One Room Challenge | Guest Bedroom Week 1

A day late and a dollar short, but it's on. The One Room Challenge: 6 weeks, hundreds of bloggers, and a room transformation for each participant to tackle. I've seen so many ladies and blogger friends agree to take on this challenge that I feel inspired to hop on board myself. Having moved into our home a few months ago, there are several rooms to choose from. We only have two rooms that are fairly "complete" thus far -- the nursery and the living room -- leaving me with lots of options. My pick? Honestly, I chose the guest room because it seems to be the least daunting task...it doesn't have other beautifully unique features that our house possesses such as pink tile, glitter mixed into paint on the walls, faux granite linoleum countertops, or a need that would cost way too much money right now (like 6 dining room chairs). Perhaps those other "special" selling points (seriously...the actual bits of glitter on my master bathroom walls...AHHHH) will be conquered in future One Room Challenges. Maybe. :)
Here is Week 1 of 6. What I really love about this intro week is that it's filled with the pictures people typically don't share: the messy, un-together parts of home. Social media is great. Let's be real, I totally love it (duh). But that picture perfect glimpse of life is only a small slice of the pie. So on that note, cheers to that the not so glamourous portion--the unorganized, chaotic, usual parts of life.
Welcome to our guest room...

 It doesn't seem too terribly bad at first glimpse (except that fixture--let's all agree that it's terrible), but honestly what bothers me most about it is it's just not "me." At all. Side note: for some reason, I intensely detest this little quilt/coverlet thing. The pattern is too formal looking and it just screams "great-great grandmother" to me. Bleh.

 Oh, hello piles of things that don't have a space yet in our home!

 Meh.

 I love this little guy. Obviously a well loved pillow. TLC needed ASAP.

The tupperware bin underneath = my shoes. And though I don't mind this antique secretary, I prefer more symmetry in my nightstands choices, so that needs to move.

 Random nesting tables. No good reason/purpose for them there.

 Okay, behind that "bigger" closet (peculiar closet and a half, I know) is a just-throw-it-in-there massive pile of hospital bills, mail, HUD statements, and various other paperwork we collected while we lived at my mama's for 5 months. It MUST be looked through and filed properly into the file cabinet in that corner nook. Also to do: make that craigslist file cabinet look less lame because that's really the only good spot for it in our home.

 On top of our file cabinet? Toiletries I haven't unpacked from England, clothes, tangled jewelry, koozies (random), and other various junk.

Mission: declutter, reorganize, add some modern elements, and find a design scheme that is "me." The dark furniture throws me off, but I want to try to pull it together and have something not light that's still my style. It's going to be an interesting task finding my taste in dark wood, but gosh darnit I am going to try!!! Here is my [p]inspiration. 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

1 | The white bed linens totally lighten up the dark wood, don't they?! Love. Also digging the art above the bed. You know the nightstand symmetry is my jam too. That casual throw over the bench makes the room look so cozy and inviting, doesn't it?

2 | Again: white bed, art above, symmetrical nightstands. Love, love, love. I guess these should be staples in my redesign?

3 | Same idea but flanked art and sunburst mirror. Oooooo. :) 

4 | I love the crisp lines in this room. It reminds me that I still want to bring a flair of modern to work alongside the traditional antique pieces I already have. ...I just realized that each of these pictures has a bench at the foot of the bed. Perhaps I should incorporate that too...?

TO DO LIST
Find/purchase/thrift: curtain rods, curtains, matching/similar nightstands, white bedding, art for above the bed (?), lamps, a chair (?), a bench (?)
Declutter/sell/find a place for/get rid of ALL JUNK
Replace fixture
Actually organize and file the monster pile of papers in the closet
Makeover the file cabinet
Repair H pillow

Alright, y'all. It's game time. I am pumped to make this room over!

Be sure to visit all other bloggers who are participating in this 6 week challenge. Let's all root each other on! 

Our Living Room

Aside from Nancy's Nursery, the living room is the only room in the house that is fairly complete. This is the first time we've had a formal living room, and I am loving it. Living rooms tend to be unused or neglected, but I am pleased to report that we've gotten some good use out of it in the short time in our home. It has proven to be the girl/boy divide when we have people over: girls chat in the living room, men in the den.

I knew I wanted this space to be filled with neutrals (my favorite) as well of pops of metallic silver-- inspired by my beloved rug. Additionally, since the square footage isn't super generous for a formal living room, I envisioned floating the furniture centrally instead of pushing it against the walls. It creates the perfect little setup for hours of girl talk. So...welcome to this light, airy (and a little girly) space! It's so fun to see all these pieces of furniture that were in completely different places in our old house come together and make a room.

When we lived at my mom's house for 5 months (in between buying and selling), she asked me one day what my favorite piece of furniture was at her house. I reported that it was the tall pine shelf. Well, my oh so sweet and gracious mama passed it on to me when we moved out of her casa. Love you, mommy!!!! I so adore this piece!

The big apothecary jar holds petals from our wedding cake. How amazing is that? I'm obsessed. 

The sea shells were collected by us while we lived at the beach.

...And then there is some sentiment-less potpourri form Pottery Barn. :)

When my interior designer mom was styling these shelves, she decided to only put the frames on one row instead of scattering them around the shelves. I love how it keeps your eye in the same sight line for photos and the other decor gets to shine by itself without competing with a photograph. 

I've had this coffee table for 3 years and am still completely googoo over it. 

See the reflection of our chairless dining room? Lots of things to complete around here in the months (and years!) to come! ;)

I have to include my little photo bomber in this final picture because this is her favorite room. She guards the house from this little perch for hours on hours. Bless. :)


SOURCESUnless otherwise noted, the majority of the furniture is a family hand-me-down.Wall color: SW Sea Salt {read about all of our home's paint colors here}Curtains: Thrifted, but they are West Elm (no longer available in this color, available in platinum)Curtain Rods (These are A BARGAIN! I use them all throughout our home and did in our old house too!)Metallic Cowhide RugCoffee TableSofa Throw Pillows: Family hand-me-downs, thrifted, and a PB Monogram Appliqué Pillow CoverWhite Chair Throw Pillows: society6Faux pumpkin: MichaelsFaux hydrangeas (comes in a set of 3)Apothecary JarsMercury Glass Vases: At Home Mercury Glass Pumpkin: Home GoodsSilver Plates: thriftedCandle, c/o New South Home Couture
OUR HOMENancy's Nursery

Christmas Cards with Tiny Prints

Yes, it's true. Leave it to this girl to talk about Christmas card in early October. As the #1 fan of the snail mail Christmas card, I view this little presentation an honor and a duty. As I referenced yesterday, [surprise!] I'm already thinking about Christmas cards. How could I not since they're arguably my favorite part of the season AND Tiny Prints just released their 2015 collection?! I'm rounding up my top five ten favorites today (plus a few more because I couldn't stop) because there are just. too. many. good ones!!!

ONE // Spirited Tinsel

TWO // Splendid Serenity

THREE // Cheery Greetings

FOUR // Elongated Joy

FIVE // Joyful Bushel (a letterpress card!)

SIX // Purely Posh

SEVEN // Simple Sapling

EIGHT // Delightful Dabs

NINE //  Divided Greeting

TEN // Clear Cheer

See any thematic elements here? This Christmas season, I think I'm into modern, chic + sleek blacks and whites, metallics (duh), and JOY! This roundup is just my brainstorm. There's no telling what I'll wind up with based on a new family picture, my choice card's color options, the trim, the back, the envelope, the verbiage...the list goes on! 

How great is it that Tiny Prints lets you visualize their cards with your family's picture? Not to mention, there are so many personalization options for each card! From fonts to a variety of card color options to trim to metallic foil (swoon) to envelope liners, there are endless ways to make your order articulately tailored to your vision. There is a new laser cut option that I am loving this year as well. Little details are everything! Also important to note: I am so thankful that there is an option to have an actual designer (AKA a real person) look over your cards free of cost before printing. That perk is [super] necessary for folks like me. True story: I ordered our rehearsal dinner invitations for an Augsut 10, 2012. Did you catch that? Because I didn't. Augsut. Whoops!

I can't wait to take some family Christmas pictures and narrow down a favorite card out of my top 10. And guess what? Tiny Prints is helping with the decision making by sending 5 FREE samples of your  most favorite cards. Woohoo! I, for one, am taking advantage of this offer before it disappears. I want to hold my top picks in my hands before making that final merry choice. Just use code 5FREESAMPLES at checkout. New to Tiny Prints? Receive $20 off your first order here.

Y'all, seriously, is this not SO FUN? Or am I the only one who runs giddily to the mailbox everyday from Dec 1-24? Can't wait to show y'all what card and customizations I wind up choosing (and our new 2015 family photo!). Until then, happy Christmas card-ing! Cheers!
Here are some other faves I can't help but mention:Pine PerfectionMerry TopiarySterling WishesBanded SpiritScripted SentimentsIlluminated JoyPrecious PinesIf you think I have a problem, I'm fine with that. #owningit #Christmascardaddict #ILOVECHRISTMAS

Owning It III

Via
1. Random: I sleep flat. As in on my stomach with no pillow. Preferably with my feet hanging off the bed, my legs in the shape of a P, the covers all the way over my shoulders, and with one of Mark's t-shirts over my eyes. Weird. 

 
2. I've already started thinking about Christmas cards for this year. 

 
3. Nancy doesn't sleep the "magic" 12 hours through the night, and it really doesn't bother me. I feel 0 pressure make her sleep longer faster. 

4. I really don't know how many kids we'll wind up happening. I've always said I want 3-4. But what if we want to stop at two? What if we wind up with 5? What if we decide to adopt one or more than one? I love that this part of our story is unsure and unwritten. 

5. Now that we have moved back home to Charlotte, I see my mom or sister (or both) pretty much everyday, and I can't imagine it any other way. 

6. Wearing my Smartwool socks all through fall and winter makes me happy. Also I still don't have rain boots. And I still want a pair. 

7. I still love Keeping Up with the Kardashians and was snapchatting my sister scenes from the show as I watched Sunday night. I love Scott Disik and am still sad about him and Kourtney. Sigh. 

8. Sometimes I feel like we are on a mountain in where we are in our life right now, and my mind drifts to wonder (and fear?) what/when our valley will be. 

9. As much as I want to, I haven't bought the bag of pumpkin candy corns because they are too good and I will eat them all without sharing. Sigh. 

10. I really enjoy blogging. I feel like it's my own little entrepreneurial creative space/outlet where I can write, take pictures, journal, and share. (So thanks for being a part of this place that fuels my spirit!)

 
Previous PostsOwning ItOwning It Part 2Owning It: Claiming the Crazy

Mug Life

Society 6 is my go-to for fun, funky throw pillow covers of ANY and EVERY kind at a good price point, so it's no surprise that I was spending my Saturday night choosing new favorites with hopes to add a couple more to the three currently on my couch. (The struggle is [still] real. Sheesh.) Anyway! I found myself happily distracted from the throw pillows and diverted to the mugs. MUGS! I might love mugs as much as I love throw pillows. And--bonus--they hold my beloved coffee, so there's that. I love a fun mug, and my husband appreciates them too (a lot more than throw pillows...definitely). They're the perfect gift, they make me happy, and we use them lots in our house. So yay to all of that. Cheers to throw pillows and mugs: two things one can never have too many of! 

OMG // This is my favorite just because.I Can't Even // I can't even...Map of an Introvert's Heart // This made me giggle. This mug gets me.Donut Worry Be Happy // Because doughnuts make everyone happy.Narwhal Friends // Buddy the Elf made me love narwhals. Marble // Chic and sleekI Love Pizza // Fave food, duhEphesians 3:20 // My favorite Bible verse. Wouldn't it be a lovely reminder in the morning while sipping coffee? :)1 Corinthians 14:4-7 // More Scripture. This + morning quiet time? Yes.XOXO // This mug is pinkalicious. I Love You // I love love. This takes me back to my kindergarten teacher days! Design // Obsessed with the design + these colors.
What is your go-to shop for fun mugs? I said goodbye to a few old, boring mugs before we moved, so the extra space on our mug shelf has me ready to add a few more to our collection. 

Friday Favorites for the Home

ONE | Someone help. I have a throw pillow obsession. I wish there was a place for this in Pie's playroom!!! I mean...(wait for it)! It's from WAL MART. So, yeah. $14.97. (There is a cute coordinating I LOVE YOU pillow too. AHHHHH!)

Via
TWO | It's that time of year again...the time when Target releases their amazingly priced, amazingly cozy flannel sheet collection. These are the biggest steal, and they're perfect for the fall-winter seasons. My set from two years ago has gotten a bit worn, so now I face the challenge of choosing my favorite  to purchase for this year. Help?! My internal dialogue goes a bit like this: ooooooh these are so fun and festive, but my room is so peaceful and white and serene MEEEHHH WHAT TO DO? #thestruggleisreal (Oh!! Shipping at good ol Tar-jay is free for orders over $25, and if you order now using the code FALLHOME, you'll get an extra 10% off these lovelies.)

THREE | Y'all, my sweet and extremely talented friend, Whitney, gave Nancy the grooviest, bright, girly, fancy throw pillow (further feeding my throw pillow addiction). I can't wait to show you how it looks in Pie's playroom once I complete the room! In the meantime please go check out Whitney's company, Piper Collection. I have so many fall favorites! And winter. And spring. And summer, too. I could seriously have a Piper Collection throw pillow rotation for each season. Hey, a girl can dream! (Be sure to check out Piper Collection on IG and Facebook as well!)

Via

FOUR | Okay, more Target. These placemats. Crushing big time. Gold + fringe + thankful...sigh. (And it's included in the 10% off with the same code as above, FALLHOME.)

Via

FIVE | Last but not least...pumpkin perfection. Second only to my affinity for white pumpkins, this is the next best thing. :)

Via
[FRIDAY means I'm linking up with...5 on Friday:  Darci, April, Christina, + Natasha | Friday Favorites: A Little Bit of Everything, Momfessionals, + Grace and Love | Oh Hey, Friday: September Farm + The Farmer's Wife]