If you were here on Sunday for my Thanksgiving tablescape, you probably recall me saying that I would be back later to show you where my collection of ginger jars live in my home. Well, here ya' go!
Since we've moved to this home, I've noticed myself gravitating more towards bohemian and Scandinavian touches. I love the warmth of wicker, so when this piece popped up at my neighborhood Goodwill for $19, I just HAD to jump on it. Also side note: Baby bug is such a trooper. She can get almost anything home!
But then truth be told, I brought the wicker shelving unit home and it sat in my garage for nearly A YEAR before I decided what to do with it. I know, I know... I'm embarrassed to even admit that.
At first I contemplated spray painting it, but then there was something about leaving it in its rawest, most vintage form that really appealed to me. About a month ago, I was feeling particularly ambitious for a Saturday afternoon, so after a good 45-minute scrub down, I brought her in the house. My ginger jars had just been hanging around on a Raskog cart in our guest room - totally not living their best lives. So I thought I would be adventurous and see how they fit in the living room.
I love the juxtaposition the boho storage piece with the more traditional accessories. When I attempted to fill it up with other colorful accessories that I had on hand, everything I tried felt too busy, yet nothing had quite the impact of this collection. Needless to say I'm happy with where I landed.
Goodwill collections are the best, and this little area in my living room feels so warm and cozy now. I've been making a few changes in this area (mostly switching out side tables) so I'll have to circle back and show you what I've done. In the mean time, tell me... are there any thrift scores that you've made recently? Or maybe you're building a thrifted collection of your own? I'd love to hear about it. Next time, we'll talk about the other collection that I've been cultivating. Remember my small group of vintage glasses? It's grown ten-fold. :)
If you were here on Sunday for my Thanksgiving tablescape, you probably recall me saying that I would be back later to show you where my collection of ginger jars live in my home. Well, here ya' go!
Since we've moved to this home, I've noticed myself gravitating more towards bohemian and Scandinavian touches. I love the warmth of wicker, so when this piece popped up at my neighborhood Goodwill for $19, I just HAD to jump on it. Also side note: Baby bug is such a trooper. She can get almost anything home!
But then truth be told, I brought the wicker shelving unit home and it sat in my garage for nearly A YEAR before I decided what to do with it. I know, I know... I'm embarrassed to even admit that.
At first I contemplated spray painting it, but then there was something about leaving it in its rawest, most vintage form that really appealed to me. About a month ago, I was feeling particularly ambitious for a Saturday afternoon, so after a good 45-minute scrub down, I brought her in the house. My ginger jars had just been hanging around on a Raskog cart in our guest room - totally not living their best lives. So I thought I would be adventurous and see how they fit in the living room.
I love the juxtaposition the boho storage piece with the more traditional accessories. When I attempted to fill it up with other colorful accessories that I had on hand, everything I tried felt too busy, yet nothing had quite the impact of this collection. Needless to say I'm happy with where I landed.
Goodwill collections are the best, and this little area in my living room feels so warm and cozy now. I've been making a few changes in this area (mostly switching out side tables) so I'll have to circle back and show you what I've done. In the mean time, tell me... are there any thrift scores that you've made recently? Or maybe you're building a thrifted collection of your own? I'd love to hear about it. Next time, we'll talk about the other collection that I've been cultivating. Remember my small group of vintage glasses? It's grown ten-fold. :)
I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! This year has truly been a whirlwind! For the last few months, I've been getting myself acclimated to my new job (more on that later) so I had very little time to prepare for a Thanksgiving tablescape like I did last year. But thanks to my patience in thrifting and constantly pinning on my par-tay board on Pinterest, I kept coming back to one super simple idea. Over the past year I've been collecting ginger jars from Goodwill (and a few from discount retailers) and I thought, why not put them to use? So, without further adieu, here's the Thanksgiving tablescape that I created at my in-laws.
This table was pretty inexpensive! Here's what I used:
- Vases I already had on hand
- Sure, a patterned collection is very powerful, but I'm sure you could do this with any other vase, as long as they are a strict color palette
- 2 clearance Threshold tablecloths from Target
- These were $12 total because they were even cheaper at the register - I love it when that happens!
- 3 sets of clearance Threshold napkins from Target
- The napkins were $4.98 for a set of 4.
- 2 bunches of flowers from Kroger
- The sunflower bunches were $7.99 per bunch, which is more than I would EVER spend on fresh flowers because I am SUPER COST CONSCIOUS when it come to consumables such as this. I almost NEVER purchase flowers at full price, but like I said earlier, I was short on time. When it was all said and done though, the sunflowers really popped, and I loved them.
- Magnolia leaf branches from my front yard
- Free 99, Folks! Also these were $5.99 PER BUNCH in Kroger and I was like - nah, I'll pass and snip some stuff in the yard where we pay bills.
- Extra long candle sticks
- Which now that I look back, they could have been smaller, but again, that's what I had on hand
- Glass candle stick holders
- It never hurts to have a few of these around the house, mine were about 99 cents each from Goodwill.
- The placemats were purchased at IKEA for last year's Thanksgiving table. Because they're neutral, they fit in perfectly with almost anything.
When I started taking photos with my DSLR, I realized that I neglected to bring my memory card with me, so sadly these are all taken using my phone. But nonetheless I wanted to share them with you. After all, our holiday gatherings are always perfectly-imperfect, and that's what these photos reflect to me.
I mean those free magnolia leaves really saved the day! I made sure to give them a good shake down and a once-over before I put them on the table.
Oh, and never underestimate the power of sliced oranges. So easy.
My in-laws' furniture and tastes are much more traditional than my own, but thankfully I was able to make it feel a little bit playful. The table cloth and floral textiles are nice accent to the dark walls and cherry wood furniture.
Here's the smaller table that we set up next to dining room to accommodate more guests. Truth be told, I totally forgot about the burlap ribbon that we used for these simple chairs last year. So glad that my MIL kept them.
So all things considered, I'm so glad that I was able to pull something together in a pinch. I guess it also helps that I gather ideas all year long so when the time comes and I can quickly come up with something unexpected when the time is right. After all, isn't that what Pinterest is for?
Sure there are always things that I would change about these table settings, especially to make them more "picture perfect", but in person it was SO PRETTY and all the guests commented on how much they loved it. <<<<< Real talk, this sentence right here was hard for me to write. I'm simply not into tooting my own horn, but you know what? I'm walking into next year giving myself more credit for the efforts that I make. I'm always so hard on myself, and sometime you just have to take the compliment or simply pat yourself on the back for completing something good.
So what do you think? Do you have any ideas you'd like to try for your next get together? Also - are you curious about where this collection of ginger jars lives in my home? Stay tuned!
I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! This year has truly been a whirlwind! For the last few months, I've been getting myself acclimated to my new job (more on that later) so I had very little time to prepare for a Thanksgiving tablescape like I did last year. But thanks to my patience in thrifting and constantly pinning on my par-tay board on Pinterest, I kept coming back to one super simple idea. Over the past year I've been collecting ginger jars from Goodwill (and a few from discount retailers) and I thought, why not put them to use? So, without further adieu, here's the Thanksgiving tablescape that I created at my in-laws.
This table was pretty inexpensive! Here's what I used:
- Vases I already had on hand
- Sure, a patterned collection is very powerful, but I'm sure you could do this with any other vase, as long as they are a strict color palette
- 2 clearance Threshold tablecloths from Target
- These were $12 total because they were even cheaper at the register - I love it when that happens!
- 3 sets of clearance Threshold napkins from Target
- The napkins were $4.98 for a set of 4.
- 2 bunches of flowers from Kroger
- The sunflower bunches were $7.99 per bunch, which is more than I would EVER spend on fresh flowers because I am SUPER COST CONSCIOUS when it come to consumables such as this. I almost NEVER purchase flowers at full price, but like I said earlier, I was short on time. When it was all said and done though, the sunflowers really popped, and I loved them.
- Magnolia leaf branches from my front yard
- Free 99, Folks! Also these were $5.99 PER BUNCH in Kroger and I was like - nah, I'll pass and snip some stuff in the yard where we pay bills.
- Extra long candle sticks
- Which now that I look back, they could have been smaller, but again, that's what I had on hand
- Glass candle stick holders
- It never hurts to have a few of these around the house, mine were about 99 cents each from Goodwill.
- The placemats were purchased at IKEA for last year's Thanksgiving table. Because they're neutral, they fit in perfectly with almost anything.
When I started taking photos with my DSLR, I realized that I neglected to bring my memory card with me, so sadly these are all taken using my phone. But nonetheless I wanted to share them with you. After all, our holiday gatherings are always perfectly-imperfect, and that's what these photos reflect to me.
I mean those free magnolia leaves really saved the day! I made sure to give them a good shake down and a once-over before I put them on the table.
Oh, and never underestimate the power of sliced oranges. So easy.
My in-laws' furniture and tastes are much more traditional than my own, but thankfully I was able to make it feel a little bit playful. The table cloth and floral textiles are nice accent to the dark walls and cherry wood furniture.
Here's the smaller table that we set up next to dining room to accommodate more guests. Truth be told, I totally forgot about the burlap ribbon that we used for these simple chairs last year. So glad that my MIL kept them.
So all things considered, I'm so glad that I was able to pull something together in a pinch. I guess it also helps that I gather ideas all year long so when the time comes and I can quickly come up with something unexpected when the time is right. After all, isn't that what Pinterest is for?
Sure there are always things that I would change about these table settings, especially to make them more "picture perfect", but in person it was SO PRETTY and all the guests commented on how much they loved it. <<<<< Real talk, this sentence right here was hard for me to write. I'm simply not into tooting my own horn, but you know what? I'm walking into next year giving myself more credit for the efforts that I make. I'm always so hard on myself, and sometime you just have to take the compliment or simply pat yourself on the back for completing something good.
So what do you think? Do you have any ideas you'd like to try for your next get together? Also - are you curious about where this collection of ginger jars lives in my home? Stay tuned!
A good friend of mine recently purchase her first home on the West Side! Her place (which is super cute by the way) is an older home, which she plans to continue making improvements to down the road. When she invited us to her housewarming party, I thoughtfully considered what would be the most logical gift for someone who would be taking on home improvement projects in the future. I love the idea of a cool gift basket, but being the cost conscious girl that I am, I wanted to get the most bang for my buck, and still give a super practical gift. Then I had the idea to create an assemblage of items that are super handy to have around the house when working on projects. Here's what I came up with! In lieu of a gift basket, let's call it a "gift bucket", shall we?
So here's what I included:
- A pair of gloves - because sometime things get messy, and sometimes we don't want to touch them
- A paint cup - for touch ups around the house when you don't want to carry a paint can around
- Paint brushes - you can never have too many
- A paint roller - you can never have too many of these either
- Spackle - because I have NEVER gotten a gallery wall right on the very first try
- A sanding block - for the Spackle, of course
- A Tarp - for new painting projects
- A small extension cord - because there are always things around that need to be plugged in at the same time
- Zip Ties - for cord management (like global warming, it really is a thing whether people choose to believe it or not)
- Utility Knives - for all those inevitable Amazon boxes, removing caulk, etc.
- A Hardware Set - because having a couple extra screws, anchors, and nails never hurt anyone, unless of course you leave them on the floor
- A small screw driver set - for installing bathroom hardware, and reinstalling said hardware when the toilet paper holder falls off the wall in the middle of the night as you're changing out the roll (ask me how I know)
- An all-in-one flashlight tool set - Yep, you don't always have to use your phone when you need to see in the dark. Also an all-in-one tool set means that you don't have to keep up with everything individually... and you just look like an nifty individual
- Wood Filler - repairing chips in moulding, restoring old furniture
- Locktite - clear glue for when your house numbers fall off your front door, or you drop the drawer to your front-loading washer, it breaks, and you have to put it back together (again, ask me how I know)
- Gorilla Glue - for the stuff that you REALLY need to glue back together
- A multi-purpose lighter - candles for when you need to set the mood, of course
- A small broom and dustpan - when you make a mess, and you need to clean it up. :)
- A toolbox - to keep all of this stuff in one central location (I checked and everything with exception of the paint cup fits perfectly together with the lid shut.)
- And a bucket - I mean, how can you own a house without a bucket?
Yes, people... that's 20 useful items that honestly any homeowner (or project-savvy renter) would like to have on hand regardless of the age of their home. And the best part? Wait for it... I spent around under $25 plus tax for the whole shebang! With exception of the new all-in-one tool, everything was sourced from the local dollar store.
Note: I also stuck to my "formula" for putting together a gift basket. Theme, color scheme, budget... that's all, Ya'll! As for the presentation, I kept it simple by I stuffing the bottom with a little bit of craft paper for height, and "artfully arranged" everything into the bucket so that you could see everything all at once.
This "gift bucket" was also presented with a nice bottle of bourbon as was our housewarming gift, so I must admit, I'm pretty proud of how everything turned out. What do you think? What type of gift basket should I do next?
A good friend of mine recently purchase her first home on the West Side! Her place (which is super cute by the way) is an older home, which she plans to continue making improvements to down the road. When she invited us to her housewarming party, I thoughtfully considered what would be the most logical gift for someone who would be taking on home improvement projects in the future. I love the idea of a cool gift basket, but being the cost conscious girl that I am, I wanted to get the most bang for my buck, and still give a super practical gift. Then I had the idea to create an assemblage of items that are super handy to have around the house when working on projects. Here's what I came up with! In lieu of a gift basket, let's call it a "gift bucket", shall we?
So here's what I included:
- A pair of gloves - because sometime things get messy, and sometimes we don't want to touch them
- A paint cup - for touch ups around the house when you don't want to carry a paint can around
- Paint brushes - you can never have too many
- A paint roller - you can never have too many of these either
- Spackle - because I have NEVER gotten a gallery wall right on the very first try
- A sanding block - for the Spackle, of course
- A Tarp - for new painting projects
- A small extension cord - because there are always things around that need to be plugged in at the same time
- Zip Ties - for cord management (like global warming, it really is a thing whether people choose to believe it or not)
- Utility Knives - for all those inevitable Amazon boxes, removing caulk, etc.
- A Hardware Set - because having a couple extra screws, anchors, and nails never hurt anyone, unless of course you leave them on the floor
- A small screw driver set - for installing bathroom hardware, and reinstalling said hardware when the toilet paper holder falls off the wall in the middle of the night as you're changing out the roll (ask me how I know)
- An all-in-one flashlight tool set - Yep, you don't always have to use your phone when you need to see in the dark. Also an all-in-one tool set means that you don't have to keep up with everything individually... and you just look like an nifty individual
- Wood Filler - repairing chips in moulding, restoring old furniture
- Locktite - clear glue for when your house numbers fall off your front door, or you drop the drawer to your front-loading washer, it breaks, and you have to put it back together (again, ask me how I know)
- Gorilla Glue - for the stuff that you REALLY need to glue back together
- A multi-purpose lighter - candles for when you need to set the mood, of course
- A small broom and dustpan - when you make a mess, and you need to clean it up. :)
- A toolbox - to keep all of this stuff in one central location (I checked and everything with exception of the paint cup fits perfectly together with the lid shut.)
- And a bucket - I mean, how can you own a house without a bucket?
Yes, people... that's 20 useful items that honestly any homeowner (or project-savvy renter) would like to have on hand regardless of the age of their home. And the best part? Wait for it... I spent around under $25 plus tax for the whole shebang! With exception of the new all-in-one tool, everything was sourced from the local dollar store.
Note: I also stuck to my "formula" for putting together a gift basket. Theme, color scheme, budget... that's all, Ya'll! As for the presentation, I kept it simple by I stuffing the bottom with a little bit of craft paper for height, and "artfully arranged" everything into the bucket so that you could see everything all at once.
This "gift bucket" was also presented with a nice bottle of bourbon as was our housewarming gift, so I must admit, I'm pretty proud of how everything turned out. What do you think? What type of gift basket should I do next?
Hey Guys! Happy summer! Question... do you remember when the anticipation of summer was heavily tied to a three-month vacation between grades in school? I was reminiscing about this the other day with a friend, and I realized that "grown" people typically only look forward to summer for the warm weather and perhaps a good trip to the beach before Labor Day weekend is over. For myself, I'm afraid, summer is now only a season... nothing in particular to look forward to besides the same or similar daily grind in which I partake during any other season. BUT I thought that for this summer I might find something to lift my spirits a bit, you know, something a little more inspirational. I wanted to make sure that I not only enjoyed my summer, but also challenged myself to step a bit outside of my daily grownup monotony. That's when I decided to try a Summer Bucket List!
So for those who don't know, I'm an avid list maker. I find that making lists for items that are constantly swimming around in my head really helps to reduce my anxiety. Therefore I always try to keep a notebook nearby where I can release my thoughts, to-do lists, and reminders. When I decided to create a Summer Bucket List, I wanted it to be a bit different from the normal to-do lists that I generally make for myself. That's where my rules come in!
Rule #1
Each item has to require some above average effort on my part, but not so much effort that I put it off or avoid it.
Rule #2
Stretch myself to be creative and to include a few things that I've been wanting to do all year, but haven't made time for.
Rule #3
Focus each item around having fun and really enjoying my summer. No weight loss or workout goals, no new habit formations, no chores.
So without further adieu, here she goes!!!
Chic Little Me
Summer Bucket List
1. Finish a book
I'm totally a serial reader! What's that you ask? Well, I buy books, start reading them, and never finish. Not that they aren't interesting, it's just that I find other things to do that I deem are more important. This summer, I am determined to get all the way through at least one entire book that I started months (or maybe even a year) ago. Currently I'm working on finishing this one!
2. Bake a cake
Okay, the thought of baking totally intimidates me. Sure, I can cook (Thank God for Blue Apron) but baking is such a science, and the fear of possibly doing something wrong cripples me with fear. I figure I can start with something as simple as a box mix, and work my way up from there. I'm looking to this post for some guidance.
3. Make a charcuterie board
If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I love a good charcuterie board. Each board is an opportunity to try something new, so I'm super excited about the idea of experimenting with different layout and ingredients. Check out my current charcuterie board mentor here.
4. Entertain on our deck
Due to all the rain we've had this year, our poor little deck has gone completely unused all year. Since we bought our place 3 years ago, I have dreamed of a big umbrella over our sectional, coupled with good friends and cocktails. The foundation is down, I just need to finish it up. This summer I totally want to make it happen.
5. Take a weekend trip
There's nothing like a quick weekend trip to make you feel energized. It would be nice to incorporate more than one into my summer. I'm thinking at least one on my own, and perhaps one with the hubs!
6. Make a new cocktail
I make a good Bloody Mary, and a decent Moscow Mule, however that's where my drink mixing skills end. This summer I want to make (and hopefully perfect) one new cocktail. I've even started a board for some inspiration. What's your go-to cocktail? Help a sister out!
7. Host a brunch
I've been wanting to host a bagel brunch all year. I'm hoping that I can get myself together and execute a super cute brunch that I'll be proud of. My friends and I have been joking around about a bagel brunch... I just need to get things swingin'!
8. Craft something
Do you have a Pintrest board with inspirational DIYs too, or is that just me? Within the next few months I actually plan to make something crafty. I've been pinning stuff for years, but in true fashion I have yet to take the plunge and create something. I'm not 100% sure what I want to do yet, but I really want to get out of the habit of consuming more content than I create. Hopefully this exercise will be a good catalyst.
9. Plant an herb garden
I've wanted to do this forever! I'll admit that I've been a little overwhelmed by the thought of creating a container garden... but this summer I'll find out once and for all. A dear friend actually gave me a great hanging bag planter that I really want to put to good use.
10. Take Chips to a dogpark
We've had Chips (our cute, little Terrier Blend) for 3 years. Can you believe she's never been to a dog park? I know, what kind of Millennials are we??? I'm really excited for Fetch opening in Atlanta soon. Have you heard of it?
11. Take photos with my DSLR
This is another thing that I want to nudge myself to do because I've generally been intimated by it. This summer I want to take more photos with my camera (a Sony A37) to simply practice, and feel more comfortable with my camera. It always seems like such a hassle when I can just use my phone, but I'm planning to not let fear deter me.
12. Finish a house project
I have a lot of small house projects that would be wonderful if completed... pictures that have been leaning up against the wall, a mirror for the powder bath, curtains I bought for the living and dining room. All I need is a little shot of energy to finish them up. One of these small projects are going to get done before the summer is over!
13. Have a mental health day
In college Brandon and I would periodically have what we lovingly referred to as "mental health days". On these days we would sleep in, stay in bed, lunch and munch, nap,watch movies / tv, and not be responsible for a single bit of adulthood - working, cooking, cleaning, working out, studying, laundry, errands etc. It's truly been a long time since I've enjoyed a day like this without all of the guilt of a to-do list hanging over my head. This summer I'm prescribing myself one of these days. Hopefully I can sit still long enough!
14. Develop a new skill
Lately I have really been focused on continuing education. I have a few in mind for my career development, as well as a few for my creative and social development. I'll let you know where I land!
15. Host friends for dinner
Nothing is more gratifying to me than hosting friends in my home. I've wanted to do it all year long, but the thought of planning and executing a dinner (because I am so particular, and therefore SO EXTRA) is always a deterrent. I want to get a simple routine down so that I can feel like good about having friends over without the stress that I create around it. I'll let you know how it goes. If I'm lucky, maybe this will happen more than once!
16. Binge watch a new show
I'm not what I would consider a big tv watcher. My tv roster simply consists of The Walking Dead, The Handsmaid Tale (which is sooooo good), Black Mirror, Westworld, Insecure, Atlanta and Queer Eye. So I like drama, but a witty, progressive, heart-felt comedy is also my jam. Long story short, I'm taking suggestions. :)
17. Perform a random act of kindness
This one warms my heart. There is always room for kindness... we just have to seize the opportunity when it presents itself. I really want to do something nice for a stranger, a family member, friends, my co-workers, etc. Sometimes something small can make a big impact. I already have a few ideas on how I want to approach this. I'm excited to see how it goes. Perhaps this can even turn into a monthly thing!
18. Attend a festival
Nothing says summer like a fun festival! I especially like the kind that are about eating and socializing versus the type with tents where you're simply walking around and being convinced to purchase things. What can I say? This girl likes to eat and drink! Luckily Atlanta offers lots of festivals over the summer, and all I have to do narrow my focus to the one I think will be the most fun!
Did you know that technically summer is over on September 22? How is it that I never knew this? So I'm going to aim for the actual end of summer for the completion of my list. Who knows? If it goes well, maybe I'll start a Fall Bucket List immediately after! :)
Hey Guys! Happy summer! Question... do you remember when the anticipation of summer was heavily tied to a three-month vacation between grades in school? I was reminiscing about this the other day with a friend, and I realized that "grown" people typically only look forward to summer for the warm weather and perhaps a good trip to the beach before Labor Day weekend is over. For myself, I'm afraid, summer is now only a season... nothing in particular to look forward to besides the same or similar daily grind in which I partake during any other season. BUT I thought that for this summer I might find something to lift my spirits a bit, you know, something a little more inspirational. I wanted to make sure that I not only enjoyed my summer, but also challenged myself to step a bit outside of my daily grownup monotony. That's when I decided to try a Summer Bucket List!
So for those who don't know, I'm an avid list maker. I find that making lists for items that are constantly swimming around in my head really helps to reduce my anxiety. Therefore I always try to keep a notebook nearby where I can release my thoughts, to-do lists, and reminders. When I decided to create a Summer Bucket List, I wanted it to be a bit different from the normal to-do lists that I generally make for myself. That's where my rules come in!
Rule #1
Each item has to require some above average effort on my part, but not so much effort that I put it off or avoid it.
Rule #2
Stretch myself to be creative and to include a few things that I've been wanting to do all year, but haven't made time for.
Rule #3
Focus each item around having fun and really enjoying my summer. No weight loss or workout goals, no new habit formations, no chores.
So without further adieu, here she goes!!!
Chic Little Me
Summer Bucket List
1. Finish a book
I'm totally a serial reader! What's that you ask? Well, I buy books, start reading them, and never finish. Not that they aren't interesting, it's just that I find other things to do that I deem are more important. This summer, I am determined to get all the way through at least one entire book that I started months (or maybe even a year) ago. Currently I'm working on finishing this one!
2. Bake a cake
Okay, the thought of baking totally intimidates me. Sure, I can cook (Thank God for Blue Apron) but baking is such a science, and the fear of possibly doing something wrong cripples me with fear. I figure I can start with something as simple as a box mix, and work my way up from there. I'm looking to this post for some guidance.
3. Make a charcuterie board
If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I love a good charcuterie board. Each board is an opportunity to try something new, so I'm super excited about the idea of experimenting with different layout and ingredients. Check out my current charcuterie board mentor here.
4. Entertain on our deck
Due to all the rain we've had this year, our poor little deck has gone completely unused all year. Since we bought our place 3 years ago, I have dreamed of a big umbrella over our sectional, coupled with good friends and cocktails. The foundation is down, I just need to finish it up. This summer I totally want to make it happen.
5. Take a weekend trip
There's nothing like a quick weekend trip to make you feel energized. It would be nice to incorporate more than one into my summer. I'm thinking at least one on my own, and perhaps one with the hubs!
6. Make a new cocktail
I make a good Bloody Mary, and a decent Moscow Mule, however that's where my drink mixing skills end. This summer I want to make (and hopefully perfect) one new cocktail. I've even started a board for some inspiration. What's your go-to cocktail? Help a sister out!
7. Host a brunch
I've been wanting to host a bagel brunch all year. I'm hoping that I can get myself together and execute a super cute brunch that I'll be proud of. My friends and I have been joking around about a bagel brunch... I just need to get things swingin'!
8. Craft something
Do you have a Pintrest board with inspirational DIYs too, or is that just me? Within the next few months I actually plan to make something crafty. I've been pinning stuff for years, but in true fashion I have yet to take the plunge and create something. I'm not 100% sure what I want to do yet, but I really want to get out of the habit of consuming more content than I create. Hopefully this exercise will be a good catalyst.
9. Plant an herb garden
I've wanted to do this forever! I'll admit that I've been a little overwhelmed by the thought of creating a container garden... but this summer I'll find out once and for all. A dear friend actually gave me a great hanging bag planter that I really want to put to good use.
10. Take Chips to a dogpark
We've had Chips (our cute, little Terrier Blend) for 3 years. Can you believe she's never been to a dog park? I know, what kind of Millennials are we??? I'm really excited for Fetch opening in Atlanta soon. Have you heard of it?
11. Take photos with my DSLR
This is another thing that I want to nudge myself to do because I've generally been intimated by it. This summer I want to take more photos with my camera (a Sony A37) to simply practice, and feel more comfortable with my camera. It always seems like such a hassle when I can just use my phone, but I'm planning to not let fear deter me.
12. Finish a house project
I have a lot of small house projects that would be wonderful if completed... pictures that have been leaning up against the wall, a mirror for the powder bath, curtains I bought for the living and dining room. All I need is a little shot of energy to finish them up. One of these small projects are going to get done before the summer is over!
13. Have a mental health day
In college Brandon and I would periodically have what we lovingly referred to as "mental health days". On these days we would sleep in, stay in bed, lunch and munch, nap,watch movies / tv, and not be responsible for a single bit of adulthood - working, cooking, cleaning, working out, studying, laundry, errands etc. It's truly been a long time since I've enjoyed a day like this without all of the guilt of a to-do list hanging over my head. This summer I'm prescribing myself one of these days. Hopefully I can sit still long enough!
14. Develop a new skill
Lately I have really been focused on continuing education. I have a few in mind for my career development, as well as a few for my creative and social development. I'll let you know where I land!
15. Host friends for dinner
Nothing is more gratifying to me than hosting friends in my home. I've wanted to do it all year long, but the thought of planning and executing a dinner (because I am so particular, and therefore SO EXTRA) is always a deterrent. I want to get a simple routine down so that I can feel like good about having friends over without the stress that I create around it. I'll let you know how it goes. If I'm lucky, maybe this will happen more than once!
16. Binge watch a new show
I'm not what I would consider a big tv watcher. My tv roster simply consists of The Walking Dead, The Handsmaid Tale (which is sooooo good), Black Mirror, Westworld, Insecure, Atlanta and Queer Eye. So I like drama, but a witty, progressive, heart-felt comedy is also my jam. Long story short, I'm taking suggestions. :)
17. Perform a random act of kindness
This one warms my heart. There is always room for kindness... we just have to seize the opportunity when it presents itself. I really want to do something nice for a stranger, a family member, friends, my co-workers, etc. Sometimes something small can make a big impact. I already have a few ideas on how I want to approach this. I'm excited to see how it goes. Perhaps this can even turn into a monthly thing!
18. Attend a festival
Nothing says summer like a fun festival! I especially like the kind that are about eating and socializing versus the type with tents where you're simply walking around and being convinced to purchase things. What can I say? This girl likes to eat and drink! Luckily Atlanta offers lots of festivals over the summer, and all I have to do narrow my focus to the one I think will be the most fun!
Did you know that technically summer is over on September 22? How is it that I never knew this? So I'm going to aim for the actual end of summer for the completion of my list. Who knows? If it goes well, maybe I'll start a Fall Bucket List immediately after! :)
Today I wanted to get the conversation going about how I plan to address our guest room. Honestly, I've gone back and forth with what I want for this room. It's the smallest bedroom in the house, and I really wanted it to feel like a little boutique experience for guests. First I thought about doing a convertible daybed, but the one I wanted sat so low, and didn't look or feel as substantial as I wanted it to. Currently the room has a simple Karlstad chaise against the wall, and it's been against the wall in the same spot for 3 years! I guess the thought of a daybed, even if it would be centered on the back wall, felt a little too similar to what was already there, and I wanted something completely different. I remember talking to a friend about my concern for the size of the bed in this space, and she told me that she had a full bed in her small guest room, and never had any problems with it. Besides, if a couple stays over and they don't like the idea of sharing a full size bed... they should probably find somewhere else to stay.
Of course before I decided on what furniture I wanted, I gathered a little inspiration. If you follow me on Instagram you may remember this post from some time ago. After a year and a half, I still digging it, so I thought that it might be a good point of departure.
Anyhoo, with a full-size bed in mind, I chose the IKEA Gjora bed. I wanted something light, possibly Scandinavian - inspired, and a little quirky.
Focal Point
I love that this bed is reminiscent of a four poster bed, and that it can be reversed so that you can hang items from the tall headboard side. I intend to use it on reverse for the room because the closet in this bedroom is home to my hubby's clothes. All the closets in our bedrooms are tiny, and I like that guests can hang their clothing from the bed if they so choose.
So with those things in mind, here's the scheme board that I threw together.
Textiles
Since the curtains are rather loud, I want to use mostly white linens and perhaps a few patterned Euro shams and a lumbar pillow to inject a little bit of color onto the bed. My fingers are crossed that I can make the curtain panels work. They are a set of custom panels that I found at Goodwill for $15. Needless to say that I immediately jumped on them without a second thought. They will probably be about 83" once I steam them, and with rings I can probably only add another inch or two, so I may have to scrap them all together. But I do have plans to try! :) Perhaps I may be able to add something funky to the bottom? I'll let you know how they work out.
Storage
Our townhouse is constructed with a half-timber style facade, therefore the front of our home juts out about 12" creating a little cubby in the guest room. People always ask me,"What's up with the wall?" Then of course they always look at me sideways, but I love it. For a new construction home, our place doesn't have a ton of character, and I really like the cubbies (it extends in to my studio next door). So my thought is to use a shelving unit to make the best use of space in this little room. I like the idea of having something that looks a little more built in (notice the shelving unit I chose looks like it extends out of the wall instead of just leaning against the wall like a typical ladder bookcase.) I also like the idea of a little bit of concealed storage, perhaps with tv, art, or a pegboard above, that's where the Ivar unit comes in. It has two drawers, and a cabinet for hiding away clothes, shoes, etc.
Lighting
I'm on the fence about lighting. I like the idea of sconces (I think it really elevates a bedside situation and great for reading) but I may already have a few lamps that could work just in case I need to save up for the perfect thing. The one shown here is from Urban Outfitters and adjusts up and down, which could be perfect next to a nightstand and for reading before bed. I'm not opposed to lamps, but the nightstands will have a rather small surface, so perhaps I'll use slim work lamps, or even some super slim floor lamps.
Nightstands
My favorite nightstand situation (and any side table situation next to a sofa) is two different tables that are the same scale, but play well together. I've narrowed it down to three options.The first piece is an Eket unit which is only $60 bucks. I dig the mix of a flat surface, open storage, and concealed storage. Next up is a Hjartelig nightstand at $39.99, which is super chic with matte black accents that ties into the other black items (curtain rod, lighting, accessories) that I hope to use in the room. The last option is the Bjorksnas nightstand at $69.00. It looks like it was made for the bed, which is honestly a turn on and a turn off. However I love the little leather pull, and styled out I'm sure it would be adorable. Let me know which one you dig the most #1 Eket, #2 Hjartelig, or #3 Bjorksnas. I almost always strongly consider the price first, then the style, but I'd love to know what you think!
Accessories
As far as accessories go, I wanted to see if I might be able to work in my IKEA PS planter (shown above) but I may just have to try it out in another part of our house if it doesn't fit. I also plan on letting loose with all of the great Goodwill finds that I've been collecting... think wicker baskets and mirrors, macrame, vintage art, and wooden candle holders. I can't wait to see it all come together!
I'll be working on the room all this week, and will definitely report back. Per usual I'm doing this on the tightest budget possible, so wish me luck!
Today I wanted to get the conversation going about how I plan to address our guest room. Honestly, I've gone back and forth with what I want for this room. It's the smallest bedroom in the house, and I really wanted it to feel like a little boutique experience for guests. First I thought about doing a convertible daybed, but the one I wanted sat so low, and didn't look or feel as substantial as I wanted it to. Currently the room has a simple Karlstad chaise against the wall, and it's been against the wall in the same spot for 3 years! I guess the thought of a daybed, even if it would be centered on the back wall, felt a little too similar to what was already there, and I wanted something completely different. I remember talking to a friend about my concern for the size of the bed in this space, and she told me that she had a full bed in her small guest room, and never had any problems with it. Besides, if a couple stays over and they don't like the idea of sharing a full size bed... they should probably find somewhere else to stay.
Of course before I decided on what furniture I wanted, I gathered a little inspiration. If you follow me on Instagram you may remember this post from some time ago. After a year and a half, I still digging it, so I thought that it might be a good point of departure.
Anyhoo, with a full-size bed in mind, I chose the IKEA Gjora bed. I wanted something light, possibly Scandinavian - inspired, and a little quirky.
Focal Point
I love that this bed is reminiscent of a four poster bed, and that it can be reversed so that you can hang items from the tall headboard side. I intend to use it on reverse for the room because the closet in this bedroom is home to my hubby's clothes. All the closets in our bedrooms are tiny, and I like that guests can hang their clothing from the bed if they so choose.
So with those things in mind, here's the scheme board that I threw together.
Textiles
Since the curtains are rather loud, I want to use mostly white linens and perhaps a few patterned Euro shams and a lumbar pillow to inject a little bit of color onto the bed. My fingers are crossed that I can make the curtain panels work. They are a set of custom panels that I found at Goodwill for $15. Needless to say that I immediately jumped on them without a second thought. They will probably be about 83" once I steam them, and with rings I can probably only add another inch or two, so I may have to scrap them all together. But I do have plans to try! :) Perhaps I may be able to add something funky to the bottom? I'll let you know how they work out.
Storage
Our townhouse is constructed with a half-timber style facade, therefore the front of our home juts out about 12" creating a little cubby in the guest room. People always ask me,"What's up with the wall?" Then of course they always look at me sideways, but I love it. For a new construction home, our place doesn't have a ton of character, and I really like the cubbies (it extends in to my studio next door). So my thought is to use a shelving unit to make the best use of space in this little room. I like the idea of having something that looks a little more built in (notice the shelving unit I chose looks like it extends out of the wall instead of just leaning against the wall like a typical ladder bookcase.) I also like the idea of a little bit of concealed storage, perhaps with tv, art, or a pegboard above, that's where the Ivar unit comes in. It has two drawers, and a cabinet for hiding away clothes, shoes, etc.
Lighting
I'm on the fence about lighting. I like the idea of sconces (I think it really elevates a bedside situation and great for reading) but I may already have a few lamps that could work just in case I need to save up for the perfect thing. The one shown here is from Urban Outfitters and adjusts up and down, which could be perfect next to a nightstand and for reading before bed. I'm not opposed to lamps, but the nightstands will have a rather small surface, so perhaps I'll use slim work lamps, or even some super slim floor lamps.
Nightstands
My favorite nightstand situation (and any side table situation next to a sofa) is two different tables that are the same scale, but play well together. I've narrowed it down to three options.The first piece is an Eket unit which is only $60 bucks. I dig the mix of a flat surface, open storage, and concealed storage. Next up is a Hjartelig nightstand at $39.99, which is super chic with matte black accents that ties into the other black items (curtain rod, lighting, accessories) that I hope to use in the room. The last option is the Bjorksnas nightstand at $69.00. It looks like it was made for the bed, which is honestly a turn on and a turn off. However I love the little leather pull, and styled out I'm sure it would be adorable. Let me know which one you dig the most #1 Eket, #2 Hjartelig, or #3 Bjorksnas. I almost always strongly consider the price first, then the style, but I'd love to know what you think!
Accessories
As far as accessories go, I wanted to see if I might be able to work in my IKEA PS planter (shown above) but I may just have to try it out in another part of our house if it doesn't fit. I also plan on letting loose with all of the great Goodwill finds that I've been collecting... think wicker baskets and mirrors, macrame, vintage art, and wooden candle holders. I can't wait to see it all come together!
I'll be working on the room all this week, and will definitely report back. Per usual I'm doing this on the tightest budget possible, so wish me luck!
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