New Desk Space

In 2015, I wrote a blog post explaining my first DIY furniture refinishing experience.  I loved refinishing an antique China cabinet from my great aunt and a table that was my great grandmother's.
I'm one of those people that actually really enjoys painting!  Walls, furniture, a canvas.  It doesn't matter!  

Yes, I'm the friend that everyone calls on when they're painting their house, because they know I like to do it...  

Anywho!

A couple of weeks ago, a friend posted on Facebook that she was getting rid of a desk.  I jumped on this opportunity, because I've been using my small computer desk, and drawing table in my office for over two years.   I usually sat on the floor to wrap up items or strand beads.  I really didn't realize how excited I would be to actually have more desktop space!  It also has brought back all the feelings of going to work in an office.  All of my cute desk decor that I used when I worked as a Marketing Director have just been stuck in the closet because of the stinging reminder of how hard it hurt to lose my job.  Now, I'm getting those things out and thinking about how far I've come and what God has next for me and this adventure!

Here's how I did it!

The items that I used to refinish the desk are:

• Kilz primer
• Valspar white interior paint
• Small cabinet paint roller and tray
• Paint brush

First, I removed all of the drawer pulls.  Then, I brushed one coat of Kilz over the entire desk.

I waited 24 hours and rolled the desk with the Valspar white paint.  I ended up applying 4 coats of white paint.  I really wanted to make sure that it was coated thoroughly!

Here's the finished product!  I'm still getting this side of my office decorated and situated, but I love it!

5.26.17 Friday Favorites

Happy Friday yall!  I've been swamped lately and haven't had time to compile my Friday Favorites list, but this week, I wanted to make sure that I got it together!  It's almost June!  I hope everyone has a safe Memorial Day weekend!

Here's this week's Friday Favorites list... The things that caught my eye and made me swoon this week.

1. Tiffany Blue Kitchen on Better Homes & Gardens

When Better Homes & Gardens posted this beautiful kitchen this week, I fell in love!  The Tiffany blue accent wall, with the white cabinets is just classic and clean.  I'm always a sucker for a subway tile backsplash and dark wood floors too.  Love everything about it!

2.  Pulte Homes Office Space

As much as I love my office, how cool is this area that Pulte Homes posted on Facebook this week? I'm in need of more storage space for shipping supplies for my Etsy orders, and for more cabinet space, in general to organize better.  This would be perfect!

3. Abbey Grim's Photographer T-Shirt

Where are my photographer friends at?!  This shirt is life!  Abbey Grim has it all right!  Photography is not for the faint of heart.  You do way more than just hold a camera for hours at a time.  I'm more sore after photographing a wedding or marathon for 6 hours, than I am when I run a 5k.  I've directed weddings, as I've shot them.  I've put the bride's makeup on.  I've wiped up baby spit up.  Photography ain't easy, yall!  ;) 

4. "Me, Myself and Lies, a Thought Closet Make Over" by Jennifer Rothschild

Earlier this week, I saw something about this book on social media and I remembered that I had bought it five years ago, during a Bible Study.  I decided to get the book back off the shelf and start working through it again.  All of the notes that I had written in the book 5 years ago about myself, my insecurities, and my thoughts were still relevant today.  We all need to think about how we treat ourselves.  What we think is important and it makes us who we are.  Us over thinkers and worriers, need to be more aware of how we put ourselves down sometimes.  Stand up for yourself and love yourself!

5.  Necklace by the Lucky Feather

Us girl bosses need a little pep talk every once in a while.  How cute is this "Getting it done" necklace that The Lucky Feather posted on Instagram this week?  We got this, girl bosses!

6. Tassel Necklace by Painter Designs

Sometimes I make a tassel necklace that I just fall in love with.  This gold, coral and aqua necklace was one of those!  Love!  Check out my Etsy shop!

3.17.17 Friday Favorites

Happy Friday!  Last week, I was so busy with getting ready for the Greer Relief Craft and Gift Fair, that I ran out of time to do a blog post!   So, here's this week's Friday Favorites list, the things that caught my eye and made me swoon this week.

1. White top from @cmcoving 

I always love Caitlin's outfits on Instagram, but I fell in love with this off the shoulder white top that she posted!  It is absolutely adorable and the perfect spring and summer top!  The sleeves, the white bow on the back... All of it is precious!!

2. "Happy" Bird Mug

Last weekend, my aunt came by the craft fair and surprised me with two adorable little presents. She knows my love of bird decor and coffee.  So, surprised me with this mug from Mud Pie.  I love the little quote inside of the mug too!  You can find more items from Mud Pie on bhg.com.

3. "Happy" Rabbit Tea Towel

She also surprised me with this precious embroidered Easter towel by Mud Pie.  The details on it are just too cute and it's the perfect addition to my Spring decor!  Plus, it's my color!

4. Pineapple Vans

March is my birthday month!  So, this week, our best friends came over for dinner and they wanted me to open my birthday present a week early.  They surprised me with these super cute pineapple Vans!  They're comfy and adorable!

5.  Burlap Easter Bunny Napkin Rings

My mom found some cute Easter napkin ring holders on Pottery Barn's site and they were all sold out.  So, being the crafty woman that she is, she decided to make something similar!  The results were adorable!  Check out this blog post for more information on them.  I've added them to my Etsy shop too!

6. Easter Cakes on Country Living

I came across these Easter cakes on Country Living's Facebook page this week.  How precious are they?!  These would be adorable for Easter dinner with the family, or even for a wedding or shower.   You can even find the recipe for these cuties here. 

Spring is in the Air!

Well, kind of.

We are actually having a crazy cold front coming through the South right now!  We even had snow in Greenville, South Carolina, over the weekend.  However, it hasn't stopped me from feeling Springy!  I've changed most of my home decor over to my Spring and Easter decor and I'm transitioning my Etsy shop into Spring and Summer items.  Make sure you check it out!

I am LOVING these precious crochet bunny hats that I've been working on.  I made a ton of them for the Greer Relief Craft and Gift Fair last weekend and I just can't get enough of them!  They are so stinkin' adorable!  Check out my Etsy shop for more details and pricing!

These bunny napkin rings might just be my new favorite Easter decor item!  I absolutely love them!  My mom found them on Pottery Barn's website and they were all sold out.  So, being the crafty woman that she is, she decided to attempt to make something similar herself!  The results were too cute!  These will also be available on my Etsy shop soon.   

Of course, you know I love my tassel jewelry!  So, I wanted to make something in Spring colors to go with the Spring and Summer trends.  I love these mint green tassel earrings!   They scream beach trip and Lilly to me!  :)  

1.13.17 Friday Favorites

Happy Friday 13th y'all! This week, I've been knocking out as many messy bun beanies that I can and updating my Etsy shop.  I also started working on a new project for my friend's baby shower. I'll share it with you when I'm finished.   :)

1. Work bench

I've been trying to get our work out room, upstairs situated for the last few months. We finally got the elliptical in place, weights, yoga area, tv, and added some art to the room, but we needed a tv stand.  I wasn't sure what I wanted for the area,  but I knew that I didn't want to spend a ton of money. While at Costco, I saw this work bench for $299.99 and thought, "That could totally be used as a tv stand and it has an industrial look!" I feel like it has a touch of a Magnolia Farms look to it. It's super sturdy since it's made for a workbench anyway.  I'm looking forward to adding baskets to the bottom shelf and getting that room finished, finally!

2. Kate Spade Peplum Work Out jacket

 I saw this adorable peplum jacket in one of my Kate Spade emails this week. It's available in black and pink. It's so stinking cute and it could totally be dressed up or down. I love the fact that it was created as something cute to wear with yoga clothes, and that bow on the back... I can't even!

3. Shanny's Shoes

I've been following Shanny's Shoes for a while on Instagram and I'm so amazed by her talent.  She's a wonderful painter and she paints shoes! As you know, I'm a huge Disney fan, so I am totally "ooh"ing and "aww"ing over all of the Disney scenes.  Check her out!  She's awesome!

4.  Bath and Body Works Stress Relief Eucalyptus Spearmint Body Lotion

This has been my go-to hand lotion for several years now.  I absolutely love the smell of it!  When I was working in an office, I would lather up with it everyday and breathe in the stress relieving goodness!  At home, I still use it everyday and even keep one in my pantry, where I can get to it while I'm in the kitchen, after washing dishes.  

5.  Ikea Potted Plants

I love these small Ikea artificial plants!  It seems like everyone is decorating with them on Instagram!  They're the perfect size to create a fresh look in any area and for the price, you can't beat it!  I'm planning on arranging some across the top of my new vintage Coca Cola crate, on my dining room table. 

6. Jenna Hipp Nail Polish

I've been using Jenna Hipp's nail polish for a few years now and it's one of my favorites!  My go to color for winter has been her  Ohh La Latte, which is the perfect taupe color for the winter months!

1.6.17 Friday Favorites

2016 was not an easy year.  I lost my uncle, my grandmother, and my job all in one month.  We lost two very close family friends and my great aunt. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.  My dad had several eye surgeries. In the midst of it all, I started concentrating on my own business and trying to make a living off of doing what I love. I've met some great people and I've loved my experience of being an Etsy seller and trying to blog on a regular basis. However,  I have struggled to stay positive some days. I'm thankful that God has been with me through it all in 2016 and I'm looking forward to see what He has planned for 2017.

Let's kick this New Year off with a new Friday Favorites for 2017!  Here's a look at what caught my eye and made me swoon this week.

1. Alice + Olivia dress

I was in Charlotte this week and this Alice + Olivia dress caught my eye at Neiman Marcus. I love the timeless and classic shape of the dress.  The lipstick and mascara bottles give it a fun retro look. Pair it with some black pumps and it could totally take the place of a little black dress!

2. Mugs at Anthropologie

How cute are these icon mugs at Anthro?!  I saw them at South Park Mall on Thursday and I was so tempted to get them all!  Hey, if I can't have a real French Bulldog or Corgi, at least I could have one on my coffee mug, right?  They even have a typewriter one on their website.  Adorable!

3. Blinc mascara

My mom always gives me the best makeup sets for Christmas! This year, one of the sets was filled with different mascaras. This week was the first time I had used Blinc mascara.  I was pleased with how smooth the wand distributed the mascara.  However, I was totally in shock when I washed my face that evening!  I had no idea the mascara had a tubular effect and wraps each lash with mascara. Therefore, when you wash it off, tubes that look like your eyelashes, come off so easy without tons of black residue. It's the craziest thing! If you haven't tried it, you need to!  Just be aware that it will look like your eyelashes just came off in your washcloth.  I might have had a minor heart attack!  haha!

4. Fresh Sugar 

This Fresh Sugar lip balm kit was also part of my Christmas from my awesome mom. (It's no longer available on Sephora's website, but it might be available at Sephora locations).  There are so many great colors in this kit!  I've never been able to wear very dark shades of lipstick, but there are great sheer shades of pinks and wine colors that layer perfectly.  The Fig color is actually one of my favorites and surprisingly it isn't overly dark!  Plus, it feels like I'm doing my lips a favor with the hydrating and lip protection that's built right in!

5. Messy Bun Beanie Hats

I started seeing these Messy Bun Beanie Hats all over social media before Christmas.  So, I decided to give it a try with my crochet skills. These hats were selling like crazy and I couldn't make them fast enough for people to buy and give as Christmas gifts!   They're super cute and cozy!  The perfect accessory for winter!   Check them out on my Etsy shop!  

6. Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask

One of the things I really want to concentrate on this year is skincare.  This year will be a big birthday for me... (I'd rather not discuss that).  But, I feel like I really need to start a great skincare regime.  I got a sample of this Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask and I've been using it a couple of nights a week.  It smells wonderful and I feel like I can really tell a difference in my skin the next day.  My face feels and looks more vibrant and healthy!  You should definitely give it a try!

12.2.16 Friday Favorites

It's December Y'all!  

Christmas will be here before we know it and then we will be ringing in the New Year!  I can't believe it!

Here's my Friday Favorites list for this week!  It's a list of the things that caught my eye and made me swoon throughout the week.  Enjoy!

1. Poppyclips

I came across these little cuties made by Poppyclips and fell in love with them!  How stinkin adorable are they?  Using a magnet, these little clips attach to the back of your Hunter (or other) rain boots and give them a dose of cuteness.  I just love these plaid ones with the red bows.  It's so festive for this time of year!  

2. Puppy Christmas plates at Pier 1 

I was window shopping this week and came across these plates at Pier 1 Imports.  Are they not the cutest little Christmas plates?  Pier 1 has an entire collection of little Christmas doggy decor items.  Adorable!

3. Flocked Christmas Decor

I am so obsessed with flocked Christmas decor right now.  I actually bought a wreath and some flock spray this week to make a wreath for our front door.  Stay posted for a blog post on that!

Can we just take a moment to appreciate this flocked goodness from hellofashionblog on Instagram?! I mean, this is just perfect! Awesome shot Christine Andrew!

4. Christmas Decor - Truck with Christmas Tree

I came across this same little truck in the Target dollar section while visiting Asheville, North Carolina a couple of weeks ago and I could kick myself for not getting one!  We haven't had them at our stores in Greenville!  Well, we probably did, and they just sold out quickly.  Downshilohroad shared this precious shot on Instagram, of how she decorated using her little Christmas truck.  Of course I love the plaid throw with it and that "Sweater Weather" sign is just too cute!

5. Tarteist Glossy Lip Paint

Well, I just had to do a little Cyber Monday shopping in the midst of my Cyber Monday sales on the Etsy shop.  Tarte was having some great deals on Monday and I had to take advantage of that!  Hey, makeup doesn't go on sale often.  Right girls!?  I'm super excited to try this Tarteist Glossy Lip Paint in Hella.  I've never been able to wear dark lipstick colors and I'm super excited to see how this light nude color looks on!  

6. Black Tassel Earrings

I know I might be a tad biased on this next item.  However, when I made these black and gold tassel earrings, I totally wanted to make a pair for myself and wear them to all of the Christmas parties this year.  I think they would be the perfect accessory for any holiday dress or outfit!