Winter Blues, Grays and Whites

The tree is down. The lights outside no longer twinkle. The days are cold and gray. Not the best way to start back to school and work after a colorful holiday season.

Many of our houses look so bare now, inside and out. As a remedy to this, I came across a DIY project, courtesy of Style Blueprint that could add some warmth to your front door and make the gray days a little more tolerable.

I love the look of this yarn wreath, featuring winter colors, but because of the materials, adds a little warmth to the scene. To learn how to make this wreath, visit StyleBlueprint's site.

Another post-holiday option is the magnolia wreath. You may already have one hanging on your door, or you can make one yourself. Just remove the holiday-themed bow and there you go. Or, add a bow with winter colors (again, the blues, grays, off-white, etc.) and you have a great winter wreath.

When you take down your Christmas wreath, do you replace it with another seasonal wreath or door decor? Or, are you finished for the season?
Images from StyleBlueprint

C Wonder

So, Bloggerville is all a'twitter over the opening of C Wonder, the boutique and online retailer owned by Chris Burch, Tory's ex-hubby. So, what's the 411 on his store? Fun, colorful and affordable. There are some similarities to items that Tory offers, but again, for MUCH less.

For instance, how about an $8 mug?

Great gift for a teacher or colleague that certainly won't break the bank.

Check out this jeweled-button cardigan (comes in a variety of colors) for $78...

And this horn cuff for $48...

Bring out the inner-princess with these ballet flats, perfect for the holiday season and beyond. ($78)

How sweet is this birdcage charm for only $15?



Love the whimsy of this elephant plate ($38).

I guess my only question is: How well-made are these items considering the price point? I've seen online images of the store and it looks like a place I would be drawn to like a moth to a flame:

Have you been to or odered anything from C Wonder or been to the actual store in SoHo? If so, what do you think?

Wish I could have blogged more this week, my friends, but it was a blur of activity. Enjoy your weekend and soak in the holiday season. We have another Christmas party to attend tomorrow and a breakfast AND dinner with Santa on Sunday. "Mommy, why do they look different?" Gotta work on my answer to that one.

Happy Friday!
Images from C Wonder and Racked.com

A Few of My Favorite Things

Here are a few things that I'm digging lately...

Beverage

Trader Joe's Candy Cane Green Tea (Decaf) - Apparently when this tea was first introduced in 2009, it sold out in record time. But, it's back and there's plenty to spare. And, at $1.99, you can't beat it. It’s goodness in a cup, y’all.

Art

Old Try is the Southern-inspired brainchild of Marianna and Micah Whitson, printmakers who celebrate the soul of the South through their business. The print above is on my Christmas list. Lord knows my kids hear me say it enough, so it might as well be hanging on the wall at this point.

Each southern state, including my beloved Kentucky, is featured, in addition to other musings associated with life below the Mason Dixon Line. The longitude and latitude of said line is captured in a print as well. May have to ask Santa for this one, too.

Jewelry
Christmas came early for this gal last Friday when I ventured to a favorite shop, Celebrations, and picked out the green and yellow agate necklace I've long wanted, designed by the gals at W&M Custom Jewelry. (Sorry, not the best photo in the world, but you get the idea.)

I know, shame on me for not waiting for a wrapped gift under the tree, but with several holiday parties and get-togethers approaching, I wanted a fun piece of jewelry to wear hither and thither this season. So, Hubby acquiesced.

Music
A friend of ours recommended the music of King's Daughters and Sons, and gave us their CD over the Thanksgiving holiday. His wife described the sound as “mello-Sunday-afternoon music," which is perfect for my drive home after a crazy day.

Good tunes, but I'm not crazy about their name - it sounds like a hospital that I often pass on I-64 near Frankfort, Ky. Just sayin'.

College Basketball
The number one men’s basketball team in the country: the Kentucky Wildcats. ‘Nuff said.

So, these are a few of my favorite things (cue Julie Andrews). What are you digging these days?

Oh, and a P.S. for Santa,

I would LOVE to have this box pleat skirt from Ann Mashburn, paired with the white boyfriend shirt or one of the many gingham options.
 

Seriously, Santa, if you have time to drop by Ms. Mashburn's store in Atlanta on Christmas Eve, see if you can throw some frocks in the sleigh before heading to Louisville.

Please and thank you.

Images from Trader Joe's, Old Try, King's Daughters and Sons, Ann Mashburn and necklace image property of A Place to Dwell blog

My Latest Archipelago Purchase

Another busy weekend, but full of fun activities. While the kids were participating in their martial arts class on Saturday, I ran out to find one of my favorite Archipelogo candles, Mahogany Wood. Couldn't find it at the store where I purchased it last year, so went to another boutique across the street, Dandelion. Such a great shop. While they didn't have that particular scent, they did carry a new one called Parfum Noir.

So, I purchased it, committed some earrings to memory should Hubby need any Christmas gift suggestions, and was on my way.

I love lighting a new candle and letting the scent drift throughout my house. What is your favorite candle? Is there one you especially like for the holiday season?

Happy Monday, friends. Thanksgiving is Thursday, which means a short work week. Woo hoo!
Image from Archipelago

Do You Have Your Pumpkin?

Our pumpkins were picked from the patch on Sunday and now adorn our front porch. One lucky pumpkin will be carved and welcome ghosts and goblins Halloween night.

These days, carving pumpkins has well surpassed the scary face/happy face images we used to place on pumpkins as kids. There are kits, paint and special carving implements to help you create a pumpkin masterpiece.

How do you decorate your pumpkins? Traditional? Avant garde? Here are a few of my favorites from Southern Living magazine.

Dear Great Pumpkin,

I am looking forward to your arrival on Halloween Night. I hope you will bring me lots of presents.

- Linus

Outdoor Decor

Fall is my favorite time of year. The gorgeous colors, the crisp air, bonfires – it’s all there. And while the weather is a bit cooler this time of year, it’s still a perfect time to entertain outdoors and get the most out of an outdoor living space. To give you some ideas on how to decorate the area outside your home, Marissa Alan from Outdoor Living has agreed to be a guest blogger today. Enjoy!

Outdoor Decorating with the Four Classic Elements

Struggling with how to decorate your outdoor living space? You’re not alone. Despite so many great products coming out, the seemingly endless options are almost making it harder to fill out your space – you just don’t know where to start! But today, we’re going to take it back to the basics and make it simple. Here’s how you can decorate your outdoor space using the 4 classic elements:

Fire
First up is fire. Everybody loves sitting around a fire, whether it’s just to relax or having conversation with friends, so something like a fire pit is a natural addition to any backyard. They’re perfect as a centerpiece on the patio or for creating a separate area where people can go to socialize while enjoying that natural fire ambiance. As the outdoor living trend continues to grow, these have become one of the must-have accessories for the home.

Water
Water comes next, and with it you have one of the most popular outdoor accessories – the water feature. There are so many ways to go here, and it really doesn’t matter what size space you’re working with. If you’ve got the room, you can put an extra large tiered fountain in your yard to create a beautiful focal point. If you’re working with a smaller area, a hanging wall fountain or a small tabletop design will give you all the benefits of a fountain without taking up as much space.

Air
You might be wondering just how one implements the element of air in their outdoor design. It’s simple – with a wind chime! As the breeze blows and the air strikes the chimes, it creates a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere that will fill your whole outdoor area. And since they’re hung from above, you don’t have to sacrifice any floor space. While smaller than something like a fire pit or fountain, they make a great accessory to put that finishing touch on a patio.

Earth
Finally we come to earth, and nothing represents that better than having some plants in your outdoor space. With a few decorative planters, you can add style and greenery to the patio, giving it a lush, vibrant look. From terra cotta pots to window boxes to mini greenhouses, the options for planting on the patio are limitless. And that’s a good thing – an outdoor area can almost never have too much plant life!

As you can see, decorating your outdoor living space really doesn’t have to be that hard. Just keep those four simple elements in mind – fire, water, air, and earth – and you’ll have all you need to make a great outdoor area.

About the Author – Marissa Alan is a writer with Outdoor Living and a design enthusiast, both indoors and out. For more on items like bird bath fountains, fire pits, decorative planters, and wind chimes, visit OutdoorLiving.com.
Image from Country Living

Serena & Lily

I received the latest catalog from Serena & Lily the other day and was pleasantly surprised to see they've expanded their collection from furniture and bedding for infants and children, to overall decor for the home, including a new line of upholstery.

I'm a huge fan of combining shades of green with black and white, so I am loving this headboard in the Black Gardenia print.

And, I've decided that I really need a "chakki" and a couple of "poufs" for my home. A chakki (above) is a cross between an ottoman and a stool. Love the look of this blue and white one, as well as the coral one in the bedroom below. The bedding in this room is fabulous, too.

 

Like chakkis, poufs are a great alternative to a traditional ottomon, adding some style and whimsy to a space. And, they're great for those of us with little kids who have a habit of rushing toward sharp edges at full-force. :)

The catalog, as well as the website, also feature room makeovers in the homes of business founders Serena Dugan (above left) and Lily Kanter. Be sure to stop by the website for a peek. Well done, ladies. I really like your new line.
Images from www.serenaandlily.com

Longing for Spring, Gearing Up for the Weekend

This photo was featured in the late-great "Southern Accents" a few years ago. The article showcased a gorgeous home in one of the Carolinas. I fell in love with the front door, the huge entry hall and grand front porch. There's nothing like an early summer day, a child paddling barefoot on the hardwood floors, swinging open the screen door and then running outside in the summer sun to play. It's been raining cats and dogs here, plus it's cold again, so I went back to this photo for some virtual sunshine and warm weather.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. I'm lunchroom monitor again today, so I get to see Miss E. at school and help the little ones open their milks and ketchup packets. Tonight is the Girl Scout troops' Father/Daughter dance at school, so Miss E. and Hubby are getting all dolled up for this special event. He's ordered her a wrist corsage - I promise to show pictures at some point. Miss E. then has two birthday parties this weekend. I can't keep up with this child's social life! 

Next week, Miss E. turns 6. I can't believe it. While picking up gifts last night for her friends' birthdays, Hubby managed to sneak around the store with the salesguy to order her new bike. She's been riding a bike that was a hand-me-down from our neighbor's daughter a couple of years ago. It's been a great bike, but she's outgrowing it. Last year, Little Guy got a bike and I know she's been longing for a new one, although hasn't said much about it. So, last night, trying to be ever-so-sly, we asked her opinion on the bikes in the store. She liked one in particular and then off I swept the kids so Hubby could go into covert action. She never suspected a thing. :)

Happy Friday, my friends! What's on tap for your weekend?
Image from Southern Accents

A Punch of Color

I really love how color can add so much to a room. I’m hoping that over the next year, we’ll be able to bring more color to our house here and there. The house was painted in neutral tones when we bought it. Apparently, the previous owners had wallpaper EVERYWHERE, including the entry foyer ceiling, so their realtor urged them to go neutral or have it sit on the market forever. I thank them for stripping the nonsense before we ever stepped foot through the door.

Anyhoo, it wasn’t until I saw recent photos from the baby shower I hosted that I saw just how neutral everything is. Blah. So, here’s hoping that down the road we can add color - either through paint or fabric and accessories - as a line item to our budget. In the meantime, I’ll share some colorful rooms that I adore. Enjoy!

This living room is so cheerful - very preppy, Lilly Pulitzer - but not overdone. Fabulous window treatments!

I love this shade of blue paired with orange. Here it's featured in a young girl's bedroom, but it can be used in so many different spaces.

While navy and white may not be considered bold choices - more classic in design - you can never go wrong with this combo. And I LOVE the seersucker-appearance of the coverlet.

Look what touches of black and red have done for this living room. And how great is that red door?

While this bedroom features a dark, bold chocolate on the walls, it's balanced with softer-colored linens, therefore giving the room a relaxing feel.

And, because I love combining shades of green with black and white, I close this post with the kitchen of Kate and Andy Spade. What a great space. Sigh.

If you could redecorate a room in your house, which room would it be and what color scheme would you use?

Images from Southern Living, Martha Stewart Living and The Selby

Color Needed

Dear blogger friends, I need your input!

Okay, here are shots of our new living room. Very neutral, no? Our sofa, the walls, the brown mirror frame and the brown accents on the lamps – definitely needs a punch of color, I just don't know where to start. (And, I just threw in shots of our dining room entry hall for the heck of it.)

With a couple of other paint jobs in the works, we’re not going to be painting the walls or reupholstering furniture in this decade, so I need to come up with something colorful to flank the mirror. But, not sure what. Prints or artwork in colorful frames? Toile plates – or is that more appropriate for a kitchen or dining area? And did I mention we’re on a MAJOR budget? (By the way, the curtains in our living room are not pink, they are actually red, but the color appears washed out in these photos.)

Oy, where to begin. Any creative suggestions are most welcome and VERY much appreciated.

TGIF, everyone. Have a great weekend!

P.S. - To blogger friends old and new, thank you for all of the kind words, for compliments on my blog of late, kind messages and for just checking in everyday to read this little blog of mine. I really value you and appreciate your support. Thanks so much! And, thanks for your patience as I try new fonts and layouts. It's a work in progress!

Meet My Friend, P. Allen

Do you know P. Allen Smith? Well, according to a recent article in the New York Times, he’s the Martha Stewart of the South. Well, thanks NY Times, for tipping your hat to us little folks down South. But, perhaps Martha Stewart is the P. Allen of the North. Did you ever think of that?

If you can’t recall the name, you probably would recognize the face and southern lilt. P. Allen Smith is a gardener/home entertainer extraordinaire who hosts his own program on PBS, makes regular appearances on the “Today Show” and has authored several gardening/landscaping books. He’s now about to launch a line of products, including holiday wreaths and a new cookbook.

P. Allen is just someone I could envision sitting with me in my backyard, sipping iced tea and discussing how to perk up my hosta plants. Meanwhile, Tim Gunn joins us on the deck, after having redone my closet, while Nate Berkus rearranges my furniture. Wait, that’s my gay best friend montage. Sorry, I digress…

As part of the NY Times feature on P. Allen, it included gorgeous photos of his 650-acre estate, Moss Mountain, in Arkansas. In the words of Liz Lemon, “I want to go to there.” This place is beautiful, the gardens are lush and the view is out of this world. P. Allen’s signature touch resonates throughout the home and grounds. And, P. Allen (I just love calling him that) is committed to staying in his home state, connected to the people, the land and his heritage. Good for you, P. Allen.

So, this holiday season, I’ll be watching for P. Allen’s new products, especially that cookbook (Hubby, take note).
Image from the New York Times

Charleston Green

If you’ve read my blog long enough, you know that I’m a big fan of Garden & Gun Magazine, and of their associate editor, Haskell Harris. One of her recent online features is about “Charleston Green,” a paint color that is said to have originated in the Holy City during or directly after the Civil War. Many-a-historic home in Charleston features this paint color, either on the shutters and/or front door. Read more on the origin of Charleston Green.

While our home features very traditional black shutters and front door (with a Louisville Stoneware name plaque – a must-have in these parts), I really like this color green. I bet it’s gorgeous on a white house (check out Haskell’s house on her blog). Anyone use this color on your own home?

Happy Friday, everyone! Our weekend is full of soccer, and, if we’re lucky, a house showing or two. Fingers crossed!
Image courtesy of Garden & Gun

Basket Beauty

Okay, I admit that I’m shamelessly stealing, no borrowing, this topic from a piece that Haskell Harris of Garden & Gun recently posted online. Or perhaps I should say Haskell inspired me and therefore I must share her great find with the blog world at large. How’s that for a justification?

I have the beach on my mind because 1) it’s spring break and many folks have flocked south to certain beach locales; 2) my own beach vacation will be here in two short months. Given this, I’m thinking about what to take with me: accessories, bathing suits (gulp!), etc. Then I saw Haskell’s post featuring Medina Baskets and I fell in love.

Medina sells a variety of baskets, from home décor to bags for schlepping groceries and beach gear. They also have baskets that can serve as a great summer purse. I remember in high school (or was it college?) when French Basket purses were the rage. Did you have one? Anyhoo, Medina does. Another great thing about Medina Baskets? They are very reasonable in price. And for additional bonus points, this Virginia-based company supports fair-trade artisans.

Medina baskets make me want to venture to a farmer’s market right now! How chic would I look toting around my organic fruits and veggies in one of these baskets? Okay, reality check – one of these baskets may enhance my regular trips to Kroger for coffee, cereal and milk. :)
Images and "content inspiration" courtesy of Medina Baskets and Haskell Harris of Garden & Gun

Renovation Nation

Okay, so I’ve been quite the slacker in sharing the latest goings-on with the kitchen renovation, painting, etc. My apologies; life just seems to get in the way sometimes.

Here are photos of what the room looks like now that the walls are down and you can see into the den (click here for a before pics). We had hardwood placed in the kitchen and also covered our den paneling with dry wall. Prior to the painting, two of our walls were white, two were accented in red. Once the dry wall was complete, we painted the entire room a neutral color, “Bone White.” I’m now working with a fabulous designer and fellow Junior-Leaguer, Darcie, on picking fabrics for the window treatments – I’ve included images of the sample fabrics I’m considering.

In addition to the activity on the main level, we removed the Santa Fe-inspired wallpaper in the master bedroom upstairs (seriously, what were the previous owners thinking??) and painted the walls a grayish/blue. We then replaced the old, green carpet with a more neutral carpet and removed the God-awful window treatments, replacing them with plantation blinds. Our bedroom is much more the calming oasis it should be.

I am quite pleased with the progress we’ve made. We still need to figure out what to do with the countertops and the bare spot on the wall above the stove. That’s next on our list, although the tab is running up, kids, and we really need to watch our pennies. Maybe I’ll just create a mosaic out of broken pieces of china, glass and legos, stick it on the wall and call it a day. Whatchya think?

* Please excuse the disarray of the house in these photos. Art work needs to be hung on the walls and we're waiting on the arrival of our new sofa, so some things are still in flux.