Beachy Shrimp Pasta {Barefoot Contessa's Shrimp Scampi}

Let me just remind you that I am not a chef or anything resembling a chef. I am just a girl that likes yummy food and trying new things in the kitchen. 

One of those new things was fresh parsley. I know I know such an everyday herb, but truth is I have never cooked with fresh parsley before.

Until this recipe fell into my inbox...

oh la la

{currently loving}

|ONE| {eyeko skinny liquid eyeliner} Credit to birchbox for introducing me to this long-wear, easy-to-apply felt tip eyeliner. I use it everyday, it stays put and creates a perfectly straight and even line. Plus its easy to add on layers in the evening for more drama. 

|TWO| {dr. lipp nipple balm for lips} Despite the fear-factor it's name induces.. this lip balm is worth a try. It coats your lips with a thick, non-greasy and smooth layer of conditioning and protection. Thanks birchbox, this is perfect for chilly temperatures and windy weather. 

|THREE| {loreal voluminous false fiber lashes in black lacquer} The quest for the blackest of black lashes ends here. Similar to the rest of the Voluminous collection, this mascara brings fullness and length, but unlike its other family members this tube paints your lashes in a super glossy super black coat.

|FOUR|{moroccan oil} This product single-handedly saved my over-colored, under-protected strands. I haven't gone a day without using it for over two years and my hair is stronger, healthier and shinier than ever. Bless you Moroccan Oil. 

|FIVE| {benefit creaseless cream eye shadows} The perfect collection of coordinating colors that layer perfectly and brighten eyes with the swipe of your finger. No eye shadow is easier to apply, easier to layer or easier to love. Each iridescent color opens your eyes and stays put throughout the day, even in the hot southern summers. 

oh, hello

Well guys, Monday has found us once again. 

Over the weekend we managed to crank out a couple of projects...stacks labeled 'what should we with this?' are slowly shrinking and we are starting to see the floor of our front room {small happy dance}. My little brother and his girlfriend came over Friday night and we wrangled them in to painting our back room- can't wait to post pictures, it looks good {thanks jazz!}. 

Better late than never...Josh and I started to watch Downton Abbey! Late late Saturday night {after jalapeno margs, delish} we started with Season 1, Episode 1 and as of last night we are in to Season 2. I. am. completely. obsessed. Do you think it'd be okay if I stayed home from work this week to keep watching? Yeah, probably not. Do you watch Downton? {No spoilers please!} 

cheers to a good week for all :)

oh yeah the sea urchin starbursts have a new home over our bed now, you like? 

{diy} Sea Urchin Starburst

There is something about little gold sea urchin accents that I just adore. So dainty yet statement making. Plus they are in gold and I just can't get enough of that. 

Inspired by the sea urchin trend and the sunburst mirrors, I merged the two ideas and got a little crafty. 

Sea Urchin Sunburst Wall Art

I made three different sizes to be grouped together as wall art, I love how they stand out on our dark grey walls. 

Check out the 'How-To' after the jump

design + dine at americasmart

Our first Design + Dine event at AmericasMart was both a success and an overload of inspiration. We partnered with the Georgia Chapter of ASID and provided a 6 showroom tour of our Open Daily campus {note- there are hundreds of showrooms open daily} led by the talented and delightful Kerry Howard. 

jdouglas was our first stop of the morning, it provided a wonderful wake-up  by offering bright accent pieces, high gloss laquired furnishings and super shiny metals. Most of the walls were coated in a gorgeous deep navy or covered in grey graphic printed paper which made each product pop. I am especially fond of their mirror, pillow and lighting collections. But then again I can't get enough of their furniture either...I guess I just love everything! Can I live in their showroom? 

{jdouglas, americasmart building 1, floor 13}

Black and White & Striped All Over

In anticipation of our move, I did more pinning than normal {is that possible} and dug into all of my design books {a.k.a. life before pinterest} for inspirational images. It later occured to me that many of my 'pinned' images featured strong black and white stripe themes, now my selective perception has set in and it's literally all I see! 

The abundance of glass tops and mirrors in this room help it to feel clean and light albeit the obsessive use of bold stripes. 

{Jordan Guide Design} 

It was this image that inspired the color of our walls in our main living room. 

{Style at Home}

Make This: Garlic Rosemary Buttered Popcorn

Step 1 is to admit you have a problem. 

I am a popcorn addict. 

Ever since learning this method from The Kitchn I literally can't. stop. popping. popcorn.

DIY Captain's Mirror How-To {restoration hardware inspired}

DIY Captain's Mirror How-To

{restoration hardware inspired}

Our front room is a major work in progress, we have beautiful blank white walls and hardly any furniture for the room. We really aren't sure how we are going to use the room yet {any ideas?!}...but we are excited to literally start from nothing to give this room life and a personality that can develop and change. 

For now one of the walls is home to our former entry way table. It was sad sitting there all alone, so we framed it up with an amazing captains mirror that we made ourselves! 

{how-to after the break}

Valentine's Day with my Husband

Josh and I had a lovely first {as a married couple} valentines day together. The intrigue of cooking a lobster hit us and we were inspired to stay home and create a decadent meal on our own. Since it was our first valentines day since getting married, I wanted to add some little touches to really make the day special. 

It's the little things

{place settings}

our wedding

I am so overcome with happiness and delight as I create this post. Our October 5, 2012 wedding was the most beautiful and joyful day that I have ever experienced. On this valentine's day it is ever so fitting to share with you some of my favorite photographs from that day that was so full of love. 

Newlyweds Breakfast Nook

The boxes are {mostly} unpacked and we have moved full speed ahead towards setting up our home. I feel like we have six hundred projects going on, and even more ideas spinning around inside my head. 

Yesterday I posted this little peak into our first finished project. {!}

{Our Breakfast Nook}

The kitchen in our new house has a small eat-in nook. The space is probably large enough for a small table and four chairs, but Josh and I wanted to embrace our newlywed status and create a little spot for just the two of us to enjoy. 

Naturally...it was a DIY

Scott's Scouting

Living in Atlanta makes visiting the Scott's Antique Market super easy. Scott's is open the second weekend of each month and features two giant buildings {and outdoor tents!} filled to the brim with new, unique and vintage home furnishings and decor. It's a true treasure hunt. 

While Josh and I only went home with one {crazy cool} find, we did see plenty of items that sparked our interest.... 

You could see this pair of chairs a mile away. The green could actually work with a lot of room styles. I was personally fond of the large nail head trim. 

This booth was on-point for the industrial look. Crazy for that coffee table! 

fog lifter

it's a foggy drizzly day in atlanta. 

the power weather has over a mood is simply too much. enter {home decor} sunshine- 

why not? why. not. 

what a fantastic message!

{tray via i suwannee}

read all about it

You see an empty spot in a room, a little space sans style, what is your go-to decorating solution? 

Consider a stack. A book stack. 

I am a book hoarder {that doubles as a Kindle lover}. Design, fashion, suspense novels, cookbooks and beach reads alike...I love to read them and I really love to decorate with them. So when form meets function a lovely book takes the design cake for me. 

A stack of books compliments color

{design sponge}

or brings the color. 

{Miss Design}

Hallin' It

The Hall's are hallin' it to a house this weekend! ;)

We loved our apartment but were ready for a change of scenery. Plus Mr M {and Josh} will enjoy the green space and none of us will miss taking 3 flights of stairs to our front door. 

{DIY} Twine Bottle Topper

This little jug {the same one from here & here} sits next to our television in our living room. It collects dust wine corks {when we remember...} and fills an empty spot on our side table for some balance and symmetry. 

For months and months whenever I lounged on the sofa I would remember that I should 'finish' the jug with some twine. Twine that I own. To be adhered by hot glue. Hot glue that I own. The only thing missing was the energy to just do it already. 

I used some thin twine leftover from wedding crafts. A thicker twine would look great though! 

Mag Club: {Lonny Jan/Feb 2013}

{Lonny Jan/Feb 2013}

Isn't an evening spent with a glass of wine, a cozy blanket and the latest Lonny just dreamy?

There is something so sweet and innocent about a day bed

What little lady wouldn't adore letting her imagination run wild in this beautiful room 

Our Favorite Pasta: Sweet & Spicy Sausage Pasta

Do you have a go-to recipe? One that you know by heart and always keep the ingredients on hand? 

I have two go-to recipes. Both of them were taught to me by my mom :) 

 {Recipe: Sweet & Spicy Sausage Pasta}

Ingredients:

-1 box shaped pasta of your choice

-2 cans of diced tomatoes

-Red pepper flakes, to taste

-2 garlic cloves

-1 pound sweet ground Italian sausage

-3+ tablespoons of AP flour

-1 cup heavy cream {or milk}

-wine, for the chef

design & decorate: spoonflower

{I may be late to the party...} but I just discovered Spoonflower and I am blown away at what a genius idea this is! Regular ole people just like you and me {or fancy pants designers and artists...that I want to be} can create custom fabrics and wallpapers that feature their designs. You can literally bring your doodles to life...your color, your pattern size, your print...as a pillow, a pair of curtains, a wall decal or wallpaper. Wonderful! 

And for those that prefer to just purchase...{hand raised} choose from tons of patterns already created by artists {and doodlers alike}. 

Check out my friend's friend's Spoonflower shop- Ann Tuck

I loooove this flower & bee print! Abstract, sweet, simple and happy

{India Ink Bees. Fabric}

{DIY} Mercury Glass Bottle Lamp

{DIY} Mercury Glass Bottle Lamp

Remember this little guy from my first DIY Bottle Lamp post?

Back when I made the bottle lamps, I made 2 versions. Two of the lamps had holes drilled into the bottom for the cord to feed through {pictured above}. The other lamp did not have a hole- the cord fed straight out of the light bulb holder. 

In order for the light bulb holder contraption {technical term} to stay on the bottle I had to line the bottle with some super glue. No big deal. For the bottles with the hole....

A couple of days later I noticed that the bottle without the hole did not turn out so well. The super glue created a smoky film on the inside of the bottle. Unfortunately the film was streaky and strange looking so I decided to cover it up with a layer of mercury glass spray paint. 

I had heard that mercury glass spray paint was a bit difficult to work with, so Mom and I tested an old salsa jar first. We were pleased!

The trick to mercury glass is a spray bottle of water and vinegar!