can i DIY?

Thursday 24 September 2015

Often times I'm shopping or looking at art saying, "I could make that". So I don't buy it and add it to my ever-growing list of things to do...one day. This morning, I was scrolling through photos of Oliver & Molly Hatch's home tour. Molly creates beautiful ceramic pieces for retailers like Anthropologie. I stopped in my tracks when this image popped up.



One of Molly's plate installations. She recently had a large commissioned wall "painting" completed for the High Museum of Art in Atlanta (made up of 456 hand-painted plates!).

I'm telling myself I can recreate this, but I know it's a looong shot. And I know the end results won't be the same, but is it worth a try? I love it.

artist spotlight // jake weidmann, master penman

Thursday 10 September 2015



I've always been fascinated with handwriting. I was one of those that passed girly notes in elementary and middle school. I loved writing my friends' names in bubble letters or large cursive at the top and adding cutesy drawings around it. Gosh, I remember keeping binders of notes. They'd be hilarious to read now.



This video of Jake Weidmann popped up somewhere and I'm so glad I clicked play. It's not only about his beautiful artwork and how he mixes his drawings with calligraphy, but the amount of time and energy he's put into his craft. It's his passion and something he hopes to highlight for future generations. Hopefully it helps to make us all appreciate the art of pen to paper a little bit more.


hi, 30

Thursday 10 September 2015

crossing off #2 on the list below - a trip to Nashville with my mom and sister in July. It was incredible!


Back in May I wrote a little 30 before 30, a list of things that would be nice to do before turning 30. The big day came on Sunday, September 6th. I turned 30 years old. It sounds sorta old, but I still feel about 24 most days. And hopefully I still look 24 years old.

Well, I guess I was a bit ambitious back in May. Maybe I'll extend this to my 40th birthday.
  1. Jump out of a hot air balloon.
  2. Go on a girls trip with my mom and sister.
  3. Surf in Virginia Beach. 
  4. Complete an Olympic distance triathlon.
  5. Finally finish reading Atlas Shrugged.
  6. Floss regularly.
  7. Run a half marathon in under 2 hours. I missed that mark by 9 minutes last year!
  8. Be a better plant mom and garden more.
  9. Go fly fishing and spear fishing with my little brother.
  10. Hike (parts of) the Appalachian Trail. 
  11. Volunteer locally.
  12. Take better care of my skin.
  13. Make a habit of consuming less sugar.
  14. Finally take off the ugly wallpaper in the bathrooms.
  15. Be comfortable in my body.
  16. Be more present for friends and family. 
  17. Write more– letters, blog posts, journaling...
  18. Work on being a better communicator for my husband.
  19. Call my siblings and closest friends more often.
  20. Complain less.
  21. Cook more meals at home, preferably with my husband.
  22. Stop biting my nails.
  23. Be a (better) morning person. 
  24. Spend more time with my nieces and nephew.
  25. Save more money.
  26. Be content with saying "no."
  27. Get to my goal weight of 135lbs.
  28. Start those front end development courses I've been wanting to take.
  29. Take Jay to see the trees in the water of the Great Dismal Swamp.
  30. Be able to hold a handstand and do 3 pull-ups. I've always been more of a legs girl.
Let's do this thirties.

the last bits of summer

Wednesday 2 September 2015

Life has been moving fast and a few home projects are in full force. I can't wait to share a little bit of how I turned an upstairs utility room into a cozy, cool jam room. My husband's old drum set is up there, and I feel like the house is instantly more badass when he's playing.

With as quickly as September moved in, I'm sure October and November will be here in another blink of an eye. Here's to soaking up as much as I can of that sweet Summer.



images:  1   /   2   /   3   /   4   /   5  /  6

week's end

Thursday 4 June 2015




We're off to Charlottesville for a friend's wedding, and I'm so excited to spend the weekend with close friends and, of course, my husband. The ceremony and reception are at a vineyard I've yet to visit, so I'm also excited about trying new-to-me Virginia wine.

June is shaping up to be a wonderful month. A winery wedding, a trip home, an old friend coming to visit and plenty of beach days to soak up the sun. Life is gooooood.


image via pinterest

happy second

Tuesday 2 June 2015

Yesterday was our second wedding anniversary and this fall will mark NINE years together. Marriage is beautiful. I love doing life with this man who is truly my best friend. The challenges we face only make us stronger, as a couple and as individuals.

circa 2007


windoors

Monday 1 June 2015

Though I'm perfectly content with my home, the designer in me is always thinking about renovations. I've mentioned a few projects and wallpaper ideas, but right now my focus is downstairs in our living/dining area.

living room – two sets of sliding glass doors on the left that don't open


living room – another view (dining room to the left)


dining room





Our downstairs has seven sets of sliding glass doors, but strangely only three are functional. The other four are braced shut (plus, there are no steps down to the deck anyway). Why the previous owners didn't put in windows is beyond me. To increase the outdoor view, I was thinking about putting in some expanding doors or picture windows in place of the braced sliding glass doors. And adding a few skylights for more natural light.

I've been putting off getting quotes on this project because it's not a necessity. So, when we visited the Pungo Strawberry Festival over Memorial Day weekend and found a local window company with a sales tent setup, I considered that a sign ;)  Here's a little bit of my inspiration for picture and clerestory windows or nanawall-type folding glass doors.

perfect picture window with seamless corner. this is probably our favorite option.



modern, large sliding glass doors. 


nanawall in action with a corner


expansive windows with very little interference – beautiful. but a seamless corner would be even better.



clerestory windows above and huge sliding doors.



I think we're leaning towards an expansive picture windows for both the living and dining rooms. Our big wish is that we can include a seamless corner in the living room. To be realistic, we don't need to open the whole space. I just imagine how cool it would be for a dinner party. Either way, it's exciting to think about. I'll be sure to blog about the project if we pull the trigger.

Inspiration images via Pinterest

30 before 30

Wednesday 27 May 2015



Though I'm well into my 29th year, I was inspired by this post to think about some things I'd like to do before I turn 30. It's one of those birthdays that's easy to joke about and be sad for the end of my twenties, but I'm looking forward to what lies ahead. So, here are few things I'd like to work on/accomplish in the remaining months...

____________________________________________________________________

  1. Jump out of a hot air balloon.
  2. Go on a girls trip with my mom and sister.
  3. Surf in Virginia Beach. 
  4. Complete an Olympic distance triathlon.
  5. Finally finish reading Atlas Shrugged.
  6. Floss regularly.
  7. Run a half marathon in under 2 hours. I missed that mark by 9 minutes last year!
  8. Be a better plant mom and garden more.
  9. Go fly fishing and spear fishing with my little brother.
  10. Hike (parts of) the Appalachian Trail. 
  11. Volunteer locally.
  12. Take better care of my skin.
  13. Make a habit of consuming less sugar.
  14. Finally take off the ugly wallpaper in the bathrooms.
  15. Be comfortable in my body.
  16. Be more present for friends and family. 
  17. Write more– letters, blog posts, journaling...
  18. Work on being a better communicator for my husband.
  19. Call my siblings and closest friends more often.
  20. Complain less.
  21. Cook more meals at home, preferably with my husband.
  22. Stop biting my nails.
  23. Be a (better) morning person. 
  24. Spend more time with my nieces and nephew.
  25. Save more money.
  26. Be content with saying "no."
  27. Get to my goal weight of 135lbs.
  28. Start those front end development courses I've been wanting to take.
  29. Take Jay to see the trees in the water of the Great Dismal Swamp.
  30. Be able to hold a handstand and do 3 pull-ups. I've always been more of a legs girl.

a capsule wardrobe & style muses

Wednesday 29 April 2015

Like most (though I'm reluctant to admit), I'm constantly battling my closet in the morning. Rummaging through so. much. clothing. but not a thing to wear. When I finally choose something it's a similar story to the day before. 



Last week I came across Unfancy. Caroline's capsule wardrobe makes so much sense! I'd heard this term thrown around, but never dug into it for clarification. Since I'm usually grabbing the same pieces, this concept would work really well for me. 

So last weekend I grabbed a couple bags and started pulling clothes off hangers, shoes off shelves and accessories outta boxes. A good ol' closet purge. It always feels good. The nicer items I'll be shipping off to my sister, but the rest of it gets donated. I'd like to add items this this to take their place...



As I search for my 'capsule pieces' I'm looking to a few of my style muses. Anna Bond, Emerson Fry, Hannah Henderson, Sophia Amoruso (I could never pull off much of what she wears, she's just a total badass), and others. I gravitate towards basics, in black or white, and I can always dress something up with the right pair of shoes. 



photos via Pinterest

a little lace number

Friday 10 April 2015

In watercolor...



If I could find the real life version of this lace set I'd buy it. Of course, a watercolor print isn't bad either. A beautiful piece by UK-based illustrator, Abigail Mckenzie.

adventure awaits, let's camp

Friday 10 April 2015



Now that it's finally warm enough to enjoy the great outdoors, we're taking our first camping trip of the year this weekend. I'm pretty excited to use my new NapSack, too. We'll be outside Richmond with a couple great friends exploring a new campsite, new hiking trails and kayaking. Plus, my husband found a bonsai and estate sale in Richmond, so it's like the stars are aligning. Hoping to score some cool stuff to take home.



Happy weekend, friends.

images via my adventures board

i promise

Thursday 9 April 2015




I've always been a fan of typography, especially handwritten type. I love this one by Dan Cassaro, but his whole portfolio is pretty awesome. 


west elm virginia beach // preview + grand opening party

Sunday 22 March 2015

A few weeks ago, I was invited to take a little behind-the-scenes tour of the new West Elm opening up in Town Center in Virginia Beach. A handful of local bloggers met up with Nicole Sutliff, West Elm's Director or Public Relations, before the shop opened to the public. Nicole told us all about the collaborations they do with other artists and makers, how/why they setup the physical layout of the store and the season's new color scheme.

me, Kristen, Nicole, Jonna and Shelby and George (he's behind the camera)

Following our tour, my friend Kristen and I stuck around for the Grand Opening Party hosted by The Scout Guide. It was fun to be a part of this event and to mingle with other local bloggers.


West Elm is now open, and be sure to check out some local makers goods including Twittering Bird, The Perch Shop and Maple & Belmont.


the sunshine state

Wednesday 4 March 2015



We're escaping the cold + snow and flying south to visit my family in Florida for a nice, warm, loooong weekend. GIMME SUNSHINE. We might even get a skydive or two in at my favorite dropzone, Skydive Sebastian. The views of the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway are breathtaking.

Have a great weekend!

photo source


lately (in black + white)

Monday 23 February 2015



With frigid temperatures (I know, I knowРeveryone is complaining about the cold) around Virginia Beach, I've been spending much of my time inside. Week nights and weekends at the house are a nice treat that we often miss during the summer months when we're off camping, traveling or playing in the sky. I'm finding that I can indeed cook, and the results are usually tasty. Plus, it's pretty enjoyable to chop ingredients and saut̩ vegetables with the one you love.



Eating like a queen. For our first Valentine's Day, Jay made Beef Wellington. It's now become a tradition, and 8 years later it's still going strong.


It's a jungle in here. Our outdoor plants and bonsai have been inside for a few weeks due to below-freezing nights. Not pictured: more plants taking over our dining room table and bench. And floor. And kitchen counter.



Linen sheets. One of my favorite things making it extra difficult to get outta bed.


our little bit of winter storm juno

Wednesday 28 January 2015

I'm not a huge fan of winter, but if it's going to be cold it might as well snow. When people in Virginia Beach hear it's going to snow, it's all they talk about, schools close and sometimes we even get a day off work. We woke up to a little "dusting" Monday morning. It's still fascinating, how light and delicate it is— that's the Florida girl in me. I snapped a few photos before work (we didn't get a real snow day) to share with my family back home in the Sunshine State.


pets on the brain

Thursday 22 January 2015

Last night my brother-in-law sent me a link to a 4 year old Rottweiler named Boss who needs a new home – if you're in Tennessee, go check him out! I've grown up with Rottweilers, so I'll always have a soft spot for these guys. And that head tilt they do, probably the cutest thing. Our family had the sweetest male, Tucker, and female, Austyn. I called the shelter to ask about Boss, but I'm not sure we're ready for the big guy juuuust yet. But Rottweilers are probably on the top of my list for a next pet.

So, of course, I've got animals on my mind. Frankie, Jay's childhood cat, was put down just before Christmas after a long battle with cancer. I hate cancer. We were lucky to spend the last couple years with him and give him lots of extra petting and love. Jay grew up with cats and dogs, but mostly cats. I didn't think I was a cat person until I met Frankie. He reminded me of a dog, but less "maintenance." We also fell in love with Nolan's cats (the brother-in-law that send me the link– he's in Vet school, so we'll have a doctor on hand soon).

We still have Godzilla, the Savannah monitor, but I'd like a mammal one of these days. Here are a few animals we're considering for a fun and playful addition to our home when we're ready.



Left to right, top to bottom...

+ Bengal cat. We've been reading a lot about Bengal cats (and other exotic breeds like Ocicats and Scottish Folds) and even found a breeder nearby in Richmond. From what we've read, they make great pets, and their colors and patterns are so beautiful. 

+ Doberman. We've heard that this is a top dog breed amongst Veterinarians because they're not susceptible to many diseases, and plus, I love big dogs. 

+ Vizsla. This is a breed Jay's liked for a long time. They're incredibly intelligent and would be great to bring along for a nice trail run, as they like to be active.

+ French bulldog. What's not to love about these little guys? They're too cute for words and have a very curious and playful personality. 


Images sources: 1    2    3    4    5

that sister bond

Tuesday 20 January 2015

One of my favorite people in the entire world is my little sister. She doubles as my best friend, which is mighty convenient. She's got more of a girly side to my tomboy nature, and she's my younger (and prettier) brunette twin— creating the perfect balance.


M  I  S  S  I  N  G    M  Y    S  I  S  T  E  R



I saw this image on Pinterest and immediately thought of us. This looks like something we'd do...ya know, just swinging off docks. It's a shame we don't live closer (or even in the same state), but that sister bond is something truly special, and I'm so happy to share it with the best.


living the healthy lifestyle

Friday 16 January 2015


This is a long time coming, but I'm finally on a decent workout routine. Blame it on the New Year and those cliché resolutions, but something clicked. Ever since my college soccer days ended, I've been struggling to get back to a consistent fitness schedule. I'd occasionally go for a run, participated in a few indoor soccer leagues and will be the first to join a pick up game of any sport. I also scoffed at traditional gyms. So after spending much of my 20's eating poorly and drinking more than my fair share of adult beverages, it's time for a change. My body will thank me, and I believe it's starting to already.

I was one of those stereotypical female athletes that never spent a lot of time in a gym lifting weights. Strength training was mostly body weight exercises done before, during or after soccer practice. I didn't think about it much because I was constantly active, but I've been reading about the benefits of weight lifting and it's part of my weekly rotation. Surprisingly, I actually enjoy it.

I'm also realistic—setting achievable goals that work with my body. One goal is to do a stable handstand for a minute. Not sure how long this will take, but I know I can do it with practice.




My current routine is weight lifting, cardio with ab work mixed in and hot yoga. But on top of all that, it's my nutrition that needed an intervention. We've been making dinner at home the past couple weeks and it's not only healthful, but also saving us money. Win/win for sure.

If you have any good exercises or certain fitness programs you love, let me know. I gotta keep this going...a lifestyle change for the better.

background image here, fitness images via my healthful board

lovely locks

Tuesday 6 January 2015



Let's get a little superficial and talk about hair. I'm very low-maintenance when it comes to styling. You can find me pressing the snooze button instead of waking up early for a decent blow out with volumizing mousse. That being said, the key is simple. A great cut that allows for air dry days and color that I can manage and maintain without many trips to a salon (because damn, does it get expensive). Though I often dream of pulling off that perfect platinum like Gwen.

Now, is this ombre trend still in? Was it so 2014? I may have missed the boat, but it does allow for natural hair color with some fun, brighter color, too. And then there's going darker. Or maybe mixing a little of both? Or do an auburn hue...I've never ventured into reds.



I've done some darker browns before, but they tend to fade to light brown/dark blond rather quickly. My natural color is more of a dark blonde, which is too in between. Plus, it's always fun to change it up, and I love when people play with my hair.

images via Pinterest

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