In an Ideal World...

I can so relate to this lately.. can't you? I need to get with it! In the meantime, I wanted to share some fashion that I've been pinning as inspiration for 2013. My goal is to mix more of what I have, give more away, and try new things with no fear! Here's what I'm thinking:

happy friday, ya'll.

xoxox

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone! I spent mine with some people I love here in Atlanta at the W Hotel with lots of bubbly, jokes, and gold glitter. Sounds great, right? I also wore the some shoes that have turned my feet into Barbie feet..three days later I still feel like I have my shoes on. But, they were cute! 

hotel decor banner made by yours truly. 

favorites

happy new year! 

I would love to have come prepared today to share all my goals for 2013, but I've decided to postpone thinking of those until I have some time to reflect this weekend. My life has been a little cray as of late with all of the holidays, guests in from out town, big purchases, and changes with my job. So in my OCD mind, the Christmas decor has to come down before I will even begin to think about 2013. 

I will, however, say that one goal I'm prepared to share is centered around my blogging. I'm a creature of habit, and my habit has totally been not blogging. I'm the worst about taking time for lunch during the day since I work between my clients' homes, my office, and my car. So, I will be eating lunch and blogging or blogging right before bed at least three times a week. 

Hold me to it, or else please. 

xoxox

Naughty List

Welp, I've done it again. I've managed to make the naughty list again this year. I've been a crappy blogger this past month, boo! But the good news is, I've been really good at getting everything else done that I've been needed to do and putting off. But, I'm back. 

This past month was full of house closings on new constructions we've been working on, installs, and several projects coming to an end that we've been working on for months on end. I promise, promise, promise to get better about posting photos of projects we're working on. To tide you over, here's a dining room in-progress photo:

I also all finished my RSA Atlanta project, which was a huge task but SO much fun and SO rewarding. I was finally able to meet many local interior designers+bloggers that I had been meaning to connect with but never had a chance to. I won't share pictures quite yet, as there is a magazine in the works with professional photos, sourcing for furniture/accessories/finishes, etc. and I wouldn't want to spoil that! The project was followed by a wonderful wrap-party at MGBW:

 and then an open house so people could peruse Sam Bell Cottage and see everyone's work. I think I can speak for all the designers in saying that the entire experience finally set in during these two events (and not the last day of install like one might think!) because we all finally we able to relax, socialize, and take it all in. Here's an ultra-glamorous shot of me after a full day of painting and what I think was bronchitis (shout out to Liz& Mary for getting high off paint fumes and listening to me cough for 8 hours on a ladder!):

I took a few days off around Thanksgiving to spend time with this little bunny rabbit... (he's not cute at all, I know...) and recharge my batteries for the month of December! No better way to recharge batteries than piggy back rides, tickles, and an abundance of belly-laughs. Good Lord this baby just completes his Aunt Jem.

Now that December is here, the pressure is on again. Lots of projects are still outstanding and there is still lots of photography to be taken before the new year! It will feel great if we're able to wrap up everything and get photos so that we can start the year fresh..but we all know how that usually goes. My calendar is quickly filling up with Christmas parties, blogger events, design appointments, and just good ole' regular life stuff. I promised myself this year that I wouldn't let it overwhelm me, so I'm embracing the busy-ness (and the business) and am taking December by the horns. Now that all my priorities are straight (time donated for charities, toy boxes packed for children in need, food purchased for the food drive), I'm ready for everything else.  

So, a quick catch up: I'm asking Santa Clause for a nicer digital camera this year so I can share more photos with you that aren't from my century-old Crackberry, I just ordered new business cards that you can actually read (ordered a bulk amount previously and the text with tee-niny...which is Southern for tiny), and I hope to do a facelift to the blog early next year. Til' next time..

xoxox

Halloween Decor Done Right

 Happy Monday ya'll! That was done in my cheeriest Monday voice I could muster. I think I'm going to start posting these types of things on Mondays because they make me happy:

Anywho, I promised you guys last week I would show you some pictures of the decorating we did a few weeks ago for Halloween. We bought everything at the dollar store and used spray paint to customize, as usual.

"name your poison" lowballs for weekend festivites. 

entryway spider webs & pumpkin. 

love. gold. skeletons. he's sitting up on our sugar. 

anddddd another greets you at our front door. 

oversized fishbowl with rope became the nest for gold-dipped spiders. kind of disgusting & kinda wonderful all at the same time. 

spiders in bar branches. 

i spy. [this one keeps freaking me out because i forget it's there..i'm a total chicken]

gold skull repeat. i have one in my room year round, it's not just a halloween treat anymore!

wouldn't be a holiday without leopard. 

hairbows and bowtie placemats. 

had to be sorta traditional, so here are some punkins...weenie style!  marley loves his silhouette with glitter. 

our weekend was filled with pumpkin carving  painting while we sipped on fall-inspired adult drinks (out of our poison cups, of course), spiced pumpkin cake, and lots of laughter with wonderful friends. I also got to stop by my old workplace and bring some treats for them while they got everything set up for the holidays. Not to mention, USC lost. Perfect weekend! The only thing that could have been better was a little Hocus Pocus. TV has been slow to get started with halloween this year and i'm having major problems with that.

keep calm and survive monday,

xoxox

Guest Post at Champagne Lifestyle on a Beer Budget

I'm happy to say that today I'm doing my very first guest blog post today for Hannah of  Champagne Lifestyle on a Beer Budget. I've followed her blog for quite some time, and was excited to be able to post for her while she's off to NYC.  If you don't already follow her, I suggest you put her on your blog roll-- it won't disappoint! I'm only a little jealous that her views are looking something like this:

and mine is looking like this:

See ya'll over there, and have a wonderful weekend!

xoxox

Fall Tablescapes

Entertaining is one of my absolute favorite things to do, especially this time of year! It's so wonderful to be able to have friends and family over to share some treats, drinks, and hopefully good laughs that you can remember year round. There's just something about this cold weather that makes us want to nestle together and enjoy loved ones' company. In fact, I'm having some close friends over this weekend to carve pumpkins, eat dinner, and watch a scary move to get us in the mood for Halloween. And by scary I mean Hocus Pocus..that's my jam! 

Today, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite tablescapes that I've pinned over the past few months. Most of them aren't geared specifically toward the holidays, but you could certainly add seasonal items to the mix. [i.e. white pumpkins, gold skeletons/skulls, pine cones, etc.] Sometimes it's nice not to be so focused on the season or theme, but just go with what feels right. Just like it's sometimes nice to see a Christmas tree decorated in bright colors, your holiday table can bring in that same feel without being super literal. Enjoy!

navy+maize+pink

the perfect fall table setting. i love the idea of the menus being tucked into beautiful napkins. it's just a small personal touch that will make your guests feel like they were truly planned for!

love this neutral setup.

moody and fallish with hop vines and mini pumpkins.

this is like a JA table setting..happy, bright, and chic. still brings in some of those colors that invoke the feeling of fall in us. 

fancy shmancy. 

add some white pumpkins and gold skulls...dunzo. 

these candles in wine bottles could give a cool spooky feel off at your table. 

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Later this week, I'll be sharing with you some decor that we've put up around the house to get it feeling like fall. We used mainly champagnes, white, and gold..but are trying to figure out how to infuse a little orange or yellow in the mix. 

happy fall, time to go sweater shopping!

xoxox

Kitchen Design

Hey ya'll!

Wanted to share a picture that I posted on my Facebook today which got major love.  Thanks, everyone! It's from a recent new construction project our firm has been working on, and it's been my little baby for the past 6 months or so! I love this house so much and was so entrenched in every detail that I could practically rebuild it with no notes. Dedication..ha! 

Anyway, here's the photo I shared of the kitchen today:

I hardly ever post photos of what I work on with our clients & I can't begin to tell you why! Here's to me starting, promise.

I'll share a few more of my favorite highlights of the house later this week, so check back!

xoxox