Lovely for Less

Makeup Monday: Lashing Out

2016-10-24T22:20:00.001-04:00

Some of the most common makeup questions I get asked are about mascara. What mascara I use, recommend, etc. So, tonight, we're talking lashes!

Before we start, let me clarify - I am not compensated in any way for recommending or endorsing certain products. I am also not an active representative or consultant for any specific company. Why? Because there are people who could sell ice to an eskimo and then there's me. I'm fairly certain I couldn't sell water to someone dying of thirst. It's just not my gift. However, if you're interested in purchasing Mary Kay, Younique, Limelight, etc., I know some wonderful ladies who would be more than happy to help!

Ok, moving on to mascara! I have literally tried almost every high-end, mid-range, and budget mascara out there in the search for lash perfection! I love the look of lush lashes but don't have the budget for lash extensions every 2-4 weeks and I just don't generally have the time to deal with false lash application.

That being said, I have consistently used the same mascara for as long as I can remember! My personal favorite is the Falsies by Maybelline. One coat is great, two coats is amazing! And considering I can often find it at Walmart in a pack of two for $8, you definitely can't beat the price!

A new favorite of mine is the Falsies Push Up Drama, also by Maybelline.

Last but not least, another mascara that has been popular for years is Loreal's Voluminous Original. I have a friend who swears by this mascara, and it's definitely budget-friendly at around $6!

Finally, here are a few general tips to keep in mind regardless of the mascara you choose.

1. A heated lash curler used before applying mascara can make a huge difference, especially if your lashes do not naturally curl well. Just be careful not to burn your eyelid!

2. Unless waterproof mascara is a necessity in your line of work or you just cry a lot, I would not recommend waterproof mascara for daily use. It's generally harder to remove and, in my experience, likes to take lashes with it when it goes.

3. From $5 mascara to $30 mascara, the common consensus is that your mascara should be replaced every three to four months to avoid bacterial growth. Additionally, older mascara tends to dry out and not work nearly as well.

4. If your mascara isn't old but you feel like it's just not working as well as it did in the beginning, try cleaning your mascara wand and adding a few drops of contact solution or eye drops to your mascara, closing the lid, and shaking thoroughly.

If you all have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Fashion Friday

2016-10-20T23:34:00.002-04:00

With around a month left until Hadley's due date, I broke out my old maternity clothes to take stock of what I already had. However, since my boys were spring and summer babies, most of the clothes weren't going to work well for late October and November. Up until this point, I've been able to wear my regular clothes, but I knew that would be changing soon with how quickly our little girl was growing! So, I decided a little shopping was in order, and thankfully, I had birthday money to spend!

My goal was to purchase a few key items that would get me through this last month and possibly still work even after Hadley's birth.

1. Comfy layering tank from Walmart

This tank top is super comfy, stretchy, and hits high enough in the front for me. It's also $3! So, I purchased the black stripe and a solid black, gray, and nude. They have been wonderful!

2. Skinny boyfriend jeans

I found these maternity jeans at the Navy Exchange for $15! They are very comfortable and I love that they have the comfort waistband instead of the full belly panel.

3. Striped t-shirt dress

This dress is $25 from the Liz Lange Maternity line at Target. It is so incredibly comfortable! When I got home, I played around with a few different ways to style it, and as you can see, it's extremely versatile!

For around $50, I have everything I should need for a maternity wardrobe for fall! I can't wait to meet our little girl, but until then, I'm having fun dressing the bump!

Makeup Monday: About Face

2016-10-17T21:17:00.002-04:00

Let's talk makeup!

Before we get started, it's important to remember that makeup preferences can vary greatly from person to person. Even if you and I have the same skin tone and skin type, a product that works wonderfully for me may not work as well for you. Just a little disclaimer!

The first step to a flawless face is skincare and prep. Proper skincare is absolutely essential, so please don't ignore this step! After cleansing and moisturizing, it's prime time! There are a ton of primers out there, but the one I currently use is NYX Studio Perfect Primer in clear. It's $12.99 at Ulta where they often run sales on their NYX products, plus you can always find an Ulta coupon to use on top of any sales.

Moving on to foundation!

For a lightweight, natural look, I have two favorites! Urban Decay's Naked Skin is amazing! It provides great coverage while looking natural and feeling like you're barely wearing any foundation.

For a similar, budget-friendly option, try Loreal True Match Lumi. This is one of my go-to foundations!

For a medium to full coverage foundation, I also have two favorites! Estee Lauder Double Wear provides amazing, buildable coverage without looking heavy or cakey.

For a budget-friendly option, try Flower's About Face Foundation. This is only available at Walmart, but has quickly become a new favorite of mine!

Finally, we'll end today with my favorite brush to use for foundation application, the Expert Face Brush by Real Techniques.

Hopefully this overload of information is helpful! Next time, we'll talk concealer tricks, brushes, and powder. If you all have any questions, just let me know!

Makeup Monday

2016-10-13T20:20:00.000-04:00

I've had a few requests for makeup tips, so I thought I would start a fun new series called Makeup Monday!

I've been doing makeup for weddings and special events for over twelve years now. I guess you could say I'm self-taught because I learned how to do makeup in the old days before YouTube tutorials and Instagram makeup videos. Basically, through a lot of practice and trial and error!

My first makeup post will be this coming Monday, so if you have any special requests for topics or specific questions, please comment and let me know!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dino Boys' Room

2016-10-11T21:14:00.002-04:00

After being in our new home for almost a year now, the boys' room is nearing completion at last! I let the boys choose the theme for their room and then created an inspiration board from there.

The only project we have left is the stenciled accent wall, which I'm hoping to tackle this week or next. I'm trying to knock out as many projects as we can before little Hadley arrives in November!

Thankfully, this weekend we were able to finish the gallery wall above their dresser!

I had already purchased the stuffed dino head and T-Rex string art from Target a few months ago. The letters for the boys' names were from their rooms in our first house and just needed repainted. So, I set my hubby up with a drop cloth and some spray paint we already had on hand and he took care of that for me!

The square photo frames were also in storage, so I just had to figure out what to put in them! I debated ordering some prints from Etsy, but the in the end, decided to attempt a little dino DIY project with some dinosaur tracks and an easy-to-draw Triceratops.

The boys loved the finished product, and the stuffed dinosaur head remains their favorite part of the whole room!

By reusing items we already had and creating a little DIY artwork, I was able to save quite a bit of money! Total amount spent for the entire gallery wall: $32! Next up is the large scale geometric accent wall. I already have the huge wall stencil, and I can't wait to share pictures of their finished room!

A Girly Girl Nursery on a Budget

2016-10-08T20:57:00.001-04:00

I absolutely love designing and decorating rooms for little kids! Until recently, though, I had really only done boys rooms. Now, don't get me wrong, I love decorating for my boys! However, when we found out we were having a little girl, I was ecstatic to be able to plan a girly space. Obviously, years of ideas started flowing through my head, and it was a little overwhelming narrowing down my design plan.

One of the most difficult aspects was trying to figure out how to achieve the look I wanted on a budget that worked for us. Because we were essentially starting fresh, we needed to purchase a crib, crib bedding, dresser, rocker, curtains, paint, and décor. The crib I initially fell in love with was more expensive than our budget for the entire room. I had visions of wainscoting, crown molding, and gorgeous floral wallpaper. However, the wallpaper alone was almost $500 a roll, and our budget for the entire nursery was $800. So, back to the drawing board I went! I ended up with the design board pictured below, and all within our set budget.

We are making progress, but still have a few more projects left! I can't wait to share the finished space with all of you!

Keep Instagramming Your Life, We All Know It's Not Perfect

2013-06-07T19:50:00.000-04:00

A while back, I read an article called Instagram's Envy Effect. The author talked about how people present a perfect picture of their lives on social media and the negative effect this can have. The article made some really great points, and I completely agree that we have to be very careful not to compare and envy other people's lives. It's a wonderful article that's a great reminder to keep things in perspective. If you haven't read it, you should check it out!

And while I completely agree with the author, I love seeing pictures of everyone'e beautiful moments. It doesn't mean there aren't times when I feel like my life is much less exciting and glamorous than everyone else's, but that's when it's time for a reality check brought to me by one of my favorite quotes:

So, just in case social media has given you the false impression that my life is perfect, let me set the record straight now. My life is far from perfect. I make mistakes. My kids throw temper tantrums. My husband and I disagree. My house gets messy. And you generally won't see pictures of any of those things. Why? Because when my child is screaming at the top of his lungs in Walmart, I'm not thinking, "Ooh, let me take a picture of this so I can share it with everyone and make them feel better about their children." Umm, no. I'm dealing with the immediate problem. But do we really think that because we don't see those behind the scenes moments that they don't happen?

Let's not make social media a place where people feel guilty about sharing their beautfiul moments. Coming from someone who has 90% of her loved ones and friends out of state, I love seeing everyone's adorable kids, exciting adventures, and wonderful memories. After all, isn't that what photography's for? To capture moments that we want to share and remember? And, in twenty years when my babies are grown up and gone, I won't need a picture of their meltdowns to remember that they happened. Believe me. Some things you never forget. :)

So, just keep capturing and sharing your life. Period. The good, the bad, the crazy, the beautiful. And on the other end, when we're viewing pictures and status updates on social media, let's try to keep it all in perspective and be thankful for the life God has blessed us with!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Take lots of pictures! ;)

Let Them Eat Cake!

2013-06-06T22:56:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd share these super easy cupcakes I put together for our church bake sale last weekend. All of the goodies were supposed to be individually wrapped, and I'd seen this idea on Pinterest, so I knew what I was making! :)

It really is a quick, inexpensive idea that could also be used as party favors. In addition to the baking supplies, the packaging only cost $5 total. The clear bags were $2 from Walmart, the ribbon was $2 from Walmart, and the punch cups were $1 for a pack of 10 from the Dollar Tree. I made the tags myself, punched a hole in them, and tied them on! The whole project only took about 10 minutes, not including baking time.

So, there you have it! A quick, easy, and cost-effective idea for bake sales, showers, and birthday parties alike!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! :)

DIY Necklace Holder

2013-04-27T19:35:00.003-04:00

I have a confession to make. I might have a slight addiction to "high fashion" jewelry. ;) In other words, I'm in love with big, chunky, bright, colorful necklaces. They're generally not that expensive, so that's not the problem. Unless you have over fifty of them. :) The problem I've encountered with my jewelry collection is storage. I have a nice jewelry armoire that does a great job storing all of my bracelets, earrings, rings, and more slender necklaces. Meanwhile, my larger necklaces have slowly taken over two whole shelves in our linen closet.

I've been meaning to do something about it for a while now, but finally got around to it today. Yay! :)

These are the supplies I started with:

The wood plaque and gold paint came from Michaels, the stickers and gold knobs came from Walmart, and I already had the spray paint. (Valspar La Fonda Mirage from Lowes)

I found these really cute knobs from Anthropologie, but they were $8 a piece and I needed 6. $48? No thank you! So, I decided to try a similar DIY version.

I took the brass knobs from Walmart and put one of the circle stickers in the middle. Then, I taped off the end and got to spray painting! :) Here's how they turned out!

They're not perfect, but I like them! And it only cost me $15 to make all 6 knobs! If you want to save even more money, you can make all 6 for $8 if you buy unfinished wood knobs, but I opted for the quickest method. :)

I then spray painted the wood plaque white, but it was looking a little plain to me, so I freehanded a stencil and used a gold sharpie to add a little pattern. Once again, it's definitely not perfect, but that's where being an impatient perfectionist causes problems. ;)

I actually drilled the holes myself and then screwed on the knobs. :) It was finally ready for necklaces! I took 13 of my favorite necklaces that took up the most space and added them to my new jewelry holder/artwork. ;)

And here's the final product!

I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out, especially since the cost of the whole project was less than $25! :) Now I just have to figure out what to do with the rest of my necklaces. ;)

Hope everyone had a great Saturday!

{Home}

2013-04-25T15:44:00.002-04:00

In November, my husband will be getting out of the Navy after eight years of active duty service. It was not an easy decision for him to make as the sole provider for our family, but the Lord directed him and gave both of us peace about leaving a comfortable living to embark on an "uncertain" path for the future. But it's not really uncertain, is it? We have faith that the Lord will provide for us just as He always has. And I believe that wholeheartedly!

But when my husband's plan involved selling our home and looking for a two bedroom apartment for the next four years, I said, "No way!" We started out in a little apartment, and I had no desire to go back to that point. I found out that it's easy to upgrade, but not quite as easy to downsize. ;) I didn't realize how attached I'd become to our house until it came time to put it up for sale. This was the first home we bought as a married couple; the place where we brought both of our boys after they were born. I realized that even with as much as I had complained about the "builder basic" features that my husband wouldn't let me upgrade, I loved this home!

I rebelled against the idea for a week or so, and finally begged the Lord to change my heart. I knew I couldn't do it on my own. You see, I love beautiful things. If you know me, you're saying, "Amen!" right now. My mom even remembers me as early as age two picking out my own clothes and accessories and telling her what matched and what didn't. :) Guess I was just born this way! ;)

Thank goodness, the Lord really has changed my heart! Whereas two months ago the idea of a little two bedroom apartment had me in tears, I'm now excited about purging and simplifying and moving onto this next phase of life as we prepare for full-time ministry! :) I've listed a lot of the items to sell that we won't have room for, and people have been so sweet about asking how I'm doing during what can be a difficult time. And I can honestly say that I have no attachment issues to these items! The Lord has truly done a work in my heart. :)

He helped me realize that it doesn't take a lot of money or 3,000 square feet to make a home. It takes a lot of prayer, time, effort, and love. So, I'm ready to make a little 800 sq ft. apartment our next home! "Home" has been redefined for me. I've realized that home for us is going to be wherever my husband and boys are. Wherever we laugh, love, and live. Where the boys wrestle with Daddy on the floor and give Mommy sweet sugar. Where I sing my babies bedtime songs, rock them to sleep, and tuck them into bed. Where we pray together, play together, and teach our children to love the Lord. That's home. It's much more than just a building. :)

I'm so excited for this next phase of life for our family. And I'm ready to make a home wherever we may go. After all, that's my job! I'm the keeper of the home, and square footage doesn't change that! Thank you all for praying for us and showing us so much love as we embark on this new journey! We're excited about what the Lord has for us next! :)

And if you haven't read this article by Biblical Homemaking, you really should! It encouraged me tremendously!

So pinspiring!

2013-04-22T20:50:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday we had a great time at our Pinterest ladies fellowship at church. We ate brunch, had a time of prayer and praise, and then got to crafting. There's nothing like sitting at a table crafting with sweet ladies while holding a hot glue gun in your hand! Ahhh, good times! We made spring wreaths, and they all turned out adorable! I put mine on the front door and then decided to hang it in the hallway until the pollen dies down. ;)

Here's how my project turned out!

I found the unfinished wood frame at Michael's for $7.99, but with my coupons, I ended up only paying $4.50. Two sweet young boys at church spray painted it for me. :) I bought the spray paint at Lowe's for $5, and the color is La Fonda Mirage by Valspar. I couldn't find a wreath form that was the size I needed, so I bought some hard backed felt from Walmart for $1 and cut it to size. I then covered it with a Vera Bradley Peacock fabric napkin that I had stashed in my closet. I used a fabric headband in the same pattern, but reversed for the ribbon to hang the frame. I dug both of these out of my closet where they hadn't been used for years! Yay for repurposing! :) I found the turquoise flowers at Michaels for $1.50. They're actually hair clips, so I just clipped them right on to the fabric. :) The only thing I actually made was the yellow felt rose, which only took about 5 minutes.

Total cost: $12!

I love the way it turned out, and I think I might have to add some of these adorable frames to a gallery wall one day. Wouldn't they be amazing to display kids artwork in?

This project is truly a testament to the fact that anything is possible with a little spray paint and a lot of hot glue! ;)

Sophia's Sweet Shoppe

2013-03-04T20:12:00.002-05:00

I was beyond excited to help my best friend plan her daughter's first birthday party! Finally! A girly party! :) Now don't get me wrong, I would've helped even if she had a boy, but I get to do plenty of decorating for boys. ;)

Jess lives in Oklahoma, so we did most of the planning online. She already knew that she wanted to do a Sweet Shoppe theme, so then we just had to decide on a color scheme. We narrowed it down to black, white, and pink pretty quickly and got started!

Here's a shot of the full dessert buffet. :)

The cupcakes were from Sam's Club and were delicious! The cupcake stand came from Michael's.

I designed the labels and had them printed at Office Max and we made the sugar cookies ourselves. :)

We also made the rice krispy pops, which were scrumptious as well! The cupcake liners came from Walmart.

The favors were kettle corn that we drizzled with milk chocolate and white chocolate. The favor tags featured the birthday girl and said, "It was so sweet of you to celebrate with me!" They were printed at Office Max and the favor bags came from Walmart.

The ombre rosette cake was beautiful and delicious! It was made by Amber of Bone's Bags & Cakes by Design.

We had a great turnout for the party despite the snow, and most importantly, everyone had a great time! I loved being able to help with such an important day, and best of all, I was able to spend some quality time with my best friend! :)

Stay tuned because I have an exciting giveway to announce tomorrow!

Valentine's Day Inspiration

2013-02-01T20:45:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow we're taking the boys to do a Valentine's mini session with Brandi from Immeasurable Moments Photography. I'm so excited! I have their outfits all ready to go, now let's hope they cooperate! :) Since it's officially February now, I thought I'd share some great Valentine's day ideas I've found recently.

This link is seriously the treasure trove of cute valentines for kids. I can't wait for school parties! :)

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And how adorable is this newborn shoot? Oh my word, I need a Valentine's baby! Ok, not really, but this is too too cute!! ;)

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I pretty much love anything with a chalkboard! Must be the teacher in me. ;) I might try a DIY version of this with the boys and their flirty little Valentine's Day tees. :)

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And if you don't have kids, here's a neat idea for a couples session. Gorgeous! Check out the link below for the full post with even more great ideas. Think "The Notebook" themed session. :)

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Do you guys have any neat ideas to share? I know Pinterest is bursting with them, so if you have a favorite, please share the link in the comments section! :)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

You Might Be a Mommy If...

2013-01-25T13:10:00.002-05:00

Just thought I'd share some of my most recent "Mommy Moments" with you. :)

You might be a mommy if...

1. You cram days of work into an hour of naptime. :)

2. Going grocery shopping alone is your version of "ladies night out."

3. Your latest DIY projects involve baby food jars and formula cans.

4. You still check baby monitors to make sure your child is breathing, regardless of their age.

5. Your latest play fight with your hubby involves weapons of diapers and baby wipes. :)

6. You know the theme song to nearly every cartoon, but have no clue who One Direction is. That is, until your 14 year old sister educates you. ;)

Happy Friday, everyone!

Colorful Family Photos

2013-01-09T23:17:00.002-05:00

Maybe it's a case of the winter doldrums. Maybe it's because it was 65 degrees here today. Or maybe it's because stores started putting their spring collections out before Christmas was even over. Whatever it is, I'm ready to break out some bright, fun colors in my house and closet! :) May and June are going to be crazy months around this house as Cole celebrates his first birthday and Blake turns three! We'll also be doing family pictures and pictures of the boys around that time. Needless to say, this mama already has her planning hat on. ;)

For this year's family photo shoot, I am going to attempt to break out of my obsessive compulsive habits and put together fun looks that aren't so matchy-matchy. I have a hard time with this. And home decor that is not symmetrical. It's a weakness of mine. ;) So, if you're like me and want to branch out and get crazy this year, here are a few ideas for bringing some color into your next family photos.

1. Outfits

Clothing is the easiest way to add a little bit of color (or a lot, in this case.) These are the looks I put together for our session, and they are definitely out of my normal comfort zone. There's black in each outfit, which helps tie them together, and then I made sure that at least one color in each outfit coordinated with a color in someone else's. The hubby's outfit is rather simple, but it's about all I can get him in during the warmer months. :) Comfort is always a major consideration for my three men, and of course, for me since I'll be dealing with them. ;)

2. Location

I love photos I see that have colorful walls as the backdrop. It's such an interesting way to add gorgeous color to your session. And it's completely free. ;)

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3. Props

I love the idea of using oversize balloons, or even a bunch of regular balloons, to add an extra pop of color. And maybe it will even entertain the kiddos! :)

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Well, there you have it! Just a few ideas for how to add some color to your family photos! What do you guys think? Over the top or totally fun? :)

2013 Home Resolutions

2013-01-03T11:25:00.001-05:00

Hey, everyone! I'm super excited to be guest posting for Lauran at The Real Young Housewife of Southern VA today! Be sure to head over there to see my 2013 Home Resolutions! And if you've never met Lauran, you're going to love her! She's a beautiful lady with a great personality and fabulous fashion sense! Stay and visit a while - you won't be disappointed! :)

I hope the new year has started out wonderfully for all of you! We have quite a few home projects in various stages of completion, and I can't wait to share them all with you! :) What about you guys? Any exciting resolutions to share?

Ugly Wins!

2012-12-30T22:59:00.000-05:00

As I was browsing ideas for our Christmas party, I came across a blogger who stated that ugly sweater parties were "so last year." I don't know about you, but I'd enjoy one every year! ;) Maybe next year we'll have a pretty sweater contest and encourage our guests to don their best duds. And then again, maybe not! :) Anyhoo, we had a blast at the Christmas party we hosted for our couples Sunday school class. Food, games, laughter, tacky sweaters...yep, doesn't get much better than that!

I put together a simple, easy, and inexpensive dessert table for under $20. I used leftover wrapping paper and ribbon to transform my Ikea picture frames into oversize gifts. :) The rest of the Christmas decor was purchased at Target and Walmart.

We had gingerbread men, Oreo cookie balls, and turtles. :)

We also had vanilla flavored cotton candy...I'm a child at heart! ;)

Candy canes and coal for all the men...I mean, the naughty guests. ;)

Thankfully, we didn't have too many leftovers since I have absolutely no self control when it comes to sweets! :)

Here are some of the sweet ladies from our class! I'm so thankful for each and every one of them. :)

And, finally, here's a pic of the hubby and me! I had to get one of Josh in this shirt because I'm pretty sure it's a sight I will never see again. ;) I still think he looks handsome. It must be love! :) We had a great time and are looking forward to our next get together! Super Bowl XLVII! Maybe we'll have an ugly jersey contest. I'm not naming any names! ;)

Now it's on to New Year's Eve! Ours will most likely consist of watching the ball drop from the sofa and throwing homemade confetti. :) What about you guys? Anyone have any plans that are more classy and fabulous than mine? Doubtful, I know! ;)

It's a Big Boy Room!

2012-11-15T11:37:00.000-05:00

Planes, trains, and cars, oh my! Blake's getting a big boy room! When I designed his nursery, I kept everything very simple and classic. At two years old, Blake has many things he loves, so I wanted to incorporate those into his new room. He actually sat right beside me and helped me design this inspiration board. He LOVES the alphabet print, clock, transportation prints, car pillow, truck night light, and roadway rug.

As always, we're on a tight budget, but I think we'll be able to create a fun and functional space for our little guy who is so full of life! And I actually convinced my hubby to take me to Ikea next week! Woo hoo! ;)

A Few of My Favorite Things

2012-11-01T16:01:00.000-04:00

Last night we got the kids dressed up in cute costumes. I packed baggies with candy in case we had visitors. We walked outside into the cool, autumn night, piled into the family vehicle,and went to church. The kids had a blast and we had the privelege of hearing Brother Randy Wright preach again. What a blessing! We ended the night with sweet fellowship at Chick-Fil-A. Can you say cookie sundae? ;) Now for some kiddie cuteness! So, Blake dressed as a tall, dark, handsome man! Appropriate, right? :)

And here's Clark Kent!

And Cole was a sweet little puppy dog! Also quite appropriate for his personality. :)

While I had my chevron fabric out, I snapped a few pictures of two of my recent purchases that I'm excited about! Here is our family Christmas card for this year (front and back). I love the way they turned out! :)

I've been looking for a mint/seafoam statement necklace for a while now, so I was super excited when I found one as I was shopping for Blake's nerd glasses. Not my typical store, but I found it at Rue 21. And for $9! That's what I'm talking about! :)

And this lovely yellow fabric that works great as a backdrop? It's about to become curtains! ;) Can you guess which room it will be going in? :)

Designer Inspired

2012-10-06T20:45:00.000-04:00

I love designer fashion, jewelry, home decor, you know name it! And then there's reality. I'm a stay-at-home mom with two kids. We buy diapers and wipes. We pay for college classes and books. We have a mortgage and a car payment. Like most people, we live on a budget. And, honestly, I don't think I could spend $1,000 on a purse anyway. :) However, what I love to do is draw inspiration from high-end designers and brands. When we found out we were expecting, I started browsing Serena and Lily, Restoration Hardware Baby and Child, and Pottery Barns Kids for ideas. I came across this room from Serena and Lily.

I loved the navy and white stripes with the grass green accent color. I felt like it was a great crisp, clean look that was all-boy. :) So, I totaled the cost of the bedding for the Serena and Lily room. Just the bedding - duvet, pillows, sheets, etc. This price does not include any furniture or decor. And the grand total for this look was $836. Gorgeous, but waaay out of our budget! :)

And this is a shot of Cole's Serena and Lily inspired nursery. For the fabric backdrop, I found this rugby stripe shower curtain at Target for $15! I ordered the letters from an Etsy seller and painted them with Serena and Lily paint in Grass green (Serena and Lily paint sample, $6). For the pennant banner, I ordered free fabric swatches from Serena and Lily and bought the other fabrics at Hancock for $3. I ordered the crib sheet from Serena and Lily when they were having a 40% off Nursery event, and the crib skirt was another DIY project ($6). For the green accent pillow, I covered a pillow I already had with an old cable-knit sweater I didn't wear anymore (FREE)! So, the grand total for all of Cole's bedding and crib wall decor came to $97! :)

Although I couldn't afford to order all of the items straight from Serena and Lily, I was able to create a similar look for a fraction of the cost. I'd say our motto around here is design on a dime, but it's actually pretty on a penny! :)

Do you guys have any awesome tips for creating high-end looks for less?

Something Blue

2012-09-27T22:39:00.001-04:00

I'm sure you've all heard of the sweets stylist, Amy Atlas, but if you haven't, be sure to check her out! Her work is absolutely amazing and her dessert tables are incredibly inspiring! As I was brainstorming ideas for my sister's bridal shower, I came across a gorgeous dessert table she designed for the Wedding Library that gave me an idea for the theme.

In other words,

We decided on a color scheme and theme that was perfect for a bridal shower:

The invitations were designed by Amber from Announcing You. She always does such a wonderful job! :)

I used leftover wood I had from another DIY project and fabric from Hancocks to create the backdrop. I was so excited when I found the silhouette mirror for $14.99 at Ross!

The pearl Sixlets and candy scoops were from Party City and everything else was purchased at Sam's or Walmart.

I found the frame at T.J. Maxx and painted and distressed it to give it a more vintage feel.

I ended up spending just under $75 for all of the decor, desserts, candy, etc. :)

I love drooling over Amy's work and using it as inspiration for my own budget-friendly, much less perfect dessert tables! Her "Perfectly Preppy" dessert buffet already has me brainstorming for Cole's first birthday party! :)

Easy Peasy Dessert Table

2012-09-25T17:00:00.000-04:00

This past weekend we hosted a couples get together at our community clubhouse. We grilled out, played games, and had a great time of fellowship! We played a hilarious round of charades and a game called Mad Gab that I absolutely love! :) We wanted to have a theme for the event that played off the 'Battle of the Sexes' idea. With it being football season, I started brainstorming football terms and girly words that started with the same letter. I ended up deciding on Pigskins and Pearls and thought brown and pink would be perfect colors for the decorations. I knew I wanted to do a dessert table, but was limited on time and money.

I made the backdrop using foam presentation boards I already had covered with wrapping paper from the dollar section in Target. I used posterboard and a printer to make the sign. The four square serving trays are actually china dinner plates I found at Target on sale for $2 a piece. I added pink scrapbooking paper to them for a pop of color.

To save on time, I bought everything pre-made except for the sugar cookies. Although I made these, they were super simple and easy. Pillsbury pre-made sugar cookie dough, Betty Crocker cookie icing, and pearl sprinkles. The hubby said they were the best cookies he's ever had! And they end up coming out to under $.50 a cookie versus $3 or more a piece for specialty cookies.

I lined the cake stand with a piece of pink and white chevron scrapbooking paper and bought ready to serve mini cupcakes.

The apothecary jars held Whoppers and strawberry milkshake Whoppers. We also had chocolate covered oreos, strawberry wafer cookies, and football shaped brownies.

It took less than two hours to make and set everything up, and best of all, the total cost for this dessert table came in at just under $25! :)

Do you guys have any budget-friendly tips for dessert tables? Do share! :)

Get All the Good Dirt Here!

2012-09-02T22:11:00.002-04:00

I have a confession to make. I'm an apothecary jar addict. I seriously have a slight obsession with them! ;) They're in the bathroom, kitchen, and have now found their way into our laudry room.

I'm hoping to give this room, like all of the other rooms in our house, a bright, fresh makeover soon.

And my inspiration is one of my favorite laundry rooms of all time!

I'm hoping maybe a mini-makeover will make laundry more fun. Probably wishful thinking! ;)

Do you guys have any fun laundry room inspiration to share?

Yes, Master! (Bedroom, that is!)

2012-08-27T22:16:00.000-04:00

Here's the very first before picture of our master bedroom before we moved in! :)

You can see the crazy changes this room has gone through here.

And here's the design board I put together for our new space!

We are slowly getting there, and I can't wait to share the 'before' and 'after, after, after' pics! ;)

What do you guys think? Color overload or much improved? :)

Chalk Art

2012-08-11T11:19:00.001-04:00

Have you all seen the chalkboard art that seems to be popping up everywhere? I've been thinking about making a DIY chalkboard menu for our kitchen. Something like this, maybe?

I've recently seen some awesome examples of just how cool chalk art can be.

I mean, how gorgeous is this custom chalkboard art by Dana Tanamachi? Amazing! I would love to hire her to do one for us, but I'm guessing she's a little out of our price range. Oh well, I'll just drool over her work anyway! :)

I found this print on Etsy that I thought was adorable. You can actually customize it with your own family name and recipe. And it's only $35 for an 11x14 print. Not too shabby! :)

And one of my favorite Etsy shops recently came out with this adorable chalkboard invitation. $15? I think so! :)

What do you guys think? Gotta have or leave it in the dust? ;)