Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Bad Behavior and Gallery Walls

A few weeks ago, I finally got myself in a state of mind to spend a significant time at the craft store, Michael's. I love craft stores, but the framing department at Michael's isn't always a pleasant as say, looking at Martha Stewart glitter and holiday fluff. I had a interesting experience at Michael's so read on if you wish. If not, the photos are below...

 I was armed with 9 prints and frames from West Elm that needed to be custom matted and a half caf Starbucks coffee. It was 105 degrees outside and I was determined to finally check this off my list. As I approached the framing center at Michael's with my 60% coupon, there were only a few people in line. After about 15 minutes of patiently waiting, a line of 10 or so more customers had formed behind me. As I approached the desk with my 9 items to be framed, a large woman with a cut-off Nascar t-shirt loudly asked if I wouldn't mind letting someone with not "30 friggin thangs" go first. I politely said "no" and continued my business. I was on a mission. 
There were a few people working at the framing center, and as they continued to help customers and check them out, racing lady continued to comment about "how dumb and incompetent" the people that worked there were, it had taken "over two friggin weeks to get my sh*t done." (My face is growing red with embarrassment for the sweet workers.)  I told my little lady that was helping me not to worry about her and that she was doing a great job. My coffee was starting to kick in and my patience at this point was surprising me minute by minute! 
As I finished my selections in 10 minutes flat, I paid and turned around. The racing lady grimaced as I walked by. I stopped and for some reason, I looked her right in the eyes and  told her "You should be ashamed of yourself!"  Looking back, she could have split me in half so I'm not sure where that courage came from, but the moral of the story is, be patient with the people at Michael's framing department. My 9 frames were done in record time!

So, back to the main point of this post. We have collected prints from one of my favorite websites 20x200 for the past year or so. When I order the prints, I typically order the West Elm gallery frames as well. I like that they are clean and simple and fairly inexpensive. I'm not huge on having personal photos displayed in my house, but these are two of our favorite wedding photos that our wedding photographers gifted to us after so many of our friends used them for their weddings. This blank wall in our kitchen is now filled with photos and art work that we love! 

We first arranged the art work how we thought it would look best on the wall on our kitchen floor, rearranging it a few times until we got it just right. 

When hanging pictures, these little guys are the best because you don't have to find a stud in the wall and they are a lot easier to install than using a nail and hammer. Just push them into the drywall and they can support up to 50 lbs!

Grayson is an expert hanger, so he was the chief on this project. (He would tell you that I was the chief, telling him what to do, but he is really better at this than I am!)

We first started with the center photos

Adding them one by one

And this is the final product! I have really enjoyed having this in our kitchen. I love that it's not 100% symmetrical and they are photos and prints that we have collected over the years. I hope to add more to this wall soon!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Little Girls

For the first 6 months of my pregnancy, I was determined that I was having a boy. Nothing inside of me ever thought I would have a girl. First, I am the only girl and the youngest in my entire family, cousins and all. Secondly, Grayson came from a family of all boys, so the odds were already against us for a girl if you look at it like that. If you look at it from a 50/50 point of view, of course, we could have a girl. It took me a few weeks to get used to the fact that a little girl was coming in November. 

What is making this more real, other than my expanding belly and the evolving nursery, is that fall clothes are coming out and they are so fab right now for little girls. From Crew Cuts, to Zara Baby, to Gap Baby, all of the new clothes are so adorable!
 Who knew that they make faux fur vest for new borns!?  


Prim and Proper in Color Blocking from J.Crew


 Leopard print, one of the season's hottest trends, in accessories from J.Crew

Lots of layers from Zara Kids

A tiny caplet from Zara Baby

A faux fur fest from Zara Baby
 Velvet and military inspired details from Baby Gap

I think I'll talk one of each for Tilley Gray!

Friday, August 26, 2011

Hurricane Irene, Surfing, and Weddings

This weekend isn't turning out as I expected. Our Saturday wedding moved because of Hurricane Irene to yesterday, but the team pulled it off and the bride and her guests are safe and sound and on their way back home. Thank goodness! 

While most people are out scrambling to buy batteries, water, and bread, Grayson and I spent yesterday evening at the beach. Gray and his brother Baxter surfed while I took his picture. Brilliant, right?





I haven't technically been through a hurricane at the beach, and while the husband was born and bred here, I'm starting to freak out a little.  I've been doing a little retail therapy this morning to calm my nerves. Not for me, of course, for Tilley Gray!

I saw these on Etsy and knew she needed them as soon as she came out of the womb.

I'm off to Target to stock up on the essentials, whatever those might be, and then back home to bake and cook for the rest of the day to ensure that we are well fed through the weekend. I hope you all have a safe weekend!

Monday, August 22, 2011

J.Crew's new blog

Hi Guys! How was your weekend? I was on Bald Head Island for a wedding that we have been working on for about a year! The weather was H.O.T. but the rain held off and the wedding was beautiful. I came home on the 7:30am boat Sunday morning to surprise my husband (we never have lazy mornings together) before my dad and step-mom came to visit. We had a great, but exhausting Sunday. I'm ducking out early this Monday to catch up on some much needed rest and laundry!
PS: The husband painted my new home office (i.e. the laundry room) pink this weekend! Isn't he the best? Photos to come!

In the meantime, check out J.Crew's new behind the scene blog. It is full of eye candy!


Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Nursery Inspiration Part 2: Drapes

Tilley Gray's room is coming together, but what is a little girl's nursery without fabulous drapes? Yes, yes, I'm on a budget. Isn't everyone? The good news is, I came to terms that I'm not getting the $130 per yard fabric I posted about here. I found this sweet fabric from Lewis and Sheron Textiles and really love it. I have to buy 19 yards to accommodate my 11 foot ceilings, so this fits the bill both style wise and price wise!




Here are a few of my favorite photos (via Pinterest) that I love. Isn't amazing how drapes can transform a room?






Thursday, August 11, 2011

Society Social Is Live



I don't want to even tease you (OK, maybe a little), so go and check it out yourself here. You won't be disappointed!




 You can even see a little feature by yours truly on page 72!


Wednesday, August 10, 2011

It's hot here... really, really hot. Walking outside feels like walking into a sauna. I'm tempted to go to Target and buy and baby pool just to sit in but I think the water would start boiling by the time it was filled up. 

The only solution is to either stay inside in the AC or to seek retreat in the pool or ocean. 
Grayson and I went to the beach last night around 6:30pm and it was heavenly. The water was gorgeous and there was a nice breeze off the ocean, just what we needed after a long steamy day. 


These images from Coco & Kelley are stunning. Don't you want to jump right in?



Happy Wednesday!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Society Social Sneak Peak!

My talented friend, Roxy, from My Cup of Te, has offered us a sneak peak of her new home and fashion collection via the darling blog, Things that Sparkle. She has created a furniture and fashion line that makes me swoon. I don't know of one girl that hasn't had this dream, but Roxy put in the long hours and dedication to make it reality. Bravo Roxy! Like it on facebook, sign up for the newsletter, follow her on twitter, or just send her an email telling her how much you love it! It will just make her day!







Monday, August 8, 2011

This sweet baby that is rapidly growing in me officially has a name!

 It's a double name, so don't go lazy on me and just call her Tilley, it's the whole thing, Tilley Gray. Tilley is my maiden name and Gray is part of the husband's first name. We kept going round and round with first names and then one day, right before we found out the baby was a girl, Grayson came home and said that he loved my maiden name and thought that would be perfect if we had a little girl.

You see, one of my best friend's in college was also a Lindsey, so we were both called by our last names. I was known as Tilley to a lot of my girlfriends in college and it just stuck until I graduated. At the time that I met Grayson, that's what all my girlfriends called me, and he thought it was really endearing. I was dead set on this little baby's middle name being Gray, so Tilley Gray it is!

The name bunting was made by one of my new favorite Etsy shops and she coordinated the fabric on the name bunting to the fabric that we are using for the drapes and bumper. It came in the mail last week, and I couldn't be more thrilled!



Weekend Look Book

I'm going to be honest, this weekend slap wore me out. Do you say that expression? I don't say it too often, but after this weekend, that's how I felt, slap wore out. Thank goodness I was fueled up from my anniversary dinner Thursday night, because I think that if I hadn't had that delicious French food, I may not have made it until 2am Sunday morning when I finally left the wedding property. 

Would you look at this goodness? A tomato tart with goat cheese and french fries with truffle salt! That was just the appetizer! Caprice has seriously good food. 

This weekends wedding was beautiful, and because it was the sister of one of my good friends, I felt extra pressure to make sure everything went smoothly. We had a lot of bumps in the road getting there, (i.e. it POURED rain all day and this entire wedding was outside under tents), but I was so proud at the end of the night and the bride and groom hosted a great party! 
 
I didn't make it home until 2:30am on Sunday morning after the wedding so I had to catch up on sleep for most of the day on Sunday. It's not easy being 6 months pregnant and working a 17 hour day in 100 degree weather, so Grayson made me a big palett on the couch and loaded me up with snacks and movies. When I woke up, he had started painting the IKEA chandelier that we bought last week and I love how it turned out!

Lots of goodies came in for the nursery last week, including a name bunting I had made by this precious shop on Etsy. I can't wait to share photos of the nursery and tell you all what we have decided to our name our little nugget!

The husband has surprised me with a day at the spa, so I'm off to get pampered a little before the week gets too crazy! I hope you all have a fabulous Monday!








Thursday, August 4, 2011

Best 4 Years of My Life



Happy Anniversary to my sweet, darling husband, Grayson. You have been the most patient, kind, thoughtful husband these past four years. You have made so many of my dreams a realization and have given me the most precious gift of all, a sweet baby come November. 
I love, love, love you!
xoxo

Tuesday, August 2, 2011


Excuse my absence as I prepare for a hectic wedding weekend!