Just Flew The Coop

MY FIRST 5K COLOR RUN

2013-05-14T17:09:00.000-05:00

This past weekend I had the opportunity to participate in a Color Vibe 5k run in Memphis, which was also my very first 5k. I had a blast and am currently searching for more color runs in Memphis to take part in. It is such a fun and unique way to get outside and be healthy!

I brought along my boyfriend, Derrick, and his mom (pictured a couple photos below). None of us are runners and didn't have enough time before the race to actually train to run, so we power walked through the race. We were pleasantly surprised to see that majority of people there were also walking.

For those of you who don't know much about color runs, they are typically non-competitive, non-timed 5k's that focus around the idea of fun! There are color stations throughout the course of the race where volunteers throw brightly colored powder all over the walkers and runners. The pigment goes up in the air in big puffs of clouds (as you can see in the first photo) and completely covers the ground after everyone runs through (as you can see below).

Forgive me for these not so wonderful photos. I took my iPhone to document the fun times, but I found it really hard to take decent pictures when everything was covered in powder, including my phone's camera lens. The other option was to take photos through a plastic bag, but those turned out just as bad if not worse.

Here you can see some of the aftermath of the race. We were covered everywhere with color. Shirts, faces, hair, pants... everything! But it seemed like the more messy people got, the more fun we all had! After the race, there was a fantastic dj set up in the parking lot that we enjoyed for a while before we headed back home.

I learned a couple important things about participating in this type of 5k:

-Don't open your mouth for joy when running through the color throwers. The powder is non-toxic, but tastes yucky and colors your teeth.

-They hand out the sunglasses for a good reason. If you don't wear them the powder will get in your eyes!

If you ever get the opportunity to do a race like this, DO IT! It is so much fun! You can walk or run at your own pace and have a great time doing it! Plus, the races benefit different charities. Our color run benefited St. Jude Children's Research Hospital!

SPRING CLOSET STAPLES

2013-05-07T14:06:00.001-05:00

In the middle of a packing session for a quick trip to Knoxville, I had the idea to do a post about my current (spring) wardrobe staples. I'm not sure if I am even worthy of sharing fashion advice, but I might as well give it a go!

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I have plenty of tops in my closet, but I find that I stick to the basics when I am getting dressed. I adore flowy button-downs with high/low hem lines. They transition into spring (and summer) beautifully and they are wonderful for layering. I've worn mine with jeans, tucked into a skirt, and tied in a knot at the waist with a solid tee underneath. Of course, you can never go wrong with a simple black and white striped tee. It looks great with everything and it is fun to layer in with other patterns! Basic, solid tees are also a big staple in my closet for obvious reasons.

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Lately, I have been breaking out of my comfort zone in the jean category. I used to always stick to dark washed bootcut or skinny blue jeans. Now, I have been mixing in colored and patterned jeans with my wardrobe. Just imagine pairing these with any of the shirts above. Instant cute outfit!

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I have never been much of a skirt girl, but I love maxis! I used to rock a lot of long skirts back in high school during my "hippie" phase. Now, long bohemian skirts are majorly in style and I am loving it. They are so easy to mix and match with all kinds of basics!

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I am crazy about chambray. Any outfit featuring a chambray top looks so effortlessly stylish. They are also the perfect top for spring. I love layering mine over a patterned tee or tucked into a maxi skirt. Plus, there are so many fun shades and patterns of chambray. The polka dot chambray is my favorite.

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Nothing says spring like a colorful blazer! Again, it is such a great piece to mix and match. My blazer is a boyfriend cut, which means it's a little bit longer than typical blazers. It's easy to dress up or dress down for any occasion.

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Jean jackets and vests are back in style, which makes me a very happy girl. Jean jackets are literally the best lightweight jacket to throw on over a sundress or maxi. The vest is just as versatile, but gives the outfit a slightly edgy appeal. Picture one of these over the striped top with a bold maxi or colored jean!

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When I was a teenager, I thought I didn't like jewelry because I didn't know how to style it. Now, picking out my jewelry is one of my favorite parts about getting ready in the mornings. I wear a statement necklace or bold earrings just about everyday! My favorite styling pieces are statement necklaces, long pendant necklaces, and colored stone earrings. Every outfit looks 100 times better with the addition of one of these three things.

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I am definitely a scarf girl! I basically live in scarves during fall and winter. Luckily for me, colorful lightweight spring scarves exist and I can carry my love on into the warmer months. To me, scarves are outfit makers and, again, they can be mixed and matched with virtually everything. Picture one of these beauties with some of the pieces above.

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What girl doesn't love shoes? You really can't go wrong with a few basic styles during spring and summer. A killer brown wedge is always a great choice! An easy, everyday sandal can transition perfectly from casual to dressy. A colorful and unique flat is also the perfect addition for any outfit.

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While sunglasses are in no way a necessary closet staple, they are fun to have. I like having a basic, stylish pair and a sassy, fun pair. I can not only change my sunnies to match my outfit, but also my attitude!

So, there you have it, folks. These are some of my favorite spring closet staples. Now I need to get back to packing!

MY MAY WISHLIST

2013-05-03T17:06:00.000-05:00

I had a hard time narrowing down my wishlist items to just ten this month! Mostly because I am pumped up about multiple upcoming experiences like working on my patio and a super fun trip with friends next month.

1. I would love to have a couple of these metal flower plant holders from Perch adorning my patio. I'm thinking about hanging them up from my tree outside. 2. This coconut milk mango scented candle from Anthropologie is absolutely the most divine smelling thing ever. The rich, fruity scent lends perfectly to summertime! 3. I have been very involved in creative cooking and drink ideas lately and I am just dying to try matcha green tea powder. I am thinking about whipping up some green tea sorbet with this stuff from World Market! 4. As many of you know, I love love love statement necklaces and this one from Anthropologie has got to come with me on my trip next month! 5. This picturesque book from Amazon is full of wonderful outdoor entertaining recipes and decorating ideas. 6. As I mentioned earlier, I have been mixing up some fresh, delicious sorbets and yogurts. This porcelain ice cream pint from Anthropologie would be the perfect thing to freeze and serve my creations in. 7. This large jar from Perch would look great on my kitchen counter to store coffee or snacks. 8. These Salt Water Sandals from Modcloth are so cute and perfect for actual outdoor, beach use! 9. This outdoor bug pillow from World Market would be the perfect pop of color for my patio! 10. This beautiful floppy hat from Anthropologie is just what I need for my upcoming summer trip.

Wishlist sources: 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10

*I am doing some renovations on the blog so be patient with me while I work to finish it and get the links and tabs back up and running!

APRIL INSTAFAVES

2013-04-30T13:31:00.000-05:00

April has been a wonderful month for me, so I am pretty proud of my instafaves this month! There really isn't anything that will stand out as being super exciting, but they are all fun memories to me. Starting from the top left...

1. I love statement necklaces so much and this one might just be my current favorite.

2. I revealed a little bit of my living room earlier this month. I'm still a little nervous about revealing the whole thing on the blog, but I just need to get over that!

3. I completely nailed making a homemade iced caramel macchiato and enjoyed it on the patio.

4. Derrick and I went out on a limb and made chocolate chip avocado cookies. To our surprise they were absolutely delicious! I am planning on sharing this healthy recipe next week.

5. Finally is the cutest sleeping cat of all sleeping cats. He tends to hog the entire sofa, but it's okay with me because I like to spoil him.

6. One of my beautiful cousins stopped by for a little visit and as usual it completely made my day... well... more like my month. I love her!

7. My mug says it all.

8. Again, the cutest sleeping cat ever! He likes to put his face directly into one of the button holes on this ottoman during his morning naps. Can he get any cuter?

9. Derrick and I love the Memphis Grizzlies. We got to enjoy one of the playoff games this past weekend against the LA Clippers. The Grizzlies won, of course, and I was pretty excited about it!

GINGER MINT LEMONADE

2013-04-18T16:33:00.000-05:00

The weather here in Memphis has been pretty wonderful lately. It can get way too hot and humid during the summer, so I am enjoying every second of this breezy spring weather before it's gone. Warmer weather always makes me crave a cold, refreshing drink like lemonade. Lately, I have been mixing up a ton of delicious (non-alcoholic) and healthy drinks. I have been bragging and, of course, joking with my boyfriend about me becoming quite a pro mixologist! Enough chit chat. I mixed up an amazingly sweet, spicy, and refreshing ginger mint lemonade that might just be my favorite lemonade ever!

Ginger Mint Lemonade makes 2-4 servings.

1/4 cup chopped ginger root
1/4 cup mint leaves
1 cup sweetener
3 cups water
1 cup fresh lemon juice (3-5 lemons)

One thing that is very true about lemonade is that just about every single person prefers it a different way from others. Some like it either sweet or sour, others like it either subtle or strong. I prefer my lemonade sweet, sour, and strong. My measurements are based on how I like it, so don't feel like you have to follow them perfectly. If you like more ginger, add more ginger. If you like it more watery than lemony, add more water. You can really make this recipe your own, so go for it!

In a small pot, combine the sweetener (I used Splenda), chopped ginger, and mint leaves along with 1 cup water. Stir the mixture to dissolve the sweetener and bring to a boil over medium heat. As soon as the liquid begins to bubble, remove it from the heat and cover. Allow the liquid to steep for about 30 minutes so that the ginger and mint flavors really absorb into the water. Strain the mixture to remove all of the ginger and mint pieces and discard them. Put the ginger mint syrup into a container or pitcher.

Extract the juice from the lemons and fill up 1 cup with the liquid. Pour the freshly squeezed juice into the pitcher with the ginger mint mixture. Lastly, pour in the remaining 2 cups of water and stir. At this point, do a taste test and feel free to add more sweetener, lemon juice, or water to your preference. Put the lemonade in the fridge and chill until the desired temperature.

Serve this unique lemonade with ice and mint leaves in the glass. Garnish the glass with lemon slices, mint, or crystalized ginger pieces like I did. You can see the ginger candies in the little bowl above. I found them in the organic section at my grocery store.

Pssst! Those adorable little bowls are from Perch and they come in a set of 6 different colors. They are perfect for entertaining and serving dips, candies, and appetizers! You can find them here.

I so wish that I'd had this recipe when I was 8 and running a lemonade stand. I'm very certain that I would have been the most popular lemonade vendor in the whole neighborhood!

MY APRIL WISHLIST

2013-04-02T14:44:00.000-05:00

In last month's wishlist post, I mentioned that spring fever might be setting in. This month I think it has completely settled in! Cheerful colors, pretty prints, unique planters, and fresh foods inspired my April wishlist.

1. These cast iron branch wall hooks from Perch are begging to find a place on my walls. 2. Nowadays nothing is cuter than a pair of printed jeans. This ankle length polka dot pair from Target is no exception. 3. This gorgeous terra-cotta accessory from Perch features three permanently hooked together vases. I am dying to bring one of these home for my living room. 4. I couldn't help but fall in love this colorful bird pillow from Perch. The velvety bird is quite stunning. 5. I've got my eyes on this crazy cool geometric planter from Etsy for some pretty succulents. 6. I'm hoping to fill my kitchen with some fresh cookbooks like these two from Amazon. Both books feature yummy vegetable recipes that are perfect for spring dinners on my patio. 7. This cast iron mermaid bottle opener from Perch would make the perfect useful accessory for my home. 8. I am head over heels in love with these spring mint oxfords from Urban Outfitters. They would completely make any outfit. 9. These two printed tees from Anthropologie are perfect for spring and summer fashion. The red one features a happy bird print, while the navy one has a fun umbrella and rain drop print that seems to be inspired by April showers.

Wishlist sources: 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9

BRANCH OUT DECOR

2013-03-27T12:28:00.001-05:00

I'm all about bringing natural elements inside. Especially when it comes to raw wood, twigs, and branches! Now that Spring is blooming all around us, it's the perfect time to run outside and gather some pretty branches. Check out all these gorgeous things you can do with them in your home! For example, use a large branch to hang clear glass vases from like in the photo above.

Wrap string lights around a tall branch for a romantic, festive feel. Just lean it against any wall or cabinet in your home like in the picture above. Easy peasy!

Branch out and make a creative jewelry holder like this blogger did. Wrap a branch in wire, use nails to hang your necklaces, and hang the whole thing on the wall!

This might be one of my favorite branch decor ideas. I am big into antlers, and this is a pretty easy/ creative way to DIY some!

Create a fun photo wall like this using a long branch, twine, and photographs!

Add a pop of color to your twig motif by wrapping them in some colorful yarn or string like in the photo above.

You can even use a beautiful branch as a handy storage device in your kitchen or bathroom like theses pictures above and below.

Or get even more original with your branch by creating a makeshift floor lamp! Just hang a clear lightbulb from the top of your branch and lean it against the wall!

All of this inspiration is making me want to go run outside and scavenge for branches! I'm thinking about using one with lights to lean against my fireplace. Do you have any neat branchy ideas going on in your head?

DIY ROUND OTTOMAN

2013-03-25T15:40:00.001-05:00

I have been trying pretty hard to stick to my own content on here and not just share stories from other blogs, but sometimes I find something too good to just keep to myself! So, with that being said, I stopped by Design Sponge and found one of the most creative DIY projects that I have ever seen! This isn't exactly the easiest of DIY projects, but to me it seems as like the end result would be well worth the challenge. Can you take a guess at what that stylish ottoman is made from? I will give you a hint. It was inspired by a trip to Home Depot. Still can't guess? It is made from a simple, orange utility bucket!

I'm not going to go into full detail on the how-to, but you can easily check out the full tutorial here.

By wrapping the orange bucket in multiple layers of foam and Dacron, the bucket starts to look more like an ottoman and less like a ... well... bucket!

The upholstery fabric that they used for the project is to die for! It lends perfectly to the modern bohemian style that they were going for in their home. A lot of complex sewing took place to get that cut out fabric to the point where it could be slipped onto the bucket as seen in the photo below. Again, make sure you check out the entire tutorial here before you choose to jump into this DIY.

After covering the bottom of the bucket, the project is completely finished! I glazed over the details here and even left out some of the photos so that you will still check out the original article over on Design Sponge. I promise you, it is completely worth it! Just check out how completely breathtaking the finished product is!

ETSY SHOP CRUSH: TWAMIES

2013-03-19T09:36:00.000-05:00

A random search for constellation prints on Etsy led me to a great little shop called Twamies. They specialize in small watercolors and painted tote bags. I love their abstract solar system and animal prints.

These unique prints are small (usually around 5x5 and 6x6), but at $12 a piece they are a pretty great deal. How fantastic would these look framed and matted? I'm thinking about framing up a series of the solar system prints for my master bedroom.

Make sure to visit their shop here and take a look around at their super stylish prints!

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY

2013-03-08T17:08:00.000-06:00

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Well, actually, it was my birthday on Tuesday. My 23rd birthday, to be exact. I had such a wonderful day spent with my cat, Derrick, and my mom and dad. My birthday celebration technically started Saturday when Derrick took me to paint pottery at a local pottery shop. We took a bunch of inspiration photos with us of patterns and color palletes that we liked for our creations. We ended up being obviously inspired by Anthropologie design! Derrick worked on an adorable owl cookie jar for me, while I chose to paint a mug.

I really love the way both the mug and owl jar turned out. I don't keep dangerous cookies in the house (because I would eat them all) so I use my new cookie jar in the kitchen to hold clothespins. We are extra proud of our new ceramics because we designed and painted them ourselves! Pride in your own handiwork is one of the best feelings ever.

Derrick also got me a bunch of other charming home decor accessories. He knows my quirky, animal inspired taste pretty well. A couple of awesome things he got me were a petrified wood slab and a handful of fox knobs. He was obviously paying attention to my March wishlist post.

My mom and dad are pros at giving practical gifts, which I very much appreciate. Especially now that I am living in my own home. I came home from my birthday celebration with a stack of new pyrex mixing bowls and storage containers as well as one awesome pitcher that I plan on using to fuel my peach tea addiction! Overall, it was an amazing birthday with even more amazing company. Here is to another great year!

MY MARCH WISHLIST

2013-03-04T12:09:00.000-06:00

I am loving this new wishlist series! I hope you are too. This month seems to be all about colorful print and pattern. Maybe it's the spring fever setting in. I guess I've gone a little animal crazy too, but to everyone that knows me, that is nothing new!

1. I want to change the knobs on my dresser in my bedroom and these two fox knobs from Anthropologie are exactly what I have in mind. 2. I loooove a good coffee table book and I have heard great things about this one from Amazon. 3. I'm really digging this gorgeous wallet from Urban Outfitters. Check out that great wolf head button. 4. I'm lusting after this tree trunk lamp from Anthropologie because it is so unique. 5. I'm extremely picky about my iPhone cases and I think this one from Urban Outfitters actually meets my criteria! 6. As part of my animal obsession, I am dying to get these fantastic tiger studs from Urban Outfitters. The front of the tiger goes on the front of your ear and the back side shows on the back of your ear. 7. This color blocked pillow from Anthropologie is so beautiful and it resembles a colorfield style painting. Needless to say, I'm in love! 8. This artsy laptop sleeve from Urban Outfitters is absolutely perfect for me to use on work trips to coffee shops!

Wishlist sources: 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8

ANCHORS AWAY + MY FAVORITE THINGS MUG DIY

2013-02-26T17:26:00.000-06:00

I might have a bit of a mug obsession. I just love 'em! There is nothing more enjoyable to me than sipping tea or coffee out of a pretty mug. Now these mugs are some of my favorites in my collection. If you DIY them, I'm pretty sure they will become some of your favorites too.

The supplies are simple. Grab some plain mugs (porcelain or ceramic) that you are fine with permanently changing. I got my two mugs from a dollar store. I also got two gold metallic paint markers from a hobby store. I have heard that you can use sharpie pen, but I wanted to be safe and use a more permanent solution. These pens say that they can be used on glass, porcelain, and ceramic.

I printed out a small anchor silhouette onto card stock and used an exacto knife to cut out the shape. This is what I used as a stencil for the anchors on the mug.

Then using painters tape, I taped the stencil onto the mug and filled in the space with the paint pen. Every time I took the stencil off I had to do some touch ups on each anchor. After I had drawn all of the anchors, I let the paint dry.

While the anchor mug was drying I started on my favorite things mug. This mug was pretty simple because I just wrote out a long list of the things that I love!

After letting both mugs dry for four hours, I put them in the oven and baked them at 375 degrees for 40 minutes. The directions on the pen say that the oven shouldn't be preheated before you put in the mugs. After letting them cool completely for a couple of hours, I hand washed them and they were ready to be used! They held up to hand washing pretty darn well, but I have yet to try the dishwasher. I will probably stick to the hand washing method just to be on the safe side.

I am extremely happy with my new mugs. Like I said before, they are now some of my favorites. I hope you guys enjoyed my little mug project!
xo jesse

FEBRUARY INSTAFAVES

2013-02-25T09:44:00.000-06:00

I absolutely love using Instagram! That's why I have decided to share 9 of my favorite Instagram photos from my personal account and my Perch account every month. Starting from the top left...

1. I have an exciting inspiration wall project going on in my studio. This is what I have so far and it is awesome!

2. This is my sweet boy, Finally, taking a hard core nap. He loves to take up the entire sofa.

3. Derrick sent me some incredibly beautiful flowers for Valentine's Day. Nuff said!

4. I'm crazy for colorful, cozy scarf days! This beautiful scarf kept me warm on one coooold day this month.

5. Derrick won a silver metal Addy award for a design he did with Inferno, which is the ad agency that he works for. He is a graphic designer and super talented!

6. Perch got a whole bunch of awesome lamps in! This is our photography set up for documenting the new merchandise!

7. Sneak preview alert! Here is another new arrival that will be coming out soon with Perch's spring merchandise.

8. Oh uh! Another sneak preview for another new spring arrival that will be coming out soon! These feather trays are the bees knees!

9. I went to the EverywhereElse.co startup conference that I blogged about here. Had a blast. Learned a lot.

If you are not following me and Perch already, do so now! @jesseenabers and @shopperch

I'M COOL 'CAUSE I GO TO CONFERENCES

2013-02-17T19:04:00.000-06:00

I recently attended the first ever Everywhereelse.co Startup Conference in Memphis! The over 2000 attendees at the 3 day conference included entrepreneurs of startup and new businesses from all over the country and world who convened to pitch their ideas, raise capital, gather information and network with each other.

The excitement was contagious with so many fascinating and motivating keynote speakers including Scott Case, CEO of Startup America and founding CTO of Priceline.com, and Bill Price, CEO of Personal Capital and former CEO of Paypal and Intuit. Good practical information was shared from many presentations such as the Baker Donelson Attorneys talk on legal issues every startup should consider and from Mike Bott of the Brandery, a Cincinnati accelerator program, who spoke about startup branding. On a related but different note, Damien Echols of the West Memphis 3 spoke of his 18 years in prison during the fastest growth period for technology and his struggle to catch up with using everyday devices that we take for granted.

Particularly inspiring to me were the many women entrepreneurs, including speaker Ingrid Vanderveldt, Entrepreneur in Residence Dell and former host for CNBC, and those on the “Kick Ass Female Founders” panel who discussed balancing family with career (Just DO it!), perseverance, finding the right mentor, and prejudices that women sometimes face in the business world. In fact, women dominated the 3 cash prize competitions: Ellen Paige of Memphis based CoyoteCase, creators of the smartphone case with a built-in panic button, won the Quick Pitch Contest and $25,000. Ela Emami of Care2Manage, a web based eldercare management and referral service, walked away with $10,000 as winner of the Everywhereelse Video Contest. Kim Munzo of AspirEDU, a student retention tracking system for online schools, was awarded $25,000 for winning Best of the Startup Village. Message sent: women everywhere can do this, too!

I walked away with increased business vocabulary (accelerator – an operation that offers advice and resources to help startup businesses grow, B2C – business to consumer, bootstrapping – starting a business without external capital) and many catch phases ( Belief in Impossibility, Work/Life Balance, Mistakes are opportunities to learn) swirling in my head.

What does any of this have to do with me or with Just Flew The Coop? Well, as many of you know, I recently made the leap from art school graduate to fledgling entrepreneur with the founding of my online home décor boutique Perch. Along with designing and maintaining my website, Perch, searching out and procuring great merchandise that fits into my aesthetic, fulfilling customer orders, and maintaining my retail store at La Maison, I want to learn everything I can to make Perch grow and become a more viable business. I feel that the mission of Perch is to provide fresh, tasteful, and affordable décor of high quality that can make a home a more personal, inviting, and inspiring environment. Perch is motivated by its customers and strives to form long-term bonds with them by offering excellent service. I feel even more passionate about Perch after my exposure to others at the conference who share a love of innovation and entrepreneurship!

On that note, Perch is going through some growth spurts and hopes to have the new, spring merchandise online soon! Please stay tuned!

And just DO it!

MY FEBRUARY WISHLIST

2013-02-01T11:06:00.001-06:00

I really can't believe that it is already February! Spring is fast approaching and I am madly decorating my condo. Pictures coming soon! Every month there are some things that I am absolutely lusting after, so I figured I should share those things in a monthly wishlist post. To kick things off, here is my February wishlist!

This month is all about unique accessories for myself and my home. 1. I have recently fallen in love with Turkish kilim pillows! I've got my eyes on some colorful ones from Etsy that really capture the modern bohemian style. 2. I absolutely love flats and these strappy ones from Urban Outfitters are definitely on my must have list! 3. Rocky top Tennessee is my home state, so I am totally a sucker for this Kris Nations state pride necklace! 4. I am all about unique and beautiful ceramics. They make fantastic table top accessories for any room! That's why I think I absolutely have to have one of these ceramic vases with pretty petal details from Perch. 5. I've got some industrial inspired accessories sprinkled throughout my condo and I think this light up "&" sign from Perch would fit in wonderfully! 6. I'm in the process of creating the perfect arm party bracelet collection and this arrow bracelet from Etsy would be the perfect addition! 7. I'm always super excited to find a unique picture frame and this one from Perch fits the bill! I can't wait to bring one of these home!

Wishlist sources: 1.2.3.4.5.6.7

Perch For The Holidays Playlist

2012-12-13T09:37:00.003-06:00

Need an awesome playlist to listen to for the holidays? Well, I have one for you! I decided to get creative and put together a great holiday playlist on Perch that is full of festive songs. Enjoy some of Sufjan Stevens, The Kinks, Otis Redding, and Bishop Allen just to name a few!

Just visit this page on Perch to listen and enjoy! You can come back as many times as you want and it is all FREE! I only ask that you spread the love and share with your friends. Don't forget you can shop while you listen by simply opening another browser window and heading to Perch.

HAVE I BEEN M.I.A.?

2012-12-05T16:48:00.001-06:00

Wow. It has been way too long since my last post. Getting on the blog and seeing Halloween posts that are still at the top of the blog roll... well... isn't very good. I apologize for my absence, but this time I think I have a pretty good excuse.

Lately, everyday of my life has been dedicated to either Perch or the big condo redo. I had planned on blogging the entire way through the process of renovating, but our progress was hampered quite a few times and it honestly just stressed me out to the point where I didn't really want to write about it.

Now that the long project is finally coming to an end, I am a little more inspired to share the details. When I first got the keys back in early August, my parents and I were pretty sure that we would be done with the makeover within at least a month to a month and a half. That projected finish date came and went pretty quickly. We had gotten a ton of the original cosmetic issues addressed during that time frame, but some surprise complications popped up in September. The biggest one that we faced was a nasty leaking problem that wasn't in just one or two areas. I had roughly five major leaks! Between leaking ceilings, doors, and walls, we also found issues in both of the showers resulting in some areas needing to be re-tiled.

The leaks took months to conquer. While trying to figure out what was leaking, some even bigger complications arose. The fact that I am one of the first floor units in a condo building wasn't really working in my favor. A lot of the leaks were coming from a crack in the slab above my ceiling, which unfortunately meant that we had to get other people involved. All of that is past us now and I am finally leak free! I will spill more beans about all the changes that happened during the redo soon. We are in the last few days of construction work and clean up, so I hope to be back up and running here on the blog pretty soon with lots of pictures, of course. It is quite a big transformation, if I say so myself! Get excited!

SPOOKY HALLOWEEN CHEESE PLATTER

2012-10-25T10:07:00.002-05:00

I must confess that I love cheese to death! I love all kinds from string cheese to stinky, fancy cheese. If I could eat it all the time, I totally would. I have always been attracted to cheese platters. It is fun to go all food networky, order one as an appetizer at a restaurant and analyze the flavors. I have never actually had an opportunity to put together a cheese platter on my own. So, ladies and gentleman, after combining my love for cheese and Halloween, I have created a spooky-style cheese platter.

Even though I was super excited about picking out cheeses, I tried to cover the basics and pick out only a few that are readily available. I choose mozzarella, brie, smoked cheddar, and blue cheese. The mozzarella and brie are a little bit lighter in flavor, which means they blend wonderfully with the flavor-packed cheddar and blue. I paired the creamy brie (above) with pumpkin butter and crushed almonds. The pumpkin butter gave such a fresh fall, tangy flavor to the brie. I found the pumpkin butter at Fresh Market. This combination might have been my favorite on the platter!

What Halloween appetizer is complete without fingers? None. I was so excited about making these and I am thrilled with the way they turned out! You might be surprised to know that I made these from mozzarella string cheese! I cut each stick of cheese in half then cut notches in the middle to look like little finger joint wrinkles. I used some almond slivers for the nails and stuck them on with the pumpkin butter. The pumpkin kind of oozes out on the sides, which gives the fingers a dirty effect.

I served the blue cheese as is. I knew I wanted to have blue cheese on this Halloween platter because the cheese itself has a creepy appearance. The swirling dark, greenish blue of the cheese goes beautifully with the spooky theme. I also reused an old bag of those cheap spider rings to decorate the cheese and the rest of the platter.

The smoked cheddar has a really rich... well... smoky flavor that lends beautifully to a fall appetizer. I cut up this cheese into uneven cubes. Then I grabbed some flat skewers and cut them into different lengths. I cut bat shapes out of black paper and taped them to the tops of the skewers, stuck them into the cheese cubes, and did a happy dance for how well it turned out! The bats display the perfect amount of Halloween fun while adding height to make the overall platter look more interesting.

I recommend serving this plate with crackers, grapes, olives, preserves or any other sides that you think would be delicious. Also, why not serve sparkling apple cider? That would put the perfect finishing touch on this Halloween presentation! After opening your cider, add a whimsical touch with this owl bottle stopper! This little guy is great for any holiday or any regular day for that matter, but would make a great Halloween treat for you or anyone else! This owl bottle stopper can be purchased from my store, Perch.

I tried to keep the Halloween theme going strong throughout, so I used small pumpkins along with the cute spiders. I also used cheese cloth as a web-like backdrop to the the platter. This appetizer would be so wonderful for a Halloween gathering or even just a spooky inspired dinner date! Heck, you can even make it for yourself and splurge on fancy cheeses while watching some scary Halloween movies.

PUMPKIN PATCH PICKIN'

2012-10-22T12:29:00.000-05:00

This past weekend Derrick and I stopped by a local pumpkin patch. We picked out a couple of big pumpkins to carve and had a great time playing around with the ridiculously heavy pumpkins. There were quite a few huge ones at the patch we visited! I can't imagine someone trying to lug those home.

We also grabbed some smaller pie pumpkins so that I could do some crafts for the ole blog. We absolutely couldn't wait to carve our pumpkins so we took them home and carved away while watching a scary movie. I made sure to get out all the seeds for some pumpkin seed recipes that I have been wanting to try. I will share them later! Have any of you been pumpkin picking this month?

HALLOWEEN WITH PERCH

2012-10-19T14:16:00.001-05:00

Ring in Halloween in style with seasonal Perch merch before it is too late! Beautifully crafted wood and metal decorations are a great way to decorate for the holidays with style and class. Plus, all of the Perch Halloween merchandise is such great quality that you can use it time after time, year after year.
I must warn you. This is a pretty picture heavy post, but I couldn't leave anything out because it is all so cute! Clicking on a picture will automatically take you to that product page on Perch.

PUMPKIN SPICE COFFEE CREAMER + PRINTABLE LABEL

2012-10-17T17:08:00.000-05:00

I'm smitten with anything pumpkin flavored. That is no secret. Especially during this time of year. Over the weekend I set out to make a delicious pumpkin flavored coffee creamer and I think I succeeded!

Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer makes enough to flavor up to 10 cups of coffee, depending on how much you use.

Ingredients: 1 cup whole or 2% milk, 1 cup heavy whipping cream, 3 tablespoons pureed pumpkin, 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice, 4 tablespoons maple syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Whisk together milk, cream, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and maple syrup in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once the mixture begins to steam, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Poor mixture into a glass container using a fine strainer. Store in the refrigerator and enjoy.

I must warn you. The creamer is dangerously delicious! Depending on how much you use, it can give your coffee a warm pie taste. Not to mention the smell is absolutely delightful. I decorated the old fashioned milk bottle with a skinny burlap ribbon and a lovely label. Derrick designed the label and has provided a download so that you too can download and print them for yourself. If you choose to make another flavored creamer, he has provided blank labels that you can fill in yourself. I simply printed my sheet of labels on sticker paper and cut them out individually.

The sweet, porcelain mugs used in the photos are from my shop, Perch. At the bottom of the cup lies a horse in one cup, and a pig in the other. The animals slowly reveal themselves as you get closer and closer to the bottom of the mug. They are my favorites.

Don't you love the printable label? To view, download, and print the sheet of labels for yourself go here. When you click this link the file will automatically start downloading under the name pumpkin-spice-01.jpg

Also, if you want to check out these adorable mugs in my store, Perch, click here.

COASTAL LIVING IDEA HOUSE DETAILS

2012-10-16T16:47:00.001-05:00

I'm a firm believer that the details in design count for a lot. That was one of my favorite things about the Coastal Living Idea House. If you aren't sure what I am talking about, check out my previous post here. During my tour of the house, I tried to focus in on those details. Whether they were unique accessories, perfect patterns, or beautiful contrasting textures, I found them all extremely inspirational. How wonderful is it when a designer captures beauty in the big picture, but also puts care into each and every detail? I think it is a great thing.

COASTAL LIVING IDEA SHOW HOUSE 2012

2012-10-15T15:11:00.000-05:00

Before embracing the cooler weather at home, my parents and I took one last "summer" vacation for the year. We headed down to Florida for a week of beach fun, good food, and some shopping. We also got the opportunity to check out the Coastal Living Ultimate Beach House 2012 in Rosemary Beach, Florida. Coastal Living Magazine often designs inspiring idea houses as part of their Ultimate Beach House series. They build a house in a select location from the ground up carefully selecting every detail based on what is trending in the design world. They have also been known to set a home decor trend or two of their own. Once the house is completed, it is open to the public for a couple of months and the tours start flooding in. It was such a wonderful experience to get to tour this particular beautiful house set in the quaint, picturesque neighborhood of Rosemary Beach.

Interior decorator, Erika Powell from Urban Grace Interiors, did a wonderful job tastefully decorating this house in a sophisticated, beachy style. This master bedroom was filled with beautiful creams, peaches, and mints. You can't really tell in this photo, but the walls are covered in a chevron patterned paper.

The dining area was one of my favorites in the house. I loved the old beach wood table, the interesting centerpiece and candlesticks, and the collage of plates on the wall.

Off the back entry was a little mud room complete with beautiful horizontal paneling and cute hanging baskets. Each basket had a couple of mint green blankets in them. I really loved the idea of using something functional as art.

This girls bunk room is my favorite room in the whole house and definitely a childhood dream! I'm crazy for the mixture of greens and pinks in this room and that wallpaper is to.die.for. The ceiling fixtures can't be seen that well in this photo, but they were really industrial and crazy gorgeous!

The game room upstairs featured a colorfully painted ping pong table. I'm in love with the fact that they hung a collection of ping pong paddles on the wall! Again, they are using functional things as art. The other side of the game room (below) was centered around this absolutely beautiful console table and series of framed watercolors. This look is something that I really think I want to replicate within my own home. I just think the skinny dark frames are perfection.

I can totally imagine myself enjoying this room. I would love to curl up on one of those large lounges for a good movie night!

This house was a joy to tour and I definitely walked away with many inspiring ideas for my condo. Unfortunately the house is now closed to the public, but to see and learn more about this project, check out the Coastal Living website here.

WELCOME TO OCTOBER

2012-10-09T09:32:00.000-05:00

Welcome to October, y'all. Autumn is finally here and I am more than ready. There is just something about this time of the year that gets my creative juices flowing. Along with a new month and new season, changes with the blog are in full swing. It is a little nerve-wracking, changing everything that I have worked on for the past 3 years, but I am ready for a change.

I have a lot of new things in the works for this month including recipes, crafty projects, and some free downloads. This month is the first full month of the new, improved, and more grown up Just Flew The Coop. I couldn't be happier with the way things are looking on the blog. Time to jump into October!

PERCH NEW ARRIVALS FOR FALL

2012-09-25T12:57:00.000-05:00

Fall is officially in the air and Perch has the new arrivals to prove it! All the new stuff is definitely worth checking out because... well... it is all super adorable! I mean seriously! Take a look for yourself.

Bottles In Paris Bottle Opener - $6

He Loves Me Rose Candle Holder In Lime, Blue, Gray, Lilac, Teal - $14 each

Reveal A Horse Mug - $11

Bovine Beauty Mug - $16

Woodland Owl Vase in Sage, Brown, and Gray - $14 each

Cross My Heart Lantern Set - $43

Keep The Faith Cross Vase in Sage, Brown, Gray - $16 each

Charming Nocturnal Pitcher Vase in Mustard, Green, and Turquoise - $17 each

Pretty Pinecone Lanterns Set of 3 - $31

And Perch has some new Halloween stuff too!

Bewitching Wooden Door Hanger - $24

Scary Scarecrow Wooden Door Hanger - $38

Something Wicked Beware Sign - $38

Walk This Way Treats Sign - $38

Wicked Witch Metal Pumpkin Parts - $28

Scaredy Cat Metal Pumpkin Parts - $28

What Perch merch have you fallen in love with?