A Special Gift From James Avery

I have shared many times how much I love James Avery and their incredible jewelry.  I have enjoyed my charm bracelet for over 20 years, and I gifted one to my girl earlier this year and she loves her as much as I love mine.  It is so fun to add charms to our bracelets like these we added after our amazing Haiti trip this summer.  I look forward to many more additions as the special events unfold in our lives. 

Hand Painted Clutches by Laura Dro

Art + accessories, doesn't that sound perfect?  I am so excited today to share a new endeavor by the talented Laura Dro.  I met Laura a few years ago when she emailed to introduce herself to me and share her art.  I loved every single thing she paints and she generously gifted me a pineapple which currently hangs in our den.  Every single time I see it I remember her talent and her kind spirit.  When I spotted a new project she was working on I knew immediately I wanted to learn more. 

Labor Day Must Haves

Tunic (similar) || Earrings || Shoes || Jeans || Sunnies (vintage) || Scarf (similar)

Is it really almost Labor Day?  I can recall heading out on the Thursday before Memorial Day ready to soak up the summer with every single fiber of my being.  It has been an amazing one, full of adventure, personal trips, business trips, beach time, lake time, and most of all precious family time. We are still thinking about our weekend plans and trying to decide what we want to do, but I know we will be soaking up the time and every single moment of the long weekend.  I am all up for loading up the car, (can I borrow yours AG?), heading out for the day or the weekend on an adventure.  Doesn't this convertible look like the perfect weekend car?  #yesplease

12 Happies du Jour

Happy Tuesday!  We had a great weekend soaking up family and having some down time in the middle of it all.  Saturday my brother + sister in law arrived with their girls and treated us to a home cooked meal right up Lawyer's alley.  Typically on the weekends he rests a lot more so we just hung around, had lots of porch time and watched the kids made endless bowls of slime and play so many board games.  We were on a no phone policy for the kids on Saturday and they played so much, I may need to make it a regular thing.

Introducing Kevin Francis Design

I say it quite a bit, but today's youth is driven and passionate about so many things.  They know what they want in live and many of them start their careers while still in high school.  I have met countless high school students who have started blogs, started businesses and even one darling girl who started a jewelry business while she was just nine.  I am always blown away but how dedicated and driven these individuals are, and I find them so incredibly inspiring.  One of my favorites in this category is my friend Kevin O'Gara.  I met Kevin at an ADAC opening four years ago.  He introduced himself and we chatted and then he headed back to school, as a junior in high school.  I immediately knew I needed to know more about him.

The Best Florida Porch

Happy Saturday ... I hope your week was amazing.  Mine was good, and yet chaotic, but I am thankful for the weekend with family and some down time.  Lawyer's brother, wife and girls are coming for the night so I will be completely unplugging for a while to soak up the time.  To top it off we are celebrating our 23rd anniversary on Sunday and, even though it will be super low key, it will be perfect. ❤

Federal Mirrors 101

I have always loved our Federal Mirror.   I love the family history, the stunning eagle at the top and the beautiful round size.  We inherited the mirror from my husband's family and, although I love it, I had no idea of the history of these mirrors.  Fast forward to July when I visited Winter Park and my friend Maria and she shared all of the knowledge she had about federal mirrors.  I knew instantly I had to come home and do some research and learn all the details.

Introducing Countercontrol

You know how much I believe in Beautycounter, I truly can not get enough of every single product they sell. I have completely immersed myself in the skin care, the makeup, and the sunscreen.  I am in the process of checking out both this incredible antiaging serum + this eye rescue cream and I will report back after I have used them for a while.  I hear so many amazing things about both products so I anticipate loving them, but I do want to test them out for myself before sharing results.

Mixing Prints 2.0

Shoes 

Two summers ago I was invited to speak at an event with my friend Emily McCarthy on Pattern Play ... Mixing It Up and would love to share this topic with you again. Colors and patterns make me so very happy and I love to mix them and wear them in different ways.  As of late I have been on a blue + white stripe kick and it is so fun to me to see some of my favorite pattern photos.  Clearly I need to find my game again, starting with some of my favorite patterned shorts I need to wear before the weather gets chilly again. I have the video of the event for you along with some tips on styling a coffee table and your bookcases.  At the end of the video I chat about styling clothes and mixing patterns + prints.

12 Happies du Jour

I am still relaxed after a great weekend of doing almost nothing at all.  I have been on the go lately and after having a crazy week last week I just really needed to relax.  Saturday we laid low and only left the house to hit The Varsity drive thru for their 90th anniversary.  We did wait 2.5 hours for our turn in line but I knew it would be crazy and we decided to make it an adventure.  It was so fun to be able to thank the wonderful workers for their incredible dedication and hard work.  When we arrived the lines were crazy and I never saw one person complain or greet anyone with anything other than a smile and their usual ... "what'll ya have". 

eBay ... My Tips + Tricks

I have been an eBay shopper and seller for many years.  I started using eBay when the kids were little. I can recall stalking listings when our youngest was just a baby hoping to get her what I deemed the perfect smocked dress for holidays.  It was the best source for buying and selling kids clothes. I would list the items they no longer needed and scoop up darling Ralph Lauren and Vineyard Vines pieces for the boys and smocked dresses for my girl.  I was one savvy shopper.

Madeline & Company - The Brand New Bags

It's that time again, back to school and, per usual, I am fighting the fuzz to get back into the routine.  I love summer so much, not just the season, but also the unending time with my children and the free schedule.  Who doesn't love an easy morning followed by a day at the pool and then long evenings siting on the porch?  Does it get any better?  The one thing I do love about the kids going back to school is the back to school shopping.  I am such a nerd for a back to school outfit with brand new shiny shoes and a backpack filled with supplies. I love a new set of pens, new sharpened pencils and, most of all, new binders ready to be filled with all they learn.  They had so many items on their lists this year but the one thing we didn't need to hunt for, a new backpack for the youngest.  Once again we got our backpack for the rising eighth grader (say it isn't so) from my favorite backpack girl and I am not sure who is more excited, me or my girl.

My Readers Collection

From top left to bottom right

eyebobs Butch || Prada || eyebobs (similar) || Betsey Johnson ||  eyebobs || Betsey Johnson 

Coastal ||eyebobs Take A Stand || Chanel 

I can recall as a young girl wishing I needed glasses.  There was a darling girl in my elementary school who had them and she probably disliked them greatly, but I loved them.  When I got to college I thought the smart girls wore glasses, so I wanted them once again.  At the time I had perfect eyesight.  My mother had better than perfect eyesight so I thought I would never need them, and honestly for a number of years I think I was sad.  So silly, but most likely true.  They seemed so fun and I wanted to be able to sport them just like the cool girl in elementary school. 😎

12 Happies du Jour

Image by Christina Wedge

Happy Tuesday!  I hope your week is amazing so far!!  Sunday afternoon I spied this image on House Beautiful's Instagram account.  As you can imagine I was thrilled, as they have featured the image before but it is always incredible to see something you worked on featured by a magazine you love. It most definitely started my week off with a BANG!  House Beautiful is hands down one of my favorite three magazines and one that I subscribe to, I have loved it for years and I don't see that love affair changing any time soon.

On Saturdays We Brunch

Anyone else love brunch?  I love relaxing over a good, hot latte with amazing food and my sweet friends.  I was so happy to be able to host my friends Saturday morning for brunch.  My time has been limited as of late and I have wanted some serious time with a group of friends.  I have so many people that mean so much to me, from friends I have known almost 20 years and some I have known just a few months. I thought it was the perfect idea to gather them all together, share a yummy meal, and have a amazing time of fellowship.

Beautycounter Sale!!

Happy, happy Sunday to you!  I am not sure if I have posted on Sunday, other than a holiday, but today I need to post and let you know about the amazing Beautycounter sale happening.  In the past month I have grown to really love my BC products, so much so that I have started to throw away and replace more and more of the products I was previously using.  As I use them up, I am replacing them with safe products that I feel great about buying and wearing. 

The Perfect Sunglasses

I love glasses and most definitely sunglasses and have quite a few of both of them.  Recently while I was packing for a trip I found a pair of my absolute favorite glasses left in a wicker bag.  I immediately put them on and have been wearing them on repeat ever since.  I love all things tortoise and these sunnies are the perfect color and shape.  It has been so fun discovering a pair of sunnies I had long forgotten about.  Since the weather in Cashiers was beautiful and very sunny I wore them almost all day every single day we were there. 😎

Croquet Brunch

As I shared here Lance and I had the best time in Cashiers.  The Showhouse was incredible and the events and weekend festivities were so much fun.  One of the highlights for me was Sunday's Croquet Brunch.  I have been playing croquet since I was a small child and I love the opportunity to play.  Playing in white while enjoying mimosas + incredible food was truly fabulous.  I felt like I was in the midst of something spectacular while I was there and the truth is, I was.

Cashiers Designer Showhouse

As you know from Instagram and Stories I spent the weekend in Cashiers, North Carolina to visit the 2018 Cashiers Historical Society Showhouse and to attend the weekend activities. I was invited by Domino Media Group to attend the weekend full of festivities.  I have never toured a Showhouse in Cashiers and I was thrilled with the opportunity. My best friend Lance graciously attended with me since my forever plus one is not traveling at the moment.  We had so much fun, but I knew we would.  Cashiers is one of the best weekend locations and how can you beat lovely, crisp weather in the dead of summer.  I could not arrive quick enough to take in all that was planned for us. 

12 Happies du Jour

Happy Tuesday! Yesterday was crazy busy as I "came in hot" ~ Anna Grace from the wonderful weekend in Cashiers and our youngest started school.  It was our first busy morning of the school year where all of us are in the kitchen at the same time and the chaos has begun.  As hard as it was to be gone the weekend before school started for her I had the BEST time this weekend.  The showhouse is beautiful and I have so many details of the weekend to share with you tomorrow.  The weather was perfect, the events so much fun and, of course my stand in plus one was the best side kick!!

Bunny Williams Banded Napkins

Do you remember last month when I attended a brunch to celebrate the opening of the new Atlanta Ballard Designs store?  I truly loved going to the brunch and receiving a sneak peek of the store, which is truly beautiful.  I have been a Ballards shopper for many years, first as a catalog shopper and now in store at the stunning new location. What I love about Ballards is their consistently fabulous products, great prices, wonderful customer service, and timeless pieces. 

"on-the-go" Snack

As I have mentioned many times I have the pleasure of working alongside my darling assistant all summer.  I can't tell you how much I love and adore this girl.  She came into my life when she was just a young little girl and I have had the pleasure of watching her grow into a precious, godly, and darling young woman.  There are so many things I love about working with AG, but I think my favorite is hearing her come in the door bearing a beautiful smile and greeting me with a lovely "good morning".  I love this girl so much, her little notes of encouragement and prayers are so coveted by me and my family.  Everyone should have an AG in their life. 

Introducing Tempie Jane

I am blown away by the youth today, they are so strong, so smart and so very talented. I can recall being in high school and being creative, but nothing to the level and most definitely not with the drive or the passion that I see in some of the people I meet.  One perfect example would be Savannah Turner.  At thirteen she turned a school project she loved into a career and now two years later owns a blossoming business. 

Nordstrom Goodness + A Thank You

Happy, happy Thursday.  It is wet and rainy here and honestly quite icky, but I am finding the peace of sitting on my porch with the sound of the rain a welcome thing.  My yard, the bushes and the flowers are sure happy and I can hear a bird or two singing so that is an added plus to all the wet.

Ocean Air + Salty Hair

We are home!  We woke up early yesterday and headed home and I might have had a sad face and a grumpy attitude driving over the bridges to the interstate.  Luckily I rallied by the time we hit Gainesville and was well behaved the remainder of the way.  We had such a great time at the beach and I could not pick a favorite thing we did since every single thing was perfect.  We walked all the places we could, beached, ate ice cream, snacked, beached, hunted for shells, beached, took dips in the pool, watched the dolphins, and did I mention went to the beach?  I miss the beauty of the area this morning and I miss my morning walk hunting for shells but I am also happy to be home with my sweet husband and my pups.  ❤