Friday, December 24, 2010

Dear Santa

Christmas Eve is here thus the festivities have begun for our families. I hope Santa brings you all you wished for this year!

If Santa were to visit me here are some items I am seriously crushing on:

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Merry Christmas Adam


So this day as Daddy calls it, is Christmas Adam. Get it? The day before Christmas Eve? Yeah not rocket science but small things in my life like that make me smile.

The hubs and I are taking the day for ourselves before all of the main events occur over the next two days. We'll start our morning out drinking up some "Crack Coffee" at Lair's Club Cafe, while feasting on their scrumptious breakfast. I'll post details later on the specials there and what "crack coffee" is all about. The agenda for the rest of the day includes a follow up lasik appt for the hubs, a scotch tasting, and exchange of stockings between the hubs and I. I would like to start some kind of tradition for Christmas Adam, maybe we'll happen upon one during the day!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Won't You Be My Neighbor



It's time again for the segment "Won't You Be My Neighbor". I love the beach and the entire Florida panhandle, so I am all about bringing more people here to vacation and even be my full time neighbors!

This is a great home priced at $329,900 which is located in the subdivision Grayton Cove.

{Close to famous Grayton Beach!}

This home is over 1800 square feet and comes with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and has hardwood floors.



Check out more pictures and features of this home and call the agent that will get the deal done for you! Bev Dudley lives by her motto of "if it goes to contract it will close!"



So won't you be my neighbor,






For inquires about this home please contact:

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Approaching A Milestone



In about 2 weeks I turn the big 3-0. I am slightly freaked out by it all, but I am trying to remain calm and maintain composure about it. Everyone keeps asking me what I would like for my birthday. I feel like I have so much in life and it is hard to think of anything that I have to have.

But a few things did pop into my head that would be nice for my birthday:

1. Dinner at my favorite restaurant Stinky's Fish Camp
2. A fresh strawberry cake from Edgar's in Birmingham
3. Spend a day antiquing
4. A good bottle of Chardonnay
5. Fresh flowers for my desk

What did you do for your big 3-0 or plan to do? With my birthday being right after Christmas and New Years a big celebration is just way too much to ask of everyone, myself included. So I think a simple weekend of no work and enjoying the company of others would be best.

Monday, December 20, 2010

The Small Things Add Up


In this January's 2011 issue of Real Simple Magazine I came across this month's questions posed.

{What is the one small thing that always makes you happy?}

Wow how powerful is that! It kind of makes you step back and ponder for a bit. Thinking about this for myself I came up with TONS of small things in my life that make me happy. And not a single one is a tangible item that can be purchased, but rather a collection of moments throughout my day.

For instance the short list of my long list of items that make me happy:

  1. The way my hubs always compliments me when I wear orange.
  2. The way my affenpinscher looks at me adoring as though I am the only person in the world.
  3. A phone call from momma just because she wanted to see how my day was.
  4. Sitting on the porch drinking whiskey with daddy at dusk.
  5. Hearing the song Footloose randomly come the radio.
  6. Opening the car windows on a beautiful day to feel the wind on my face.
  7. The smell of fall time outside with the first coolness of winter to come.
  8. The feeling of accomplishment once I have cleaned our house.
  9. Sharing a laugh amongst friends.
  10. Starting a new creative project.

What are the simple things that make your life so happy? We all tend to over complicate our lives, which is why I love exercises like the one Real Simple posed this month. It really makes you take stock and realize maybe everything doesn't have to be perfect, maybe you don't have to have that new car, or a new house, but rather enjoy what you are missing every day in your life already.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Won't You Be My Neighbor



With the delay of posts the last few days it's time again for the segment "Won't You Be My Neighbor". I love the beach and the entire Florida panhandle, so I am all about bringing more people here to vacation and even be my full time neighbors!


This home is new on the market and listed at $259,000 which is located in the subdivision Cypress Breeze Plantation.

{This home is a foreclosure and is close to beach access!}

This home is over 2200 square feet and comes with 4 bedrooms and 4 full baths with an attached 2 car garage. This home even features a carriage house above the 2 car garage: bedroom, full kitchen, and living. This home is fairly new with construction completed in 2008.


The home is located in Cypress Breeze Plantation which is famous throughout Northwest Florida for its 14,400 sq. ft. multi-level swimming pool, with large pool deck, cascading fountains and waterfalls.


One of the best features of this home is its location! The subdivision is only 1/2 mile from public beaches with restaurants and shopping at the famous Gulf Place within walking distance.



Check out more pictures and features of this home and call the agent that will get the deal done for you! Bev Dudley lives by her motto of "if it goes to contract it will close!"




So won't you be my neighbor,






For inquires about this home please contact:


Wednesday, December 15, 2010

So Sorry

Hello blog friends! I am so sorry for my lack of posts the last couple of days. I went out of town for a few days and well I am playing catch up. While it is no proper excuse I promise to start blogging again as soon as possible. I feel sure I can whip up a "Won't You Be My Neighbor Segment" in a jif!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Book Lover Gift Guide

If you have a book lover ( or even magazine lover) on your gift list odds are pretty good that they could use a nice set of bookends. You gotta display that obsession some how. So for the book lover on your list consider something like one of these:

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Won't You Be My Neighbor



It's time again for the segment "Won't You Be My Neighbor". I love the beach and the entire Florida panhandle, so I am all about bringing more people here to vacation and even be my full time neighbors!

This is a great home priced at $339,000 which is located in the subdivision The Cottages of Santa Rosa Beach— a quaint, boutique, 16 lot/home preserve community.

{A brand new home walking distance to the beach!}

This home is over 1900 square feet and comes with 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths.


Check out more pictures and features of this home and call the agent that will get the deal done for you! Bev Dudley lives by her motto of "if it goes to contract it will close!"




So won't you be my neighbor,






For inquires about this home please contact:

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

The Little Hoot Gift Guide


Last week I found out my niece has started collecting owl items. No she isn't a lurker of the night who likes to feast upon the furry, but rather she is a Chi O girl! So I knew I had to start being on the lookout for great owl items.

So here are a few items you might consider when shopping for your little hoot this Christmas:



Monday, December 6, 2010

Holiday Dinner Invitation Freebie




As many of you know I am a graphic designer so I thought I could share my talent with you all again today just as I did for you all for Thanksgiving. I have made a template you all can use for your 2010 Holiday Dinner party invitations.

You can download the template here. I have included a simple MS Word® file you all can update with your info but I also included a blank PDF for those of you looking to get more creative with it. You can use as you wish, just don't republish this file anywhere on the web, you must link back here please.

For the font please make sure have Nilland installed to create the exact same look.

{Enjoy!}


And don't forget to send them in great envelopes. I prefer to use Paper Source. Choose an A9 envelope in Poppy Orange for something unexpected, at least that would be my choice!


Friday, December 3, 2010

A Fresh Look

So we are hoping to have our garage doors installed soon. I thought I'd share with you all the plan.

So currently we have these hideous cheap wood carriage doors that are rotting and sagging. They are impossible to use.


We are having faux carriage doors installed in white. I am thinking about painting parts of them the same green as the house to tie them in with it. I hate boring plain white doors. What do you think? Leave them white or add that green?





I have even toyed with adding the blue from the front door, but I think it is way too much.


Oh it is only paint, right?

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Support the Team


So if you are like me you probably have a hubs or bf that is into sports or rather if you live in the South it is part of who you are. With that though comes all these obnoxious colors that make decorating impossible.

I have been finding ways to incorporate my hubs and my favorite SEC team into our home without it being over the top and in your face, and need I mention obnoxious again. So last week I took his Auburn Tigers Dr faux street sign and gave it a faux treatment of my own. I did my best to make that baby look more vintage and less obnoxious.

All I did was wipe the sign down, spray paint it matte black, paint the raised letters with white flat paint, and then lightly sanded with 220 to give it some character flaws. I am excited I found a way to incorporate the hubs alma mater into our home.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Won't You Be My Neighbor




It's time again for the segment "Won't You Be My Neighbor". I love the beach and the entire Florida panhandle, so I am all about bringing more people here to vacation and even be my full time neighbors!

This is a great home priced at $239,900 which is located in the subdivision Grayton Cove.

{It is a foreclosure so it is a steal of a deal!}

This home is over 1500 square feet and comes with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and has hardwood floors.


Check out more pictures and features of this home and call the agent that will get the deal done for you! Bev Dudley lives by her motto of "if it goes to contract it will close!"




So won't you be my neighbor,






For inquires about this home please contact:

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

DIY Lamp Shade


So I read a lot of blogs (a lot) and there are tons of great ideas out there! So last week I borrowed the idea of a do it yourself lamp shade from High-Heeled Foot in the Door, now Effortless Style.

I love the idea of taking a table runner to recover a lamp shade to make it look custom made!

First I bought all the items I needed: a drum lamp shade and a table runner (on clearance from World Market).


Then I gathered the basic supplies: glue gun, safety pins, and scissors.


After measuring the length I needed for my lamp shades I cut the runner into 2 pieces. I then carefully pinned the material on the lamp shade to get my pattern and pleats just so. I first glued the bottom portion on the shade since it was larger than the top, then I proceeded to tighten my pleats and pins already in place. I lightly steamed the pleats, then I proceeded to glue the top portion.



And viola! I have custom lamp shades.



So this set of lamp shades cost me $47 to make total. I am so excited that I video chatted with my mom to show her my creation. Yes I am just that much of a geek.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving



I just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Sorry for the delay of posts this week, but I promise to be back next week with more posts. I've been a very busy girl and will share with you all some of the things I have been up to!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Gotta Have Shades


I am in desperate need of a pair of lamp shapes. I want something simple, just a drum shade that is 16 inches high so I can do a DIY project. But in my search I have not found what I am looking for, but I have seen several beauties that have caught my eye!

When did lamp shades become not boring?

Find all of these pictured: here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Steal verse Lux


This week's steal verses lux edition features a reclaimed lumber table. One is $2,998 and the other is $1,299. Now the two are slightly different in size so we're not comparing oranges to oranges, more like a navel orange to a tangelo orange.

The lux item is the one pictured on top from Anthropologie and the steal is pictured below it from Crate and Barrel. The difference between these are their lengths and widths— and not to mention $1700.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Smiling Fish Cafe Gives Nothing but All Smiles


So I have been meaning to write about this for sometime now— early October if you really must know. But if you are ever in the 30A area you must grab a bite of lunch at Smiling Fish Cafe in Gulf Place. Not only can you dine outdoors but you can feast on this:




It is a salad of tender baby spinach leaves, tossed with sun-dried tomatoes, golden raisins, pecan pieces, blue cheese crumbles, and a balsamic pepper jelly vinaigrette and half a crispy duck!

All I can say is yummy...

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Won't You Be My Neighbor


It's time again for the segment "Won't You Be My Neighbor". I love the beach and the entire Florida panhandle, so I am all about bringing more people here to vacation and even be my full time neighbors!

This condo is listed at $169,000 which is located in Redfish Village. No people that is not a typo— you could have at place along 30A with beach access and close to all of your favorite spots for under $170k.

{This foreclosed condo is a steal at $169,000}



This condo is over 1300 square feet and comes with 2 bedrooms, a bunk room and 2 full baths. It features stainless appliances, granite counter tops, & wood floors. Redfish Village owners enjoy private beach access, swimming pool, & Big Redfish Lake. Redfish Village is located just minutes to Seaside & WaterColor... plus this location is just across the street from a great creamery.


Check out more pictures and features of the home and call the agent that will get the deal done for you! Bev Dudley lives by her motto of "if it goes to contract it will close!"

So won't you be my neighbor,




For inquires about this home please contact:

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Wreath Envy


This weekend I ended my Sunday night going through the mess of magazines I got Friday and Saturday. While perusing Real Simple I came across this gorgeous wreath. Now the colors seem off in the picture on their website but the wreath seems to die for! I could actually see this wreath being used year round too.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Early Thanksgiving Dinner


This weekend our neighbors held a fabulous neighborhood thanksgiving dinner. It was really simple, everyone brought 1 side dish to serve 25-30 people and their own adult beverages. I worked on painting bookcases all weekend so while waiting for the paint to dry in between coats I baked 6 dozen cookies to make cream filled cookie sandwiches and made 2 pans of dressing. Everyone raved that it was fabulous so I hope it really all was.

This was a pleasure for me to do but I realized that some people may not have the time, patience or talent for cooking. So was are they to do? Well I just found out that Williams and Sonoma can prepare all the items for your Thanksgiving meal and it will be shipped to you. You can get a cajun fried turkey, cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin cheese cake, and even dress your table up for the main event.

And just remember this is the time of the year to give thanks, not be stressed. To remind myself of how fortunate we are we always do something for someone else. This year a neighbor's child came by asking for cans goods for their Church to deliver meals to local families. We took the list that they needed for a family and purchased all the items on the list including a gift card for purchasing a turkey. While the entire list only cost us $40 I know it will mean so much more to the family that gets to eat a feast together on Thanksgiving day.


Friday, November 12, 2010

Steal verse Lux


It is all about Tolix chairs! Who doesn't love them? I have adored these chairs from Pottery Barn since the moment I saw them about 2 years ago. And boy have they ever become the popular kid around the table.

But not everyone can afford the on sale price of $749 for a set of 4 chairs from Pottery Barn. If the price were half that you could probably manage getting them in your budget right? I just happened to come across some knock offs. From Home Depot of all places too! And with the chairs coming it at $99 each that makes them about half the price for a set of 4! Now granted they are not the exact same, and it would be easier to tell more about their look in person. So maybe order one and if you love it order more! With them coming in red, cream, and silver I would like some for my outdoor table.

I absolutely love the ones from Pottery Barn, like everything else there, but these might be worth investigating.