1.31.2013

Valentine's Day Gift Guide: for her



All of these items are under $100! Go get 'em, guys! (this includes you, Tyler) :)

If in doubt, diamonds and puppies are ALWAYS good ideas.

Come back tomorrow to see the Valentine's Day gift guide for him!

1.30.2013

Polished Weekend Wear

Sweater: Ann Taylor Loft / Blouse: J. Crew / Jeans: Express / Shoes: J. Crew / Clutch: J. Crew / Bracelet: J. Crew / Necklace: Sandy Hyun (on sale!) / Sunglasses: Kate Spade

Since it was so warm outside last weekend, I ditched my coat for a short-sleeved sweater. It was the perfect light layer for the 70 degree weather and I love how the chunky knit dresses down a silk blouse and statement jewelry. My necklace and bracelet are two of my very favorite pieces in my collection. I fell in love with both pieces after seeing how Emily styled them on her blog. I learned the hard way that following Cupcakes and Cashmere can be a major threat to my bank account.

I wore this last weekend for exciting Saturday afternoon activities (i.e. looking for Tyler new under shirts, new bronzer for me, and browsing the clearance section in TJ Maxx). I was so glad to get to spend the day with my hubby leisurely "running" around Memphis. While I like to have things to do, sometimes weekends with little to no plans is a relaxing and welcome change. Saturday night we met our friends Will and Courtney for Mexican and Jerry's sno cones. Side note: If you're like us and have never tried Jerry's, YOU MUST GO as soon as possible. I don't care if it's cold outside, you can sit in your car with the heat on while eating them. But it's not a bad idea to pack heat 'cause it's kinda in the ghetto. Side note 2: Take a moment and visit Courtney's blog, exodus31three! She's awesome!




Photography by Tyler B. Parks


Stay tuned for Valentine's Day gift guides!

1.29.2013

DIY Headboard


It's not as hard as it looks, I promise. It's actually really simple, believe it or not. I don't consider myself a very creative person when it comes to DIY projects-- I can copy most things with photos and detailed instructions, but I am not the type to come up with these things on my own. Enter Pinterest. My favorite site on the Internet, even more so than J. Crew (Seriously, how did people plan weddings without it?!). There are just SO many ideas, my brain becomes overloaded every time I look. This headboard was my first DIY project since discovering Pinterest (except for my dining chairs re-cover project, which did not require any creative skills whatsoever) and I am so pleased with the end result, and the fact that I managed not to harm myself or anyone else with the staple gun.

I pulled tips and ideas from many DIY blogs I found through Pinterest, but most of my inspiration came from Freckles Chick's DIY headboard.


Materials needed:

Upholstery fabric (number of yards determined according to the desired dimensions)
Piece of plywood (many bloggers suggested 1/2 - 1 inch thick, but I think mine was 1 1/2 or 2 inches) Home Depot cut it to my dimensions for free.
Batting (I used 3 layers of twin-size quilter's batting)
Foam, optional (I chose to use a little extra batting instead of foam. I was afraid my nailheads wouldn't stick all the way through to the wood)
Staple gun
Nailhead trim kit 
Rubber mallet 
Scissors
Heavy duty wall mount (If you plan on hanging it on the wall as opposed to attaching to the bed frame)

1. One layer at a time, spread the batting flat on the floor, and position the plywood on top so that it is somewhat centered. Using the staple gun, wrap the batting around the plywood and secure tightly. You may need to trim excess to prevent bulkiness on the back. Repeat with remaining batting layers.
2. Iron your fabric. I know, I know, everyone hates ironing but don't be tempted to skip this step. Or you might have fold creases on the front of your new headboard and be very upset. Consider yourself warned. I also recommend vacuuming your floor beforehand to make sure your fabric stays clean.
3. Carefully lay your fabric on the floor, with the inside facing up, and position your padded plywood in the center of the fabric. Pick a side to start on, and begin folding your fabric over and securing with the staple gun. Don't be tempted to move around in a circle-- Instead, then move to the opposite side and pull tight.
4. Don't stress out about the corners. With each corner, I pulled the middle of the fabric corner straight up and stapled, which left fabric loose on both sides. Then I folded each side to the opposite side of the corner. (This would probably make more sense if I illustrated with photos, but I didn't have a blog then... forgive me?) Be sure and practice folding the corner how you want it before stapling, or else your husband will get real mad about having to get the staples out and call you names like "picky" and "OCD freak."
5. Almost done! Flip the headboard over so the top is facing up, and begin positioning the nailhead trim along the edge. Use a ruler to keep it straight and the same distance from the edge (I think ours was 1 inch from the edge).
6. Nail in every 5th nailhead (the rest is fake) and try not to lose your mind or be too OCD (I was guilty of both those, just ask my husband). I just put the nailhead across the top and down both sides, because the bottom is hidden anyway and the nailhead trim was running out...
7. Yay! You're done! But your man's not, because he has to hang it on the wall while you lay on the bed and watch.

Since taking these photos, I have gotten 3 Euro pillows and shams that match the duvet cover.


You know how you plan your entire bedroom decor based on one pillow? A pillow that you don't even have yet? Am I the only one? Don't judge me. It was love at first sight for me and this pillow from Caitlin Wilson Textiles. So naturally, I set my heart on a mint headboard and wasn't satisfied until I found mint fabric that matched that fabric swatch exactly. Trust me, it wasn't easy (or exactly cheap) but when I set my heart on something I become kind of obsessed. Tyler's thrilled with that part of my personality.

Image via Caitlin Wilson Textiles

Pictured above is the combination of pillow covers I absolutely LOVE and I am so impatient to get them! I plan to use the gray chevron pillow I already have and purchase the floral and smaller chevron pillow to complete our bed!

If you're considering going DIY for a new headboard, don't hesitate! It's way cheaper, totally customizable, and so satisfying when you see the end result! I'm already itching to make another one for our guest bed!

1.28.2013

Leopard v. Mint



Shirt: J. Crew Factory / Skirt: J. Crew (sold out) / Belt: J. Crew (similar) / Booties: Gianni Bini via Dillards (old) / Necklace: Kate Spade via sample sale (eBay listing) / Bag: Dooney & Bourke (really old)

I originally planned to wear a skinny leopard print belt, but at the last minute I decided to play up the bright factor with the mint belt. After all, you can never, ever go wrong with mint. Well, or leopard print, for that matter. Actually, as it turns out, both are pretty much equally versatile. Bottom line: leopard and mint go with everything. And so does chambray.

1.25.2013

I said "Yes to The Dress!"


Shopping for my wedding dress with my mom was such an awesome experience and quite possibly my favorite aspect of wedding planning. We had SO much fun! We spent a weekend in Atlanta hopping from place to place trying on gorgeous dresses, shopping in Buckhead, and cherishing girl time together. I found my dress at Bridals by Lori, the salon featured on Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta. I wasn't filmed for the show, but I did see camera crews preparing to film later that day. We took tons of pictures and met several people I knew from watching the TV show, even Lori herself! I obviously couldn't share most of these pictures before the wedding since they show my dress (this was in July 2011), so here they are!






Dress by Marisa

 I originally planned to wear the crystal sash, but later decided against it. As it turned out, I went much simpler than I ever imagined I would! 









Dress: Lilly Pulitzer / Wedges: Vince Camuto

Yes, I wore the same dress both days. It was cute, comfortable, cool, and easy to slip on and off. Don't judge me! 


I fell in love with the dress the moment I put it on and didn't want to take it off! It was perfect, and the sample I tried on ended up being the same size I ordered! The only bad part? Waiting 8 months to try it on at my first fitting, and another 4 months to actually wear it! 

1.24.2013

Mad About Mint

1. Sam Edelman Camdyn 2. Madden Girl Getta 3. Truth or Dare by Madonna Jabulania 4. rsvp Jameson

Mint has consistently been my favorite color for over a year now, and I still can't get enough of it! Lucky for you, I wasn't blogging during my excruciating hunt for the perfect mint jeans. Which I finally found, if you were wondering. Besides my love for this beautiful combination of blue and green, it's my lack of mint heels that motivates today's post/problem. So what's the solution, you ask? Zappos! The website with endless amounts of shoes at all price points, taxfree, and free shipping both ways! And if you're a VIP like me, you get free next day shipping :-) (No, they're not paying me to say this, although they really should!)

So, back to my mint heel dilemma. We've already determined the solution is to buy a pair (duh) and buy them from Zappos, but now it's just the issue of which one. (If I were really desperate, I'd just buy them all and return 3 for free, but I have confidence in your advice-giving skills).

My initial thoughts are:
#2 is the best price and has great reviews, but the toe shape looks a bit awkward and appears to be a little darker than I would like... although has a pretty pearly shimmer.
#4 has an edgy cap toe, which is a trend I am loving, but it's faux leather and I'm afraid it will make the whole shoe look cheap.
#3 has a cute little peep toe and is a gorgeous mint color, but is the priciest out of the bunch and at 5" tall, may be a little too high to be practical.
#1 is the perfect color of mint with a hint of shimmer, has a classic almond toe, and a subtle patch of snakeskin at the heel cup. My first pick!

What are your thoughts? 

1.23.2013

Neutral Party

Coat: J. Crew (similar) / Sweater: J. Crew / Cords: J. Crew (on sale!) / Heels: Vince Camuto 

Anyone who knows me knows how much I adore bright colors and how I always gravitate toward bright pink as opposed to black. However, there are days when the mood strikes me just right and I wear neutrals head to toe. This isn't a frequent occurrence so I felt it only made sense to document it. Plus I got this sweater for $2.92 and couldn't wait to share it.

These photos were taken before I got our new camera, so please forgive me for posting such low-quality photos... It was after I saw these that I decided we needed a better camera! (The more I say "camera" in my head, the weirder it sounds.) Do you ever say words over and over and they start to sound different? Camera camera camera. It sounds like something a celebrity would name their baby. OH! Speaking of celebrity babies, go read Suri's Burn Book now. It's hilarious. You will be entertained for hours.





So, what's your preference? Are you a Neutral Nancy or a Bright Betty? (This is slightly ironic considering my mother is Nancy and I'm pretty sure the word "neutral" isn't in her wardrobe vocabulary).

Have a fantastic day :-)

1.22.2013

Christmas Cash: What I Bought

There is nothing more exciting than having a designated amount of money that you can spend on whatever you please. I find myself taking more time to make decisions on purchases and being extra conscious of how much I'm spending (because I want it to last as long as possible!). I finally used the last of my Christmas money last week. I'm sad that my shopping spree has come to an end, but I'm so excited with my final purchases!

Tory Burch 'Robinson' E-Reader Case (a perfect fit for my iPad mini!)

Fuchsia Hunter boots (eBay score)

Anthropologie Peter Pan Paillettes Sweater (on sale!)

Kate Spade 'Mondrian' Scarf
 
Canon SX500 IS


What did you purchase with Christmas money?

1.18.2013

Crockpot Vegetable Beef Soup

I am a huge fan of soup on especially cold days, and this past Monday was the coldest day of the year so far, with temperatures around 28 degrees for most of the day. When I came home for lunch, I decided to throw some things into the crockpot for supper, without a specific recipe in mind. I ended up creating my own version of a vegetable stew, with a tomato sauce base and ground beef. It was just what I needed to warm up!



Vegetable Beef Soup

2 cans corn, drained
2 cans green beans, drained
2 cans petite diced tomatoes
1 large can & 1 regular can tomato sauce (+ tomato juice to create desired juiciness)
1 large potato, peeled and cut into cubes
2 cups of carrots, rinsed and cut into bite-sized pieces (I bought the baby carrots in the refrigerated produce section)
1/2 of a small onion, finely chopped
1 lb of lean ground beef, browned and drained
1 tsp parsley
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp Worcheshire sauce
Salt and pepper

Combine ingredients into crockpot and cook on high for 6 hours.





I put cheese on everything! 


Bella was dying to try it!

I was tempted to make Tyler's delicious cheesy cornbread, but we decided not to ruin an otherwise healthy meal. Feel free to add or subtract vegetables to suit your taste (and pantry inventory!).  Enjoy!

1.17.2013

Mondrian = LOVE

Dress / Blouse / Sweater / Skirt
{Image via Sparke.daily}

It's no secret that kate spade is one of my very favorite designers. I own countless handbags, wallets, clothing and shoes that I absolutely adore. The things I love most about her styles are the bright colors and unique prints, which makes her new Mondrian collection one of my favorites yet! I am smitten with the shift dress and classic blouse and was devastated to see their high price tags.

That's when I saw this scarf!




Via Bloomingdales

Considering its lower price and my scarf addiction, this was a no-brainer! (I was able to use my new blog email to sign up for email updates from kate spade to receive a 15% off promotion code, and I used leftover Christmas money!) Score!

New to kate spade? Prepare to fall in love with everything. And when you do, don't forget to sign up for email updates to receive 15% off on your first order!

1.16.2013

Lovin' Bloglovin

Just a short time ago, when I discovered a new blog I wanted to read, I would add the name to my handwritten list. Each day, I visited each individual site to check for new posts. I often had ten tabs open at one time. And the most irritating thing of all, if a blog wasn't updated, I had to keep checking for new posts throughout the day. You can imagine how time consuming that could be! I finally realized that my method of "following" didn't actually give them a new follower, and didn't leave me with any spare time to spend on the Internet (you know, to shop...) Luckily, there is a better way to follow blogs you love. Bloglovin is a site that allows all your favorite blogs to be in one place and notifies you of new posts, so no time is wasted! Sign up and join the fabulous world of blogging!

Here is a list of my favorite blogs:

Cupcakes and Cashmere (I also have her book!)
Pink Peonies
Gal Meets Glam
Kendi Everyday
See Jane.
Atlantic-Pacific
Cheetah Is The New Black
Bows and Sequins
Penny Pincher Fashion
A Sequin Dress At Breakfast
Michaela Noelle Designs
Fash Boulevard
GBO Fashion
Exodus31Three
Freckles Chick
J's Everyday Fashion
Brooklyn Blonde


P.S. You can follow me on Bloglovin here!

1.15.2013

Currently Craving...


Kate Spade watch
 Looks like a bracelet, functions like a watch! 

Gap jeans
 A subtle way to try the printed denim trend, and still so versatile! A must-have for me.

J. Crew pumps
 How do I not own a pair of sequin heels?? Too bad they're so expensive.

Hunter boots
Ever since I got this rain jacket, I have been dreaming of pairing it with bright red boots! Sadly, they're sold out in my size :(

J. Crew chambray shirt
Okay, I may already have two chambray shirts, but guys... this one is polka dot!!!


What's on your wish list?

1.14.2013

Make A Statement

If I could afford it, I am certain I would own the entire jewelry collection from J. Crew. Their pieces are beautifully classic yet somehow still unique, and are versatile enough for regular wear. Let me take a moment to share what I am finding irresistible lately:

Statement necklace

Statement earrings

Animal print bangle

Crystal collar necklace

Drooling yet? Yes, I know their jewelry is expensive, (which is why I only have a few pieces), but stay with me! Sometimes you can find similar pieces for less...

...such as their Multicolor Pave Link Bracelet. It sold out before I could snatch it up, but I came across an exact replica for more than half the price!

J. Crew- $135

Groop Dealz- $25 + free shipping!

 Deal ends soon (like tomorrow), so scoop it up while you can!

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