If you're as a big of a fan of Nordstrom as I am then you probably know that the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is going on! For those that are Nordstrom card holders, this means you get to shop the sale early before it opens to the public (score!). This sale is one of my favorites because unlike other sales where it the sale takes place at the end of the season, this one happens at the beginning. Some of the items I like to grab on sale for the season are timeless staples like coats, boots, bags and sweaters. I went back through the sale items I selected and made sure they were available in most sizes.
My husband and I spent two weeks in California this summer, traveling to major cities from south to north. Towards the end of our trip we decided to go to San Francisco spur of the moment and purchased plane tickets in the airport.
Our trip to San Francisco was quite an adventure! The first night, we decided to stay in Fisherman's Wharf area. When we got into our room, ear plugs were awaiting us as though they were chocolates on our pillows. We thought, man this is weird...in all of the hotels we have stayed in this is a first! We later found out why...the trash came through that evening making the most ear-shattering noises right outside of our window, making it impossible to stay asleep, despite our ear plugs.
Walking around the area our first evening, we decided to try out a restaurant in the area a friend had suggested to us called The Franciscan Crab. It was incredible! Neither one of us was very hungry that night so we split the 3 course dinner option. We decided on the crab alfredo and we were not disappointed. The restaurant was not only delicious, but almost every seat in the house has a gorgeous view of the water. Every night we were in San Francisco we enjoyed a beautiful sunset.
After having a not-so-great experience in Fisherman's Wharf at our hotel, we decided to switch accommodations and ended up at an Airbnb in Sausalito the second night. With crab seeming to be the go-to treat at most restaurants, we picked an outdoor, ocean-front restaurant called Fish for dinner that evening. The restaurant offers BYOB for a small corkage fee and the most amazing crab roll I've ever had!
Our hosts were only a ten minute drive away from the bridge! I found a beautiful spot that was not as crowded to watch the sunset and take pictures.
A good friend of mine that lives in San Fran now accompanied us that evening for dinner and sight-seeing that night. "The summer has some of the prettiest sunsets in San Francisco", he told us. He wasn't lying. I couldn't even believe my eyes. The sunset started with beautiful rainbow pastel tones and as the sun went down, got deeper and deeper in color.
If you are planning a trip to San Francisco in the summer, the sun doesn't usually set until about 9:00 pm, which gives you a full day to enjoy yourself. We loved staying a little outside of the city in Sausalito and having some peace and quiet. The only downside to staying in that area is the closing time of almost all of the restaurants and bars. Most close around 9:30-10:30 pm, leaving us with nothing to do but head back to the airbnb and relax there.
Our second night in San Francisco was a dream and I am so happy we brought along our camera to have a physical image to match our memories.
Growing up in Florida, my family always preferred to get out of our home state for vacations. My mother grew up in California, so once I turned 13 we started traveling to different parts of California each year until we stayed at the Hotel Del Coronado. Once we stayed at this classic hotel we started coming back annually and it quickly became our most anticipated vacations each year. Just minutes from San Diego, this hotel is an amazing travel destination, boasting of celebrity guests such as Marilyn Monroe and Cary Grant.
My husband and I took a trip this summer to California and went all along the coast from SoCal to northern California. Our first stop was San Diego! We had talked about visiting there several times in the past but finally got the opportunity to go.
The Hotel Del is my favorite spot around because of how historic and well-preserved it is! It has beautiful wood ceilings, fun shops, great dining, an amazing poolside bar that overlooks the ocean and so much more. There are tons of great restaurants around the hotel just a small walking distance away. I would also highly suggest the hotel brunch if it is available during your stay. It is held in the crown room which features a wooden vaulted ceiling, chilled seafood bar, tons of delicious carving stations and fresh cheeses among many other foodie delights.
Outside of the hotel, some of my favorite places to dine near the del are: Miguel's for Mexican food, Maretalia Restorante, and Il Fornaio. There's also a great casual pizza place near the hotel called Village Pizzeria. I haven't been to that one in a few years but I remember liking it.
My enchilada from Miguel's...it was delicious!
If you go to Miguel's, ask for the spicy carrots. ;)
Aside from spending all day at the beach, you can rent bikes, walk around the cute island of Coronado and admire the beautiful homes, or take a day trip to San Diego.
Recently my husband and I decided to repaint our porch and buy some new items to add the finishing touch on our favorite spot in the house. We entertain outside a lot and wanted out porch to feel cozy and inviting.
When we moved in the porch floor was painted barn red and the sides were dark tan. No matter how bright it was outside, our porch always felt dark and gloomy to me. I was apprehensive to paint the porch white because I thought it would get dirty so quickly, but decided to try it out anyway. I'm so happy we did!
AFTER
The floor and walls make the space so much brighter and set it apart from the rest of the house. Having a separate color makes the space feel like it stands on it's own, yet the color scheme ties it into the rest of the house.
As a die-hard lover of blue and white, I wanted to add delicate touches to the porch to make it feel pretty and relaxed. Once I found these plates and bowls, the rest of the design fell right into place.
One of my favorite new pieces from the collection is this champagne bucket. In the past I have used a traditional metal bucket, and it 'sweats' like crazy, creating a big puddle on whatever surface I put it on and it ruined a piece of furniture of mine. This new porcelain bucket doesn't let condensation through and holds the ice very well. My ice didn't melt for about 4-5 hours in it. Not to mention, it looks beautiful and has a timeless look.
The first-ever piece of furniture we purchased for our porch was this daybed. The daybed has been a fabulous investment. Everyone who comes over goes right to it and lays down. I'm switching out the pillows this month to match our new dining collection and will be grabbing this blue pillow and this floral one to tie the space together.
Always a fan of candlelight to warm up every spot in my house, I added two these large hurricanes to the table with giant pillar candles. The candles put off a good amount of light and create a very relaxing atmosphere.
We are so happy with all of the updates we have made to the porch. You can find either me or my husband out there and some point during the day relaxing and listening to the little birdies sing in our backyard.
The 4th of July is right around the corner. I love this time of year because summer is in full swing! It has been especially hot recently in Georgia which has me searching for anything breathable to wear. Since the 4th lies on a weekday this year, I wanted to do something simple for the holiday. We usually host an event or go visit my parents in Florida for the holiday, but this year we decided to stay local.
I rounded up some patriotic pieces that are nice and breezy to wear for this time of year. Rather than wearing all red, white and blue, I like to wear some variation of the color scheme and pair it with fun colorful earrings or shoes.
I'll be sharing my porch decorations and outfit Saturday that I plan to wear for the 4th!
Happy Monday! We got back from California on Friday and have been attempting to catch up on sleep ever since! We spent almost 2 full weeks on the west coast and we had the best time! When we travel and try to see a lot of one state, we like to hop around rather than staying put in one city for a week.
California was absolutely beautiful. The weather was perfect! It was warm during the day and with a cool breeze at night. I kept laughing at the fact that I was able to wear jeans with a jacket in the middle of summer! In Atlanta, it gets so hot and unbearably humid it's hard going outside in just a tank top and shorts.
While in Sausalito, we stopped at a cute flower market called Nancy Ann's. They have everything. I built an arrangement to match my outfit, took it inside and had them wrap it for me. Even while traveling, I love to have fresh flowers around. It makes the hotel room feel more homey.
I've been buying some new pieces for the summer and have recently been swooning over the gingham trend. I just love all of the soft pastels and how easy they are to match with other items in my closet. My favorite things to wear in the summer are light and airy tops that are breathable. I found this particular top by Rebecca Minkoff at a Nordstrom Rack while we were in La Jolla.
This top is so lightweight, it almost feels like you're wearing nothing. It's tight around the chest so it doesn't gape open and breezy at the bottom so you can eat as much as you want in it. ;)
As for accessories this summer, I have been sticking to tropical/straw bags and using my new favorite purse by Kate Spade. It matches just about anything I put on and carries more than what I need.
I always love one solid pair of sunglasses as my staple and I tend to go for tortoise shell because they look good with my skin tone.
When we were in LA, we found the best little restaurant right outside Hollywood to stop off for a little bite and cocktails called Edendale. I am an absolute sucker for cheese, so when I saw a cheese board on the menu, I immediately ordered it.
Now THIS is what you call a cheese board. They did not skimp on the meat or other accouterments. They topped our board with dried figs, little pickles, various shaved meats, a few cheeses and fresh cut herbs.
This blue top is so versatile. It looks great tucked in or as I am wearing it here. I think it is a classic and can be worn for years to come because gingham, like a good cheese board, never truly goes out of style.
If you caught my Instagram stories over the weekend, you know that I am in the midst of a major kitchen transformation! If you missed it, be sure to check out my story highlights to catch up on the progress there (once I am completely finished I will be posting the full tutorial).
My style is classic and timeless. I like to mix basic white dishes with fun pops of color in my glassware, linens and server pieces. I wanted to share my top 25 favorite items in my kitchen with you all.
These chargers are great for all seasons. The natural color makes them easy to mix and match various colors of plates and napkins. They easily transition from summer to fall to spring and are a classic.
These pretty scalloped plates add a soft feminine touch and interest to your tablescape. Mix and match them with basic white dishes and smaller plates/bowls that have a pattern. In the holiday months, I will mix these with gold and white plates.
If the feminine scalloped touch isn't your thing, add a pop of blue with these gorgeous dishes! They just scream "oh, just these old vintage plates I found on my trip to Italy." The price tag doesn't hurt either.
Blue and white is my favorite color combination and always a classic. It creates a soft look and is very peaceful. Even if I am serving food with plain white dishes, I like to add a pop of color with fun napkins. Cloth napkins can set the tone and theme for your dinner party.
When I first spotted this beauty I couldn't believe that it was melamine. We eat so many meals on the porch, I like to use plastic when I can so no one gets injured if there is an accident. This piece is an example of form and function working harmoniously to create the perfect hostess gift.
If you like to cook, you will love owning Kitchenaid. Despite all the rave of the wedding industry pressure to own one, these bad boys really are a great investment. Once I finally purchased mine it made my life so much easier. I used a hand mixer before, and this machine allows me to multi-task seamlessly while cooking.
I love European decor influences, French and Italian in particular. Originally I wanted all copper cookware until I was gifted a copper pot and realized just how tedious the maintenance is. This caddy is the best of both worlds. It provides the look of copper without all the clean-up. I love mixing in copper and gold where I can to illuminate a space.
Not only is this mill gorgeous to look at (seriously beautiful with all tablescapes), but you can adjust the grind from fine to coarse, allowing you more control of your spices when cooking.
These might seem silly to you, but I like my entire house to feel like it flows together, even the little things like cleaning products. I have been using these spray bottles for certain grocery-store cleaning products as well as homemade cleaning products. I make a homemade insecticide and bug spray using essential oils and these are great for holding them.
I think I am with most of America in my love of Chip & Joanna Gaines. Their story is very inspiring and their lifestyle is oh-so-appealing to me. This cookbook's photography is beautiful and the recipes are great for "gathering" as the description says. I like to display it in my kitchen.
Illuminate your table with this gorgeous set of gold flatware. I have looked long and hard for the perfect shape and color gold and this one takes the cake....oh and did I mention it's on sale?
I love the color of this keurig, so much so that we swapped out our black one for this. It helps keep the color scheme of my kitchen alive and also pours a great cup of joe. This color is being discontinued so grab yours before it's gone.
You may have to search a few different places to find each one, but I've linked where I found all of mine. I love this giant rectangular cutting board as a serving board for cocktails.
In an effort to clear my countertops, I finally ditched the traditional knife block and purchased this. It always felt aggressive to have large knives on display anyways.
I talked about this soap when I first started my blog and got a few people HOOKED. It smells amazing. I have a very strong sense of smell, and this soap puts me in such a good mood every time I use it.
I would categorize my skin as dry, so I am always seeking out ways to keep it hydrated. In this summer heat and humidity, I needed to allow my skin to breathe, which meant hydration without an oily base. My mother turned me onto L'Occitane products years ago, and I have always loved their skincare. Recently, I discovered their Aqua Reotier collection and decided to give it a try because it is a non oil-based product with intense hydration.
Unlike other beauty products, this one started working for me instantly. Most noticeably with my skin's firmness and hydration. I use the five-step collection in the morning, and the moisture lasts with me throughout the entire day. I start by cleansing my face with the water gel cleanser, and then apply the moisture prep. After, I follow with the ultra-thirst quenching cream, which smells divine. A little bit goes a long way so a container should last you quite a while. Once I've moisturized with the cream, I come back over my face with the moisturizing gel and allow it to soak into my skin.
The mist is one of my favorite products from this collection because it is great to have on-the-go to achieve a dewey look with or without my makeup. All of these products smell heavenly, and I get complimented on the fragrance.
My skin feels so radiant from using these products and is giving me the confidence to go out without makeup which is a long-held goal of mine. My skin not only looks great but it feels extremely soft - just what I was looking for.
My YouTube channel is finally here! Guys - I have been working on video content for a year now. I would film small clips of myself decorating or explaining wine to you, but I eventually deleted them and decided not to share because I thought they were low quality. I finally decided, who really cares if my videos aren't award-worthy? I'm going to film and share them anyways. ;)
I found a dresser on Facebook marketplace for FREE! I was the first person to contact this lovely lady and somehow scored this amazing find! I loved the way it looked when I got it, but the top of the dresser didn't match the original wood, there were paint drops in odd places...overall it needed some love. I decided to chalk paint this piece.
Ya'll...confession time....this is my very first time using chalk paint. I watched a few videos and read a few articles and decided I wanted to make my own tutorial. Everyone has their own style, and I wanted my paint to look slightly aged and dimensional.
I started off with two paint colors: an off-white and a light gray. I ended up purchasing a third color that was about 5 shades darker than the gray color, in order to achieve the distressed look I was going for. Once I was finished with my paint, I took a sander to the edges of drawers and the sides of the dresser to, once again, achieve an aged look. In this video tutorial, I will show you how to sand, paint, add dimension, and finish a piece of furniture using chalk paint.
Ahhhh Memorial Day. It feels like the unofficial first day of summer. Usually my husband and I go to the lake or the beach for the three day weekend, but we have been traveling so much recently I needed some time at home.
I am a sucker for holidays because it's a great excuse to host friends and decorate the house! This year I decided to spend the holiday out on our porch. I recently slapped a new coat of paint on it to brighten it for the summer. It was so drab before...the dark red floor and brown siding made the area feel like a cave. Ever since we (I) painted it, its been so bright and airy.
Rather than using cheesy decor covered in stars and stripes and super bright colors, I decided on soft pops of patriotic colors. I wanted to add at least one element of the flag, so I decided on red and white striped napkins. I found a full set of these hand-blown blue goblets at HomeGoods (shocking, am I right??). I love adding gold accents to almost all of my home because reflective elements add shine and make the other room items glow.
I added height to the table arrangement by using large glass hurricanes and pillar candles. These are great because they are functional as well as beautiful. When the sun goes down, you can enjoy a candlelit conversation.
I think someone is a fan of this space ;) .
You can save up to 30% off Pottery Barn by using code: SAVEMORE this weekend only. My napkins and placemats are from Pottery Barn and linked below!
Recently, I began updating my husband's office. He works from home so I really wanted to create a nice environment for him that was masculine and timeless. Let me just tell you, it was BAD before I began working on it. He had a rickety desk with no drawers, a matching printer stand that wobbles every time he would print something, mismatched artwork, and a multi-color poster of the United States that looks like it belongs in a kid's room.
His current desk chair was given to us by a family friend, and was somehow missing a chunk on the armrest. It worked well for a while, as it is comfortable, but it was such an eye sore. With my current obsession with the decor from Patina Farm, I really wanted to get him a great looking leather desk chair. They are so timeless and comfortable. My hope was to purchase a chair I found on Wayfair that had the perfect aged look to it. That was until I found this chair on Facebook for only $25...
This chair is 100% genuine leather, has a brass base, and is 40 years old. SCORE!
The picture on the internet made it look like the color was much more rich than it was in person. Although the color looks halfway decent in this picture, in person it was super outdated ('80s) and looked like the color of mud....not a good look.
The chair needed some love.
I started doing research and found that you can actually dye leather furniture. I couldn't find very many good tutorials on how to do it and one of the brands that many bloggers talked about from the past is no longer existent. Ergo, more research on my part.
There are 3 basic things you will need to dye a piece of furniture:
1) Deglazer (essentially this is acetone)
2) Leather dye
3) Sheen finish
My first task was to pick a color. I had a lot of anxiety over choosing the color because I didn't want the chair to be too dark. The swatches in the store were painted on a raw piece of hide, so how would it look on my already dark chair? The sales person suggested mixing two dyes together to achieve the color I wanted, but I ended up going with the color medium brown. Lucky for me, the dye remained true to color.
I am so happy I ended up going to a leather store instead of ordering them online because the colors looked so much different in person!
For my project, I ended up only needing one, 4 oz bottle of the dye, one bottle of deglaze, and one bottle of the sheen.
Here's the chair mid-dye...looking pretty good if I do say so myself.
And the finished product!
HOW TO DYE LEATHER FURNITURE
Materials:
Deglazer or acetone
Leather dye (they come in 4 oz. and 32 oz., this project only used 4 oz.)
Sheen finish
Rags
Dye applicator (my brand came with one)
Drop sheet or paper
Rubber gloves
Instructions:
For my project, I wanted this chair to look like a true antique piece, so I distressed the chair before I dyed it. To simply dye the chair, start the video at 3:15 to see me select my dye color in the leather store.
This video was taken from clips of my instagram stories while I was dyeing the chair.
