The Dandy Byrd

The Alice Hansen Family Fund!

holly — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:30:17 +0000

Normally my blog is all about the fun things in life: great food, fun parties, new styles and exploring different places, but we all know life isn’t always about fun. Sometimes things just take a turn for the worse. I recently read this post on Honey Bear Lane, and felt deeply moved by it. It made remember whats really important in life, and what needs to take a backseat.

Recently, Alice a mother of three, past away leaving behind her husband, two small children, and infant daughter. I can’t even begin to imagine this type of loss nor how to overcome it. Her husband is now raising three small children on his own. If you would like to help the Hanson Family, please visit Honey Bear Lane.

Hansen Family Fund

Everyday you get to spend with the people you love is a gift and something to be cherished. My heart goes out to the Hansen family and everyone who as lost a loved one close to them.

Santa Monica

holly — Wed, 02 May 2012 01:19:34 +0000

During our trip to California, me and my sister took a little day trip to Santa Monica. We had so much fun. We had a delicious brunch at Barney’s Beanery, we took in the unique surroundings, and the even more unique people. It was so much fun relaxing with the oceans cool breezes (unlike our stifling heat in Charleston) and eating churros on the pier. I know the pier is a huge tourist spot, but I don’t care I love it, I just love all the different people. Me and my sister had one of the best days ever here! We even tried to ride the Ferris wheel, but alas it broke down before we could!

Barney's Beanery

Dino Designs

The Georgian Hotel

I just love the Art Deco design of this beautiful hotel and the color my favorite!

View of the Pier

Under the Santa Monica Pier

Play Me I'm Yours, "Santa Monica Version"

This was the second “Play Me I’m Yours” piano we saw, I think this matches the vibe of Santa Monica perfectly!

Pretty Birds on the Pier

Me and the Ferris Wheel

Sunny California!

holly — Wed, 02 May 2012 00:30:10 +0000

A few weeks back my sister and I took a trip to Los Angeles to see my mother get honored with a fellowship award for city planning. It was great to be back in the city and visit some of my favorite areas from my short stint working in the city. We took a trip to Santa Monica, drove out to “Old Town” Pasadena, and had a great dinner in “China Town”. It was somewhat surreal going from Charleston, SC to Los Angeles, CA, one side of the country to the other in one day, fantastic! All and all it was a great trip and I was so excited to be back in the city and see my mother get honored for something she has worked her whole career for.

"My Name" Street, "Old Town Pasadena"

Memorial Park Pasadena

"Play Me I'm Yours"

All over Los Angeles they had these pianos that were decorated differently, that read, “Play Me I’m Ours”, this one was in Pasadena. Anyone can just sit down and play them, I looked it up and it is actually put on by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra!

Beautiful Pasadena City Hall

Floral Mosaic

I found this beautiful mosaic in a little town square with out door cafes and shopping, it was the most pleasant day, so relaxing!

Vintage Type Writer

I found this very cool vintage type writer in the Pasadena Flea Market, to bad I couldn’t make it mine!

Since I have so many pictures, I am breaking down my L.A. trip to 3 posts, so look forward to more pictures from Santa Monica, and downtown Los Angeles!

MINTspiration

holly — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:22:40 +0000

Hello everyone, I haven’t done a style post in a while and wanted to share my favorite color for spring, MINT! This color seems to be everywhere and I love it. It has such a delicate but playful hue to it and I am hoping sometime in the near future to incorporate this color into my wardrobe and maybe add some colorful designs for the studio, but until then take a look at some of my favorite uses for this color!

Gold & Mint Watch

Via Pinterest via ASOS

Ray Ban Mint Sunglasses

Via Pinterest via Harper’s Bazaar

Mint Denim

Via Pinterest via Tumblr

Quilted Mint Clutch

Via Pinterest via Wanelo

Heart Shaped Mint Earrings

Via Pinterest via Fred Flare

Essie Mint Nail Polish

Via Pinterest via Brunch at Queens

Mint Boyfriend Blazer

Via Pinterest via The Berry

Mint Midi Skirt

Via Pinterest via Tobi

Pantry Organization

holly — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 01:17:44 +0000

Those that know me best realize I am at my happiest when everything is organized and in its rightful place, yes I am a “Type A” personality. Unfortunately, just because I would like everything in its place does not mean it always is. Last week I decided to try and complete the organization of my pantry, while the boyfriend was out of town. I thought this would be an easy two day project at most, well it ended up taking me most of the week, but when I final finished it was worth every minute of painstaking organization.

Pantry Organization

I found this idea and the great free labels at this great blog “I Heart Organizing” she has great ideas for home organization and she also gives away a lot of free printables as well!

Mason Jar Storage

Pancake Mix & Flour

I found all of the mason jars (of varying sizes) at my local Wal-Mart, and the other plastic containers I also found at Wal-Mart in the Kitchen/Storage area, but most of the storage I already had lying around. Its funny how you can make a plastic container look so chic with the proper label.

Plastic Containers

Cookie Cutters & Cupcake Liners

Mixes, Pasta, & Flour

Crates ad Plastic Wrap

Lastly, the large crate was a gift from my boyfriends mother, whose family owns Morris Antiques, but any type of crate or box works perfect for this and I believe Target has started selling vintage-inspired crates as well.

Pantry Organization

Springtime Inspiration

holly — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:51:06 +0000

Wild Flowers

Layered Petal Dress

Springtime Arrangements

Spring Wedding

Pink Florals

Bath Tub Beauties

Butcher & Bee Part 2

holly — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:59:34 +0000

This second Butcher & Bee post is strictly for the food, and let me tell you I ate just about everything on the menu! The menu is changed on a regular basis, and a lot of the ingredients are fresh and local. I am by no means a food critic, but I loved everything I put into my mouth, so enjoy the yummy items below, and hopefully you can stop by this great little restaurant!

Cream puffs

We started with dessert, and these delicious cream puffs didn’t let down.

Whoopie Pies

Next up, the gingerbread (I think it was gingerbread) Whoopie pies with cream cheese frosting, yum!

Cheese and Sriracha Fries

These bad boys include: melted cheese, diced jalapenos and my personal favorite Sriracha, which make a spicy delicious loaded french fry!

Chicken and biscuit

My boyfriend, Jeremy, got the fried chicken and biscuit,which of course I had a bite of and it was very tasty, and the chicken was spiced so perfectly!

Lamb Benedict

Now this was my dish, lamb Benedict, honestly I have never had eggs Benedict in my life, but that is one thing that will be changing, this was so good, I literally inhaled it.

French Toast

And, then at the very end they brought out this great french toast, I had wanted it in the beginning, and they were out of it, but they were able to get me some anyway, and it was worth the wait! Everything I ate was great, and the atmosphere, with friends and family was awesome as well, here’s hoping you can stop by this fun little place soon!

Facebook Link: http://www.facebook.com/butcherandbee.charleston

Address: 654 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403

Phone Number: (843) 619-0202

Brunch at Butcher & Bee

holly — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:51:27 +0000

This past weekend my sister made reservations at Butcher & Bee for brunch and it was so much fun! Its this great new restaurant in downtown Charleston with a very rustic natural feel. The food is all fresh to order, with fresh ingredients, and the menu changes daily. It reminded me of fine dining food in a rustic little sandwich shop!

Butcher and Bee

Indoor seating

Outdoor seating

The seating is communal inside, you order and pay at the counter, then take a seat anywhere you like. However, the outdoor seating, where we sat for brunch (pictured above) is so much fun, with wagon wheel benches and large green pipes for table legs, surrounded by flower and herb boxes, you feel like your in your own little room!

Vintage Cashier

The Pantry

The sandwich shop is covered with great little treasures, from the vintage cashier to the open pantry filled with ingredients, vintage bottles, and hand made lotions and scrubs from the Charleston Soap Chef, which they have for sale.

Bring your own Drinks

You also bring your own drinks, which as seen in this picture means multiple bottles of champagne and orange juice for Brunch Mimosas!

The Servers

Emma J., me and Audrey

At the end of the brunch, with friends and family, we were stuffed with delicious food from the great staff, a little tipsy from our self-made mimosas, and enjoying our self thoroughly at this great little brunch spot!

Butcher & Bee Logo

Also, don’t think I forgot, all the great food we ordered with be coming on my second Butcher & Bee post shortly! Also, below is there Facebook link, address, and phone number.

Facebook Link: http://www.facebook.com/butcherandbee.charleston

Address: 654 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403

Phone Number: (843) 619-0202

Pallets, Frames, & Flowers

holly — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:54:40 +0000

Okay I do have a slight obsession with pallets and crates. They are just so versatile and you can use them for just about anything. Me and the boyfriend have used vintage coke crates to make a shelf in our bedroom, we used old wine crates to organize our pantry, and now my handy man boyfriend anchored a large old wooden pallet to a blank spot in our living room, and now we have a perfect place for picture frames and nic naks.

Pallet Shelf

First thing first is to find a pallet, honestly, you can find them behind any store normally, smaller stores usually don’t mind if you take them off there hands, where larger stores like Lowes recycle there pallets and don’t actually give them away. (we asked) The next thing is to know how how heavy your pallet is and you will need to purchase an anchor(your anchor needs to correspond with how heavy your pallet is), they either have them at Lowes or Home Depot. Lastly, after you have anchored the pallet to the wall you will need to screw in screws to the pallet board, just to hold it all in place.

Flowers and frames

Now, the fun part, add frames, flowers and fun little nic naks and you have a unique shelf, that is completely versatile and can be changed up for any type of occasion or holiday!

Flower Botanica

For this vase, I used a glass lemonade bottle I had at brunch, peeled the label off and presto, a cute little vase!

Pallet shelf

P.S. all the pictures taken on our pallet, besides the two of us, were taken by my very talented boyfriend, Jeremy Collins!

Summertime Darlings

holly — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:50:03 +0000

I know, I know, I know, its not even March yet, but you should feel the weather in Charleston, today’s high is 78 degrees. So I thought it only fitting in light of this great weather to post some great outfits for the summer season, don’t worry ladies notice how I did not put any swim suits up just yet, I still need a little more exercising before that happens! Anyway, I digress, the first outfit is a great beach outfit, a cute striped blue strapless top, with a fun fedora (Forever 21), and the perfect satchel (Mod Cloth) to carry everything you need for tons of fun in the sun. The second outfit is more for a friends barbecue or a nice stroll through the battery! (beautiful block in Charleston, with hugh historical mansions) I hope to be spending tons of time on Folly Beach this summer, and these will work perfectly!

Summertime Darlings

As always the links to these items are listed below!

First Outfit Second Outfit

1. Fedora 1. Floppy Beach Hat
2. Sunglasses 2. Floral Summer Dress
3. Denim Shorts 3. Sunglasses
4. Striped top 4. Pink Satchel
5. Brown Sandals 5. Brown Gladiator Sandals
6. Peach Satchel