Early bird gets the... boy?

The earlier you shop the better.  Less stress, more options, shorter lines, less sweaty people you have to shop with, more time to watch 25 Days of Christmas on ABC Family, and last but not least, better parking.  The list goes on and on, but I digress. 

Restoration Hardware always offers the best gifts for men/kids/stocking stuffers.  When in doubt, go here.

Murphy Jewelry

I have recently discovered a jewelry designer, named Kathleen Murphy, who sells a lot of her items in North Carolina.  Her pieces remind me of Stella & Dot (if you've ever been invited to a jewelry party), but less expensive!  I own three pairs of earrings from her collection, and I'm constantly getting compliments.  Please check out her website and buy something!  You can view her items by clicking here.

Pictured from left: Spring Necklace $38.00, Rhinestone Affair Necklace $54.00
Please fell free to buy me anything off her website.  Just leave a comment and I'll tell you where to mail it.
thanks,
management

Easy Art?

I said art, but that's up for your interpretation.  I recently went to Chicago on vacation, and saw some amazing things there.  It truly is an amazing city to visit, and I loved every minute of it. One thing I noticed walking around the city was how many amazing statues and sculptures they have (outside of the great architecture).  I digress. 

I took the below photos with my iPhone.  It's hard to ask everyone you're with (or just my boyfriend), to stop and pause while I take pictures of absolutely everything and hope for something creative to put up in my apartment.  It's better to put up something I took, than buy a photo that means something to someone else.

My favorite picture from the weekend was of one of the lions outside of the Chicago Art Institute. 

I took several like this, as well as this naked Native American on a horse.  He wasn't wearing pants, so I tried to keep it clean.

Next, I blew up the pictures and made the both sepia toned through Kodak.com.  The I took two 8.5"x11" frames I spray painted gold, and hung them in my staircase that is epically bare. 

It adds a nice touch!

Minty Fresh

In between buying a new couch, reupholstering a new chair, and owing my dad more money that I'd like to own up to, I need to set a budget! There is a website called Mint.com that helps you manage your money.  It keeps track of you debt (if you have it), credit cards, and bank account information.  It will also show you in a nice pie chart how much money you spend on what.  Mine for example says I am spending more money than I should on gas.  OH- I'm sorry mint- GAS IS EXPENSIVE.  I'm not riding my bike to work, ok?

The Grand FINALE!! or.. a chair.

So I love the blog Design Sponge.  They do great before and afters of old furniture.  I thought I'd take a great before and after into my own hands.  I found the nasty chair below on Craig's List.  It was $35.  Some may say this was a rip off, I saw it as a steal.

So, after driving to ... I don't even remember the name of the town, so I'll just say an hour away, I had a chair!  The guy who sold it to me was wearing overalls and said they moved it out of their "office" because he snored too much and his wife made him sleep in there.  Needless to say, it was quite an experience.  I do advise not to pick things up alone - which is why my father accompanied me.  Also, I wouldn't watch The Craig's List Killer on Lifetime if you're interested in following my footsteps. 

Ok, we're off track.  So I bought some fabric that I had been eyeing at Calico Corners.  I asked them when their next sale was and waited for the 20% off.  The week I went they just happened to be offering an additional 5% off. Woo hoo... 

I had the chair recovered for $125.  That's ridiculous, so I'm done talking about it.  Close your mouth- I know it's cheap as dirt.  I did had to drive an hour to get it there, and the guy's name was Frankie.  He wore an all denim outfit, but he does a darn good job a reupholstering.

So here is our final product!! Quite the conversation piece I must say.  You're more than welcome to come sit in it, I often find myself just staring at it while trying not to spill anything on my couch.

*contrary to popular belief the cushion is brown, not black.  The lighting's just off- whoops.

**it looks great with my rug.



Someone Delivered A.....

COUCH!

Finally I have somewhere to sit. I liked my new rug and all, but it's a bit uncomfortable trying to watch a tv 2 feet above my head.  Let's just hope I don't spill anything on it.

Then We'll Go With A....

RUG!

Y'all like that rug? Yeah, me too. Guess where it's from?  IKEA.  I sold my couch, so currently this rug is pretty much the only thing in my apartment besides a lamp and some tables.  I'm hoping this ties my new couch and chair together.  We will see.  I know the suspense will kill you....

Let's Start With A....

TABLE.

I'm trying to currently purge my apartment of all my "college" furniture.  Don't get me wrong, it's nice and all (not), but I'm not in college anymore. That, and I'd actually like all my furniture to match.  So I've taken up the challenge of decorating my humble abode.  First, I bought a new coffee table off of Etsy.  It's an old barn window from who-knows-where North Carolina, reconstructed into a table.  Etsy is a website where you can buy goods by artists.  My table was only $90, and it gives a great shabby chic look!

HOO Goes There?

How fitting!  Happy Hooloween!

Via....DO!

This weekend I had the pleasure of visiting Boone, North Carolina.  As a native North Carolinian, I've always heard about the Blue Ridge Parkway being beautiful.  Yes, I've been on it before, and yes it is beautiful.  There's always that one typical picture that represents the parkway though, and I've never seen it!  Honestly, I thought it was a myth.  Well, it's not.  I got to go over the Viaduct, and it was amazing.  Everyone should go.  Almost as good as that time I visited the Natural Bridge in Virginia.  Except this was better, so nevermind.

Viaduct in the distance..... (click to enlarge)