Fashion Show & Feels Like Snow

Writing By The Fireside ... 

I never do look forward to a warm December here in Florida, so as much as I've anticipated the arrival of cold weather, I shall do my best not to gripe about how frigid it is. At least until the end of February. By that point, I'm gearing up for bathing suit weather at the gym, and most certainly on the hunt for a bikini. . . much to my dismay, I never accomplish changing the weather that early in the season :( so I may as well not get my hopes up. 

On a more cheerful note, WINTER IS HERE, I've made 2 fires in the fireplace, put up a Christmas tree at my apartment and at Ry's.

I welcomed December on November 30th, celebrating the

Victoria's Secret Holiday Fashion Show 

on t.v. and had some of my sweet girlfriends over. 

We had cupcakes and watched the fashions, the amazing shoes, and of course, the models! Lots of fun involved, and even had a "panty swap" where each person brought a new pair of cute undies to "Secret Santa" / swap with each other! Of course, I went all out on my cupcake recipes + decorating for the party. My inspiration was a "candy land" meets "winter wonderland". Turqoise (T&Co.) + Hot Pink with Silver.  Here are a few peeks from the evening: 

 Chocolate Babycakes + Dollop of Peppermint Buttercream

Dining Room Table All Set Up For Victoria's Secret Fashion Show! 

 

Strawberry Babycakes Topped With Turquoise Homemade Buttercream Frost 

I am off to watch Gossip Girl, my vice! 

xoxo 

 B

Closet-Rummage

Well, I hope everyone had a marvelous Thanksgiving this past weekend!
I spent time with my family back home, and also did some short traveling to spend some of Thanksgiving with the Love Of My Life's family too! Lets just say that 5 days without an alarm clock, was quite glorious!

While my Love whiled away his hours in the library this weekend, I crawled into my crafting closet and decided to start a few small projects. First up - repurposing the cork board that my mother had found in my childhood closet, add a bit of ribbon, some burlap (because it's so french and country it's automatically chic!), and of course, my finishing touches! It will be an inspiration board, an "in the moment- what I love" board, just whatever I please :)

Next up, finishing some decorative touches to my 4th Annual Victoria's Secret Holiday Fashion Show party this Tuesday. The girls are coming over for cupcakes and bubbly, we'll watch the fashion show and have a panty-swap from V.S. ((a more FUN option to a "white santa" gift swap))





Okay time for bed! Good night ya'll - hope everyone's week is off to a fabulous start!

xoxo
B

For The Past 6 Months

My feet have been off the ground for the past half a year.
I've finally found what was waiting for me.
And it was certainly more than worth the nearly 24 & 1/2 years I had to wait to meet him ...

My Musing Spot

 There once lived a girl with so many crafty and creative ideas in her mind, that she needed a place to put all of them. They would have to be in plain sight, lest she fall prey to the adage "Out of Sight - Out of Mind". So, when the opportunity arose, after a year of dreaming up her creative outlet space ... she said "Ta-Ta" to the Washer & Dryer and made better use out of her utility closet!

She dreamed & she schemed, collecting photos of chic little spaces for over a year. Choosing a color scheme would be hard, as she loved the bright hues, but wondered if they would be too distracting for her to usefully use her new space. If she could wallpaper, it would be a designer pattern, with large florals. But sadly, this office space wasn't able to be wallpapered. She will have to wait for a home with a permanent address for that. Still, she planned.

Ikea and Tarjet, Michaels and JoAnne's ... all her most favorite spots for everyday items, soon became scouring spots for her to find deals on little papers, cute notebooks, storage boxes and neat organizational items. If this girl was going to stay organized, it had better be fancy! 

 Now each girl has her own vision for "HER SPACE" and if there were no limitations, this would be hers. Robins egg blue, that bold floral patter, calendars, clocks and a cute chandelier. Taking this picture into dissection, she quickly made a list of all it would require.

Two of her most favorite assets this office must have, are a ribbon collection and inspirations to be had! A huge party planner and designer indeed - a gorgeous glamorous inspiration board is all I really need!

 The ribbon collection had started to grow, but she must wait for Christmas for that one she knows. A special order, handmade with a twist, would be the spool she designed from her sweet step-dad as a gift!

Now she's all settled in her new little abode, this girl spent the first day making her office her "home".  The boxes and storage, cute papers and all, came together so sweetly and she had a ball! She sits and she muses, at her little desk. She's crafty and creative, and can make quite a mess! But that's just as well, as the curtains can close, and she can come back as often I suppose!

First DIY with Ry

Good Evenin' Ya'll!! 

Happy Sunday & I hope your weekend was full of "W"'s for your alma mater & favorite college football teams! I know mine was ... GO NOLES >----->>

Prior to the two big games of our weekend, Ry & I headed out to Home Depot to buy some wooden legs so that our dream of creating nifty, thrifty nightstands would finally come to fruition. I had found a little suitcase for $6 outside of a thrift store in Tampa & picked it up knowing that Ry had another suitcase.
Once at Home Depot, we spent $5 on a can of stain, few cents on a paint brush, and eight legs for our 2 suitcases at 80 cents a piece. All the tools we needed, the Man had at home :)

It only took about an hour for us to put these babies together and they're just so stinkin' cute! Here are a few shots from our first ((of many)) DIY projects!

Voila!! Unique & Manly Nightstands

 

 

 

 

 

 

Style. Redefined!

Glamorous. Classic. Organized.

As I'm moving in to my new apartment, one that finally has "good bones" ... about 7 months after my last "good bones" apartment on the West coast - I'm getting terribly excited to re-style.

Without purchasing a lot of new home accessories, my plan is to utilize bright and bold paint to make the largest impact. I'm sure that all the mulling over paint chips and fabrics is more than any "normal" person would put into a new temporary home, but alas, I need to feel at home! If even for a year long lease. 

This time around, I'm taking a slightly more sophisticated, glamorous approach.

Influences for re-style:

1. I have a mad love affair with botanical chinoiserie patterned wallpapers.
2. Antique furniture with  clean, feminine lines to it. In light colors. Or dark stained wood.
3. Large one-flower bouquets. And I mean large (see above).
4. Love for strong and bold colors on walls. 
5. Re-vamped outlook on "live-ability" while still being stylish.

 darling drapery,bright upholstered chairs, functional table

definitely loving the pink fabric, & large peony bouquets throughout the house

Loving these colors, fabrics and that curvy little night table!!

 

 ....

.....

......

....

...

.

 

Okay, enough dreaming and scheming for now~ Off to a good night's sleep! 

xoxo

b

Farewell City on the Gulf

Well, this weekend was my last while living here on the West coast of FL.
I'll be sad to move, but seeing as how none of my *bests* will be living here much longer, and I have amazing opportunities awaiting me on the other coast, I shouldn't be terribly sad.
We all know there will be weekend trips to visit and plenty of fun to still be had!
 I got to lay out this weekend, get a nice tan for the upcoming weddings, and pack. And pack. And buy more storage containers. Ugh. I'm really looking forward to not moving for the next 3 years!!!!
Between all my packing, the Love of My Life and I got to chatting about future plans in our new city, and somehow his pup Izzy came up in conversation. Izzy was rescued from a dumpster when she was little bitty and Ry has had her ever since. She's the most obedient, loving, cuddly, 75 lb. lab I've ever met <3 Love her dearly! Since we don't know her exact birthday, we gave her one. September 23. That is when we're throwing her her FIRST EVER Paw-ty!! We have a couple of friends in our new home that have a pup we've been dying to introduce Izzy to. I'm looking forward to another excuse to throw a fun party, making a "pupcake" for Iz and Charlie, as well as cupcakes and drinks for the humans :)
Below is a fun board I just threw together:

Enjoy the last fleeting moments of your weekend. I'm dreading tomorrow as a workday, but I'll welcome it as a break from packing!!!

xoxo
 b

Lulu's Bridal Shower

In less than 3 weeks, my baby sister is getting married! Crazy how time flies ... seems like just  yesterday I was putting her in a laundry hamper & dragging her down the marble hallways of our house. Or playing "Pocahontas" in our tree house and swings. Or being dressed alike for major holiday parties ((plaid dresses with itchy gold trim... thanks Momma))
         But anywho - we are quickly approaching wedding weekend for Lulu & her Fi Kyle.

 I've been thrilled to be the Maid of Honor and able to provide my creative talents, combined with my mother's, to put on a gorgeous event. While ya'll will have to wait for wedding decor photos, I wanted to share some of my favorite shots from her shower that I hosted (and catered, and designed, and emcee'd!) Held at our home church, we had so many wonderful women attend that have been a part of Lulu's life since she was teeny-tiny in the nursery!

     I wanted her shower to reflect her personality - using bright, bold summer colors. Lulu is not afraid of color!! The smallest details to the cupcake sticks, were all DIY by yours' truly. I incorporated a few vintage pieces, since the couple's new kitchen will be in "retro diner" style. Overall, we had a blast and I can't wait to have another shower / party / wedding to design!
        

Cupcakes in flavors of Orange Creamsicle / Vanilla Frost

Red Velvet / Buttercream Frost, & Pink Lemonade / Lemon Frost

Since her shower was "Around The Clock" I decided to scour thrift stores for old timey clocks. With a couple coats of spray paint in my color scheme - we got an adorable start on the center pieces. I added some tin pails and fresh flowers, all placed on a bright fabric square - really tied it all together! 

Our favours were tins of "retro candy shoppe" goodies ~ Nik'L Nips, Salt Water Taffy, Beejee's gum, tootsie rolls & peppermint melts. All from my favorite local candy store "Candy Kitchen"

To add some color to the drink table, Izze soda's were a no-brainer! Who doesn't love a good ol' fashioned fizzy flavored water? Thrown in a cute galvanized tin tub ... instant glamour!

Mom did a fabulous job of creating little dresses out of our party napkins. 

We all had a wonderful time and I cannot wait til Wedding Week :)

xoxo

b

Always An East Coast Girl

Well,  I haven't blogged in about a week or so. But *big* changes are coming soon!! 

I'm very excited and blessed to announce that I will be moving back to the East Coast of Florida, and further North ... which means more seasons, cooler weather, and closer to cities I love like Savannah & Charleston. And I'll be a "same-city girlfriend" to the Love Of My Life. We have been long-distance nearly 4 months by the time I move!! :) 


On Labor Day, I interviewed with a family for a full time - live out nanny position. This job is taking care of an adorable and polite (yet, very DIVA-ish) 4 year old little girl, and being a "Mother's Helper" on 1 of the days during the week. This is a Monday-Friday gig, and a tremendous blessing for getting a large pay raise (compared to grueling hours for little pay in Minor League Baseball).  I'm thrilled to have my weekends back to myself and the Handsome Man. I will start there late September, and hope to sign a lease after my sister's wedding week!!  :) 

While in my last post I wrote about my *creative* brain explosions ((too many hours of brain storming + day dreaming led to a lot of motivation to get started on my own business)) ... I wanted to find a way to help others while developing my talents in events ((start small)).
I did a bit of research for children's hospitals in my *New City* & I followed up on how to get involved in them. I am starting to volunteer for one hospital, get to work with pediatric patients who are in long-term hospital settings, and hopefully pass out some business cards to the families who stay there also. My first small-step dream for doing events, is to build birthdays and holiday parties for pediatric patients who have to be hospitalized during a special holiday. I want to alleviate the stresses on the parents, siblings and other family members by just going in and decorating the room, providing cupcakes or cakes , banners, balloons, etc. all in a whimsical - take-me-away dreamy occasion. Every child deserves to have a birthday that's memorable, and if they can't get away, I want my parties to take them elsewhere. If only for a few hours. 
When I mentioned my idea to the Love of My Life, he said that was a great idea ((supportive; as ALWAYS!)) and he wanted to sign up to volunteer with me. I'm excited that I will be using my "free time/ me time" to help others. It's only a few hours a week ... but what a blessing this could be to let God use us to share our happiness with others! 
 I'm very excited, as well, to be joining the Women's Board at one of the hospitals. They host two large events per year, that are known as some of the best cultural fundraisers in the city. I can't wait to make new friends, display my talents with others, and raising money for the hospitals. 

A lot to do once I move and I welcome it all :) 
God is good and He answers prayers! 

xoxo 
 b 

While I Have The Time ...

Dear 6 Little Followers (& all others who have happened upon my page :)

I'm not sure if you're "supposed" to blog twice in one day, but to make up for all the days that I have missed (and the numerous creative musings that I have had to jot in a notebook & forget about until nearly now) ... I am going to post twice today. That's right. I'm a rebel ;) 

So, as most of you know, I work in Minor League Baseball & have been waiting anxiously, for the 10-12 hour workdays to cease. Although, with that comes the ceasing of my overtime and somewhat decent pay. While my job duties are nearing the end, so is my lease on life here in Somewhere Southern on the Gulf. The L.o.m.L (Love of my Life) is in law school in North Florida & I'm anxious to get my heart+head where it needs to be.    
So I'm going on my first interview this holiday weekend, and praying for the best! Meanwhile, since work has slowed, my creative wheels have begun ' a turning! I decided that I will no longer sit back & say "oh ... yes ... my dream job is to one day ...." Now is the opportunity for me to move out of the sports industry and into something I love to do. I've decided that while I take a semi-permanent job in N.Florida, I will put all the "EXTRA" time I've missed out on for 2 years, to good use. I will draw up a business plan, I will run my plan by fellow entrepreneurs.  I will shadow women-owned businesses nearby, ask them questions and pick their brains about what motivated them. I have realized that 80% of my family members are entrepreneurs, either as a full time job or turned a hobby / talent into a profit. I have the drive and I want to take the risks, to get my creative ideas out there. Sure, other people have done what I'm dreaming of doing - but I have something special to bring. And they will love it. 
So, "BRING IT ON WORLD!" as I announced after college graduation.

I'm breaking out of the corporate world. Venturing into my own world. And the world will love my ideas and talents. 
Below is a cool "creativity challenge" from a blog I saw. I'm going to answer the questions and see where it leads me. Maybe you should do the same. Take your hobby and talents & do something with them. Something worth sharing. You can't be scared to go for it :)

           xoxo 
                  b

1. Write ten things you love.
2. Write five things you would do if you knew you wouldn’t fail.
3. Write five alternative lives you would like to live other than your own.
4. Write four tiny things you can do in the life you have to bring you closer to those imagined lives.

Twelve Little Girls

As a child of about 1 and 1/2 years old, my parents put a book in my hands. As I got older, we would read together or take turns. Each night with my father, I got to pick out a book to read for bedtime. There was my collection of 80+ Bernstein Bear books, Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes, Dragon Tales, and my repeated favorite: Collection of Madeline / Mad About Madeline stories all in one large hardcover book. Those were just the favorites.

While I was reading through an article by a fellow blogger this week, and she posed these questions:

What childhood books do you visit again and again? 

Which heroines taught you what kind of woman you want to be?

I would have to vote "Madeline" on this answer. She wasn't necessarily a heroine, but a small, French girl who attended a boarding school / convent in Paris. Perhaps from the sketched illustrations of Parisian scenes, my love for all things fleur-de-lis, Parisian and chic, evolved. 

Madeline lived in a world of structure, in "two straight lines" ... the youngest (and also, smallest), and created a tad bit of excitement over, well, anything! :) 

The proper dress and stature of these twelve little girls, their wide brimmed hats and impeccably pressed dresses, are timeless and elegant, even at a young age. Paris women know style, and I bet they always have! So, although not a heroine, Madeline certainly would be my childhood character of choice.  

xoxo & have a fabulous weekend 

b

Big Blooms for Spring

My last post was for a winter wedding - tonight I felt inspired by my absolute favorite blossom, the ever color changing hydrangea!! Love the french inspired invitations, as well as the greens + blues, which have been  my favorite colors for a very long time :)

I love the idea of a "pie table" ... instead of the traditional yukky formal wedding cake!

xo
 b

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

Sneak Peak From Lulu's Shower

Hey Ya'll!!

Things have been a bit crazier than usual this week, but in leiu of all the time, creativity, effort and energy put into my baby sister's wedding shower, I wanted to share a few of my  favorite photos from the event.

Photo's were taken by my cousin and a friend of my sisters' who does a lot of creative art :-)
Here they are, more to  come!!

Mini-Cakes made & frosted by moi! Paper flower cuppy inserts handmade by moi, as well!

Family Ties <3

Cutest & Quite Yummy Sparkling Water

I'll post more once I'm back at my little house and ready for the week!

xoxo

 b

Slight Breeze

Today was nice. It was Tuesday. Nothing out of the ordinary. But perhaps the turn of seasons is approaching. I know that as soon as I mention "f-a-l-l" it will get scorching hot again, but there was a bit of coolness to the breeze today and the humidity wasn't so treacherous.
Maybe it was all in my head, since the quarterly Nordstrom Fashion Rewards catalog magically appeared in my mailbox (ok, so no magical that I have a credit card with them...but a girl's gotta be well heeled). Of course, featuring cashmere and wool blend tights for fall, lovely warm trench coats, adorable fedora hats and accessories to boast. I read through the editorial style of the 'zine and proceeded to tear out and keep only the pages which I felt would be relevant to building (i.e.- adding on to) a fabulous fall wardrobe. It was a year ago, this time that I was a newby to the high fashion world of Nordstrom, and although I do not miss the agonizing pain in my legs and feet from 8 hours of standing in the most trendy bootie-heels or wearing SpanX under my sweater dresses, I do miss the "Occasion" of getting ready for work. I was allotted creativity without boundaries (as long as it didn't have open toes or showed my armpits) and it was truly F U N to go to work everyday and basically spend other people's money $!
Back to where I was originally going with this, is that just maybe by hope and stroke of luck, Fall will show her beautiful golden crisp self a bit early this year (by FL standards) and perhaps today was the start of it. Or maybe I'm hallucinating from the heat+humidity and just the glimpses of fall fashion was enough to make my heart believe it was a glimmer of fall weather today.
Either way, end of summer is always glorious. Boasting of good tan skin (Ok, not this year, had no time for that) and warm summer weather slipping away in the evenings, makes me yearn for a gorgeous front porch, a good swing or rocker, and a glass of Sun Tea with a mint leaf, for good measure. Until my Porch Charming arrives with the changing of leaves, I'll settle for these eye-catching beauties found all over the South.




xoxo


 b

Imma Bee ...

Inspirations for the store I will one day open :)

Sadly, I'm working *AGAIN* this Saturday, baseball is almost over!! Must bee off !

xx
 B

A New Coat of Paint

Perhaps I'm a bit late in feeling the "spring cleaning" bug - or maybe I just need a new project list but anywho, I've decided to create a feeling of light and airy uniformity in my home, cozy little apartment that it is!
As an antique lover, I bought all of my furniture because it had a story behind it. It's all somewhat matching shades of wood, but every piece has it's own shape & detail to it. I knew that one day, when I had that "vision" and a whole lot of time ... that I would get around to making these pieces just how I want them.

Project List 

(hopefully in order of completion, but I'm a bit A.D.D so I may jump from one piece to the next) ...

1. China Hutch in my dining room - sand, prime, paint outside & inside backing
2. Dining Room table - sand, prime, paint, distress, coat of shiny stuff 
3. Dining Room chairs - complete re-upholstering last 2 chair seats, oil base paint and distress chairs, leaving darker than the table
4. Craft Bookcase - it's pre-assembled MDF, add bead board to back, paint contrasting color on case
5. TV Stand - this was a Goodwill find and has served it's purpose, not sure WHAT to do with it, so I will post pics once I complete projects 1-4. Ya'll can give me your ideas then! 

Hutch Inspirations

(lots of blogging & google imaging to find what I "see" in my mind!!)

  

Next Up: Dining Room Table 





Dining Chairs:
My current chairs need to have their pictures taken & uploaded here. I have 2 of each chair, 4 total.
I'd like to keep the look of a chippy-painted with the orginial wood underneath.
Also to come, good quality pictures of the $deal$ fabric I scored to re-cover them.
More On Those Later!


Book Case Re-Do:


My thoughts are to add bead board to the back of my el-cheapo MDF book case.
Add some molding to the top of it
Maybe put some cute round feet or little curvy legs on the bottom
Paint the bookcase itself a bright white & the bead board a coral-y color (seen in my living room)
Maybe not add a curtain like below, but use the Ikea storage containers (like below) that I already have to hide my crafty stuff!

Here's a quick inspirational shot or two:

                                                                                             

Misc.


Well, as soon as I'm done house-sitting and back in my own sweet little abode, I'll snap some shots of furniture that will need inspiration too, as the aforementioned TV stand and chairs.
I should also probably drag out my sewing machine & whip up those 3 remaining pillows for my black+cream damask with Tiffany blue styled boudoir!

Thanks for Catching Up !!

xo
b

Move Over Barbie - Ballard Barn Is Here!

Well, it's been quite a fun weekend + a while since I last posted anything, so here goes:
Highlights Since My Last Post:

• LOML is going to Law School! In FL!
• Baseball season is half-way over, only 30 something more games!
• Spent weekend laughing + enjoying time with the LOML
• Shopped @ H&M :)
• Shopped @ IKEA :)
• Cooked + ate dinner outside <3
• Saw Toy Story 3 + laughed my butt off!

Okay, so the Handsome Man in my life is moving + needing some house stuff ... he has what I like to call the "Man-sentials": big flat screen TV's, couch, desk, bed, iPod dock + laptop.
Needless to say, a bit of female direction was given this weekend, as we had a blast roaming through stores of house stuff ... dreaming mostly, but accomplishing some great stuff @ IKEA. Oh yea + he has a sharper clothing look now that he will be going to law school... he's handsome as anything in whatever he wears, except this Orange&Blue alma mater stuff ...  :-P yuk! Anyway, a trip to Urband Outfitters + H&M may have been for him!

After seeing so many beautiful house accessories, I really am craving a HOME!! Somewhere permanent. Somewhere with someone I love. Okay, so it's not just the pretty house stuff that makes me want that, I've dreamed of that all my life. I almost feel it's within reach now. Thank the Lord, really!!

But back to the decor {{because we know, that is my "thing"}} ... decided to play around on Polyvore + create my dream living room. Just the pieces, until they make a program where I can really make a room + actually dress it up like a real house. I blame all of this on my Barbie Dream House, circa 1990. Thank you, Mattel.

For Your Viewing Pleasure, I Present My  "Ballard Barn"
 {{Ballard Designs+PotteryBarn inspired}}