(artwork via Evelyn Henson)
12.24.2023
Merry Christmas + Happy Holidays!
12.20.2023
Last Minute Gift Ideas
Did anyone else look at today's date and sort of freak out? No matter how organized or scheduled we are, there are always last-minute items that we forget or realize we need to add to, so last-minute gift-giving becomes an issue. Also, shipping is basically a bad idea at this point so we have to get creative. I have five gift ideas for you that can be accomplished without shipping and give you the accomplished feeling we are all looking for with those holiday to-do lists.
12.06.2023
Stuff Those Stockings ...
Does anyone else wait until the end to stuff their stockings, just me? I know these usually stress me out so I am doing them first instead of last! Not exactly first, but you know what I mean. So ... after working with the darling Laurin Collar with her fun suggestions, I have a great list for you to knock them out. With some online shopping + a trip to your local market, you can get them done now and not later.
12.04.2023
12.01.2023
Pledge Class of Ornaments
I shared a week or so ago that I was sorting our ornaments to ensure I had the ornaments I collect for our children ready when they have their own homes and trees. Since our oldest just got his own place I gifted him a box of his pieces. Inside that box was an ornament I purchased for him each year. So he would not wonder about the meaning of the ornament I always wrap them and then note on the box or bag the meaning of the piece. One year, I bought him swim flippers for his first year on the swim team. Another year a stuffed moose for his trip to Yellowstone National Park with his grandparents. The year he got his driver's license, I bought a traffic cone ornament, and the summer he spent in a leadership program at Georgia Tech, I bought a bumble bee. As he decorates his tree, a little bit of his life will be in a story, and I love that he will be able to look at pieces and have them strike a memory. This year his ornaments were a first home + a new car. My daughter got a football and a big Al, and for our middle son, I chose a getaway car as his best friend just got married.
11.29.2023
Spode Saint Nick
Last week I was in an antique shop, which we know I love to do, and found a set of four plates that I immediately loved. They were reddish in color, listed as pink, but I feel like they lean red. Made by Spode, this was a collection and plate I had never seen and wanted to know more about. The seller had priced the plates appropriately so I passed them over as I was sourcing and definitely not shopping for myself.
Well, today I went back to the shop to purchase the plates for myself. I had done some research on them and found the style and history unique and knew I wanted them for our home. Luckily the plates had not been purchased and I left with a set of four in my hands. I am speaking of the Saint Nick collection plates made by Spode for Williams Sonoma between the years of 2004 and 2007. These plates are beautiful with so much detail and have a perfect antique feel to them with each of the four scenes. They are 8 1/2 inches in width making them perfect for salads, appetizers, and even desserts. I am thrilled with them and think they will be perfect to pair with our Spode Christmas Tree plates I have collected and we use each year.
The first plate, St. Nick was released in 2004 and the rest came later. The Sleigh is the 2005 plate, Rocking Horse is 2006, and Window Shopping is the last plate, released in 2007. I think they are so unique and so full of detail right down to the outside edges. I plan to hang these on the wall in the kitchen this year, but also use them closer to Christmas Day. Since we are a family of 5, I will need to gather two sets to accommodate us all. Currently I have four and have searched to purchase more to complete my set.
I am thrilled with my find and have since learned that Spode has a number of yearly plates, including one Christmas Tree plate per year, a bunny plate for Easter, and these St. Nick plates. I also found a set of Disney Christmas Tree plates for the Disney lover, and a Victorian series all in blue and white running from 1995 to 2000. I am sure there are more, another adventure for another day.
Happy Wednesday ...
11.28.2023
Gathering Up The Plaid
Isn't plaid the best, maybe ever?? We are in full plaid season so let's find all the best of the best, which I have done for you today! Can you even handle the jackets for your pup? I am restraining myself, for now. But omg, they are so very cute!
11.27.2023
Cyber Monday ... but Small Please
Yes, it is Cyber Monday, can y'all believe it? We had the best Thanksgiving, so fun and full of family. One of us was sick and missed out, so we celebrated all weekend long with more family time, birthday festivities and just being together. I settled down last night and watched my first movie of the season, The Holiday, needlepoint, and just really relaxed feeling so thankful and grateful for our crew. It was really a great week!
11.16.2023
Planning For Christmas
Well, planning for Christmas décor, that is. Last year, if you recall, we did not get to even think about decorating for Christmas until December 22 when the last contractor left and it was not relaxing or joyful at all. Honestly, I just wanted to skip decorating but I managed to push through and was thankful that I did. It was completely different than every other year as I was tired, emotionally strung out, sick from all the drywall dust, and just so very weary. This year, however, is very different and I am already gathering and planning for decorating every single bit of our main floor.
11.15.2023
Great Sales Not To Miss
I read somewhere a month or so ago that the sales this year around Thanksgiving would be epic, and as they are rolling in, I believe it to be true. I already have a list of great sales that are currently happening, and I know more are coming down the path. As the emails pour in I will happily share, that is just the friend I want to be. 😉
So, here is what I have seen already and I will happily add to the list when I see more!
11.13.2023
Christmas at the Bachelor Pad
I mentioned that our oldest son just moved into an apartment by himself after living with friends in a house since 2019. He is really excited to have a space of his own and I have loved helping him get moved in and the apartment styled for him. We had been saving furniture for this move, so I am thrilled to see some of our family pieces getting a new life with a new generation. It has been so very sweet.
11.06.2023
Things Of Note ...
Happy Monday! Are you feeling "hung over" from daylight savings, or do you feel energized? Yesterday I was definitely feeling groggy, but today I am feeling much better and I love the light in the morning. By the time dinner rolls around I will be in pajamas and ready for bed. It is just that time of year. It is much better when you do not have littles that are confused, pups are much easier to push for meals and bedtimes. Oh, those years of confused children were never fun!!
10.25.2023
Way Days Are Here
Were you aware that Wayfair has its own "prime days"? I am here to share with you that I did not know and clicked on an email this morning to discover the goodness that exists for two days. I shop Wayfair here and there, but I am not a consistent customer, but clearly, I need to be. I shared with you that our oldest son is moving into an apartment by himself, and I am helping him decorate it. He needs more lighting and another rug or two, so I checked the sale prices for both items and was surprised at the deals. Even better, they ship and arrive so quickly.
10.24.2023
Candle Subscription
10.23.2023
Five Things I Love From Gap
Gap and Banana Republic had a glow-up, and I was unaware. I have always loved BR for its classics and their style, and I used to work for Gap in college, but I was feeling a little distant from both of these brands for a while. Beyond a random piece here or there, Banana had been on my "it's okay" list for quite a while, until recently when they did a complete rebrand. I have a post for you later this week on this exact thing. And Gap was totally hit or miss until I wandered in a few weeks ago and found myself very interested in a number of things. I was very surprised, and delighted, to think I could visit more with more success. For the longest time, J. Crew has been one of my first locations to check, but I will be adding Gap to the top five in the future.
10.19.2023
New Favorite Amazon Snags
Why is Amazon so addicting? For me, it's how vast the inventory is and how quickly I can get something. I find myself checking Amazon for anything I could buy somewhere else just to see how quickly it will arrive. I am now using Amazon Day delivery and pieces are coming all at once. I do enjoy unboxing and seeing all kinds of goodies.
10.18.2023
Cozy Loading ...
Is anyone else craving cozy pieces? The crisp chill the last few mornings has me hunting in my closet for the coziest pieces to add to my daily outfit. Yesterday, I pulled out a comfy cardigan from a few years ago to wear for coffee in my pjs, and then I never wanted to get dressed. My favorite thing about fall is the extra cozy layer or two. With the new closet, I am very picky about what I am purchasing as I do not have a lot of space, so it is a one-in and one-out policy. I found when I folded my sweaters and hung up my shirts, I had a number of navy sweaters and way too many blue-striped shirts. It is time to add some variety and color to the mix. So, with space in mind, here is what is on my mind to replace a few older sweaters I have that I am ready to part with.
10.17.2023
Metallic Shoes For Fall
I am pulling together my outfits for next week's trip to Palm Beach and, while doing so, am looking to add a bit of fall to my coastal fall wardrobe. The easiest way is with a cute sweater, or two, and some fun metallic shoes. Metallic is a big element this year, and I love all the options for gold and silver shoes. The shoes I am choosing will be for dinner, so a fun heel is what I am looking to find.
10.16.2023
Match South Atlanta Collection
Happy Monday, it is brisk and chilly, and I am loving it. I am off to the Waffle House this morning for a fun event featuring Match South's brand-new collection of prints and candles featuring icons from around Atlanta. The Atlanta Collection launches today and I am dying to sniff all four new candles and enjoy the preview while enjoying breakfast at such an iconic Atlanta spot.
10.12.2023
10.10.2023
My New Favorite Dress ...
Last week, I made a trip to the mall. Yes, that needed a period, because I can not tell you the last time I went to the mall. I walked the whole thing, got an iced tea and a warmed cookie, and walked into multiple shops. It was so much fun, and I came home with some darling goodies. I intended to go to Dillard's and the new Mango shop, which I did, and then I was inspired to walk around and see more. I tried on and chose new glasses from Warby Parker, shopped at J.Crew and Anthropologie, and snagged a tea and cookie from the Nordy café.
10.09.2023
Things Of Note ...
It is crisp, clear, and chilly today, and I love it. Typically, I dread the end of summer, but for some reason, I was very ready to see it end this year. I love the chill in the air in the morning and the idea of a great sweater to cozy up all day. It is sweater weather, and I am here for it. 💗
10.04.2023
Organization Tools
While I was at my parent's house for Alabama parent's weekend, I shared a bit of my mother's insane organization. She is the most organized person I have ever known. Now you know why I am type A, I thrive with organization, although my skills are put to shame by hers. She shared with me a bit ago that her favorite drawer and shelf liner is carried at Walmart and I immediately snagged some for myself. I am in the process of switching out ours for her favorite one and I am really thrilled with how good it works. It stays put, is easy to wipe down, and from what I understand, lasts a long time. So, not to gatekeep things, here is the low down on what I am using and how I am staying organized in our kitchen and bathrooms.
10.03.2023
Happy Birthday Weezie Towels
Oh, happy day!! It is a great day for shopping as the Weezie Towels Birthday Sale has just begun. For two days you can get 25% off anything on the site including items that are currently on sale. I shopped yesterday with early access and purchased two bath towels with monograms and two more makeup towels. We are an exclusively Weezie towel household and I can not say enough good things about Weezie and their products. I love how soft they are, how well they wash, and how beautiful they are. If you are new to Weezie this is the time to try them out, and if you are a Weezie lover, like us, it is time to stock up.
10.02.2023
My Closet, Six Months Later
9.29.2023
Fall Sale at WOM
If you love fall and are a Halloween enthusiast, check out Waiting on Martha's I Love Fall sale. WOM is a local shop, and I can not tell you how often I pop over to grab something. It is always a gem of a store. The shop owner, Mandy loves fall and Halloween, and her inventory is like no other. This sale is so good and fun that you must check it out.
9.27.2023
Some Love For Mango
Over the last two (ish) years, I have found and purchased a few things from the Mango website. I find their stuff to be a much better quality than what you can find at H&M while still being very affordable. We have discussed fast fashion in the past and I try to steer clear and do my part, but I do have a number of retailers I love to shop at, and Mango is one of them. The last item I purchased was the bag I used last weekend, and I loved it and all the compliments I received on it. It is a great staple; I know I will have it for years.
9.26.2023
UA Family Weekend
9.19.2023
Gameday Outfits
9.18.2023
It's Giving ... Fall Feels
Only three days until the first day of fall ... and this morning, I think I felt the first tiny crisp in the air. With that, I am now all into the fall vibes, and all the fall looks.
Happy Monday!
9.12.2023
The New Speedy ...
A few of you spotted my new purse on Instagram while I was shopping at the Fresh Market over the weekend. If you recall, my car was broken into in February while I was stopping to grab a slice of pizza from a local spot. I was in the restaurant for about 25 minutes and found my back passenger side window wholly gone. It was unreal to me, and I remember having to put my hand in the space to realize there was no longer a window. It was such a fast and clean break, it left very little glass in the window. The car was another story altogether. When I first inspected the car I thought all was intact, but after my husband informed me that my purse was not in fact at home as I thought, I realized it and its contents were stolen.
(the stolen bag above)
9.11.2023
Things Of Note ...
How can it be mid-September? Is anyone else shocked that we are in the year's fourth quarter?? It has flown by, and honestly, I need time to slow down a bit, I want to savor it more. We are a bit more than a week before the official start of fall and I have not finished my summer bucket list. I need to get on it, maybe at record speed. We shall see how well I do.
8.31.2023
Labor Day Sales
Is anyone else craving a little shopping and a lot of relaxing? I definitely prefer to shop during a sale, so here are the sales on my radar. As I find more, I will add to the list, so check back. I hope you are safe from the hurricane whatever you are doing this weekend! We had heavy rains and winds but nothing, and I thought it was intense. I pray for peace for those who have been affected and who still could be. 💗
8.29.2023
It's Closing Time
About two weeks ago, I watched a video from one of the girls I follow on TikTok as she was talking about closing up her apartment for the evening. Her words, "to set me up to have a great morning," really stuck with me. I love mornings, I am a true morning person. A lot of times while I am pouring my first cup of coffee I will see things that need to be handled, and before I know it I am knee-deep in tidying and prepping for the day, and I never really get to sit and enjoy that coffee.
8.28.2023
8.25.2023
College Prep - The Links
If you missed yesterday's post ... first read this, and then this one will make much more sense. Here are the links, the details, and all the in-between.
8.24.2023
What We Packed For College
I was very overwhelmed at the idea of packing for school. I clearly remember my move-in; clothes, bed linens, a bedside light, and a few things I wanted from home in a trunk my stepmother had gifted me covered in school stickers. The move in 1987 was not the same as the move in 2023. Plus I had half a room plus a shared bathroom for four in the two joint rooms and the shower curtain, etc. was provided. Now we were talking about a suite ... so her own room, a shared bathroom, a den, and a kitchenette. The girls and their moms divided up the shared spaces, which made it a breeze, but other than that, I was clueless about what she would "really" need.
8.23.2023
Fall Blooms With Lake Pajamas
On Monday, Lake Pajamas released its fall collection, and, per usual, I am smitten. There is something about sliding into Pima cotton at the end of the day that feels like the best hug. I have shared many times about my love for pajamas, and it will not shock you to find out that I have two pajama drawers, one of which is filled with Lake. I have two favorite PJ companies, and Lake is one of the two. Once you try them, it is hard to quit, the softness is really like no other.
8.21.2023
Things Of Note ...
Well, hello.
I can't believe it's been over two months since I blogged. I have never taken this kind of time away and didn't mean to do so this time. I did not plan to take the summer off, but looking back, I am super thankful I did. I needed it. I needed to completely plug into our family and my girl before she started her journey in college. I look at the photos and videos on my phone and know it was so good for me and us.
7.06.2023
S&L at up to 40% off ...
One of my favorites is having a massive July sale; at up to 40% off, you want to take advantage of it. We have several S&L pieces, including this cart, and have loved each and every one of them. I have a second smaller cart, a tray or two, bed linens for our second guest room, and many small items we use regularly. And how could I forget Millie's beloved dog bed? Everyone asks about it when I post her in it, and it's on sale too. I have chosen some of my favorites for you ... and at these prices, you definitely want to check it out.
6.30.2023
Happy 12th To Waiting on Martha
6.27.2023
My Favorite Tunic
I have a new favorite item in my closet, and I am thrilled to share it with you today. I work with Holly Shae a ton and while I was in Seaside, I stopped in a store that Holly had recommended, Cabana, and found a darling tunic in one of her darling designs. I snagged it thinking it would be perfect for our beach bonfire, which it was, paired with white shorts and sandals. After wearing it Tuesday night and again on Thursday evening I could tell I would be wearing it a lot and decided to purchase a second tunic in a different print. I know have two and would truly wear them on rotation if no one would notice, they are that good.
6.26.2023
She Wear Seashells ...
6.23.2023
Florida Friends ... Sale!
My darling friends from Florida have released a second collection with Lisi Lerch, which might be better than the first. I love all things Florida and this collection speaks to my shell-collecting, sun-worshiping self in the best way. With accents of rattan, palm fronds, and coral it is hard to choose my favorites. During our recent trip to Florida, I wore a few pieces from the collection which made me love it even more. Well, until I see it is 40% off for a limited time which makes it a MUST-have.
6.16.2023
Piece of Cake
My girl and I are headed out of town late Sunday afternoon for a fun few days in Seaside. I am super excited; I love car trips with her, but also, because my friend Mary is launching her second book next week! We are meeting to celebrate her and have the best few days laughing and cheers-ing this fabulous new book. If you are new to Mary Huddleston and her fabulous delegate all life ... you will love her. She is the queen of tables, sources, great life tips, and an all-around great time. She makes me laugh the hardest, whether with or at her, and trust me, she will love that comment. 😉
6.15.2023
Lake Summer ...
Did you think I was sharing that it would be a summer at the lake? Oh, I wish, but no. I have the best news today as Lake Pajamas has released its summer collection, which is oh-so-good. Think Americana meets Palm Beach ... perfection. I always think Lake's best collection comes out for summer, as I love a good red + blue theme all summer.
6.14.2023
Things Of Note ...
Oh, my list for this blog post is so long. I have had a list running of things I needed to share and it was more than time to share it all. I have some darling and fun things to share with you, along with a few new to me businesses, and those are always so fun!!
Let's get to it ...