the inside not one that just looks good on the outside. This is truly my wish for my family this year and for you as well. With so much social media surrounding us constantly, it's easy to lose sight of what you hold important in favor of what others tell you is important to them. That's not good for your soul.
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Let's do this year together. Cheers to 2014 being the BEST YEAR YET!
How quickly these things come the older I get. The days are long but the years go by fast. Truer words were never spoken. I feel like it was just yesterday that I sat down to write this same blog post. Thoughts on the new year. I felt overwhelmed and uneasy. The future had proved to be something unreliable and scary. That uncertainty wasn't welcome in my head or my heart.
I asked for things not to change. For constant.
What I got was an upheaval of my family in our home, yet again. I got a baby who would begin a seven month stint into weekly physical therapy. I got a baby and a toddler who were diagnosed with drug, outdoor, and, food allergies. I got a one year old with eczema so severe it literally kept him, and me, up all night. I got sleepless nights and long days with two children, one of whom doesn't nap. I got the exhausting job of raising two small children who vehemently prefer their mother to everyone and refuse to let anyone else care for them or help them. I got the lonely task of being a stay at home mom to two small children without the safety net of a large group of girlfriends.
It's taken me up until this morning, as I write this post, to realize that constant is exactly what I got. I got the consistency of finding comfortable shelter for my family, even if that was technically under four different roofs. How blessed are we to have these options. I got the constant excitement of buying a new home in a neighborhood we love with wonderful neighbors. That feeling still hasn't worn off. I got the consistency of never worrying how I would pay to feed my family and a community of help to show me endless allergy-free options. I got a baby who would learn to walk and then to run and then turn into a little boy. I got a little girl who would blossom at school and learn independence and confidence in her little self. I got to share my children's world this year. I got to form closer friendships with a few good friends who actually live in my town.
I got a husband who is my constant. I got two loving children who are my constant.
So this year, I'm feeling a bit more sturdy on my feet. I'm not going to ask for more of the same. I'm going to embrace change and seek it out proactively. I'm working on my goals for this year, which I'll share with you as soon as I do them. Both professionally and personally. I want to utilize my time better. Focus in on what I really want to accomplish and carve out time to succeed.
Our family mission statement remains the same. Create a life that feels good on the inside not one that just looks good on the outside. This is truly my wish for my family this year and for you as well. With so much social media surrounding us constantly, it's easy to lose sight of what you hold important in favor of what others tell you is important to them. That's not good for your soul.
Let's do this year together. Cheers to 2014 being the BEST YEAR YET!
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Staying Organized: Calendars
Sugar Paper for Target
Every year I swear I'm going to be better organized and each year I seem to fail somewhere. I used to write everything down in my pink leather Roladex before my smart phones did it for me. But after missing multiple appointments last year, including two rescheduled dentist appointments (sorry Dr. Dowdy), I realized I needed to go back to writing things down. I like to have a pretty wall calendar close by for referencing dates but a day planner is a must for me now. I need one place I can write it all down. This year I snagged up everything I could find at Target in the Sugar Paper section. Y'all don't want to miss this special 8 week collaboration. I'm already smitten with the gold confetti on the wall calendar and the pink and white stripes on my day planner.
1. Photography Sessions
2. Blog Posts
3. Wells' School Schedule
4. Doctor's Appointments
5. Matthew's work schedule (travel, late meetings, and, time off)
6. Meal Planning
7. Grocery Lists
8. Special Occasions. Birthdays, Anniversary, Weddings, and, Parties.
9. To-Do list
I find that I like to have a weekly format with lots of room. I write each of those topics above in a special place. For instance my blog post ideas will always be written down in the far right corner, photography sessions in the top left, and meal planning at the bottom left. This leaves room for daily appointments. To-do lists go in the notes section.
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Happy 2nd Birthday Tagg!
Tagg, you have surprised us every step of the way. You are so full of love and sweetness and time for your mother. You talk like a champ and pout like a toddler. You share with your sister and admire her every move. Your love of trains is astounding to all of us. I admire your conviction to loving them. You have blossomed and grown this past year in ways that are track-able and obvious. You learned to stand, to walk, and, then to run. Your personality comes through more each day. Your knock-knock jokes are my favorite. I'm so thankful for you and full of love for you.
I'm so grateful to have this day with Tagg in my arms for another year to celebrate him! Happy Birthday Tagg!
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New House Progress: Kitchen
Matthew gave me a new faucet for Christmas. I also got a dyson, but I'll save that for another post. So grown up and mature right? Back to the kitchen. We've had a leaky faucet since we moved into our home. Our kitchen is fine for now and we don't have any plans for a major overhaul any time soon so spending a ton of money on an glamorous bridge faucet just didn't make sense for now.
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This is our old white faucet. I like the one handle design (if I can't afford a fancy bridge yet) and large scale. Wasn't in love with the white color. I prefer stainless steel in the under $250 category and chrome for all things fancy and shiny and pricey. Like my coveted bridge faucet.
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It was pretty nasty under our old leaky faucet. Matthew had a pretty hard time getting the old one off. We were left with a hot mess underneath. Most of what you see are scratches and didn't come off with good solid scrubbing. Of course that limited our choice of a new faucet. We want as much of that mess covered up as possible. PHASE 2 involves a new sink, but that's for another day.
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I thought I should show you a misstep we took. In an effort to save as much money as possible in PHASE 1 I told Matthew just to pick something cheap and chrome. It wasn't horrible but I already didn't like it. Too small. The chrome looks cheap without all the fancy bells and whistles of a bridge. Back to Lowes.
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Bam. He came home with the Peerless Stainless 1-handle pull down kitchen faucet. At $129 it wasn't exactly free, but it's a nice upgrade from what we had before and it doesn't leak. Two points for working. I like it enough to be happy with it for five years or more while we wait on our dream kitchen.
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Still left to do in PHASE 1:
1. Sand and paint the back splash wall
2. Select a color for the walls and paint them (front runners are BM Lancaster Whitewash and BM Edgecomb Gray)
3. Purchase and install range hood
4. Install remaining outlet covers
5. Re-install trim to the far wall that was removed during refridgetor installation
6. Select window treatment options and fabric
7. New hardware for the cabinets
This is our old white faucet. I like the one handle design (if I can't afford a fancy bridge yet) and large scale. Wasn't in love with the white color. I prefer stainless steel in the under $250 category and chrome for all things fancy and shiny and pricey. Like my coveted bridge faucet.
It was pretty nasty under our old leaky faucet. Matthew had a pretty hard time getting the old one off. We were left with a hot mess underneath. Most of what you see are scratches and didn't come off with good solid scrubbing. Of course that limited our choice of a new faucet. We want as much of that mess covered up as possible. PHASE 2 involves a new sink, but that's for another day.
I thought I should show you a misstep we took. In an effort to save as much money as possible in PHASE 1 I told Matthew just to pick something cheap and chrome. It wasn't horrible but I already didn't like it. Too small. The chrome looks cheap without all the fancy bells and whistles of a bridge. Back to Lowes.
Bam. He came home with the Peerless Stainless 1-handle pull down kitchen faucet. At $129 it wasn't exactly free, but it's a nice upgrade from what we had before and it doesn't leak. Two points for working. I like it enough to be happy with it for five years or more while we wait on our dream kitchen.
Still left to do in PHASE 1:
1. Sand and paint the back splash wall
2. Select a color for the walls and paint them (front runners are BM Lancaster Whitewash and BM Edgecomb Gray)
3. Purchase and install range hood
4. Install remaining outlet covers
5. Re-install trim to the far wall that was removed during refridgetor installation
6. Select window treatment options and fabric
7. New hardware for the cabinets
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Rodan + Fields Giveaway
I've talked before about my love affair with skin creams. I firmly believe that taking care of your skin is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. So when one of my reader's contacted me just before the holidays about trying out a Rodan + Fields mini facial (Microderm Paste, Night Renewing Serum, & Lip Serum) I quickly said YES! I'm always up for trying new products and I thought y'all might be too.
Hi, my name is Laura Stern. I am a recent transplant to Houston, TX from NC. I recently started using (I use Reverse for dark spots & my melasma) then selling the Rodan + Fields skincare line. If you are not familiar with this product, it was created by the doctors who started Proactiv. They are now doing for aging skin what they did in the past for acne. It addresses four main concerns aging, dark spots, acne, & sensitive skin. The products are all clinically proven to reduce fine lines & wrinkles, dark spots from sun damage or melasma, acne and sensitive skin.
I would love to give away our Mini Facial (Microderm Paste, Night Renewing Serum, & Lip Serum) so one of you can see for yourself! I think you will really love these products.
I'd also like to mention that if you purchase $80 or more it's worth your while to become a Preferred Customer for a one time fee of $20. You receive free shipping (savings of $10-12), 10% off retail pricing and flexible auto replenishment of product every 2 months (and this is very easy to push back if more product is not needed). The fee usually pays for itself in the first order!
Visit Laura's facebook page for more before and after photos.
PLEASE LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT PER ENTRY:
1. Leave a comment telling us why you need eye-cream!
2. Visit Rodan + Fields and take the consultation and let us know your results!
3. Like Laura's Rodan + Field's facebook page and let us know your name
4. Like my facebook page (yes, it still has my old name facebook isn't very helpful with that)
THIS GIVEAWAY IS OPEN THROUGH SUNDAY JANUARY 12TH AND A WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED HERE ON MONDAY JANUARY 13TH.
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House Projects: Master Bedrom
I want to make my home a better place for my family. I want it to be a clean and relaxing place for my husband to come home to at the end of his work day. I want it to be a pretty and inviting space for me and my friends to enjoy. I want it to be a warm and functional space to raise my children. I want home improvement to be a source of happiness in my marriage and not a point of contention.
My head and pinterest folders are full of beautiful thoughts on how to achieve this but I often get discouraged on just how to start when there is so much that needs to be done. I worry about how much time and money each project will cost. I am so aware of how my style has evolved over the last few years that I get nervous about regretting a decision. So I live with empty walls or frames hung with no picture inside. Or I get discouraged because I can't check off a room as done.
I'm working on that.
So like every good blogger in January, I'm promising to show you more of our steps along the way.
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Today I'm focusing on a few updates we've made in our master bedroom. We want a calm and restful place to sleep (when the babes aren't waking us up all night. Please tell me this ends at some point).
I'm using this simple and classic room as our inspiration. The biggest upgrade we've made is getting up off the floor. We literally slept on a mattress on the floor until just before Christmas. Please don't think our home is coming together perfectly overnight. We'd still like to upgrade to a king size bed but things keep coming up so that may be a dream for another year. We immediately added white wooden blinds to the three windows for privacy but have no plans yet for drapes or fabric shades. There is a bit of a slope to the front our home which throws me off. We need to replace the ceiling light fixture and purchase bedside chests and lamps.
We're still happily using the Pottery Barn Essentials Bedding in white that my parents gave us for Christmas last year. I had previously turned my nose at this four-poster bed that belonged to my parents. But age has clearly made me wiser, and I happily accepted when they re-offered it a few weeks ago. I just purchased this Schumacher Betwixt pillow cover in a 20x20 in the stone/white colorway from Spark Modern on etsy. They're one of my favorite places to source well-made pillow covers. This is my third purchase and their quality is consistently great. I plan to send my Euro's off to Huger Embroidery to get monogrammed but I'm waiting to see if we end up with two or three first.
*The wall color is a lovely shade of dirty plaster with a wall-paper paste residue glaze on top. Poor Matthew is our in-house wallpaper remover in an effort to stretch our renovation budget and the projects never seem to end in an older home. I do love the look of the white walls so I'm investigating white options now. Any white paint recommendations?
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Here is a a closer look at the art above our bed. It's a simple project I tackled the other day while Tagg was napping. We received a beautiful save the date card from friends a few months back with a wonderful little watercolor print map of Charleston. While the date has been saved, it hasn't arrived yet, and I was thinking about how even after it does I'd like to leave it up on my fridge forever because Charleston is such a special place to me and Matthew. And I noticed that the actual map is a perfect square and I knew I had a little print from my mother-in-law that never got hung in Tagg's nursery. I've always liked the little nest print but it just never worked anywhere specific. I decided this little switch would be perfect!
I'm sure you have something similar hanging around your attic. Too pretty to give away, but not really working with your current needs now.
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Take an existing frame. Cut around the edge of the paper backing until the mat is exposed. Using the edge of your scissors, or a flat-head screw driver, carefully raise up the edges of the staples. I was only able to do this on three sides. The fourth was stapled right in and I didn't want to mess with that. Slip your new picture right over top of the old one. Most of the pictures I've found are glued down so it's not worth peeling them up and possibly tearing the mat. Push the staples back down to secure the glass and picture in the frame. Tape the back closed. Voila!
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My head and pinterest folders are full of beautiful thoughts on how to achieve this but I often get discouraged on just how to start when there is so much that needs to be done. I worry about how much time and money each project will cost. I am so aware of how my style has evolved over the last few years that I get nervous about regretting a decision. So I live with empty walls or frames hung with no picture inside. Or I get discouraged because I can't check off a room as done.
I'm working on that.
So like every good blogger in January, I'm promising to show you more of our steps along the way.
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Today I'm focusing on a few updates we've made in our master bedroom. We want a calm and restful place to sleep (when the babes aren't waking us up all night. Please tell me this ends at some point).
I'm using this simple and classic room as our inspiration. The biggest upgrade we've made is getting up off the floor. We literally slept on a mattress on the floor until just before Christmas. Please don't think our home is coming together perfectly overnight. We'd still like to upgrade to a king size bed but things keep coming up so that may be a dream for another year. We immediately added white wooden blinds to the three windows for privacy but have no plans yet for drapes or fabric shades. There is a bit of a slope to the front our home which throws me off. We need to replace the ceiling light fixture and purchase bedside chests and lamps.
We're still happily using the Pottery Barn Essentials Bedding in white that my parents gave us for Christmas last year. I had previously turned my nose at this four-poster bed that belonged to my parents. But age has clearly made me wiser, and I happily accepted when they re-offered it a few weeks ago. I just purchased this Schumacher Betwixt pillow cover in a 20x20 in the stone/white colorway from Spark Modern on etsy. They're one of my favorite places to source well-made pillow covers. This is my third purchase and their quality is consistently great. I plan to send my Euro's off to Huger Embroidery to get monogrammed but I'm waiting to see if we end up with two or three first.
*The wall color is a lovely shade of dirty plaster with a wall-paper paste residue glaze on top. Poor Matthew is our in-house wallpaper remover in an effort to stretch our renovation budget and the projects never seem to end in an older home. I do love the look of the white walls so I'm investigating white options now. Any white paint recommendations?
Here is a a closer look at the art above our bed. It's a simple project I tackled the other day while Tagg was napping. We received a beautiful save the date card from friends a few months back with a wonderful little watercolor print map of Charleston. While the date has been saved, it hasn't arrived yet, and I was thinking about how even after it does I'd like to leave it up on my fridge forever because Charleston is such a special place to me and Matthew. And I noticed that the actual map is a perfect square and I knew I had a little print from my mother-in-law that never got hung in Tagg's nursery. I've always liked the little nest print but it just never worked anywhere specific. I decided this little switch would be perfect!
I'm sure you have something similar hanging around your attic. Too pretty to give away, but not really working with your current needs now.
Take an existing frame. Cut around the edge of the paper backing until the mat is exposed. Using the edge of your scissors, or a flat-head screw driver, carefully raise up the edges of the staples. I was only able to do this on three sides. The fourth was stapled right in and I didn't want to mess with that. Slip your new picture right over top of the old one. Most of the pictures I've found are glued down so it's not worth peeling them up and possibly tearing the mat. Push the staples back down to secure the glass and picture in the frame. Tape the back closed. Voila!
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Serena & Lily White Sale
It seems pretty obvious looking at this morning's post that I should have mentioned the Serena & Lily 50% off Bedding Sale. I'm off to score some new sheets!
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Get Organized: Just Do It | Meal Planning Organization
Kitchen Organization. I want to show you how I've been organizing my Meal Planning. Let's go ahead and call this Phase 1. We'll both feel better about it that way.
Organizing and streamlining your life is about making something easier and more efficient. It's not about making it look Pinterest worthy. Say aloud and repeat. I had a mental debate about doing this post because 1. It's obvious and 2. It's not pretty. And then I realized that it's been really helpful for me this week and I know it might be really helpful for some of you too.
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We all know the post that reads: head on over to the dollar store and score 15 little matching plastic bins in all white or clear or maybe pick up some cute wicker baskets for just $7 each with a 50% off coupon. Then whip up something gorgeous on your cricket and laminate and hang it with twine. Or make some cute little chalkboard signs using placecard holders to label each bin. I'm not knocking those posts. In fact, I'm calling those ideas Phase 2. Because they are awesome and I want to implement them one day. I want that to be my life.
But the honest truth is that I'm still stuck on Phase 1. Phase 1 is free and took an extra five minutes while I put the groceries away in peace. The babes stayed in the other room after helping me unload the bags and snacked on marshmallows I bribed them with. Phase 1 is where you know you want to be more organized so you don't let the idea of taking a 2 year old and a 3 year old into the dollar store or your lack of creativity or ownership of a cricket stop you from making your life easier. You don't let the bridge between you and $50+ dollars of kitchen cabinet baskets keep you from being organized. You don't let old and unfinished kitchen cabinets keep you from living your life. You just grab what you can find and make it work.
I started with my coffee. I corralled all of my tervis tumbler tops, my sugar jar (just a mason jar filled 3/4 of the way to the top and a teaspoon kept inside), my coffee (kept in a special coffee tuperware), and, filters. I pull it down every morning and then put it away. I'm not big on kitchen counter clutter.
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So I pretty much had an idea of what some of my simple meals were while I was grocery shopping. Then I came home and put the things I needed (minus refrigerated items) into a bin. Whatever I could find. I labeled the bin with the name of the meal and the ingredients. When Matthew got home from work I let him pick a bin. Simple.
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Now, feel free to judge away. Non-organic walmart brand canned goods? Check. Cabinets that have been in the middle of a face lift since June? Yup. Non-matching bins? Bam.
Okay, judging over. Do you feel ready to go organize your cabinets today? Let's talk about what's working for you. Do you organize by item or by meal? I always organized by item thinking I was working efficiently by grouping like things together. And you know what? That's not working for me. All it did was applaud my need for order by staring at two rows of kidney beans neatly lined up by dark or light. It didn't get my dinner made.
The flexibility of choosing from several available meals feels less forced. I've also made a bin for meals that are mostly made from refrigerated items, like our salads. That's helping to make them feel like a good viable option.
We still keep certain extra items like pasta or canned goods that aren't designated for a meal yet all grouped together by item in the bottom cabinet. The kids eat things like penne pasta and black beans pretty regularly so I keep them stocked. By keeping our "designated meal items separate, it allows for creativity with non-planned meals. Matthew can still shop our bottom cabinet and throw together a pasta or nachos without leaving a planned meal minus one necessary ingredient.
This system of organizing by meal is working wonders for our family but every family is different and you just need to find what system works for you.
Organizing and streamlining your life is about making something easier and more efficient. It's not about making it look Pinterest worthy. Say aloud and repeat. I had a mental debate about doing this post because 1. It's obvious and 2. It's not pretty. And then I realized that it's been really helpful for me this week and I know it might be really helpful for some of you too.
We all know the post that reads: head on over to the dollar store and score 15 little matching plastic bins in all white or clear or maybe pick up some cute wicker baskets for just $7 each with a 50% off coupon. Then whip up something gorgeous on your cricket and laminate and hang it with twine. Or make some cute little chalkboard signs using placecard holders to label each bin. I'm not knocking those posts. In fact, I'm calling those ideas Phase 2. Because they are awesome and I want to implement them one day. I want that to be my life.
But the honest truth is that I'm still stuck on Phase 1. Phase 1 is free and took an extra five minutes while I put the groceries away in peace. The babes stayed in the other room after helping me unload the bags and snacked on marshmallows I bribed them with. Phase 1 is where you know you want to be more organized so you don't let the idea of taking a 2 year old and a 3 year old into the dollar store or your lack of creativity or ownership of a cricket stop you from making your life easier. You don't let the bridge between you and $50+ dollars of kitchen cabinet baskets keep you from being organized. You don't let old and unfinished kitchen cabinets keep you from living your life. You just grab what you can find and make it work.
I started with my coffee. I corralled all of my tervis tumbler tops, my sugar jar (just a mason jar filled 3/4 of the way to the top and a teaspoon kept inside), my coffee (kept in a special coffee tuperware), and, filters. I pull it down every morning and then put it away. I'm not big on kitchen counter clutter.
So I pretty much had an idea of what some of my simple meals were while I was grocery shopping. Then I came home and put the things I needed (minus refrigerated items) into a bin. Whatever I could find. I labeled the bin with the name of the meal and the ingredients. When Matthew got home from work I let him pick a bin. Simple.
Okay, judging over. Do you feel ready to go organize your cabinets today? Let's talk about what's working for you. Do you organize by item or by meal? I always organized by item thinking I was working efficiently by grouping like things together. And you know what? That's not working for me. All it did was applaud my need for order by staring at two rows of kidney beans neatly lined up by dark or light. It didn't get my dinner made.
The flexibility of choosing from several available meals feels less forced. I've also made a bin for meals that are mostly made from refrigerated items, like our salads. That's helping to make them feel like a good viable option.
We still keep certain extra items like pasta or canned goods that aren't designated for a meal yet all grouped together by item in the bottom cabinet. The kids eat things like penne pasta and black beans pretty regularly so I keep them stocked. By keeping our "designated meal items separate, it allows for creativity with non-planned meals. Matthew can still shop our bottom cabinet and throw together a pasta or nachos without leaving a planned meal minus one necessary ingredient.
This system of organizing by meal is working wonders for our family but every family is different and you just need to find what system works for you.
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More Pages to Explore .....
