Art over tv diy

There's been quite a few emails lately regarding the art over tv trick. So I snapped some pictures to show and tell! Basically find an art piece that will lay over top your tv to conceal, measuring is key. Ikea has great large ones for super cheap, then simply screw one L bracket into top of art and hang off tv!

A very hungry catepillar party

So the party didn't exactly go as planned since husband was gone, I had to cancel. No worries I brought the party to preschool! My very hungry caterpillar was a happy bug! It was lovely and low-key. Happy Birthday Gideon!

The "Very Hungry Caterpillar" supplies from Eric Carle Museum.

Fall checklist: Sequins & oxfords

Welcome to my Fall checklist series cataloging fall fashion things. Just a quick note: I view fashion as frivolous and a weakness of mine I try and approach in moderation. Please do not feel led to go out and buy anything. I was highly motivated by the 30/30 series where some great gals (here and here) reworked their existing wardrobe into thirty outfits without buying a thing.

So here we go, first up, sequins and oxfords. Sequins and I go way back, like as in dance recitals since I was 5, it was love then and love now! The top is a pale/pink sweater with clear sequins and on bottown my potato sack pants, really they feel exactly like burlap but lined. {From Okinawa and pefectly hemmed, love Japan!) And the glasses, well that's just me trying to look smart! The oxford shoes I got for Christmas this past year, still going strong!

{trend tidbit: I typically try out a trend because I'm a sucker, but real workhorses of wardrobe like my wide leg pants are 4 years old and perfect every season.}

By the way, I'm really bad at ironing, that crease is not a result of my hardwork, just ask husband.

1, 2-charlotterusse, 3-urbanoutfitters, 4, 5-gojane

Our photo gallery & Happy Friday

This project was hands down the most difficult due to the height of the stairway. Painting the walls and hanging pictures almost literally killed me, but looking at family memories every time I go up and down is worth it!

A little unconvential to do rug on rug, but I like breaking rules sometimes.

This was incredibly hard to photograph even with a wide angle lens and there's no light going down to our basement. I'm still adding pictures which is the beauty of a photo wall and can change them out from time to time too! I wanted a neutral scheme, making it soothing and complementary to the rooms the stairway is connecting. So I stuck with black, cream, and brown, my favorite part is the runner. You should have heard the conversation I had with the guy at Lowes.... "You want to put rug on rug"? he asked more than one time!

Resources: Paint-Behr Ultra in Creamy Mushroom, Greek key rug runner-Lowes {husband nailguned it down}, Light fixture-Ballard designs.

Happy to greet the weekend, it's been a challenging one with a sick kiddo and missing husband!! Hope ya'll have a great one, its been so fun meeting new faces!!

Audience of One

image here

Ever read something that stops you in your tracks? This week it was this scripture: "For they loved praise from men more than from God." {John 12:43} My people-pleasing self was dumfounded, convicted, and refocused. For a girl hoping everyone likes me what a relief to know there's truly an audience of One I need to please.

Update: Camila of High Heeled Foot in the Door fame featured my home today. Be sure to pop over and say hello, I have followed her blog for a while now. Love her diy's and designer eye.

Apologies and a peacock mirror

So good news I finished my photo gallery wall, but it still needs tweaking so the reveal will have to wait a bit, sorry for false expectations!!!

Totally unrelated, I was wandering through pier 1 imports (need to stop that) and the peacock mirror I've loved since last fall was still there on clearance!! Since its been there so long I noticed a few nicks and mirrors missing and got a discount, score. Here's some pretty pictures with the mirror, its not for the faint hearted!

Love how its paired here adhering to it's ethnic vibe.

images via wisteria, domino, and lonny

Photo gallery inspiration

These are the images I borrowed inspiration from for our photo gallery wall. Can't wait to show you guys tomorrow!!!

images via littlegreennotebook, sixxdesign

Dad's frittata

My Dad, who I miss everyday still has an ever present influence on me. Some of the strangest things trigger memories, one being his amazing culinary skills! My stepmother actually made me a cookbook with his recipes, best gift ever. So this is my third round with his frittata, eggs are tricky and so are cast iron pans!! I was determined to master the frittata method because its genius, quick, and healthy.

Basically choose your players, here mine were asparagus, mushrooms, and onions but any combination will work. Saute in oil or butter, add eggs, let set, then finish in the oven under the broiler, be sure to use oven friendly pan. Thanks Dad!

Favorites Friday: Peachy Pink

Apparently I still have a bad case of baby girl fever as evidenced here. When I pulled my inspiration images together this week they were all peachy pink! Enjoy.

That print on the chairs and the garden stool, lovely via Lonny

How adorable is this pink bassinet?! via weheartit

A tempting panini of apricot, mozzerella, cinnamon....I love the unexpected! via coco&kelley

Cake pops, gonna give these a try via bakarella

{my living room}

Please check out Kirsten's amazing blog 6thstreetdesignschool which is chock full of interior design inspiration. Today she is so sweet to feature my home! Including some new pictures. Thanks Kirsten!

And more link love:

Looking for a way to figure out your style take the stylescope quiz.

A book party complete with outdoor movie, brillant.

The new film "To save a life" reminded me of my youth group experience, which literally saved my life. I loved both the book and movie, check out the trailer here.

Meredith Andrew's music is on repeat in my car, her writing skills and voice to match are heavenly. Listen here.

Upcoming goodies to look for: my new gallery wall, Gideon's 4th birthday party, an all things Charlottesville week, and my fall checklist.

Have a lovely weekend, dearies.

Ihop and the President

Husband has been scarce lately due to official Presidential helicopter training, so cool!

So we snatched him up for midday brunch at Ihop, can't remember last time I went, but the eggs benedict is pretty decent!

By the way, my white t-shirt is $5 from walmart perfectly loose for sticky Virginia humidity. And I've given up on finding good summer shorts and sticking to skirts from here on out!

Can you tell G is used to getting his picture taken, what a ham!

Eggs benedict= my breakfast weakness containing enough calories and fat for the whole day!!

No worries we worked it off at the grocery store. To the guy who invented the kid grocery cart, thank you.

Family stress relief & Israeli couscous

A little family stress relief session took place yesterday which consisted of launching water balloons (grenades) off our deck! I highly recommend it, felt great!

Then to keep things cool and avoid turning on the oven in the midst of summer heat, I discovered this tasty recipe in Country Living magazine, delicious.

My trusty assistant, Gideon.

Israeli couscous is a bit more substantial then regular couscous and harder to find check the international aisle. Here its paired with apples, feta, pine nuts, lemon, and herbs; perfect for summer.

Let's go to the Fair

It all started with a broken heart over an employee's 12 year old's cancer diagnosis. I was looking for ways to finicially contribute to a difficult situation when my Mom said throw a fundraising hospital fair!! Brillant idea, Mom.Providence led the vice president of the hospital to my unit yesterday where I pitched the idea and she loved it! Turns out there's already financial assistance available to meet this family's need, but nonetheless the fair committee is brewing and the event will kickoff in October! If any of you have any suggestions or experience with large events, I'd love your comments, suggestions and ideas.

Here' s my vision:

Heath screening booths, bouncies, clowns, bbq, hospital tours, and live music!

Brainchild

image here

Today I'm pitching an idea to the hospital higher up's that was birthed in my lil mind this weekend. Could really use prayers for boldness and open minds because if my idea comes to fruition, it will be like moving a mountain! Hope to share with you tomorrow, Happy Monday!

"Now to Him who is able to immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us..." {Ephesians 3:20}