As we all know I love antiques, the older the better honestly. I have so many things I love and have collected over the years and a stroll through an antique store or an antique show always makes me so very happy. Since my early years antiquing with my grandparents I have had a love for the hunt, the score and the fun when you come home and get to put your new pieces away in their new homes.
Oh, Thomasville, Georgia you have captured my heart. What a wonderful small town that is truly anything but. Eddie Ross described it perfectly in his presentation at the Thomasville Antique Show when he said it was a perfect untouched small town. It is quaint, charming and full of incredible, warm people and one thriving business after another. Home to more southern brands than I can count I was treated to an exceptional weekend filled with wonderful food, many trips to the antique show, a charming brick street downtown and a wonderful stay at 1884 Paxton House Inn all put together by the incredible Lee Cox.
The weather is starting to change ... I can feel it. I think Old Man Winter might actually be packing his bags and heading home. Can I get an Amen ... that was a cold and hard winter and I live in the deep south, I can not imagine how the people in the north feel. I have so many friends still getting so much snow, it is crazy!! I am ready for spring, for blooms galore and lunches alfresco with white jeans and sandals with a light jacket. I am ready for windows open and car rides without the heated seat. Bring on the warm please ... and thank you! 🌞
As I have mentioned many times ... I am a huge fan of Lake Pajamas! If you have touched a pair of pajamas you will instantly fall in love. They are made of the softest Pima cotton and remind me so much of a brand of clothes by children wore when they were babies. I would call them soft but that word doesn't really do them justice. I would say cozy + soothing + relaxing. Basically they are perfection stitched into pajamas.
You may or may not have noticed that I started posting scripture every single morning on Instastories. I started because I needed it and now it has become a routine. I didn't stop needing it (and never will) but now I find myself looking for daily scripture that speaks to me as I am starting my day. It has been a rough couple of months for our family and I have found myself leaning on my faith more than ever before. The details don't matter but I will share that we are on a long road and one that some days has sucked the wind out of my sails and literally the energy from my body. I found myself a few days in needing to feel joy in the hard and immediately opening the note section of my phone and jotting down a few things I was grateful for. The first day it was simply "sleep, hope, love" and each day it became easier to find. I was determined to live each day with some sort of celebration and I still feel that way. No matter what comes my way I will absolutely find the joy in it. ❤
Spending three days in Sea Island two weeks ago for the 2018 The Southern Coterie Summit was all I envisioned it would be and way more. I always look forward to the Summit for so many reasons and I always take so many things away but this year was even more special to me. I had a list of things I wanted to accomplish and I knew what I wanted to take away but what I didn't realize was how much of a family The Southern C family had become to me and how much being with them would feed my heart and my soul. I came home with a scratched off to do list ... but I also came home with a happy heart and some amazing time with people who mean a lot to me. I would call that major WIN. ❤
When I shared our bourbon bar last week I shared that we love our bourbon cocktails, but that is kind of a given, right? Lawyer prefers his on the rocks or neat and I prefer to fancy mine up some. Since getting a bottle of my new favorite bourbon, Blade & Bow, I have been playing with some fabulous new cocktails and trying some I have discovered. One of those would be a Blood Orange Bourbon Smash which I had seen on a menu of a new restaurant in town. I love blood oranges (they are so yummy and the fun surprise when you cut them) and orange + bourbon is one of my favorite combinations.
I am so inspired by fellow bloggers and amazing accounts on Instagram and these are two places I go quite a bit to feed my creative soul. One of my favorite Instagram accounts and fellow bloggers is Summer who is the precious and very talented writer of Girls in Madras. You may recall I have featured Summer before during my Bar Cart series but I have been dying to get my hands on photos of more of her apartment as it is just as beautiful and amazing as she is. You will absolutely love her home ... the photos are truly incredible and she is one talented and inspiring girl.
Happy Valentines Day!!! 💓 I am super excited today to shower those I love most with some handwritten notes and a yummy dinner. Nothing more than a simple meal, but one made with love for my sweet little family. Since the meal and the gifts (all love notes) are simple I decided to set the table in the dining room and treat them to a fancy evening in the pink room. I am so excited ... they know nothing of my plans!
As I have said many times over the last few weeks Valentines Day is a favorite holiday of mine. I don't know how it began but I don't think it was due to some amazing experience as a young girl, that is for sure. I was the tall skinny girl that never really had a date. At the time it was awful ... and now I am so thankful it is the story I can tell because I truly value my forever Valentine so much more. I just love the pink and red and all the love. I am a girl who loves deep and wide and loves to love on others and I truly adore any reason to make that happen. 💕
Holy cow ... I think this Southern C Summit actually flew by faster than it has in years past. Is that even possible? I guess it may have been the combination of catching up with friends + soaking up the amazing location + attending so many amazing events all the while laughing with Krystine Edwards. I know this ... it was amazing and I can not wait to share every single detail.
As you know both the Hubs and I love bourbon. He has been a bourbon connoisseur longer than I have but I have definitely come around in the last few years. Last year I set up the wetbar in our den with bourbon and made it a space where he could walk up and make a drink for himself, and me, when he felt led. I love to see him pull out his monogram decanter and pour his favorite bourbon into one of the rocks glasses. The only thing missing would be some Mad Men music playing in the background ... don't you agree?
A few weeks ago James Avery invited me to shop their Valentines collection at the store near me. I was thrilled to visit the shop as I have loved James Avery and their beautiful jewelry for so many years. I can recall being introduced to the brand in high school when dangle rings were all the rage. When my oldest was born I was gifted a silver charm bracelet with a silhouette charm. I was madly in love and it became such a fun thing to collect and add to for special occasions. Twenty one years later and I still love the bracelet. Every single time I wear it I have so many compliments and questions. Everyone wants a tour through the charms and it is so special to me. From my littles silhouettes to a charm engraved for my 30th birthday to my favorite charm ... a box with a bow that I picked out after accepting Christ in 1997. Every single time I look at my charms I think of those special memories and how those hand picked charms tell the story of my life.
Anyone else feel like a new year requires a new organized office? I have been working on this office for almost a year now and I am no where near done with all the changes but I have made some really good ones that I feel so good about including working with The Monogram Merchant to get the space organized and ready for a new year of amazing brand business.
Since this is my favorite month of the year I have a fabulous list of gift ideas for Her. Whether its for your best friend, mother, sister or even some hints to leave for your guy ... I have some fabulous gift suggestions. From flowers to what to wear if you have a hot date ... I have you completely covered with some fabulous suggestions. ❤
One of my goals for this year was to manage my skin care. As in do some research and find the best products for me. My mother has amazing skin and mine was getting dryer and dryer and I could not get it under control. I kept looking at my mom and trying to figure out why her skin was stunning and mine was lacking. She isn't a water drinker so it had to be her daily routine. After thinking back to years of watching her use the same products over and over and be committed to her skin I realized I was failing with mine.
Anyone else have a man in their live that is hard to buy for, I truly believe it can't just be me! For as low maintenance (enter eye roll here) as Lawyer thinks he is he is so very picky when it comes to gifts. He likes what he likes and he doesn't like to vary from his norm. He also only wears grey and blue to work, he just finds what works and sticks with it. It is always hard for me to surprise him with a fun gift since I like to find something new and he would just prefer the same thing he always buys. Over the years I have tried so many things to only have him ask if we can return it or see it sitting without him touching it ever. Recently I gave in and have vowed to stick to what he loves and just give up my theory of needing to surprise him. I so wanted to show my love by picking new and different gifts and he just really wanted only me and my time so I just needed to hang up my own silly expectations. He is happier and in the long run so am I. ❤
Have I mentioned I love February ... maybe just once or twice? It is just the best month where pink is a plenty, love is everywhere and everything in my house is prepared for celebrating! As we all know I love coffee and I am always up for setting up the coffee bar for a celebration. The first day of February yesterday was the perfect time to pull out the sprinkles, the fun napkins and this darling Foo dog mug from Giddy Paperie.
My darling friends at Hazen & Co. are at it again with their amazing photo shoots and Valentine look book. It's all I can do not to fly directly to Dallas today to soak up all the pink, gold, pearls and blue and white tea time with this amazing team. I am huge fan of Hazen's jewelry and accessories, their precious owner and of course, every single thing this brand puts out. You will absolutely adore this new shoot and all of the inspiration it provides. If you don't make a date for tea with your gal friends after finishing this blog post you might need to start at the beginning and read all over again.
There are many times I share companies and products as part of my job as a blogger. I have either been paid or compensated in another way for these posts. I do not publish content on any product or service that I have not owned or used or do not currently own and use. I turn down many products that are not a fit for The Pink Clutch brand so that I may only share with you products and services I truly believe in. Every single opinion shared on the blog unless quoted is truly my own.
