Summer Lovin'

Happy Saturday Y'all !

I've been a faithful little blogger lately and I really have the itch to keep it up! So in honor of the weekend, 

I thought I would do a fun little free-thinking post about a secret ... I'm a fan of making lists. There. I said it. 

I love making lists. 

So much so, that I need these pretty little Etsy babies ...

SimpleSongDesigns @ Etsy

...Actually, I have a lot of love for paper products in general...

I've always wanted some vintage First Class Mail type of papery ...

Paper Source

and don't even try to pull me out of any sort of gift & paper shops...

Paper Delights, Seattle

...and, my personal favorite in the Virginia Highlands of Atlanta

Dabberdoo, Virginia Highlands

and every Southern girl needs her personalized stationary...

 {my favorite notes are from Southern Pines Paper Co. in North Carolina}

Boatman Geller Stationary ~ A Classic Must

  ...and just because I'm out of school, doesn't mean I don't need cute notebooks...

You can always find one in my bag ...

 

 

Lilly Pulitzer Stationary

So, I admitted my love for paper products. And I always attempt to shop local when it comes to purchasing items like these! So now, time to list my Top 25 Loves of Summer ... I'll mark the list in my cutest nearby notebook too ... 

1. Mason Jars of Fresh Lemonade
2. Homemade Ice Cream
3. Hammocks
4. Late sunsets
5. Warm ocean breezes 
6. Salt-&-Sea skin
7. Lightning Bugs
8. Loads of Books to Read
9. Ice Cream Any Time of Day
10. Walks on the Beach
11. White Linen Pants
12. Big Floppy Hats
13. Vacations & Road Trips
14. Baseball Games
15. Fireworks
16. Summer Movies {always the best}
17. Strawberry Milkshakes
18. Yard Sales
19. Big, Dark, Ominous Thunderclouds
20. Tree Swings
21. Dark Red Juicy Sweet Watermelon
22. Yard Games
23. Tubing at the Springs
24. Bike Rides at Sunset
25. Half-Yearly Sales at my favorite stores 

Hope y'all enjoy the rest of your weekend! Be with the ones you love.

xo

b

Inspiration Boards

These are a few of my favorite boards that I've created in the past ... trying to create some more as I have 2 upcoming events to add to my portfolio in the next couple months.
Just wanted to share a quick inspiration-board treat for your eyes!

Sweet Southern Winters

I'm already dreaming of a December wedding - inspired by a few choice color palettes, this is the first. A gorgeous pale steel blue, snowdrop white, charcoal grey, & hints of champagne ... * sprinkled here & there *

Here's the board I created for a Southern belle's winter wedding. 

She loves antiques & all things vintage. 

She is proper yet fun.

She is girly & fabulous, forever a ballerina.

She loves tradition, yet loves to make her own way!

Thanks to Style Circle & Style Me Pretty for some images and board creator! 

xoxo

b

Just some Blog-Spiration

Have y'all heard of Polyvore?? It is the most FUN site to create inspiration boards & you can make your own "sets" or browse others! I have used it for inspiration for outfits to take on fabulous vacay's, wedding showers, and sometimes just to work! (You know, when I used to have to be very fashion-forward at my old job in the high-end department store!)

So, ramblings aside (it is LATE & my warm bed is calling) ... I just wanted to toss this inspiration board I made at www.Polyvore.com (free accounts!) for one of my *bests* lingerie shower that I am hosting. It's my first big affair for one of my friends in relation to their wedding. How sweet it is to be part of a couple's life in this way. The theme is Upper-East Side -meets Southern beach girl in the springtime! I have already bought black damask-ish print napkins & plates ... All attendants are asked to wear black /white or a combo of both, and I'd love for the Bride-To-Be to wear *PiNk* ... she'll look stunning, no matter what though! It's a brunchery theme, plush flowers, attention to detail in food & drinks, and not to mention, I'm asking our New Orleanian *best* to bring her cocktail expertise to the table, literally & design a drink for our Bride-To-Be. She will be wonderful & love sharing her talents with us :) B-2-B doesn't want "skanky" lingerie. She's a sweet nightgown & practical kinda gal, so we'll be seeing sweet floral prints and things that are romantic versus raunchy :) I look forward to posting REAL photos of this Lingerie Shower Brunch with ya'll in May. For now, I'll keep dreaming it up! B

Ebony & Ivory... but Mostly Ebony!

This post is for my sweet Mother. Also known to me as "Lady" or "Momma". A woman that loves to decorate & whom I believe has been influencing my taste in decor as well. See, my Momma is a pianist. She plays for our church & is a very-patient teacher to over 40 wonderful students that she opens her *faBuLouslY* decorated home to. She is aahhhmazingly talented! Currently, Momma is on another re-do spree, this time the victim is the living room. It's been a work-in-progress as she has decided which colors she'd like to pull together. The winner.... BLACK! Not to fret, Momma would never do anything tacky. With our flair for French inspired design & a basket full of Ballard Design catalogs, we are turning this living room around. So without further ado, I am showing off all inspirational pieces I have found throughout the wonderful world (or, internet!) in hopes that she will find her own way to incorporate them into her home.

Some of my newest favorite trends are moving further from the famed & loved Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic style, to a more rustic - chic inspired design. Let your mind wander to the farms of the Midwest, wire baskets, chicken wire, crackled & chippy wood, dried leaves & florals, burlap, and Ball jar style lamps that hang solo in old barns. Then add the whimsy that French design has brought us, the Imperial Bee, the Royal Crown, smooth & sexy lines on furniture, moss covered planters sprinkled among monochromatic tablescapes and groupings. It is truly in the smallest details of our home that show who we really are. Momma also loves to display old family photos' and I am hoping to bring new life to the way to show them off! Here goes :)

Upholstery, Pillows & Furniture

Wouldn't you love to cozy up with these unique pillows? Available at Etsy store from blogger "Cute Pink Stuff" here on Blogger! And they would be especially chic in this little chair from BelleEscape.com --->

And they would be especially chic in this little chair from BelleEscape.com I envision the living room with cute fabrics such as ...

I envision the living room with cute fabrics such as ...

Capture the ... bust?!

The "apothecary craze" as I call it, has ranged from Candy Bars at weddings, to moss filled jars emulating green houses, and now, I firmly believe you can use an apothecary jar or bell jar to literally, CAPTURE anything you'd like to be a focal point! Here's an awesome idea, especially for my Musical Momma !

Each room could use a statement piece, imagine this beautiful buffet adorning your foyer...

And maybe an antique collection of Trophy cups ... I like mine with branches!

For an easier replica on a DIY project, I think a re-do on this armoire would be cute: Well my friends, if anyone is reading this ... I am done for now! Check back later for more ideas, and please bear with me on the crazy layouts in these posts, I'm still learning! B