Day Trip to Nashville

Last weekend mom and I hit the road and took a quick day trip Nashville.  The first stop on our trip was Southern Honey Workshop.  While this is a small shop it is packed with wonderful furniture and decor!  Totally worth the drive!  We came away with a few things for ourselves!

How cute is this bed spring strung with lights!

I have buyers remorse not getting this table :(

Next stop was The Factory at Franklin .  This is literally and old factory that has been turned into a retail space.  We hit up a few great stores.  Once of which was Relek.  Here I fell in love with this beautiful apothecary cabinet.  Alas the price was $$$ so I could not pull the trigger...maybe Rich can make me one!

The City Farmhouse is also in the Factory so we for sure had to stop in and do a little window shopping!  Their inventory is truly amazing!  I mean where do they find this stuff?!?

Last but not least we stopped at The Faded Farmhouse in Columbus for their grand opening.  The store was packed with shoppers!  While I was expecting to see more furniture and vintage finds the shop is stocked with new decor and gifts.  Still very cute and well displayed!

Weekend Happenings

We had a gorgeous weekend in the Tennessee!  Temperatures in the 60's and blue skies...spring fever is really setting in!  

My parents invited us to enjoy hot dogs and smores around the fire on Saturday night.  We could not refuse!

Me and my little sister who is not so little anymore!  She will be graduating high school in May...tears!

Rich was really excited about dinner!  Hot dogs with all the fixins.

I made open face smores.  Did you know they make flat marshmallows now?  I actually prefer them over the traditional round ones.

For Christmas Rich and I bough my parents some lights for their back yard.  We installed them while we were there and they look so good.  I just love lights in trees!  These are from Costco and are a much better quality then the lights we have had from Target in the past.  They also come with 12 extra bulbs which is a huge plus!

I would say the first bonfire of 2016 was a success!   

Splurge vs Steal

It is no secret that I love to shop!  Here are a few splurge vs. steals I thought I would share.

Gingham has always been one of my favorite fabrics.  I remember digging through my grandmas fabric drawers and pulling out all the colored gingham and just looking at it  and then reorganizing it.  I guess I should have learned to sew...but organization has always been more my style.

I love this gray duvet cover from Ballard Designs.

Gwyneth Buffalo Check 

It is a splurge at $109 for a Full/Queen

Ikea carries a very very similar version.

Emmie Ruta Duvet 

A steal at the sale price of $29.99 for a Full/Queen

Emmie Ruta Duvet on sale now for 29.99 for a Full/Queen

Ikea

If Rich and I ever move back to a "house" where I will have the need for a dining room I would love to purchase some upholstered chairs.

These beauties are from  Restoration Hardware.

Bennett Parsons chair

These are a splurge at the starting price of $379.  The cost goes up depending on the fabric you choose.

This chair is from World Market and I actually prefer if over the one from Restoration Hardware.

Linen Tufted Zoey Chair

It is a steal at $249

Everyone is doing pendent lighting over their islands these days.  This is a cute option from Pottery Barn.

A splurge at $199 each!

A more budget friendly option would be this guy from Overstock.

Maisie Light

A steal at $79 each

Dish towels are a fun way to brighten up your kitchen and decorate for the seasons.

This is fun summery towel from Anthropology .

Fallen Quills

A big splurge for just a towel at $22.

Target carries this similar version.

Towel Feathers

A steal at $3.50 you can afford to by one for the sink and one for the oven!

There are so many home decor stores, discount stores such as HomeGoods, and online retailers you can always find the "look" for less!  Be patient, take time to enjoy the process of decorating, and of course the thrill of the hunt!

Thoughts for Thursday

Rich and I do not have cable so everything we watch is either on Amazon, Hulu, or Netflix.  

We are currently watching Mozart in the Jungle and it is so good!

I have used St. Ives Apricot Scrub for years but the last time I was in Target I picked up their Green Tea Scrub and really like it.  It exfoliates without being to harsh on your skin.  I have seen a reduction in blackheads and redness and it leaves my skin feeling so soft.

I am obsessed with the Realtor.com app.  I am constantly looking at all types of houses in our area.

 Maybe I should look into getting my real estate license... 

Finally it is almost Friday so lets HUSTLE to the weekend!!!

Ski Trip - Snowshoe West Virginia

Rich and I recently went to Snowshoe,West Virginia to ski.  Before we hit the road we stopped for breakfast at Waffle House.  This was the first time I have eaten Waffle House in like 10 years....it was so good!

Is it crazy that my favorite part of the trip was the car ride through the country?  Who knew West Virginia had so much farm land.  

We passed so many little country churches...Rich was ready to get there so I had to take quick pics from the car as we zoomed by.

Our next fixer upper! 

Sweet red barn!  

It took us about 7 hours to get there but again it was a pleasant drive.

We joined my brother and sister-n-law and our little nephew Will at the condo we rented.  HGTV was running back to back episodes of Fixer Upper!

We awoke to fresh powder and single digit temperatures!

Rich bundled up and ready to go!  I had some trouble with my ski boots and only skied down the mountain twice.  I could have gotten them fixed but was so cold....I opted to stay indoors...I don't think I will ever move where snow like this is the norm!  I wold not survive!

This is the Village at Snowshoe which has several restaurants, Starbucks, and a few gift/ski shops. 

 The only other place I have ever skied is Sugar Mountain, North Carolina.  I have to say I much prefer Snowshoe over Sugar!  The atmosphere and skiing are much better at Snowshoe.  Even if you do not ski there are plenty of non-skiing activities to occupy your time.

I spent a lot of time people watching and reading by the fire at the Starbucks.

On our last day the snow stopped, the skies cleared, and we had some furry visitors at our back door. 

Beautiful sunset view from the condo.  

Hopefully next year I will have better luck with my skiing ;)  

Either way we will be back!  

Maybe I can talk Rich into taking a trailer and I can go rummaging in some of the barns along the way, ha!

Weekend Happenings

Last week we celebrated my mom's birthday a few days early at St. John's.  

Dinner was delish!

Happy Birthday Mom! xoxox

We came back to our house for some homemade bread pudding that Rich made.  

All the kidos and Mom

I put up a few Valentine decorations.

My chalkboard pantry door is literally one of my favorite things in the condo!  

I am always changing it up for different holidays!

Rich picked up these flowers at Costco.  They are miniature carnations and almost look like wild roses.  I love them and normally dislike carnations in there normal size but miniature anything is always cute!

I ate way to many peanut M & M's....

Sunday we had lunch at my parents house.  My mom decorated with these sweet vintage Valentine's!

Hope you all had a great Valentine's!

Holiday Recap

Happy New Year!

Rich and I had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!  

We were fortunate enough to be able to take time off work to relax, spend time with family and friends, and relax some more.

  Poor Christopher has been in a neck brace since 12/5.  The story of why he is wearing it is a long one, but basically boils down to a freak accident and a series of really unfortunate events.   Hopefully he will get it off next week!

All the grands with their grandparents on Christmas Eve.

  Everyone had fun putting together this puzzle of the Chattanooga skyline.  I failed to take a picture of it completed but it turned out really cute.  Great gift for Christmas Eve when everyone is hanging out visiting.

Christmas Day Breakfast table

Sticky buns...a must!

My favorite gift was the record player that Rich gave me.  

Don't be alarmed by the Michael Jackson record...I have been a fan since 6th grade! Ha

On New Year's Eve Rich and I rode up to Point Park on Lookout Mountain.

If you have never been to Point Park you must go.  We arrived around 10 when it opened and were finished walking the park by the time it started to get busy.  We then headed down to the "valley" for lunch.  This is a great little jaunt to take when you don't really have any plans.

The views

For New Year's Eve we went to half a party at The Chattanoogan...it was our first and last time...The most fun we had was outside the building on our walk home...

Photo tip: say CAT when posing for a picture and you will always look like you are having a great time...Rich is not doing it right.

On New Year's Day my mom cooked a wonderful lunch!  

Traditional New Year's lunch equals lots of money and luck for the the new year! We did not win the Powerball....