A while back my mom suggested that she and I be the ones to take a vacation this year. My dad and brother travel often to some pretty great destinations, but my brother is going to Ireland this year without my dad and on his own dime. So Mom pitched the idea of Waco and Magnolia Market with the understanding that Dad might come too and Paul was invited. Well, Paul declined pretty quickly, and my dad got a new job which meant that he couldn’t take the time off. Thus began the mother-daughter road trip to Waco, Texas Continue reading “Our Trip to Waco and Magnolia Market”
Author: Elizabeth Norman
I'm a home grown Alabamian who ventured away for a while, but now I'm back! Follow along with me on my journey living the Norman life.
Movie Set Monday- The Family Stone
MOVIE SET MONDAY- THE FAMILY STONE
Y’all knew this one was coming right? And I’ll be real honest. The thing I love most about this movie set is the home’s exterior. I don’t care much for the decor. It’s obvious that Sybil was not a lover of home decor. It’s like she did it once and left it forever…or perhaps they moved into this house with some of the wallpaper already up and said, “What the heck; we’ll just leave it.” Continue reading “Movie Set Monday- The Family Stone”
Movie Set Monday- The Holiday Part 2
MOVIE SET MONDAY-THE HOLIDAY PART 2
Hi, friends! I took last week off because I was honestly just too busy enjoying my weekend with family and friends, so here we are, as promised, with round two of The Holiday movie set. Last time we discussed Iris’s charming, English cottage, and I still can’t get over her bathroom. 
But today we are heading back across the pond to a lovely little town called Los Angeles and to Amanda’s house. 
I mean, I don’t hate it. 🙂 I love the flowers hanging out on the terrace. And the greenery in the front of the house is quite beautiful. Not to mention that grand entrance you get to make every time you drive through those gates and around that fountain. 
Inside the front door is a very spacious foyer. Big enough for a crystal chandelier. Other than that feature, my favorite part about this particular room of the house is the color of the doors. I’m not sure if they are just a light wood or painted a similar color, but they are so fresh and airy. I’m usually a fan of black interior doors, but I think it’d be too harsh in this space. 
Just off the foyer you move into the living room. Again, more neutral colors and natural elements with the pops of greenery and the mossy mantel decor. Look at that tree trunk table between the chairs. I love an unexpected piece of furniture in a room like that. It might not catch your eye right away, but when you find it, it really stands out. And this one does in a good way!
The corbels along the wall are so pretty and a nice architectural detail especially since everything appears to be painted the same color. Looking back through the foyer you see the staircase. I think the tiered wall on the left side is a fun way to keep the foyer open and airy.
The sconces seem to be a reoccurring theme for Nancy Meyers. They are a common lighting option for most of her film sets. I often forget that not all lighting has to be in the ceiling. And if you aren’t wanting to make the commitment of lighting like this, there are plug in options that are perfect for a bedside light. I’m also kind of loving the art. I would absolutely have something like this if I had a “She Shed” or a “Woman Cave” or a “Lady’s Lair” (I’m just trying to find alliterative names for rooms just for girls now.) Anyhow, my dream piece of art is a famous photo of Barbra Streisand. This one:
But when I pitched the idea to Paul, he was less than thrilled. Isn’t she gorgeous, though? I just love this photo.
Okay, Babs gets me every time. Back to The Holiday. 
Judging from the room beyond this one, I think this is the room you’d enter if you walked straight past the staircase. I can’t get enough of this room. All of the windows streaming in the natural light really is stunning. The posts and beams are such a rich, beautiful color. I love the floor color. It allows for the rest of the lighter furniture and natural colors to pop. 
Can you imagine this kitchen? It’s a little more industrial than I’d design for myself, but goodness it’s pretty. I think the hardware on the cabinets is really interesting. I’ve never seen anything like it. And the window shades are the perfect compliment to the feel of the room. Also, no runners on the floor and very simple chair and stool covers are all this room needs. I do love the touch of sweetness from the lanterns. It softens it up just a bit. 
This media room is everything! I would never leave my house if I had this room. I love to watch a good movie, and this looks like the perfect place to do just that. There’s even a popcorn machine in the corner! Yep, I’d never leave. I will say this…it’s too brown. The walls and the floor. We painted our master bedroom in our Louisiana house brown. I liked it because it was dark. But I grew tired of the brown pretty quickly. I think a black would be more my style or a deep navy.
The office is maybe my favorite room of Amanda’s house. I love a good home office, but these curtains are my dream curtains. I keep saying I’m getting emerald green velvet curtains for my master bedroom here in the apartment, but the ones I’ve found that I love are going to cost me a pretty penny. And I’m just not ready to bite the bullet yet. But look how they flank that gorgeous patio behind the double doors. There’s not one thing I don’t love about this room. This is the exact table I’ve always envisioned for my own home office, should I ever need one. I don’t want just a desk. I want a whole table with the X-leg design. I think it’s perfection. 
Amanda’s bedroom is tied for second of my favorite rooms with the media room. The shag rug would be delightful to put your feet on every morning. Also, who remembers those remote-controlled blackout shades on the windows? That was way cool. Below is a sitting area that’s another common design element in Nancy’s films. This one is very sweet, but doesn’t look as comfortable, which I think is actually perfect for Amanda’s character. If you’ve seen the movie, you know she’s too high strung to sit down to relax. It’s there purely for aesthetics. But it works beautifully.
Now I love INTERIOR design but EXTERIOR design is just as important. Especially when you live in a town with weather as beautiful as L.A. This patio/pool set is hotel worthy. The light wood furniture is chic with those deep navy cushions and pillows. And look at that basket of towels rolled up across the pool. That’s pure genius. And what incredible landscaping right? It looks like a private oasis that is secluded and not in the middle of one of the busiest cities on earth.
Oh, and the tiny balcony. I don’t know where that leads to, but it’s just precious. If I ever came across a place like this on Air B&B I’d have to book it in a heartbeat. How lucky was Iris to have been able to score a vacation home as nice as this one?
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed walking through Amanda’s home with you today. Again, I always hope you get some inspiration for your own decor or design with each of these posts. I know I sure do. I also just hope you have fun looking at some pretty pictures of some genius movie sets from some crazy talented decorators.
Until next time.
*All photos are from Google Images. Some are watermarked with their credit source.
Movie Set Monday- The Holiday
MOVIE SET MONDAY- THE HOLIDAY
Welcome back to Movie Set Monday. Did anyone else get thrown off with the time change? All that daylight made me forget I actually had things I needed to do. And I still didn’t get it all done. The to-do list always seems to grow doesn’t it?
Anyway, today we are taking a trip across the pond to Surrey, England to a darling cottage from The Holiday. Yes, another Nancy Meyer’s film. I can’t help myself. She’s just so dang good. And her movie set, well sets, were no exception for this movie. Just look at the sweet, snow-covered roof, two chimneys, the precious portico, and that robin’s egg blue trim. And don’t forget about the little gate that bears the name of the house, Rosehill Cottage. Why don’t we name our homes here? English traditions are so charming.
Living Room
This space is so quintessentially “cottage” to me. All of the natural wood detail in the beams and around the stairs and windows, the stone walls, the floral patterns, the white slipcover chair, the pops of blue in the ottoman and pillows, the fireplaces, and the neutral color palette all say cottage. And it’s a lovely one at that. 
I included the photo below because I love seeing new ideas to decorate. The two frames propped against the wall on top of the mantle is a great alternative to actually hanging them on the wall. (Can you imagine trying to hang something into that stone? No thanks.)
I love the decor as you enter the kitchen. First of all, I love a good interior door, and this one with the window is just too cute. Also, the china cabinet is a beauty. It looks like it was hand-made and has been in Iris’s family forever. It looks old yet perfectly sturdy and substantial. It’s amazing. Her little gallery wall is a nice pop of unexpected bright color that must make her very happy when she walks by. I will be the first to admit that my favorite colors are black and white, but a good dose of bright color is an instant mood booster. And a mini gallery wall in a small space is the perfect opportunity to display one. 
Kitchen
A fireplace in the kitchen? How cute is that? I don’t exactly know how safe it is, but didn’t people used to cook over an open fire before stoves and ovens?
There are so many details for me to mention here, so I’m just going to list the things I love: chandelier, open shelving with all those beautiful blue and white serving pieces, that teeny oven, the blue cabinets (which totally tie in to the trim on the exterior), the trough-like, angled sink, the rug, the dining table in the kitchen (I told y’all in the Stepmom post that I loved that.), and maybe my favorite thing is the little lamp in the windowsill. I have very deep windowsills in my apartment, and it has never occurred to me to put a lamp there. What a cute idea. 
The Bedroom
Holy beautiful ceiling! The wood beams floating across the “ceiling” are pretty spectacular enough, but add the actual ceiling into the mix and the wow factor is elevated to another level. I think a white iron bed like this one is the perfect bed for a cottage. Isn’t it adorable? There’s also a pop of blue in the bedside table. Carrying an accent color throughout your house is an excellent way to create flow in your home.
I love the idea of a fireplace in the bedroom. It seems romantic and in cold London it would provide the perfect amount of warmth on those snowy, winter nights. 
The wardrobe is built in! I have seen this movie 5,000 times, and I always thought it was free standing. Turns out it’s just an interestingly shaped closet. I love that detail! Of course I love the sitting area even if it’s just one chair and a small corner of the chest of drawers. I am still seeing the benefits of having an area like this in my own master bedroom and will have it one day. You can see some of my other favorite master bedroom sitting areas here, here, and here.
The Bathroom
The bathroom is maybe the most charming room in the cottage besides that ceiling in the bedroom. The stone walls throughout are absolutely delightful, and the wooden windowsill is the cutest thing to me. It’s all in the details. But the other wood detail on the slanted wall is the real showstopper.
Everything in this room is stunning, actually. I’m crazy about the floor. The painted and well-worn black diamond pattern is such a great detail. Painting or stenciling the floor is something I’ve seen done over and over, and I never get tired of it.
Now, I’m not 100% sure where the sink is, but I do love this dresser in the bathroom. I’m going to assume the sink is out of shot. And we’ve continued with the blue on the walls in this room. It’s just so good, right?
Well, I hope you enjoyed seeing Iris’s charming English cottage. I hope you’ll come back next week to see inside Amanda’s Los Angeles home. Here’s a little sneak peek.
Yep, pretty incredible, right? So come on back next Monday to see the rest of the set of The Holiday. And have a great week, y’all!
*All photos were found from Google Images.
Currently Loving- February 2018
CURRENTLY LOVING- FEBRUARY 2018
February is notoriously known as the month of love. I jumped right on that bandwagon and started a month-long blog series called Sharing the Love. I wanted to showcase a few bloggers (home and fashion), YouTube channels, and Instagram accounts that I have loved following. If you missed out on that series scroll down for the links to those posts.
BEAUTYCOUNTER
It’s no surprise to find this company on my list of current loves. I went deep with sharing the love during February in my Beautycounter Facebook Group. (Come join if you haven’t already.) I started promoting self love and even shared a product love of the day all month long. There were lots of the inspirational photos like the one above and just some general self-motivating thoughts for myself and my group of ladies. And the product love came from all areas of Beautycounter. We had makeup love, skin care love, and personal care love. Here are a few of those.
Makeup Love: Touchup Skin Concealer Pen
Skin Care Love- Nourishing Cream Exfoliator
Personal Care Love- Protect All Over Sunscreen and Protect Stick Sunscreen (Face)
Beth Moore
Do y’all know who Beth Moore is? Well, I’ve been loving her since the first time I heard her Hairbrush Story. It’s both hilarious and brings tears to my eyes. Beth is a Bible teacher that goes around the country and holds conferences for (primarily) women who want to learn about Jesus. On Wednesday nights on TBN her program, Living Proof Live, airs for 30 minutes. She is so anointed, and I learn a lot each time I watch. She’s also a fellow southern woman, and that makes it fun to watch because her Texas accent is pretty thick. Anyway, I am always so blessed by her sermons, and I thought someone else might be too. I’ve always enjoyed her teachings and used to listen to her a lot. As it goes, I found other people to listen to, other books to read, etc. But this month I decided to play one of the sermons I had on my DVR and immediately remembered why I started watching her in the first place. She just wants people to love Jesus. And she’s living proof that a relationship with Jesus can save your life. I DVR the program every week, but there are countless videos on YouTube. Listen to The Hairbrush Story below.
Bathroom Progress
Well, thankfully I don’t have a deadline for this project. I shared the before of the bathroom a while back. You can read that here. Then it snowed and stayed too cold to paint. I finally had a three day weekend to knock out the painting, and I did it! Here’s what I did:
- painted the walls white
- painted the vanity black
- spray painted the gold cabinet handles silver to match the chrome fixtures
- bought and returned 🙁 baskets that would have looked perfect but were too big
I’ve still got to:
- get and hang artwork
- buy and install shelves
- buy accessories
I’m hoping this happens sooner rather than later. I’m hoping my spring break plans will bring me some inspiration and maybe even a few treasures to put in there.
SPRING BREAK PLANS
I’m going to WACO! You know why…Magnolia!
A while back, my mom mentioned that we should go on a trip since my dad and brother do their own thing. They always pack up and go to places like Philly, NYC, and D.C. And we decided that it was our turn. So we are loading up the car and road tripping to the great state of Texas.
I’m so excited! I don’t think I’ve had an actual Spring Break trip since I was a senior in high school. That’s sad, y’all. It’s been a WHILE since high school. I don’t even care if all I buy is a cupcake from the bakery. I have watched every episode of Fixer Upper, read the books, stolen my mom’s Magnolia Journals, followed every social media account I can, ….you get the picture. I am a huge fan of the Gaines family and can’t wait to take this fun trip with my mama! If you’ve been, I’d appreciate any tips and/or must-sees and dos.
February was a pretty fun month for me. Full of love, a little self-discovery, and exciting plans for things to come. Here’s to a marvelous March, y’all!
Oscars 2018 Fashion Roundup
OSCARS 2018 FASHION ROUNDUP
I know a lot of you are not fans of the awards shows since people in Hollywood are quite vocal about their opinions on everything. But I’ve never let my political views come in between me and the Oscars. It’s my super bowl. I pregame with red carpet coverage, and I used to finish it up with Fashion Police the Monday after, but they have since canceled that show. Now, thanks to Instagram, I’m able to get a rundown on everyone’s favorite dress.
First thing’s first… Kobe won an Oscar!
Fun fact about me- I used to be a pretty big Lakers fan. Not sure why. I’ve never been to L.A., never saw one of their games anywhere else, but I just really liked them when I was in junior high and high school. I remember staying up really late once to watch one of the championship games. Anyway…now that I’ve thoroughly lost cool points with most of you…He won for Best Animated Short Film called Dear Basketball. I thought it was pretty cool. Also, his wife looks incredible. She’s beautiful, and that dress is her color.
Wonder Woman, I mean, Gal Gadot
This dress is liquid metal. Liquid, fringed metal. (not really, obviously) I love it so much. And that necklace…holy moly! It was the perfect accessory for the neckline of this dress. Her party dress was a similar neckline and she didn’t wear the necklace! What?! I supposed it had to go back to Tiffany’s. 🙂 
Jennifer Lawrence
She’s like a bronze goddess. Her hair is not very “Oscars”, but she still looked really pretty. The warm makeup was a bit dark on her eyes for me, but overall I think it works with the dress. She also wasn’t nominated, so it was definitely her year to just kick back a little, enjoy the night and look gorgeous.
Gina Rodriguez
I loved the Old Hollywood feel of this dress. She pulls off this nude color so well with her complexion. Her hair was perfect for this look to showcase the dress and the plunging neckline. And the belt and train were just stunning to me. Very glamorous. 
Laura Dern
This woman could wear a potato sack, and it would look pretty. She just has a great frame for clothes. White had a moment on the red carpet, and I liked this statement shoulder. I was a little sad she was wrinkled. Her jewelry and hair looked great, though. The simple look was elegant and timeless. 
Mary J. Blige
Mary J. looked amazing. This corseted gown was so. good. The camera for TV picked up on that beautiful beading on her dress better than the still camera did. I just thought she looked so elegant. And if you did watch, did you not absolutely love her performance for Best Original Song for her movie Mudbound? She took us to church, complete with a choir, and it was incredible.
Margot Robbie
This was my favorite white dress of the evening. The silhouette on her was just perfect in all the right places. Her simple waves and pretty makeup completed the look beautifully. It didn’t overpower it at all, which can sometimes happen with a white dress. I thought the draping straps were different at first…maybe a little like Christmas tree garland, but it grew on me. I really like this one. It ended up being one of my favorite dresses of the night. Also, I cannot wait to see her in I, Tonya. I think the Tonya Harding scandal was the first scandal I actually remember, so it’ll be interesting to watch a film about it. 
Viola Davis
Don’t like her hair. Don’t hate it, but don’t love it. What I do love is this pink dress. This dress is EVERYTHING. I had such a positive, happy reaction to it when she came on screen. She wears color so well. I hope she always does bold and bright colors. Fabulous! Just fabulous!
Nicole Kidman
Okay, I don’t know if I love it or hate it. I love the color. She is a beauty in blue. Her hair and makeup are flawless, and those earrings are oh so good. But this dress…I think I like it. But then I’m not sure about the fabric…or that very heart-y sweetheart neckline. The bow is architecturally interesting and I can appreciate that about the dress from an artistic standpoint, but I just can’t decide. What do you think? Love it or hate it? 
Zendaya
I love when someone does chocolate brown right. It’s such an underused color, but she really made this work. The other sleeve of the gown is drapey and long and flowy. I love her hair up as to not take away from the dress. And those stacks of diamonds on her wrist are the perfect accessories. Beautiful.
Jennifer Garner
Um, I think she found her color. And her voluminous, side-parted hair is the stuff my dreams are made of. Her makeup was flawless, and she knew just how to work this dress. She’s was another one of my best dressed of the night. 
Meryl Streep
I know this is a very simple, understated look, but she looks so beautiful. I think she’s really owning this deep V and this shade of red. She looks effortless, and I think it was worth a mention. She’s such a pro, too. She broke her own record this year with number of nominations. You go, girl! 
Greta Gerwig
I predicted that she would wear yellow. And I think it was the right move. She has a great skin tone for yellow. I’m so jealous. Her makeup was really pretty, and the dress seemed to be something she was comfortable in. She had to be so nervous coming in as the potential second woman to win the Oscar for Best Director. She did’t win, but you could tell she was so thrilled to be there. And why not? She’s young, she made an Oscar-nominated film, she produced work worthy of an Oscar nomination herself, and the talent in her movie was also nominated. She’s the whole package and the real deal. I can’t wait to see Ladybird and see what everyone’s been talking about. 
Rita Moreno
The repeat offender! Just kidding. Kind of. She did repeat her Oscar gown from 1962, but it was really pretty and fresh for 2018. The only thing I didn’t understand was her headband. It looks like what I put in my hair before I put on my shower cap on days I don’t wash my hair. She’s still quite the beauty, and her necklace was such a statement piece. I loved it. Just imagine the look without that silly headband. Goodness gracious… 🙂
Allison Janney
BEST DRESSED! This look deserves that little gold man. The dress was my favorite the moment I saw it, and it never left first place. The plunging neckline with that blinding, icy necklace is lovely on her. But those sleeves. The sleeves are my favorite part.
I think maybe this is the best she’s ever looked on the red carpet. It was truly her night. Everything is perfection. 
The Vanity Fair After Party
Allison Janney
Well, here she is again in more red and an elegant white collared shirt. Oh my goodness. It’s too good. That Oscar is the best accessory she could have for this party. What a great night on all fronts for her. Bravo, Allison Janney.
Emma Watson
This dress is so beautiful on her. I love the beaded necklace. It drapes over the shoulders so delicately. It’s very elegant, but her choppy bangs give the look a bit of an edge. She is totally pulling it off, though. Fierce. 
Mindy Kaling
So, she just had a baby. Wow! She looks so beautiful. I love a good sequin moment, and this dress delivered. Her hair and makeup are really great, and she looks sexy. Work it, Mindy. She’s one of my top party looks, for sure. Second only to Allison Janney. Love this.
Well, you know I want to know your thoughts. Who was your best dressed? Did you watch the show? Did you watch the red carpet coverage? Let me know in the comments.
*All pictures are from Instyle Magazine and Vanity Fair Instagram accounts.
Movie Set Monday- It’s Complicated
MOVIE SET MONDAY – IT’S COMPLICATED
This could be my favorite Nancy Meyers movie set. And I loved Amanda’s house in The Holiday a LOT and was pretty obsessed with the house in The Intern, but this one is may take the cake. I LOVE this house.
First, if you haven’t seen this movie, watch it pronto. It is hilarious and perfectly acted. It doesn’t hurt when you’ve got the best of the best for the cast: Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, and they threw in John Krasinski who adds another touch of comedic genius. Just watch it, promise? Okay.
Well, we have to start in the best part- the kitchen.
Already I can find something to love: the window. Every home in this series has incredible windows. I think a window in front of a sink is the perfect placement. If you must wash dishes by hand, you have to have a window to look out. The other thing I love about this space (well, one of them) is the marble top island. It’s bright and is the perfect compliment to all of the other wood shelving and the neutral colored countertop. 
The architectural detail of the ceiling is so pretty. It’s a planked ceiling and the beams give it just a little something extra. Other fun details are the skirting to the left of the dishwasher and the cabinets under the sink. The whole feel of the kitchen is a little French provincial and cottage. Yet it has a few modern elements, and everything works so well together.
There’s just so much I love about it. It’s not too big yet not small at all. The dark tile is really nice. That range…holy smokes! Open shelving. Covered bar stools. Sweet little rolling cart to the left of the island. The pendant lights. The hanging pots and pans. That window. The arched opening. Open to the dining table. It’s just so cute!
Jane (Meryl’s character) is a divorced mother of three who is getting ready to do a major home renovation. Steve Martin is her contractor who is actually going to build her a new kitchen. Um…why? Below is a more pulled back photo of the kitchen and dining area. I think both spaces perfectly compliment each other. The flow is perfect. 
Into the living room we find more beams, a great fireplace, and I spy French doors. This room is very warm and inviting. I know the orange chair and accents have a lot to do with that, but the wood tones also add to the warmth of the space.
The armoire is so beautiful, and isn’t it so perfect that they all settled in for a movie in this room? It’s so nice and shows just how cozy and liveable a space like this could be. I know movie sets are perfectly styled, but isn’t it so refreshing to see the characters just vegging out in the room? I’m sort of loving all of the white furniture too. Grown kids and no pets! 🙂 It’ll be a very long time before I’ll be able to have beautiful white furniture. 
This hallway makes me so happy. There’re a few more archways and more of the same tile that mimics the kitchen. The window in the hallway just soaks it with sun. I bet it’s would be a lovely route to the kitchen in the morning sunlight. The light fixture is very pretty and simple and works perfectly in that spot.
And in true Nancy Meyer’s fashion, the artwork is so great. Each film she makes has a truly stunning art collection. There are so many great pieces and they are all perfectly placed.
Let’s go next into the bedroom.
First of all, I really like the shape of this bed. It’s interesting yet classic. And I know I went on and on about the desk in the bedroom of Something’s Gotta Give, but I have to say that I love the desk as a bedside table on this set. It’s a great place for one if there’s not enough room to have it anywhere else. In fact, if we’re in this apartment and bring a baby home to it, I believe that’s what we’ll have to do. 
The table on the other side of the bed is so gorgeous. I love that it’s a round table, but that pedestal is so curvy and special. And that little bench at the foot of the bed is beautiful. It’s raw and natural and ties in perfectly with the wood accent on the bed and with the round bedside table. 
The Master Bathroom is so great. The two-toned cabinets are really special. That mirror is perfection. The dark tub is very inviting. The bathroom door is even pretty. And that diamond patterned floor is so good. 
Alec Baldwin plays Jane’s ex-husband, and judging by this picture, you can tell that the title of the film, It’s Complicated, is quite fitting. 
Don’t you just love a good tiled bathroom wall? I used to be against it because I grew up with one for a while and didn’t love it. But now, I kind of do. 
One of the great things about this movie set is the outdoor space. This garden is everything you could wish for. I have a black thumb and will never be able to have such a garden. I once killed a cactus, so I don’t have much confidence. 
Look at this patio. The ivy growing up the side of the house is so whimsical. Wouldn’t you love to sit and have coffee in that chair in the mornings? Or drink wine with your friends out there on a cool, fall evening? Putting a table out there for a meal would be perfect too. I just love a good outdoor space. 
Jane has a store also. She went to school in Paris and became a pastry chef, and she has this delightful shop. Isn’t it gorgeous? The white pendants, the exposed brick, the transoms, the coffee bar, the island of fresh produce and pastries, I could go on. It’s so open and airy and looks exactly like a shop I’d like to visit quite often for a chocolate croissant and a delicious cup of coffee. 
The tables are so sleek, and don’t those two look adorable together?
I hope you see this movie if you haven’t already. As always, check your local library first. Free, one night rentals, y’all! You’ll laugh, maybe cry, cringe, smile a lot, and just enjoy a really great movie by a really great filmmaker. You’ll also get so many great decorating ideas. I am always inspired by some aspect of the design and decor of this set every time I watch.
I hope you have a happy Monday and a great week!
Meatless White Pizza Recipe
MEATLESS WHITE PIZZA RECIPE
This idea came to me when Paul told me that his mom was trying to think of some meatless meals for Fridays during Lent. He told her that I make a pizza that I often don’t put any meat on, and that it’s really good. It’s very simple, and I’d like to share the recipe with you if you’re tired of ordering cheese pizza during Lent or if you just don’t want to pay for delivery or have all those extra calories that seem to pile on with take-out pizza.
First, you must know that I am a pizza lover. If I had to have a last meal, it would definitely be some form of pizza. Probably several forms of it, if I’m being honest. I won’t proclaim this pizza to be super healthy. It just tastes good and isn’t take-out.
I start with a store bought thin pizza crust. You can obviously go with a regular crust or the pizza dough in the refrigerated section. But I usually do the thin crust like this.
I brush a little olive oil on the crust (mostly because the package tells you to) and then add a little Alfredo sauce. I don’t go crazy on the sauce. I don’t like a lot of sauce on my pizza, so I just use a regular spoon and stop when I feel like I’ve got enough. This actually looks like a lot of sauce, though. Oops!
Then I’ve got to doctor it up a little. I sprinkle Italian seasoning onto the sauce and a little garlic powder and red pepper flakes.
Then I pile on the spinach. I usually go with the bag of spinach, but I have used the frozen stuff if I’ve had some left over from another recipe. I prefer the fresh spinach because you can add a good amount, and it wilts down beautifully. I feel like I’m getting more of the spinach when I use the fresh.
Next comes the mozzarella cheese. I like using shredded or fresh mozzarella. And sometimes I’ll add some Parmesan too. It just depends on what I’ve got in the fridge. Usually it’s just mozzarella as was the case tonight.
Lastly, and maybe my favorite part is the sliced Roma tomatoes. They cook really well on top of the pizza and taste so delicious.
Then I bake until the cheese is nice and melted. If you’re feeling fancy, turn on the broiler for a few minutes to get the cheese really bubbly. Take it out and let it rest for a few minutes. Then cut and serve. I don’t typically top it with anything else because all of my favorite toppings have been cooked into it. Fresh parsley would be nice, though.
Simple right? And so yummy!
Now, let me tell you of a few changes you can make that tastes delicious also.
- Instead of alfredo or whatever white sauce you like, you can do marinara sauce or, my favorite, basil pesto. Now don’t overdo the pesto, but just a little spread over the crust is a different and scrumptious flavor if you’re tired of red and white sauce on your pizza.
- Use other greens instead of spinach. Arugula would be very good in place of spinach, and of course, kale would be a great substitute too.
- Add meat! You don’t have to on Fridays during Lent, obviously, but I often add canned chicken. Yep, you read that right, canned chicken. It’s amazing! And cheap and easy and sometimes it’s what works and I’m not apologizing for it.
- Add your favorite cheese. If mozzarella isn’t your favorite cheese, by all means, add your fave. I’ve even added ricotta with my mozzarella which is super tasty.
- I only added Roma tomatoes, but please add whatever toppings you like. Add some onions, black olives, mushrooms, peppers, the list goes on.
The point is that you can add anything to your pizza that you like. This one just happens to be one of my favorites to make. Below is a picture of all the ingredients and the recipe. Let me know if you make this pizza and if you changed it in any way! I’d love more inspiration for more delicious pizzas!
Ingredients:
- Thin Pizza Crust
- Jar of Alfredo Sauce
- Olive Oil
- Italian Seasoning
- Garlic Powder
- Red PepperFlakes
- Spinach Leaves
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Roma Tomato (2)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 450° for this particular crust
- Brush olive oil onto the crust
- Spoon on desired amount of Alfredo sauce
- Sprinkle on Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes
- Add desired amount of spinach
- Sprinkle mozzarella cheese onto pizza
- Cut tomatoes into medallions and spread over the cheese
- Bake until cheese is melted (15-20 minutes)
- Serve and Enjoy
Sharing the Love: Favorite Instagram Accounts
SHARING THE LOVE: FAVORITE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS
I spend a lot of time on Instagram. Probably more than I should, but it’s because I’ve found so many great accounts to follow. I am constantly inspired by home decor accounts, fashion accounts, and plenty more.
I’ve shared my favorite home bloggers, fashion bloggers, YouTubers, and finally, I’m sharing my favorite Instagramers. I’ve got ten accounts to introduce to you. Here we go:
Alaina Kaz
She’s also one of my favorite home bloggers. Yes, I like her Instagram feed mostly for her home decor, but also for her Instastories and just because she seems like a genuinely cook chick that I’d be friends with.
Honey We’re Home
Megan is a fashion blogger that has a great feed. She posts really pretty outfits and has excellent family oriented Instastories. Obviously I follow people who have similar style to myself, and this shirt dress is right up my alley.
The Lettered Cottage
Layla is basically a neighbor. She lives just up 65 in the beautiful area of Pike Road, Alabama with her hubby and son. She has an excellent farmhouse, cottage style that makes her home so beautiful. She also has very similar style to me when it comes to clothes, so I pretty much love everything she wears. And she loves a good Old Navy score so she’s budget-conscious too. I’ve definitely bought things from there because she’s recommended it. Also, and probably the reason I like her the most, she’s just got this heart of gold. She’s all about being authentic and making people smile and spreading positivity around the world of Instagram. Her Instastories are positively delightful and on Wednesdays she goes around town to different stores sharing home decor ideas from items found in those stores. I’m hoping one day I’ll actually get to bump into her in Home Goods and tell her how much I love following along with her.
Style Your Senses
Mallory is also one of my favorite fashion bloggers. She is a mom of two sweet little girls and has great style. She shares her heart, is very authentic, and is always letting you know about the latest deal. I love her feed of gorgeous clothes and her Instastories are another favorite to watch. She just announced that she’s moving to Texas, so that will be fun to follow along with.
Hello! Happiness
Natasha is a fairly recent find on Instagram. She is such a ray of sunshine. She seems like the nicest person. She is very encouraging with motivational quotes, and she posts the prettiest clothes. She even has her own children’s clothing company called Sugar Bit. She’s got great style, and once again, her Instastories are also ones I like to watch. She has the cutest girls that love to sing in the car, and they’re going through a home reno and she shares some awesome sneak peeks into the design. I never miss! Oh, and her sunnies game is strong!
York Avenue
Jackie is the girl behind York Avenue. This is a very new account to me. I have just discovered it this past Christmas, but I love the photos she posts of New York. Most are exteriors of beautiful buildings she photographs, though she does have other content. Isn’t it lovely?
The Fashion Lift
Fran is a lovely girl across the pond that has such an amazing sense of fashion. She is a bit Carrie Bradshaw with bold patterns, colors, and great textures. I am obsessed with her bangs and that she wears a red lip so well! She’s so chic, and I love to watch her stories and learn that she calls sweaters “jumpers” and tennis shoes “trainers”. Being British is so cool. 🙂
Danielle Moss
Danielle is the co-founder of The Everygirl which is a website for women that I love. She and Alaina Kazmarski (the first account on my list today) founded that website together. I have found that I love her style of decorating. She has such pretty light fixtures in her home. She’s also just announced that she’s pregnant with a little girl, so it’s been fun watching her Instastories and seeing those posts. I also really like her dogs, Buddy and Tucker. They are the best at posing for the camera.
The Everygirl
The Everygirl is that website I mentioned above with Danielle Moss. This website is full of info for all women. They have tons of great articles, and their Instagram feed is always beautiful. They have a seriously cool office that looks like a magical place to work. I mean, this is the kitchen in their office. Gorgeous.
Our Fifth House
I shared this account in my favorite home bloggers post. But Carmel has an excellent Instagram feed too. She posts beautiful photos of her home, shares excellent book recommendations, and gives great recipes that are quite healthy. She also peppers in some fashion and a great deal of leopard. She and I share the same idea that leopard is a neutral. 🙂
Well, that’s ten! I could go on and on, honestly. But these ten are the accounts I will always follow. Do y’all follow any of these accounts already? If not, I hope you check some of them out. And in the spirit of sharing the love, share with me some of your favorite accounts. I’d love to hear about them!
Movie Set Monday- Stepmom
MOVIE SET MONDAY- STEPMOM
Welcome back to Movie Set Monday!
Do y’all remember this movie? It was one that I saw as a kid and loved so much. If you are similar in age to me or if it’s just been a while, please go back and watch it again. I am telling you it will speak to your heart in such a different way. I, of course, could see myself in Anna’s character (the daughter) when I was a child. But as an adult I start seeing myself as one of the mothers. And that will rip your heart out. Maybe don’t watch it again. Don’t watch it again unless you’re prepared with tissues and know you’re going in for a good cry. 🙂
One thing I remember even way back then was that I thought that house was so cool. I was obsessed with having stairs in our house, and loved the staircase in this one.
As an adult I can now appreciate what is going on here in the details of the design and decor of the house. Jackie seems to be a traditionalist when it come to decor. Her pieces aren’t modern, and the overall feel of the house is just familiar and cozy. Okay, back to the staircase. I love the spindley rails on the stairs. Aren’t they beautiful? And not all of the rails are the same. I think it’s very cool. Let’s not overlook that runner below. I think this works in traditional or modern home decor. It’s a beauty.
Moving into the kitchen we see more of Jackie’s classic style. White, shaker style cabinets are my favorite. The glass front upper cabinets are perfect for displaying her pretty dishes. I mean, look at her. Her personal style is all over this kitchen. I love when a filmmaker and set designer can convey that in a movie.
Later in the movie we see Jackie and Anna setting a table in the formal dining room, but I just love this kitchen table. My Granny had a table in her kitchen for as long as I can remember, and we would sit there while she cooked. We ate there for the most part unless there was a crowd. Then we went to the dining room. They didn’t have central air conditioning in that house, and I remember there were two windows by the table in the kitchen. One held a window unit and one she would open up when it wasn’t too hot or too cold. You know, those rare Alabama days of perfect weather. We’d hear the birds and eat our corn flakes sprinkled with sugar. 🙂
In Jackie’s living room we see so much character. Look at those windows to the right in the picture directly below. If you scroll through the next three pictures you’ll see how it actually looks between the column and the wall. It’s such a fun detail in a home that elevates the wow-factor. If I were invited over to a dinner party there, I’d probably just wander around touching the beautiful architecture that is all over this house.
The columns are so pretty with the grooves running down them. What craftsmanship, huh? Another thing I’d like to point out is the windows…the exterior ones. I love the rounded transom over the giant window to the left of the fireplace. And if you’ve read any of my Movie Set Monday posts, you’ll find it no surprise that I am talking about windows.
The diamond panes on the window below are so pretty. It’s all in the details, y’all. Things like that will get me to buy a house every single day of the week. And look below to the left. I told you those interior windows were beautiful.
These cased openings are killing me! I think this is the absolute perfect place for a desk or for a reading nook. Also, more window love in this picture. I love the diamond pattern.
Here’s another arched opening. This one is slightly different than the one above, but equally as beautiful. Just looking at this picture makes me want to tear up. Do y’all remember this part on Christmas morning? I can’t take it. I think I went to see this with my cousins, my brother, my mom, and my aunt. I don’t remember if they cried their way through the ending, but I don’t know how they had their babies right beside them and didn’t bawl their eyes out. Mom and Aunt Brenda, did y’all hold it together or were you blubbering messes?
It’s obvious that this house is not lacking in curb appeal at all. Again with the windows. I could go on and on. It’s one of my favorite things about a house. But can we talk about this porch? It wraps all the way around the house and has these sweet little flower boxes and strong columns. What a great place to sit and enjoy a little summer afternoon rainstorm?
Another thing my Granny and Granddaddy had was a tire swing on the big oak tree in the back of the house. (This movie set is making me quite nostalgic.) I love the simple yard decor and playthings of this house. The two Adirondack chairs with a simple table in between are perfect for supervising kiddos on the swing or climbing those rungs on the tree.
I don’t remember there being a scene with water near their house, but it looks a little bit like water out there beyond the hedges. Wouldn’t that just make this house that much more perfect? Sign me up! I’d move yesterday. 🙂 
Doesn’t it look like a dollhouse? I think it’s such a beautiful home. But three stories? Holy moly! Don’t get me wrong, like I said, sign me up. I’d still live there. But what a house. So as much as I love this movie set, I love this movie more. Please rent it. Try the library or get it from Amazon. It’s worth the watch. Have a great Monday, y’all!