The Eclectic Owl

White Garden Stool

2013-04-03T11:13:00.002-05:00

I got my One Kings Lane e-mail this morning on their current sales and saw this darling little white garden stool which normally retails for $250 on sale for $129...

I then realized it looks nearly identical to the White Lili Punched Drum Stool from World Market which retails for only $59.99...

I've got to say that I would definitely go for the World Market version - and to boot, I actually like it a little more than the one from One Kings Lane! Plus the price isn't too bad either ;)

Which one would you choose?

Pretty in Pink

2013-03-20T11:14:00.000-05:00

The thought of having pink in the home used to instantly remind me of that awful baby pink in little girls' rooms or the rose pink that was trending during the mid-1990s. Well, not anymore people. We're now seeing these beautiful tones of pink in homes in a way that doesn't make our husbands grumble (as loudly).

I absolutely love the look of the punch of pink in these chairs' upholstery and the book on the vignette in the first photo! They are both matched with these lovely "manlier" tones that seem to balance out the girlish pink.

via the pursuit of style

via style at home

I've also seen quite a bit of pink sofas lately - a look which I am loving. As much as I would love one in our home, I don't think I could convince the husband. But I'll keep it on the back burner for a rainy day...

via pinterest

via t magazine

via design*sponge

If you don't want to take the plunge and do a piece of furniture, you can always incorporate pink into pillows or small pieces of furniture. It's a wonderful way to add color in small doses!

via southern living

via emily henderson

via inspired by charm

Since we've started moving in to our new rental house (have I mentioned that?) I have decorating on the brain. Adding pink elements into our home is definitely happening - sorry honey :)

Would y'all add pink into your home? Do you already have it? I'd love to see how you guys have decorated with pink!

Flower Power

2013-03-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

Adding flowers or greenery around the house seems to cozy up any space and make it seem more alive. I love the look of flowers on a vignette or coffee table, but even adding them to a mantle or in a corner of the home is absolutely stunning.

via flourish design + style

via moth design

Since most of us don't have the funds to buy fresh flowers every week to put throughout our homes, its nice to know there are some great faux flower and plant options out there - whether its preserved boxwood, silk hydrangeas or large faux dogwood branches.

via house of turquoise

via camille styles

I especially love the look of fresh flowers or greenery on the kitchen table. It makes any space automatically feel inviting and friendly. It seems to lighten the tone of the room. A new trend I've seen: using succulents around the house - and for this lady with a black thumb I am all for that trend!

via style at home

via gracefully searching

What do you think about flowers and greenery in the home? Have you found any good faux arrangements out there?

Side thought: Is anyone else a zombie this week due to the time change? I need someone to hook me up to an IV bag full of espresso please.

Teriyaki Meatballs and Rice

2013-03-12T09:00:00.001-05:00

Last night I posted this picture on Instagram:

And a few of y'all asked for the recipe so of course I will oblige. I got the recipe from the blog Budget Bytes and followed it exactly (except I used brown rice in lieu of jasmine). It was super easy and tastes amazing! I think next time I'm going to use ground turkey to make it a bit healthier. I've actually used a few of the recipes from Budget Bytes and they have all been wonderful!

I served it with some sugar snap peas on the side, which was the perfect compliment to the dish. You could also do some roasted green beans, which would be uh-mazing. Have y'all tried any good recipes lately? What is your go-to quick weeknight meal?

Fond of Furbish

2013-03-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

A few months ago I discovered the store Furbish and can't believe I had never come across this gem of a shop before. They carry a little bit of everything: home decor items, furniture, jewelry, kitchen items, etc. I have quite a few items on my radar. Shocking, right? A girl who has more than a handful of things she wants. Well, since I can't resist - Here are some of the items that caught my eye...

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

Happy Monday, y'all!

Decorating with Blue

2013-01-29T16:06:00.001-06:00

Guys, I have a problem. I cannot decorate a room without incorporating the color blue in it. It just seems to come naturally and I can't get enough of the color.

image source unknown

via emily a. clark

Whether its a splash of the color or a strong statement, I just love the color blue in my home. Any shade will do for me.

via nick steever

via apartment therapy

via little green notebook

I love punches of teal, dashes of navy, anything blue really. Also, I stinkin' love the look of these wingback chairs + the pillow below...

via grace happens

via 6th street design school

via live breathe decor

Do you guys have a certain color your drawn to? Have you noticed a predominant color in your home? Mine is red. Just kidding.

DIY Gold Elephant

2013-01-28T09:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday! These metallic toy animals have been making their way around the blogosphere and I couldn't pass up making one for our bookcase when I saw this gray toy elephant (Roll Tide!) in the checkout aisle at Joann's...

It seemed like an easy project (and it is!), so I scooped up my supplies and went to town!

Here's what you'll need:

1 plastic toy animal
white primer spray paint
metallic gold spray paint
clear acrylic sealer

Instructions:

Begin by priming the toy on all sides. I found it best to put the toy on its back and spray with primer. Then once that has dried, turn the toy on one side, then the other and finally place it in the standing position making sure that it is dry in between movements. Once you have done one coat of primer, repeat the previous steps with a second coat of primer.

Repeat the application process with the gold spray paint, doing two coats.

Repeat the application process with the clear acrylic sealer, doing just one coat. Let it dry completely and you're done!

I'm sure this sweet little elephant will enjoy moving around the house every month when I compulsively redecorate. He looks like the type that likes to travel.

Here's to hoping this week isn't as hectic as last week!

happy friday

2013-01-25T16:02:00.000-06:00

Just some lovely words for some lovely readers. Happy Friday, y'all!

image source unknown

Before + After: Gossip Bench

2013-01-24T09:00:00.000-06:00

As a wedding gift, my grandmother gave us this antique gossip bench she got at an antique auction near their South Georgia home. I love the color of the wood and how unique this piece is - and not to mention how I will always think of my grandmother when I look at it. The only thing that needed a little updating was the fabric on the seat. It was a weird faux leather with a floral pattern.

This was an easy fix and a quick update! I picked up some fabric from Joann's (that I was originally going to use on our dining room chairs - more on that later...) and went to work. This is how the little darling looks now...

It's the perfect addition to this little corner in our house. I'm sure I'll change up the fabric again at some point, but for now I'm really liking this pop of red ikat! Here is a closer look at the fabric...

Recovering the seat of a chair or ottoman is an easy way to bring new life to a piece of furniture and it's cheap!

The DIY bug must have bit me this weekend because I did a few more projects around the house and can't wait to share them with y'all! Have you guys been up to any fun DIY's?

Recipe: Sausage Stars

2012-12-17T13:31:00.001-06:00

Not only are these sausage stars easy, they are insanely addicting! I had blogged about them before (a long, long time ago), but thought they were worth another blog post. Yes, they are that good. Yes, you will gain 5 lbs. from eating an entire pan of them. And yes, you can thank me (or yell at me) later :)

Sausage Stars

Ingredients:

1 pound sausage, cooked and crumbled
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese (do not use pre-shredded)
1 1/2 cups grated Monterrey jack cheese (do not use pre-shredded)
1 cup prepared ranch dressing mix (make sure to use the dry ranch packet)
1 can (2.25 oz) sliced olives
1/2 cup chopped red pepper
1 package fresh or frozen won ton wrappers
Vegetable oil

Instructions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.

After cooking the sausage, blot it dry with a paper towel. In a large bowl, combine sausage with cheeses, prepared ranch dressing, olives and red peppers. Set aside.

Lightly grease a mini or regular muffin tin and press one won ton wrapper in each cup. Brush won ton wrappers lightly with vegetable oil. Bake for 5 minutes. Remove from oven.

Fill won ton wrappers with sausage mixture. Bake 5 minutes or until bubbly. Makes 4 to 5 dozen.

Bon appetit!

DIY Wooden Name Sign

2012-12-11T11:28:00.001-06:00

A few weeks ago I decided to paint a sign for our foyer to give it a more personal touch. A few years ago I made a sign for my sweet friend Miranda, but never got around to making one for myself! So, a lazy Saturday presented itself and I drug out the paint and went to town.

Here is what you will need:

Piece of wood or an old sign you want to repaint
2 color of acrylic paint (or any paint will do)
Paint brushes
Computer and printer
Ball point pen
Wood stain (optional - I didn't use it on this piece)

Let's get started...

Sand the piece of wood and dust off sanded remnants. Paint the wood a solid color. I used a premixed gray acrylic paint I found at Hobby Lobby. You may need to do two coats depending on your paint color. Let it dry completely.

While the paint is drying, print out the letters needed in the font you'd like on your computer. Place them on the wood where you'd like the wording and trace the outline with a ballpoint pen, pressing down a bit to make an imprint on the wood.

Paint the traced letters with your second paint color. You may need to do two coats (I did!). Let that dry and then enjoy your finished work! If you want a more antique look, try using a wood stain on top of the completely dry paint (I've used Minwax Provincial 211 in the past). Wipe the stain on, let it sit for a few minutes and then wipe it off. Ta-da!

This would be a great gift for a friend or newly married couple! Simple and heartfelt :) Hope everyone is having a wonderful week!

Apple Brie Panini Recipe

2012-08-16T12:05:00.001-05:00

I'm just going to go ahead and let you in on a little secret. This sandwich is life changing. Really. This sandwich will make you a better person. More in tune with God. With yourself. With others. So, I don't think it comes as any shock that I'm going to need you to make this sandwich. Amen.

Really, though, this sandwich was so simple. Just 5 ingredients (6 if you count sea salt, but let's not get all technical here). I found the initial recipe here and just adapted it to my own taste a bit. So, on with the recipe....

Apple Brie Panini

Baguette or Hoagie roll (sourdough would taste great!)

Brie (enough to cover one layer on the sandwich, 2 - 3 oz.), cut in slices

1 granny smith apple, cut in slices

handful of arugula

2 tablespoons of honey (I suggest clover or orange blossom honey)

sprinkle of coarse sea salt

Take your baguette or hoagie and slice it in half (long ways). Spread the inside of both sides of the bread with honey. On the bottom bread slice, place the sliced brie and sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Then, add a layer of the sliced apples, top with arugula and add more honey to your taste. Place the top bread slice on top. Grill on a panini press or George Forman grill, making sure to grease it first. Grill 3 - 6 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bread is crispy. Bon appetit!

Note: You can also try it without grilling. It's delicious, too! But that melty brie cheese just seems to warm the soul :)

Vegetable Gratin Recipe

2012-08-14T10:04:00.000-05:00

Last week I had a ton of vegetables leftover from meals earlier in the week. Instead of doing my normal 'saute them in a pan with olive oil', I decided to make a vegetable gratin. They're pretty simple and would use the rest of my veggies - win, win! Also, you can use just about any veggies you have on hand - potatoes, peppers, sweet potatoes, zucchini, squash, onion, sweet onion, tomatoes...the list goes on and on.

So, let's get down to business!

Vegetable Gratin

1 medium to large size onion, sliced thin
2 - 3 tomatoes, sliced thin
4 - 5 zucchini, sliced thin
4 - 5 yellow squash, sliced thin
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup grated mozzarella cheese
olive oil
salt and pepper
handful of fresh thyme

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Grease a 9x13 baking dish and set aside. After slicing all of your vegetables, take your onion and saute it in a pan with olive oil until they just begin to caramelize. Place the onion in the greased baking dish - this will be your first layer.

Next, take your squash and layer it on top of the onion making sure to overlap each piece of squash just a bit. Do the same thing with the zucchini next, and then the tomato. Add half of the mozzarella cheese, half of the parmesan, dash of salt, dash of pepper and some thyme on top of the tomato. Drizzle with olive oil.

Continue layering until you have either used up all of your veggies or run out of room. Top the last layer with the rest of the mozzarella and parmesan, add a dash of salt, dash of pepper and some thyme and drizzle with a bit of olive oil. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 20 minutes or until cheese on top is golden.

Enjoy!

*Note: You may need to add an additional few minutes if you decide to add potato as one of the layers.

Summer Corn Salad Recipe

2012-08-07T13:41:00.000-05:00

A little over a week ago, a few friends from work and I went to see a local theater put on the musical "Legally Blonde." Since I've dreamed of my life actually being a musical for as long as I can remember, I figured this would probably be the closest it would come to being a reality. Before we headed to the show our sweet hostess made a dinner that included an herb crusted salmon, tomato garlic galette, corn salad and for dessert panna cotta. Jackpot right? I had already moved my bags in before we even got started on the wine.

My friend's corn salad was so simple and delicious that I decided to make some of my own. It was a huge hit with the Husband (not to mention, ridiculously easy) and I think I will definitely be making this again!

Ingredients:

5 ears of sweet corn on the cob, shucked
10 oz. cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in half
1/2 of a small red (purple) onion, chopped
1 - 2 handfuls basil, chopped or julienned
5 - 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons lime juice
salt & pepper

Directions:

Cook your ears of corn by bringing a large pot of water to a boil. Place your already shucked ears of corn in the boiling water and cover. Bring the the water back up to a boil and boil the corn for about 2 - 4 minutes, depending on how soft you want it. I like mine a little crispier so I only boil them for 2 minutes. Once they've boiled, remove them and soak them in an ice bath to stop the cooking.

Take your olive oil, vinegar and lime juice and mix together until well combined. Set aside.

Cut the corn off the cob and place in a large bowl. Add the halved tomatoes, chopped onion and basil. Add the olive oil mixture a bit at a time until it coats the corn mixture. Season with salt and pepper to your desired taste. Enjoy!

DIY Monogrammed Coasters

2012-07-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Wednesday! I am so excited to share this DIY with you all! Let's get down to the nitty gritty...

Supplies:

Bathroom or kitchen tiles (found these at $3.95 for 9 tiles, but there are definitely cheaper ones out there)
Mod Podge
Clear Acrylic Sealer (I used Krylon's Crystal Clear in the gloss finish)
Paper and a color printer (or you can use scrapbook paper)
Sponge brush
Felt rounds

Step 1: Measure your tiles and determine how large you would like the paper to be. My tiles measured 4" X 4" so I made each of the monogrammed papers approximately 3.5" X 3.5". I found fabric online and simply saved the image - ta-da! Then I just put my monogram on top of the picture. I chose 3 prints and printed off 3 copies of each. Cut the paper to the appropriate size and set aside.

Step 2: With the sponge brush, brush on one coat of Mod Podge. Place the monogrammed paper on top and gently smooth your fingers over it with a very small amount of pressure. Let it dry completely for at least 30 minutes.

Step 3: Brush on 3 coats of Mod Podge over the monogrammed paper, allowing it to dry completely between each application.

Step 4: After the Mod Podge has dried, apply one to two coats of the clear acrylic sealer. After the sealer has dried, apply the felt rounds to each corner.

Step 5: Voila! You're done! Let them dry over night and tomorrow you can enjoy your new coasters!

This has got to be one of the easiest DIY's I've done and it was inexpensive to boot! This would be perfect as a house warming gift, Christmas gift or even a birthday present. Hope y'all enjoy it! It was a fun, simple and the end product was lovely!

Girls Weekend

2012-07-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

Since the husband was out of town this weekend on a bachelor trip for a good friend, it was the perfect opportunity for a girls weekend with my mom! My mom came in town on Friday and Saturday we decided the hit up a few antique stores/flea markets in the area. The first one we ventured to was one I had been hearing about for some time now - Prattville Pickers. It is 98,000 square feet and they have an auction house within it as well. I'm going to go ahead and say it was a huge disappointment. Everything was highly over priced and there was a lot of, um...junk. I did happen to snap a few pictures while we were browsing...

This bizarre print (not an original) was $85...

This lovely monkey/candle holder/book end (?) was "unique" and therefore they were asking nearly $200 for it. I wish they had two {enter sarcasm here}.

The aisles within the shops were so crowded with (pardon my french) crap that you could hardly walk in them...

A view of the furniture area...

Now, there were a few items that I really thought were lovely minus the price tags...this trunk was going for $700...

I don't remember what this fan was going for, but I do remember it was more than I wanted to pay ;)

This was actually the only piece that was low in price - it was going for only $40! Too bad I didn't need a new desk!

Loved these old shutters, but at $600 I couldn't see the husband being very happy with me :)

After we left Prattville Pickers with our heads down and tears welling up in our eyes, we decided to head to my go-to antique store Eastbrook Flea Market. This place is great! They have everything under the sun and their price points are excellent. I didn't take many pictures, but I did see a lot of fiesta ware and thought of my sweet friend Sheila over at The Adventures of Ordy and Joon!

Now, for the creme de la creme. While piddling along in the main furniture booths I spotted a dresser. I thought it had great potential and just needed a little loving. {TIP: Please do not spend a ton on a piece of furniture you don't plan on keeping exactly as it is! Moving on...} So I took a peek at the price tag and noticed it had been marked down from its $110 price tag to $50!!! I immediately set my sights on it - but told my mom that we should walk around the store a bit more and if it is still here once we are done then it could be mine. And it was :)

I am so excited and happy about the new piece! It's in the living room right acting as our TV console. I'm going back and forth on if I want to restore it and keep it its natural wood or paint it. What would you suggest? If you painted it, what color would you paint it?

Pillow Talk

2012-07-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

Recently, I've been searching for some new pillows for our master bedroom, guest bedroom and the living room. That's pretty much all of the rooms in our home.

via cococozy

Adding pillows to a bed or sofa is an easy easy way to add color or pattern without making a huge investment. And if you come to a point where you aren't loving the way a room looks - punch it up with some new pillows! Mix it up with different patterns, colors, sizes and shapes. It adds dimension and keeps your eye moving around the room creating visual interest.

via pinterest

via furbish studio

via i suwannee

via design*sponge

Another pillow trend I love (although, it's always in trend in the South) is having monogrammed pillows. They are the perfect personal stamp to a bedroom, living room or any other space on your home. They seem to add something different than a patterned pillow.

via jenny wolf interiors

via kristen f. davis designs

via houzz

via forever cottage

I love being able to switch out one aspect in a room to give it new look and feel!

TIP: A trick I like to use to give my home a new feel is collecting all of the pillows in every room. Bring them all to one location and put them in new rooms. It doesn't work for all of the pillows, but can lead to you using an element in one room that you may not have considered before. Enjoy!

Hiatus

2012-06-28T15:16:00.001-05:00

image taken by yours truly - follow me on instagram @kelleyblake

After a brief hiatus, I hope I am back in the groove of things enough to really get back to blogging. I know, you're probably thinking, "Didn't she just tell us this?" - and to that I say, "Um, yes..."

But after much thought and consideration, I don't think I can give up blogging. I'm finally getting our home more "homey" and have a few projects I'm working on. So here's to hoping I can get back to this blog thing :)

Sausage & Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls Recipe

2012-04-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

This may be the easiest recipe in the entire world. It may not even be suitable to be deemed a "recipe." But I am sharing it for the sake of reaching someone out there who may not have tried this deliciousness yet. And to them I say, "You're welcome."

Ingredients:
2 packages refrigerated crescent rolls
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1 lb. of ground breakfast sausage, cooked and drained

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350º F.
In a medium mixing bowl combine softened cream cheese and cooked (and drained) sausage until well combined. Set aside.
Unroll your crescents and separate each triangle. Take your cream cheese and sausage mixture and place approximately 1 - 2 tablespoons in the center of each triangle. Roll up each one as you would a regular crescent. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 350º F for 10 minutes or until crescents are golden brown.

Enjoy!

Overdue Trunk Show Details

2012-04-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

I know, you are probably in shock because I'm posting. No, it is not a figment of your imagination - this is me actually posting. Hold on to your panties ladies, I have a feeling I'm going to be posting a lot more. I've missed you guys!

So, as I told you guys a few posts ago I am now a Stella & Dot stylist! I've hosted several shows since I first signed up and I wanted to share some photos from the first show that I held at my house...

Jeans - Gap

Shirt - American Eagle

Shoes - Target

Necklace - Stella & Dot

Let me just tell you, I am loving being a stylist - not just for the extra cash, but for the fun and friends I've made along the way. I truly love the company and the products. Who wouldn't love to hang out with great ladies, play with jewelry and make money while you're doing it? Crazy people, that's who.

If you're interested in becoming a stylist just e-mail me at kelleyblakelee@gmail.com. I'd love to have you on my team!

Also, if you're just interested in owning some lovely jewelry, you can always order online from my shop! Just go here.

Happy Monday! :)

Reupholstering?

2012-01-23T10:27:00.000-06:00

image via anthropologie

I am contemplating taking on the challenge of reupholstering a wingback chair I have. I know - SCARY! This chair was given to us for free and has just been sitting in a corner out of the way since it is a nasty pink color - a mix between rose and bubble gum pink - and doesn't match anything we have.

I've found quite a few tutorials on how to go about reupholstering, but wanted to know if there were any tricks or tips any of y'all have? Maybe you've found a blog that has great instructions? Any help would be greaty appreciated!

I've also found a few fabric websites, too - do y'all have any favorites? I don't want to spend a ton on fabric so I need something reasonably priced since it will take about 7 yards to reupholster the chair. Hmmm...Should I go bold a do a print? Or keep it simple and do a solid color? Decisions, decisions...

P.S. - Did you notice that cute little new badge on my sidebar? That's right. I'm a Stella & Dot Stylist :)

Stella & Dot Stylist

2012-01-19T09:53:00.001-06:00

For the past two years I have toyed with the idea of becoming a Stella & Dot stylist. When I was living in Huntsville it just never seemed to work out - I worked odd and long hours and was always gone on the weekends, which didn't leave me much time to devote to being a stylist.

Well, ladies and gentlemen. I took the plunge and I am so excited to say that I am now a Stella & Dot stylist! This is a company that I back completely - they are ethical, supportive and their product is FABULOUS. It seems that I came in at a perfect time, too! Their Spring 2012 line just came out and OH MY GOODNESS (enter valley girl voice here) it is absolutely stunning.

Just to give you an idea, here are a few of my favorite pieces...

The Bianca Tassel Necklace

The Millie Necklace

The Jade Serenity Earrings

The Serenity Small Stone Earrings

Gorgeous, right? And there are probably 100+ more pieces I could have put on here! I can't wait to get my samples so I can show them off! It feels great to work for a company that I can truly say has beautiful, quality products. Feel free to browse and shop my online store!

Interested in becoming a Stylist? I'd love to have you on my team! Or live in the Montgomery area? Host a trunk show and get FREE jewelry! Just e-mail me at kelleyblakelee@gmail.

Here's to a happy January (and a happy 2012)! :)

Goodbye to 2011

2011-12-30T11:59:00.000-06:00

This year seemed to pass by faster than any other I can remember.

And there were plenty of changes that occurred...

I moved to a new city. Hello Montgomery!

photo via wikipedia

Started a new job. Welcome to Alabama politics!

Moved into a loft - which is gradually becoming a home.

Got engaged! Read more about that here :)

Married my best friend! See more photos here and here :)

And I just know there will be more changes headed our way in 2012...

And I can't wait :)

Have a safe and happy New Year's!

Our Wedding: First Look + Bridal Party

2011-12-16T09:00:00.000-06:00

I have to say my favorite part of the day was taking pictures at our reception site. We headed to

the Wynfield Estate in Montgomery, Alabama to have our "first look" and snap some day time photos.

Take a look...

All photos courtest of our fabulous photographer Colin Peterson.

Okay, and apparently "a few photos" to me means "more than you'd ever want to see" :)

The last batch of wedding photos will be some of the ceremony + reception. I'll post those soon!

Until then, have a happy weekend!

Our Wedding: Getting Ready

2011-12-15T12:00:00.000-06:00

I'm finally starting to get back on track with things after the wedding.

The house is starting to come together, although there is lots of decorating still to be done!

So, while I keep decorating I thought I would share a few of my wedding photos with you.

These are just a few of us getting ready...

All photos are courtesy of our fabulous photographer Colin Peterson.

Having my mom and my sweet bridesmaids there on my big day was such a blessing.

I will always have fond memories of these moments. I love each of you!

Up next I'll share some of our "first look" and the bridal party!