Inspiration

I never thought of myself as a person who's really into home decor and design. That is until I became a homeowner. Now, I'm kinda obsessed. But, I have a very limited budget and suck at DIY projects, so, it's long ass process.

I finally have inspiration. Because that's really the hardest part right? Finding what you love and making it work for your space. I have never said I'm a great designer--no, no, I need someone to show me what's possible and I go from there.

My inspiration for mi casa:

This is, of course, from Southern Living--I think the September 2009 issue. We have similar colored furniture (now) and I love the throw pillows and the patterned chair. I'm hoping to achieve a similar look with our sofa thanks to pillows from Ballard Designs (I searched high and low and Ballard is the only place I can find that has what I'm looking for).

Another view of the room. We won't be able to do a nice neutral rug, but, I think we can hopefully pull off something close. We have yellows and reds/rust as opposed to the tan and brown.

This is from the Southern Living Georgia Idea House 2010. I love the framed art--I love that kind of country style art.

This is the Louisiana Idea House 2010 and while it's a little sparse for me (yes, I like stuff), I love the lively pillows and the pattern on that chair!

So, that is my goal for the living room.

Now, onto the den.

My husband finally agreed to take his "office" into the loft upstairs, thus, allowing me to redo our den. I'm very excited!

This is from the HGTV Dream Home 2007. It's seriously my dream home. It was a home in Colorado and I love it. It's rustic perfection. I really want our den to have a similar feel. We have white and brown furniture in there and I am going to add blue and gray pillows to mimic this look:

Back to the Southern Living Idea House. I love the chairs and artwork. Since we have a brown chair in our den and green walls, this is really my inspiration for colors and such.

The entrainment room from the Southern Living Dream Home. In the magazine this reads more green than blue, but, I really like the comfy cozy look of this. I'm kind of hoping to combine this look with the rustic lodge look. Y'all know I love me some rustic--I'm a country girl after all!

So. That's what I'm hoping for.

Y'all have seen what I've been working with. Meh:

But this? Is our "in progress"--taken at like 9:30 on Friday night when we got the genius idea to move furniture (ignore the purple pillow and the empty PowerAde bottle). When my dad and stepmom moved into their Cat Mural House (I still owe you Christmas Cat Mural photos!) they got rid of all their old furniture and I laid claim to a few pieces including this sofa:
It's a yellow and white gingham, but, it reads pretty neutral, hopefully with some creative thinking and good starting ideas, I can finally create a home that is comfortable and that I'm proud of.

Yes, I've become my mother.

Minus the pink sofa.

What is your home decor inspiration?

Thank you Universe, you win. Again.

This isn't me fishing for compliments and telling me I'm really not old (although, if you feel inclined, go right ahead, I won't stop you)--this is me just being honest.

We all know I do not handle getting older very well, and it's not that I think I'm necessarily "old" (although the kid who thought I was 43 yesterday was lucky I didn't smack him. Note: I am NOT even close to 43), it's just that I thought I'd have accomplished more by the time I reached my current age, blah, blah, it's depressing, blah, blah.

So, I'mma be real with y'all here. I'm too freaking young to be going gray! Not fair.

Now, I know y'all are going to be like "Aww, SP, you aren't going gray." But, you're wrong! I totally am and the only reason you don't know this is because of a lovely thing called permanent dye. I have to color my hair like nobody's business these days. And of course my sisters love to remind me of this. (Rebecca, we're way too young for this nonsense!)

This is totally the universe going in for the win. I mean, we know when I beg to look younger, my skin freaks out and I get acne like I'm 16 again.

I'm not entirely sure what the Universe is trying to tell me with this one, but, my fingers are crossed that my prayers to be blonde are being answered in a backwards way--since my mom's family all goes "platinum" as opposed to "gray". Perhaps I'll actually go platinum blonde?

Growing up certainly isn't for sissies.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to make an appointment with my hairstylist.

I'm bitter, so, let's look at celebrities, k?

I'm in a foul mood today since I have to be at work and I literally have never worked an MLK Day before ever in my life, so, naturally, I'm 17 different kinds of annoyed.

To counter my general peachy demeanor, let's talk about the Golden Globes, mmkay?

I loved Scarlett's dress--it was very Great Gatsby, but, the hair? Totally ruined it.


Could Robert Downey, Jr. and his wife be any cuter? No, they could not. Like, I seriously want to hang out with them for dinner and drinks.

Ryan Gosling--perfection. Obviously.

Mila Kunis, you will forever be Jackie in my mind. But, you're stunning.

Dear Lea Michele's Dress, I want to marry you. And Lea? You look pretty fantastic too. That ring! Gorg.

January Jones? Just, no. NO. We get it. You're hot, no need to wear whatever that is.

Jane? Fabulous! Perfectly lovely and that color on her is dynamite. Everything about her was just dead on perfection. The bracelets, nail color, hair--everything. She should get an aware for looking like this, I tell ya!

Hailee Steinfeld (from True Grit) looked age appropriate and darling. Thank heavens that her stylist remembered that hey, you know, she is only 14. Take note teen celebrities of the world--she is your new gospel. Act and dress like her.

Eva Longoria always looks great. I mean, she could wear a potato sack and look gorgeous, but, last night, I was star struck by her hair. She could have probably used some actual color on her lips. I'm not a huge fan of nude lips. This is why God created red lipstick people! Also? Sucks to be you Tony Parker.

Angela Chase forever!!! Who would have ever thought that Angela Chase would grow up to look like this?! I know! The hair, the skin, the dress, the everything. Love.

Christian Bale: NO. Please Lord let this look be for a role, please, please, please. You're so pretty, why do you mess with it? Why?!?

Amy Adams--making us redheads proud. And you all know I'm currently obsessed with blue, so, of course, I loved her. Can I look like her when I grow up? Please?!

In other Golden Globes news, I cannot find a picture of Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, but, they are just the cutest couple ever and there was a shot of them during the awards of her leaning back onto him and I about died of the cuteness. If they ever break up, I will seriously have a mental breakdown.

Also, couldn't find a picture of Julia Stiles, but, she looked lovely. Duh.

Oh, oh, OH! And of course, I almost cried when Katey Sagal won for Sons of Anarchy--which no one expected. I would have been super happy if Kyra had won since she's been nominated like 800 times and finally won the Emmy in September, but, oh my gosh, I was like jumping up and down for Katey.

Y'all know my love of SOA and I think Katey kills is every week on that show and yes, it's not everyone's cup of tea, but, show material notwithstanding, Katey totally rocks that roll and deserved to win for sure. This gives me hope that she may get an Emmy next year. Which she deserves.

What were your favorite GG moments??

(all pictures from Just Jared.com)

Dress Obsessed

It's no secret to anyone that knows me that I'm a girly girl. I could live in dresses and skirts 24/7/365 for sure. Heck, I wore a skirt yesterday and it was literally freezing. Fashion is pain, right ladies?

So, yesterday I was g chatting with this fabulous girl and I was all "You'd be so proud of me, I threw away my Anthropologie catalog yesterday because there wasn't anything I wanted" and then the Universe was all "Hahahaha!" and then five minutes later, I found exactly 573 items on the website that I need.right.this.second.

Exhibit A:
Pom Flower Dress
Here, it looks better with the model (I need the necklace too, natch). Just imagine her with red hair:

Now, isn't this just the cutest thing ever?
Miss Swiss Corset Dress

And how sweet is this? With a little yellow cardi and a bright necklace? Sidenote, can redheads wear yellow? I don't know.
Sun Shades Dress

And then I was playing around on The Limited's website because a friend of mine scored a heck of a deal on a dress, and I found these. Which I need in each color.

You know I'm obsessed with purple and loooove me a purple dress, but, I'm also suddenly really into blue. I blame Kate Middleton. Need them both! Luckily, they're on sale....

And then because every girl needs her dream wedding dress, I present to you, my dream wedding dress. Sigh. Sara and I saw this in St. Louis and I fell in love. Hell, I probably would have tried it on had I a) not been wearing boots b) had a strapless bra handy and c) wasn't you know, wearing my wedding and anniversary bands. It's that gorgeous--well, at least I think it is. And it's so me. Seriously, where was this when I got married?

If you don't know, I hate my wedding dress. I was never in love with it, but, I had to find a wedding dress in exactly 55 minutes as I wedding dress shopped on my lunch break, which, I don't recommend--and at the time, it was the best of the bunch, but, I was never all "This is it!" or anything like that. Bleh.

ANYWAYS. I love this one. I want to get married again just to wear it. Or you know, just to wear around the house while doing dishes or something. (you can't really tell, but, it has Swiss dots all over it! Gahh, I die! Perfect. Perfect. PERFECT)

Now, if someone would please come hide all my credit cards or, tell me which item(s) I need right this second, that would be awesome.

Happy weekend my lovelies!

Say Cheese!

Back in December, the lovely Elizabeth Humiston-Glover contacted me about a photoshoot.

Never one to turn down the opportunity to play dress up and drag the husband along for the ride, I told her "yes please!".

We met at the Dallas Arboretum for a morning of fun and took lots of lovely pictures.

(sporting the hat my sister gave me for my birthday, love!)
(Can we discuss my hair for a minute? Seriously took me like two hours to do, no joke.)


I had so much fun and Elizabeth is just about the sweetest little thing EVER. You'd all love her, I know. We are so pleased with the results and now need to buy some fun picture frames to show off our cute selves (I never said I was modest!).

Now, here comes the super good part: if y'all mention that you saw her work on my blog, she's currently offering 25% off any service! I know! I told y'all she was sweet.

Go check out her website and get your picture taken!

Disclaimer: I was given a free photo session in exchange for a review on my blog, if I liked her work. I did, obviously! I hope you do too!

Meet Me in St. Louis

It was Christmas in January since I got to see my bestest over the weekend--thus, last week? Was the longest week EVER.

The hour and 45 minute flight? WAS PAINFULLY LONG. Like, I wanted to stab myself in the eye and just get there already.

(in other news, I met Kay Bailey Hutchinson at the airport)

Finally, finally, I landed in St. Louis and was off to meet my Sara for a weekend of fun.

Because she’s awesome, she met me at the airport with a sign. I love her.

We went to one of her fave Mexican joints for dinner, of which I have no pictures, which is sad, but, it was delicious. And so.much.fun.

Then, we went back to her casa where we stayed up way too late talking and playing with her sweet pup, Mally and then I fell asleep the moment my noggin hit the pillow. Also? Sara’s house is totally cute and I’m moving in.

The next day, we went to brunch in her old neighborhood of Soulard, which, I’m officially in love with and I had a super yummy breakfast burrito—yes, I’m from Texas. Again, no picture. Hm. Weird. Use your imagination. But imagine it without sour cream, because sour cream is of the devil.

Our next stop, was The Gateway Arch.

Which, I was super excited about, but, um, I’m petrified of heights. Like, looking at a tall building makes me want to hurl. But, I’d come all this way and I can’t go to St. Louis and NOT go in the arch.

And of course, I didn’t say anything about my blinding fear of heights because I know Sara would have been all “It’s cool, we can just take pictures out here. In the freezing ass cold.” But, I acted like a grownup and we did it. Ya know what? It was SUPER FREAKING COOL. And not that scary at all!

Inside the arch in the little museum--my dad would have been so proud (he's obsessed with Lewis and Clark, for real):

This is us getting ready to go up into the arch. This is also me pretending I'm not having a panic attack:
Look! The view! Cardinals Stadium and downtown STL (I feel like I can say STL now, I probably can't):

Lookie, that’s Illinois. Not as cool as St. Louis, duh.

Also, Dallas, can we discuss this for a minute? St. Louis has it figured out. Rams, Cardinals, they play within two miles of each other. DOWNTOWN. None of that 35 minute drive to the ‘burbs nonsense. Thanks again Laura Miller for that one.

My St. Louis photog, Sara:

This proves how brave I am:

After the arch, I got the tour of St. Louis where we drove around and saw super big houses. I saw where Nelly lives—or lived? Whatever. Big houses. And then we went shopping because it’s what we do. Sara got a super cute new beach bag and I fell in love with a pair of Gucci sunglasses, which, I totally should have bought because I cannot find them online anywhere. Ahhh!

She also took me to the St. Louis Basilica which was amazingly beautiful:

It's the only church other than The Vatican to have so many mosaics:

Amazing, right? Those are all teeny tiny itty bitty tiles:

Sara made us reservations at a cooking class for Saturday night and that was a blast! We made a Mexican Girls Night Out menu and I loooooved it. Plus, I didn’t have to cook anything, just watch! Bahaha.

Brownies, aka death by chocolate, aka the reason I gained 10 pounds:

Sara and her strawberry marg:

After dinner we proceeded to stay up way too late again talking and watching the end of Twilight and playing with Mally. Who I’m in love with.

Sunday, aka the worst day ever because I had to leave, we still managed to have fun. We spent the morning watching Say Yes To The Dress, which probably wasn’t too smart because we then got major wedding fever—and we’re both happily married. Sigh.

We went ice skating and I attempted to give Nancy Kerrigan a run for her money. Yeah, I didn’t. But, it was a blast—even if the two year olds were better than me.

Love this picture of Sara:

Once we warmed up we walked around Central West End and I hunted used bookstores for a copy of Little Women since I collect old versions of the book and how cool would it be to have a St. Louis version? I didn’t find one, but, I did find myself a pair of “I Don’t Need A Job, I Don’t Need My Parents, I’ve Got Great Boots’ Boots”—on sale! Am wearing them now. LOVE. (I'd show you a picture, but, my Blackberry is being lamesauce)

Sigh….And then all too soon it was time to head home. Where there was a snowstorm. That I missed. Because I was in St. Louis, where it was supposed to snow, but didn’t. I guess I just bring the sunshine with me? Ha.

All in all, it was a great weekend. Thanks again for everything my sweet! I can't wait until she gets her butt to Dallas to see me!

PS. It's Sara's birthday today. Go wish her Happy Birthday on her blog!