Viola Pearl

Now Booking Viola Pearl Haus in Fredericksburg Texas

2019-03-16T15:48:00.000-05:00

My guest house in Fredericksburg, Texas, Viola Pearl Haus, is now open and booking! Viola Pearl Cobble was my mom's grandmother and this guest house is named after her and in my mom's honor. I decorated the space similar to my own house. I often found myself buying "one for Viola Pearl Haus, one for me" - but I guess that's how you know you're on the right track to create a cozy, comfortable and homey guest house. From the Pottery barn bedding, Anthropologie "V" initial coffee mugs, Pioneer Woman dishes, vintage marquee letters on the building front, to the Anthropologie mirror (that I ALMOST kept for my house) and vintage chickens - everything was purchased for this guest house to make it feel like home. I hope my guests feel it when they stay!

To book my guest house in Fredericksburg, Texas, visit http://www.violapearlhaus.com.

Before the Renovation

2016-03-13T18:37:00.000-05:00

When I was looking to buy a house this fall, I knew I wanted mine as soon as I walked into it. And after only looking at three houses, I made an offer the next morning. It really used the square footage, so there was no wasted space. What I didn't like was the paint, flooring, color scheme...pretty much everything on the inside of the house! Over the next couple of weeks, I'll share progress of my house and things learned along the way. Here are a few of the before photos:

The Past Year

2015-10-11T17:44:00.002-05:00

So, lots has happened since my last post...a move, new job, new house. Instead of writing an update, here's a year in photos!

Shoe Review: Worishofer

2014-08-15T07:45:00.000-05:00

Two years ago I purchased two pairs of Worishofers after seeing a photo with Michelle Williams wearing them. But then they sat in my closet. They were boxed up and moved at least three times. I put them on Poshmark and they didn't sell. Then one day this summer I was cleaning out my closet and I decided to wear them. They soon became one of the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn.

Yes, they're technically orthopedic shoes. But they have a cute/ugly thing going on that really grows on you. Much like Birkenstocks for some people. For me, comfort is key and these hit that area perfectly. They are lightweight and almost feel like you're not wearing shoes. The footbed is incredibly soft and has an area that's just slightly higher in the arch area for long, comfortable wear. Additionally, the buckle is adjustable so a wider or narrow foot should fit fine. Sizing is spot on. I wear an 8 1/2 to 9 and the 39 fits perfectly.

Rooted in Succulents

2014-06-18T20:20:00.002-05:00

For Mother's Day I wanted to get my mom something green. She'd been crazy for succulents lately so I was lucky to run across the Etsy store, Rooted in Succulents. The thought of buying a plant online was strange at first. But, the reviews were all positive so I took the plunge. Here's a look at the succulent cross I got for my mom.

It was more beautiful than I had imagined it would be. Wrapped perfectly for travel with priority shipping, I couldn't recommend this more for a gift...or for yourself. I still need to order myself one!

Downtown Chic: It's Posh{mark} Party-Time!

2014-04-24T22:06:00.001-05:00

I'm super duper excited to share that I'm co-hosting a Posh{mark} Party on April 30! Here's the details:

Theme: Downtown Chic
Date: Wednesday, April 30
Time: 7 p.m. Pacific; 9 p.m. Central

If you're not familiar, Poshmark is a FAB way to sell from your closet and make a little money on the side...all from the comfort of your smart phone. "Some people" even support their J. Crew addiction with money from sales. Guess who?!

Find out more about the app by downloading Poshmark and searching "amberpresley" to see what's in my closet! And I'm always happy to answer any questions about my experience with the app.

Check out my review of the Poshmark app here.

How To: Remove Related Pins From Your Pinterest Feed

2014-03-28T13:58:00.003-05:00

Pinterest is one of my favorite sites but it seems that my feed is overflowing with related pins. I'm not a big fan of them...mostly because it is filling up my feed and making me miss pins from people I follow. I've been searching for any way possible to get rid of them. Here's the how...after you login to Pinterest, type Pinterest.com/following into your browser and that's it. It is that simple. No more related pins.

UPDATE: This method does not work for Picked Pins. But, no fear...click here for an updated way to removed Picked Pins.

Puppy Love: Trixie Firecracker

2013-11-22T15:53:00.000-06:00

The week before I left for Paris I was visiting my parents. My mom and I went to pick up Lola's favorite treats at Dogologie, downtown Fredericksburg. I dropped her off and drove around the block while she ran in. She came back to the car and said I *had* to go in and see this puppy. As soon as I saw her I knew. I walked out of that store with a new puppy. Born on the fourth of July, her something patriotic...so introducing Trixie Firecracker, my long-haired chihuahua. I probably doomed myself by naming her firecracker because she truly is all over the place and in everything. But it's just so much fun! These are some of my favorite pics. I even started an Instagram account for my girls, Lola and Trixie.

West Elm Gold Flatware Review

2013-11-20T17:11:00.004-06:00

When I saw this West Elm gold flatware on various blogs and online, I was enamored. I would frequently stop by my local West Elm store and debate. I had a perfectly good set of Pottery Barn flatware, so really I didn't need to invest in another eight-setting piece.

But, eventually I caved in, spent around $240 and set them aside. I knew I would be moving to another city, I didn't want to get them out only to pack them up. They ended up gathering dust in my air-conditioned closet for nine whole months. When I moved into my new place in Austin, it was like an early Christmas. I excitedly got them out and proceeded to give my boring flatware to my family members. Yes, I had West Elm's gorgeous gold flatware, who needed the others.

Well, less than two weeks later I noticed small brown spots forming on the gold flatware. I tried not to make a big deal about it. I didn't put them in the dishwasher again. I tried to baby them. I tried multiple cleaning products. I had an online conversation with West Elm customer service to see what products to use and to not use. However, the tarnishing continued. It looked like the pieces were rusted. It had been so long since I purchased them (at that point it was August) I didn't feel comfortable calling customer service. Although technically I had only been using them one month. So, I went to Target and purchased a set that cost about $20. Sadly, I bring the cheap flatware out when friends are over.

As time went on and I opened my drawer to see this beautiful gold flatware just sitting there, I decided to call customer service today. It had only been a little over a year since I purchased them. I decided to call and see what, if anything could be done. Even though the purchase was made last year, surely this product should last longer than that. Or, maybe they could offer tips to make them look better.

Well, I called West Elm and they said they couldn't do anything about it. They had never heard of the flatware tarnishing and really, "who knows how I had stored it or used it." So, in essence, it wasn't their problem. But, they would offer me 15% off if I wanted to repurchase another set. REALLY. Guess I learned my lesson. No more West Elm. You have to be able to stand by your product and to me, this isn't right.

So, if you're thinking about purchasing the gold flatware from West Elm, don't do it...even though I noticed it's on sale! As a matter of fact, I wouldn't purchase any flatware from them. Who wants to replace flatware every year, or even every two years. I know I have other places I'd like to spend my money. I just hope my experience helps others with gold fever.

{First, pretty image from Westelm.com, the rest are of my gold flatware after a few months of use}

Paris Day Five: Favorite Moments

2013-10-02T15:26:00.000-05:00

Beautiful stained glass in the Notre Dam in Reims, posing with grapes on our way to Epernay, underground champagne wine cellar at the Guy Charbaut vineyard, the Moët & Chandon tasting room.

Paris Day Four: Favorite Moments

2013-10-01T18:12:00.000-05:00

Best sandwich ever from the cafe in the Louvre with salami, pickles and salty butter, Egyptian artifacts at the Louvre, Laduree window goodies and a beautiful building on the Seine.

Paris Day Three: Favorite Moments

2013-09-30T16:07:00.000-05:00

Visiting the Paris flea market, Sacre Coeur, eating a chocolate croissant..sometimes two times and practicing our "tough look" to fend off pickpockets.

See more pics on Instagram, find me as amberpresley,

Paris Day Two: Favorite Moments

2013-09-29T16:34:00.000-05:00

Playing around at the Eiffel Tower, strolling the Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe, macarons at Laduree and walking the streets of Montmartre.

Paris Day One: Favorite Moments

2013-09-28T00:56:00.000-05:00

These are some of my favorite moments of day one. I'm a bit surprised I took so many photos considering I was exhausted and felt a but like a zombie.

First stop, champagne and a burger as we waited to check in to our hotel. The amazing floral shops on every street. Cheese and wine off a quiet cobblestone street in the 5th. The amazing architecture and beautiful doors in St. Germaine.

A Little Glass of Wine

2013-09-27T14:29:00.001-05:00

Wine and dinner at Le Rousseau, around the corner from the hotel. The "perfect" wine glass for me lol.

From Where I Stand, in Paris

2013-09-27T13:07:00.001-05:00

Well, vacation has begun...in Paris, feeling a bit jet-lagged from not sleeping on my flight. Ran across this lovely flower stand who had decorated the sidewalk with rose petals.

The Look for Less: J. Crew Leopard Etta Pump Vs. Merona Leopard Pump

2013-09-02T15:50:00.002-05:00

Once upon a time I purchased the J. Crew leopard print Etta pump. They were undeniably beautiful but I didn't end up keeping them...I worried that I would somehow damage the calf hair on the heel. I always seem to damage the heels of my heels!

Then today, I was shopping at Target and on a pass through the shoe section saw a great copycat. They aren't calf hair but who cares-they're incredibly cute and surprisingly comfortable!

Merona / J. Crew

Color Splash

2013-07-07T12:15:00.001-05:00

Loving the red, lime, white and turquoise blue combo...perfect summer colors.

How-To: Put a Sweater on a Yorkie

2013-05-17T10:35:00.000-05:00

I'm obviously having way too much fun with Vine...at Lola's expense.

My New Do!

2013-04-18T14:24:00.001-05:00

Buh, bye long locks...loving my new do although it's taking a little time getting used to fixing it.

I was totally inspired by Olivia Palermo and her lob. It's been about 10 years since my hair was this short!

Sam Edelman Gigi: Only the Best Shoe Ever

2013-03-14T21:20:00.000-05:00

No need to exaggerate, this is the best shoe I've ever owned. Hands down. Proof is in the fact that I own seven different colors and counting. They're extremely comfortable and glued to my feet spring through fall in Texas, and really even some winter days. Now, they come in a rainbow. I think my bank account is in serious trouble. Get Sam Edelman Gigi here.

Sunday Reading

2013-03-10T15:10:00.000-05:00

Sunday is my favorite day to do a lot and a lot of nothing. Besides doing laundry, cooking lunch for the week and reading The Walking Dead comic books, these are the blogs I'm reading today.

Carrie Loves. Well I read Carrie Loves pretty much everyday. She inspires me with her fun posts, introduces me to new blogs and has an awesome graphic feel to every post. This is her unique image showing her favorite pins from her Happy Flippin Friday post. OH, and I have to mention that the cute colorful social icons I use were free from her blog!

Mrs. Lilien Styling House Blog. I just want her life and her closet. That is all. This is the image this week from her Mrs. Sunnytime post. Makes me ready to go to the beach, now.

What are you reading today?

Saturday Inspiration

2013-03-09T08:23:00.001-06:00

From Daily Dishonesty, my new favorite site for a little laugh. Happy Saturday!

Foodie Joy: My Knoshbox Review

2013-03-06T21:58:00.002-06:00

I love trying new foods and I especially love trying local foods. Meaning, I'd rather buy chocolate from the local chocolate shop instead of Walgreens. Unless you live in a small town, it isn't always easy to find those local artisans. And, there's a whole world out there, so who wants to miss out on local vendors that could be just one city over. Luckily, that's where knoshbox comes in. They do the foot work for you and identify small, local artisans across the country and package them in a pretty little present that's delivered to your door.

The idea of a subscription box fascinates me. I tried Birchbox and it bored me though. There's only so many perfume samples and ponytail holders this girl needs. But I do need and never tire of food. Although I've been on a huge health kick, this box happened to deliver while I was taking a small break around Valentine's Day. Perfect timing.

In my knoshbox: California Harvest Sun-Dried Tomatoes from Sonoma, California; Great Bean chocolate from Austin, Texas; Clarine's Florentines chocolate and almond cookie from Berkeley, California; Two Cousins lemon pepper biscotti from Connecticut; and Sfoglini pasta from Brooklyn, New York.

I was saving this box to take to my parents house, so it literally sat on my counter staring at me for over a week. The Monday before I was supposed to head to visit my parents I got the call that my dad was very sick and in the hospital. I ate the cookie and chocolate on my four-hour drive. I was stressed and needed chocolate. And, it was incredible. The cookie was creamy and crunchy. I wanted a box more. The chocolate was different flavors for me, but really good! I am DYING to try their salt and almonds bar since I'm obsessed with salt and chocolate anything.

After my dad started getting better, he started getting back to his snarky self. After a week, he was so tired of being in the hospital and eating hospital food, I don't think I've seen anyone happier when I showed up one morning with a coffee and package of the biscotti. They were a perfect treat. The package came with quite a few so we had plenty left over. They were perfectly crisp, but not too hard. And the flavor was balanced.

Between all of the stress with my dad, I didn't have time to eat the pasta and sun-dried tomatoes before resuming my no carb thing. I'm saving them for Easter to use together in this recipe. I'm excited about the thought of using them together.

Unfortunately I missed the cut off for ordering the breakfast box for March, which is a bummer because the maple syrup looked too amazing. I was just too preoccupied during the end of February with my dad. But, I'll definitely pick up ordering from knoshbox again in April! Feel confident in ordering from knoshbox, they give an amazing array of products and plenty for you and for you to share.

Oh, Hello Spring

2013-03-04T22:26:00.001-06:00

Just can't stop. Pastel, neon and leopard oh my.

Neon Cambridge Satchel Company / Gap Sweater / J. Crew Necklace / Essie Polish / Gap Flats