My Creative Blog [Search results for style] 

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Fossil for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
Well, you guys know by know that my style is pretty neutral. From paint colors in my home to what I wear, you'll find me loving up anything that is classic and timeless. Nothing too flashy in my world. That's what I'm absolutely in love with the new Fossil Vintage Revival Handbags. They're gorgeous bags with impeccable detailing and come in several different color leathers. I mean, these babies will never go out of style. This post is a little out of our daily norm, but Fossil asked us to take a look at their bags and come up with a few outfits that represent our style and incorporate a few of these beauties. Sounds fun, doesn't it? Here's what I came up with for my ultimate daytime look:

Sweater: Ralph Lauren Shawl Collar Cardigan ($1500! That's why this is a DREAM outfit. Just think how many decorative pillows I could buy with that!) Jeans: H&M Super Skinny Jeans ($19-now that's more like it!) Boots: G by GUESS Hyderi Riding Boots ($99) Bag: FOSSIL Vintage Revival Flap Bag ($198) I totally heart this outfit and would wear it all the time. Comfortable, but still stylish, without being super trendy. You listening, hubs?; ) Ok, so now for my nighttime look:

Dress: Rebecca Taylor Sequin Cami Dress ($198) Jacket: Maxmara Samovar Jacket ($1,188) Shoes: Jimmy Choo Cosmic Leather Pumps ($695) Earrings: Ylang Rose Gold Textured Featherd Earrings ($795) Bag: FOSSIL Vintage Revival Frame Mini ($115) Ok, so it turns out that I have really expensive taste, but this is just a dream, right? And in your dreams you can wear whatever you want! I'm so into rose gold, sparkly things and nude pumps right now. I know, wierd, but somehow this whole outfit still reads neutral and classy to me. I wish I had a fun holiday party to wear this to! Go ahead and feel free to invite me, if you're having one! Want to know something SO awesome?! We're GIVING AWAY A FOSSIL SMALL FLAP HANDBAG to one lucky reader! Wouldn't that make an incredible Christmas gift for you or someone you really really like?

Here's how you enter: 1. Create a pinboard on Pinterest of an outfit you'd pair with your Vintage Revival Handbag and include #FossilVintageRevival in your Pin. 2. Leave a comment here on our blog sharing your pin with us. (make sure you include your email address so we can contact you if you win!) Want more info? Click here for official rules and an upclose look at the bags here;. We can't wait to see what your style is all about! Does your home decor style mimic your personal style like mine does?

Ally is totally rocking it out again with From the Right Bank's What's Your Style in One Picture Challenge III. I am so excited to be participating. But, babe. It Was Hard. And I tried to be really honest with myself for the challenge. Not my IDEA of my style, but my real style. What image reveals ME? In the end, I tossed Nate's living room for Katie Lee Joel that I always said was me in a room.
Here is the one I came up with and here's why: That Mirror! Makes me do a happy dance. I have one of a similar size and age in my dining room. Chandelier. Don't have. Want. Badly want. Collected art. Original drawings. Pieces loved. Pieces with a history. Painted chairs — not all matching The table's clean lines add a tad more modern feel. Collection of candlesticks and magazines on the table = casualness Almost a total absence of color in the room....
Ally, I can't thank you enough for this exercise. I learned so much about my REAL style. Now it's your turn, babes. Please visit From the Right Bank and show us your style in one picture!
Image via Greige from Indenfor

While I should have been home preparing for a television shoot, I was off traveling in New England this weekend. One of the highlights of our trip was a completely impulsive, spur of the moment, Taylor Swift concert with my daughter Makenzie. I was completely impressed by Taylor Swift. She was humble, thankful for the 52 thousand fans, and downright adorable. As a mom, I was so thankful for the example she was in her style and the way she presented herself. Her outfits were amazing, but they weren't immodest or trashy and the way she danced was fun and not overly sexy. I've always been a fan, but after last night I'm totally sold!

Source: artof-love.tumblr.com via Monica on Pinterest In honor of our special night together, I thought I'd take a little time and explore country style. My first thought when it came to country blogging and decor was The Pioneer Woman. If you haven't checked out her blog, which really is WAY more than just a blog, you're missing out. She has an amazing"Lodge" with a genuine country, mountain feel.

As I began to explore country style I realized that even though I have a more transitional style, I'm really drawn the light colors and the primative storage used.

Source: houzz.com via Monica on Pinterest
Metal baskets like this were really popular this year. There were tons of great DIY versions, that were pretty similar to these ones from Anthropologie.

Who doesn't love a country kitchen? Again, the light colors and presence of white gives the room a soft, yet clean, crisp feel. I'm loving the green cabinets and accents.

The blue and yellow in this kitchen is awesome. It just so happens that they're the very same accent colors as my"coming soon" dining room. I love the idea of open storage, but in real life, with 4 kids, that is just NOT going to work.

Source: coastalliving.com via Monica on Pinterest
Even though I'm more of a modern or transitional girl, I do love me some farm table! I can't wait to show you our version later this week. It's old farm meets Restoration Hardware (with 8 legs!)

Source: countryliving.com via Monica on Pinterest
Old wooden floors make me happy. Right now we have laminate hard wood (a must have for our crazy kids), but someday I really would love to bring in old, weathered hardwood a pair it with my more contemporary style.

Source: blog.baerhomedesign.com via Monica on Pinterest
Sometimes I wish I was a country girl because designing a country room seems so simple. Lots of white, metal, and just a few accessories. This bedroom is adorable and Jess would love the baskets under the bed.

Source: beautifulpaper.tumblr.com via Monica on Pinterest
I know this room isn't really country, but I feel like it's a modern take on country. The colors are perfectly country, but the lines of the furniture and some of the accessories have a more modern feel. This room is right up my alley.

Source: smg.photobucket.com via Monica on Pinterest
So, I might not have"Gone Country," but I did enjoy exploring the style. Who knows, soon you might see me around my house, listening to Taylor Swift, and wearing this…(which btw I think is actually adorable!)

Source: dottieangel.blogspot.com via Monica on Pinterest

In my last blog post I discussed my basic design process for working with a unique focal element, in this case, some fantastic vintage & antique keys that I came across at a flea market last summer. I also discussed the basics of choosing complimentary materials such as beads, and the 'laying out,' or organization of the design. The following post will discuss the fabrication of those keys into a piece of unique, one of a kind piece of jewelry.
Below are two styles of necklaces made with keys:
Vertically Hung Key With Beaded Chain

Horizontally Hung Key Necklace

Materials List for both projects
Vintage Keys
WD-40 and paper towels to clean up your keys and remove rust
Coordinating wire: Brass or copper work well. For the necklaces shown, I used Beadalon ColourCraft Permanently Colored Copper Wire in Brown (20 gauge) and Zebra Wire Colored Copper Wire in Brown in 18, 22 and 26 gauge
Antique finish brass or copper chain (for horizontally hung necklace)
Antique finish brass or copper jump rings (for horizontally hung necklace)
Antique finish brass or copper clasps (toggle and or lobster-claw style)
A variety of gemstone and glass beads
Round nose pliers
Flush-cut pliers
Chain nose pliers
*Aside from the keys, most items listed above are available through Fire Mountain Gems Jewelry Supply http://www.firemountaingems.com/

FABRICATION

If you find that your keys are a little rusty, spray them with WD-40 and clean well with paper towels. Because the keys I used were a nice, rusty brown, I decided to use brown colored copper wire for my necklaces. I liked the keys hung both vertically and horizontally so I decided to make both styles. Below are the instructions for both.
Vertical Key Necklace:
beaded chain technique with toggle clasp

*For these necklace you will need to know how to make a basic wrapped loop. This is a simple technique that is basic to jewelry making. If you do not know how to make a wrapped loop, directions can be found here: http://www.firemountaingems.com/beading_howtos/beading_projects.asp?docid=652t

Step 1. Cut a 2.5' piece of wire and connect one end to the hole in the top of the key with a basic wrapped loop. (For this style I used the 20 gauge wire)

Detail of wrapped wire loops attached to key
Step 2. Place a bead onto the other end of the wire and complete the end with another closed, wrapped loop.
Step 3. Repeat your next section with another section of 2.5' wire, this time connecting one end of the wire to the previously finished beaded loop. Again, place a bead on the wire, and complete the unfinished wire end with another wrapped loop.
Step 4. Continue repeating this 'wire, bead, loop' process until you have created one entire side of beaded chain in the length that you desire. (I made each side of my necklace approx. 10', for a total finished necklace length of 21' including key and clasp.)
Step 5. Repeat steps one through four to create the other side of your beaded chain.
Step 6. Attaching the toggle clasp: When you have finished your beaded chain in the length that you desire, attach your clasp. Using the same wrapped loop technique, attach the 'bar' part of the toggle clasp to one side of your beaded chain and the 'loop' part of the toggle clasp to the other side of your beaded chain. That's it! You are finished!

Detail of toggle clasp attached with wire wrapped loops
Directions for Horizontal Key Necklace:

Step 1. Place key horizontally on table. Cut a 3' piece of wire and connect one end to the hole in the top of the key with a basic wrapped loop. (For this style I used the 20 gauge wire).
Step 2. P lace a bead onto the other end of the wire and complete the end with another closed, wrapped loop.
Step 3. Cut another 3' piece of wire and with a wrapped loop, connect one end to other, opposite end of the key, wrapping the wire around the body of the key to the inside of the key's teeth.
Step 4. Place a bead onto the other end of the wire and complete the end with another closed, wrapped loop.

Step 5. Continue this technique using 2.5' lengths of wire and beads, until you have the beaded look you want; I used two beads on one end of the key and four on the other end of the key. *Do NOT wrap the open end of the wire after your last bead.
Step 6. Cut two lengths of chain (I used two 10' lengths of chain) and now making a loop in the wire after your last bead, thread the chain onto the loop and wrap the end. Repeat with other side. Your lengths of chain are now attached to each side of your necklace.
Step 7. Attaching the clasp: At the end of each length of your chain you will attach your clasp. For this style necklace I used a lobster claw style clasp. Use a jump ring to attach the clasp to one side of your chain and complete the other side of your chain with another jump ring. You are finished!

Lobster-claw style clasp

A different color combination: Citrine and Honey Jade

Pink Rhodonite gemstone beads
If you have any questions, feel free to post them below! — Laura

Imagine my thrill when I was contacted yesterday by Etsy Admin to let me know that my jewelry and my Etsy shop were going to be featured in Kaboodle's Celebrity Style Watch!
The article, Etsy Inside Scoop: How to Snag Celeb Style was a collaboration between Etsy and Kaboodle, and spotlights celebrities seen wearing items made by Etsy artists.
In the article, True Blood actor Tanya Wright is shown wearing a necklace that I designed and made for her. Other celebs in the article include Christina Hendricks, Katy Perry, and AnnaLynne McCord who were shown wearing designs from madredeolivia, Blackbirddesignhouse, dishfunctionldesigns, NewYorkCouture and LuaLosAngeles.

Thank you Tanya, Etsy, and Kaboodle!
View the article here: How to Snag Celeb Style

Source: strictlysimplestyle.blogspot.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest
No, I really don't have anything to sell, but I have sold two houses really quickly and helped hundreds of other people sell theirs. Okay, now before you tune out and think,"I'm not moving anytime soon… no need to read this post." give me a second! There's two reasons to keep reading… # 1- You probably know someone that's struggling to sell a home in this market #2- People love their homes right before they sell because it's in the best shape ever. You could follow a few of these tips and love your house even more! Ready? Here are my first 5 tips!
Get it Sold… The Mangin Way! (Part 1) (these aren't new ideas…but done right, they really work)

1.Declutter. Pack half of your stuff. Seriously, I actually mean half of everything. It's a pain, but you'll have to pack it anyway. This will make your house seem like it has sufficient storage and room to grow. It's tough to want to move into someone's home that seems jam packed! (FYI- don't do this if you're not selling… that would just be crazy!)

2. Depersonalize. Your kids are adorable… I get it, but now get rid of their pics. We don't want potential buyers looking at your vacation pics and thinking they really need to get back to the Outer Banks and totally not noticing your recessed lighting. Now, don't get too crazy… we didn't get rid of 100% of our pics, but honestly we replaced a lot with generic art from Homegoods and Marshalls. The second part of depersonalization is STYLE. If you're reading a DIY and design blog you either have great style or are style challenged! LOL… make sure the style of your house would appeal to the masses. Not too modern, too country, too plain, too bold. Purple.Tone it down a bit.

Source: yakal.net via Hannah on Pinterest
3. Declutter. Wait, she already said that!! Lame post! Nope, I don't have short term memory loss… now we're talking Pantries, Closets, Garages, Storage areas. You need to keep feeding your family, but you also need to show off the space you have. Donate, eat, or toss HALF of what you have stored. You don't need six cans of cream of chicken soup. Keep two. (House of Smiths weren't selling, but man they have a rockin' pantry before and after)

Same applies to closets… anything you won't wear in the next month should be packed up. If you're near a change of season, just box and store at your BFF's house. That's what friends are for! (We have about 20 boxes of friend's stuff in our basement right now because they're selling). Any place that you would usually hide your junk needs to be super neat and spacious. 4. Give it a Purpose. This is a simple stager's rule. Every room should have a purpose. You want a buyer to see a value in each space. If you have a toy/craft/tv/junk room but already have a playroom, and family room with tv… well what are they paying for the random room for? Choose a purpose. Make it a specific craft/sewing room etc. 5. Clean. I'm not talking lived in clean… I'm talking Martha Stewart clean. A clean house gives the impression of a well cared for, well maintained house. You don't want anything creeping out buyers. Maybe dirty baseboards are just a part of life, but they're not a part of a buyer's dream home. Seriously, who dreams of a kinda dirty, lived in dream house? Does Pottery Barn have gross toilet rings in the Bed & Bath issue? We've done it two ways… once we did an insane deep clean and for our second house we hired someone to do it. Either way is fine, just get it done and then maintain it. Make a little pre-showing, last minute cleaning list. It was a huge help to me!

Source: marthastewart.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest
Ok, so 5 simple, totally FREE steps so far… Nothing too revolutionary, but things that really make a difference. Last spring we sold our home in less than 3 weeks… the market was struggling, we didn't know what to expect, but we believed it was the right time for our family and so we busted our tails to get the house ready. Now, you're armed with part one… either share the post with a friend that might find it helpful, or take a look at your own home. Part two is a little more design friendly and exciting, but first you've gotta get through the dirty work of steps 1-5.
I'll be back Wednesday with more!

P.S. I bought paint tonight for a super-fun family room project. I can't wait to share it with you!
P.P.S. Did you know that we're only 3 people away from 100 followers? We know way more of you read the blog… let's make it official! Let's take our relationship to the next step? And if you're really into us, you could like us on Facebook too! Imagine that! It's like going steady!

No… I'm not getting all creepo on you… this is a PG blog-Our moms read it! What I'm talking about it this adorable ball of fur that's now a part of the Mangin family…

I'm seriously head-over-heels in love with her! She's a Bernese Mountain Dog that will be eight weeks old today and she has the sweetest disposition ever! Jess came over to meet her the other day and was surprised at how smitten I am, so she said,"I didn't think you were a dog person?" to which I replied,"I'm not! I just like my dog!" Ha! What can I say? It's true!
So in honor of Miss Pennlyn (AKA Penn) I'm sharing some Doggy Style projects…
Four Post Bed… Puppy Luxury! I first saw this bed a few years ago in a Lowe's Creative Ideas magazine, and immediately loved it. I don't think the size will work for Penn, but I love the look and idea of it.

Source: lowescreativeideas.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest
You could also just find a coffee or end table, flip it over and get your DIY on, turning it into a bed. And of course, I'm loving the yellow!
Crate Bed Since Pennlyn will be a pretty big dog, I'm thinking this style bed is a bit more her speed. I'm loving this DIY bed made by Home Frosting and I can't wait to make one. She used leftover 1x4s, but I think I might use some free pallets. The finish she created is fabulous!

Source: home-frosting.blogspot.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest
DIY Pet Tags Leave it to Martha to come up with these adorable tags.

Source: marthastewart.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest
I was about to order a generic tag from the pet store, but I plan to try this DIY this week before going the generic route. I just need to make sure it's heavy duty enough. I'll let you know how it goes!
Pet Art I'm not really a huge fan of having pet pics all over the place (remember… not a"dog person") but I do think some pet art might be cool in the kids' playroom.

This took me about 30 seconds to create on Picnik. I used the"Posterize" effect and voila… Pet Art! I think I'll order it as a canvas this week.
Hungry Puppy? Since we've only had Penn for 5 days, her food is just in the bag, but I do have ambitious plans to create some kind of cool looking container. The hubs thinks I'm insane and wants to know why the dog food container needs to be cute, but he knows who he's married to, so he's cool with it. Here's one fun idea…

Source: tidymom.net via The Real Housewives on Pinterest
The style isn't mine, but I think I could add some of my own modern flair to it. I sorta had something wooden and rustic in mind, so we'll see…
Custom Stuffies These are the funniest things ever! I think they'd make such an awesome gift! This seller on etsy makes custom stuffies for your pet. Just send a picture of your pooch and you'll get a look-a-like stuffie in a few weeks! I've contacted the seller, because she doesn't have this as an active listing right now, but I'm hoping she'll be back at it soon! Pennlyn definitely needs a mini-me stuffie!
WAIT! Hold the press! Shevon contacted me and you can now buy a custom stuffie!
Here's the link: Custom Stuffies (Soooo stinkin' Cool!)

Source: etsy.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest

So, it looks like I have a lot of projects to get working on! Although, before I get working on my puppy projects I think I need to get Penn house-broken and doing fancy tricks (can I teach her how to go get my laptop for me?) I'll keep you posted on Miss Pennlyn and any cool projects we make for her!
Oh, one last thing… She WILL NOT be owning one of these… Thundervest…No Comment!

Source: thundershirt.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest
Thanks for letting me introduce my little lady to you!

WAIT! Don't stop reading! The voting for Crafting with the Stars is now open! We've entered our first project and we need your votes. We obviously can't tell you which project is ours, but we can give you a hint… look for the coolest one… that'll be ours! Nah, we really do have some stiff competition, so head over and vote for your favorite 3 projects. The winners will be announced Wednesday. Thanks! Click HERE to see the entries and vote!

If you don't already know her allow me to introduce you to Victoria Hagan a New York City designer extraordinaire who owns her own design firm named Victoria Hagan Interiors here that caters to both residential and commercial projects.

Hagan began designing interiors in 1985, founded Victoria Hagan Interiors in 1991 and established Victoria Hagan Home, a line of furniture, fabrics and accessories, in 2002.

Her design philosophy is 'keep it simple', 'keep it comfortable', 'keep it interesting' but most important 'keep it fun'. She keeps interiors very clean with a neutral palette and isn't drawn to any period or style but rather goes for versitility in a room. Her interiors look very relaxed and stylish at the same time.

Love the pop of red, dark wood with the clean crisp white. You get a taste of old with the new. Victoria's interiors are both masculine and feminine.

Designed by Victoria Hagan
Victoria's style reminds me so much of Darryl Carter's style, below, I love both. They both use a mix of the traditional and modern, the old and the new with clean lines.

Designed by Darryl Carter, pictures via Elle Decor

Designed by Darryl Carter, Washington DC Row House, photo Simon Upton
Darryl Carter used masculine looking leather-covered doors as a headboard, above. While Victoria designed a feminine leather screen, below, for her home collection here.

The Carroll leather screen by Victoria Hagan
Victoria's furniture collection it's so stylish and clean and fits beautifully in today's interiors.

The James footstool designed by Victoria Hagan

The Wainscott chair from her home collection

Enjoy more of Victoria Hagan's Interiors here
I hope you've enjoyed meeting designer Victoria Hagan and seeing a few pictures of her design work. There are a lot more pictures on her website here of interiors and here of her home collection, I just love her look!

T his past summer, I got the nicest note from the beautiful and talented Heather Bullard. She was writing to say that she would like to mention my blog in Flea Market Style. Needless to say, I felt quite honored.
Today I received a copy of the their newest issue with the piece that highlighted a selection of design blogs.

The other blog categories ranged from "Best for gals who love power tools" ( Funky Junk Interiors ) and 'Best before- and-after posts" ( Miss Mustard Seed's Creative Blog ), to "Best home decor inspiration" ( My Sweet Savannah ), and "Best if you swoon over white" ( Home and Harmony ).
Thank you Flea Market Style!

This post brought to you by FrogTape brand painter’s tape. All opinions are 100% mine. So cutting hair isn't our normal post topic here on East Coast Creative, but when it involves Frog Tape® and a rockin' hair style… well, I think it's just right for EC2! Cutting a mohawk isn't easy business- do you have any idea how many crooked mohawks there are in the world? A lot let me tell you! (and yes, that claim is purely fictional, but I'm 99% sure I'm right!) Thanks to my ingenious husband (or maybe it's just DIY overkill that made him think of it) we created the easiest way to cut a straight, perfect, and rockin' mohawk!

And let me shed a little light on the old 'hawk before I tell you how to do it. Callen (my youngest) has my husband's hair- which means pouffy awfulness. It's okay, Eric owns it (aka shaves it all off!) It's just really bushy and we can't do anything with Cal's hair style-wise. EXCEPT… for an awesome mohawk! It's the best style because his hair is going to poof out and stick up anyhow, so it's just making the mohawk styling that much easier! Eric and I often chat about which of our son's hair styles the grandparents hate more… Cal's mohawk or Kade's super long shaggy mop. I still think the long hair gets to them the most!: ) (And no, we're not cutting the mohawk off before school starts next week. We get asked that a lot. Why would we get rid of his swagga just in time for him to meet all the little ladies??)
Alright, so let me tell you how to cut the perfect mohawk so that your kids' grandparents can think you're nuts too!
#1- Determine how wide you want the 'hawk to be. We liked a pretty thick one, so we used about 2 widths of Frog Tape®. Now, we were asked to share a project we'd done with Frog Tape®- they said it's multi-surface tape- good for a variety of materials. I had already cut Cal's mohawk and was like,"how's this for a unique material!" So, while Frog Tape® wasn't made with the mohawk in mind… it works like a charm!!

#2- Place the tape down on your kiddo's head exactly where you want the hair to remain. Make sure it's straight from front to back AND side to side. Remember… crooked mohawks just aren't cool! Don't worry about pressing the tape down too hard, the edge will serve as more of a guide for your buzzers, not an paint lock like we usually use Frog Tape® for.

I wonder if this little guy has any clue that this process isn't quite the norm… Such is the life of a blogger's kid! (Also, ignore the pile of clothes and messy bathroom. This is real life here people! )

#3- Use your buzzers to shave along the edge of the Frog Tape®. Don't press into the side too much, you don't want a wonky line. Any buzzers will do, but we've always used this Wahl kit.

#4- This is just a preference, but we always have our boys sit on a stool in the shower while we buzz. It's so much easier for clean up. We use a hand vac to get as much of the hair up as we can, and then the rest just gets rinsed down the drain. Easy peasy!

I couldn't love Cal's hair any more than I do. It's definintely my favorite and it's sticking around for a long time! Since cutting it in for the first time, we've trimmed the sides 3 or 4 times, so now the middle section is nice and long and big boy mohawk-ish!

If you're thinking of embarking on the mohawk journey, I definitely recommend this method to get the perfect mohawk! A little outside the box, but this straight mohawk just wouldn't have happened without FrogTape painter’s tape.
We really do love Frog Tape® and have done a lot of cool projects using it. Last year when we were at the Haven Blogger Conference, we got to meet our friends from Frog Tape® and we learned a lot more about its paint lock technology. Basically it seals the edge of the tape so the paint doesn't bleed through! That's huge for me because I have some perfectionist tendencies. Did you know that FrogTape painter’s tape also recently came out with Shape Tape®? It is patterned tape, so you can get waves, chevron, etc… without measuring! We think it's pretty cool! Check out a few other projects we've one

Check out a few other projects we've done using Frog Tape®! My Chevron Accent Wall

Mosaic Accent Wall

Fireplace Makeover

If you haven't tried FrogTape painter’s tape yet, what are you waiting for? I mean you can try it on an awesome DIY project for fall OR for the most epic of all mohawks! Frog Tape is also on Twitter @Frogtape- give them a shout out and share your fall projects!

Well hey there! Want to know something about me? I find something I like and then stick to it. I have only ever ordered one meal at The Olive Garden for about 14 years straight (Chicken con Broccoli and FYI they took it off the menu, so I don't go there anymore! Ha!) I wish jeans, sneaks, and a sweater with an oxford underneath was still as cool now, as it was when I was in high school. So basically, I don't do much in the way of mixing things up (except for in my decor and design, which is weird, but who knows…). This month some of that changed! Hello Bangs and Glasses!

A few things happened to bring about these changes… #1 I spent 8 days in London and Paris surrounded by people that had more style in their pinky finger than I will in my entire lifetime. #2. I was given an opportunity from Firmoo Glasses to try a pair of glasses for free #3. I got a zit on my forehead (I'll explain later)
So, here's what we ended up with… Awesomely geeky glasses that I completely adore (plus, I can see better!) and blunt bangs! I know I'm completely wild and crazy aren't I?

Let me tell you a little about Firmoo and the glasses first, then we'll get onto the bangs. Firmoo is the largest online retailer of glasses (who knew right?!). For years I'd been going to my eye doctor and ordering the uber expensive glasses they had. None of them were super cool, so I only wore them when I really needed to. Well now, I know that there is a HUGE world of glasses out there at like 80% less! And guess what peeps?? They give you your first pair FREE! Seriously doesn't get much better than that! (If you're the type that hears FREE and now is all distracted, here's the link to get your own free pair right away Firmoo Free Glasses)
**Oh, and lots of people asked which style I got, they're #ZS8024 **

I knew I needed to post pics of myself (not my fav thing to do), so I added fun quotes I like to distract you! Is it working? Okay, back to Firmoo… Check out their website and make sure you try out their cool virtual try-on system. You can upload a picture of yourself and try glasses on. It's like paper dolls of the future. I made a quick call to my eye doctor and got my prescription info and just typed it in when ordering. If you don't have vision issues, that's okay- they make clear lenses too! Jess' hubs Kev, calls them his placebos and I LOVE that name! Glasses are definitely an accessory, not just a necessity anymore.
A few day later, I got my glasses in the mail and it was love at first sight (Get it? Sight? Sorry, I can't resist a cheesy joke). They were step one in my mini Monica makeover. Then, I started toying with the idea of bangs… I love the look on other people, but I was a little worried because of my curly, unruly mop. Then, last week I was at the salon getting Kaden a hair cut and noticed this annoying zit on my forehead - suddenly I had my solution…bangs! If you can't beat em, hide em! Kaden gave me the go-ahead and I had one of my favorite hair stylists cut them for me! I couldn't be happier!! (If you're local, Rachel is awesome! Here's their FB page call her if you need a new do!)

I have to tell you, I am amazed that it took me so long to try something a little more daring with my"style"… I think it's a lot more"me" even. And just in case you're wondering, I'll still be ordering all the same foods at restaurants-I'm not that changed!!
Here are all the details you need to get your first pair free from Firmoo… Firmoo Website Firmoo on Facebook (head over and let them know EC2 sent ya!)
Just check out their site, choose a pair you love, and have them in about a week! (There are a few designer pairs that are excluded, but I found tons that I liked that were included)
So are you going to get a free pair? Any other"stuck-in-a-rut" readers out there?
** A huge shout out to our favorite photographer Stacy Salvatori for taking these pictures of me. She is a Bucks County local and does amazing family, portrait, and wedding pics. Check out her site and let her know EC2 sent you!! **I wasn't compensated for writing this post. I got a free pair of glasses from Firmoo (like you can) and was thrilled to review them for you guys. All opinions are 100% mine**

Have you seen the french braid trend that all of the celebrities are sporting lately? I love this look! The braid is such a cute, girly style, but the way these women are wearing it is totally updated and sophisticated.

(My personal fav of the three is Drew Barrymore's version: messy and up off her face. Adorable.)
Anyway, I was a complete tomboy growing up. I loved sports, sports and more sports. I look back at my youth and remember it fondly, but I was soooo not into fashion or style of any kind. I never really cared to learn how to do hair or make it look nice. So, now, when it comes to styling my daughter's hair, I'm kind of at a loss. I end up doing a lot of pony tails and pig tails. Nothing too special. (Luckily I have a daughter who looks cute no matter her hairstyle). Well, here's where our good friend Jane B. comes in to save the day.

Jane never fails to look good. She's always put-together, accessorized, trendy and stylish. She is also awesome at doing hair. (You should see how great her hair looks EVERY TIME we see her). She let us snap a few pictures of her doing the side french braid so we could teach you how to do it! So here goes…
How to do a French Braid Hair Band

Step 1: Make a deep side part in the hair

Step 2: Divide the section of hair you want to braid from the rest of your hair. Tie remainder of hair back so it is out of the way.

Step 3: Gather three small sections from the center and start to do a normal braid.

Step 4: As you bring each piece over, grab another few strands of hair and add it to the existing section. Make sure to pull the hair tight as you braid.

Step 5: Continue grabbing pieces of hair to add to each section as far down the head as you'd like. If you want to leave the braid down along the face, continue braiding the entire length of hair. For adults, you'll want to braid just enough to pin back underneath the hair you tied back originally.

Step 6: If you have thick hair, use a hair tie to hold the braid, and then pin in place. If your hair is thin, just pin it directly. Then let the rest of your hair fall over the braid you pinned back.

Tada! This is the finished product and it looks awesome! Too bad we didn't have anywhere to go after doing this little photo shoot.: )
A big thanks to Jane B. who did a fabulous job, and to Monica, for lending that beautiful head of hair to us for these photos.
Don't forget that this style looks adorable on kiddos too! This is Monica's daughter (and Jane B's dog Bella.)

Give it a try, and if you do, send us a picture!

If I had more time in my life, I would absolutely be spending a majority of it reading blogs. There are so many amazing, talented, creative people out there (including some of you!), and it's so fun to be inspired by their awesomeness. I read loads of different blogs, all of them wonderful, but here are my top 3, must-read-every-day blogs. I rank the importance of reading these blogs up there with brushing my teeth and eating, so you know they've got to be good.
1. Vintage Revivals

Source: vintagerevivals.blogspot.com via BusyBeeEmily on Pinterest
I can honestly say that there are very few people who are as original as Mandi. Her style is tooooootally not my style (much more Monica's), but you can't help but be completely wowed at the stuff she comes up with. My favorite project she did was a living room makeover for her best friend:

Source: vintagerevivals.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest
I mean, seriously, isn't that incredible?
2. Jones Design Company

Source: jonesdesigncompany.com via Jessica on Pinterest
We've mentioned JDC before, but it's worth mentioning again! Emily has impeccable style: classic and clean, and she's a neutrals-lover like me! Not only that but she is genuine and thoughtful in her writing (you just have to read this post), and creates beautiful art prints. Plus, she's my hero because she hand-painted the"wallpaper" in her beautiful office.

Source: jonesdesigncompany.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Oh good, you're drooling too?
3. Enjoying the Small Things

Source: kellehampton.com via Crissy on Pinterest

Kelle takes the most gorgeous pictures of her kids (she must take, literally, millions of pictures!), and her writing is just killer. She has a knack for writing about things we all do in our daily lives in such a beautiful, touching way. Plus, it's so much fun to see what outfits both she and her girls are wearing on any given day, because man, they are quirky (and adorable)!: ) And if you are brave enough, make sure you read about the birth of her daughter, Nella. Have tissues on hand.

Source: kellehampton.com via Jessica on Pinterest

So, if you find a few extra minutes in your day, I promise you, you will not regret reading through these three blogs.
What are your favorite blogs? Any we should know about?



I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend!
I'm a guest blogger over at Pure Style Home today. Lauren's beautiful blog and gorgeous designs are always incredibly inspiring. Thanks to Lauren for inviting me to participate in her guest blogger series!
If you haven't seen Pure Style Home yet, you're in for a very special treat!

Several weeks ago while wandering about the Internet looking at antiques I found an amazing pair of 19th century French cane chairs from Alhambra Antiques here but unfortunately for me they were sold. Love that lady medallion in the center.

19th Century French transition style cane chairs
You know when you find something and it's out of your reach and you can't quite get it out of your head? That's how these chairs were for me. But I think I found just as good of an alternative if not better, at least for me.

French 19th century Louis XVI style cane armchair
I only needed one chair really and this is a single chair. While it has a lot of decorative detail it isn't as 'high' of style and has cleaner lines which is more my taste.

Look at the curve of the arms, the carved detail on top, the fluted spindles''

I love the chipped and missing paint. While the remaining paint says it used to be blue I prefer the look it has now, more of a gray foggy hue. Best part is the cane seat is in perfect condition with just a slight sag but that's typical of something over 100 years old. It only needs minimal gluing to one arm and leg and voile'perfection!

The only thing it needs now is a special pillow, good thing I'm in the business huh?

The evolution of a house and style is an interesting thing. I take great pleasure in changing, rearranging and tweaking the rooms in my house. My style has changed pretty drastically (since I basically started out my married life with no style preference at all), but I'm still developing my tastes and preferences. Things rarely stay the same for long, which is exactly how I like it. My desire is to create a home that is comfortable for my family and welcoming to guests, that is pleasing to the eye, but that is also practical for raising two kids. I'm fairly certain that this will be a life-long quest. However, money and time (or the lack there of) make it a little more difficult to decorate and change things like I'd like. Kevin and I have had a few rough years financially, and so, I am finding that if I want to redecorate, I have to be resourceful and creative, and most importantly, learn how to repurpose items we already have. I've been learning the very difficult lesson of contentment (Melissa, at The Inspired Room, said this about contentment that really resonated with me), and am realizing that I don't have to have the perfect house, just one that my family considers beautiful and can enjoy living in.

With all that said, Monica and I will be showcasing our houses to you; not because they are perfect, far from it actually, but because they are a huge part of who we are. So, welcome to the evolving house.

This is C1's bedroom. Just recently, we changed her over from a toddler bed to a full-sized bed. In one afternoon, it seemed like she grew older right before our eyes just because of the furniture! I love her room- it's girly and sweet, but can also really grow with her. We painted the walls a really pretty shade of green (I'm sorry I don't know the paint color anymore!), and we used all-white furniture. Every piece of furniture (except the headboard) is hand-me-down or was hand-made by my hubs. Her cute butterfly and flower bedding came from HomeGoods and was a gift from my mom. She has a great dormer window, in which Kevin built a toy box/window seat. When we were creating her baby nursery, I envisioned that little space as a great reading spot for her down the road. For now, she uses it to play and look out the window.

This shelf came from my mom's attic (she has a great supply of decor and furniture she's not using and is really generous with it!). I made the monogram, using adorable patterned and hot pink card stock, and put them in frames we already had. I hot-glued ribbon to the tops to make them a little more feminine.This monogram project cost me no money at all, since I used items I already had! The little porcelain shoe to the left of the frames was a gift from her great-grandmother and has all her birth stats painted on it.

This is my favorite feature in her room. Inspired by something I saw in Pottery Barn, Monica and I created a tree stencil for the walls. I then hand-painted the trees (there are two of them- one on either side of the dormer window area), and added leaves and pictures of our families to make it a family tree. One side is the hub's family, and the other side is my family. I wanted C1 to have an understanding of the importance of family, and how blessed she was to have such a Godly inheritance, from an early age.

Isn't this chair the most precious thing you've ever seen? Ahh, I can't get enough of it, and you'd never guess that I got it at Big Lots for $40!

But really, these pictures show what I love most about this room: My two kids living in it.

Have you ever noticed how incredibly expensive planters are? For about $40 I could get one itty bitty planter, that's not even cute. No thanks. I decided I would DIY planters that would work perfectly with my new painted door and rockin' house numbers. I didn't want anything to frilly, or girly. I wanted my style inside my house, reflected on the outside too! This project cost me $20 each, was incredibly simple, and totally fits my style.

Here's What you'll need to DIY your own color block, tiered planters: Plastic planters (mine were from Target) 2 colors of spray paint 1 color of latex paint Dirt, Mulch, Plants, Etc.
I started with these plain Jane planters from Target (find them here). You can't really tell how big they are, but they're pretty big (I can't wrap my arms around the top of the large one- I tried, so that gives you an idea and a weird mental picture. Sorry about that!) They cost $7 for the medium and $13 for the extra large.

The first step was to spray paint the middle color. I used Valspar's grey primer because I love the color.

You don't need to worry about the top or bottom at all. Just get a nice, even coat on the middle. I did two light coats on mine.

I painted the top color block with the same color I recently used on my front door. I'm a bit obsessed with it. I didn't need to tape for a clean line, because the planter had a lip that I was able to use as a guide. Also, make sure you paint down pretty far on the inside. I'm assuming your house guests will be taller than the planters, so they'll get a peek down inside.

The next step, made this DIYer do the dance of joy (remember Perfect Strangers?) because it saved me so much time! I used a paint can opener to pop the bottom of the planters. I'll warn you, it will sound like you're breaking them, but you're not! They'll pop right back on when you're done painting them.

Taking the bottom off, meant no need for tape or cutting in. Just spray paint the bottom whatever color you'd like. This was my little work station (aka messy garage).

Put the pieces all together and you're left with cool, color block planters.

They're nice like that, but I wanted to take it up a notch! I wanted some height, so I stacked them up. I didn't do any permanent attaching or anything, just fill the bottom with dirt, plant your flowers, add the next planter, and repeat.
Again, remember the angle people will see them from when they walk in… mulch is a must. No one wants to see this…

I used white wave petunias on the bottom and a boxwood on top.

Here was my porch a few weeks ago. It was a sad situation… trust me, I know!

Take a look now! I think it's just a tad more welcoming don't you?

For a grand total of $40 and less than an hour, I got two color block, tiered planters that perfectly match my style and house colors. (You can see the door and house numbers Here) Now… if only I can keep the plants alive… What do you think of my DIY Planter Upcycle?

**Since my mom loved my planters, she kind of hinted around to wanting one of her own. Here's what she got for Mother's Day! Black and Red to match her house!

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Did you hear our BIG NEWS?

Click here for our announcement post with all the fun details!! We can't wait for July 7th!!

Every year I like to wander about my home and see what it's lacking or needs in the form of furniture and accessories. Over the holidays I noticed I definitely need more lighting but for a couple of years now I've been coveting a Swedish settee.

image from An Angel at my Table
They look amazing in pairs, love this image with the dark burlap dress forms. But an antique settee, even a reproduction can cost in the thousands. And to be honest a Swedish settee wouldn't really go well with my other furniture in my home but it would in my studio.

Painted French sofa from A. Tyner Antiques
At first I was considering a solid back settee to use in my studio for photography but then I started seriously looking around.

Reproduction settee from French Garden House

circa 1900 Gustavian style settee from Alhambra Antiques

rare, small settee, circa 1850, Cupboards & Roses Swedish Antiques
I love this small settee at only 52" long, they're typically 70" plus in length but you pay for that smaller rare size. Love the faces on the arms.

image from I Vassalletti
This settee has a solid back with open arms

circa 1810 gray painted settee from Judy Frankel Antiques
Then I discovered the gray painted settee's with the burlap seat cushions and fell in love! But I'm a tad worried it might be to matchy with my French chair below.

My French 19th century Louis XVI style cane armchair
The similarity you often see between French and Swedish furniture came from the Swedes traveling to France and soaking up the styles of Louis in 1770 at Versailles.
So what's your opinion, do you think an open back settee is too matchy for my chair? What's your favorite style of Swedish settee?

Well hey there! Want to know something about me? I find something I like and then stick to it. I have only ever ordered one meal at The Olive Garden for about 14 years straight (Chicken con Broccoli and FYI they took it off the menu, so I don't go there anymore! Ha!) I wish jeans, sneaks, and a sweater with an oxford underneath was still as cool now, as it was when I was in high school. So basically, I don't do much in the way of mixing things up (except for in my decor and design, which is weird, but who knows…). This month some of that changed! Hello Bangs and Glasses!

A few things happened to bring about these changes… #1 I spent 8 days in London and Paris surrounded by people that had more style in their pinky finger than I will in my entire lifetime. #2. I was given an opportunity from Firmoo Glasses to try a pair of glasses for free #3. I got a zit on my forehead (I'll explain later)
So, here's what we ended up with… Awesomely geeky glasses that I completely adore (plus, I can see better!) and blunt bangs! I know I'm completely wild and crazy aren't I?

Let me tell you a little about Firmoo and the glasses first, then we'll get onto the bangs. Firmoo is the largest online retailer of glasses (who knew right?!). For years I'd been going to my eye doctor and ordering the uber expensive glasses they had. None of them were super cool, so I only wore them when I really needed to. Well now, I know that there is a HUGE world of glasses out there at like 80% less! And guess what peeps?? They give you your first pair FREE! Seriously doesn't get much better than that! (If you're the type that hears FREE and now is all distracted, here's the link to get your own free pair right away Firmoo Free Glasses)
**Oh, and lots of people asked which style I got, they're #ZS8024 **

I knew I needed to post pics of myself (not my fav thing to do), so I added fun quotes I like to distract you! Is it working? Okay, back to Firmoo… Check out their website and make sure you try out their cool virtual try-on system. You can upload a picture of yourself and try glasses on. It's like paper dolls of the future. I made a quick call to my eye doctor and got my prescription info and just typed it in when ordering. If you don't have vision issues, that's okay- they make clear lenses too! Jess' hubs Kev, calls them his placebos and I LOVE that name! Glasses are definitely an accessory, not just a necessity anymore.
A few day later, I got my glasses in the mail and it was love at first sight (Get it? Sight? Sorry, I can't resist a cheesy joke). They were step one in my mini Monica makeover. Then, I started toying with the idea of bangs… I love the look on other people, but I was a little worried because of my curly, unruly mop. Then, last week I was at the salon getting Kaden a hair cut and noticed this annoying zit on my forehead- suddenly I had my solution…bangs! If you can't beat em, hide em! Kaden gave me the go-ahead and I had one of my favorite hair stylists cut them for me! I couldn't be happier!! (If you're local, Rachel is awesome! Here's their FB page call her if you need a new do!)

I have to tell you, I am amazed that it took me so long to try something a little more daring with my"style"… I think it's a lot more"me" even. And just in case you're wondering, I'll still be ordering all the same foods at restaurants-I'm not that changed!!
Here are all the details you need to get your first pair free from Firmoo… Firmoo Website Firmoo on Facebook (head over and let them know EC2 sent ya!)
Just check out their site, choose a pair you love, and have them in about a week! (There are a few designer pairs that are excluded, but I found tons that I liked that were included)
So are you going to get a free pair? Any other"stuck-in-a-rut" readers out there?
** A huge shout out to our favorite photographer Stacy Salvatori for taking these pictures of me. She is a Bucks County local and does amazing family, portrait, and wedding pics. Check out her site and let her know EC2 sent you!! **I wasn't compensated for writing this post. I got a free pair of glasses from Firmoo (like you can) and was thrilled to review them for you guys. All opinions are 100% mine**

New England Home magazine, Home of Design Duo Lee Bierly & Christopher Drake
Zinc, zinc, zinc, everywhere you look there's zinc! Don't you just love zinc? I know I do. I was just outside putting the finishing touches on a couple of boxwood shrubs that I planted up in my new Restoration Hardware planters. Which by the way are on sale now Here! It got me thinking about how wonderful the color is, that soft gray/blue.

Restoration Hardware zinc footed planters

It has become a design stable blending beautifully with today's neutral interiors.

New England Home magazine, Home of Design Duo Lee Bierly & Christopher Drake See the zinc table behind that stunning burlap and linen chair, love those pillows!
Gray is a true neutral color because of this, gray can be very restful and works with any palette.

This zinc nightstand comes open, one drawer and the bottom open or closed as pictured above from Restoration Hardware Here

French Zinc and Iron Table from Laurin Copen Antiques Here Love the zinc on the table legs! The pillows pick up the zinc color beautifully

Monumental Neoclassical style Zinc Bookcase from Sarlo Here Look at that fabulous cartouche, I'd love to have this in my home!

A Pair of Large Scaled Zinc Urn Lamps from G. Sergeant Antiques Here Now these make a statement!

Did you know Europeans even used zinc for their roofs? It's even being used here in the US for roofs'I did not know this. The zinc will last for 80 — 100years and can withstand harsh weather conditions. Zinc sheets are laid over wood and seamed.

The New Eighteenth Century Style, Zinc oeil-de-boeuf and zinc finial

Antique French Zinc Architectural Roof Finials from John J. Nelson Antiques Here
Zinc is the 23rd most abundant element in the earth's crust. We need zinc in our diets to help boost our immune systems, it also helps to cut a cold short. Best of all zinc's patina will constantly renew itself as it weathers and ages and will 'heal over' scratches and imperfection. So when zinc can be poured and molded to make such wonderful furniture, decorative items and put a roof over our heads, I ask you, what's not to love about zinc?

The New Eighteenth Century Style, zinc horse head above the door