Summer is in the air..

Finally after a long, cold, snowy, winter summer has finally made it's way back around.  And this chica couldn't be happier about that :)  Summer is my favorite season.  I love my kids being out of school, the warm days by the pool, grilling out, bike rides, and blooming hydrangeas!  This summer is going to be especially exciting because I am designing and furnishing a Homearama house.  Furniture and accessories have been arriving to my house, and it feels like Christmas to me :)  Once the home is complete, I will post about it.  

In the meantime, here are some of my favorite summer must haves...

Sandals and flips are a must for the summer.  I love these madras ones from Anthropologie.  They have such wonderful colors and look super comfy.

Love the intricate design on this pair of wedges, these too can be found at Anthropologie.com

I love wearing wedges, especially with a cute pair of shorts, they make your legs look a mile long!

Speaking of cute shorts, I am lovin' the romper.  This is an especially cute one that is reasonably priced.  I have found some really cute pieces from Lauren Conrad's line at Kohl's.  She has that "Cali chic" look going on.

Another one of my "go-to" places for shorts is J Crew.  They have a great selection of shorts that are the perfect length.  All the patterns are interesting and unique!

Another pair from Anthropologie :)

Summertime also reminds me of gardening, which I enjoy.  Here are some of my favorite flowers.

This is a picture from my peonies, which I am going to miss, since I recently sold my home.

Another favorite of mine is hydrangeas :)

Nothing says summer, like hydrangeas in bloom.  I think I love the blue ones the most, but the pinks are gorgeous too!

I can't wait to plant some new hydrangea trees at the new house.  They are so beautiful in the summer, and they turn just the right color in the fall.

Summer colors

Fall color of hydrangea tree.

Hope you enjoy this kick off weekend to the summer!  Don't forget the sunscreen, and make sure to enjoy these long summer days while they last!

XO~Gretchen

Southern Charm

Southern Charm

I always tell my husband the the "stork" did not drop me far enough south, well our recent trip to the Charleston area made me long to move farther south.  This area of the country is overflowing with beautiful architecture, vegetation, and history.  I believe a picture can tell a story, and I hope that you get a sense of the magic that overflows throughout the city of Charleston.

I love all the porches and the aqua painted ceilings.  All these homes are just so welcoming.  Wouldn't you love to just hang out on one of these porches?

I love this picture, not only because of the beautiful home, but look at the enormous live oak tree with moss growing on it.  You can find moss growing on the trees all throughout the Charleston area.  It really is a majestic site.  If only there was a way to grow it here in Kentucky.

I love all the iron work that is incorporated into the landscape in Charleston.  It really is like timeless art!

This is a beautiful mansion in a small town named Beaufort.  I felt like I was channeling Scarlet O'Hara from "Gone with the Wind", when I saw this beautiful mansion.  When I think of true southern charm, this home comes to mind.  The home sat on several acres and overlooked the river nearby.  If you are planning a trip to Charleston, you should take a drive to the town of Beaufort. This town is very picturesque.

So how great would it be to sit on your front porch and have a beautiful view of the marshes and the river?

If you are looking for a wonderful place to travel for a getaway, then I highly recommend Charleston.  I truly fell in love with the city and all its "Southern Charm."

Happy Spring to everyone, looking forward to seeing the beauty of mother nature in full bloom again!

XO~Gretchen

XOXO for Valentine's Day

XOXO for Valentine's Day

So what are you hoping to get this Valentine's Day?  Here are some lovely ideas of things that I would love to get, and things I plan on giving.  Maybe this will inspire you to share the love this Valentine's Day!

Most of us love receiving flowers from our sweetie, but we don't want the ones that are sitting right up front of the grocery store on Valentine's Day.  You know the ones, that are overpriced and picked over by the time your hubby remembers to pick some up.  I am a sucker for pink roses.  I especially love these arrangements.  Love the pink marble roses, how beautiful are they.  I love that they are placed in the gold and white damask boxes.  What a great and easy idea!  I also love the roses that are arranged in the shape of a heart.  Major bonus points there.  

Maybe flowers aren't the way to your heart.  How about this arrangement of strawberries dipped in white chocolate?  YUMMO!  I actually prefer white chocolate over dark chocolate, not the norm I realize.  You could share this beautiful and yummy arrangement with your special someone, or make this up for your kids!

Now down to business, sugary sweets.  I love making shaped shortbread cookies during each different holiday season.  My kids and I have a tradition of making them and sharing them with family and friends.  I also found this website that makes these tattoo heart shaped cookies.  Super fun.  whippedbakeshop.com

Here are the cookies that I like to make with my kids and here is the recipe.

I usually double the recipe so that we have plenty to share!

Create-A-Shape sugar cookies

1/2 cup shortening

1/4 cup of unsalted butter at room temp

1 cup of sugar

2 eggs at room temperature

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups of flour

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1 teaspoon of salt

In a large bowl combine the shortening, butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla.

Then in separate bowl sift together the dry ingredients.

Then mix all the ingredients together until well mixed.  Chill the ingredients for 1 hour

Watch a short movie together :)  Or work on handmade valentines

Preheat oven to 350*

On a lightly floured surface roll out dough to about 1/4 thickness.  If you want to make the cookies on a stick they need to be about 1/2 thick.  Cut dough in your desired shape, and place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 mins or until a light golden brown.  These cookies are so good, you are going to want to eat them before you ice them.

Cookie Icing

2 cups of confectioners/powder sugar

3 tablespoons of water

2 tablespoons of light corn syrup

In a bowl mix all three ingredients, if it appears to thick add a drop of water until icing thins out.  

You can mix food coloring to the icing to add to the design.

The icing will harden up after about 6-8 hours.

Hope you will try making these cookies, they are really yummy and so much better then the store bought sugar cookies!

It's all about making the memories, I always say!

Here are the cookies on a stick that I love to make.

Nice gift for the teachers.

Next are some fun ideas for handmade valentines...

I think this Martha Stewart idea would be great to send to grandparents who live out of town!

Collect and pass out vintage valentines.  You can find these at antique stores or flea markets, just make a copy of your original and pass them out to loved ones.  I love reading all the messages that are on the back of vintage cards.  You can always find one signed, Love Susie, or Love Mary Sue.  Wonder what the next generation will think about our valentine cards?

One of my favorite places to shop online for digi art is twopeasinabucket.com  They have a wonderful selection of digi art which you purchase and download to your computer.  The options are truly endless. Here are a few of my favorites that they have available.  Plus they are 25% off.  This is a fun and inexpensive way to create your own person valentine cards!

Here are some cute tags you can make using your digi art download.

I love this last one.  I ordered it and I am going to create my own valentines, and let my kids use it to create their own.  

Here is one of the valentines that I came up with using the Love Actually kit and a picture of two of my boys!  It was really easy to create!

So I hope this Valentine's Day you receive something that you love, and that you share your love with others.  Send me pics of your handmade valentine's, I would love to see them!

XO~Gretchen

Coral Coated

I am always going to hold the color Aqua near and dear to my heart, however, I am loving the color coral these days.  Maybe because it is one of those colors that is bright and cheery, and reminds me of Spring, which seems so far away at the moment.  Coral can add a punch of life to your home or your wardrobe.  Here are a few of my favorite ways to use coral.

How fun to add some coral pillows to your bed.  It adds that unexpected splash of color.

Also think about using coral in a bathroom, to give an updated look to it.  You can use wallpaper, paint the walls a beautiful shade of coral, or just simply add some fun accessories.

Love the coral colors with the white cabinets, it really looks clean and crisp.  

Now time to accessorize with some coral in your wardrobe:)  This color helps your cheeks look pink, and gives you a beautiful glow!

Love this dress with a wide belt and a cardigan.  I think it would look great with some cute flats.

This dress can be found at modcloth.com

Another great find from modcloth is this coral sweater.  It has a pretty lace detail on the back, super sweet.

Love the flattering cut on this dress.  I also think it would look great with a belt and a big cuff bracelet.

modcloth.com

And if this cold winter weather has got you yearning for spring, then check out some of the new items that Natalie and I have been working on at Lulubelles.com  We did some antiquing over the holidays, and are currently working on some new spring one of a kind pieces.

So Happy New Year to everyone, may it be your best year yet!  Hope you decide to give coral a try, whether it be in your nest or your wardrobe.  It may just turn into your new favorite color :).

Here are a couple color suggestions from Sherwin Williams

XO~Gretchen