Wednesday, July 31, 2013

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?
image from here
* Wash-and-go hair. How luxurious!

* An Etsy gift card. What would you spend it on?

* If loving these boots is wrong, I don't wanna be right.

* I've wanted professional laser hair removal for years. Maybe this would be an acceptable option?

* A happy birthday to everyone's favorite wizard Harry Potter and wizard world creator JK Rowling! "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

What's your wish?

Monday, July 29, 2013

Friday, July 26, 2013

weekend project round-up

If you’re like me, the weekends seem to be the only time you have to actually get stuff done. After looking at my calendar for the next few months, there are not many completely free weekends left (like only 3!) until the end of the year.

So, this weekend, I’m going to try to tackle recovering an ottoman I got at Goodwill this week. I think I’ll go by this tutorial, but I may be biting off more than I can chew. We’ll see!

And in the spirit of getting ‘er done, here’s a weekend project round-up for you...

This dry erase board would be great for home or office. Perfect for busy kids!

Breathe some new life into some old shoes with these DIY neon toe shoes. I have some that would be PERFECT for this.

I think I’m going to try to do a gallery wall like this one for my living room. I have green walls, so maybe the art in fuschia?

This headboard tutorial seems right up my alley. Easy, quick, cheap. I’d add nailhead trim!

A Lucite tray like this would be perch perfectly atop my newly recovered ottoman. The bottom is scrapbook paper, so it’s completely customizeable!

I hope this gave you a little shot in the arm to get something going this weekend. If you like these projects, you can see more like them on my Definitely DIY Pinterest board!

Have a lovely weekend, darlings.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

wish list wednesday

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

Pavilion Play Tent
* Wouldn't this make a fun gift for the royal baby?

* How about this for a gender reveal? Use the "What will our Honey Bee?" theme, and put pink or blue candy inside!

* You know how much I love stacked accessories, and this ring set makes my heart skip a tiny beat.

* I don't think I can live another day without this pillow.

* Some courage! I'm considering starting a new venture, and I'm a tad skeered!

What's your wish?

Monday, July 22, 2013

guest post - Mary-Kathryn of an unlined page

And another guest post! This time from my dear friend, Mary-Kathryn. She and I have been blogging buddies for years (how did that happen?). We met through work and became instant friends! The things we have in common never cease to amaze me! Sadly, this post was supposed to be Friday's entry, but I couldn't get my life together in time to get it up.

Do yourself a favor and visit her shop and her personal blog, especially if you like pictures of adorable teeny beautiful babies.

Hello Darlings! I'm so thrilled that Mary Straton asked me to do a guest post while she's on vacation! I give Mary Straton full credit for convincing me to blog ( way back in 2008, I think) and take full credit for getting her to embrace her beautiful curly hair!

When I was mulling over what to post about, I decided to revisit and update a post I did on my blog a really long time ago. If you are a magazine junky like me and ever read Elle Decor you may have seen their  "Short List" department that is in each month's magazine where they ask designers, celebrities and other folks for their list of 12 things they can't live without!

I love reading what products or things people swear by, so I thought I'd share a few of my favorites with you!

So, here are a few of my staples...


1. Curved Bobby Pins - these are a vital part of my daily life! If you know me you'll know I leave a trail of them wherever I go. Thankfully after a short stint of being discontinued, these have popped back up on store shelves!

2. My planner -  Currently I'm using a Moleskine Planner, and might argue they are the best! However, I've been loyal to many different planners over the years, and although I like technology, I still am reliant on a written planner! It's where I keep my life organized and it keeps me sane!

3. A Good Pen - I'm particularly partial to the pilot v ball.  I hate nothing more than writing with a bad pen. See above, I write a lot!

4. A Big Purse -- These days it's more often the diaper bag I'm toting, but I gotta have a big bag. I usually end up with everything but the kitchen sink in there by the end of the week!

5. Nail Polish - I lean toward OPI, and love a good dark red ( Quarter of a Cent-cherry is a fave!) but I almost always have my nails painted. It makes me feel pulled together and a little bit fancy even if I'm in yoga pants and a t-shirt!

6. Carbonated Water - I've kicked the Diet Coke habit, and the credit goes to carbonated water! I used to be hooked on a Lemon La Croix Water but these days the new 10 oz slim cans of Perrier are my go-to!

7. Baths- Not so much for cleanliness, as for mental health! It's my go to place for relaxing, solving the world's problems, worrying, praying, a good cry or just winding down before bed! In my someday house, I'll have a big claw foot tub or even better yet, an outside tub!

8. Hair Products - Curly hair is often mistakenly classified as "wash and go," but I beg to differ. Whether I'm straightening the curls away or just giving them a little assistance, products and in my case, a good curling iron are key! I use a combination of Bumble and Bumble and Oribe products right now.

9. Good Bedding- My husband jokes that I should own a mattress store because I love to sleep so much! With a 5 week old baby I'm feeling especially nostalgic for sleep. I love a bed with lots of blankets, and lots and lots of fluffy pillows!

10. A notebook... with unlined pages! You never know when the moment will strike for inspiration, list making, note taking and having a good notebook handy is a must and I prefer mine without any lines!

So, what about you? What things can you not live without?  We'd love to hear!

p.s. Just a disclaimer, I know that all of these are just "things" and certainly have no real value in life, and I could certainly live without all these things!


Wednesday, July 17, 2013

wish list wednesday - guest post!

And another guest post! This one is from my dear friend, Haley, who describes herself as my "high-maintenance friend who thinks highly of herself and has expensive taste." But to me, she's the friend who helped me get rid of my drugstore makeup, always has incredible clothes to borrow AND has expensive (but impeccable) taste. Please visit her blog and check out Malouf Furniture online and on Facebook

What's Haley wishing for this Wednesday?

f062481678a4360d80321e0abb22a61e.jpg * I want to be even more "famous" than I already am so I can ROCK this on a red carpet.

* How great would this look in a dining area?   I die for Wallpaper especially Osborne and Little. Especially the color coral.

THIS cocktail table. It's the only thing i've truly been GREEN with envy over since I saw it in Worlds Away's showroom in High Point, N.C.

* It's always 5'oclock somewhere...

* A sister for Lulu and Lollie...

What's your wish?

Monday, July 15, 2013

guest post - Laurel of The Lovely Bee

Hello, darlings!

Since I'm on vacay, I've asked some of my friends to fill in for me on OYD. First up is Laurel with The Lovely Bee. Do please check out her blog and her clever Etsy shop. It's darling, just like her.

Don't you love honeybees? Remember the article I wrote on them for Portico Jackson?

Hello, Olive You Darling readers!! I’m so honored that my friend Mary Straton asked me to guest post for her today! Fun fact: I’ve admired her blog for longer than I’ve known her! Life’s funny like that, ain’t it?!
So my topic today is something I’ve been a little too obsessed with for a little too long: The color yellow in the home.
Color Crush: Yellow // The Lovely Bee for Olive You Darling
Yellow is one of my favorite colors, for sure. It’s so bright, happy, and just works beautifully with so many other colors! The first yellow accent I added to the home my husband (who so sweetly lets me decorate however I wish!) and I share out in Madison was a mustard yellow lamp purchased the weekend my darling twin brother and his incredible wife got married! (So not only is this lamp awesome, but it's got a little story behind it!)
That lamp inspired a yellow band on the lead edges of the drapery adorning the window next to the table on which that yellow lamp lives. From there, adding yellow accents has become like getting plastic surgery (or so I hear…) One you start, you gotta keep doing a little here and a little there. It becomes an addiction!
Here. Take a look at how absolutely divine and inviting rooms with yellow incorporated can be:
I love moroccan style, so this bedroom really speaks to me!
Color Crush: Yellow // The Lovely Bee for Olive You Darling
I wouldn't hate some yellow accent doors somewhere in my house one day!
Color Crush: Yellow // The Lovely Bee for Olive You Darling
This kitchen!! The pops of yellow make it oh-so-happy!
Color Crush: Yellow // The Lovely Bee for Olive You Darling
Yes, yellow is my addiction.
The items I’m currently wishing, hoping, and dreaming to add to my yellow collection are as follows…
(1) How disgustingly gorgeous is this Hillary Thomas Rock n' Rolla howlite stone finial?! A friend of mine sent me the link to this (and others like it) and I now can't get them out of my mind!
Color Crush: Yellow // The Lovely Bee for Olive You Darling
(2) This little fridge from West Elm WILL be mine one day! They say it's lime green on their site, but I say it's chartreuse... Which translates to yellow! :)
Color Crush: Yellow // The Lovely Bee for Olive You Darling
(3) I have a large crush on this over-dyed yellow rug and think it would look completely fantastic in a number of rooms in my house...
Color Crush: Yellow // The Lovely Bee for Olive You Darling
(4) Lastly (for now anyway), this painting from View Gallery in Ridgeland, MS is OUT OF CONTROL gorgeous. This artist (Sophia) has incredbile style, and I particularly love the work she does that revolves around my favorite hue, like this one! (You can see more of her fab work here!)
Color Crush: Yellow // The Lovely Bee for Olive You Darling
So now you know all about my biggest color crush. I want to hear about yours! What is your favorite way to incorporate color into your home? And what color is it that you find to be as inspiring as I find yellow to be?!
Thanks again to Mary Straton for the opportunity to share with all of you! For more about me, head on over to my blog, { THE HIVE } and connect with me from there! I'd love to hear from you!
X peace! X

Friday, July 12, 2013

how refreshing!

I must have sangria on the brain!

This recipe recently caught my eye...

Mock Sangria

1 (12 ounce) can frozen white grape juice
1 (12 ounce) can frozen apple juice
1 (12 ounce) can frozen limeade
64 ounces cranberry juice, chilled
1 (2 liter) regular or diet lemon-lime soda, chilled
16 ounce bag frozen sliced peaches
12 ounce bag frozen blackberries
Orange
Lime

Mix frozen juices with cranberry juice in large container until dissolved. Add lemon-lime soda and frozen fruit. Slice orange and lime. Add half of orange to sangria. Garnish serving glass with remaining orange slices and lime. Makes approximately 1-1/2 gallons.

Well, now doesn't that taste like summer?

Have a delicious weekend, darlings.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

wish list wednesday - beach trip edition!

What am I wishing for this Wednesday?

* Kell would be totally embarrassed if I had this beach towel, but I wouldn't care. Expecto Patronum.

* Do you think this thing works?

* Wouldn't this shirt be pretty for a family picture in the sand?

* I think I would be able to convince myself to choke down some of this sparkling grapefruit sangria by the pool.

* Safe travels! I cannot wait to see Eleanor's tiny toes in the sand.

What's your wish?

Monday, July 1, 2013

anglo love


I love all things British - always have. My mom raised us on Princess Diana, and I was crushing on Prince William before it was cool. Wimbledon (and Roger Federer and Tommy Haas AT Wimbledon) makes me swoon. Going to Liberty and Harrods were bucket list accomplishments for me. What's more British than the Royal Ascot Race?

I die for these fascinators. Claire even said I could wear one to her wedding.