Oh, Canada! A Bucket List Trip
My best friend Anna and I have a tradition to take “bucket list trips” for our milestone birthdays — just the two of us! For her 40th, we went to Maui and had a blast. My 40th is October 13 this year, and I wanted a true fall, cold-weather experience (since we don’t experience much of that in South Alabama!). To Canada we went!
Updated Heirlooms: How Upholstery Can transform You Family Treasures
The easiest way I have found to updated beloved family furniture heirlooms is through upholstery. Fabrics can certainly “date” a piece, and they often become threadbare over time. This is the issue that I had with a few specific pieces that I didn’t want to replace with anything new. It’s true what they say — that things are not made like they used to be.
Transitional Fall Decor
I started to add a few fall touches to my house this past weekend. Since I was in the buying/selling/renovating/moving process this time last year, I am incredibly thankful to be settled and able to style the seasons this year!
Limelight Season
It’s limelight season! It’s time to snip and dry your limelight hydrangeas and arrange in vases for fall.
Cozy Saturday Scenes
The days are definitely starting to get shorter, and a cozy Saturday at home means lighting all the candles, snuggling with the pups and relaxing. It was a beautiful day!
Garden Dreaming
When I bought my house, I inherited a yard and garden that was once certainly beautiful in its day. Mrs. Lucia — the lady of the house for 70 years — was a gardener. But for the last several years (+), she couldn’t care for it like she once did. It was a bit of a mess when I first saw it.
A Sunday Shelfie
I love the original built-ins in this home! They were one of the selling features for me because I love the scallop details. When styling shelves, I try to use the “groups of three” rule, but I really just play with it until I like the look. I try to balance the color and the finishes of the things using asymmetry but with symmetry.
Mixing Old and New
I have a lot of beloved heirloom furniture pieces that I inherited from my mama and grandmothers. Many of the pieces are not terribly extravagant or valuable, but they have sentimental value. My challenge has always been to use them in my home in a way that honors their past but also honors my style and aesthetic.
Treat Yourself
Sometimes, you’ve just got to treat yourself. I used to treat myself to “fast fashion” dėcor items — mass produced from a big box store. And, sometimes, I still do — if the item speaks to me. But, these days, roaming the aisles of Home Goods doesn’t hit like it once did. I much prefer thrifting oldies but goodies or saving my pennies to invest in “for life” furniture and dėcor from the local antique malls or estate sales.
Little Details - Kitchen Edition
The pulls and knobs in my kitchen renovation have attracted a lot of attention. Since they are polished brass so they really do shine and stand out. And the pulls are quite large. Well, it’s a fun story (to me anyway).
An Anniversary
Three years ago today, I had a kidney transplant! My college friend Jessica gave me a priceless gift when she donated her kidney to me. I am so grateful for her sacrifice, my health and a happy future!