Craving.

Hey Y'all -
Everyone should know that when any girl is craving chocolate, you just don't get in her way!! If at all possible, you take her precious self to the store {or score big by offering to just go get it for her} and get whatever it is she wants. This is one time to never mutter the word "Calories".

And I'm a gal that loves chocolate, in nearly every shape and form... so I thought I would share with you just two of my favorite recipes that can cure any craving for sweets! Read on, but please, don't blame me for the sudden sugar high from that first bite...& yes, currently struggling with a chocolate craving, that is some kind'a bad!

Mrs. Wanda's Chocolate Chip Pie 

• 1 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. flour
• 1 stick of margarine, melted
• 2 eggs, well beaten
• 1 c. semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
• 3/4 c. pecans
• 1/2 c. coconut {I don't usually add it}
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 ready made pie crust {or use your Grannie's recipe, but I don't give out mine!}

Pre-heat oven to 350. Blend the sugar, flour, margarine and eggs. Stir in the rest. Pour in pie crust and bake for 30-35 minutes. Enjoy & Share It With Friends :) 

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies - 
We're talkin' *serious* chocolate!!! 

• 1/2 c. unsalted butter, room temp
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 & 1/2 c. flour
• 1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp. each baking soda, baking powder, & salt 
• 1/2 c. chocolate chips *we use Ghiradelli special dark around here*
• 1/2 c. milk chocolate chips

Pre-heat to 350. Cream butter+sugar, add egg+vanilla. Slowly add pre-mixed dry ingredients to the mixing bowl. Fold in chips at the end. Roll dough into 1.5 inch balls & bake for about 12 minutes. Grab a big ol' glass of milk to wash these down with!!

Family Affair

Hey Y'all ~

 I wanted to share a bit with you from Momma's birthday surprise - but first, a little background...

Now, every year since my sister Lulu was born, Momma has made sure to get our portraits done professionally, every 5 years {since we're 5 years apart}. The first was when Lulu was just at "zero" & yours truly, was a wretched 5 year old, attempting to adjust to life with a baby sister around.

As the years have gone on, we've been photographed in coordinating plaid satin dresses, coordinating nautical/sailor themed dresses, polka dots & stripes, and later in life, more refined photos in nice dresses, always achieving the look that "Oh, sister, how I love thee" - when we were probably just shy of maiming each other an hour prior.

But honestly, it's always been a fun way to document our family every 5 years, and quite fun to see how different we were at each others' ages. Now that we're both adults {& not just "18", but like, fo'real grown up, married off & payin' ya own bills kinda adults} Lulu & I decided we should surprise Momma with our 20&25 year portraits. Momma loved Lulu's wedding photographer, who had since moved away. She gave up her dream of being able to have us photographed by V, and figured she would just have to settle with any ol' photographer. Well, V happened to be coming in to town one weekend in July, so we snagged her for a family session, convinced the Stepdad to help coerce Momma into the surprise photo sesh, and off we went about our little scheming selves!

So, last Friday Lulu, Momma & I ran around antiquing and finished up purchasing all the decor for Momma's breakfast nook re-do... we had an amaaaazing lunch at this local Italian eatery "Baci" {Italian for "kiss", yes, I did know that & didn't need to look it up} and then brought Lulu back up to our house to "hang out until dinner". Yes! We had gone all day and Momma still had no clue what was to come. We get home & Mom says "I'm not doing anything tonight. I'm whooped tired & that's it." {Enter: momentary freak-out} ... so Lulu & I continue to get ready while Mom attempts to catch a cat nap... finally, we had to break the surprise to her, or else she wouldn't get up and cooperate !?

Well, we told her about the surprise we had planned, and that it was not only for our Sister Portraits, but also for a family photo session, seeing as how for the last 9 years we had managed to go without having a "formal" photo of the 4 of us. And plus, now Lulu is married and our family has grown. So, the tears come from Momma, she asks "when? how soon? I need to pick out my outfit" ... which we had already done based on what we were wearing.

I think Lulu and I did a really great job at a surprise gift, and Momma cherishes nothing more than photos of her family {past+present}... So, Happy Early Birthday Momma {1 month from today}. Love you lots!

Family faces are magic mirrors.  

Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future.

Fall Weekend Plans

Hey Y'all!

It's Monday again and I've got a busy week ahead of me. Still taking things one day at a time, but definitely looking forward to getting a start date from my new employer, finding housing back in the BigCity, as well as finishing up some big projects around here!
Although I'm rigorously practicing "doing the next right thing" and not skipping ahead too much, I cannot help but get excited over some of the upcoming and highly rated fall festivals throughout the South. Once the glorious {i.e. - treacherous heated} days of summer are in our rearview mirror, the leaves start to turn and the breeze kicks up with football and outdoor tailgates and festivals. It's probably my most favorite time of year!
I wanted to share a few of the events that will hopefully be making their way onto my calendar this fall - and 1 that I especially loved from last year, that might not be possible for me to attend this year - but it's definitely worth mentioning!

The Great Southern Tailgate Cook-Off

Amelia Island, FL

August 26&27 

Funded by the Kansas City BBQ Society 

Benefits NE Florida non-profit "The Gator Bowl Association"

Amelia Island

 Reasons To Go 

Live Music

Backyard BBQ Teams

Benefits Children in the Area

Smokers & Restaurants from Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina, Etc.

Admission is Free

Parking Only $5/car

The Atlanta Journal Constitution - Decatur Book Festival

Decatur, Georgia

September 2,3&4

 Reasons To Go 

Pulitzer Prize Winning Authors & Noteworthy Fiction/Non-Fiction Writers Attend

Book Market & Street Fair with Local Artisans & Food

Cookbook Authors & Food Demonstrations

Largest Independent Book Festival in the Nation

Country Living Magazine Fair

Stone Mountain / Atlanta, Georgia 

October 21,22&23

Reasons To Go

Seminars & Demonstrations by Country Living Columnists & Sponsors

Antiques, Art, Gifts & Artisan Products all for Sale

THE MOST AMAZING festival food

Live Music

Cool Weather at Stone Mountain Park

Over 200 Vendors

Apple Pickin' Jubilee

Hillcrest Orchards / Ellijay, Georgia

Saturdays & Sundays 

September 10 - October 30

Ellijay Orchard

Reasons To Go

U-Pic Apples Straight from the Tree

Pig Races

Large Farm Market Complete with Fresh Made Jams, Fudge, Ice Cream, Stone-ground Grits  & More

Local Ellijay Cookbooks & Tastings

Admisison is only $6 / adults 

 

Callaway Gardens Harvest Moon Festival

October 6 - 9

Callaway Gardens / Pine Mountain, Georgia

Callaway Gardens Bike Trail

  Reasons To Go

4 Days of Music & Food Set in the beautiful gardens at Callaway

Celebrity Chefs from The Food Network

Musicians like Shawn Mullins, the B-52s, Matt Kearney & more

Farm to Table Foods & Fresh Farm Markets

7.5 Miles of Bike Trails through the Woods

College Football Watch Party on 4 projection screens

$69 for 4 days of Fun, Music & Food and Includes 3 Days of Gardens Passes!

Be sure to find out what's going on in your area this fall & get out to support local festivals and non-profits!

xo

B

Project Weekend Re-cap

Hey Y'all! 
I hope the weekend was kind to you! We had a really busy weekend around here ... complete with my sweet cousin / "older sister" & her baby boy in town to visit, surprise early birthday gift for Momma, antiquing & decor shopping with Momma & the sister, as well as lots of painting and DIY'ing on my 2 current projects.
Man - I'm tired just thinking about it all!

Vintage Staple Gun, circa 1970s

I wanted to share with you my "Chair Redo" ... as I mentioned a few posts back, this little chair came from a thrift store over near Clearwater - snagged her for $15 & knew she had potential. In the past few years she had been recovered in whatever my living room decor was at the time, and most recently, she needed to become neutral to go with a new color palette. After much deliberation over paint colors, I went with Sleighbells by Benjamin Moore. You can't tell much in the photos but it is a very very light grey. Painstakingly I hand painted her, as spray paint would have just beaded up / run down the sides. Then it was to the details with a tiny artists brush. On the rest, I used a 1& 1/2 inch brush of nicer quality {to avoid streak marks}. 

Painters Drop Cloth

The seat was recovered in a $5.99 painters drop  cloth from a home improvement store. You can do so much with these drop cloths, this was just my first experiment with them! 

The hardest part of this whole project, was knowing that I needed to find the right tangerine/orange colored fabric for the pillow, which will be the "pop" of color in my living room {when I move in to my new place in a couple of weeks}. Thanks to Hobby Lobby, this fabric works!! I didn't make the pillow yet, I just sort of draped the fabric over another pillow to give you the illusion of it all together :) 

Chair Re-Do

Well, as I mentioned, we did a lot this weekend... Momma is re-doing her breakfast nook / piano student "waiting area" & now that the walls are primed, we scored big at Homegoods and a few antique stores with the Sister on Friday. Here's a sneak peek at some of the decorations. The door is from an old governor's vacation house, and the sign, which I found - is a perfect addition for the room which we eat in and serves as a waiting area for her piano students. I'll be sure to post photos when it's all put together! 

Preview, Antique Door & Sign

 The dresser-turned-entertainment center is well on its way to becoming what I envisioned. Last night I began to sweep out the ... vermin droppings ... {aka - roach poopie} when all of a sudden, I see little brown antennae in the back of the dresser. I dropped the shopvac and screamed, which is when Step-dad jumped in with the can of Raid and out fell 4 roaches. UGH! I was sooo glad I didn't take this piece inside the house to work on, I'd have had a coniption fit~ once they died, we puttied up one corner of the dresser and bunjee corded it to stay til it dried. Momma helped me to get 1 coat on the dresser in Sleighbells, and we are painfully painting the insides of the drawer slots, since I *Finally* found baskets large enough {but yet, smaller than 6" tall} to fit where we've removed the drawers. I'll be sure to add photos of our progress later. 

Baskets From Old Time Pottery

Well it's time for me to be off ~ tomorrow I'll be able to share some of the dresser, a preview of Momma's early birthday surprise, and a few other goodies. Enjoy the day! 

xo 
B

Spill the Beans

Pssst ....
 

Well, I think I have kept a secret long enough - the formal offer was on the table - and yours truly just accepted a job at an amazing national non-profit organization, back in my Big City!!!!
It's amazing to me, how I have figured out what I want to do, by some crazy process of "spider webbing" {okay, I went to college, and I cannot think of whatever type of diagramming this is, so run with me} my interests, hobbies and such ...

I'm Crazy. I know.

So, from all of this, I gathered what I figured I had already known - I love creating and designing, helping others, I like having visible results, and creating something that is pleasing to the senses! So, I should probably have known this to be true ...

Source: google.com via Brittany on Pinterest

Now, I don't have a start date yet, and I'm working on lining up a place to call home - but I'm super excited to be the newest Development Specialist in charge of special events, social media and donor relations! Wahoo!! God answers prayers and He always provides. I'm living proof!

Hope y'all have a wonderful weekend! Go + create something lovely!

xo
b

Slight Textile Obsession

For Real Y'all 

I know what you're thinking - how much fabric can this girl come up with for her new-to-be home ????

Guilty.

I absolutely cannot pass up a trip to 

Calico Corners, 

Boca Bargoons, 

Hobby Lobby 

or 

JoAnns. 

I just have zero willpower when it comes to upholstery. 

Custom upholstery.

Custom pillows.

Custom drapery.

And offer to monogram all my bedding, table linens and bath towels? 

I might just sell my soul!! 

Now granted, I cannot have my dream house of custom upholstered pieces right this minute {okay, or in the next few years} but in my defense, I do sew, I try not to purchase fabric without a coupon, and I keep the color scheme for about a year or more.

And I have finally figured out what colors speak to me at this point in my life.

....

I can't promise I'll forever be faithful to them though ~ 

that would possibly interfere with the entire creative process!

So, here it is. The 3 fabrics were "found" in town & still waiting to order the 4th one. 

For the Living room ... please consult my dreamboard here .These fabrics don't look as wonderful as the first round of fabric combo's I picked {online} but I saw these in person & definitely love them together!!!

Created by Me at B H L D N

Okay, time to get back to work on some of those bigger furniture pieces!!

xo

b

Local Lovelies

Hey Y'all! 

Do you ever find yourself on vacation or living in a spot where the streets are filled with fabulous little "ohmygosh shops"?? I just have to share my love for finding those "just right" little stores. That sounds cheesy. 

But really, while living & frequently visiting the following cities - I have grown a nice collection of business cards and a list of stores and businesses that I frequent and would recommend to anyone going there and must go to when I'm back for a visit.

So here we go - favorite secret shops that I just can't keep a secret {because we really should all be supporting locally owned} 

Tampa, Fl. {& Surrounding Areas}

• Estella's "A Truly Unique Boutique" 
• Wisteria "Antiques, Home Accents & Unique Gifts"
• The Red Herring, Ltd. "Curious Goods For Your Home"
• Birdie's Coastal Cottage "Vintage furniture & decor" - Dunedin
• The Blue Moon Trading Company 
• The Cupcake Spot - Tampa & St.Petersburg
• Patti & Friends Antiques - St. Petersburg
•  The Hooker Tea Company 

 Georgia {Atlanta+Savannah}

• Kitchens On The Square - Savannah
• Dabberdoo - Atlanta
• The Flying Biscuit - Atlanta + various other cities
• Bella Cucina 
• Ooh La La - Virginia Highlands / Atlanta
• Cami Cakes 
• The Country Living Fair - Expo in October
• Scott's Antique Market - Atlanta Expo Center / monthly

A Few Of My Favorite Things

North Carolina {Tri-City Area+Sand Hills Area}

• Cathy Bason Art&Antiques - Pinehurst
• Cameron & Co. "Fine Gifts & Accessories" - Village of Pinehurst
• Pastimes "A Little of This & That" - West End 
• Antiques Emporium - Raleigh / Cameron Village
•  at Home & Southern Pines Paper Co. - Southern Pines
•  The Magnolia Inn - Village of Pinehurst *best Key Lime Pie*

New Orleans, Louisiana

• Miss Smarty Pants "Gifts & Accessories" - Magazine St. /Garden District
• Juliette Hare O'Connor "Mixed Media Artist"
• Fab'rik - Rue Royale / French Quarter
• Goodies Restaurant {breakfast on the cheap} - Magazine St.
• Belladonna Spa & Salon - great gifts & trinkets - Magazine St. 
• Mignon Faget - the New Orleans jeweler - Magazine St.
• M.S. Rau Antiques - fine art & jewelry - Rue Royale / French Quarter
• Dante's Kitchen {best.new-flavor brunch.ever.} -Dante St.

Okay, well it's all out there now. So get out & explore! Let me know of any of your favorite local spots in the South!


xo 
b

Painting Day 2

Hey Y'all!

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I spent the evening {once the sun went down + it was no longer 107 with the heat index} painting the entertainment center / dresser.

Now since the white latex paint it was previously done with is peeling off in chunks, this hasn't exactly made my job easier. After going at the top with the mouse sander, and the drawers {the 2 that will stay} with a block sander by hand, I realized it was going to require some Kilz primer to cover up whatever wretchedness had happened to the top of this dresser. We're talking, orange paint, globs of paint running down the edges, puddles of glue stuck to it - so with sanding tools, hammer and screw driver, Momma showed me how to gently "knock off" the globs of randomness stuck to this piece. Last night I took the tack cloth to it and began to prime the top, and painted 1 coat of Benjamin Moore "Horizon' on to the drawers. It's a beautiful clean finish paint, but it's a bit too close to white for what my minds-eye had in mind. So, off I go to the paint store today to get it darkened up a bit.

Figured I would share with you a fun little craft that Momma and I also did on Friday - the $4 pillow.
Get ready - it's as cute as a West Elm or PotteryBarn one!

1. Buy or round up some mis-matched buttons
2. Use a pillow you have {we found ours for $1.50 @ a thrift store & since no one will be laying their head on it, we figured it would work!} 
3. Satin ribbon, approximately 12'' {left over from a headband I made}
4. Scrap of fabric that coordinates, approx. 12" {we used linen scrap}
5. Needle & thread

• Line up all your buttons on the ribbon ... we like the randomized look best

• Attach each button to the ribbon first, then sew the ribbon to the fabric scrap in 3 places, to keep it secure 

• Once finished, put in your favorite chair or bench. Ours is going in the old church pew that mom has out in the breakfast nook. By the way, we lint-rolled and Febreezed this pillow, and it's solely for decoration. :) 

Happy Monday! 

xo

B

Career Chic Wardrobe

Career Chic by SouthernBean featuring rose gold jewelry

Mulberry cut out top
$620 - mulberry.com

Pink top
$350 - stylebop.com

Dolce Gabbana scalloped skirt
£835 - net-a-porter.com

Stella McCartney mid rise pants
$545 - net-a-porter.com

Valentino glamorous shoes
£505 - harrods.com

Chanel white leather heels
$245 - fashionphile.com

Emilio Pucci shoulder hand bag
€1.250 - luisaviaroma.com

Modalu ruffle handbag
€105 - pret-a-beaute.com

Irene Neuwirth rose gold jewelry
$7,920 - ylang23.com

Mulberry peace bracelet
$300 - mulberry.com

Isabel Marant bracelet
$240 - net-a-porter.com

Betsey johnson jewelry
$25 - zappos.com





Happy Sunday Evening Y'all ! Just wanted to share a fun board from Polyvore that I created for a "Career Chic" work wardrobe. Obviously, feminine, ruffles, bows, and some curve-hugging pencil skirt - bedecked with amazing heels {Chanel + Valentino} & fabulous gems. Now, any takers on who would like to let me borrow their AmEx Black to create this chic wardrobe? 

Have a lovely week~

xo
b

Creative Friday

Hey Y'all!

Thank Goodness It's Friday - right?? I mean, I'm not currently working so I didn't have to "earn" my weekend, but you don't need a reason to enjoy a Friday!

The day started off in creative mode - dropped my little car "Audrey" off to get her air conditioning fixed and then Momma & I ran off to JoAnn's to browse. I found 3 out of the 4 fabrics I had been looking for to go in the new living room {soon to come!!!} and now I'm only missing the "pop" fabric, which needs to be a tangerine / orange color. I ran in to my aunt and one of my cousins there also, always a fun surprise since I'm not used to living here and having that opportunity! My little cousin was taking a summer Wilton Cake Decorating class and using fondant! Guess I'd better get on the ball to sign up for my class soon or she will be opening up a sweet shoppe before me :)
So, then the day took us around town to a few random thrift stores and Momma found a cute little tan and cream checkered pillow {$1.50} for her breakfast nook room {which now has no wallpaper and all new orange peel / drywall...primer and paint coming soon!!} Last night she ordered the PBarn curtains & rug so we knew what color scheme we wanted to work with - neutrals!!
Once home, we got to crafting ~ the drywall guys were working hard and so were we. First up, wrapping some bottles in random neutral fabrics and trims ... these will replace the {dead} herb plants in Momma's garden window. The curtains will be the statement so we decided whatever went in the window, would need to be very minimalistic.

• Here is the process 
• Tacky glue
• Foam craft brush
• Various trims from craft store
• Various neutral and textured fabrics

Step 1 - brush on tacky glue in a very thick layer

Step 2 - we wrapped this Ball jar in a scrap of fabric purchased for $1, it has a cream knit pattern in it, and wrapped the top cuff in trim as well as the bottom layer.

This little jug came from G'ma W's house in Ohio. It's old and really cute, so instead of covering everything, we just added some braided trim in tan and cream to the neck.

Now, this trim, ohmygoodness !!! Definitely glad we had a 40% off coupon so we could get several yards, but up close it's tiny rosettes made from the softest cream fabric, all stitched onto the simple trim. It's sooo girly and kind of really fabulous!The bottle is nothing fancy, just a Nantucket Nectar juice bottle!

Finished product, 3 adorable jars with maybe some more to come as we find jars and bottles that have a good shape. There's plenty of trim left over and the window could probably hold 5 bottles without looking overwhelmed!



Well, the weekend doesn't hold too many things for me ~ mostly going to start tackling my entertainment center-to-be, and then next week, Momma and I will be taking on the hoosier cabinet. Our goal is to get the biggest pieces of furniture done before I move back to my Big City!

Hope y'all have a wonderful and fun weekend!
                   Be with the ones you love!!
                                       
                                      xo
                                                                                                       B