Making Macy

Happy New Years Eve

2011-12-31T21:19:00.000-06:00

My favorite....

I See the Moon: Etsy Find

2011-12-02T07:20:00.000-06:00

I have an unhealthy obsession with this VERY large moon chart I spotted on Etsy yesterday.

A-mazing, right!?!

Now, if only I had $875 to buy this beauty.

I think I would hang it above my bed as a faux headboard.

Wishful Wednesday: Etsy Loves

2011-11-30T11:30:00.000-06:00

Some items I've been gushing over on Etsy.

My love of hummingbirds keeps me coming back to this colorful print.

Michelle: Hummingbirds and Joshua Tree - Large Print

I love the simplicity of these leather bangles.

Stormy: Truly Teal Leather Bangles

This amazing original is already sold, but I still dream of it hanging on my wall.

Cathy McMurray: First Snowfall, Original

And how amazing is this painted box?!?

Susantique: Painted folk art box with geometric designs

I've been craving lots of white in my kitchen lately.

This enamelware tray looks brilliant when loaded up with pears!

Dennis: Vintage Enamelware Tray

I love the simple, yet spunky jewelry from iswasandwillbe.

iswasandwillbe: The Helsinki Series in navy

And lastly, I have been drooling over the idea of throwing some dark blue ikat pillows onto our red sofa.

PopOColor: Indigo Ikat Pillow

Early Birthday: iHave

2011-11-09T07:44:00.000-06:00

Handsome Hubby gave me my birthday gift early this year.

He even found my stash of wrapping paper and wrapped it beautifully (so proud)!

I am officially an iphone owner. I've been yacking about getting an iphone for a few years but never did. Hubby really is the best.

Is it ridiculous that after wanting one of these babies for so long, that I still have the thing sitting in the box? I want to get a case for it first because I know once I turn it on I will be hooked and want to take it every where. I know Hubby thinks I'm strange, but he also knows that I still have the packaging plastic stuck to the screen of my old phone and.... I had my ipod for 3 years before Hubby convinced me to rip off the plastic packaging from the screen. A little over protective of my products. :)

Weekend Review: Catching Up with Cousins

2011-11-08T11:44:00.000-06:00

Two of my cousins flew in with some of their extended family so we got to catch up over the weekend. I love these girls so much! We grew up like sisters. Britni is just older than me and Kate is a year younger.

Kate & Dustin

Britni & Jeremy

Great weekend!

Thursday Thoughts: Chocolate Hair and Lunch Leftovers

2011-11-03T14:05:00.000-05:00

Has anyone else been caught up with the new dry shampoo craze? Is this even a craze, or am I the only one who is thinking about ways to avoid blow drying my hair every morning?

I hope I'm not alone.

I like to think that I have fine, brown hair so I have suffered through the "grayish" hair look when using cornstarch or baby powder (which FYI is just perfumed cornstarch in a shaker bottle). This trick didn't jive with me so I resorted to buying some over-priced dry shampoo from Sephora last year when I saw that they made a spray for darker hair colors. I wasn't impressed. While it blended in with my hair color very well, it didn't make the greasy roots go away. So I gave up all together. Then, earlier this week a came across a forum where someone posted that they used cocoa powder mixed in with their dry shampoo. Of course I HAD to try it. So far I am impressed. My locks look fresh from the baby powder and every once in awhile I wonder if our office neighbors are baking brownies. This may be my new thing....

And on another thought tangent...

I have been really enjoying dinner leftovers for lunch at work. My boss likes to treat me to lunches frequently but I've gotten burnt out on all the blah salads or greasy extra large lunch platters (I live in the South). So dinner leftovers have been really refreshing.

Earlier this week it was pork tenderloin with mango couscous. Yum!

Any new changes in your routine lately?

Featuring Fall: Plaid Madness

2011-11-02T07:44:00.000-05:00

This fall weather has me dreaming in plaid....and bonfires.

(Next on my list is to research the closest location where I can sit by a bonfire.)

And I am thinking a puff vest would be great with these plaid shirts floating around in my head.

Tricking and Treating: Halloween 2011

2011-11-01T10:11:00.000-05:00

I hope you had a good Halloween weekend. I thought I'd share some of our weekend activities with you - plus a peek at our costumes.

On Friday night, we helped out with our church's Trick or Trunk event. I wanted our trunk to be interactive for the kids, so we made them dig for their candy....

From a pirate's trunk of treasure.

Friday we got hit with a cold front and gusts of wind so I had some difficulty wrapping the car in big sheets of brown paper :)

Of course the "X" marked the spot.

Hubby as a pirate.

And me as a mermaid....a cold mermaid.

In case you wanted to know how a mermaid walks around in boots.

Very awkward.

We went to a costume party downtown on Saturday night, but I didn't get any photos of our costumes.

This is the only photo we have from the night.

And yesterday, we were like mean, old people (as I explained to my mom) because we decided to go to the gym after work and then met up with friends for our weekly night out. So we never got a chance to even swing by the house to dump a bowl of candy out on the front step. Mean, I know. :)

Another Planner: The Yellow Continues

2011-10-27T14:16:00.000-05:00

My old planner (read up on it here) has been filling up and I noticed I would be in need of a replacement soon. It's been a great tool to keep me on track, but I realized I could use something slightly larger. I also wanted a layout that would show me my entire week spread out on one page (so I can see my daunting schedule laid out before me). But I loved the features my old planner had, especially the plastic cover that protect it from spills and let me tuck in notes for safe keeping.

Also, I loved that the cover was yellow. It was easy to find and keep track of.

So, I was on the search and I knew I wanted to go back to Ebay to find my new planner. A quick advanced search for "planners" from South Korea turned out some great finds.

But this was exactly what I was looking for:

The spiral binding will be great in keeping the pages laying flat, something I hadn't thought I needed.

Amazing storage capabilities for all my loose notes.

And now I'll be able to see the entire week scheduled out.

It's amazing how a planner can make me so excited!

New Wall Art: Ask Google

2011-10-26T11:07:00.000-05:00

Long story short - we had a friend visit New Orleans several months ago and he reminded hubby that he still owed him some artwork (Hubby bought a piece of art from him when they were still in school. Our friend had the art piece displayed in an art show that later was robbed of all the artwork). So when our friend returned home he mailed us this piece of art. We love it. It is so us.

But of course it stayed in its shipping tube for months as I sifted through thrift store bins to try and find the right sized frame for it (by the way, thrift store frames are an excellent resource for framing large art). I discovered that this was an odd sized piece of art - 22" x 30"

So we bit the bullet and had the piece custom framed. Hubby got it hung up on the wall a few weeks ago. Have I mentioned that we love it? Because we do. :)

Weekend Happenings: Taking it Easy

2011-10-22T10:40:00.000-05:00

Hubby is out of town on a men's retreat, so I spent my weekend catching up on some "me" time.

This included drinking some hot Abuelita for breakfast and finally reading the latest issue of House Beautiful.

I Spy: Vintage Plaid

2011-10-14T14:54:00.000-05:00

I pinned this shirt a few days ago.

I loved the fun twist on traditional plaid with short sleeves. But even with the new sales price, the price tag keeps this shirt beyond reach.

Until I found this similar, vintage find on Etsy.

The same, no. But similar, yes.

NosillaV has some other great vintage finds. Click here for more.

I of course had to follow up with a quick search for more short sleeve plaid shirts.

These are two more that I thought fit the bill:

From nickiefrye

From cement trampoline

So Long Summer: Strange Transitions

2011-10-13T14:50:00.000-05:00

Fall has been slowly creeping up on us here, but having grown up in the Northwest, I am still not used to this slow transition. I need to see leaves changing colors and nights to get cooler.

Instead, I am cautious about pulling out my fall clothes from hiding too soon. It seems sweaters are still a "no-no"....but I have seen some boots making their way out on the streets!

I am also having to say goodbye to pool and sun time. :(

So long.

October Giveaway: From Linda and Jill

2011-10-10T15:09:00.000-05:00

Be sure to get an entry in for the Luxe Lotto hosted by Rose à la Mode and Good Life for Less.

You don't want to miss out!

Artist Interest: Swoon

2011-09-22T07:42:00.000-05:00

This past weekend we went to NOMA to see Swoon's most recent installation piece, Thalassa.

I was really excited to see this piece up close after seeing photos of it on NOMA's website.

So many times I thought of Anthropologie displays...

Amazing, right?

You can see the installation video below for her process.

Today's Outfit: Breaking Out for Fall

2011-09-21T10:35:00.000-05:00

I decided to pull out my favorite blazer to encourage some fall weather to arrive.

As you can see from the photos, I was greeted with some nice, hot sun (directly in my eyes).

Sweet pockets, I love you.

I suppose I'll have to wait a little bit longer for some fall clothes fun.

Today's outfit is 50% thrifted...

Blazer: Thrifted from the boys department

Silk Tank: Kmart

Necklace: Local Boutique

Watch: read about here

Silk Skirt: Thrifted

Shoes: Bandolino

My New Friend: Cleaning Pots

2011-09-21T09:55:00.000-05:00

We were gifted these amazing Emeril Lagasse pots & pans for our wedding but after three years of use in our house they were starting to look a little sad and abused.

So I took some advice I had read many times online and tracked down some Bar Keepers Friend (I found some at our HomeDepot).

Check out these after photos!

Of course there were some small spots I couldn't remove - but only blame myself for beating the pans up too much. Overall, our pans look brand new!

Lonny Love: Anna Burke

2011-09-15T09:08:00.000-05:00

So while you were perhaps drooling over the photos of rooms designed by Kemble Interiors in the latest issue of Lonny Magazine....

I was fixated on Anna Burke's hair:

Photo of Anna Burke and Celerie Kemble from Lonny Magazine

Can't get over it. She looks great!

Loving This: The Head and the Heart

2011-09-14T15:49:00.000-05:00

Cats and Dogs & Coeur D'Alene by The Head and the Heart

Recap: End of August/Start of September

2011-09-12T16:49:00.000-05:00

Have you missed me? Because I have missed blogging.

Let me fill you in on our activities since we last "chatted":

I started sprucing up our under-sink cabinet in our main bathroom.

(More updates to come.)

In August we gave up the battle trying to squeeze in a mowing for our yard...

After the dress hunt came to an end, we flew to Idaho to celebrate our friends' marriage.

(Setting up decorations the day before.)

We returned home in time to get "flooded-in" (I compare this to being 'snowed-in') during Tropical Storm Lee.

(The intersection by our house.)

(Late night visitor who braved the storm.)

During the storm, we attended another wedding across the lake. We were looking forward to this wedding as it was being held at a castle. As you can see the storm pushed the wedding indoors.

(view from the car window when we pulled up)

But we found ways to entertain ourselves...

And then I got some baking in there somewhere....

Pear Tartin - we paired it with ice cream and a movie :)

August Wedding: The "Guest Dress" has been Found!

2011-08-22T13:34:00.000-05:00

After several weeks of searching for the perfect wedding guest dress to wear to an upcoming wedding, I finally got my hands on her!

You may have been following my scavenger hunt on Pinterest.

Here's the rundown:

I tried to shop at local boutiques (because I like supporting local businesses) but discovered that the majority of these shops had already cleared out their summer items and were selling fall items. Which means there wasn't much to choose from in the teal department.

I did a trip to TJMaxx and settled on a nice blue Calvin Klein dress as a back-up, in case the perfect dress could not be found.

But alas, I broke down and found myself at the mall. Ugh. I despise the mall. I ended up in Dillards because they had an entrance which didn't seem as popular for parking (aka no huffing it to the entrance in 100 degree heat). So into Dillards I went, pulling any and all teal dresses of the racks. I was like a shopping cyclone, I grabbed anything in site. Once I was in the fitting room, I discarded all but three.

After sending Hubby a few silly cellphone pics from the dressing room, this dress was chosen.

You can see that the dress is $138 at Nordstrom. I snagged it for $88 at Dillards.

Hubby's tie has a great teal pattern that works well with this dress pattern!

The dress meets all my requirements:

I am so giddy to go to this wedding!

I suppose I should start packing now...

Tuesday Obsessions: Pottery Barn Props & Accessories

2011-08-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

I love flipping through catalogs for inspiration in decorating and furniture placement. Lately, I have been obsessing over the props used in the Pottery Barn & PBTeen catalogs.

Check out my favorites:

What's up with all the awesome modern radios?

I love the rustic look of this board, turned into a hanging hat rack.

I am obsessing over this lamp. Happy for me it is an accessory for sale.

I also love the worn-in looking bins. I'm adding these to my list of items to scour for while thrifting.

Monogram blocks as bookends.

And for some reason, I want to find this mini telescope. It's hard to see in the online image, but it looks like you can twist it to line up the month and date to see the star/planet alignment. Anyone know what this is or where I could find one?

I always love the way Pottery Barn sets up a gallery wall.

And then there are these bookshelf lamps that appear to just be wedged between books.

Awesome, right?

They also throw in this wall-mounted coat rack.

I love this idea!

So, do you have any catalogs that inspire you with their props or room layouts?

Today's Outfit: Granny Skirt Miracle

2011-08-04T12:24:00.001-05:00

So remember WAY back when...when I told you I had some thrifty finds I would share with you.

Well, I have shared a few of those items, but my favorite by far is this awesome turquoise skirt I picked up.

It used to be an extra long granny-looking skirt, but I took it in to a seamstress near my work and ¡viola! she made magic happen!

Tank: Target (here)

Necklace: DIY - plain chain double wrapped (similar)

Skirt: Thrifted (similar)

Belt: Kmart (similar and similar)

Shoes: Bandolino (similar here and here)

I had been drooling over the new No. 2 Pencil skirts J.Crew is selling, so I was ecstatic to get my own for about $20 ($3 for the skirt and $15 for the alterations).

Did you notice it has pockets??

Tuesday Obsessions: Gingham Shirts

2011-08-02T07:46:00.001-05:00

Please tell me you are obsessed too!

via here

And I am ok that celebrities wear some gingham every now and then as well.

via here

Thirsty Thursday: Cherry Margaritas

2011-07-28T13:57:00.000-05:00

If you've been reading my blog for awhile now, you may know that I LOVE the color red.

So today's Thirsty Thursday recipe makes me swoon just by looking at the photo.

photo by Annie's Eats

Delicious looking, no?

Today's recipe for Fresh Cherry Margaritas comes from Annie's Eats.

If you have not visited Annie's site, you must.... NOW! She is A-mazing.

And while you're at it, please try this Cherry Margarita and tell me if you likey. K?

I am dying to use some left over maraschino juice for this (yes, I am the type of person who has a jar of maraschino juice in my fridge).

Tuesday Obsessions: Chalkboards

2011-07-26T07:23:00.004-05:00

If you follow me on Pinterest, you may have noticed a menagerie of chalkboards I pinned. I am obsessing over the idea of making one to put in the kitchen for our weekly menu.

But this idea is still in the works, so in the meantime here are some of my inspirational images:

via here

Outdoor Living: Ballard Designs Inspiration

2011-07-25T06:57:00.000-05:00

Have you received the latest Ballard Designs catalog?

If so, you may have drooled over this patio space like I did.

I have added it to my "dream-space" folder in my mind.

The large white fireplace, the black french doors, the beige building and white trim, the potted plants in large black pots.... I could go on.

Speaking of those pots.

Does anyone have any brilliant ideas on how I could go about making my own or finding something similar for less $$$?

Suzanne Kasler Zinc Planter ($49 - $179)

August Wedding: Dress Prowling

2011-07-22T08:32:00.002-05:00

So, in August, very good friends of ours will be getting married. Hubby is the best man and has this A-mazing gray suit he'll be wearing. (Is it weird that I like to know what the colors are for weddings so I can try to "blend in" with the wedding party?) He's also been sent his tie, which is this great grid pattern of blues and blacks.

Here comes my question: What will I wear to the wedding? I admit that I am sort of pathetic when it comes to owning dresses. I own three black dresses for "going out" and the other four dresses I own are casual dresses that I wear to church. Because Hubby's suit is so fancy and shiny, I don't want to be wearing a casual-smasual dress. Uck.

Thus, I am on the prowl for a dress to wear to the wedding.

The specifics of this dress must be:

These are some of the first dresses I've come across:

This is my favorite find. They're sold out online, but appear to still have it in my local store. Downside? Still a little pricey.

Ann Taylor: Cotton Waterspot Print Sheath ($119.99)

I love this dress too, but I think it might be too much gray when I stand next to Hubby.

Ann Taylor: Linen Tucked Sheath Dress ($149.99)

This Anthropologie dress is amazing, but I'm bad about thin straps.

Perhaps a "try on" is necessary.

Anthropologie: Charcoal Terrace Dress ($79.95)

This is a great evening dress, but may be too much for me to wear often enough.

The Limited: Ruched Tank Dress ($118)

This dress just looks comfy.

Ruche: Sweet Disposition Floral Applique Dress ($62.99)

And this dress from Banana Republic looks amazing in detail, but again with the straps...

Banana Republic: Silk Smocked Dress ($120)

Thirsty Thursday: ¡Horchata!

2011-07-21T11:42:00.000-05:00

Today's recipe is for Horchata! Yay!

We've been cooking up a lot of Mexican dishes at our house lately (mostly because we're using up our cilantro) and I was craving a cold glass of horchata.

There are many technical recipes out there for Horchata, but I liked Amy Wisniewski's recipe on Chow - pretty basic, throw it in the blender. Perhaps I am in love with my blender?

You can find Amy's recipe here. But beware that this is a "prep the day before" type of drink.

So tell your future-self that you're going to want one of these!

Today's Outfit: I'm Back for Wear*it Wednesday

2011-07-20T14:35:00.004-05:00

First off, I know you've been missing me. How could you not, right?

I apologize if you've been feeling abandoned. I am back... Er... I have been back, since Monday. But I've been catching up with the whole stocking the fridge, catching up on sleep and getting in some laundry. So now I'm back. :)

And today I am going to share my Wear*it Wednesday outfit.

Featuring....

These awesome yellow shorts!

I am embarrassed to say that I wore these shorts to an LSU tailgating party a few years back.
Embarrassed- not because I wore these shorts, but because I was at an LSU tailgating party.
I hate that I loved it. But I still refuse to cheer for LSU ;)

Anyhow, I picked these babies up at Kmart years ago. They were hanging on a rack right by the front door. I was in need of shorts (as I just moved to the South from Idaho). So they were purchased and now sit at the bottom of my drawer....that is until I need something yellow to sport to an LSU game or when Wear*it Wednesday is featuring colorful shorts...

So there you have it.

Behold the awesomeness of yellow shorts!

Chambray Top: Target

Necklace: Local Boutique

White Tank: Target

Shorts: Kmart

Sandals: Naturalizer

See ya tomorrow for Thirsty Thursday!

Update: Later I went home and mowed the lawn in these shorts. Can you tell our grass needed a good haircut? And these shorts needed some more sunshine.

Weekend Travel: Back on Monday

2011-07-15T09:55:00.003-05:00

Mr. Lizard will be house sitting for us this weekend as we travel to Idaho to be with family.

Wishing for a Bigger House: Weekend Craigslisting

2011-07-09T10:59:00.000-05:00

I am in trouble. I decided to casually browse Craigslist this morning....why?!?

Now I am wishing we had a bigger house so I can buy up people's unwanted furniture and hoard it all for myself.

These dressers all look like great fixer-uppers:

Large Wooden Dresser with Two Mirrors - asking $80

This dresser would be awesome with a fun paint color.

Family Heirloom Chest of Drawers - asking $75

It saddens me to hear of people selling pieces like this that were given to them by generations before.

Brass Accents Dresser - asking $60

I like that this piece also has a cabinet on the right that has shelves inside. I am dreaming of this being a great tv unit...

Mid-Century Modern Dresser - can you believe they are only asking $120 for this beauty? They claim to have 12 other dressers like this in their inventory.

Brass Pulls Dresser - asking $85 (also comes with a small nightstand)

French Provincial Dresser - asking $200 (comes with a smaller dresser in the set)

Hello! This is so classic!

So there you have it. This morning's torture.

Today's Outfit: Thrifty Finds

2011-07-08T12:55:00.002-05:00

Today's outfit combines two separate thrifting trips where I picked up these great J. Jill cropped pants and finally tracked down a pocketed dress shirt (like Kendi's and Jill's).

I have been on the lookout for a shirt like this for awhile now. I finally spotted this soft, eggplant colored shirt when I made a quick dash to snag some jeans to make into cut-offs for our 4th of July fishing trip. Whoo-hoo! Finally have one! (and I only paid $3)

A booty shot.

Pocketed Dress Shirt: Thrifted

Earrings: Gift

Cropped Pants: Thrifted J. Jill

Sandals: Naturalizer

The "lean back" was popular today :)

Update: Check out Everybody, Everywhere.

Thirsty Thursday: Homemade Lemonade

2011-07-07T13:05:00.001-05:00

This past week I purchased a bag of lemons from the grocery store - I blame my thirst for lemonade while grocery shopping.
So of course when I got home, I had to figure out how I was going to turn those lemons into lemonade.

This is what I determined it needed:

1) Bag of Lemons

2) Sparkling Mineral Water

3) Sugar

4) Mint

5) Ice

I chose to use sparkling mineral water because I love a good fizzy drink. I threw in the mint because our plant is overgrown and I'm trying to get some good use out of it :)

As for the amount of sugar, this depends on how sweet you like your lemonade. I thought I'd want my really sweet, but I found that I like real lemonade with just a small amount of sugar.

We don't own a juicer so I just sliced an "X" on the top half of each lemon and squeezed the juice out by hand. These little lemons held a LOT of juice!

I decided to cool off our lemonade by pulling out our Magic Bullet to chop up the ice with the fresh lemon juice to make a lemon slush mixture.

From there, I added extra ice and lemon slices, muddled some mint leaves with sugar and the lemon slush, then added the sparkling mineral water. I gave it a good stir to get the sugar mixed in nicely (I think next time I'll heat up the sugar to create a simple syrup to add instead.)

There you have it, my version of homemade lemonade. Thirst quenching!

Today's Outfit: Last Month's BBQ

2011-07-06T18:14:00.000-05:00

So I'm not actually wearing this outfit today, but I was going through some photos I took last month and came across these photos from a church BBQ and thought I'd share my outfit...and my friend.

"I found my heart in New Orleans" T-Shirt: local tee boutique

Linen Cropped Pants: boutique in Malaysia

Clutch: TJMaxx

Sandals: Naturalizer

We got my friend, Adelle, to hop in this photo. :)

And this is where I caught the last surviving balloon from the event.

And this is how gorgeous the day was!

Fourth of July Weekend Recap: The Dog Days of Summer

2011-07-05T15:01:00.003-05:00

Here's a quick recap of our 4th of July weekend:

We were invited to go fishing in the Gulf and stay at a friend's fishing camp.

I LOVE fishing, so we were sure to squeeze it in :)

This is how the sun looked when I got up to go fishing.

We caught red snappers, catfish, trout and mackerel.

Now we have a freezer FULL of red snapper. YUM!

Then on Monday we headed back to the city to celebrate the 4th with friends at a BBQ.

So you want to know why it's the "dog days" of summer?

He was smart to lay in front of the fan - its been pretty darn hot here!

We celebrated in style, with a cake made to look like a Pabst Blue Ribbon can (see how hot it was - the frosting is dripping) and of course a few fun fireworks...

Hope you had a great weekend!

Thirsty Thursday: Catching Up with a Spritzer

2011-06-30T13:05:00.001-05:00

I know, I know. I skipped last week's Thirsty Thursday.

So, I thought I'd share a drink recipe that I think would be perfect for your 4th of July weekend.

My old college roommate got me hooked on wine spritzers so when drinking a glass of wine now I have to remind myself that its not supposed to be fizzy. I do enjoy a good glass of wine, but I have an addiction to all things carbonated and bubbly :)

So today's recipe is for a Strawberry Mint Spritzer from Linda Wagner. See her full recipe here.

A quick rundown:

For an alcoholic version:

• 1 bottle Sake – any kind will do

• 1 bottle Champagne

• fresh strawberries

• lemons

• 3-4 sprigs of mint

• Vanilla Stevia

For non-alcoholic, substitute sparkling mineral water in for the sake and champagne.

Doesn't this look refreshing and beautiful?

imgs from Linda Wagner

Updates and Random Summer Photos

2011-06-28T11:49:00.000-05:00

Whew! Vacation Bible School is behind us and the summer of weddings has now begun.

We're making a special trip back to Idaho for a friend's wedding (Hubby is the best man) and last Friday we went to our first wedding to kick-off the wedding season.

I forget how much fun weddings can be when you're already married. First off, you have a permanent date to the wedding. Secondly, you've already had your own wedding so you're not taking notes on the ceremony or reception to keep for the future. Instead, I found myself relaxed and taking in the beauty of marriage vows and late night dancing by the water, under the stars.

I promise I won't become a wedding crasher....besides, I'm already booked for this summer :)

In other news, I'm finally using up an online coupon I purchased to get some professional photos taken of the Hubby and I. We have some nice ones from family photo sessions, but they're a little stiff looking - like an auto-insert for our obituaries. So months ago, I jumped on a quick deal for a photo session. We stayed up late last night coordinating outfits and I've been searching through photos to get a feel for what I like in poses, backgrounds, etc.

Mr. Tito soaking in the sun.

Today's Outfit: Jeans of Past

2011-06-27T15:00:00.000-05:00

These are the oldest jeans I still own. Not that they are that old, but it is rare for me to not purge old clothes like these jeans.

I suppose I hold onto these jeans because they were the first jeans I ever bought with Hubby (while we were still dating) and he told me the pockets made my butt look nice. How could I ever get rid of these jeans!? Sadly, these jeans perfectly fit the same body that originally bought them, not the body that tries to wear them now.

On a side note (but related): if you were hoping to see beach photos from our anniversary trip to Florida....be disappointed. I have no intentions of posting any because when we got back home I began to flip through photos Hubby had taken and was astonished to see my bikini body! That couldn't be me! Yes, it was.

So these jeans of the past are kept to remind me that there is potential to get that "nice" looking butt back. And so begins my new workout regime.

You may be seeing less of me in order to see more future me.

Tank: TJMaxx
Necklace: Claire's
Purse: TJMaxx
Jeans: Levi's
Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction

Shopping with a Tan: Summer Inspirations

2011-06-21T14:42:00.000-05:00

This Florida tan has me dreaming of some summer market shopping.

Click the image above to shop for items.

Taking a Break: For the Sake of Love

2011-06-21T11:41:00.000-05:00

Celebrating our third anniversary by taking a break from helping out with VBS and having a night in to ourselves.

Love ya, honey!

Today's Outfit: Rolling in Green

2011-06-20T08:26:00.000-05:00

Another Hubby shirt for ya. He picked this green number about two years ago during a "not so horrible" shopping trip. You see, this is when I learned that if I bring him a frozen daiquri he seems to be better shopping companion. So really, Louisiana laws make clothes shopping stress free for me. :)

But back to this shirt....

It's not my favorite shirt, but it has great color. I think it hits low on my wearability list because it has to be ironed and its a pain.

Shirt: Macy's

Tank: Target

Necklace: DIY

Jeans: TJ Maxx

Sandals: Naturalizer

Today's Outfit: Leavin' Louisiana

2011-06-17T07:21:00.000-05:00

Nothing special.
Just taking off to Florida for the weekend to celebrate our anniversary. :)

Tank: Kmart
Jeans: TJ Maxx
Belt: borrowed from Hubby :)
Sandals: Kenneth Cole Reaction

Art: Enjoying the Ogden Museum

2011-06-16T17:04:00.000-05:00

Preservation Hall is celebrating it's 50th year. They had a great exhibit up at the Ogden Museum. Ipods were set up all around the room to listen to music. I caught Hubby jamming out :)

This is an invitation from President Reagan to a Congressional American Jazz Picnic on the White House lawn. The entertainment was of course the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Some other favorite pieces in the museum.

Including the Universal Mule. We thought of other clever names for this piece...I think you can guess.

I spotted these painted spikes on our way down the stairs and I later spotted more in the window at the Renaissance New Orleans Arts Hotel. I wouldn't mind having a few of these spikes (on a smaller scale) in my living room.

Our favorite spot (and the main reason why we are actually museum members) is on the 5th floor rooftop that looks out over the Mississippi River and the St. Charles Streetcar line.

Our favorite exhibit by far was One World, Two Artists.

Featuring John Alexander and Walter Anderson

We fell in love with John Alexander's paintings.

Now we're on the search to get our own John Alexander piece of art.

Thirsty Thursday: Cajun Lemonade (Or a kicked-up Pimm's Cup)

2011-06-16T15:48:00.001-05:00

One of my all-time favorite drinks is a Pimm's Cup. I had my first taste for my birthday two years ago. Friends met up with us in the Quarter and we wandered over to the Napoleon House where a friend of ours ordered their specialty drink, Pimm's Cup, for us all. With a cucumber floating on top, I was skeptical, but this drink hits just the right spot on a hot summer day.

So I was thrilled to see a kicked-up version of a general Pimm's Cup on the Kitchen.

Click here to see the recipe for their Cajun Lemonade.

Noshing in New Orleans: The Butcher

2011-06-15T15:51:00.031-05:00

While wandering the streets after a trip to the Ogden Museum, we decided to stop in at The Butcher for a late lunch.

Ogden Museum stickers covering the street lamp posts.

I admit we've passed up eating at The Butcher numerous times.

(We have a soft spot for eating next door at Cochon.)

The Butcher, an expansion from Cochon, is an artisanal meat shop and "sWine Bar".

It was delicious and had a great atmosphere. We stuck with sandwiches and I fell in love with their pickled veggies on the side. We won't be passing by again.

I'll post more on the Ogden Museum later this week.

Rising Waters: Gator on the Levee

2011-06-14T17:04:00.000-05:00

We spotted an alligator off the levee by our house this past weekend while out on a bike ride. We suppose he's out and about because of the high water on the Mississippi.

Locals were fishing right around him and neither they nor the gator seemed to mind.

FYI: this kind of stuff is really exciting to me.

Today's Outfit: Peachy Keen

2011-06-14T16:16:00.000-05:00

I have been in need of some plain colorful tees so when Hubby and I stopped by our local Tar-jay for some quick items, I took off to browse the clothing department for any stragglers in the summer-time tee section.

(I was spoiled with a neatly kept Target while growing up so the Target here looks like a nasty mess.)

I pulled three shirts from a shelf and presented them to Hubby. He ex-nayed all but one, which he claimed was a good color for me.

I was convinced he was right when one of his gym-buddies complimented me on the shirt.

One point for Hubby....

But another point for me, for now having a great colored shirt in my wardrobe ;)

Tee: Target (get it here)

Watch: read about here (similar here)

Pants: Thrifted (similar here)

Purse: TJ Maxx

Shoes: Naturalizer Tipton Sandals (here)

Belated Thirsty Thursday: Days Off & Drambuie

2011-06-10T13:32:00.000-05:00

I received yesterday off, unexpectedly, so I slothed about the house and did nothing with my day while the locks on our house were changed out and the termite crew came out and drenched our yard in chemicals. This is my no-excuse reason for not posting yesterday.

A few weekends ago we went to Greek Fest with a close friend of ours and later went to his house for cocktails. Our friend is a scotch drinker though I am not. However, when he brought out a bottle of Drambuie to his backyard, I was intrigued to at least try a sip of this scotch blended with herbs, spices & heather honey. How could I not love it? I felt like "one of the boys" sipping on my scotch on the rocks. Little did these boys know, I was already thinking of what concoctions I could make from this smooth drink! :) After a quick search for their website, I found a drink recipe I plan on trying out this weekend to test Drambuie out a second time.

(click here for full recipe and more)

Apple Soda

INGREDIENTS
1.5 parts Drambuie
3 parts cloudy Apple juice
Soda water
Lime

DIRECTIONS
Pour 1.5 parts Drambuie
and 3 parts cloudy apple
juice over ice, top up with
soda and add a squeeze
of lime. Garnish with
apple slices.
For an alternative, add
1 part Drambuie and
2 parts apple juice with a
float of Chardonnay.

Crisp and refreshing sounding, right? So while Hubby is off playing golf, I may be working on a liquor lab in my kitchen :)

Weekend Ride: Bike Love

2011-06-07T11:19:00.000-05:00

We took our bikes out for a spin this past weekend.

They'd been cooped up in the garage for way too long.

And perhaps I had been cooped up inside for too long...

Today's Outfit: The Perfect Little Clutch and DIY Shorts

2011-06-06T07:01:00.000-05:00

I've been hounding a local thrift store lately and was astonished to find an amazing selection of jeans. The down-side to this thrift store is NO dressing rooms. They have a few mirrors up on the wall and my first trip there I noticed women lining up to try on items over their clothes. Now I'm a saavy shopper and wear tight clothes so when I try and item on I get a good impression of it's actual fit. But back to the jeans... I don't need anymore jeans. Hubby would laugh at me if I purchased one more pair to stuff into my "jeans" drawer. But one pair had to come home. They were a perfect fit and in great condition so I brought them home and cut them up into shorts. Mmmm....love me some jean shorts. Maybe I can start a "jean shorts" drawer :)

I also snagged this fabulous clutch from TJMaxx. A group of hipsters picked it up in front of me and they all got a good laugh out of it before setting it back down. I, on the other hand, picked up the clutch and hugged it for dear life. I LOVE it! I can stuff my phone, wallet and planner in it.

Necklace: gift from Hubby

Shirt: Target

Shorts: DIY thrifted shorts

Clutch: TJMaxx

Shoes: Naturalizer

Also, I have some fun thrift store finds on their way from my tailor and I can't wait to share!

Wednesday Night Recap: Pizza and Sweaters

2011-06-03T09:40:00.000-05:00

Just to refresh your memory, although we live in the hot, sweaty South, our house is a hockey-loving house. (See here and here)

So this is why my Wednesday night looked like this:

It was the first game for the Stanley Cup Finals!

Some background on these photos:

1) There's something about Totinos pizzas that make me want to eat three entire pizzas all by myself. Hubby mentioned that they tasted like poo, but I don't think that's it...

About a third of my diet in college consisted of these cheap pizzas (another third would be mac n' cheese).

2) For Christmas two years ago Hubby had this custom Maple Leafs sweater made for me (they're called sweaters in hockey, not jerseys). It has my lucky number and last name. After I got it, I started having dreams of re-marketing the NHL and being called "The Mother of Hockey" by all hockey fans. (I've scratched this idea down as a great lifetime goal :)

Oh, and in case any hockey fans out there are wondering....we're cheering for the Canucks.

West Elm Catalog Rooms: Recreation Inspiration

2011-06-02T14:33:00.000-05:00

I have been thumbing through issues of West Elm's catalog to find inspiration for room decor that I can recreate or hunt down for a steal of a deal.

I love the look of this framed blueprint over the bed.

I'm currently on the search for some magazine bins that aren't made of woven material (hello, cat claws). The one of the bottom of this shelf is my ideal look.

I love industrial items mixed into rooms, so this little wheeled stool stole my heart!

These side-by-side desks make me gush with envy, but I also love the little industrial pieces of decor sprinkled throughout.

This image is inspiring me to redesign the look of our entryway hutches.

This image has been a favorite of mine! The colors are perfect and I love the black window frames. I also like the little end storage table and round mirror.

I want to recreate the artwork in this space. And do you recognize the arched lamp? The Brick House has a set of these babies.

And this room has me questioning my dark color schemes as of late...

Thirsty Thursday: Peach Wine Cooler

2011-06-02T08:14:00.000-05:00

Today's Thirsty recipe is for Peach Wine Coolers and comes from Pink Parsley.

imgs via Pink Parsley

I love the taste of fresh, juicy peaches (I like to freeze fresh peaches we pick up on our way through South Carolina to visit family).

This recipe mixes in some white wine and peach schnapps! Sounds refreshing!

Find the recipe here.

Comfy Casual: Wishing For Friday

2011-05-27T08:14:00.000-05:00

I have wished for Friday to arrive all week. Now he is finally here - and he is so sweet to me.

I'm sporting the comfy casual look for the weekend.

These pants are my new favorites for lounging about the house.

Silk Tank Top: TJ Maxx

Necklace: Local Boutique

Pants: Thrifted

Sandals: Kenneth Cole Reaction

Thirsty Thursday: Campari-Citrus Sorbet

2011-05-26T16:13:00.000-05:00

I deem this sorbet recipe to be an official "drink" recipe because I don't eat liquor - I drink it. :)

via mowielicious.com

I dreamt of this drink last night - imagining is citrus flavor quenching my hot, sweaty thirst. FYI - it's been HOT in New Orleans. So in all honesty, I've been dreaming of anything to keep me cooled off.

Campari-Citrus Sorbet by Liz of Zested

I also dream of owning an ice cream maker so I can finally try out this tabbed recipe.

Please do try this recipe, if you can, and then tell me how fabulous it is.

The Great White Shorts: Bring it on Summer

2011-05-17T16:27:00.002-05:00

Way back when (aka last summer), I was on the hunt for some great white shorts.
(Shorts, not sharks.)
You see I had purchased two tunic length dresses while in Malaysia the year before and Hubby was hounding me for not wearing them.
And the reason I did not wear these amazing mini-dresses???
....well because they are mini dresses, and while I am short, I am not that short.
If you must know, I was raised in a very religious community and cold weather so it has been difficult for me to climb out of my comfort zone of long dresses, skirts and shorts. As I have become older and lived in the South longer, I have found ways to bring my comfort zone closer and closer to humidity comfort.

Thus, the shopping excursion for some great white shorts that I could wear under my un-worn mini dresses as a cover up for not wanting any Britney Spears peep-shows going on down there.

via here

Do you know how difficult it is to find white shorts? Let alone some great white shorts? I was breaking down after a few days. I was even willing to try some capri white leggings (which if you have not tried these on and you'd like to have a better look at your future cottage cheese thighs, you are missing out).

My distressed shopping lead me to Francesca's where I found an amazing pair of white linen shorts with a stretchy band waist. ¡Perfecto!

These have now become my go-to summer shorts.

Embroidered Top: Macy's (similar here)

Linen Shorts: Francesca's

Sandals: Naturalizer Tipton (available here)

Woven Bag: Thrifted

Some linen shorts I tracked down:

Loft: White Tie Waist Linen Shorts $49.50

Neimen Marcus: Juicy Couture Cuffed Linen Shorts $79.00

A Festival for Two: Jazzfest 2011

2011-05-16T15:47:00.000-05:00

This is the first year we've done Jazzfest alone - just the two of us.

This is also the first time we stuck to the smaller stages and more local bands.

We found some great shade within the race track clubhouse. I fist-bumped with these little jockeys.

It was a pretty sweet date.

Thirsty Thursday: Orange Julius

2011-05-12T13:35:00.000-05:00

Hubby and I have been on a breakfast smoothie kick for a few weeks now, since we've become fascinated by the smoothies at our gym. Hubby likes the peanut butter/banana smoothie, but I have something against slurping up peanut butter through a straw. So I have been experimenting with frozen fruits and even flavored coffee creamers (most recently a chai flavor, which seems to be fantastic when paired up with frozen strawberries).

When my frozen fruit supply disappeared, I was left with some bananas and oranges in the fridge one morning so I decided to try my hand at blending up my own version of an Orange Julius (a childhood favorite). This is my recipe version:

I bought a large bag of mandarin oranges at the grocery store last week, so I've been cutting off the skin and tossing the entire oranges in the blender for my OJ. I use one package of Carnation Instant Breakfast - vanilla flavored to add some sweetness, but I also like to add some agave syrup to pump it up just a bit more (I like sweets).

Fonts: Swiss921 and New York

Siete de Cinco: A Backyard Fiesta

2011-05-09T16:13:00.001-05:00

So we threw together an impromptu fiesta on Saturday to celebrate the Battle of Puebla.

I got a "steal of a deal" on buckets of margarita mix and Jarritos from Big Lots. And I followed Dana's tutorial to make some colorful streamers to hang up as quick decor.

Plus some garland I made for a past birthday party.

The Sopapilla Cheesecake I posted about here was a huge success! (Eat it warm because the gooeyness is amazing.)

We also played a few rounds of horseshoes we had set up in the backyard.

Tito napped on top of the cars in the driveway. I guess he got wiped out just watching.

Cherry Red: Lulu's Options

2011-05-06T09:49:00.000-05:00

I wish heels weren't so intolerable, because I would be sporting these two in minutes!

Cherry Parfait Striped Red Dress ($59)

Mona Mia Trinidad Red, Black & Tan Woven Platform Pumps ($46)

Cinco de Mayo Inspirations: A Backyard Party

2011-05-05T12:29:00.000-05:00

Somehow Cinco de Mayo has snuck up on us this year and we are unprepared to host a party today!

I LOVE Cinco de Mayo, so I am scheming at ways I can celebrate the past-holiday this weekend.

I am dreaming of a backyard party (because I have been dreaming of my backyard for...has it been weeks or months now?)

My backyard Cinco de Mayo party inspirations:

Adorable invitations (including an adorable donkey in the background).

Checklist: bandanas, colorful pom-poms and sombreros. Awesome!

Colorful streamers are a must - and these look easy-peesy.

Although I could see myself reusing these streamers for other celebrations.

Mini pinatas to give out to guests??

Or some plant favors? So cute.

An easy and colorful treat would be to buy Jarritos.

I love that these tacos are wrapped up with string for a quick grab.

Corona popsicles!! (I think I need to whip out my Zoku!)

Though I think Hubby would be a bigger fan of these Jalapeno Margaritas

And of course some dessert: Sopapilla Cheesecake

Of course, I would invite you all if I hadn't waited until the last minute :)

Backyard Eye Candy: From Crate & Barrel

2011-05-02T15:38:00.000-05:00

via: Crate&Barrel

I want to build one of these for my backyard...including a built-in view! :)

How to Enjoy the Outdoors: Tito's Version

2011-04-29T12:48:00.004-05:00

This is how Tito likes to enjoy the outdoors:

(click on image to watch)

Ahhh, the life of a cat...

Entrance Welcome: Front Porch Plans

2011-04-26T15:27:00.000-05:00

Remember my original plan to paint our front door red? Well, after numerous online searches and driving around our neighborhood, I decided I wanted to find a unique color that would compliment the colors already on the house.

I pulled some swatches from the paint isle that match the colors already used around the exterior of our house - a blue/gray from the painted steps, a white and a dark, dark green that covers all the trim on our house. Then I started pulling swatches that seemed to compliment the gray, white and dark green. Of course I started with red and then I though red could be better as a highlight color instead. So I kept looking until I came across this yellow from Martha Stewart's paint line:

Pencil Yellow :)

First up, we will either have to replace the old screened door or take it down all together.

Some other quick updates to the front door could be swapping out our traditional gold house numbers and moving them to the middle of the door. I'd like to add a kick-plate to the bottom of all the outside doors on the house. Kick-plates for doors are like frames for photos.

via here
(though I'd probably buy a cheap gold one and paint it to match our lighting and mailbox)

I want to get a fun door knocker for the front door.

We already own a bench similar to this (thanks to my mom & dad) and I currently have some blue/white patterned pillows on it.

Target: Home Terrace Wrought Iron Garden Bench ($199)

I'd like to swap out those pillows with some colors more complimentary to the house.

Almost all of steps to our house (including our front porch) are painted in this grayish-blue. I think this pillow would tie in nicely.

Overstock: Clara Outdoor Light Blue Throw Pillows ($69.99)

And as much as I love a red door, I'd like to keep my reds outside toned down to just accessories. I think this pillow would add a nice pop of color.

Overstock: Clara Outdoor Red Throw Pillows ($69.99)

I'd also like to add some larger planters up front (near Mr. Foxtail).

This one is definitely not as big as I am looking for, but I like it...because it's red.

Amazon: Rush Creek Designs Aspen Planter ($3.16)

I also like the idea of dropping in some plain white planters. I have been long in debate with myself on spray painting all of my current planters white to create a unified grouping of them.

Crate&Barrel: Large White Planter ($18.95)

And lastly, a nice brown door mat needs to replace our matted old woven mat. It should look nice, but more importantly it needs to get dirt off our shoes before we enter the house (I like to take my shoes off inside, but Hubby wears his around most everywhere). I spotted this door mat at Home Depot and I think it will be perfect.

Home Depot: Traffic Master Coir and Vinyl Door Mat ($5.88)

Easter Weekend: Strawberry Cake and a Silk Dress

2011-04-26T11:16:00.000-05:00

I hope you all had a Happy Easter weekend!

Dress: Kmart

Shoes: Naturalizer

I've had this dress in my closet for....a few years. But I always seem to uncover it during colder months when I want to wear tights. Silk + tights do not mix unless your Mrs. Static Cling. So I was warry of sporting this dress to church on Easter Sunday, but surprise, surprise, this dress loves humidity! As soon as I stepped outside the silk let go of all its static charge and hung just right! Yay! This has dress has become an official summer dress!

Now on to the cake.

This cake is made from scratch - 100%!

Look at me, Susie-homemaker!

Let's just say there was hair being pulled and tears cried over this cake, but thankfully I have an amazing Hubby who reminded me that the frosting didn't need to look perfect because we were covering it up with white chocolate chips anyway....duh!

Front Door Updates: Door Knockers

2011-04-19T08:36:00.000-05:00

Check out these fun door knockers:

Amazon: Woodpecker Door Knocker ($69)

Amazon: Blue Crab Door Knocker ($39.99)

Nautical Decor & Gifts: Whale Tail Door Knocker ($34.95)

Amazon: Mayer Mill Brass Starfish Door Knocker ($86.16)

Gardening Inspirations: Raised Beds vs. Planter Gardens

2011-04-18T12:38:00.000-05:00

I have been dreaming of setting up a raised garden bed in our backyard to grow some of our own veggies.

via here

via here

Last week I even picked up some seeds on my way home from work. Hubby and I talked about buying treated lumber this weekend and setting up the bed in the backyard, but we redirected our "yard energy" to transplanting hostas, mending a funky fence and setting up to play some horeshoes in the backyard. After slipping our aching bodies into bed, we decided that a raised garden bed just isn't a priority this year.

So, now I have seeds and no where to plant them, right?

Perhaps not. I've been scouting out some spots in our flower beds to stick in some veggies. And I've also been eying up these awesome container gardens:

via here

via here

This idea is a little out-of-the-box but we have a long side yard that might be perfect for something like this.

via here

Weekend Randoms: Blooms and Peanuts

2011-04-16T12:56:00.000-05:00

The roses by our front porch have started blooming again.

I spotted the Planter's Peanut-mobile.

Spotted Summer: Going Out

2011-04-15T13:49:00.002-05:00

We rode the streetcar downtown for an entertainment night.

We wandered into W.I.N.O. for some wine samples and then headed to the House of Blues for a show.

Hubby's photos.

Tunic: TJ Maxx

Necklace: from a local jewelry boutique

Leggings: Sears

Sandals: Kenneth Cole Reaction

Good Morning: Coffee and Biscoff

2011-04-15T09:17:00.000-05:00

Good Morning!

Hubby and I love Biscoff cookies.

Yes, you may have seen them while flying on an airline. They are delicious when dipped in tea or coffee. Yum!

And you may recognize the black plate from here. These plates and bowls are so much fun! I am dreaming of hosting a party just so I can show them off more. ;)

Thirsty Thursday: Strawberry and Peach Sangria

2011-04-14T16:08:00.000-05:00

How about making a sangria to celebrate One More Work Day 'Til the Weekend?

I am in dire need of some of this today.

Perhaps it will be a pizza/sangria night :)

Strawberry and Peach Sangria Recipe

Ingredients:

1 750-ml bottle dry white wine
1 1/2 cups Essensia (orange Muscat, a sweet dessert wine)
1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries
1 cup peach liqueur
3 peaches, each cut into 12 slices
1 large orange, cut crosswise into 6 slices
1 large lemon, cut crosswise into 6 slices
1/4 cup strawberry syrup (optional)
3 to 4 cups ice cubes

Preparation:

Mix white wine, Essensia, strawberries, peach liqueur, peaches, orange slices, lemon slices, and strawberry syrup in large pitcher, smashing citrus slices slightly. Let stand at room temperature at least 2 hours or chill up to 4 hours. Serve sangria over ice.

Recipe from Epicurious

Revealed: 2011 Planner

2011-04-13T13:41:00.000-05:00

I admit that my planner arrived about a month ago.

Please don't shoot me for waiting so long to share it with you.

I have a habit of "screen" shopping on foreign Ebay stores. A few years back I came across some amazing Korean stores that sell fun stickers, tape and paper goods (including some awesome planners). I jotted down a mental note that I would be sure to buy one of these planners at the start of the new year. So, although it was long after the New Year that I purchased this sweet planner, I am SO glad I did. It is unlike any planner I've had before and I love it's flexibility for scheduling my weekly events. I am also fond of the graph paper...must be something to do with being married to a ChemE.

So, here she is in all her glory:

In German, this means "The Pocket Monthly Magazine."

Monthly calendars

I love this format for daily planning throughout the week. I have a habit of sometimes overloading my weekends with events and other times not scheduling anything. This format allows me to skip any dates that I don't have a need to schedule.

The planner has a wonderful plastic liner over the original yellow binding.
I love the peak of dark teal on the underside of the cover!

What do you use to keep your daily events sorted?

First Big Buy: Siesta Chairs

2011-04-08T17:04:00.000-05:00

I was sitting in our house last night, thinking about the things we have accumulated over the years. Knick-knacks from our travels, books from our jobs/educational backgrounds and furniture that has been hauled from place to place.

Our favorite furniture is a purchase we made when we first moved in together and realized we had nothing to sit on in our little apartment, well except for the old, tattered banana chair Hubby had kept from college (please tell me you know what a banana chair is).

We had just graduated from college and were starting our first "real" jobs and neither of us had received our first paychecks. But either way, when we walked by a furniture consignment shop one day (Renewal) on our way back home from the weekly farmer's market, we decided to go in and have a look. There was a great furniture arrangement set up for the front window display and we instantly fell in love with a pair of siesta chairs they had included in the arrangement. These chairs were awesome....leather, wood, a touch of masculinity. We were smitten. But the price tags had us fooled that we could buy both chairs for the price listed. We soon found out that these fancy, Norwegian chairs were price listed as per chair!

(I can't tell you the final price because my eyes still get large and my jaw drops.)

But by this time, Hubby had found the matching ottomans that came with the chairs and had settled into the leather headrest, basking in the sunlight coming in through the front window. We had to have these chairs! We made some long debated calculations and realized that we had just enough money to place a hold on the chairs so no one else could snatch them from us. When I received my very first paycheck weeks later, we rushed to the store and paid for the chairs in full...my entire paycheck. We brought the beauties home, placing them in front of our old tv monitor in our barren living room.

We were in love...

These chairs rock.

So of course they also made a journey across the U.S. with us just months later when we found out we were moving to Louisiana. They have been through a lot, but we still love them!

What was your first big furniture purchase?

Have you ever had regret after buying a piece of furniture?

Thursday's Best: Jean Tuxedo

2011-04-07T17:12:00.000-05:00

I have been waiting to find some dark jeans to wear with my chambray top. I nabbed this pair from TJ Maxx last week and I am really digging the jean tuxedo look :)

Chambray Top: Target

Necklace: local boutique

Jeans: TJ Maxx

Belt: Hubby's

Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction

More Adoring: Adore Home Magazine

2011-04-05T11:14:00.001-05:00

I stumbled upon yet another online magazine and had to "dog-ear" some inspirational images. Adore Home Magazine seems to be Australian based, but inspiration is inspiration people. So this is what I am loving from their most recent issue:

I love built-in storage closets.

This reminded me that I need to start adding to my globe/trophy collection.

Fresh and beachy. Plus, I like the way these white curtains start at the ceiling.

Numbered clipboards. They look awesome, but I am struggling to figure out their practicality in our office.

I have always loved Viv's bedroom. Check out her blog here.

I can't say no to red and blues.

I am thinking of trying my hand at recreating this moody painting in the background.

Words on steps. I can't wait to have stairs to paint!

And now I know I want to buy some large letterpress stamps to paint and display.

And something about this room just makes me drool. It could be the large windows and foliage. Or perhaps the striped ceiling. Or the small side tables that can be moved about. But it could also be the wall of wines and liquors. :)

Cool Night Dreaming: Backyard Inspirations

2011-03-29T16:53:00.002-05:00

I dream of having a backyard retreat....

via here

With an abundance of orderly plants (without the weeds)

via here

A place to entertain friends...

via here

where we can talk into the wee hours of the night.

via here

Right now our backyard looks a little like a forgotten neighborhood lot, surrounded by chain link fence, a beat up garage and cats, cats, cats.

I AM however inspired by the images above to make-over our backyard into something closer to a summer retreat. Here's my inspiration board for my dream backyard:

1. Clear String Lights

2. Algoma Butterfly Chair

3. Cabana Stripe Butterfly Chair

4. Portico Sunlounger

5. Outdoor Snapper Pillow

6. Real Flame Sierra Outdoor Fireplace

7. White Pawn Stool

Wedding Dress Replay:

2011-03-24T17:04:00.000-05:00

This afternoon I came across some beautiful wedding photos (thanks to A life worth living) and had to take a second look at the bride's dress.

(see more photos here)

It looked identical to my wedding dress!

Me and my Daddy.

After creepily scoping out all the wedding photos, I found the dress was somewhat different (buttons down the back) but the front resembled the intricate lace of the dress I wore for our wedding almost three years ago.

And then I realized I have never shared with you the awesomeness of my wedding dress....

We had just moved to New Orleans, with plans to be married in Idaho still, so we were painfully making wedding plans long distance. I still hadn't gone dress shopping so my sister flew down from St. Louis and we peaked into several dress shops in the city. It was becoming a difficult task to find a dress that matched my taste. Along with Mardi Gras in New Orleans, there are balls hosted by each parade krewe and dress shops everywhere are filled with fancy ballgowns for the occasions. I was particular that I did not want beadwork on my dress, nor did I want a crisp white dress. I wanted something classic and full of texture. Most of the dress shops we visited were full with Mardi Gras gowns that included beadwork, netting, etc. We finally popped in to Town & Country to try on a Vera Wang wedding dress (Hubby has a thing for Vera Wang designs). It was gorgeous, but not the style of dress that fit our casual outdoor wedding. The sales associate brought in a few more dresses for me to try on and I slipped in to a beautiful, strapless ivory lace dress. It was perfect (a little too long, but perfect). We talked about tailoring and then pricing. I went home with this dress (Melissa Sweet Hallie Wedding Dress) stuck in my head.

My sister agreed that this was the dress, but we were cutting back on our wedding budget now that we were paying extra to fly back home for our wedding so I was disappointed to know that it was out of our price range. On a whim, I started looking at dresses on Ebay and my sister came across....the exact same dress. The seller claimed she had purchased two wedding dresses and decided on the other to wear to her wedding. She already had the lace dress tailored to her 5'6" frame so she was worried she wouldn't be able to sell it. It was listed for $600. I am 5'6". It was one of those moments where heaven broke open and God gave me a wink. I won the auction and found that the dress was tailored perfectly to wear with my short heels. I am still so impressed with myself....and the dress.

Hubba...hubba. :)

Mighty Mags: Favorite Inspirations

2011-03-24T13:19:00.000-05:00

I am loving all of the online magazines that have been popping up. I get just as excited to see the next issue of my favorite online mags as I do waiting to receive issues of my print mags in the mail. I also like that I can quickly "clip out" all my favorite inspirations from the online mags and have them stored on my computer (less paper clippings stored= happy husband).

So, I thought I would share my favorite inspiring images from the recent issues I read through.

Lonny Mag:

I like the framed fabric headboard.

Fabric covered walls??? Ingenious!

I am in love with black window trim/framing.

Click on this image to enlarge and then check out how awesome this doubled-up headboard is.

I think this one is getting starred for my headboard diy inspirations.

A beautiful way to highlight a wall of storage.

And then I was craving the idea of having sour candy displayed all over my house in little bowls - so I could snack on them all day! (I am eating birthday cake for lunch...shame on me.)

Rue Mag:

I love the contrast of the wooden pillars and the white walls.

I am a sucker for white kitchens with windowed cabinets and dark countertops.

I love the color of this wall. A perfect blue-gray.

Another ingenious idea to highlight photos on your wall. It appears that these drawn frames are on panels - a bright idea for renters.

What are your favorite online magazines? Or what are some online resources you use to inspire you?

Continuing Adventures: Skiing in February

2011-03-22T08:46:00.003-05:00

I am finally getting around to posting more photos from our ski trip to Wydaho (Wyoming/Idaho).

We really had some amazing snow to greet us our first day of skiing.

We got a chance to stop by and see my family for a day.
My dad made his famous lasagna (which we ate and ate)!

My sister's dog, Max, showed off his pulling skills.
Ashton has a dog sled race every year, but we missed seeing it by just a few days.

My mom stuck a lizard into the photo...sneaky, sneaky.

Playing card games.

Stuck outside...

And wrangling up our friend Jon for a good sniff-down.

FYI: When visiting Jackson Hole, it is expected that you take your photo by one of the antler arches.

I swear this guy kept following me around everywhere ;)

We also got to meet up with my awesome cousin, Kate, and her Hubby.
Too cute, right?

You may remember her wedding.

Her in-laws came skiing with us at Grand Targhee for our last day. Then we went to watch some hockey in Jackson Hole.

The view from the back of the ski cabin.

The snow was A-mazing but we were happy to return home to a warm New Orleans.

I just can't get enough of this guy.

Kitchen Sneak Peak: Favorite Morning Corner

2011-03-21T06:40:00.002-05:00

I thought I'd share my favorite corner in our kitchen with you. If you've been following my blog for long, you know that I am obsessed with red. I knew this house was a keeper when we did the first walk through and I saw the checkered floor and red countertops in the kitchen.

What can I say? I'm a sucker for red. :)

This is our little coffee station and where I flip through cookbooks.

Hello Summer: Migrating to the Sun

2011-03-19T17:20:00.001-05:00

This weekend we migrated towards the sun.

Chambray Top: Target (similar here and here)

Necklace: Thrifted (similar here and here)

Shorts: Target (similar here and here)

Sandals: Kenneth Cole Reaction (similar here)

Or at least Tito and I did.

This is Tito enjoying a good skin rub on the sidewalk.

He's still "Miss Prissy Pants". :)

My migration necklace.

Long Awaited: A Planner

2011-03-18T14:58:00.000-05:00

It's March.

I finally have a planner.

A sweet planner.

More details to come....

Happy Morning: Working Double-Time

2011-03-15T08:16:00.001-05:00

Coming from a girl who doesn't drink coffee... I had Hubby set our coffeemaker to make me a cup of coffee to take to work this morning.

I feel like I am lighting my candle at both ends lately. Do you ever feel like you are just swimming in to-do lists? I need a life organizer right now, what with my work projects, home projects, volunteer projects and my need to interact with friends & family. Anyone want to be my personal assistant? :)

Here's to my happy morning!

Folgers - Happy Mornings from Ryan Fitch on Vimeo.

Day 30: Breaking Free

2011-03-15T07:40:00.000-05:00

Hooray! Hooray!

Today is my final 30 for 30 challenge day. I know many of you finished long ago and I'm sure you're shopping your little hearts out - I can't wait to join you tomorrow!

Teal Tunic: Boutique in Malaysia (similar here, here and here)

Necklace: Thrifted (similar here and here)

Pants: Zinc (similar here and here)

Boots: Frye booties (similar here)

In celebration, I thought it was necessary to don some lipstick.

Go out with a bang, right?

Day 29: Casual Monday

2011-03-14T07:33:00.000-05:00

Also known as "The Day Before the Day I Jump For Joy."

Hanging with Mr. Pants and crunching on baked almonds (my new healthy snack).

See Mr. Pants hiding behind Hubby's trumpet playing frog? He's such a sleuth.

Gray Cardigan: TJMaxx (similar here and here)

Earrings: gifted (read about here) (similar here)

Purple Tank: Kmart (similar here and here)

Jeans: TJ Maxx (similar here and here)

Shoes: Rocket Dog Brisk Ballerina (see here and here)