Weekend Recap + Favorite Pins

We balanced out last weekend's productivity with zero-productivity this weekend.  Here's a brief recap:

. . . I was in bed by by 7:30 Friday.  After a long day at work, all I wanted to do was curl up and have some quiet time to myself.  It was quite peaceful, and I managed to stay awake for the first half of Shark Tank.

. . . T and I headed down to Inman Park Saturday morning.  We indulged in some spirits and watched the parade.

. . . Following the parade, we headed to 300 Atlanta to celebrate Gianna's 30th with some bowling and beers.  After one laid back round, we decided to do a three-team challenge.  While we all acted like it didn't matter, our true competitiveness uncovered as the match got underway.  It was a fight that included lots of trash talking, but luckily the birthday girl's team won overall.  The crew took the party to Double Zero and posted up at a long hightop for several hours.  This was our first time dining here, and it was delicious, not to mention fabulous company.  Definitely a do-again!

. . . The skies opened up and rain poured for the majority of Sunday.  We posted up on the couch watching several movies, which was just what our bodies needed after the previous day's shenanigans.  I did an unnecessary amount of blogging and pinning.  Below are four of my favorite finds.

That velvet couch, the brick flooring & light fixture...take me there.

Love the soothing tones 

The gorgeous white farmhouse sink with gold fixtures next to the mint green cabinets...yum.

FYI: No, I'm not preggers, but I am obsessed with this nursery.  Everything from the DIY curtains to the pops of pink and gorgeous canvas...yes, please!  Check out Dave & Carrie's nursery design over at Young House Love.

Monday is here again.  Only eighteen more days with the kiddos.  I think I can, I think I can...

I hope y'all have a wonderful start to your week!  

Made With Love

Last Christmas I had asked for bedside tables for our guest bedroom.  We had spent hours upon hours painting in that room (more to come on that project soon) and were totally deserving of new beauties to sandwich the queen-sized bed.  Unfortunately, we still had one chest of drawers that was an extreme eyesore and irritating me beyond belief.

See what I mean?  Ugh.

T didn't think anything was wrong with it.  "It was serving its purpose," according to him.  Yeah, yeah, yeah....men.  However, since bedside tables were (basically) the only thing I wanted for Christmas, he was open to looking at some.  After showing him several bedside tables that were stealing my heart away, he proposed the idea of making them himself.  How could I argue with that?  Not only new bedside tables, but ones that would be made with love and to dimensions that would best fit the space.  After much research, T decided to follow Ana White's Mini Farmhouse Bedside Table plans.  (Sidenote: If y'all are looking to build furniture or anything of the sorts, you should check out her website.  She is uh-mazing!)

Making Progress

Finally Symmetrical.  Happy, happy.

Left-Side

Right-Side

I'm so happy with how these babies turned out.  Now guests can have their own bedside table to put their phones, water cups, etc.  I'm a very symmetrical person, so this hits the guest-bedroom-spot.  I'm so proud of tyler-of-all-trades and honored to call him my sweet hubby!

Happy Friday, y'all!  The weekend is here again!

Lusting Over Outdoor Spaces

I've recently found myself trying to find any excuse to be outside.  (Well, except for last Saturday's indoor cleaning extravaganza.)  The weather has been beautiful, and I want to take it all in while I can...before the dreaded Atlanta summer humidity makes its debut.  Since I've been on this outdoor kick, I've been majorly lusting over some gorgeous outdoor spaces.  I've also roped T into watching way too many episodes of Yard Crashers.  While we maintain Sylvan's backside and give an adequate amount of TLC, we'd love to fancy her up down the road.  We've looked into screening in our deck and installing a patio below it, but that's a "backyard makeover savings fund" project.  So for now, I'll continue to lust over these spaces that have been done perfectly.

Ah, what I would do for his space.  The exposed wooden beams, stone fireplace, beautiful chandelier, farmhouse table...
I could go on and on.  Hands down, perfect ten.

I envision myself nestled up in the left chair, reading the latest magazines, and indulging in a glass of Pinot Noir.
This outdoor space could totally be utilized year-round.  Love.

That pergola.  Oh, yes.

Obsessed with the neutrals, boxwood, and drapery

Those chairs...this fairy tale setting

While I'd be too nervous to put this fancy furniture outside (and too lazy to bring it in every time we were done outside),
this sophisticated space has been done just right.

 So, what have you been lusting over as Spring continues to set in?

A Wall Down Memory Lane

A little over a year ago, we were preparing to host a wedding shower for the Costners (happy anny!) at our abode.  I was very unsettled with this space, which you see as soon as you step into Sylvan.  I wanted to give this large wall a little lovin' and personalize it with some special memories.  Instead of spending an unnecessary amount on all-new frames, I decided to work with what I had laying around.  Remember the Jones' ballin' on a budget motto?  Oh, yeahhh...Indeed, the frames would contrast greatly, but I thought this brought an extra-special spice to this blah-ness.  

 I gathered the frames and laid them out to try a few several designs.

As you may notice in the picture below, I ended up buying two large frames to frame two of my favorite wedding pictures.  One is rectangular, and the other is oval.  I traced all of the frames on cheap wrapping paper, made a mark where the nail would go, and then used Scotch tape to put them on the wall.  While it doesn't sound like this process would take much time, it did!  Granted, it doesn't help that I'm a terrible decision maker, so it took forever to get this gallery wall just how I wanted it.

Once I was finally satisfied, I began nailing the holes.  The wrapping paper easily tore off from the wall since the Scotch tape wasn't strongly adhered to the wall.  And, here she is!  I'm very happy with the way it turned out, and I frequently find myself reminiscing on each precious photo when I go upstairs.  

I'm thoroughly happy with the view when you walk into Sylvan.  Eventually, I'd like to add wall sconces to give a little light.  Adding it to the "Liz need/Tyler want" list as we speak.  

If you've been toying with the idea of creating a gallery wall in your abode, I highly recommend it.  It's definitely worth the time to be able to take a wall, er walk down memory lane.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

 

I want to dedicate today's post to my hero, my daddy.  Many don't know this, but mom got admitted back into the hospital shortly after I was born.  Daddy and I had some strong bonding from the get-go, and that bond has never wavered.  He is the man who has believed in and encouraged me from the moment I came into this wild world.  Whether it was from a sport I was interested in to pulling the "college switch" (begging to go ten and a half hours away from home), he stood behind me and let me live my dreams.  He is the most hard-working, compassionate person I know and would do absolutely anything for anyone.  As T says, Daddy is the ultimate stand-up guy.  I truly hope he can take some time today to reflect back on his many accomplishments thus far and indulge in his birthday.  He deserves to celebrate more than anyone I know.  Drink that glass up and celebrate, Yee!  I love you!

Weekend Happenings

You know you're old when...

• You make the "adult" decision to stay home and spring-clean instead of enjoy the beautiful weather and excitement at the 420 or Dogwood Festivals.
• You're asleep by ten o'clock...both nights.
• You talk about Dateline episodes at a Friday night cookout.

Well dern, I guess T and I have hit that point in our lives.  We began our Saturday by making a "need to-do list" as well as a "want to-do list".  I basically think they're one in the same, but whatever.

We worked on crossing items off the need list for the majority of the day.  T was responsible for the yardwork, and I was a busy-bee inside.  While we missed the fun with friends, it was a great feeling to get some much needed items taken care of.  We got to spend the evening with my parents celebrating Daddy's birthday with an insanely delicious meal at Bone's.  Hellooo crab & avacodo salad, scallops, and mile high birthday cake!  You could have rolled our crew on outta there, but it was all totally worth the cals.  

Look at that handsome man, hero-daddy!

I woke up to breakfast in bed on Sunday morning.  Can you say best husband ever?  I enjoyed the rest of the day outdoors enjoying the delightful weather and playing two tennis matches.  I'd say that's a pretty good day and definitely makes up for Saturday's secluded indoor cleaning extravaganza.  T worked on his dining room project (which I gave y'all a sneak peek at here) for the better part of the day--bless his heart.  I'm hoping to share it with y'all in the next week or so....  DIY/home improvement projects always tend to take way longer than expected, don't they?

It's hard to believe the weekend is over and we're underway with the last full week of April.  Where, oh where does time go?  

Window Box Wishing

Flowers are blooming, pollen is out like crazy (ugh), and the temperatures are getting warmer.   Minus the ridiculous amount of pollen, this is my favorite time of year in Atlanta.  We've had the heat off for quite some time--layering up with clothes and blankets when it was still cold--but now we can open up the windows and enjoy some fresh air.  T put the screens in the windows yesterday evening, and we slept to the cool breeze.  I must say, it was glorious.  As I was serving as T's wingman, helping to pop those screens into place, I started thinking about my ideas for the "naked" windows.  Remember when I mentioned a project for 'em here?  Well, I want to dress them with window planter boxes.  I've been lusting over several (see below the Sylvan look-alike), but this pretty little white one seems to be the winner at this point.  It contrasts well with the light blue siding, black shutters, and brick veneer, lightening it all up!  Oh, my, my!  I've found some similar ones at Lowe's, none of which are under $100.  Since we'll need four large ones, this isn't in the budget.  So I suppose I'll keep on wishin' and stay on the hunt for one that won't break the bank.

Happy Weekend, y'all!