Twilight Living Room – And Other Rantings

Did anyone see the new Twilight movie over the weekend? I thought it was pretty good! Although, I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that “movie Edward” isn’t my “book Edward”. No offense to Robert Pattinson….you were lovely in Water for Elephants…

…but you kind of creep me out in the Twilight movies…and I’m so sorry sweetie-pie, but you’re just not my Edward. 

This is who I always pictured when I read the books (Chace Crawford):

Am I right?! Do you need more visual aids? I happen to have some right here…

“Hey baby, did you know that the sunlight makes me shimmer like
Carrie Underwood’s legs in that Remind Me video?”

 
“Tell me what you are. Say it!” “I’m a ruggedly handsome vampire. Duh!.”

“What, Edward? What do you see?!” “Dang! My marble-like chest looks really, really good in this shirt.”

Uh hum….but on to the real reason for this post. While watching the movie over the weekend, my little eyes perked up when I saw one of the rooms in the Cullen house. Here’s an impromptu (and really not very good) rendering (do you like the forest in the background?):

It kind of made my heart go pitter patter, and I immediately began taking mental notes: linen slipcovered sofa, ticking stripe pillows, cable knit throw, gray accents. I’m pretty sure I whispered a not-so-subtle “yessssss” under my breath.  

Sofa: Restoration Hardware; Pillow: Pottery Barn Custom Pillow; Throw: Pottery Barn;
Pillows: Restoration Hardware

Did anyone else think the same thing when you saw this room in the movie? Are you overly concerned that I happen to have three Photoshopped photos of “MY Edward”? :-)

-xoxo

Thank you. Thank you very much.

I have to say – I can’t believe that over a year of not posting, I’m still getting comments from y’all! I am so incredibly humbled, and I can’t tell you how much it means to me.

Here’s an update on me. I started a new job over a year ago, and I’ve been giving it 100-kajillion % because it’s been a new direction for me in my “real life career” and I’ve really, really wanted to do well.

A year later, I’m finally feeling like I have my feet under me, and I’ve been thinking more and more about how much I miss having this creative outlet in my life. Design makes me happy. It makes me giddy. It adrenalizes me and excites me. I love just hunting for beautiful photos, and analyzing what they did in a particular room that makes it “sing”. My Pinterest boards are a testament to this passion. 

I miss it. And I miss you.

I’ve also been thinking for a long time now that I really want to talk about our collective journey to being happier, healthier, freeer (free-er? more free?) women. In fact I actually toyed with the idea of creating a new blog just devoted to cleansing the junk from our mental and emotional lives….but 2 blogs is way too much to handle right now, and I just can’t quit my passion for design.

So, stay posted my suburban friends. More to come….

Doing It All

I may regret this post later, but what do I have to lose?

I’ve been thinking lately about us gals, and how we seem to constantly be faced with the duty? responsibility? charge? opportunity? of doing it all.

I’m not complaining here, and I only tell you this because I think many of you can relate, but from my own experience and from chatting with friends, it seems like we ladies are responsible for quite a bit: Working outside the home; Working inside the home; Paying bills; Creating budgets; Meal planning (which must be healthy, kid friendly, and budget friendly, right?); Grocery shopping (ugh); Cooking (double ugh); Cleaning/Organizing the house (triple ugh, ugh, ugh); Cleaning vomit (kid…dog…whatever…it falls on us); Home repairs?; Planning/budgeting car maintenance; Cleaning the car; Looking pretty (within said budget); Being phenomenal wives, friends, mothers, daughters; And, of course, having a beautifully decorated home that’s blog worthy/guest worthy at any moment.

And does anyone else out there feel an enormous amount of guilt if they don’t accomplish all of these things to perfection? Or at least within the ballpark of perfect (not sure which ballpark that is…maybe Lambeau Field…which is more of a football stadium than a ballpark…but whatever…Brett Favre played there and that’s good enough in my book). And does anyone else feel insanely overwhelmed and like they’re falling short all the time?

This blog started out as strictly being a decorating blog (my heartbeat…aside from the true, meaningful things in my life such as faith, family and Reeses Peanut Butter cups), but I feel strongly that I need to start talking about a few other things: The struggles and obligations we face as women (no offense to men and their own struggles); Healthy living (for my own selfish benefit); Fashion (again…selfish, selfish, selfish); and DECORATING!!!…which will of course continue my heavy emphasis on creating a beautiful home on a budget and paint, fabric, and do-it-yourself-because-you-are-WOMAN! projects.

I am planning on a 2-3 post per week schedule…more if I’m able…but that’s what’s been stirring inside me. I have to write from my heart. I have to write from my experiences and passion…and hope that those things help, inspire and resonate with some of you out there.

Cool? Cool.

With love,

Fall Faves: Let’s Get Cozy

See? I told you I’d be back today. You weren’t sure if you could believe me or not, huh? That’s okay. I did abandon you for a spell. It might take a little time to re-earn your trust :).

Shall we break some pumpkin bread and look at some of my Fall faves?

Now I’m a big fan of Summer and I always hate to see it end, but I’ve learned to embrace Fall….mostly by equating it with coziness – a feeling that’s hard to recreate in 100 degree weather. Here are a few of my favorite ways to get that cozy feeling. 

Pumpkin or hazelnut candles from Walmart…yes, Walmart. They’re from the Mainstays brand and they’re super cheap and so incredibly delicious smelling. I normally buy the type that come in a glass jar.

And nothing beats sitting by a  candle glow wrapped in a plush, soft throw.  This one from JC Penney is looking pretty darn good to me. See? Doesn’t she look happy?

And I have to share my number 1 fave: Restoration Hardware’s Luxury Plush throw.  It’s reasonably priced (at least at the moment), is SUPER soft, and comes in a variety of attractive colors.

Another thing to look forward to in the Fall? Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Starbucks. Ohhh soooo goooood. As is their Caramel Apple Cider. Mmmmm (oh dear, you don’t want to get me talking about food right now – I just downed a brownie and approximately 50 Cheetos)

Another Fall fave? New Fall pillows at Pottery Barn. I bought these Simone pillows last year and I still love them. You can pull so many great colors from them (smoky blue, deep red, wheatie golds), and they give a sophisticated but inviting vibe.

 

Finally, I look at Fall as a new opportunity to buy (or simply lust after) beautiful boots.

“Oh,  hi adorable riding boots I wish I’d bought while they were still available in my size   for $99.”

Perhaps I could comfort myself with these adorable $49 jobbies from Target instead….I’m sure my bank account will thank me for saving it a few bucks.

 

Stay tuned for more Fall faves. In the meantime, what about you? What are some things you look forward to in the Fall?

HI!!!!!

Hi Kids! So a bomb kind of went of in my life the past few months, but GUESS WHO HAS A NEW JOB?! MEEEEEEE!!!!

I’m so excited. I’m doing something I enjoy and I will now finally have more time to devote to my first love…this here blog.

I have been working on a few projects around the cottage that I can’t wait to show you; including a little fancy work around my fireplace, some creative work in our powder bath, and some embracing that old man inside all of us (I’ll explain).

Stick around kiddos! I’ll be back with some Fall favorites tomorrow.

xoxo