Friday, June 29, 2012

ADVENTURES IN THRIFT-TIQUING - PART 6

This month, I went antiquing at a new little place called "Vintage Village" in Lawrenceville. I've been meaning to stop in this shop for a while, and since I had an appointment in the area, I was able to carve out some time to pop in. :) I was very impressed with the variety of booths in the shop and the amount of stuff in that little store! It was a quick trip, but very successful, I found a lot of pieces I've been on the hunt for. :)


I've been on the search for a decanter for a couple months now. Since working on the inspiration board for my dining room re-design, I've wanted a little bar cart section in the dining room. I've come across many decanters that were just a little too ornate, but the clean lines and simple design of this one is just perfect. 


This marquee "W" was a last minute decision at checkout when I saw it was only for $1.00, I like collecting "W's" and custom portraits of Jon and me. I'm not quite sure what I'll do with it quite yet, but I'm looking forward to putting something snazzy together with my little collection. ;)


I was so excited to come across this train case! It's in fantastic condition and it comes with a little plastic tray that sits on top. I'm planning to use it for make-up storage and road trips. 


I couldn't resist these way cute prints from the 60's. I'm thinking they would be cute in a bathroom or future nursery?? So stinkin' cute. :)


I love this beautiful cheese & cracker serving tray! We are big cheese and cracker people and this would be perfect for parties. I've always had my eye on the cheese platters, but I love that this one includes a space for crackers and comes on a wooden tray. 

Soon, all of these pretty things will be packed up in boxes! Jon and I will be starting our packing this week for our move at the end of July. I. Can't. Wait. :)


Thursday, June 28, 2012

SOLO FEATURE: MAGPIE

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself!
My name is Meghan. I am the mama of four rescue kitties and one spunky Sheltie pup. I’m a fashion enthusiast, photographer, writer, fashion//lifestyle blogger, and Civil War reenactor (nerd alert!). I find joy in the simplest of things – birds singing, vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles, long naps under the perfect conditions… I am happiest when I am out-of-my-mind busy, or, when I am doing absolutely nothing at home surrounded by my little balls of fluff. Either or suits me well!

2. What made you decide to start blogging?
I have always had a passion for fashion. However, it didn’t fully blossom until after I’d graduated from college (having an itty bitty clothing budget up until then probably had something to do with it).  It is so invigorating piecing together outfits and being able to express myself outwardly. To me, that's art... Creating. I enjoy sharing my ideas with others. That is ultimately why I decided to start my blog. My idea was to utilize that mode of communication and help others discover//express their individuality via their wardrobe as well. Just spreading the love! <3

3. What are your favorite things to blog about? Favorite posts? 
My favorite things to blog about are fashion and my pets, because they both make me oh-so happy!

4. What is your go-to summer outfit?
Come summer, skirts and dresses are my best buds.

5. Favorite pass-time?
Napping. There is nothing better than a nap on a cold winter’s day snuggled warm in bed, or, on a blissful summer’s day nestled in a hammock in the shade.

6. What is on your current wish-list? 
Tutu skirt, ultimate cat tree for my kitties, photo shoot with my pup, a rockin' tree house and a tropical getaway.

7. Favorite blog reads?
Tough question! There are so many great blogs out there and there are so many that I read and love. However, if I had to narrow it down to the most looked at, at the moment, they would be:

Traveling Triplets
A Girl Named Nydia
Pie N' the Sky
Roots & Feathers, Violet Bella
Maiedae (naturally :D !)

8. If you had three wishes what would they be?  
1) Long, healthy, and prosperous lives for my family, pets, and me.
2) That all the stray animals in the world would find happy, safe, and loving homes.
3) To travel and see the world.

9. What's your favorite meal?
Pizza with honey on the side (I LOVE dipping my pizza in honey).

10. What inspires you the most?
Family, religion, and my pets are the biggest sources of inspiration in my life.

Find Meghan Here:  Blog  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Pinterest

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Thank you, Meghan, for a great interview! You have mad style, my friend. :) 

PS ----> Time to announce the winners of the medium sponsor giveaway! Congratulations Aisha of The Middle of Here and Megan of Megan Ta Da! Please send your 175x125 sized button to me at Savannah@maiedae.com



Wednesday, June 27, 2012

THREADS

I usually wear my hair down, especially since it's only recently been long enough to pull back. This week, I had a little extra time to play with my hair and decided to try a "mini" suicide roll on my bangs. I love the slight retro look it gives and it's great for keeping long bangs out of your face! I love doing peoples hair. I was able to do Jenny's hair for her wedding and it was so, so glamorous...but I don't spend a lot of time trying new things with my "do". I think it's about time to experiment a little with these red curls. :)

This is also my new favorite top. I picked it up from H&M last Wednesday and love its light sheerness and the cute floral collar is a huge plus. It's also been nice to show off my "nearly there" toned arms since I've been hitting the gym. ;) Yeah buddy!


TOP -----> BOTTOM
* Lace Collard Shirt - H&M
* Braided Belt - Vintage
* Trouser Shorts - Forever 21
* Tights - Forever 21
* Moccasins - Minnetonka 
* Gold Stone Ring - Forever 21 (gifted)
* Foxy Ring - Forever 21 (borrowed from my sister)


GO. WEAR. LISTEN.

Usually around this time of year, people are planning their vacation time-- whether it's a stay-cation like Jon and I usually do, or a far away destination. :) This month, I asked my sponsors to share what their dream vacation would be, what they would be wearing, and who they would be listening to...

Find Jenny Here: Blog  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest

Find Ciera Here: Blog  |  Facebook  |  Bloglovin

Find Amanda Here: Blog  |  Pinterest  |  Bloglovin

Find Laura Here: Blog  |  Shop  |  Pinterest

Find Meghan Here: Blog  |  Instagram  |  Pinterest

This makes me want to pack my bags right now and get away! Next week, Jon and I are taking a week vacation. We will be visiting my sister-in-law, her husband and their new baby girl, I can't wait to be an Aunt!! And then, Jon and I will make a stop at Hilton Head to visit my family at the beach for a day or two. The rest of the week will be spent at home, relaxing, starting our packing and celebrating my birthday. :) BUT, If I had to answer the question above, my dream vacation would be to travel to Japan with a group of friends, I'd wear something like this, and I'd be listening to this

What about you? I'd love to hear your answers in the comment section below! :) PS - There is still time to grab a sponsor spot on my blog for the month of July! Check out my sponsor page here


Tuesday, June 26, 2012

SNAPSHOTS: LUNCHEON

I'm waiting to share photos from the wedding until after Jenny gets back from her honeymoon and has a chance to share them on her blog, but I wanted to share a couple snapshots from the bridal luncheon last Friday. It was hosted at the Public House in Chattanooga and was delicious!

Jenny gave each of her bridesmaids a gift and wrote a beautiful letter to each that she read out loud. It was so touching and such a special way to celebrate her before the wedding on Saturday. :) I've seen little peeks of the wedding photos on the photographer's Facebook page and I'm dying to see the rest!! Can't wait to share. :)


I love the last picture of the three of us. I have such special memories with these ladies. We've known each other for over six years and have celebrated so much life together. They are my sisters and best friends. :)


Monday, June 25, 2012

PROJECT CONDO: WHITE WALLS

I've got dining room on the brain. In my last Project Condo post, I shared some of the dining room tables I've been eying. This week, I'll be sharing my thoughts on color, or the lack thereof. ;)

In the past, I've always been drawn to rich, bright wall colors. In high-school, my room was light blue and later it was a textured royal blue with gold sparkles. I couldn't paint my dorm room walls, so I would cover an entire wall in collages made from magazine clippings. When Jon and I moved into our first apartment, I painted our kitchen a deep teal, our bedroom a plum (and later green), and the rest of our walls a silvery grey. Since moving into our second apartment, across the hall, we haven't painted any walls, since it's just a temporary move. Surprisingly enough, I've been enjoying our neutral walls in our current apartment. It's inspired me to take a more neutral approach to my walls. Maybe a few rooms here and there will have a little pop, but overall I'd like a cozy neutral look.

Since I tend to change my sense of style often, I think it would be safe to go neutral and use things like decor, art, and textiles to add the character and pop I'm looking for. With that said, I'm planning to paint my new dining room white. I don't think I'll pick stark white, probably something with a little tone in it to warm it up. :)

A Couple Reasons I'm Going Neutral
* If your decor style changes, you can make simple art and decor changes to create a totally new feel.
* Neutrals tend to feel more clean and sophisticated. I'm working toward getting away from the dorm-room style and creating a comfortable, grown-up space.
* I want the dining room to feel crisp and bright.
* I'm planning to put together an art wall in the dining room and I really want those pieces to pop against the wall color.
* Overall, I want the furniture and other pieces in the room to be the center of attention rather than the wall color.
* Also, these pictures are extremely inspiring:

1//2//3//4//5
And now to hunt down that perfect shade of white!! And some good primer to cover up the current burgundy. ;) Here are a couple helpful articles//posts on painting and white walls I came across in my research:

* Paint a Room by Martha Stewart
* The Right White by Elle Decor
* The Allure of White Walls by Pantone

Have you painted any of your walls white? Any suggested tones of white? How did it make the atmosphere of the room feel??



WEEKLY WRAP UP

This week has been fantastic! We celebrated with the beautiful bride-to-be before her big day. Drove up to Chattanooga on Thursday and spent a lot of time relaxing and talking before the wedding events began on Friday. We had a bridal luncheon on Friday morning and a beautiful rehearsal dinner at Rock City that night. On Saturday morning, we went to the barn to help decorate and then spent the rest of the day taking our time getting ready.

Jenny was absolutely breathtaking. From her shoes to her hair, she was perfect. The wedding was so touching and sweet. I cried when she walked down the aisle and I cried when she and Drew read their vows to each other. It was a beautiful, beautiful wedding. I can't wait until the pictures come in from the photographer!

This week is a busy, busy week. I have a lot to catch up on at work and a lot to do for Maiedae before our vacation week in July.

Snapshot(s) of the Week: 1// Some of the goodies I picked up from shopping with the girls on Wednesday. 2// Yummy pancakes Jenny made for Anica and I on Thursday. 3// A shot from lookout mountain at the rehearsal dinner. 4// Jon and I after the dinner. 5// Walking down the aisle with my beau. 6// A little peek at their wedding location.
5 Favorite Posts:
* Simple Vintage Waves by The Beauty Department
* Plates from Alyson Fox by Design*Sponge
* Bar Cart Rehab by The Life Styled
* Dreamy Summertime Photos by Bubby and Bean
* Emma's Everyday Styling Routine by A Beautiful Mess

Favorite Blog of the Week:
* The Life Styled - Ran across this blog last week! Beautiful blog of a personal stylist and fashionista. Love this blog.

Inspiring Me this Week:
* This Barn - This is where Jenny got married. It's a PERFECT place and was so stunning and inspiring.

3 Things About Yours Truly:
* Currently drinking V8 Splash.
* Currently listening to The Bert Show.
* Currently wearing a patched elbow cardigan.



Thursday, June 21, 2012

5 THINGS WITH MADALYNNE


Hi, my name is Maddie Flanigan and I am the blogger behind Madalynne. It's a cool pattern making and sewing blog that covers everything from how to draft a sloper to interviews with designers and what purchases are on my mind. By day, I work in technical design for a very large fashion company in Philadelphia. I consider myself one lucky gal to be able to do what I love every day, not to mention I receive a stellar discount off some really fancy clothes. But it is the knowledge my day job has given me that I’m truly thankful for. If it weren’t for my day job, I would not have learned all the valuable pattern making and sewing tips and industry secrets. Examining and evaluating garments and the patterns that go with each, as well with dealing with wash care, label placement, and packing, I have been able to create tutorials that relay information not known to many in simple and easy terms and illustrations.

I was ecstatic when Savannah asked me to participate in her 5 Things feature. I have been an admirer of her puritan, but cool ways, as well as her blog and its marvelous design and writing. But what 5 things would I talk about? I had no idea. Then, I decided to write about a topic that I have recently had experience with – burnouts. We all have experienced a burnout at some point. It’s when we work too hard - nights, mornings, weekends, and sometimes subconsciously in our sleep - and our minds and bodies just can’t take it anymore. The to-do list might be endless, but we literally can’t handle one more task. We shut down. At this point, a spoonful of relaxation, recharging, and Julie Andrews singing her infamous song from Mary Poppins, is the only remedy. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent reaching this point. Through trial and error, I have found 5 things, which I share with you today, that help me keep my mind sane even if the world around it is not.

1. Break projects into little tasks. ---> This is an obvious tip, but an essential one. Almost all of my projects cannot be completed in a day. Whether it is a sewing, pattern making, or blogging project, all take time to complete. Last year, I made a dress to wear to my dad’s wedding. It was an intricate dress that had boning, batting, lining, and interlining. The pattern alone took a month to correct and the entire project took four months to complete. It was a lot of work but I was able to complete it efficiently and sans a panic attack by breaking the project into mini tasks. On Monday, I cut the fabric. On Tuesday, I transferred notches and other markings from the pattern to the cut pieces. On Wednesday, I staystitched and interfaced each pattern piece. On Thursday, I sewed easy seams. On Friday, I pressed. Each one of these little steps prepped me for major tasks that I planned for the weekend (when I had more time). By breaking the project into smaller tasks that could be completed in 30 minutes, the project progressed seamlessly (pun intended).

2. Break. ---> This is another obvious tip, but also an essential one. We all need breaks. We cannot keep going and going and going. Over the past three months, I have worked straight through the weekend, blogging and sewing into the wee hours of the mornings and nights. Although I was having fun, it finally got to me. When the weather started to get warmer, I struggled to muster up enough energy to sew or blog.  I resisted for awhile, but I eventually had to satisfy my craving and venture out. So one weekend, I did something completely out of character - I went hiking! I didn’t know what to wear or what to bring; I just knew I wanted to go hiking. And I had the best time! I spent an hour or so sitting by the river, just watching the world go by. The smell of fresh air, the colors of the landscape, and the slight breeze recharged my brain way past one hundred percent. My creativity and energy the following day were at levels they hadn’t been for weeks.    

3. Music and silence. ---> Music and silence save my sanity, even though both are completely different (music is sound and silence is the absence of sound). When I’m down and in the trenches of a project or when I hit that midday brain fart at work, listening to music puts me in the zone and keeps me going and going and going. Music also cleanses me of feelings of anxiety, nervousness, or even the blues.  Maybe it’s the melody, maybe it’s the beat, or maybe it’s the voices of the singers but something about music releases whatever is pent up inside me. Far, far away my thoughts and worries go whenever the likes of Kings of Leon, The Black Keys, The XX, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and Lil Wayne start playing.

Along with music, silence also keeps me sane. We all live in a chaotic world that seems broken at most times. Between work, hobbies, friends, boyfriends, family, chores, etc., our lives just seem like too much. Silence, for me, puts the broken pieces back together. The peacefulness of no sound brings order back to my mind and refuels for whatever is next. I often spend Saturday or Sunday mornings dilly-dallying around my apartment to the sound of nothing.

4. Notebook. ---> The reason I feel anxious or nervous most of the time is because I have too much to do and I don’t know where to start. This is where my notebook comes in. I carry my notebook around with me almost everywhere. Seriously. Whenever I have a thought, idea, or task, I jot it down in my notebook. If it is a task, I look at my calendar and figure out the best time that it can be completed. I also use my notebook to break larger tasks into little ones (like I did for the dress I made for my dad’s wedding). Doing this does the same thing as silence – it brings order and structure to my life.

5. Mentality. ---> An extremist mentality will most certainly lead to a burnout. We can’t do it all and we can’t achieve it all. Being okay with just being okay is okay (sorry for the redundancy). I would love for my blog to reach the status of Elsie Flannigan’s, A Beautiful Mess (we have the same last name!) but if Madalynne doesn’t reach that level, I am okay with that. What’s most important is that I’m having fun, helping others, and meeting others with similar likes and hobbies. As long as I achieve those three things, I consider Madalynne and myself successful.

If all my above suggestions fail, watch Grace Kelly in the movie "High Society". Watching her and Frank Sinatra gallivanting through the plot, climax, and eventual resolution prevents and cures all and every case of burnout. 


Find Maddie Here:  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Instagram

Thank you, Maddie, for sharing such awesome advice on preventing burnout. It's awesome to do what you are passionate about and truly love, but you have to give yourself time to rejuvenate and refresh so you can keep doing what you love. Great tips!! 



Wednesday, June 20, 2012

SNAPSHOTS: A SURPRISE FOR THE BRIDE

On Saturday, Jenny is getting married!! Anica and I wanted to do something special for the bride-to-be, so we planned a mid-week getaway before the wedding festivities begin on Friday. We stayed at the Twelve Hotel in Atlantic Station, had snacks, made cocktails, took pictures, did girly spa things, and watched "The Bachelorette". No shame. ;)

This morning, we sat down for coffee and chatted about life, went shopping in Atlantic Station, grabbed lunch at the new Atlanta food truck park, made a quick stop in Anthropologie, and then took Jenny to get her nails done at Sugar Coat for the big day. Jenny had no idea what we were doing, so everywhere we drove was a new surprise. :)

It was so special to spend time with the two of these sweet ladies. We have been the three amigos since college and I truly cherish them. I am SO excited for Jenny and for this new special phase of life she is about to enter into. I can't wait to share photos of her wedding. It's going to be breathtaking. :) 


Monday, June 18, 2012

PROJECT CONDO: DINING ROOM TABLES

Last week I shared the floor plans for the condo that Jon and I are moving into at the end of July. We are planning a room-by-room decorating process for the new place instead of working a little on rooms here and there. Our first priority room is the dining room. We LOVE entertaining guests and usually have guests over at least once a week. We currently don't have any type of dining area in our apartment, except for a little bar area and a small fold out table. Our new entertainment area, including the living and dining area, is so much better for hosting a group of people. We can't wait to put together a nice dining area. :) I've been working on an inspiration board, planning paint colors and decor so I can budget everything out before we make our purchases.
One of the most important dining room pieces, in my opinion, is the table. I feel like a table decision can really make or break the dining room space. I'm looking for something durable, easy to clean, kid friendly, people friendly, rustic, and unique. Here are some of my top choices:


1// Emerson Dining Table: West Elm - $999.00 ---> This is the first table that caught my eye. I saw this in person at West Elm and haven't been able to get it out of my mind. It's a little pricey for my budget, but I love the way it looks. I like that it's a pedestal table so I can fit more people around it if I need to. My only concern is how rustic it is, I'm wondering if it will be easy enough to clean and splitter-free.

2// Reclaimed Table: Design*Sponge Sneak Peek ---> This table was made from reclaimed wood on a metal frame. I like the idea of making a table, but I might be leaning more toward purchasing a table. 

3// Blox Dining Table: CB2 - $499.00 ---> I really love this table. This might be my first choice AND I love the alternate facing legs. Just enough rustic with a unique touch, yet still simple enough to be a good neutral piece. 

4// Re-Finished Table: Decor8 ---> Before I started looking into the more wooden, rustic tables, I thought about just re-painting a thrifted table and pairing it with some mixed-matched chairs. While I think the look of #4 is amazing, I'm really wanting something a little more sophisticated. AND I tend to change my taste a lot, so I feel like I might need something more neutral that will work with its ever-changing surroundings. :) 

5// Industrial Dining Table: West Elm - $799.00 ---> I love the simplicity of this table. I'm also a huge fan of the rustic//industrial look. I'm a little concerned that this table may not be sturdy enough. 

6// Greyson Dining Table: World Market - $699.00 ---> Jon and I looked at this table this weekend. Jon was a fan of it, but we weren't huge fans of the legs. They're a little too traditional looking for our taste. 

Exciting! I'm hoping to purchase our table in mid-July, so it'll be ready to put together when we move. I'd love to hear your table vote! OR if you have any suggested table purchasing stores. :)