A good shopping day

Sometimes I have to pinch myself to believe that I actually get paid to shop. Today was one of those days. I really don't enjoy shopping for myself - especially if it is for clothes or shoes ... but walking around Homegoods to pick up a few things for the upcoming weddings is just more fun than anyone should have while working.

It is not always like that ... sometimes there is not much to be found and it takes more effort. But today I hit the jackpot. 

When I style a wedding, I like to put mock gifts on the gift table to make it look pretty even before the guest arrive.  I also have a little wrapping paper addiction going on. I was able to satisfy both today. At $2.99 a roll you really can't go wrong!

I also found these napkins to use during the cocktail hour for a rustic/vintage wedding next month. $2.99 each for 20 napkins. I wasn't sure which ones I liked better so I got them both.

And they had the most amazing rugs today ... This 9x12' wool rug was on clearance for $249. It killed me to leave it hanging on the rack. 

It takes a lot of self control to not buy all the amazing things I find. Even if I don't need them I am always tempted to get them and put them in my inventory. I am usually pretty good, but today there was one piece I just couldn't resist ... 

It is neutral and just the right size. And very lightweight which is a huge plus when I am styling a wedding. I think it will make a nice seat for a sweetheart table and can work for a rustic wedding and also for one that is more elegant. 

I love the detail on it. 

And I'm going to pick this up tomorrow. I found it on Craigslist. 

Once the upholsterer gets ahold of it, it is going to be a partner for this chair. 

Not a bad shopping day I think and a good start to the week. 

A few great doors colors

I helped a friend last weekend select a paint color for her front door. She lives a couple of hours away and has just finished a beautiful kitchen remodel. They did most of the work on their own, but every once in a while she would call to get some advice. 

[ client photo ]

Selecting paint can be tricky and it is even more tricky when it is going outside - the UV light changes everything. She wanted a blue door and was thinking about using a "Cornflower Blue."  She asked me what I thought about Hamilton Blue (Benjamin Moore). I thought that would be too light and suggested she look at a darker blue - not quite Navy - and a shade darker (at least) than her blue glider. I suggested she look at Van Deusen Blue (HC-156 Benjamin Moore). 

The color came out perfect.

[client photo]

Van Deusen Blue | HC-156 Benjamin Moore

Black Knight | 2136-10 Benjamin Moore

This house was a flip. The existing front door was a brown stain; it was weathered and faded and the client didn't think the door did the house justice. When you are selling, curb appeal is crucial. Black paint was the perfect solution here.

We added some black glazed pots with white flowers to tie it all in.

This charming Spanish house was also a flip ... the door went from faded wood to wow.

Shaker Gray | DE6231 Dunn Edwards

Stratton Blue | HC-142 Benjamin Moore

This door was a surprise for the client's new bride ... we matched her favorite color - the same color that she used for her wedding. She saw the door for the first time when they returned from their honeymoon.

 This is one of my favorite front doors ... I love a Dutch door.

This door was painted many years ago, and the main paint color on this house has been changed - it was originally Benjamin Moore's Sparrow (AF-720) which has more gray in it ... but the door has remained the same.

Sparrow AF-720 | Benjamin Moore

 It is one of my favorite color schemes. Look how great it looks on this house in my neighborhood:

Sparrow AF-720 | Wasabi AF-430 | Benjamin Moore

A few great doors!

Wedding inspiration

I'm styling a few weddings this summer and spent some time yesterday perusing Pinterest for some inspiration. That site does not disappoint! 

all photos via Style Me Pretty

You can see more wedding inspiration on my Pinterest board here.

photos via Pinterest here

Have a great week everyone!

Best Frenemies

We have a dog and a cat. 

The cat belongs to my youngest daughter. He was a birthday gift to her when she turned fourteen (she is now twenty-four!) from a good friend of hers. He was kidnapped from a nursery as a young kitten and even after all these years seems a bit "feral". In fact, some days I would describe him as just plain wild. When we got him we named him Jack. But after my daughter and I went on the road trip last summer and listened to the book on tape, "The Life of Pi", I re-named him Richard Parker. That tiger in the book IS Jack. 

Richard Parker is a beautiful cat. He looks sweet and adorable. But he pounces and scratches. And bites. He loves me so much and just wants to cuddle and be right next to me ... but then for no reason he will attack. I am always fearing he is going to kill attack me. 

Our dog, on the other hand ... this "big, tough, strong Pit Bull", is the sweetest, most lovable dog we have ever had. Milo was rescued from a shelter when he was about 9 months old. He was my oldest daughter's graduation gift from grad school. She had wanted a dog all five years of school and I promised her that if she waited, I would get her a dog when she was all done. When she began to search for a dog, I told her ... "Hey, just in case this dog ends up being 'our' dog, can you please not get a male dog or a Pit Bull?" But that girl had a tender spot in her heart for Pit Bulls and as it turned out, she fell madly in love with Milo ... a male Pit Bull mix. And it also turned out that he was just a little too much dog for her at the time and he did end up being our dog. 

Our previous dog, a Golden Retriever Mix, would chase Richard Parker around the house and Richard Parker feared him. So when Milo came to live with us I was not sure how he would be around the cat. But Milo was the sweetest dog and just wanted to have a brother and a friend. Richard Parker on the other hand ... is not always as nice. Last week Milo was sitting in our courtyard looking outside and Richard Parker joined him. I thought they were going to sit down together and I grabbed my camera to take a photo of them sitting together. It still warms my heart and amazes me, even after all these years, that a dog and a cat can get along. 

But that is not what happened. Richard Parker attacked ...

And sweet Milo retreated.

Richard Parker stole his spot.

And Milo let him. 

It reminded me of some very profound words ...

 “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you. 

 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return."

-Luke 27-36