When The "To Do" List Ends

Hey Y'all -

I have been thinking a lot lately about ambitions, goals, beliefs, dreams, and I suppose just life in general. Dangerously deep for me... but just to skim the cream from the top ... y'all know life does keep going without a "to do" list. Or a "wish list" or an "accomplish by..." list.

A hard lesson to learn for my Type-A personality. So this is my "ambition-wish-to-do list" .... and more importantly, what do you do when the "List" gets cut short...{And I don't mean death. So put away that extra frozen Crunchy Beef Casserole and the black pill box hat}

But really, life happens. And I thank God it does! Many times I would rather gripe {or pout, or resist, or be overly dramatic, or sad, or wistful} about a change, but change opens the door to possibility, to new friends, new loves, new growth and new adventures.

So when situations change, people change, you move, they move, jobs are gained, jobs are lost, loves are found, loves are lost, when it comes to the end of the day, where does your "List" stand? 

At the end of the day

I want to stand with my beliefs and dreams, 

hold them tightly to me 

for they are part of who I am, 

and carry on.

Fall - Forward

Hey Y'all -
Monday is done with & thank goodness. Mine was a whirlwind. Literally. Up to my old city home for some closure business and a few antique stores, then back to my little town home {for now}. Glad it's all done with and despite tons of heavy storms, all went smoothly!

Now, I'm all against this hot weather we're having right now, so it's not hard to daydream about fall weather. It's crisp breezes, changing leaves, college football {Lord knows we can't count on anything professional these days}, tailgates, and new fashion trends!
I honestly cannot look at a coat these days or imagine eating anything warmed up more than 250 degrees without startin' to get some sweat beads, but I have found that retailers are pushing fall on us extra early so perhaps it will find its' way to us sooner than we expect... {hey, a girl can dream!}

Now since my stint being educated in "reasonable trends" & selling {higher} fashion at Nordstrom, I feel it's my duty to at least showcase some fall trends for 2011. Sure, many of you might not consider yourselves "fashion forward" and I, by no means, am a "fashionista" chasing the latest + greatest, but you need to know what to avoid and what to gravitate towards this fall, of course, within your personal style level. Challenge yourself to purchase at least 1 trending piece this fall - and my recommendations are a great structured bag or a fabulous pair of flats in python print!

 {Photos Courtesy of: www.nordstrom.com, www.purseblog.com & imshopping.com}

Article No.1: Dramatic Heels for Occasions - More Loafer-Style Day to Day

{if going with a dramatic heel, python + studded varieties are plenty for fall}

Yes, Kate Spade Loafer Kitten Heel

Yes, Tory Burch Reva Monarch Python flat

Article No.2:  Cooler Weather Coming

Burberry Brit Metallic Anorak

Rachel Zoe Collar Cape

Capes & Ponchos Make a Cooler Comeback! Don't run from the word "poncho" - it has a new meaning; utilitarian, wear everywhere jacket!  And capes are always a romantic, more feminine option. Follow examples below:










                                                    Article No.3: 1970's Throw-back

We're talking wide-leg pants and exaggerated shoulders! 

Rachel Zoe Wide Leg Trouser

Elizabeth&James Tie Neck Blouse

 Article No.4: Stop slouching! 

Bags Are Going Less Hobo - And More Structure.

Yes to: Tory Burch McLane Bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No No Hobo

Come Sit a Spell

Hey Y'all!
Hope the weekend has been kind to you ~ I'm sweltering among the July heat + humidity here, but so is everyone else these days!

Thankfully I've had air conditioned entertainment while reading a few great books - so far, I've Laughed Out Loud at improv-comedian Tina Fey in her book "BossyPants" {which I might add, I finished in 24 hours}, as well as some good ol' Southern humor with "Suck Your Stomach In & Put on Some Color: What Southern Mama's Tell Their Daughters, that the rest of y'all should know" {Shellie Rushing Tomlinson} Sure, these books are "chik lit" & completely non-informative, but they make me laugh, and that's a good thing these days! I'm also getting in deeper to "Traveling with Pomegranates" { Sue Monk Kidd - favorite Southern author} which is an inspiring story of a mother & daughter traveling together more as friends and less as parent/child. It was on my "Big List" of things to do & read for the remainder of 2011. I've added pictures of the book covers, because if you're a visual person like me, you'll go into a bookstore looking for it by color, and less by author ;)



Now, back to sitting a spell - we're talking chairs today!

I know last time I shared my "rescue mission" dresser & what a little mess she is! Today I wanted to throw a few ideas out there for a couple of sweet chairs that I have collected in the past few years. The first one, is a native North Carolina chair, made from Henredon and was a steal at $15!! The man in the antique shop said "eh she needs work" and I said "well, want to sell it to me? I'll do the work" so - I got her for cheap when he was hoping to fix & sell for $65. Score #1!
    
 Next up is a little un-marked chair, cane seat and nice carving detail on the back. I haven't a clue where she came from originally, just that I bought her at Patty & Friends in St. Petersburg a few years ago. She complimented a sweet desk from the late 1800s {that I recently had to part with}. So, the "vision" here for these chairs, is to make a statement in a room.

I'm thinking for the Henredon cane back armchair, I want a colored neutral {shh yes there's such a thing!} like a misty grey blue, or a beautiful milk colored cream. {Annie Sloan is the dream paint ... Momma & I are working on locating some around here!} If A.S. is the paint I go with, I'll probably choose Old Ochre, it tends to have grey undertones but comes out a creamy white. Or, if I change my mind and go with a grey-blue, Annie Sloan of course, it will be Paris Grey. >Sidenote< I really like the look of leaving the cane its natural color, which I will probably be do on both chairs.


Now Fairy Chair-mother: If I could snap my fingers & have a new arm chair with the cane back, it would be this little doll:

http://decordpad.com

Of course, what doesn't look sweet when it's in pink, white creamy paint, with a cute antique silver pitcher of peonies next to it?? 

http://decorpad.com

Also, really loving the geometric fabric used on this handsome chair. It's more minimalist than what I've liked in the past but I'm feeling more "vintage minimalist" these days!








 Either way, fabric choices right now are super limited. I'm confused as to which colors I want to use, and if I can't find 4-5 coordinating fabrics all at once, then I'm just not comfortable being "stuck" with 1 fabric & having to mis-match and piece the others together! Anyone ever ordered fabric online? I've found 1 website that I may have to order from, we'll see! Let me know if you have any luck with online fabric ordering!

Well, that's about all I have for now. A bit shuffled and random today, but it's Sunday afternoon & raining, and well, I just should probably take a nap!

xo
b

Rainy Weather Treasures

Hey Ya'll! 

I haven't blogged in too long, but finally, I have something worthy of sharing.
This past week was full of "house chores" that didn't need to be done asap, but just the mundane junk you just don't like to do. {dust all the wood furniture, wash the baseboards, hand-mop the marble floors, etc.} So I was all aboard the productivity train, and while I was at it, made a haul down to Goodwill of some remnants from my move recently. Whatever had not sold at the last yard sale, was a gone'r. I was tired of looking at it and I'm not about to sit outside and scorch for 3 hours on a Saturday again. I was happy with the $97 I made the first round!
So, packed up the car and front seat and took it all to my neighborhood Goodwill.
On my way out of the back building / parking lot, I drove past a dresser that was left for ruin, by a dumpster. But not actually close enough to it, to warrant the trashmen to "take me!"
Well, the treasure hunter in me pulls the car to a stop, I hop out and go to examine the front of this little gem.
Boy was she cute, a man's chest, all drawers, and about 6 feet long. Cute square legs, seeemingly in good condition. And solid, HEAVY wood!
Well, my little Accord just couldn't accommodate her, so I figured better left there.
But then, I dreamed about her.
Seriously y'all.
Some people dream about their Prince Charming coming to rescue them one day.
Not me. I dream about decorating gorgeous homes of mine, and refinishing furniture and designing parties. Honest to goodness! Sometimes you just can't turn off the creative switch. Call me crazy.

Benjamin Moore Favorite Neutrals

So, I dreamt about this dresser. All alone in the parking lot, and I saw potential in her. In my future home, in a misty color, like a blue-grey or a very pale misty green.
Well, I do have a truck sitting in my drive. But I couldn't get her in the bed of my truck without some help.

So, Momma Bear and Larry come home tonight from Chattanooga, and I tell mom about my "treasure".
She, a junker and antique fanatic like me {hey- it's hereditary!} said "Grab the truck keys and let's go see".
It had rained all day and that was 2 nights ago, surely it would be gone.
But, I shrieked when we pulled in to the parking lot and she was still there. Poor, alone, and now soaking wet. Thankfully her paint was oil-based and so the wood hadn't rippled or become soggy.

Drawers Removed & Shelf To Come Out For Baskets

Sweet Legs!

Middle Door Hides 3  Drawers

Mom and I loaded her into the bed of the truck and brought her home. Thankfully, my previous Goodwill run had cleared out a spot just her size, in the garage. Ta-daaa! Larry wasn't so thrilled, but she was free. And I will fix her up, give her new life, and if I don't fall in love with her by then, I'll put it on Craigslist and get $80 for it! So, she needs a bit of a face lift, I want to remove 2 of the drawers and make room for baskets ... actually 4 of the drawers, and put baskets in on each side {symmetry, please}. Then I am going to find some cute glass knobs for her drawer pulls. The center "cabinet door" hides 3 drawers inside. I'm envisioning it as more of an entertainment center with a TV on top and dvd's in the baskets, then the drawers for the Wii and board games and such. Or maybe she'll find a home in my future dining room. Would make a cute buffet. But then we'd have to see if it could hold all of my china and miscellaneous glass pieces. Hmm.. either way, I know it would be fun to fix it up and sell it, but I'm not sure I'll be able to part after all the quality time we'll have spent makin' her perdy!

So, the photos here are of my new lovely treasure. Bear with us, she'll get a face lift soon!

Enjoy your weekend and live beautifully! 

xo 

 b

Caution: Sharing Ahead!

Hey Y'all!

It's been a fun Tuesday here in my lil' town, I was able to have lunch with both my grandmothers, and spend some time running "fun places" with Momma and Mama B.

Since I'm back home, Momma has had to get readjusting to eating at home... I guess empty-nest means no need to cook. But, I'm here and I enjoy cooking so we decided to try out a few new recipes from only the best, Southern Living this week.
Now normally I do not share recipes, especially if it is something that I've created on my own ... I never was good at sharing and I guess that part stuck with me! Anyway - since these recipes are "public knowledge" and printed in the March 2011 and August 2010 issues, I'll share a dinner+dessert duo that is hands-down one of the best {+ easiest} I've had in a while!

Dinner for starters, was Grilled Chicken and Veggie Tortellini:

Take 4 small zuchinni and cut in half, lengthwise. 2 skinless / boneless chicken breasts, 1 T. of Italian herb seasoning {we used fresh and it's the best}, 19 oz. frozen cheese tortellini, 7 oz. refrigerated pesto {in with the pasta that's refrigerated}, 1 can of petite diced Italian herb tomatoes, and fresh parmesan cheese to top.

Fire up the grill and roast the zuchinni and chicken with olive oil + seasonings. Grill zuch 8 minutes and chicken 12 total. Prep tortellini {as directed} Coarsely chop chicken and zuch, tossing with tortellini, pesto and tomatoes. Serve while warm... now I do not scarf my food down, normally I'm a picker and I push it around my plate, but I scarfed this down! So good y'all!!


For dessert, a sweet pound cake inspired by my favorite seasonal fruit - Key limes!
My favorite pie to make is Key lime so I knew this would be a winner " Key Lime Pound Cake"
Now, I made this into 14 small bundt pans and dressed them up for individuals, but you can make a standard size bundt cake that feeds approx.12.

So, grab 1+1/2 C. butter, 3 C. sugar, 6 large eggs, 3 C all purpose flour, 1/2 t. baking powder, 1/8 t. salt, 1 C. milk, 1 t.vanilla extract, 1 t. lime zest and 1/4 C. fresh Key lime juice. After that all is said + done, you're going to make a glaze that will blow your lid!
 Grab the KitchenAid mixer and whip your butter up after you let it soften. Add in sugar, gradually beating at medium until light+fluffy. Add 6 eggs, one at a time while still mixing {gotta love those KitchenAid mixers!} In a different bowl, stir all your dry ingredients together and alternate adding to the mixing bowl with the milk. End with the flour. And careful how fast you add the milk, we got a little sloshy! Near the end, add in the vanilla, lime zest {and I always add a bit more because I like the *tart* factor}, and the fresh Key lime juice.
Pour batter into lightly greased pan {used Pam spray} and bake at 325. Now, set the timer for 1 hour + 20 minutes in you're baking in a bundt pan {large} and 30 minutes in you're doing in the baby bundt pans.
They pop out really easily, and let them cool on a wire rack.
To make your glaze {and be ready to drizzle a.s.a.p} add 1 C. of confectionars sugar, 1/2 t. vanilla extract + fresh Key lime juice (2T.) It should be a bit of a milky consistency, so whisk it together and drizzle over cake. I added a wedge of lime just for pretty's sake! Your mouth will ''mmmmm" with that first bite! A glass of milk never hurts either ;)

Alright, well it's time for dessert y'all! Be thankful I shared a recipe, make that two! I probably won't ever do it again ;)

Happy Eatings!

b

Whirling Dirvish

Hey Y'all

It's the end of the weekend and I just wanted to share my whereabouts as of late. I've contemplated about how best to blog this for a little bit, and so here it is:

On May 31 I lost my job as a private nanny, which was really a blessing because I was just sticking with it until a better opportunity presented itself.
 And, well, it did.
Although it didn't seem much of an opportunity or blessing at the time, with the support of Handsome Man, my family and best friends, I began to see the silver lining.
Within 48 hours of being unemployed, I had made the decision to move home to my "soft landing spot" at my parents home, 2 and 1/2 hours from my "city home" with Handsome Man and all of our friends, our church, and our social lives.
My furniture was up on Craigslist and sold within three days. The parents and Handsome Man were there on the weekend to move me back to my childhood home.
Although life was a whirlwind and I'm now a statistic in the unemployment rate, I couldn't help but be grateful for sticking with a job that I loathed, and only losing the job due to the ..ahem ... eccentric and unreliable nature of the family {4 nannies, now make that 5, in 2 years ... I don't think the nannies are the problem!!!}


What God will show me in the time I have ahead of me, is a mystery. I'm learning to have faith, more than ever before. And to take each day as it comes. All I can do, is have faith and take the step to do the next right thing.
I'm taking the time to save while having low overhead costs {THANK YOU M&L!!}, to dig deeper into my talents and am able to be more selective in my job hunt. I have hopes of returning "soon" {relative term} to my "city home" and landing a job that I will truly enjoy because I was able to be choosy. I'm excited to be given the chance to work on myself, inside and out, my relationships with family and friends now here in my childhood town, and to see what amazing things will come from this move.

I'm also working on writing content for my website to launch and promote my "dream business" of designing and coordinating special events. A few months back I landed on the name "Sugar Bean" - which is a combination of 2 special nicknames from some quite amazing people in my life - "Shug" or "Sugar" is what my Mama B {grandma} has always affectionately called me. And the "Bean" is a nickname among my closest friend and Handsome Man.
I officially own a website domain name and now I'm working on getting all the pieces together, from photos to web content, bio's and such ... all in a place where it can be pretty and functional!
My hope is to begin working with family + friends designing events {birthday parties, luncheons, meetings, socials, weddings, showers, etc} in my "city home" and my "childhood home" :)
The next big goal is the 5 yr plan, where I hope to be making a decent income from designing and coordinating events from the Panhandle to Central Florida. Call me crazy, but I believe in dreaming big.Over the years, I've seen where my talents emerge and I am so thankful that I have been given the inspiration to use them as a launching point for a career.

As I get more settled here at home, I'll begin a few projects ... the few pieces of furniture that did make the move will be needing a facelift soon, and I finally have a garage and yard to work in! And tools, galore! Hope you will check back and see where I'm headed! Even I don't know where that is, it's kinda fun :)

xoxo
b

Memorable Memorial Day Weekend

Hey Y'all!

It's only Tuesday, yet I'm already mentally in the weekend! Memorial Day weekend is my "official" start of summer fashion. This means I will finally be able to start wearing my favorite prepster style ~ Nautical Inspired pieces!!! Each summer I'm drawn to navy and white, wide strips, beachy linen pants, chunky gold and pearl jewelry & amazing espadrille wedges! It's the summer staple that will forever be in style & this weekend, it's time to bring out the stripes!

So, I wanted to bring you just a little slice of Nautical Love from some of my favorite pieces .....

Now, this year is also a bit more special because my Handsome Man & I will be celebrating 1 year together :) Our first meeting was October 30,2009. Our first date was May 29, 2010. And this Memorial Day weekend we will celebrate a whirlwind of a year together, it's had a lot of ups, a couple downs, and through it all, we've made it work! I love you Ry-Bread!!

Hope ya'll enjoy your long holiday weekend! Throw some goodies on the grille & gather with friends and family!
I'll be sure to post from our Memorial Day BBQ that Momma Bear & I are putting on, sometime next week!

xoxo
b

I've Got The Etch !

 Happy Tuesday Y'all!

Hope the weekend was kind to you! I had some much needed relaxation with the ones I love, which is always a treat!

This past week has been a bit crazy but I'm surviving & felt I needed a blog post to help re-focus my creative efforts {as just last Friday I was complaining "I don't have anymore projects to work on that I can do by myself"} so I picked up the special issue of "Easy Decorating" by Woman's Day magazine and began to flip through, rather quickly, dog-earing pages that caught my eye and figured I'd come back to READ the articles soon enough. {I never quite outgrew "lets just look at the pretty pictures" ... Momma is the same :) }

So with my mind focused on finding a few small DIY {not DIY+Ry} projects, I have 2 so far... the list will surely grow!

First of all, there is a cane backed armchair in my bedroom that will one day make it out to the living room. First she will need a new coat of paint {the wood isn't bad but she was only $15, so she's getting some color} & then I'll need to recover her seat in burlap, of some grade. I'm no expert at crafting in burlap, so I might need a trip to Joann's to find some that isn't "itchy"

{I do NOT tolerate itchy well at all!}. After all, no one wants to come to your chic'ly decorated home to sit in your lovely chair, only to find their tail-feathers are itchin' from your upholstery choices!!!

I know I wouldn't. 

So, research by feel @ Joanns the burlap, order stencils in "French fonts" {whatever that means, I'll have to look online for some pretty ones}and get my paints out do the burlap seat as a faux feedsack look. Or maybe I'll make it a bit more industrial looking. Either way, too many steps for right now.

That means that the etching mirror / glass project is next up on the board. Now, I have not etched since my sophmore year in high school, when I hand drew a pair of pointe shoes and their long swirly ribbons onto tracing paper and made my first {and rather impressive} etching.
I still have that mirror, it's not hanging anywhere but it has sentimental value to me; because

1. I actually took an art class
2. It turned out well and I didn't throw it away
3. I drew the design myself & it wasn't ugly

So, it hides under my bed in a storage container. But its meaningful to me :)

Now, back to the magazine ... envision:

• large angled corners mirror
• etched monogram letters
• hung by a *Sturdy* pretty ribbon around a door knob / hanger 

Here are the materials you will need:

• Mirror
• Contact Paper
• Tape
• Letter or design - print out on regular white paper
• X-acto
• QTips for cleanup
• Windex / glass cleaner
• Paintbrush / Sponge brush
• Etching Cream 

1. Cover your glass or mirror completely with contact paper
2. Tape your design on your surface and use an Xacto knife to cut around the design. Peel off only the design.
3. Wipe the exposed space (surface) with a Qtip dipped in Windex and clean the glass surface entirely.
4. Follow the instructions on your etching cream bottle, sponge or brush the surface evenly & let dry
5. When dry, wipe the design again with the Windex soaked Qtip. Remove all remaining Contact Paper
6. If needed, like I did, several more sprays of windex were required to get all the gunk off my mirror. 

I hope y'all will find some ugly mirror laying around, or feel inspired to etch some drinking glasses. It's relaxing, not too time consuming, and if you're really just not artistically blessed with a pencil in your hand {ahem, me} you can print out all sort of fun designs online. I love to use shutter stock for "swirly" vector images and since you're just tracing them, the watermark on their photos doesn't affect the overall design!
I have some glass bath room canisters that might be getting their etch on {simple 1 word labels}
Also a set of 6 little juice cups from Ikea {at 60 cents a piece, love it!} might look cute with a monogram or something on them. If you're obsessed with monogrammed drinkware {ok, or anything } this is a great way to do a gift set or for yourself on the cheap & chic!

I'll be sure to let y'all know how the etching goes with photos! In the mean time, I leave y'all with some photo inspirations I've found around the web!

xoxo
b

A Mother's Love

Happy Mother's Day Weekend Y'all!


I'm not a mom {yet} but I am so thankful for all of the beautiful women in my life who are mothers to those I love so much! I am blessed to have two wonderful grandmothers, a mother of my own, and Ry's sweet mother!

momma+me: day 2

This year, more than any year before, I have realized just how much work and self-sacrifice goes into being a mother. Perhaps my job with the Terror {Lil'One} has brought me that much closer to appreciating all my own mother has done for me, while putting her own needs and desires on the shelf for a while. Or perhaps, it is my maturity, at nearly 26, to know that one day, my life will not be solely about what I want to do, but instead to care for my own family.

Either way, I am so incredibly blessed that God chose my momma to bring me here, raise me, keep me fed and in clean underwear, that taught me manners and etiquette, how to be true to myself, how to be a reliable friend, a Christian example, who showed me strength when it would have been easier to give up, and most of all, who showed me what unconditional love is.

momma+me: day 7,840 {approx}

I think being a Mother is a frightening thing for those of us yet to experience it, but I can rest knowing that my momma didn't have a Ph.D in child psychology or all the books in the world on "how-to raise a kid" but she did it through love, discipline {thank you} & a self-less manner. She is my best friend & I am so thankful for her!

Thank You Momma!!!!

xoxo
your beetle

Bright Sunshine'y Day

I suwannee! {now that  is some good ol' true Southern slang for ya'll}

It's the weekend y'all, and although I am working with the Lil One for a few hours tonight, I'm very excited to have one of the roughest weeks behind me. I can't help but sing in my little mind: