If those screens could talk!

Some of my best post-college memories come from some serious porch sitting on 15 Russell Road in ALexandria Virginia. It was the ugliest pink stucko house I have ever seen. BUT it had the BEST fronch porch. Though only three girls “officially lived” in the house, on any given weekend you could find 15 or so people crashing! We had our pre-going out cocktails on the porch, our post-going out cocktails on the porch and of course our OMG I am about to die morning after coffee sitting on the porch. It was that little screened in porch that introduced me to the casual care-free living that a screened porch enables.

So here I am today…stretched out on my screened in porch. It was a REQUIREMENT when we began discussing our renovation. And of course it had to include a fireplace so that we could use it for 9 out of 12 months.  I just love this space! It’s my absolute favorite part of house. And I have the most wonderfully compfy sofa that I found at an antique store (more like a junk barn than an antique store…but whatever. It was love at first site.)

If only my Sewanee and DC girls were here to sit with me…this would be PERFECT! Cheers to the memories.

Painting is from Goodwill...just a place holder to cover the electrical box. At some point we'll put a TV over the mantel.I love the fireplace. Reclaimed wood creates an interesting focal point above the mantel. The green and brown pieces are actual siding pieces from the house pre-renovation.

Nothing says “Birthday” like candles

Can you remember your favorite birthday memory?  I have the VERY unfortunate birthday of Christmas Eve. Seriously- it was only my birthday for breakfast then we were on to Christmas. And to top that off, I shared my birthday cake with Jesus. Happy Birthday AG and Jesus. Everyone thought it was cute….except me (I hate to share…even with Jesus)

But I must say, my mom always did her part to plan a special party…even if it was actually a week before the day. There was my 7th birthday that was held at an indoor pool…who says you can’t have a pool party in December?  By far the best was my 13th birthday in which I had a formal dinner party!  Very fun. Very chic. My neighbor wore his military blues and escorted each “couple” in as they arrived and my mom and her friend dressed in maid’s uniforms to serve us. Oh and Dad wore a tux and acted as a butler. Very sophisticated. 

Birthdays are special and should be celebrated. A celebration of the past, the present and the future. This weekend I had the special honor of hosting a dinner party in honor of my huband’s grandmother’s 90th birthday. 

From the moment I began to plan, I knew that we need to have fun candles. Nothing says birthday like candles!  I had a little project brewing in my mind and just had to act on it. Off to Goodwill! 

I bought 9 brass candlesticks ($4.50) (and had a couple that I had once painted black…time for a facelift).  I then painted them a variety of colors. Oh they look so fun and festive – just like the crayons in a crayola box! 

I always keep interesting jars (from pickles, olives, herbes-whatever). You should do this as well…they make great little vases and look so “collected” when paired together.  Luckily the azaleas in front of my house look like bright pink fireworks right now so I gathered up some blooms and dispersed them between the candles. What a fun expression of celebration and gratitude to life!

May we all live to be 90! Cheers!

everything old can be new again!

I have always been a bit obsessed with things that are old, things that have served another purpose…things that have a story to tell. And I am a firm believer that everything in my home should be beautiful and should reflect our lifestyle. If I don’t love it and it doesn’t work for us…it’s outta here! If you have journeyed through our home renovation, you know what I mean…from rusted bird-cage lighting in the kitchen to an 1800’s pine mantel in my living room, I love old things.

It seems like a natural progression to move from the antique stores to Goodwill. Yep. That’s right. Goodwill. There I said it. I have become a Goodwill shopper (Inspired by my historical preservationist friend RCR!). I’d like to say that this new hobby came out of necessity. But it didn’t. It’s more about the quest, the history, the thrill of the hunt! I could go to pottery barn to buy a lamp (and I have and probably will again), but how fun to find a lamp or a painting or other accessory at Goodwill. There’s a story for sure!

Yesterday, I didn’t set out to find these amazing  pottery bowls, because Lord knows…I don’t need another bowl (I probably have a hundred!) But I just couldn’t resist. They look so fab with my Vietri brown and black pottery. AND they were perfect for the Gumbo I served for last night’s cold rainy get together with friends.

So here they are!   I purchased all four for $6.50. They are handmade and include the potter’s stamp. I’ll have to ask my friend E.F.  if they are “fine” pottery! Why in the world would someone part with these?

Regardless, their loss is certainly my gain. These little darlings are fabulous. Won’t you join me for a bowl of soup?

And if you think I was clever enough to dream up shopping at Goodwill and Craig’s list for home decor…I am flattered but you are mistaken. I have become a blog junkie for several design inspiring blogs including Apartment Therapy http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ and Mr. Goodwill Hunting  http://mrgoodwillhunting.blogspot.com/

What an honor

Every year, I admire my contemporaries who make the Best and Brightest list in Greenville Magazine. I always love to see who I know and what the article has to say about their career and philanthropic endeavors. I’ve always hoped that someday I could make that list. And this year….I did!  I was so excited to get the call from the magazine. What an honor!  Today we had the photoshoot. It was definitely different being on the other side of the fence for the photoshoot. Now I know how my employee models felt when we did the recruiting shoot with them.

The photographs were taken down town with the Shoeless Joe Jackson Statue. The good news was that there were no super models in the mix so we all felt awkward together. The hardest part was selecting what to wear….which is something that I ALWAYS over think. I wanted to look creative and edgy…while at the same time professional-afterall I am a career girl. Oh and the issue comes out in September so I didn’t want to look like hot summer but rather like a nice fall day. I opted for a basic black suit. Boring I know. BUT I jazzed it up with some red patent Stuart Weitzman heels AND of course pearls. I think the ensemble looked very appropriate!

Can’t wait until the magazine comes out- what will it say about me?!

For Sale

I tried to sell my $500 pottery barn bedding at the yard sale a few months ago…but no takers. I am sick of looking at it…it’s a reminder of money down the drain and a spur of the moment indulgent purchase. Just after C. and I were married, I just “had” to have new bedding. Out with the old…in with the new. I knew the minute I got home with it that it wasn’t what I was looking for. And yet…I was too lazy to take it back to the mall and trample in with a quilt, duvet and shams. So I kept it…only for about two months before it was washed and put back in its packaging…to be replaced with basic beige bedding. Our bedroom is just too small for a pattern.

So today, I placed the bedding on eBay! My first eBay listing. I’ve bought plenty but never listed. If this works then I have plenty of other items to add to the eBay store front.

Office Attire: Pink Lilly

In the spirit of Jimmy, today I wore Lilly to work…Lilly Pulitzer that is. Now that is something new. A total deviation from my buttoned up suit! First, I rarely wear Lilly at all. But every Spring, usually late April, I have an urge to purchase something Lilly. So I have a few pieces in my collection.

Today I wore a bright pink linen tunic with a gold embroidered neck and hem line. I paired it with white pants and a pair of gold pumps. I definitely felt like a little piece of Spring. And I must admit, I looked more like a lady who lunches than a girl trapped behind a computer all day! But it felt good. And it served as a reminder for why I work so hard…so I can go to tropical places and wear my Lilly! ok- so that is a bit of a stretch since I really am more of a white tank top and terry cloth skirt kind of girl.

I probably won’t step out of my box that far again when it comes to clothing. There is something really comforting in the boundaries that I create between work and pleasure…and clothes are such a defining thing for me… I don’t think I like blurring the lines. But hey…I tried something new.

The Power of Pearls

I wrote a post a few weeks ago about the power of pearls. I think pearls are fabulous. They make me feel confident, self-assured, sexy…while at the same time classic, authentic and definitively southern. Imagine how excited I was to find this beautiful five strand fresh water pearl necklace. It fits like a collar and enlivens my pale skin. It’s the perfect finishing touch, like a sweet fresh strawberry paired with brut champagne! The earings were a gift I bought for someone…but decided to keep them when I got home with them. Sometimes my heart is in the right place…but the she devil fashion diva wins out!

A Detour from the Chocolate Factory

I took a little detour from the Chocolate Factory…a slight deviation. I did enjoy a strawberry flavored piece of dark chocolate after dinner. It was a perfect rectangle with deep red, pink and white sprinkles on top. I think it’s quite intriguing how nicely strawberries complement dark chocolate. The sweet but tart flavor of strawberry is a nice finish to chocolate. And this piece had a nice combo-the strawberry flavor was not overwhelming but rather a sensual complement.

OK- now for the detour. I had the opportunity to travel to a new part of town to a friend’s house for a jewelry show. I drove straight from work-only five miles- but it seemed like a world away. It almost felt like a drive through the country but the landscape was speckled with new developments with huge mc mansions. I’ve always heard about this part of town, but never visited. It’s quite nice. Huge old trees. Rolling pastures. I guess at some point it really was the country and at some point, it will be nothing but developments.

Now for the jewelry. I received the invitation and immediately took a look at the website. The website did not even begin to showcase how cute the pieces are. Interesting chunky necklaces, great long necklaces with large stones pendants (loved one with an amethyst) and lariats with many different types of stones. Definitely check out the website if you need something cute to perk up a last season sundress. It Fitz – www.itfitzjewelry.com

No future career as a hand model

photo from: http://www.whatshewears.ie/index.php/2010/01/beauty-mushroom-nails/

I recently saw in the NY Times Sunday style section that Chanel had a new polish they reported was a  “Mushroom” color – all the rage- a purplish brown. Chanel is officially calling it a “taupe” color titled “Particulière”. Not sure I have ever actually seen a mushroom this color. Maybe in France. Tried to purchase but not any to be found in Gville- Go figure.

I don’t really think about having my nails done except on Sundays when I have nothing else to do…and of course Nail Palace, Nail City, LA Nails, etc are closed on Sundays. Seriously people…working girls need to have their nails done too. Usually I end up making a lame attempt at filing and putting on a little clear top coat.

Not a lot going on this week so I decided to try a little color on my nails- and of course I needed the NOWcolor…or at least a knock off version. To Target I go….$100 later, I found the perfect $4 bottle of polish. Rimmel- Steel Grey (good name).

Monday- Wore Painted nails to work. I am not going to say that I have never painted my nails, because there was this brief period of time in college when I drove all the way down the mountain to Winchester once a week to have my nails done. WHY? Did I really think boys noticed my nails? I looked ridiculous with acrylic tips. (Yes C. I did grow up in Dunn and I know you can take a girl outta Dunn…but ya can’t take the Dunn outta the girl). Back to my point- I haven’t painted my nails since those glory days. Really who has time for all that?

Happy to say, my very hip, fashion forward intern noticed my hip painted nails right away and gave me big props for the fab new color. I made C. take a few pics, but really my hand looks creepy in photos. Note to self: don’t apply for a career as a “hand” model.

Search for Treasures

Looks like we are about 30 days away from beginning construction. Time to get serious about locating those wow pieces that will help make our new construction not seem so  new! It was a beautiful day, so I headed up to Landrum to the Architectural Warehouse. After a 30 minute ride through the country, listening to some fab 80’s tunes, I arrived.

Though I didn’t really see anything too exciting, it was a nice drive and a good way to kill a few hours on Saturday. Apparently they have a larger warehouse with all of the “good stuff”- maybe next time. Here are a few pictures: