karl's quotes

Saturday, December 15, 2012

I believe Chanel can absolutely do no wrong, ever. And I am quite amused by Karl Lagerfeld's fabulousness and quotes...here is a link to Karl's best quotes of the year by Fashionista. Enjoy!





Oh and did you hear about the girl that was tweeting at Choupette, Karl's cat? Genius. Definitely up there with Suri's Burn Book.

Ellie's first birthday!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Today is my little Ellie's 1st Birthday!!!! Look how itty bitty she was just a year ago before she came home with us! And in hopes that she will learn to calm down one of these days and just chill, she is getting her very first big girl doggie bed.


weekend re-cap times two

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

It has been a serious whirlwind since we left for NYC. What an amazing trip...and I'm engaged!

Here are a few pictures from New York of Joe and I, our old street corner, and central park.


Then, we were home for only three days before we turned around and went to my parents for Thanksgiving. Just about all of my extended family came for Thanksgiving, so there was a lot of celebrating!


And now I am in the thick of wedding planning and trying to book a venue, because apparently everything fills up fast!

NYC in the AM

Thursday, November 15, 2012



Joe and I are finally returning to our old stomping grounds in the morning. I am very excited for a three-day weekend in NYC! We haven't planned too much, so I am hoping to check out a few new places in the city and enjoy a mini-vacation.

Have a great weekend!!!

lessons learned

Monday, November 12, 2012

It was a much needed quiet weekend around our house, and I'm glad to say that I only froze until Saturday evening when Joe got home and got the heat working again! We are both a little embarrassed to admit that the heat stopped working due to a dirty air filter in the floor. Seriously, it hasn't been that long since we changed the filter, so it is much more sensitive than I had imagined.

It was also brought to my attention this weekend by my sweet boyfriend that our house didn't feel that homey and he is right. Our walls are a little bare, even though we have plenty of things to hang sitting in the bottom of a closet, and our hardwoods totally lack rugs, so I am going to stop focusing on the big picture and spend a little more time turning our cute little house into a home. So I am on a serious hunt for rugs and here are a few pictures of things I am liking so far...

West Elm


I really love the look of this whole living room and I have been thinking of a rug more like this anyway, so maybe the above one would be better in the dining room.

Pinterest
There is also the option to make less decisions go for the layer look, above, and below. This is for people with decision-making anxiety like me.

Pinterest, again.



colder weather

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Yes, the title of this post is from a Zac Brown Band song. A band that I will be seeing from the VIP section of Madison Square Garden in exactly a week. Perks of the boyfriend's job.

The title of this post also has a not so exciting meaning. It is cold in my house. Like 61 degrees at the moment. It seems that our heat decided not to work last night. Of course, on a Friday night in November when every company I call seems to be booked until December. Awesome. Apparently, my boyfriend's dad is owed a favor by a guy that can come check it out. Sounds a little mafioso-like to me, but anything for heat.

In other news, it seems that the hunt for the perfect black dress has become the hunt for the perfect black boot in my world. These are pretty perfect. Now who makes them?

found here

lately

Sunday, November 4, 2012

I was just thinking yesterday that I couldn't believe that it was already November 3rd. Well, I guess that it is no joke that time really flies by, plus the last few weeks have been seriously busy.

Joe and I packed up the car and took the pups with us to Greensboro for a very quick 26-hour trip, but it was all worth it to see some of my very best friends and celebrate the engagement of Katie and Matt! I'm not sure if you can tell in the picture, but the hosts, the Matthews', have a seriously amazing outdoor fireplace, so I am trying to figure out how to incorporate something similar into our backyard.



I returned to work after this quick weekend trip, to work three very long days in preparation for a trip to Houston and Quilt Market. Sounds pretty dorky, but tell me that this isn't one of the most beautiful quilts you have ever seen.

It is made with Josephine Kimberling's Global Bazaar collection for Blend Fabrics and I am not sure that I will be able to partake on the task of making the quilt, but I will be finding someone to make it for me. It will look beyond amazing in my mint green office that I will be painting sometime soon.



And then, since the trade show took up last weekend, after working 12 days straight, I "volunteered" to help Joe with a work event that he had yesterday. It really wasn't too bad, but I am exhausted!



bark in the park

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Sunday night was Bark in the Park at Turner Field. Abby tends to be a little unfriendly, so Ellie got to come with us and she loved watching the baseball game! She even got to eat a hot dog...and this was all new to her because she hasn't really ever had human food.


action shot...she learned the chop

after: campaign dresser

Thursday, September 6, 2012

This post is long overdue. I posted a picture of the campaign dresser in our finished blue bedroom a week or so ago on instagram, but haven't gotten around to sharing it on the blog.

I mentioned in my before post (here) that I had found Michelle's really great instructions on painting furniture and I followed them for the most part.

The biggest thing I learned from this process is do not use a paint brush. The roller gives a nice streak-free result unlike a paint brush. I learned this after using a paint brush for the first two coats of primer and then on the third I used a trim roller with the best rolls I could find at Home Depot.

Instead of the Zinsser primer, I used Kilz. It was recommended to me at my local Ace Hardware for a previous wood painting project, so I figured I would use it again. {total side note: I spend a lot of time at the Ace Hardware, because they carry Benjamin Moore paint so obviously I already think it is great! However, they were just voted the coolest Ace Hardware in America! I'm so proud!}





For the actual paint, I just bought a sample size of the paint color I wanted to use, Benjamin Moore Silver Satin. If you are not familiar with the sample pints that they will mix for you at BM, become familiar asap. They are only $6.99 I think and you can get any BM color mixed. They will not custom mix a color in a sample size though, I've already tried. You probably feel sorry for the "coolest Ace Hardware," since they have to put up with me and all my questions...I feel sorry for them too.



I did almost one coat of primer or paint a night to give it plenty of time to dry, plus that was all the time I had after work! I really could not be happier with the result and am so excited to get it all set up in our new blue bedroom!

So here is the final product in our freshly painted blue room too!


shutters vs. blinds

Sunday, August 19, 2012

The campaign dresser is almost finished, so I should have pictures soon! As well as pictures of our new blue bedroom. It has been a serious work weekend around here and we will hopefully get the shed finished today as well.

As I wait for the paint store to open this morning, I have been researching local Atlanta plantation shutter and wood blind companies. We have a big front window in our living room that I think could really use plantation shutters and maybe even our bedroom. How do I decide between shutters and blinds though? I'm wondering if there is some rule about when to use one or the other, or if it is just personal preference. I guess my research continues...but here is a great picture of plantation shutters.



before: campaign dresser

Monday, August 13, 2012

I am getting ready to tackle my first before and after this week (and maybe weekend) depending on how much I get done after work this week.

The campaign dresser is a Craigslist find. It was literally the only campaign dresser I have seen on Craigslist in Atlanta for weeks and I am shocked someone else didn't snatch it up before me. The best part is the woman told me to just go ahead and take the side tables, because she had to get rid of everything so I am trying to figure out how I can use them.

I found really great step by step painting suggestions from Michelle at Innovative Interior and her campaign dresser turned out beautifully, so I hope I can do the same with mine!

Here is my before picture:


updated decorating ideas

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Well, we have been in our little house for just over three months and I think I have finally decided on a general color scheme for all of the rooms except the bathroom and kitchen. Those two are more tricky, because I would like to make much more major changes!

So here are my updated ideas:


change in seasons

It is still in the high 90s here in Atlanta, but at about this point in the summer I start thinking about my favorite season, fall. Probably the only thing I miss about living in New York are the gorgeous fall Saturday mornings that I would spend walking the Reservoir in Central Park and then stopping for coffee at The Muffin Man on the UWS. There is a crispness in the air that literally takes your breath away.

Thankfully, we just booked a trip to go back for the first time since we moved to Atlanta! We are heading up for a long weekend in November, so I know the trees will be colorful and the weather will be nice and chilly! We already have a to do list:

First stop...Shake Shack!!!! They have the most amazing burgers and I love a good burger!!

There will definitely be some shopping, and dinner at our old neighborhood Italian restaurant, Basilica. They have to die for homemade pasta!

Then, Saturday night we will be enjoying the Zac Brown Band's first show at Madison Square Garden from anywhere in the house! Joe has a pretty cool boss and we have all-access passes.

Like I said, the trip isn't until November, but it is definitely something fun to look forward to!

girls weekend

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Tomorrow is my Friday! And I get to spend the weekend with my eight bestest friend's from high school!! I could not be more excited as we haven't all been together since our annual Christmas dinner. Cannot wait to give all these girls a big squeeze (including Katie J that is missing from the photo)!!! 


puppy surgery

Sunday, July 29, 2012

I have spent a lot of time in the house this weekend, because our puppy, Ellie, got spayed on Friday and I have been a really good den mother and have tried to subdue the eight month old pup so she can heal. Do you know what it is like to try and keep a Jack Russell calm while wearing a cone around its neck? I think I would rather rip out my own toenails. It has been enough to make me crazy, but look how pitiful she is...



dining room update

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Here is my plan for the dining room so far...


I want faux bamboo chairs in white like the ones below, but haven't been able to find any yet...

Picture from here

past due update

I am a little behind on blogging, what's new?

We had a good week at the beach. The weather wasn't the best, but it was still vacation. I got to hang out with this guy a lot...my much taller yet younger brother. 



Since my return there has not been much house progress, just a lot of half finished jobs and it is starting to drive me crazy.

Here's what I've got...
Abby got a fancy new bed from OKL
Bedroom paint samples...no decision has been made yet.
new bookshelf for the office...Joe styled it himself
I know, it's not too impressive.

happy 4th!!!!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Happy 4th of July!!!! Hope everyone gets to enjoy a nice cook out and fireworks, two of my favorite summer activities!



In honor of the Chanel Couture show yesterday in Paris and today's US holiday, here are some stars and stripes from Chanel!

summer craziness

Sunday, July 1, 2012

It's sweltering in Atlanta, as well as most of the country right now, and I all I can think about is leaving for the wonderfully remote Outer Banks next weekend. Here a glimpse of what I will be enjoying...


color

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

As you can see from my other posts, I am obsessed with color these days, particularly blue, but it hasn't always been this way. I used to coordinate my outfits with black, more black, and a little heather gray here and there. Well all of a sudden I did this 360 and I can't get enough color!

I just came to a conclusion and the reason for this sudden change is that Karl (Lagerfeld, that is) said that it was time for color. Just look at these stunning outfits for Fall 2012, I seriously love Chanel.


both are from here
I know today is the first day of summer and I just skipped a whole season, but let's be honest, fall is the most fashionable season.

kelly wearstler

Monday, June 18, 2012

I almost died over the Kelly Wearstler collection on One King's Lane today. I am kind of obsessed with her and I have been for quite a while. When I lived in Los Angeles, my boss was invited to a "ladies who lunch" party held in her backyard. The house wasn't even accessible, but I still wanted to know every detail. One of the items on my bucket list is to go to every hotel that she has designed, thankfully they are in pretty fabulous places...like this one, the Viceroy in Anguilla.


It looks amazing!

my own piece of the plaza

Monday, June 11, 2012

This past Sunday, Joe and I met his parents at the Scott Antique Market here in Atlanta. The market is only open once a month and I still cannot believe how amazing it was. The one thing that we got at the market were two of these amazing lamps. 


The best part of these lamps is the story behind them...their original home was in The Plaza Hotel. Considering that Joe and I both lived in New York for several years and met there, I love that the Big Apple is now tied into our home, by way of the most beautiful New York hotel, nonetheless.

more color

Saturday, June 9, 2012

I was informed that I forgot to include the bedroom color. This is what I am thinking...


color crisis

Friday, June 8, 2012

I am having a serious color crisis. I feel like I need to go ahead and pick out all the paint colors before I make a final decision about any of the colors. And since my mother won't go on Pinterest and look at my ideas, I am going to write them out for her plain and simple. Here you go, Anne...

Living Room

wall color

with this side table on either end of the couch

Office

wall color

Guest Room

maybe classic gray walls in the guest room

and then I can use one or two of these

And last, but not least...I love these lamps and they are by a NC company, so I think I have to have them.


Now you have no excuse. xoxo



time flies

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Gosh, May just flew by! And unfortunately, I did not get a lot of work done around the house. Instead, I went to Kansas City, MO for the International Quilt Market with work. This wasn't as scary as it sounds, because our booth was the most amazing thing I have ever seen and as I have mentioned previously, I love all of our fabrics!

Anna Griffin & Blend Fabrics booth

The next weekend, I headed to Asheville (without Joe) to attend my little sister's wedding...my sorority little sister, that is! She was beautiful and they are such a wonderful couple! To add to the fun, my favorite cousin is my grandlil, so here is a little sorority family picture!!! It makes me so happy!!

Tess, Kristen, and me
Hopefully I can get some house work done, so that I can share the process soon.

office space

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Our office is technically a bedroom (you know, because it has a closet) however, it has nice big windows and is off the kitchen so it is going to be perfect as our office.

Here are the pictures of it from the real estate listing...



So here is the plan...


This corner of the room is going to end up looking like this:

From Pinterest
And then this side of the room.



Is going to hopefully be transitioned into this desk area soon:

Obviously, I have some work to do. Also, I love the bright paint color behind the bookshelf in that picture, so I am thinking mint green might be nice a nice choice for this room.


pardon the interruption

I apologize for the month long sabbatical. See what happened was...we bought a house!!!!

Here are some of the pictures from the original listing.

Isn't it just the cutest little ranch ever!

The living room
The dining room


So this large purchase we just made has been keeping us very busy; however, it is definitely worth it! I have big plans for all of the rooms, so get ready...