Sharing the Love: Favorite YouTubers

SHARING THE LOVE: FAVORITE YOUTUBERS

I’ve been sharing the love this month and showcasing some of my favorite bloggers, Youtubers, and Instagramers. I’ve shared my favorite home bloggers, fashion bloggers, and today I’m sharing my favorite YouTubers.

I used to watch A LOT of YouTube, but I’ve backed off a bit. Truthfully, I’ve been cheating on it with Amazon Prime Video. But that’s for another post.

In no particular order, here are some of my favorite YouTube channels to watch.

The Holderness Family

Remember the Christmas Jammies song? Well, that’s the Holderness Family. They are always coming out with the funniest parodies. Just good, clean fun that’s okay for your kids to watch with you. Here’s two of my favorite parodies.

Boys Get A Blowout- I could not stop laughing. The guys laughing at each other was the best part.

Ultimate Thanksgiving Mashup- It’s just so silly, but so funny!

They have another YouTube channel which is The Holderness Family Vlogs. There’s more great content on that channel too. I hope you give them a follow.

Laura in the Kitchen

Laura Vitale is one of my favorite discoveries on YouTube. She is an incredible cook that shares the best recipes. She has an Italian heritage, so she cooks a lot of Italian food. I’ve made several things from her YouTube channel, and her cookbook is awesome too! Here are a few of my favorite recipes I’ve made.

Croque Madame- So delicious! Seriously, make this!

Homemade Tuna Salad Sandwich- I never liked tuna salad until I tried this. It’s so yummy!

Go subscribe to her channel and immediately find 20 things to cook!

Cat and Nat

Okay, I’m not a mom, but these two women are so fun to watch. I always laugh so hard when I watch their videos. They don’t sugarcoat motherhood. They tell it like it is. The good, the bad, and the ugly. And they do it in the most hilarious way! #momtruth Fridays are the best!

What They Don’t Tell You About Childbirth- This one’s a little crude, but it’s hilarious. It also makes me want to put off having kids another five years or so. LOL

What We Really Mean When We Say…- So funny! And so true! All husbands/dads need to hear this!

The Hollywood Reporter

One of my favorite things about YouTube is that I can find all sorts of interviews with celebrities that I like. I stumbled across something called The Hollywood Reporter Roundtables one day and went down a rabbit hole for days. Each roundtable is an hour long discussion among the nominees of certain awards (Emmys, Oscars, Tonys, etc.). They get a little technical when it’s screenwriters talking, but I still am very interested in what they have to say and how a film comes together. Here’s a few that I’ve enjoyed.

THR Full Tonys Actors Roundtable

THR Full Oscar Actress Roundtable

I hope you’ve found a few YouTube channels to subscribe to. I know most of us don’t have that much time to just sit and watch videos on the internet, but if you ever find yourself with that time, check out these great channels.

Any other good channels I should be subscribed to? Let me know in the comments.

Movie Set Monday- The Intern

MOVIE SET MONDAY- THE INTERN

Happy Monday, friends! I’m off work today for Presidents’ Day. Woo Hoo! Anyone else get the day off? I could get used to regular three day weekends. 🙂 I was also able to use the long weekend to paint my bathroom. That deserves another Woo Hoo! I love the way the white paint on the walls turned out, and the vanity looks incredible painted black. I can’t wait to put the finishing touches on it and show you. But that’s not why we’re here today. I’ve got another installment of Movie Set Monday for you.

The Intern

Nancy Meyers is one of my favorite filmmakers. I’ve been a fan of hers for as long as I can remember. And one of the reasons I love her movies is because of the beautiful homes she showcases. I recently watched The Intern with Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway. It’s the cutest movie, and I totally cried in the scene where they watch Singing in the Rain together. It was the sweetest.

I just realized that if you haven’t seen this movie, then maybe you’re thinking Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway have a romantic relationship. This is not so. But they do develop a very lovely friendship, and I recommend this movie to all the ladies. Paul watched it with me and didn’t love it. I can’t blame him, though. It’s definitely geared toward the girls.

Anyway….

My favorite home in this movie was Anne Hathaway’s character’s home. It’s a classic Brooklyn brownstone that is full of character. And the decor is pretty awesome too. That’s the kitchen. The floor to ceiling windows are showstoppers. I love how they stand out with the molding around them painted the same as the cabinets and island. The open shelving on both sides of the kitchen is genius for both storage and displaying beautiful dishes. And I love a good stripe, so that runner is speaking my language.

Ok, we should first mention the range and vent hood. Very sleek and a nice modern touch to such a classic house. I also really like the arch architectural detail. The subway tile makes it really pop, and it also ties in perfectly with the wall of open shelving to the left. Look at those floors. The pattern gives this room so much character. It elevates the space to a whole new level. I just thought those windows were good. This view is my favorite view of the kitchen. More open shelving and that fireplace. A fireplace in the kitchen might seem a little weird, but it sure does look nice. The artwork over the mantel is really interesting too. And scroll back up and look at that ceiling and the molding. Oh. My. Word. These are the kinds of details that make me fall in love with a house. And how cute is that little table for her little girl? There’s even a teeny tiny lucite chair for her stuffed animal. Adorable.

Living and Dining Rooms

I know I just said it, but the architecture is just stunning. The arched opening is so pretty. And there’s pocket doors in there too! Aaahhhh! And the crown molding, which has always been a favorite element of mine, is equally as pretty. I love those built-ins too. I’d want to put some sort of bookshelf on either side of that opening anyway, so the fact that they’re built in is perfect.

My favorite non-architectural part of this room is the light fixture. I think it’s so interesting and adds a little whimsy to the space. Another beautiful fireplace. I love the detail in the matel. So intricate.This is the same sitting area but shot from as if you were sitting in one of the chairs. You can’t see it well, but that mustard yellow sofa is so good. I don’t love yellow. It’s never been my color, but I sort of love it as the accent color in the mostly black and white room. Also, I love that the large piece of art is leaning against the wall on the other side of the black chest. I think it’s a fun way to display a piece of art that you like. It didn’t fit into the gallery already hung on the wall, and you absolutely cannot take away from the beauty of those windows, so I think a wall prop is brilliant. I might try that. Hmm… Don’t you just love finding new ways to decorate your home?

Master Bedroom

I swear one day I’m going to have a sitting area in my master bedroom. I’ve found this to be a reoccurring thing about the movie homes that I love. The settee is so cute at the end of the bed, and the chaise lounge is begging for a book to read on it.

Architecturally speaking, this room is so good. It’s almost as if the nook was carved out especially for the bed and nightstands. I love the drop down with the corbels. Such a delightful detail. First, I love a sconce. I think they’re the perfect things for reading in bed. Not too much light for the person next to you who might be sleeping and such visual happiness when you see them hanging on your wall. Second, there’re lamps too! I thought it was odd at first, but there’s no overhead light in this part of the room, so it makes sense to have the lamps for extra light instead of just the sconces. In other words, I like it. Third, what is that beauty in the window? Is it just the detail of the wall because the window is further out than the actual wall? Or is it a shutter that folds back? Whatever it is, bravo! Another fireplace. Seriously, what’s not to love about this home? The place is dripping with character. And even more was added when they put in that incredible armoire. And the medallion on the ceiling. Even the bedroom door has character. Gosh, I love this room.

The Office

Even though I really love the brownstone the most, the office where they all work is truly beautiful. It’s a warehouse that was converted to an office for an online clothing company (storyline, not real life). It’s very industrial but charming and comfortable too. It’s very chic and open. Lots of windows (exterior and interior). I love the light fixtures and that sign below. Major work motivation.

Well there we go. Isn’t it gorgeous? This one is significantly different than the set of Home Again, but I love this one just as much. I apparently could have all different kinds of homes all over the place. What about you? Do you like the city brownstone type? Or are you more of a sprawling farmhouse type? I can’t decide. I love the city life, but I’d also like to sit on my front porch and watch my goats play and eat grass. Good thing I have movies to keep me entertained on both fronts and give me ideas along the way.

Have a great week!

Thursday Thoughts- Parkland

THURSDAY THOUGHTS- PARKLAND

I don’t even know what to say. I have so many thoughts about yesterday’s shooting in Parkland, Florida.

I’d like to preface this post by saying I’m not trying to make this political. I am no political animal, and even though I believe The West Wing was one of the greatest shows ever written, I’ve never thought of myself as someone who was very political. However, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to understand more and care more about our government and about how our country is run and who runs it.

With that being said, I’d just like to pour out my thoughts here. I can’t keep them in. I didn’t think about it much today at school because, well, partly because I didn’t have time to think about it, but in a way I feel like maybe I’ve become a little desensitized to it-to mass shootings. I am disgusted with myself for even admitting that, but it’s the truth.

Most of you know I’m a teacher. I have been for nearly 10 years, and though we’ve had lock down situations before, they were all scheduled and not scary. However, these people (from reports that I’ve read) didn’t even have time to follow their lock down procedure. I read there was a fire alarm and then gunfire. They were walking into a trap.

Someone shared a video on Facebook from the Today Show segment with Jenna and Kathie Lee that showed Jenna saying that we expect our children to go to school to be educated by the teachers, and now we’re expecting them to stand in front of our babies when there’s a gunman in the room. And while I totally get it, I promise I do. I don’t know how I would actually react in a situation like that, but I’d like to think that that’s exactly what I’d do. The children who were killed in every school shooting were just that- children. No matter their age. If they were students, they were children. If they were adults, they were still children to someone. And no matter the motive of the gunman, these people were innocent victims. These high schoolers yesterday were innocent. The teachers who have passed away were innocent. Jenna encouraged everyone to thank a teacher. I’d like to do that right now. Thank you to all of the fabulous educators I’ve been privileged to work with or meet or know. We are called to go above and beyond sometimes, and yesterday was an example of some of actually sacrificed themselves to save someone else’s child. So next time you get mad at your child’s teacher or think they don’t know what they’re doing or talking about, remember what could happen to your child if the unthinkable were to happen and who might be the one to save your baby.

And just like everyone else has been saying, my heart hurts for the parents and loved ones of the victims-all of them, dead, injured, shaken up, all of them. My heart hurts for those students. Their lives will never be the same. Some of them watched their friends die. Some of them lost best friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, brothers, sisters, and cousins. My heart hurts for the loved ones of the gunman too. We never think about them. We just think about how evil they are. Of course there was evil there. But maybe there was a family member who is grieving for the pain their loved one caused to so many other people.

I believe this is not just a gun violence issue. Sure, it is. I am not saying that it isn’t at all. I’m a southern girl. I’ve been exposed to guns for the better part of my life, and I’m a supporter of the right to bear arms. But I’ll say that I think it’s ridiculous that I can go and buy these kinds of weapons. I am all for keeping our handguns and shotguns, but maybe we leave the automatic weapons to the professionals (military, law enforcement).

The other issue I believe we are dealing with is mental illness. Most acts of violence are carried out by those who suffer from mental illness. Why isn’t this a bigger priority in our country? I know I’m not alone when I say that I’ve seen mental illness. It’s a common issue on all levels. Some people don’t know how to get help. Or they can’t afford help. Or they are ashamed. This hurts my heart too. I know people who’ve gotten help for their problems. And I know people who haven’t, and it didn’t end well for them or for their families. I’ve seen some really close calls, and I’ve seen some people completely healed. My point is that mental illness is actually an issue worth fixing. It’s an issue worth putting more funding toward.

I know I said this wouldn’t be political, and I don’t think what I’m about to say is politically one-sided at all. But if we ourselves cannot do anything about this, can’t we elect the people who do want to make changes? Can’t we set aside Democratic and Republican status and agree that some changes need to start happening? I don’t know. I don’t have the answers, but I do know that I feel very strongly that something has got to change. I read today there have been 30 mass shootings in 2018. 30. In a month and a half. That’s unthinkable. No wonder I felt desensitized. I don’t want to feel that way again.

In closing, I’d like to say that we can do something. It always comes back to this for me, and it’s the only think I can think of to do right now. I’m not saying I do this on a regular basis. In fact, if I’m being honest, I rarely do this. But I think we need to pray for our government. We need to pray for our leaders, current and future, whether you like them or not. We need to ask God to guide them in the direction He wants us to go. We need to pray for peace; we need to pray for His protection; we need to pray for His will to be done; we need to pray for our leaders-whether you like them or not. Yes, I said it again on purpose. I know so many don’t like our president. We are all so different and have different views and that is part of the beauty of our species, but dang it, he’s in office, we aren’t, and we need to pray for him. I’d like to commit to adding that to my every day prayer list. I hope you do to. Imagine if we all prayed for God to guide our leaders. Miraculously wonderful things could happen.

And while you’re at it, pray for those victims and their loved ones. Pray for teachers. Pray for those with mental illness. PRAY.

Sharing the Love: Favorite Fashion Bloggers

SHARING THE LOVE: FAVORITE FASHION BLOGGERS

Last week I mentioned that I was going to feature some of my favorite bloggers, YouTubers, and Instagramers during the month of February. Last week I shared with you some of my favorite home bloggers. This week it’s all about the fashion. Here are a few of my faves:

Style Your Senses

Mallory is the best. I discovered her on Instagram, and quickly realized her blog is super fun. I enjoy reading her content whether it’s about fashion, home decor, or just life. She is so beautiful and funny and REAL! I appreciate authenticity in bloggers, and she is definitely authentic.

She has two precious girlies and a husband that I swear is Paul’s long lost brother. They are similar in personalities, and it’s always funny for me to see her husband doing things Paul does or would definitely do as a dad.

Her home is gorgeous as well. She lives in Charlotte, and I love her style.

She’s very good at mixing patterns and her daughters’ rooms are amazing! Check them out.

Aren’t they so pretty? Check out her blog and her Instagram. She’s got great mom style and always shares the best sales.

Hi Sugarplum!

Cassie is such a fun fashion blogger to follow. She loves color and always has great accessories. Her style is chic and casual. Of course she can punch it up when needed, but one reason I love her is because the outfits she puts together are ones I’d wear daily.

I mean, of course I’d show you a picture of neutrals and leopard. Hold on…

There’s the color and pattern. Isn’t she adorable? She’s quite funny, and her home is serious goals. Look at her entry. Hello leopard rug!

One more from Cassie- her closet makeover with the Container Store. Are you all drooling yet? I am.

Okay, now I know you are ready to go on over and explore her blog and Instagram. You’re welcome. 🙂

Meghan Lanahan

I actually know Meghan from Louisiana. Her husband and Paul worked together at University Club, and we were able to meet through them. And I can honestly say she is such a sweet girl. And her style is amazing. She and I both did similar things in moving away from Louisiana and starting blogs. She is killing it in the fashion blog world. She always finds the best clothes at Loft. Like, always. Look at this cute floral top. Adorable!

Check out her blog and Instagram account for more fashion inspiration.

Hello! Happiness

Natasha is one of my recent favorite finds on Instagram. I’m not sure how I stumbled across her account, but I’m so glad I did. She’s so bubbly and happy and always full of positivity. Her little girls are the cutest things ever, and they are just so much fun to follow.

She has a great fashion sense and loves color. I mostly wear black, and she inspires me to at least look at bright colors. Maybe once spring actually shows up I’ll take a cue from her and get something hot pink or maybe even yellow! She’s been posting lots about yellow, and I have to admit, I kind of love it. Check out her blog and her Instagram account. Her Instastories are great. Oh, and they are doing a home reno right now. I’m looking forward to those blog posts coming up soon. Her style is so cool that I know I’ll be inspired.

Honey We’re Home

Megan is another person I found on Instagram before I discovered her blog. She is a former lawyer who has great style, takes great care of herself, and has the sweetest little family. I really enjoy her Instastories. I’m going to be honest, it has a lot to do with her adorable children. She has a great sense of humor and incredible fashion sense.

Oh, and that’s her home. Awesome, huh? I love that striped wall. She’s definitely one to follow. Check out her blog and her Instagram account.

I hope I’ve helped you find some new fashion bloggers who will honestly give you some amazing outfit ideas. They are always so gracious and will respond to you if you ever have a question about a product or item they are sharing. Have you ever heard of any of them? I know you’ll love them.

Come back next week when I share the love for some of my favorite YouTubers.

Movie Set Monday- Home Again

MOVIE SET MONDAY- HOME AGAIN

I had a friend tell me after she had read some of the Movie Set Monday posts that she had never really paid attention to the homes in movies but that she was enjoying the series nonetheless. Well, I don’t know what camp you fall into, but I am definitely in the one of paying attention to homes in movies. I always have. And I don’t know if you’re enjoying reading these posts like my friend says she is, but I am having the most fun revisiting these homes and putting them into posts to look back on. You never know, I might be building a home one day down the road and want to incorporate some of these elements into it.

Home Again

This past summer Nancy Meyers’ daughter, Hallie, made a film with Reese Witherspoon called Home Again. I knew it would be great because Hallie is the product of movie-making genius. And I was right. And though we’ve only seen one Nancy Meyers film in this series so far, there are many more to come. And the apple doesn’t fall from the tree. Hallie apparently has excellent taste in interiors and understands what her characters would like in home decor just like her mother does.

Let’s dive in, shall we?

We’ll start outside. What a perfect California home, right? It’s everything I would imagine it to be with the Spanish tile roof, a beautiful outdoor dining area, and that pool. I want to have coffee with my bestie out there on that porch and in th0se chairs. They look like thrones. I’d feel pretty darn empowered sitting in a throne-like chair some mornings. 🙂

Already we get a very natural vibe from this outdoor dining space. The color palette is very neutral and allows nature to infuse it with color. I would dine al fresco as often as possible if this were my home. I’m talking every night, no dinner party or guests needed. And I see a fireplace that would be perfect for cooler nights aaannnddd perfect for s’mores.

Who doesn’t love a pool? Especially one with such a feeling of tranquility. The vibe of this pool area seems so secluded and peaceful, and that is exactly what I’d want if I had a pool. Perfection.

To the Office

I know this photo is small, but I wanted you to see the artwork in the office. There are several abstract pieces throughout the house, and as a fan of abstract art, I love how these are paired together. Along with the sconces and the printed curtains, too. Those woven-back chairs are beautiful and add a natural element to the room that fits in so well with the big windows and natural light that comes in.

Reese Witherspoon’s character is an interior designer, and she is using her workspace here to make a vision board for her client. I like how long the desk is and the natural wood material. I really love this black and white abstract. It’s so beautiful and right up my alley.

Master Bedroom

The master bedroom may not be exactly my style, but I love it anyway. The headboard is too warm for my taste. I’m not a fan of red, but this one with pops of pink and orange and little bit of green is actually quite nice. I do love the mismatched side tables and lamps. Cohesive but not matchy-matchy.

The simple prints above the bed are perfect for this space. And I really love those pink prints on the chest of drawers and the blue and white ginger jars, too. So classic. I just don’t think you can ever go wrong with blue and white.

The wood elements in this house are all so natural. I love the organic feel it gives to the house. It’s not too done, yet it doesn’t feel undone. Not even a bit. It just feels fresh and clean and airy.

Living Room

See what I mean? It’s the same in the living room. Don’t you feel like you can just sit on that couch and breathe deeply for a bit? It’s all in the monochromatic palette, and those pops of pink are a perfect feminine touch. Reese plays a single mother of two daughters, and I love that pink is peppered throughout the house.

The prints above the mantel appear to be by the same artist as the ones above the bed in the master bedroom. It’s the simplicity that makes them work with everything in the home and in different places. They’re a lovely compliment to a neutral room and allow for any color to be added as an accent. The fireplace screen is feminine yet classy, and the round firewood holder is like a piece of art itself. It adds a little modern touch to this beautiful room. Below you’ll see more pink in the art and another ginger jar. And did you notice the architectural elements? Everything is painted white, so it’s a tad understated, but it’s still there, and it’s gorgeous.

Power Outage in the Movie Theater

So here’s an interesting story about when I went to see this movie. My mom and I went to watch it in Montgomery one afternoon, and we got to the part where there’s a little scuffle between two of the male characters. When it’s all over, Reese’s character and her ex-husband are sitting in this room in the picture below. And then the screen goes black.

So we all are sitting there, then someone goes to get an employee, they come into the theater and said there’s been a technical problem and the computers need to reboot. They promised to try to run it back to where it stopped. It took a few minutes, but they got it back to this room’s scene and we were able to finish the movie without any more problems.

It’s another very neutral room. These curtains are the same ones used in her office. But where we have been seeing more pink accents in the rest of the home, blue is the favored accent color. There does seem to be a hint of pink in that lumbar pillow, so it hasn’t been completely abandoned. And there’s more blue and white jars on the side table. Also, these windows are killing me! I love natural light. And I love how this window looks directly out onto the patio. Wouldn’t this be the greatest party house?

Happiest Hallway

Oh, I love this hallway. I’m all about a great overhead light fixture, but these sconces are everything here. I think they’re the perfect option for lighting. And they aren’t just in the hallway, if you scroll back through the pictures, sconces are everywhere. I’ve been craving them for my bedroom in lieu of lamps. However, our current setup doesn’t allow that. (Next house)The Kitchen

Here’s more blue! The kitchen is so cute. The tile is fun, and blue is a calming and relaxing color. I know that the kitchen can be a place of anxiety for some (myself included sometimes), but how could you be anxious in here? I most love those wood countertops. More of that natural element we’ve seen throughout the home is even worked into the kitchen. Don’t you love when a home feels the same throughout and shares certain design elements in every room? It makes a house just come together.
Yes, yes, yes to this marble top pedestal table in the breakfast area. The yellow in the pillows and settee is perfect for mornings with a cup of coffee, the newspaper, a book, or just some peace and quiet. And can we talk about those french doors? Swoon. This little vignette appears to be just off the breakfast area/kitchen, and I think it perfectly marries the pops of pink and natural wood pieces from the rest of the house to the upcoming golden yellow tones in breakfast nook right around the corner. Then there’s the indoor dining room which gives us a great view of the kitchen too. The island is spacious and also has that beautiful wood countertop. But I have to say I’m most obsessed with that door. I find that these are the parts of homes I get into the most. I do love the decor and find that furniture, art, and accessories really can make your home feel a certain way and truly embody who you are and what your taste is. But doors and architecture are what give a home character. I would buy this door if I ran up on it in a second hand store and prop it up against a wall as decor. I just love things like that, and I love this door.

The Guest House

In the movie, Reese’s character is out celebrating her birthday when she meets three younger guys who, without revealing too much, crash in her guest house for a while. And if the picture below is the guest house I’d get to stay in, well, sign me up. It’s an excellent space that has it all: character (the ceiling), natural elements (again, the ceiling and the windows and french doors), sleeping, sitting, and working spaces, and beautiful furniture and lighting to boot. I love the openness the tall, white ceiling gives. And when you add all that natural light in, it’s a recipe for perfection. I could model my dream master bedroom after something like this.
I’ll end here with possibly my favorite part of the home, the outdoor dining space. That patio is lovely and acts as if it were just another room in the house. It feels effortless and right that dinner should be eaten around that table.

Have you seen this movie? I quite enjoyed it and would like to add it to my collection. If you haven’t, get your hands on it. It’s a really cute story, and you’ll get to stare at a gorgeous house while you watch.

Happy Monday, y’all and have a great week!

Bookshelf Changeup

BOOKSHELF CHANGEUP

We recently had some pretty fantastic snow days here in Alabama, and I actually was able to do some productive things while we were out of school. It doesn’t matter that the productivity didn’t actually happen until Saturday when the snow was mostly melted. Hey, I thoroughly enjoyed my SNOW days by staying warm under the covers rewatching Big Little Lies. They’re winning all these awards, and I felt like an eight episode show wasn’t too much to binge in a few days.

But Saturday came and I was feeling the creative bug, so I took my gallery wall apart. And then promptly put it right back together because I don’t have anything else I’d like to put in its place. I have a lot of things in my cart at Minted but I don’t have a lot of money in my bank account to pay for all those pretty prints. Story of my life.

So then I walked to my bedroom, looked around and realized the drapes in my cart at Ballard don’t really go along with my bank account either. Sooooo…I decided to rearrange the books on the bookshelf. I knew I wanted a more streamlined look somehow. I didn’t want the messy look of all the randomly placed books. I’ve been craving simplicity in my decor, and the mismatched spines on the bookshelf didn’t fit that for me.

Here’s what it looked like before. This was about a year ago in March. At the top are all of my cookbooks and a few children’s storybooks I’ve collected. You can see there’s no real rhyme or reason to the way I shelved the books. It’s not necessary for there to be a rhyme or reason to shelving books, but like I said, the creative bug had bitten me, so I went for it.

Here’s what it looks like now.

I decided to shelve the books by the color of their spines. In keeping with the need for simplicity I started with white and black and just kept going. I know I didn’t follow Roy G. Biv, but it works for me.

The cookbooks on top got switched to stacks instead of the unlevel, upright position they were in. There’s a lot more yellow in those cookbooks than I would like, but since I don’t have Erica Berry’s kitchen from Something’s Gotta Give (that post here) and nowhere to put my cookbooks in my kitchen, this will do. I like it much better already.

I also decided to hang a picture over the bookshelf. Paul went to school with a guy that works at one of Arnold Palmer’s golf courses, Bay Hill. For a wedding gift, he got Mr. Palmer to sign a photo for us. But it wasn’t just a photo, it was a large print that he personalized for us. It was so special to Paul, and we had it framed so that we can enjoy it always. (Thanks, Josh!) I think it looks lovely hanging above the bookshelf, and I don’t know why it took me so long to decide it belonged there.

I know this wasn’t a drastic change, but I love when something small makes a big impact. I hope that you’ve gotten some ideas on how to update your bookshelves or inspired you to hang a fun photo. Do you arrange your books in any certain way? Do you hoard books like I do? Do you have any special photos, posters, and/or works of art? Let me know in the comments.

Sharing the Love: Favorite Home Bloggers

SHARING THE LOVE: FAVORITE HOME BLOGGERS

In the spirit of February and the love that’s in the air, I thought I’d put together a post each week this month to showcase some of the bloggers, YouTubers, and Instagramers that I love to follow. Today I’ll be sharing five of my favorite bloggers that are mostly home decor and diy. In no particular order, here they are:

Our Fifth House

Carmel over at Our Fifth House is actually in her sixth house. They live in a beautiful home in Charleston, and I think it may be my favorite exterior I’ve ever seen. It’s so happy with that pink front door.

She is a lover of the color red which is pretty much banned in this house because Paul is such a die hard Auburn fan, but I love the red accents she has throughout her home. She is a great diy-er and is soon attempting a small bathroom renovation that is sure to go from builder basic to stunning. She’s also a fellow Beautycounter consultant, so I love that she is helping to spread the mission of safer beauty to her readers.

And check out her office. It’s my favorite.

Before I hit publish on my very first blog post I reached out to Carmel for any tips she had for first time bloggers. She gave me some excellent advice, and I love that she was so kind to respond to me. Check out her blog and her Instagram account. She’s fun to follow.

The Elizabeth Street Post

How can I not love this one, right? It does have my name in the title. 🙂 Actually I’ve shared this one before. I talked about a house I couldn’t stop obsessing over that belonged to Alaina Kazmarski. Well, this is her blog, The Elizabeth Street Post.

Her style inspires me so much. I find myself wanting to paint every wall in my house white. Everything is just so timeless and chic. I could easily have her come decorate every home I live in for the rest of my life.

Alaina is the cofounder of The Everygirl, a website that is chock full of information for girls of all ages and stages of life. They post everything from career advice to fashion and literally everything in between. She also is expecting her first child, and it’s a little boy, and I can’t wait to see the final nursery reveal. She’s a true talent in many areas and shares more than just home decor. She’s got a great fashion sense and writes excellent posts about travel. Check out her blog and her Instagram account. It’s one of my favorites to follow.

Addison’s Wonderland

If you’re lover of color and pattern, you’ll be an instant follower of Brittany at Addison’s Wonderland. I fell in love with her former home and styled my previous home with items inspired by what she had. Her dining room was one of my favorite parts. I bought that rug and painted my own version of that colorful abstract.

She and her family now live in this gorgeous, 100 year old home that they’ve COMPLETELY renovated. It’s so lovely. She’s a Georgia girl, entrepreneur, wife, mama, business owner, and expert color and pattern mixer. So talented.

See what I mean about bold pattern and color? She does it so perfectly. I would never have the guts to just go for it, but I sure do learn a lot from how she does it. Go visit her blog and take the home tour of her current house and her former house. And don’t forget to follow her on Instagram too.

Elements of Style

Erin Gates should be a name you know in your household. If she isn’t, you’re seriously missing out. Her book, Elements of Style, is my favorite home decor book. It’s so much more than that. Seriously, if you get it, read it. She’s so transparent in it, and I like her a lot.

Erin is a super talented Interior Designer who also has her own line of home accessories. I’ve recently seen them popping up in our local TJ Maxx. There were several pillows, which were all perfect. Especially some fur ones that I almost sent my Christmas present back for. I decided not to since I’m still unsure of my master bedroom design, but I hope someone got them and loves them. They were amazing!

That’s Erin’s entry to her house. I mean….YES! If I ever have stairs, it’s more than likely going in this direction. Stunning.

Another thing that I love about Elements of Style is the Fashion Friday posts. Style doesn’t stop at interiors for Erin. She’s got a great fashion sense and come award season, she’s my go-to blog to read the rundown of everyone’s dresses. She’s very candid and always offers up way better suggestions for those red carpet don’ts.

Erin is also coming out with a second book! EEEK!!! I can’t wait. And she has the sweetest little boy, Henry. He’s so stinking cute, and she shares a lot of Henry on Instagram. So follow her blog and Instagram account for all kinds of design inspiration in fashion and interiors.

So, did any of you know about these four bloggers? There are several more I like to follow, but these are the ones bookmarked on my desktop. I don’t miss too many of their posts and always catch up when I do miss. I hope that you enjoy perusing their sites and get lots of design ideas for yourself.

Movie Set Monday- Sex and the City 2

MOVIE SET MONDAY

Welcome back to Movie Set Monday! I am still having the most fun putting these posts together. Interior design and home decor really are some of my passions. I may not always be great at putting it together myself, but I love to look at spaces that have been expertly styled. I learn so much from them. And that’s no exception today.

SEX AND THE CITY 2

In the second movie of the Sex and the City franchise we see that Carrie and Big decided not to live in the beautiful 5th Avenue penthouse we saw in the first movie (that post here), but they did get a stunning apartment that we’re going to look at today. I’m a sucker for wallpaper. I know that many people, my parents included, have probably sworn off wallpaper after scraping some from the 80s or 90s off walls and ceilings. Yes, ceilings. There was pineapple wallpaper on the ceiling of my parents’ kitchen when we first moved into that house. Nowadays we have things like removable wallpaper, so if we want to try a bold pattern on the walls, we won’t feel so bad about taking it down in a few years when the trend is over. I very seriously thought about doing wallpaper in our bathroom, but I think, based on my budget, I’d better stick to paint.Okay, back to Casa de Preston. I love a foyer with a table in the middle. I guess that room looks as if it’s technically serving as a mini library, but the table right in the center is one of my favorite ways to style a space like that. It’s the perfect excuse for fresh flowers. And that light fixture is just perfection. I am loving interesting light fixtures more and more lately. This bubbly one is very chic. Moving into the living room brings that beautiful ceiling. I love architectural details. That’s what really gives a home it’s character. Another thing I love about this space (because it feels like it’s breaking the “rules” a little bit) is that light fixture. I can’t quite figure out if it’s wooden medallions or bronze ones or maybe brass? Anyway, I think it’s very interesting, but I also like that it’s not centered over the table or the center of the living room. It’s just right in between the two spaces looking pretty. What a great idea to store your books upright on the coffee table? I never would have thought to do this. See-I’m always learning things. And an added bonus to doing this is the great bookends you get to use.
I notice that Carrie must really like the color blue. Remember the last apartment was all bright and, I feel like, quintessentially Single Carrie. But as she and Big got married and have merged their lives together into one space, she didn’t forget her favorite color. (Just wait for the kitchen backsplash.) She just used it in different shades. The whole apartment is covered in different shades of blue. In the picture above there’s the navy couch, the cornflower blue ottoman, and the teal Foo Dog bookends. And then those drapes. They cover the room in yet another shade of blue, and it all just works. Here’s another lesson I’ve learned in home decor: It’s okay to mix patterns and prints…as long as you have a color that brings them together to help the space make sense. Nearly every piece in this living and dining space is a neutral or has some shade of blue.

Another light fixture I love is that lamp below. I am definitely a fan of the curved lamp stand. You have to look carefully, but you’ll see the black swan-like neck of the lamp’s stand, and she’s lovely. Way more fun than a traditional table lamp. I’m digging the open floor plan and really loving those built-ins. The lights inside each shelf that illuminates them from within is so pretty and really showcases what you’ve got on the shelves. We also get a glimpse of that wild kitchen. Hello, Carrie’s apartment shade of blue. 🙂 I really love these chairs. The shape, the pattern, everything. And see the light? Is it wood? Is it brass? Is it bronze? Whatever it is, it’s pretty. The kitchen almost feels a little retro to me. Maybe it’s the tile backsplash (feels a little sixties mod) or the light (a little bit 50s). Maybe it’s the color of the wood on the lower cabinets that reminds me of some of the movies made/set in the 70s. Or the style of the table and chairs. Or the lack of hardware on any of the cupboards. I do love the big rug in the middle of the kitchen. It’s so unexpected. Again, breaking those rules. The open shelving is really nice, and it appears the fridge is just to the right of it. I also really love the floors. When I first saw this movie and they finally arrived home from Stanford’s and Anthony’s wedding, this was the room that had my heart all aflutter. The wallpaper was speaking my language and then I saw it mixed with the patterned headboard and those inky blue drapes with the gold fringe trim. Yes! Yes! Yes! Another master with a sitting area. I fell in love with the idea when I was putting together the Something’s Gotta Give post, and there’s no exception this time either. I love this little space. I could think of so many things to do in a sitting area in my bedroom. I may need to make this happen…
Also, the drapes on every window a real statement. They are so beautiful. Window treatments are like the perfect piece of jewelry to a room. It just adds a finishing touch that nothing else could accomplish. My mom always says curtains makes a room feel “homey”. I agree. I think they are inviting, and I think I want to plop right there in the seat by the window and have a cup of coffee and read a fashion magazine as Carrie would.

Or perhaps I’d sit at this lovely desk next to that window and write more about this glorious NYC apartment. 🙂 What a gorgeous piece of furniture, right? I love it’s shape and that wood grain on the inside is so pretty. Well we’ve come to the end. Just like the last SATC set post, I’ll leave you with a view of the perfect closet. His and hers. Again, I love that it’s perfectly imperfect and breaks the rules of symmetry, which I actually happen to love, but this is custom perfection. His is warm and masculine, and hers is light and feminine. And it’s wide enough for a place to sit and fasten your strappy sandals or zip up your boots or tie up your sneakers. And of course she’s still displaying her fabulous clothes as art. Thanks for coming back to Movie Set Monday. Same time, same place next week, right?

Currently Loving- January 2018

CURRENTLY LOVING- JANUARY 2018

Sort of felt like January drug on and on. I didn’t exactly want it to end, but it seemed like it wasn’t going to. I’m currently mouth breathing and couldn’t taste my dinner because of a cold. (And praying it doesn’t turn into the flu.) So, January didn’t end on a high note for me, but hopefully February brings health and wellness.

But that’s not why we’re here. There were some great things about January and I’m going to share them with you right now.

SNOW!

Y’all! It snowed again this winter!! I am a major lover of cold weather and the winter season, so the second snow and three snow days were very exciting for me. I know not everyone shares in my enthusiasm, but I loved it. Here are a few pictures of our place and a shot of my parents house.Our backyard is basically the back of downtown retail space, so it’s not exactly picturesque, but anything covered in snow is beautiful to me.

Year of Yes

I posted this book on Instagram right before the new year, and no, I haven’t finished it yet. However, it’s so funny! Shonda Rhimes has such a great sense of humor. Every time I pick it up I don’t want to put it down. I’ve just finished her commencement speech, and it was so true. She basically told a bunch of college graduates that the real world is hard. But that you have to get out there and do stuff to make it great and make it work for you. Sadly, I don’t even remember who spoke at my college graduation. I couldn’t tell you if it was a man or a woman, and I surely couldn’t tell you what they talked about. But I can tell you that I was clueless as to what the real world was going to be like. And Shonda’s right, it’s hard! I can’t wait to finish it and hope to do so soon. I’ll report back when I do.

Young Living Lavender Lip Balm

Are any of you familiar with Young Living? If you are, you know all about the essential oils that they are most famous for. Well, let me tell you what else they have. The greatest lavender lip balm there ever was. I’ve been using it for over a year now almost every night. I love the lavender scent and it’s so creamy and moisturizing.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m still loving my Beautycounter Peppermint Lip Conditioner. But during this flu season, I’m reaching for my Young Living lip balm more often than the lip conditioner. I’m a teacher who doesn’t want my germy fingers in the little pot the lip conditioner comes in for obvious reasons.

And with all that mouth breathing I’m doing, my lips are super dry. So thank you Young Living!

Lysol

Yep.

You guys, Paul has been following me around with a can of Lysol for the past two days. Tonight, he didn’t let me cook dinner or clean up the kitchen because he didn’t want me contaminating anything. (Let me just remind you that I don’t actually have the flu. I have nasal congestion.) He’s too much! But I might milk this for a little while longer. I could get used to him doing all the cooking and cleaning up the kitchen. 🙂 Those two scents above (Lemon Breeze and Early Morning Breeze) are the least offensive of the Lysol scents. I never liked the smell of regular Lysol and think the pink can is just as bad. But the yellow and purple actually smell okay. I’ve been using them like crazy at home and school.

The Greatest Showman

During the cabin fever that came from three snow days, Paul and I ventured out to the movies to see The Greatest Showman. I’ve been listening to the soundtrack for a while now, and it is the BEST! But the movie….y’all! If it’s still playing, go see it. It’s meant to be seen in the theater. The dancing and singing and the story is so powerful. It’s motivating, empowering, entertaining, and pulls at your heartstrings. I’ll be buying this one. I asked Paul to go see it again with me and he gave it a hard pass. So, if anyone in town wants to see it, I’m in! 🙂

Popsockets

I received a popsocket for my phone for Christmas. Where has this been all my life? It’s one of those things that you didn’t know you needed until it comes into your life. It just makes so much sense. It’s this little sticky, pop-up handle for your phone. And it’s the greatest prop for when you watch videos on your phone too. (I do this every morning, so if you get it for only this reason, it’s worth it.) Mine came from The Pineapple, and they had so many cute ones to choose from. This rose gold one with a black base is the one I have.

Suits

If you’ve been around for more than one post you know that I love TV. I’ve recently watched The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel twice, and Good Girls Revolt (very good) on Amazon Prime. I was looking for something else on Amazon to watch, and I had heard Suits was a good show but never cared to actually try it. I went for it and have already made it through season one and quickly working my way through season two. I am quite enjoying it. It’s a very interesting story and very entertaining. I’m a little nervous to find out what happens to Meghan Markle’s character now that she’s gone and gotten engaged to a royal. It’s not going to stop me from watching, though. I’m in, now. Hook, line, and sinker.

I’d love to hear any of your thoughts on my favorites of January. Especially any of you Suits watchers. Does it stay this good?

I hope y’all had a great January. If any of you got sick like I did, here’s to getting well and breathing through our noses again! And here’s to a February filled with lots of love.

Movie Set Monday- Sex and the City The Movie

MOVIE SET MONDAY

Welcome to the second installment of Movie Set Monday! I’m sharing one of my all time favorite apartments that belongs to none other than Carrie Bradshaw. If any of you are fans of the show Sex and the City you’ll remember her apartment being nice, but not overly styled or cohesive. We can all agree the walk-through closet was pretty sweet, but there were no real show stopper pieces in her apartment. Okay, maybe the leather chair she bought from Aidan but not much else. I’d say her clothes and shoes were the real show stoppers.

SEX AND THE CITY THE MOVIE

But then came the movie, and with that came *SPOILER ALERT* a jilt at the altar, a new hairdo, and (my personal favorite part) a newly decorated apartment.

I was googly-eyed, crazy in love with this wall color. I don’t know what it was. (Probably that it was Carrie Bradshaw’s color so, naturally, I loved it.) I tried to paint the third bedroom of our house in Louisiana a similar color and had different shades of blue painted on the walls trying to find the right one. The ending to that story is I chickened out on going so bold and painted it grey…womp womp. Anywho, I still love this color. I don’t know what room I’d paint that color, but I do know that the decorator, Lydia Marks, who put this look together is fearless and I love her for it!And how smart was it that as Carrie started to actually feel like herself again that her outfit matched her new apartment. I loved that tiny detail. Everything went from dark and depressed to bright and cheerful. It was a lovely moment in the movie. (Just so y’all know, I’m rolling my eyes at myself over here. It’s just that I’ve seen this movie and the TV show so.many.times. I have practically studied the decor and outfits of every episode and movie, so I’m just a big ol’ SATC nerd. And though I may be rolling my eyes, I’m not sorry I know so much about it. AND I could put names of some of you right here that have watched it just as many times as I have. Sometimes even WITH me!) 🙂 The color and pattern mixing are just right. And I love all of the white window treatments and trim and still more white accents here and there throughout the apartment. I think it calms down all that bright blue so that it’s just right and not too much. One of my favorite things is her entryway. I really liked the L-O-V-E wall decal. It was (here comes the nerd part again) such a perfect, full circle moment for Carrie given everything she’d been through with Big. She still believed in Love because she, like me, knows that Love does conquer all when it’s all said and done. Also still obsessed with that bomber jacket. ↑ The storage around her TV was another design element I loved about this apartment. It was so simple and sleek and functional. How perfect is that for when you have company coming over unexpectedly? I’d literally stuff everything in there if I had a messy house before guests arrived. Can’t end this post without a little closet love. This is a photo from the movie. I love the pendants and the runner. And displaying the clothes is the perfect “art” for this space. Carrie always had unique outfits, so hanging them outward was a great way to show them off. I imagine that she liked to switch them out so she could enjoy all of her beautiful clothes. And who can forget this moment?

The penthouse on 5th was exquisite. But this closet…. all the heart eyes for this closet. Did we not all gasp the moment those doors open and we saw this?Yep. I think we’ll end on this good note. Hope y’all enjoyed the walk around Carrie’s apartment. Come back next Monday for another movie set. Have a great week, y’all!