Snowed in!

This is definitely not as much snow as we've had here in Nashville. But it's enough to make a solid sheet of ice in my driveway and on my street. I didn't have to go to work on Friday, and here it is, Sunday. I haven't left the house since Thursday afternoon. Though we did go hang out over a neighbors house on Friday night to watch a movie. It was pretty interesting since the power kept going in and out. The only thing I could think was "Geez, we have no working flashlights." I'm still not sure if I'm going to be able to go to work tomorrow. I have a 4 wheel drive SUV, but still, I'm just a girl! Hubby is watching the the UT/Florida mens basketball game, then we are going to take a walk around the neighborhood to see how the streets are elsewhere. It's really been killing me to not be able to do any projects in my house. I need to go to Home Depot!

To Mould or not to Mould?

This year, one of my personal/decor related resolutions is to get down and dirty with some DIY projects around my house. Now, I am very lucky that my hubby comes from a very handy family. The thing is that the DIY, get your hands dirty, build things genes skipped him and went right to his brother. So instead of having bro-in-law or father-in-law come and do all the projects we want, I want to try to do them myself. First up, the dining room. I want to do some faux moulding. I just can't decide if I really want to do it, or if the dining room will be okay without it. I have this belief that when it comes time to sell our house, we need to be up on the competition. Our neighborhood is still a few years old and it isn't completed. I have no idea when we will sell our house, but I want to have some projects done in order to compete. Our house is absolutely beautiful, but it is really basic. The only two things we really have going for us right now is a covered porch, and stone on the front of the house. I have a few small, medium and large projects that will really keep us ahead of the rest of the neighborhood. Anyway, check out two really talented bloggers that completed faux paneling in their dining rooms. Here and here. The above picture was the only good picture that I could find of paneling. Maybe it's not done much? I also want to trim out the windows, and install crown moulding on the ceiling. It's truly ambitious, but I definitely want to take my skills to the next level.

Fabric Disappointment

Last week, I was cruising my usual decor blogs and came across a post concerning a big time fabric store. I wondered if they had a location near where I work and I discovered they did! I was very excited to jet over there during my lunch break and finally pick out a fabric that I would like for my living room curtains. I am sick and tired of looking at the empty curtain rods and I've looked forever for curtains I like. I have to say that I was really disappointed for two reasons. One, the fabric was waaaaay expensive. I guess I just wasn't ready for $30.00 per yard fabric. There's no way I would pay that much for fabric when I need about 12 yards or more. Two, (and this is the really disappointing part) no one said a word to me. There were about 3 sales people in the small store. It wasn't busy. No one even made eye contact with me. And let me say that I looked cute and was wearing a cute outfit. When you're young, you don't really care if sales people come up to you, at least I didn't. But as I get older, I like to be recognized, heck if not even just for people to see that I exist in their sight line. I will definitely NOT be going back. There is another fabric store I frequent in town, and they are MUCH nicer, with reasonably priced fabric. I found a fabric at the new store that cost $30.00 a yard, and at the store I like, it costs $11.99! I couldn't believe the difference.

Uh oh!

New York and Company has fast become one of my favorite places to buy clothes. Up until recently, I was too skinny to wear any of their clothes (I know, a sad, sad problem to have). But since I've gained a few pounds, I am now able to wear their clothes. I saw these on the website today:


I've steadily been riding on the "no romper" train for awhile now. But I might have to climb on board. But I'm scared! Nashville is not the most fashion forward city, at least the parts that I've lived in. I'm definitely going there soon to see what they have in store. Their redlines are all $7.99. All the really cute stuff on the website has sold out already. Plus, I have a $25 reward, a 30% off coupon, and a $100 gift card. I think it would be very irresponsible if I didn't go. That's just what I'll tell myself when I'm driving over there. And as long as I don't use any of my money, it's worth it right?

Image Source: Nyandco.com

Golden Globes

So I'm not usually just really into red carpet events. But hubby and I were bored on Sunday night and watched the E! coverage of the Golden Globes red carpet. I'll only post this one picture, because I love this dress so much, no other dresses compared!

As much as I love it, I think it would have been much more fabulous if it had been a short dress. Something with that much sparkle should probably not be so long. But I love it and crave this dress! I just wouldn't have anywhere to wear it!

Image Credit: Getty Images

Today's obsession

On my brain today...

Beautiful botanical prints from Art.com. I just spent a little while on the site, and I love it! What I especially love are the search features. At first I was having a hard time finding a collection of more than one print from a collection, but all you have to do is click on the artist, then you get to see all of that artist that Art.com has to offer. Here are some of my favorites:



I know botanical prints are so trendy and EVERYWHERE, but aren't they so lovely framed?

P.S.-I just checked out the sale section of Art.com, and the prices are so low on so many wonderful prints!

Image Credit: Art.com

And The Color Is...

Wedgewood Gray! I wish the darn page would let me copy just the one paint color, but oh well. This color is on the list to go in our laundry room. Heck, if I like it I'll paint it in the master bath too. Hubby and I went to Lowe's to price cabinets and a countertop. I know kitchens and baths sell houses, but I think laundry rooms do too. Even though we have no plans to sell our house soon, it doesn't hurt to think about the future.

Can we just talk for a second about how I'm never taking my husband to Lowe's or HD with me ever again? He REALLY did not want to be there and it showed.

Anyways, this weekend I was featured on Style Me Saturday! Thanks so much Jen for featuring my question about how to style my skirt.

I hope everyone is having a lovely Monday!

Image Credit: Potterybarn.com

I'm drooling!

I just LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture from potterybarn.com. I love the wall color, the picture frames and the natural color of the baskets. As much as I love this color and want to incorporate it somewhere in my house, I know that I won't. The whole downstairs is open and I already used a deep blue in my dining room. But I just had an epiphany! I've been trying to figure out what to do with my laundry room, and this just might be the solution! This color would look perfect with the white cabinets that I'm dreaming of. Right now we just have open wire shelving that doesn't look good at all. I'm off to internet-land to figure out what this color is!

Image Credit: Potterybarn.com

I love the Houzz

Let's just overlook the fact that I don't even know how to correctly pronounce the name of this site. Houzz.com is a great place to find inspiration for decorating your space. Here is the link to go to my ideabook. (Yay I just learned to insert a hyperlink! Way to go me!) I think it's pretty easy to get a sense of my design style. I'm pretty traditional with a twist of glam. Think Pottery Barn meets ZGallerie. Those are definitely my two favorite design stores.

Image Credit: Houzz.com

Meet my Izzy-Poo!

Meet Izzy. She is a six year old Papillon, and the love of my life. Izzy's story started a few weeks before I got married in August 2006. Casey's parents planned a Disney vacation for us, his brother and his brother's wife, and his brother's wife's family. I kept their dog Macey, and fell deeply in love. I lived by myself at the time and had wanted a pet for so long. I was heartbroken when everyone came back from vacation and I had to give her back. I fantasized that maybe, just maybe, Casey's brother and sis-in-law would let me have her. But it didn't happen and I didn't even ask.

A few months later in December, we decided we were ready. I did a lot of research on the internet, and I settled on getting a Papillon. I have no idea what it was that made me want to get a Papillon. I really don't remember. In these days I didn't know anything about petfinder.com, so I did the old fashioned thing and looked in the classifieds in the Tennessean. I actually found an ad for 3 Papillons. Two puppies and one adult. We had decided on an adult dog. We wanted an adult dog that we wouldn't have to train so that we didn't have to take time off from work. We drove up to Kentucky on a Sunday to get her. Her previous name was Bunny. When we got there, we realized her owners failed to tell us that she was in heat. She was wearing a doggy diaper and in a different room than all the rest of the 5 dogs that they had. These people also had about 6 cats too. The puppies that were running around were Izzy's.

I got a really strange vibe from these people and I was afraid to take Izzy home with us. I just thought I'd know for sure whether I wanted her or not. Casey was the one to say that we should just take her and see what happens. He said the people we got her from would take her back if it didn't work out. So off we went. She did extremely well on the ride home. Knowing how she is now with strangers when we aren't around, it was a miracle that she did so well. The last two pictures are of her in our backseat. She took a nap, and cuddled in my lap as well as Casey's. We showed her off to both sets of our parents and went home. This is only the first part of Izzy's story. Only in the days and months to come did we finally realize what we were up against. Oh, and she is named for the character Izzie on Grey's Anatomy. I just didn't like the spelling.

Something unexpected happened after we brought her home. I fell totally and completely in love. I completely love my husband with all of my heart, but this is somehow totally different. I don't pretend to know what motherhood is like, but I can only guess the feelings I feel for her are similar. She's the baby that I did not birth.

Movie trailers

Here are three movies that I will definitely be seeing this year:







Who's wants to go with me?

Way to tear at my heart...

My co-worker sent me this video yesterday, and I tried in vain not to tear up. It's hard for me to explain the love I have for my dog, Izzy. This video does a pretty good job of also helping me understand the way God feels about me.



I just love, love, love it!

P.S.-I have no idea why the right part of the video is cut off. Any ideas? I'm like a brand new baby when it comes to experience with Blogger.

My first post!

I've been wanting to start a blog for quite awhile now. The only thing stopping me is how many blogs there are out there. There are so many! How will I ever be as good as the blogs that I follow? I'll just try to be me, and that's all I can be. I don't know exactly what I want this blog to be. I do know I need an outlet. I have so many things to share. I don't have many friends who share the same interests in decorating and fashion that I do. I want this blog to fill that void in my life. I don't know exactly how to start, and I may fail but here goes!

Things I hope to incorporate in this blog:
1. Spotlight my favorite blogs and authors
2. Post pictures of pretty rooms
3. Post pictures of fashion I like/celebrity fashion
4. Post pretty pictures that I take
5. Talk about photography
6. Talk about me (yay! my favorite subject!)
7. Talk about my christian walk
8. Share videos and inspiration from around the internet
9. Take pics of my outfits I like and are proud of
10. Shows, movies, and books that I love
11. Totally random thoughts going on in my head


Things I don't want to incorporate in this blog:
1. Boredom!

Posting may be sporadic and random while I get in a routine, but I hope to post at least once a day. I've thought about this blog for so long, I've started to think in blog posts!