Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! I can't believe it's December already! Where did November go? I'm not complaining though, this is my favorite time of year. It gets cold outside and cozy inside with hot chocolate and Christmas movies. What's not to love?

It's time for another Friday Favorites and I'm excited to share you with some of my favorite things. Enjoy!

1. I am loving buffalo check. I think I am drawn to it because it's so Christmassy. It's rustic but simple, it's perfect for this time of year. I have it on a pillow and I also have it on the rim of a wooden "Merry Christmas" sign. I love adding touches of this pattern around the house. 

2. I got The Magnolia Story for my birthday the other day. I haven't started it yet but I know I am going to love it! I read the back and the inside sleeve and I can't wait to dive into it. Chip and Joanna Gaines are such great role models. They are all about family and the small things in life and I love that. I can't wait to read about there journey and how they got to where they are today. 

3. Lastly, I feel the need to talk about Rae Dunn. I know I have mentioned this in past Favorites, but I think it deserves another discussion. I have become obsessed. I'm not ashamed to say I am a Rae Dunn hoarder! There are so many cute things out there, more than just mugs! I love the creamer I found at Home Goods and my "yummy" dish I found at TJMaxx. Of course I can't forget about the mugs! I love all the Christmas mugs and they are perfect to display on a hot chocolate bar. Hunting them down is half the fun. They can be hard to find so when you do find something you buy it! It's fun collecting them and switching them out for each season. I love that they are so simple and timeless. They will never go out of style. 

I hope you enjoyed reading about some of my favorite things. I would love to hear some of the things you are loving lately or if you too are a Rae Dunn addict :) Leave me a comment below :) 

Thanks for reading! 

Christmas Decor Under $20

It's that time again! It's time to start decorating for Christmas! I love this time of year and bringing Christmas into our home. We just got our tree last night. We decided to get a real one this year and we are so happy we did! It smells amazing! I have started putting up other Christmas decorations and I am having so much fun with it. We are in the middle of redoing our kitchen, so our house is a little chaotic right now. I have most of the decorations up but as soon as the kitchen is done I am putting the finishing touches on it all. 

We got a lot of new decor this year because we didn't have a lot from our apartment. I loved picking out new things and coming up with a design. Christmas decor can be pricey, especially if you get almost all new things like we did, so I decided to come up with a guide of festive but affordable Christmas decor. 

These items are perfect for a white and gold Christmas theme. The first three are from Hobby Lobby. The glass tree is $7.00, the wood framed sign is $12.00 , and the "Merry Christmas" is $14.00.

These next three are from Target. The star banner is $10.39, the white tree is $12.00, and the pillow is$15.99. I love all of these items and they really tie together for a beautiful white and gold themed Christmas. 

These next items would be perfect for a rustic Christmas theme. I love this "Merry Christmas" sign and it is only $10.00 from Target. This first plaid pillow is also from Target and is $15.99 and the other two plaid pillows are from Kohls for $17.99 each. The banner is from Pier One for $19.96. 

I love both of these Christmas decor themes. It's fun to switch it up and do a different theme each year. Be on the lookout for sales too. I know Hobby Lobby has all Christmas decor 50% off right now. 

I hope you got some inspiration for your Christmas decorating. It doesn't have to break the bank to get the holiday look you want and there are so many options out there. If you would like help deciding how to tie your look together check out my e-design services. I have a sale going on right now on storyboards. 

Thanks for reading! 

Thanksgiving Essentials

I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving! It snowed here in Ohio for the first time Saturday and I'm so excited! I love this time of year. It's getting colder and cozier and I know I am in the minority when I say I love snow, but I do! This time of year is so fun with the holidays and spending time with family. What's not to love?

With Thanksgiving a few days away, I want to share some of my tips for hosting a beautiful holiday gathering.

I love a simple white plate set. It goes with everything and can be used for any occasion. With your plate as a blank canvas, you can add festivity through other parts of the table setting. I also love this other plate with an autumn leaf design. The colors are perfect for fall and Thanksgiving, but it is still simple. Either of these plates would look beautiful at the dinner table. 

I love table runners and how they add a layer of texture to the table. I prefer runners over tablecloths because you can see that layer of the runner over the table. This adds interest and design. The runner you choose depends on which plates you have. If you have solid colored plates, like the white one I have above, then you can go with a runner that has more of a pattern. If your plates already have a pattern to them, I would go with a solid colored runner. You don't want too many patterns going on and fighting with each other. The middle runner goes with the patterned plate above. In this case having them both be patterned would work. They go together and are both very simple. 

I love adding little details and you can get really creative with them. For a dinner party you can add placecards for where people will be sitting. I love the idea of using leaves and writing people's names on them. You can place one at each place set if you want to have the seating pre planned. For a more casual dinner, an alternative to placecards would be to have something similar to this second picture. A place for people to write what they're thankful for is perfect for a Thanksgiving dinner. It's personalized but more laid back than having pre planned seating. The details are where I have the most fun. 

Finally, the centerpiece. This is where you can really get creative. You can use flowers or pumpkins or even candles. The possibilities are endless. My one tip would be not to make the centerpiece too big. If it's too big people won't be able to see across the table. I love the use of fresh fruit, like the oranges in the first picture. Adding in some greenery is a nice way to bring some of the outdoors inside. Both pictures also are using candlesticks at different heights which I love. Pumpkins are great to use for this time of year, and don't think you have to only use orange pumpkins. White ones are beautiful too. You could get even more creative and paint them gold or silver for a more elegant feel. Play around with this part. It's a lot of fun to come up with different combinations and designs. 

I hope these tips helped you gain some Thanksgiving inspiration!

It's a lot fun playing with the design of your table and making it look festive, but don't forget to enjoy sharing the holiday with friends and family. That's what this time of year is all about! 

Thanks for reading and have a Happy Thanksgiving! 

Farmhouse Floor Tile

As we are thinking about redoing our downstairs half bath, I have bathroom tile on the brain. I have looked at thousands of different styles, colors, and designs and I thought I share some of my picks for farmhouse floor tile. By now, it is no surprise that I love farmhouse style, modern farmhouse to be exact. So here are some of my favorite farmhouse floor tiles. 

Each of these tiles are simple and pretty neutral in color. The hexagon tile is timeless and will never go out of style. In classic white, it is definitely one of my favorites. The marble tiles are a popular trend right now. These can get pricey, however, and if you get real marble there is some maintenance you will have to do. They are beautiful though. I love the first and last tiles I have on here. They scream modern farmhouse. 

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my favorite farmhouse floor tile picks, and maybe even got some inspiration for your own home. 

Also, don't forget about the sale I have going on right now on storyboards. It's a great time to start decorating for Christmas. The holidays can be stressful and I would love to help you check one more thing off your list by helping you decorate your home for the holidays. :) Head over to my e-design page to see my storyboard options!

Thanks for reading! 

How to Achieve the Fixer Upper Look

Fixer Upper is such a popular show right now. Everyone wants the Joanna Gaines style. Well good news! You can have it! There are a few things that are iconic to Fixer Upper homes and here's how you can get the look in your own home.  

1. Neutrals

Joanna Gaines is famous for her iconic decor style. She sticks to neutrals for a classic look. Black, white, grey, these are all some of her favorite colors to incorporate in her homes. Sticking to a neutral color palette makes it easy to add accessories and pops of color here and there. 

Notice in this picture the walls are a simple grey and the furniture is a neutral cream. This is a great timeless look. 

2. Mixed Media

You will find in a lot of the Gaines' projects they use a mix of wood and metal. This combination ties into the farmhouse style they are so famous for. 

In the first picture she has used a wooden table and added metal chairs. They compliment each other so nicely. The wood brings in warmth and the chairs add a more informal look to the room. In the second picture you can see the open kitchen shelves are wooden with metal piping. I love this look. It's industrial with a farmhouse feel as well. 

3. Shiplap

Ah, the famous shiplap. I think everyone who watches Fixer Upper (so everyone) has an obsession with shiplap thanks to Joanna. It's such a classic accent to add to a space and adds great texture to any room. 

There are so many different ways to incorporate shiplap in your home. In the first picture it is used as an accent only half way up the wall like a chair rail or wainscoting. It lightens up the space with the dark wall color and adds some fun texture. The second picture is the Magnolia House Bed and Breakfast. Here it is used on all the walls and even the ceiling too. It is such an iconic farmhouse look, it works great in the B&B. 

4. Statement Lights

You will find in every fixer upper house a statement light fixture. It may be over the dinning room table or it may be in the kitchen. Joanna does such a great job incorporating fun light fixtures that anchor any room.

5. Subway tile

Subway tile is a classic look that never goes out of style. That may be why Joanna loves it so much and rarely strays from it. 

She uses it in bathrooms like the picture on the left, and even in her own home which is pictured on the right. Subway tile is so simple and classic.

6. The old with the new

Joanna loves to shop at antique shops and buy at auctions. She love to incorporate older pieces in the homes they do. Adding older pieces adds character to any space. 

Here you see an old church pew up against the wall. It is such a unique piece and adds a lot of character to the room. A lot of the houses they renovate are older anyways, so adding older pieces is a way to stay true to the house's original charm. 

7. It's all about the details

You will notice in every home they renovate, Joanna pay close attention to the details. Accessorising the rooms and adding personal touches is something she does so well. She loves using greenery to add texture and warmth and using architectural pieces on walls as art. 

Each of these rooms have florals and greenery as well as unique architectural pieces. These are great ways to add character to any room. 

I hope these tips helped you find ways to incorporate Joanna Gaines's famous style in your home. 

If you love the Fixer Upper style but want some help achieving it, check out my storyboard options on my e-design page. I would love to help you design your very own Fixer Upper. 

Thanks for reading!