wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* That I lived closer to an Ikea. Shipping from that place is insane!

* Some sunshine. This rain is for the birds!

* A cake just like this one for my birthday (it's Saturday!).

* I think the twins would love Jacques the French Baguette!

* If I could tell time, I would wear this watch every day.

What's your wish?

(double) wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* Have you ever seen anything cuter than Sir Hopsalot?

* The color of this chair + ottoman is so soothing.

* Awww.

* I've heard such lovely things about this book.

* We all know how much I love Eric Carle.

What's your wish?

(And did you figure out my little secret?)

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* These riesling strawberry slushies look so delish!

* One of these floppy hats for upcoming beach trips. I very much like the yellow one.

* These wedges look like a perfect height!

* How excited are we that one-pieces are back? This one would be especially flattering!

* That I were near a pool right now.

What's your wish?

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* How 'bout just a good day?

* Pretty much every Butter London nail color. I have "Trout Pout," and I love it!

* Some cute, neutral wedges that I can wear to work. I still love these.

* A Brazilian Blowout for my hair. I think I'm a great candidate.

* A lifetime supply of this lotion. It smells so clean and wonderful.

What's your wish?

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?


image from here


* That I hadn't just eaten a Snickers. (embarrassed face)

* I still want a white blazer. Am I too young for this one from Talbots?

* That my hair were tame enough to do this cool braid featured on A Cup of Jo.

* To be able to survive this summer. How is it already 90 degrees outside?

* How adorable is this custom portrait? Wouldn't it be a great anniversary gift?

What's your wish?

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?


photo from HowSweetItIs


* Dry shampoo for curly hair. Is there such a thing?

* The J.Crew No.2 pencil skirt. How great is the citron color?

* That this humid weather would hit the road! It's too early for frizz like this.

* That these shams came in king-size. This king bedding stuff is hard!

* Garlic Bread Pizza Crust counts as breakfast, right?

What's your wish?

re-do to do

What’s the deal with Daylight Savings Time? (Doesn’t that sound like the opening line of a bad Jerry Seinfeld act?) I totally get why we did it in the beginning, but is it really necessary in 2012? This pretty much sums up my thoughts on it:

PC? No. True? Yes.

While I was lying awake last night at 11:30 p.m., I put together a to-do list for my bedroom makeover and even set a deadline for myself: Memorial Day = installation day. Why then you might ask? Supposedly that’s when the mattresses at Miskelly go on sale. Who knew? Kell did. And since I have not heeded his opinion on anything décor-related yet, I decided to give him that one little nugget.

3 Euro shams

Ivory king shams

Throw pillows (one of which is my beloved Chiang Mai pillow)

Mattelasse bedspread - ivory

Paint walls

curtain panels

Sunburst mirror (I got one at Big Lots!)

headboard

Lamps for bedside tables

Painting above bed

Bedside tables

Art above bedside tables

And I will say that for me, the best way to get started was to choose a color pallette. Fortunately, Chiang Mai Dragon has so many great colors, Shumacher did that for me.

So, now there’s no excuse but to get to work, right? Oh, and there’s that little hurdle called a “budget” to get over, but shoot first, apologize later, right?

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* A brightly-colored jacket. Doesn't this one just scream "spring?"

* More gorgeous weather like yesterday!

* Wouldn't these wedges (spotted on A Cup of Jo) be a great everyday, wear-with-everything shoe for spring and summer and maybe even early fall?

* A free yard makeover by an actual professional (read: not me).

* I need this for March 23.

What's your wish?

me, currently

I thought this was pretty cute. (stolen from Heather who stole it from this blog…)

My current state of affairs

Current guilty pleasure: Pinterest, Pinterest, Pinterest.

Current nail polish: bare at the moment, but OPI’s Give Me Moor is on deck.

Current play list: My trusty Avett Brothers Pandora station, but with Arcade Fire, The Civil Wars, Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver added. (And yes, I knew who he was long before the Grammys.)

Current read: Well, I was reading In Cold Blood, but I’m putting it aside for the moment to re-read The Hunger Games in preparation for the upcoming movie premier. Cannot. Wait.

Current drink: I’m trying to drink more water at the moment, but it’s still Diet Dr. Pepper.

Current food: Kell and I are very much into homemade hummus now that I have a food processor (thanks, Freddie!).

Current favorite show: Modern Family kills me. And Fashion Police, too, but strictly for educational purposes.

Current wish list: see Wednesday. Duh.

Current needs: wisdom, patience, faith and courage

Current triumphs: I’m giving up dessert for Lent! That means I’ve gone like three days without it.

Current indulgence: not dessert anymore.

Current blessing: new batteries. It’s the little things.

Current excitement: TGIF!

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* One of these candles for every room in my house. They are divine!

* That this cordless mouse wasn't so wonky.

* To try some of this beer risotto. Would you make it?

* How cute is this dog wrapping paper?

* That I hadn't eaten so much at Ubon's today. But it was worth it!

What's your wish?

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* Caller ID on my work phone. It's like Russian Roulette every time I answer!

* This adorable dress from Madewell. I LOVE the colors.

* Some motivation to exercise. I'm a little doughy.

* How cute are these blue heels? The look so sturdy, too!

* Some Jon Hart luggage for my 2012 travels. Which color would you pick?

What's your wish?

bedroom re-do

It's no secret that I am totally enamored of Jenny Komenda and Joanna Goddard. Fortunately, they are blissfully unaware of how stalk-y I am of their blogs. Imagine my happiness when Jenny re-decorated Joanna's bedroom! Have you seen it yet? I'm so envious of Joanna's life in NYC with her cute husband and little boy; this did NOT help.

Here's her before...

Pretty, but how cute is the after?

Joanna and Jenny both posted about it on their blogs (images from Joanna's blog), so you should read them and get inspired like I did. Kell and I (well, let's be honest - just me) are working on re-doing our bedroom (Thanks, Freddie!), and I can't quit thinking about fabric and paint and bedding! I even created a Pinterest board dedicated to it so I don't forget the stuff I like!

In other totally awesome home re-do news, check out Mary-Kathryn's uber-cool Oxford crib. Yes, that's a garage door in her kitchen! Fab, right? Go to her blog to see the whole thing. I'm telling you, it's like something out of Garden and Gun.

I'm so envious of her vision, and her adorable hubby's handyman-ness!

What's your favorite room in your house?

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* That Harris would hurry home from her honeymoon!

* A cupcake from Muddy's Bake Shop in Memphis. Just go.

* A white blazer. Maybe like this one?

* Some Peanut Butter Cup Popcorn. Could you die?

* How about some snow?

What's your wish?

grammar nerd

English was my favorite subject in high school. I loved studying grammar, and diagramming sentences made me giddy. Still does. I laughed out loud at this article about diagramming Sarah Palin's particular, ahem, "style" of speech.

Grammar is one of those thing that you don't notice until it goes terribly wrong. A person can be impeccably dressed, perfectly coiffed and have a spot-on handshake, but when he or she opens his or her mouth and says "whelp" instead of "welt" or hands in a memo incorrectly using "it's" or "its," the facade is ruined.

If you are like me (not "I"), you'll love this article as well.

Speak well, or forever hold your peace!

welcome 2012 - better late than never...

Yowzaa!

Where did December go? Remember being a kid and it seemed like Christmas would NEVER get here? Maybe it’s a sign that I’m aging at a rapid pace, but man, it flew in and out to me.

I am going to admit something to you guys: I hate new years. Not New Year’s Eve, a new year. I know everyone always says they can look ahead with fresh perspective, think about all the good things that could happen and all the stuff they are looking forward to. Well, perhaps it’s my anxious nature, but I can’t help but think about all that bad things that will/could happen. I’m not going to run through the list that’s in my head; trust me, you don’t want to hear it. Plus, that’s not the operation I’m running here.

Instead, I’ve decided to make a list of things I’m looking forward to in the next few months or so. I can’t think too far past spring, so forgive my lack in forward-thinking.

The Civil Wars concert January 10

MK and I are going to see the Civil Wars in Memphis next week, and I am so jazzed! You might remember my post about them a few weeks ago. One of my resolutions for 2012 is to go to more concerts, and I think this is a great start. YAY!

My sister’s wedding January 14

I can’t believe my little sister will be a Mrs. soon! I still think of her as the little pipsqueak that I used to steal french fries from. Sweet tee, Harris. You would.

Joy the Baker’s cookbook – out February 28!

I cannot wait for this. I was so disappointed to find out that it wouldn’t be out before Christmas, but now I’m glad so I can look forward to it! I love a cookbook.

Making my master bedroom presentable

Ever since we moved into our house, I have closed the door to our bedroom whenever we have company. I finally picked out the color palette for the room, and I’m so ready to start getting stuff together. It will be so nice to have pretty bedding and curtains on the windows and coordinating bedside tables! Oh my!

What are your feelings on a new year? What are you looking forward to in 2012?

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* An unlimited supply of Archipelago Vanilla & Brown Sugar lotion. It smells so wonderful and reminds me of Haley.

* That time would slow down! I'm not ready for Christmas to come and go yet!

* I saw these shoes out shopping last week, and I can't quit thinking about them.

* A new iPhone case. I kind of love this "crocheted" one.

* A "Happy Birthday" to Jesus - the reason for the season! Thanks to his abundant blessings, I don't want for anything, but it sure is fun to wish, right?

What's your wish?

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* How cute are these 12 Days of Christmas plates? (Even though I loathe the song...)

* To make some homemade marshmallows. This recipe looks like a good one. Fran swears it's easy...

* This super little glittery bag. It would be so hard not to carry it every day!

* This book spotted on A Cup of Jo. Dogs rule!

* A classic Christmas movie film festival with Rudolph, Charlie Brown, The Grinch (the original, NOT the Jim Carrey one...), Elf and Christmas Vacation. What are your faves?

What's your wish?

tis better to give

image from you are my fave

I’ve been told on more than one occasion that I’m hard to shop for. I disagree, but that’s probably because I know in my head what I like and what I secretly want. And if we’re being honest here, and we are, there are often things that I want and want to give, but financial means prevent me from doing so.


So, here’s a thought: if you could give anyone ANY gift EVER, no matter the cost, what would you give?

it's beginning to look a lot like Pinterest

Who up in here is digging on Pinterest? I am (follow me!). Something about it has re-energized my creative spirit, and that makes me happy.

Last year, I didn’t do any Christmas decorating other than a tree. I kind of thought it was pointless since only Kell and I would see it, but turns out, I was a little depressed about it. So this year, I knew it was on like donkey kong. And where’s a girl to go for inspiration? Duh.

All that said, would you like to see my mantle?

I can’t take credit for the look, and please excuse the poor photo. I had to take the picture with my phone, and there’s just not a lot of natural light in my living room. Here’s the mantle muse (image from there, too)…

What do you think? Did I get close?

I have to admit, when I first start copying a project, I can have blinders on for everything except what’s exactly like in the original. I searched high and low for the candlesticks, but they were nowhere to be found. (What’s the deal with no one selling hideous glass candlesticks anymore?) I even scoured our local Hancock for fabric just like what’s in the picture, but that didn’t happen either. When I got over the hurdle of not executing a carbon copy, it was much easier to visualize (and breathe).

Wanna know how I did it? As if it’s really complicated.

The trees are just floral foam trees from Michaels, and that’s where the garland is from too – it’s actually yarn from the knitting section. The only reason I even recognized it from the picture is because I used the same stuff in pink for a baby shower this summer. The sequined garland is from Big Lots – don’t you dare knock that place.  I tore strips of fabric for the trees and pinned them on with those pins that have the little white balls on the top. It didn’t matter if it matched up perfectly; in fact, I didn’t want it to. I like the overlap here and there – it reinforces that it was handmade.

The blue trees are circles of felt pinned with the same pins. I saw the idea here and went along with that tutorial, except I used pinking shears. Not sure if you can even tell, but I think it adds another layer of cuteness, and as we all know, cuteness counts.

The other stuff I had – the window is old, the “MERRY” I got years ago when I lived in Greenwood, and I have no recollection of where the glittery trees came from.

I have to say, I’m proud of my little mantle, and I’m so glad I decorated this year. I feel like much less of a Grinch.

Have you decorated yet?

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* That someone would tell me to go home today. We got some snow this morning!

* I'm certain I could find a spot for these gold pinecones around my house. You could leave them out all winter!

* That there were such thing as Nutella chips. Probably good there's not (that I know of)...

* These awesome Uggs. They're actually cute!

* To come home to some of this Holiday Peppermint Bark. Hint, hint...

What's your wish?