It Flew By

It seems like forever ago since the last time I blogged! Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and the best football weekend has come and gone. There was so much packed into those 4 days! Tons and tons of food, family (we had four generations at the house), good friends, relaxation, amazing deals on Friday, going to the gator game and of course starting up the Christmas music! How was your Thanksgiving and the rest of the shopping weekend? Any good finds?

However, it's not over yet...it's now Cyber Monday!!! Keep up the hardcore shopping and please share your awesome finds with the rest of us!

The final table

Our Place-setting

The fun that was had by all ages

I love my great grandpa!

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope each and everyone of you has a wonderful Thanksgiving day! I have so much to be thankful for including all of you....

Amy Atlas ideas and photos by Allan Zepeda and Mel Barlow

Countdown continues

Only one more day until we stuff our bellies with all that Thanksgiving food. However, my mom and I are off to figure out what the table decorations will be and go through all our options. Which have actually become more options than I thought. However, we do know that our centerpiece will be the lovely flower arrangement that my in-laws sent us yesterday! After the table setup, I am going to lunch with 2 of my best friends from back in high school! I haven't seen them since I got married!! Well, have a wonderful day on this Thanksgiving Eve! (Also, merry month away Christmas!)

Photo from A Field Journal

Images from Jenifer Altman

A day of thanks! (images from Rachel Grace)

A Week of...

...Thanksgiving! I love celebrating in weeks and therefore I feel like we should do the same for Thanksgiving. So here are some ideas for your Thanksgiving week or just to get you in the mood...

shandakenbake.com

I read this on another blog and I know it's late for this but still so cute - create a countdown and write things you're thankful for until Thanksgiving. This should be very easy since it's only a couple days away

Jewelry Extravaganza

I hope you had a great weekend! For me, there was so much to take in and think about this weekend during the Jewelry Extravaganza! I found tons of awesome items which I'll show you. I really can't wait to begin creating new pieces! If you see any pin below that you think would be amazing with one of your outfits for Christmas or anything else you think of then just email me like always. In the meantime, I'll be thinking of what I'm going to do with each wonderful piece and the minute I get back the creating will begin!

How cool is that brass skeleton key???

Such a cool unique piece

So many ideas! Any this is not even all of it...
!

Something Fun

So just for fun, let's dream a little bit... check out this amazing house which I wish I lived in (even for a few days.) The bathroom is actually not part of the house below but I'm obsessed with it and want a bathroom like this one day. Although, the hubby might not find it as ideal! :) Enjoy the view!!

Amazing

Love how open this is and perfect for entertaining!

I want a wall of windows in my bedroom!

Doesn't it just make you relax? I would stay in here for a long time!

I'm So Excited and Just Can't Hide It...

Well, my flight leaves tomorrow morning at 7:15 and will arrive a couple hours later in Florida where I'll be attending a jewelry extravaganza for the next couple of days!! I can't wait to see all the vintage lovlies they have and then share them with you. If you have any requests (i.e brass key for a necklace, etc) let me know today or tonight so I can be on the lookout! After I get back I'll be super busy trying to stock up the inventory before the holiday rush!!! Hooray Hooray!!

They're Here

Well, after last week's post regarding the earring frames and many responses, (thank you all) I now have multiple made. These are all 8x10 but I'm thinking I might do some 5x7 frames for something a little different. Email me if you're in need of one! One of these are already sold but still a few examples...

Well Nevermind

OK, so I actually had something else on tap to blog about today BUT my sister just sent me the link to their adorable photo shoot of my nephew and their cute fam! So instead check out the awesome blog, Blueberry Lunch for a sneak peek. By the way, this blog is awesome for some homemade green ideas!!!

Big Apple

Big Apple, here we come!!! My awesome hubby surprised me today by telling me that we were taking a trip to NYC mid December!! This is absolutely my favorite time of year to visit. I love window shopping, the Rockefeller tree, bundling up, all the magical lights, the lovely Rockettes, well I guess basically everything! My family used to always go up over Thanksgiving when the Christmas season was in full swing but we haven't been now (except for when it's hot) for a few years. This was such an amazing surprise by such an amazing guy. Send some suggestions our way for places to eat, etc. so we don't just hit up the same places we always do...

Bergdorf Goodman's holiday window display

I'm in Love

Oh my goodness!! Check out the insane cuteness that West coast photographer, Sharon Montrose captures on a daily basis. I'm so jealous that she photographs animals for a living...although don't get me wrong, I absolutely love making jewelry!!! Dogs are just another one of my obsessions, especially Labs and Golden Retrievers. Check out some of her work below but make sure you visit her site for all of the cuteness!! (And for East coast people, don't forget about Amy Free's animal photography)

Absolutely adorable!!!

My heart melts!

For my in-laws since they use to own a Dairy Farm (this also makes me want Chick-Fil-A, is that wrong or does that just mean their commercials work?)

For my dad since pigs are his favorite! Oink Oink

Cute boy, Tucker!!!

Majestic Weekend

How is it already Monday morning?! This weekend flew by! My parents came and stayed with us this past weekend on their way to the Wake Forest football game to cheer for Riley Skinner, a good family friend. It was such a fun weekend although waaayy too short! We had some amazing meals...Just to start, Friday night we went to Bin 54 steakhouse (If you're ever in the Triangle area then I suggest you visit)and dessert and wine at Glass Half Full, (yummy tapas and wine bar.) Saturday morning before they left for the game we went to Foster's market for breakfast, (a must in this area) and then for dinner we grilled steak, veggies and made homemade sweet potato fries. Let's not forget dessert! which was a new recipe from a friend for an Apple Crisp! So yummy (and I will be posting the recipe below.) Sunday after church we headed over to show mom and dad the grand and majestic Duke Chapel! It's absolutely beautiful and not something you expect to see in Durham, North Carolina. Again, if you're ever in the area then definitely visit the Chapel as well as the gardens. You won't be disappointed! Here are some pics that do not even come close to doing it justice... However, before I sign off I can't forget to tell you that after the chapel we hit up Carolina Coffee Shop for brunch. Such a wonderful weekend!!!

Front of the Chapel

From the back side

It was so bright outside!

Apple Brown Betty Recipe:

6 cups of peeled and cored cooking apples (cut into 1/8)

1 cup bread crumbs

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp cinnamon

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup walnuts

1/8 tsp salt

1 stick melted butter

Coat crock pot with spray. Place apples in bottom. Combine ingredients and spread over apples. Cook on LOW for 3-4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours. Serve warm with ice cream. So easy!!!!

Well, if you know me then you know that I love to wear the colors black and gray. They are both just so flattering on almost all skin tones. It's only logical that grays would be in full force during this time of the year since it is such an elegant color but grays are here to stay through Spring!! So go grab some grays!

Michael Kors - Can't go this season without sequins

Donna Karan - I love the drapes

Donna Karan

Narciso Rodriquez - so breezy and free

Hello Spring

Well, since we're going on 3 days of gloomy rainy skies due to storm Ida making her way through the south I decided I needed a little pick me up! What better way than to look at some Spring fashion?! So here are some of my favorite trends for Spring...

Jason Wu - Electric blue (doesn't it just make you excited)

Carolina Herrera - So proper and sophisticated

Doo Ri 2010 pastels - Dove Gray

Costello Tagliapietra 2010 Pastels - Dusty Rose

Badgley Mischka 2010 - lovely skirt paired with plain white tank

Richard Chai 2010- Mixed Floral Prints

Whew, I got a little carried away on my favorites!

Pink and Posh

Well, I'm excited because Spencer Morgan Designs has been featured on another blog - Pink and Posh! Hooray! If you'd like to check it out just click on their name. It was such a great write-up and I'm so appreciative. Thanks Pink and Posh!

Birdie Goes Tweet

So it's not anything new that the fashion world looks to nature for inspiration, always have and always will. However, in the last year or so it seems that many designers have specifically gotten their inspiration from our little feathered friends. For many of the upcoming Spring collections they have used the beautiful bright colors of our bird friends, as well as, Interior Designers using pillows, plates, and other little birdie accents throughout a house (although I do think you can get a little carried away with this in a house.) I myself have been inspired by all the cute birds around us! Send a tweet of what you like in our feathered friends...

Beautiful!

"Addiction" $54 from SMD

"Birdie Goes Tweet" $32 from SMD

Alkemie bird ring, $120 at econsciousmarket.com