Category Archives: home

momma bird…

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i must be “nesting.” lately, i am totally obsessed with organizing and decorating my home. everyday i get some big idea on how to make a certain space better: outdoor drapes for the veranda, new pillows for the pool furniture, a new zebra rug to layer with my sisal in the living room, metallic chevron wallpaper accent wall for the dining room, etc.  let’s be clear, before i go any further, i’m not pregnant. but if you’ve ever been pregnant you know that sense of urgency that surfaces when the due date nears.  in these moments, more than anything else, you just want everything perfect for baby. nesting is not just a feeling though.  it’s a divinely ordered push, because while you may think you have so much time to do it later, God (and anyone who’s ever had a newborn) knows that you have to take advantage of this calm before the storm, so to speak. hence the urgency to do it now, that supersedes the fatigue of the third trimester. it’s a pretty amazing phenomenon.

since i’m not with-child, if i had to pin-down a source for my organizational-nesting, i would say that this blog has something to do with it.  in my last post, i talked about the huge role that being organized plays in the sanity of us moms.  yet, i have some areas of my house that aren’t there yet.  i think i realized that those ever-present piles are standing in the way of my living.  i have this feeling that once i get through all these projects, i can create routines that allow me to live a bigger life.

so where did the piles come from?  when i designed our house, i imagined a place for everything and everything in its place, but almost 2 years later, i still have boxes that need to be sorted.  when we moved in march, we still had a lot going on in our everyday lives: work, school, extracurriculars…so i got things mostly situated, figuring i’d get around to the rest of it eventually.  the problem is eventually never comes. at the time, i thought i’d finish everything during the summer.  but in the summer i chose hanging out with hubby and the kids in the pool and having friends over, over sorting and organizing.  then i told myself i’d get to it when the kids went back to school.  however, hubby then transitioned to a job that had him traveling quite a bit, and i focused on the day-to-day over the projects.  it’s a vicious cycle that could go perpetuating itself forever! but recently something has kicked in and i’m determined to get every room functioning according to plan.

i’m sure pinterest has a little something to do with my decorating fever.  but time is contributing too.  the newness of the house was originally enough to make bare walls bearable, but as our 2nd anniversary approaches, i’m ready to dress her up a bit and carry thru with some original ideas and some newly pinspired ones.  (babe, if you’re reading this, don’t worry, i’m not going overboard :) just minor things here and there). by the way, when decorating a home, i do feel like you should leave room for layering. don’t be in a hurry to have your house be “finished.” if i had sought design-perfection on day one, there would be no room for those finds that i happen upon. as a storyteller, i love that almost everything in my home has it’s own little story and reflects varying moments from our lives.  that’s what a home should be, not just your designer’s vision.

ultimately, only God knows why this is the appointed time for this focus on my home. maybe it’s because i’ve got a birthday coming up, creating an awareness of time. or maybe it’s because i’ve just joined our club’s tennis team, which is a big time commitment.  or maybe the spring could have something else in store for us, where we will need to be super organized and have these projects out of the way.  i’m not sure, but like a momma bird, i’m busy getting ready! tweet, tweet!

check out this pin board, for some tips on organizing…

how does she do it?

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i cried at the start of my workout session. but i’lll get back to that later. it had been a pretty “normal” week. my hubby had been out of town for 10 days, the kids had their normal bevy of activities: homework, studying for tests, dance classes, basketball games, etc. i had my usual set of responsibilities: meal-planning, grocery shopping, laundry doing, room tidying, errand running, etc. i also had those random things that i’m used to hubby taking care of: like washing the dinner dishes, taking care of the pooches, taking out the trash, and splitting up some of the carpool stuff. in addition, my daughter was having some issues with her wrist, resulting in doctor visit, an mri and follow-up visit.  i’m sure there’s more, but you get it…normal.

in addition to the necessities, a “normal” week usually includes a little “me” time: mani-pedi, lunch or coffee with a friend, a couple of sessions with my personal trainer, or if i’m really lucky, a massage or a facial. like many moms, i’m trying to do a better job of taking care of myself, which has to include working out. in addition to the two sessions with my trainer, michelle, i’m supposed to do daily cardio, crunches, and push-ups. i’m also supposed to eat right: lots of lean protein, fresh veggies and fruit and no junk food.

so, back to last week. with hubby out of town i figured i would conquer some projects around the house: cleaning out the linen closet, organizing my office and clearing out the dormitory: a sleepover room, of sorts, which is outside of the attic and which had become a bit of a catch-all for items on their way there. i even kept my social calendar clear, in order to be really productive. by week’s end, i was rocking and rolling! the dormitory was ready for a sleepover. the linens were neatly folded and labeled (thanks to a YouTube video on folding fitted sheets!). and, the kids’ laundry hampers were empty.

i was feeling really proud of myself…until my trainer arrived the following monday, and asked for the rundown on my fitness accomplishments. i realized i had done nothing to advance this initiative. i hadn’t done any cardio. my eating had not been super clean and i was basically still at square one. i felt so defeated! when i took further inventory of myself, i recognized that i had been wearing the same messy ponytail for days; that i desperately needed to address my nails; and that a facial was long over-due. this is how i found myself crying on the treadmill… thank God my hubby was not in town to see me like this.

it’s so hard to strike a balance. a few weeks ago i watched “i don’t know how she does it” on a sunday afternoon. although the movie was about a working mom, a lot of it rang true for me too. we can be rocking in one area and totally sucking at another. we hustle and bustle like hamsters on a wheel and rarely take time to even appreciate the fruits of our labor. for instance, as obsessed as i am with finding ideas to spruce up our veranda this spring, i doubt i’ll spend much time out there. as women and moms we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to wear many hats, to look fantastic and to make it look easy. but the truth is that it is not easy…it’s impossible to do everything perfectly.

so what’s the key? if i really had it figured out, i wouldn’t have had my treadmill moment. i do know that prayer, organization, scheduling, and multitasking are key components to “doing it all.” when i’m frustrated, i am reminded of proverbs 31 (every wife and mother should know this verse).  there is real purpose to taking care of our families and doing it well.  but we mustn’t just flail about.  i find that putting out fires, eats up so much of my time, and always usurps my good intentions. i know if i had everything on my calendar and i had everything organized it wouldn’t be that way.  seriously, organization is crucial!

as i stood there tearfully, michelle suggested that i schedule my “me time” for every morning at 8:00. she said that should be my cardio hour, no matter what (so far that hasnt worked, but i’m still trying), but to use the evenings if i had to. a few days later i discussed my struggle with another friend over a mani-pedi. i was lamenting that i keep having things come up at 8:00 am and it’s hard to do cardio in the evening because i still do bedtime with my little boy. after i’ve sat and read and snuggled, i’m too relaxed to go down and jump on my treadmill…i’m ready for bed myself. she suggested i jump rope while he does homework or is in the shower, this way i’m close by and doing cardio. i like it!

the fact is that my kids won’t be this age forever…geesh, one is already a teenager.  it’s important to keep a proper perspective: someday, i will be able to spend my whole day on me-time: their rooms will be perfectly clean, the house will be perfectly ordered, the kids will be grown and off living their lives and my hubby could still be traveling.  my grooming will be impeccable, my workouts will be on-point, and ironically, i could be miserable… longing for just a bit less me-time and more of their time. i’m sure my mom and my empty-nester friends could testify.

you may be wondering if this week is any better.  well, i’m feeling more balanced with my hubby back home with a few days off.  however, i have not gotten much done around the house, because sometimes you just have to shuck it all and take advantage of the down time.  soon, he’ll be back to the road and i’ll get back on the grind.  but even as i write this, we’re both lounging on the sofa, enjoying some peace and quiet, and recharging.  at the end of the day, the only thing i know for sure is that there are only 24 hours in every given day. i have to accept that some things won’t be done and that God willing, i’ll live another day to get to it.

if you’ve figured out the keys to life’s balancing act, please share your tips in the comments. how do you do it?

kk’s coral corral

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by now you know i’m having a love affair with color. of course, i’ll never forsake my neutrals, but i’m really recognizing the power and energy that color can inject into not only fashion, but also interior design. it’s not that i haven’t ever used color, but most times, i’ve stuck with more muted tones like aqua and blush.

such was the case, when i chose the wall color for my ten year-old daughter’s room. she has beautiful “antique-black” furniture from art for kids, which dates back to when we owned a children’s furniture store. in our last house, she’d had hot pink and zebra bedding and accessories. this was a pretty trendy look and i felt like i wanted to go a bit more classic in the new house. so, her walls are benjamin moore shell pink and her carpet is pale grey. she has really cool smoky black chandeliers, and a gorgeous bathroom, which features a claw-foot tub and crystal fixtures. i had settled on this palette, but had not done much by way of accessorizing the room. no drapes were installed, no pictures were hung, but the room had good bones and lots of potential. after being in the house for a year though, kk told me she didn’t like her room so much and that for Christmas she would like a room makeover. well unfortunately, santa didn’t swing that, so mommy had to come up with a game plan.

for months i scoured pinterest looking for a way to change the room into a space kk would love. stuck on my palette of black, ballet pink, white and grey, i looked for rooms that seemed fresh and youthful but that wouldn’t require too much work or expense. this was to be a low-budget project, because it would be hard to sell dad on this need…to his eye, the room is more-than-fine. but mommy gets it: it’s not just not quite her. she much prefers the boldness of jazz and musical theater to the soft restraint of ballet. then i got my lightbulb moment! what the the room was missing was kk’s personality.

so i had to figure out how to kk-up this room. the answer came by way of this photo from pinterest. the answer is coral and dance. kk is coral. it’s bright and whimsical and a bit of an enigma: not quite red, not quite orange, not quite pink, but a blending of all that. it is also her favorite color and could easily be worked into the existing schema. she also loves dance and dreams of being a singer-songwriting, broadway star/ pop sensation (hey, she can do it!) so with kk out of the house at a sleepover, i got to work injecting her room with more flavor.

in the interest of keeping this post from getting too long. i’ll abbreviate what happened next:

1. removed all clutter
2. repositioned the armoire
3. kept bedding the same but removed the pillows that weren’t working
4. printed b/w pictures of dancers and hung them in frames (including her favorite, misty copeland)
5. installed wall words: “life is but a dream, covered by the sky”
6. headed to target in search of coral (some things were more on the red side, while others were more on the pink side…just went with it
7. came home and added all the pops of coral around the room

8. created a reading/writing corner “under a tree” for my little dreamer
9. carried the theme over into her bathroom, with a new rug and chalkboard decals for the wall

the best part was that i was able to do all of this in one day, with her out of the house. when she came home and saw the changes, she was so delighted! her sweet reaction was so charming… just like an hgtv reveal! i knew she loved it when she took the time the next morning to remake the bed, just as i’d had it. she’s so cute too because she often reads mommy’s blog and asked me if pop was about her room. well, that post was most definitely the catalyst for kk’s coral corral, and now there really is a whole new post about it. she might love that almost as much as her new room. and she does love it, she’s sincerely told me several times! unfortunately, i couldn’t get a good picture, using my iphone.  i’ll try to bust out the big daddy camera and post more pics soon.  for now, here are a couple, just excuse the poor quality!

 

 

 

 

what color represents your personality? remember this post on that very subject?!

(don’t) keep it in the closet…

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i have a confession to make.  i’m sure this may come as a surprise to some of you, who may picture me as being some sort of domestic goddess (kidding), but i’m a clothes hoarder. it’s true.  my closet is the final frontier in my house. there, i’ve said it.  isn’t that the first step?  my (nicely appointed) closet is bursting with clothes that i don’t wear: either because they don’t fit me (too big or too small) or because they don’t fit my lifestyle, or because i no longer like them.   but, i continue to keep them in my closet.  why? because i may fit them someday, or because some occasion may present itself, or because i liked them at some point and spent money on them and could grow to like them again.

in the meantime, i can’t find the stuff that i do like, because everything is crammed together.  also, because there’s no space, i’ve spilled over into an alcove outside of my closet, where i’ve loaded things onto a rolling rack.  i’ve also borrowed a little space from my hubby’s closet AND i’ve amassed a 3 foot pile on the island in my own closet. that’s not to mention the boxes in the garage that have yet to be sorted from our move 21 months ago. i never meant for it to get this way!

 

my (super-organized) hubby, who claims to have received an s.o.s from my closet (cute), has been encouraging me to evacuate his closet and clear out of our shared area (i’m pretty sure he has given up on the boxes in the garage).  at first, i was just trying to cram everything into my own closet, to pipe him down.  but, i realized it’s just going to revert back if i don’t address the real issues and get the stuff out of there that isn’t likely to be worn in this current time frame.  i know the island mess reoccurs every time i have to get dressed,  because my closet isn’t edited. i go through several options looking for the right thing to wear and the rejects end up on the island.  then, because i am now running late, i say i’ll just have to sort it later.  the borrowing of my hubby’s closet occurs every time things return from the dry cleaner…oh, just leave it there, i tell him, i’ll sort it later.  the problem is, in both cases, later never comes!

so what’s a girl with a generous mall gift certificate, courtesy of her hubby, to do? i could just go to the mall and raid some fave stores, further compounding my already out-of-control issue.  or, i could tackle my issues first and then reward myself with a few new goodies.  i’ve chosen the latter and today i am cleaning out my closet.  just in time for the new year, each item will be assessed: have i worn this in the past year? do i even like this? does this fit me TODAY? if the answer is no to any of these questions, it’s coming out of my closet.

of course, in true hoarder fashion, i can’t say i’m totally getting rid of everything that comes out…you just never know, right?  but i am going to sort it into piles: good will, attic (for nostalgia sake), or consignment and i’ll deal with it…eventually :)

click here for some to-die-for celeb closet inspiration!

merry Christmas…

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merry Christmas from our family to yours! after waking up this morning and doing our usual gift exchange, we’ve had lots of fun just staying home and “kinecting” with one another. we’ve played games, put together basketball hoops, and watched plenty of nba. we’ve prepared our annual Christmas dinner featuring chicken cordon bleu and dined in our formal dining room, all in the comfort of our pjs.

but perhaps my favorite moment was watching my daughters prepare my great-grandma Helen’s pound cake recipe. my mom recently gave it to us, when my younger daughter had a school heritage project. we even found a picture of g.g Helen in her kitchen. i remember plenty of holidays spent with her and it was quite charming to see her memory honored this way. my older daughter has even claimed the rights to the recipe, which is handwritten (lovely penmanship).

i hope your day allowed you to reflect on the true reason for the season and the preciousness of family and loved ones…

the (burlap) stockings were hung…

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a couple of weeks ago, i posted the photo on the left on my facebook page, with the caption: “found this on etsy…of course it’s sold out, but stay tuned…” well, i’m excited to share the results of “operation burlap stocking.” but of course, i need to share the backstory…

in this post, i shared that our living room tree was a nod to nature that featured some fun animal ornaments that i found last year at pier 1. Christmas ’10, with the ornaments in place, it felt like burlap would be a natural complement to the theme, so i purchased a spool of burlap that i used as garland and as a tree skirt. well, to add another layer i thought it would be great to have burlap stockings. i thought i remembered seeing some in the ballard designs catalogue, but at that point they were no longer available, so i gave up and went with my old stockings.

fast forward to this year. i find the above picture of a burlap stocking from etsy and really love it! but, of course, it’s sold out…bummer. “well, i’ll just make them myself,” i decide. how hard could it be?!? thankfully i never had to find out, because my dear friend/former memphis neighbor/domestic goddess/mentor, mary anne, offers to make them for me! having successfully made some for her family to complement her “christmas au naturale,” and perhaps feeling the effects of all the burlap particles in the air, she declared she could handle 6 more! while we had not collaborated on our ideas, we somehow found ourselves in the same decorating lane (great minds think alike :) ). a quick side note on mary anne: she really is an amazing woman who makes gourmet meals from scratch, who decorates cookies like a pro, who has raised two successful sons, who has supported her pilot husband with sweet grace, and who has created an eclectic and charming home, all while rocking a great haircut and the cutest j. crew wardrobe. i could (and will) write a whole post about the weeks she spent “training” me before i relocated to charlotte. but for now, you’ll just have to imagine this domestic pistol in action.

not only did mary anne go purchase additional fabric, sew my stockings, and fedex them to me from memphis, she got one of her students to crochet me some chunky flowers to pin on the girly ones, similar to the photo (but even better). she also sent jingle bells to add to the guy stockings (wow, did i have a time sewing those on!) check out the results (at the left). it’s quite monochromatic, but i love that. once santa fills them with goodies from his sleigh, we’ll have lots of pops of color. in the meanwhile, i could fill them with sprigs or add vintage bling (like the inspiration photo) to help them stand out against the stone mantel, but with only a few nights left until Christmas, i don’t really have the time, nor do i think it’s totally necessary. another option is to add some lettering, by way of stencil, felt, or monogram…maybe in time for next year! for now i’ll just enjoy their simplicity and revel in the fact that a sweet friend gave me such a precious gift, made by her own hand. someday, i hope to tell my future-grandchildren the story of these stockings and how they came to be a part of our Christmas tradition.

still not convinced about burlap? check out my pinterest page, dedicated to this rustically chic fabric: http://pinterest.com/sepia_charm/burlap.

holiday hostess with the mostest

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last month while shopping near nashville, i came across the most darling boutique: the iron gate. their eclectic mix of home decor and accessories charmed my socks off. sadly i didn’t have time to take in all of their offerings, but these elizabeth scokin aprons definitely left me daydreaming.

these aprons personify exactly who i want to be as a hostess! can’t you just imagine the lady who has spent the day prepping for guests in a 50s style shirt dress and cute ballet flats? she’s artfully arranged her own flowers, beautifully set the tables, and skillfully prepared an aromatic meal. with an hour to spare, before the arrival of her guests, she flits (that’s right, flits) to her room to shower and primp. she then slips into a tasteful black cocktail dress, twists her hair into a perfectly messy chignon, and puts on just enough makeup to appear effortlessly pretty.

upon returning to the kitchen she dons her fabulous, sparkly apron, a gift from her dapper husband, and pours out the champagne cocktail that she will present as each guest arrives. she will spend the remainder of the evening charming her guests, flirting with her husband and making it all look so easy! (picture from here)

of course, this is not at all who i am when i’m in party-hostess mode. i likely spend the whole day in sweats or pjs with messy hair. this is because i usually bolt from bed and hit the ground running on my mile-long to-do list that is swirling about in my head. i inevitably have to rush back to the grocery store to get that one last thing, which always throws off my timing. i tend to be terribly less-than-gracious with my husband, who is wondering what he can do to assist the process, while giving me a deadline i can’t possibly meet. then finally, with the first guest due to arrive any moment, i dash (no flitting here) to my room; choose the first dress that fits; and slap on a little lipstick and mascara, (as i hear the doorbell ringing). i then spend the evening in a frenzy, trying to do 30 things at once while still attempting to spend little quality time with my friends.

while i love the idea of the lady who flits and hosts the perfect party, i’m not crazy enough to believe that perfection is an achievable goal. although, from the looks of her website, elizabeth scokin, the nashville event planner who designs the “haute hostess” aprons, may have mastered this feat.  i recognize, however, as my friend jami recently posted on facebook, that this time of year can spark a war between our inner mary and our inner martha (read their story here). we get so caught up with what everything looks like that we lose sight of why we are entertaining in the first place. so, this Christmas season, i’m seeking balance, not perfection. nevertheless, i still wouldn’t mind adding one of those gorgeous aprons to my collection. maybe just owning one, would give me some kind of super-hostess powers. you think? no matter…at $350 a pop, i don’t think MY dapper husband will be testing that theory. guess i’ll have to rely upon the sparkle in my eye and not a sparkly apron to make an impression this year. cheers!

looking for a gift for your favorite hostess with the mostest? click over to the iron gate and check them out.  i’m sure they will be quite helpful.  they were even kind enough to send me the apron photo up top!

o christmas tree #1

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“Fight the temptation to put too much variety in your decorations.” -david stark

didn’t i feel like a smarty pants when i read this on oprah.com today. the advice came courtesy of new york event designer, david stark, but has been my philosophy for as long as i can remember.

each year i decide upon a color scheme and commit to it from ornaments to wrapping paper. i’ve done pinks with golds, turquoise with browns, golds with silver, etc. (the only combination i’m unwilling to try is the traditional red with green.)  at the end of each season, i sort all of the ornaments by color into clear bins.  this way, when it’s time to decide for the upcoming season, it’s easy to see what needs to come out of the attic, based on the color scheme.

20111202-220711.jpgbased on my current inventory, it’s obvious that my go-to scheme has been pinks with golds. i have huge bins of both colors.  but right now, i am really loving a natural feel.  over the past 2 years i’ve added some safari-inspired ornaments, feathers, pine cones and burlap to create a tree that salutes our earth.  last year i added turquoise blue ornaments and peacock feathers.  but this year, i’ve  stuck to sepia tones ;-) with touches of red.  combined with twinkling lights and and a few sparkly silver bulbs, this creates one of my favorite looks: rustic elegance.

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for the topper this year, i’ve chosen berries, feathers and bows.  after years of santas and angel toppers, i’ll now try pretty much whatever i have around. sometimes, i’m not even sure what the top is going to be until i start building it (a feat much more easily accomplished on the 8 foot tree than the 14 foot tree). but, it always seem to come together when i don’t over think it.

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similarly the skirt doesn’t have to be so traditional. in keeping with my safari inspiration, i used this fabric remnant that was just hanging out in my attic.  i didn’t cut or sew it (just in case i get around to having those pillows made…).  just wrapped, gathered and fluffed it.  i love the visual interest it adds.

i’m not sure my hubby really appreciates my highly-edited approach to Christmas decorating.  he wants multi-colored lights, a hodgepodge of ornaments and tons of tinsel thrown at it.  thankfully, my daughters are on my side (they went with the turquoise on the tree in their sitting room)  and my son doesn’t care (as long as he can hang the ornaments on the tree).  while i do stick to the color scheme, i do like to add whimsical/ personal touches.  for instance, these gardening boots from smith and hawken for target, are just precious and give a nod towards our gardening efforts for 2011.

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so, 2 trees are decorated with 2 more to go, including the big daddy foyer tree that was delivered tonight.  if only my hubby will throw the lights on it, i’ll be ready to rock and roll.  since he’s a night-owl and i’m not, maybe he’ll surprise me and get it done while i’m sleeping.  but, at least, i can rest assured, those multi-colored lights are under lock and key!

…to be continued.  lots of projects going on over here.  i’ve also been having lots of fun sharing ideas with a dear friend in memphis and will hopefully get her to send pictures that can be posted later. stay tuned!

secrets from a belgian waffle…

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there’s something about a belgian waffle with whipped cream. i rarely indulge in this breakfast delight, but i would if i could and still fit into my skinny jeans. i’ve always thought it was a very pretty dish. that golden color, the round shape with the perfect lines and that dollop of whipped cream…love it. add a little pure maple syrup, served in a cute, white ceramic dish and it is the ultimate in charm.

a closer look at this belgian waffle obsession reveals a lot about my design style. well, surely you didn’t think this whole post would be about food? i first noticed it on pinterest. all of my repins on my “for the home” board are the same color story as an image of a belgian waffle: beiges, creams, browns. well wouldn’t you know there is a belgian movement in design and i love it. of course it’s not based on waffles, but both do have their roots in belgium. for an in-depth look at the background on belgian design check out this post from apartment therapy or this one from cote de texas. you can also check out restoration hardware, as they have really brought this movement to the forefront. or, for a quick peek, you can simply check out these yummy pictures from my pinterest board, featuring many elements of belgian design: formal, yet casual rooms with large upholstered pieces in neutral linen; salvaged wood and other furniture pieces that look like that been passed down for generations; and, often times, crystal. bon appetit!

this vibe can even carry over into my fashion sensibilities. one favorite outfit is a linen tunic dress with pockets and capped sleeve with a chunky acrylic necklace…

and i adore these cute little booties i recently picked up at aldo:

just like with waffles, there are several variations of belgian design. how about this cupcake that is a take-off on the idea of chicken and waffles?!?!? the bottom line is that i just can’t get enough of this look. i’m absolutely charmed by every single photo that has this feel. since unlike waffles, design does not add inches to your waistline, go ahead and experiment and add a bit of belgium to your life.

are you pinterested?

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if you’ve ever read this blog, you may have picked up on my iphone crush.  i just think it is such a great tool.  with the number of available apps totally into the hundreds of thousands, there are so many neat and varied things that we can do with it.  want to keep your family super duper organized?  ”there’s an app for that.” need your phone to be a flashlight or a leveler or a distance tracker for your runs? “there’s an app for that.” trying to figure out what’s for dinner? “there’s an app for that.” want to play a game where you hurl cute little birds with attitudes at crazy pigs? “there’s [even] an app for that.” you name the task and there’s probably an app for it.  if not, it’s probably in development, somewhere, right now.

with that said, i can be a bit obsessed with my iphone (at least according to my 2 favorite guys–the hubby and the little boy). ask me a question for which i don’t know the answer, and i’ll whip out my phone and have the answer faster than you can say 3g.  feeling a lull in a social gathering, i’ll whip out my phone to start up a game of “name that tune” using my ipod.  so, when i find something new to do with my iphone, i can get pretty excited.  don’t get me wrong though, i don’t spend a ton of time in the app store, or perusing techie sites, awaiting news of the latest and greatest apps.  and, i’m really just getting into this whole social networking thing, so, admittedly, i can arrive a little late to the party with some of the new ideas.

such is the case with my newest addiction: pinterest!  pinterest allows you to “pin” images from around the net or your own camera onto virtual “boards” that you can create according to categories. i have boards: “for the home,” “food & recipes,” “cute ideas” and “kayla’s room,” (my daughter’s bedroom, which i’m working on right now).   as you see something that catches your eye, you can “pin” it to the appropriate board, way more specialized than generally “bookmarking” a page.  not only that, you can “follow” individuals with similar preferences and quickly share ideas.

right before i started this blog, i wrote a list of random things i love: gardenia candles, polka dots, ruffles, designer shoes, ivory chiffon, crystals, the color greige and lots more. the list contains about a hundred items and represents an effort to define my style and my taste. many topics from the list, have been the subjects of previous blogs.  it probably took an hour or so to create it.  the awesome thing about pinterest, is that one look at my “for the home” board reveals everything about my decorating style, and those current 18 pins, surely took less than 18 minutes to generate. have a look:

i can imagine soooo many uses for this! it’s super charming! right now, i recognize that my style for the home could be called rustic elegance.  i love salvaged wood, driftwwod, large beams, etc, mixed with classic elements like crystal and polished nickel.  i love grey and beige (greige), cream, white and chocolate brown.  this knowledge will allow me to focus on adding items that reflect my taste and help me to achieve the desired overall effect, without flying too far off the mark.

pinning is essentially what i’ve been doing for years with my magazine tear-outs, see here.  but now, instead of twenty binders and countless magazines to store and lug about, i can store all the images in my iphone.  i know my hubby will appreciate that, even if now he has to put up with me staring with googly eyes at my iphone from time to time.  of course, he could start pinning himself: golf courses, car stuff or landscaping pics (his latest obsession).  it’s not just for us design geeks :-D

check out my favorite pin, to-date, below from reasons to breathe. love it!