Small Home Adjustments

We've lived in our home for three years now, and just this year, I've finally made some small improvements... but what a large difference it seems to make! 

In the dining room, we finally changed out our nasty brown blinds and got plantation shutters installed. 

Before

After

And addded a bar cart...

In the den area, it looked so brown and had all of Michael's bachelor furniture still in there.  So, in order to lighten it up, I ordered some chairs through Sevier & White Interiors (highly recommend them!).  I think they look wonderful - I just have to keep Winston off of them so they stay that way. 



Also, we constantly struggle with having enough seats in the room - especially when people come over to watch football games.  So, I ordered two custom ottoman stools from Ballard Designs.  Even though they took 8 weeks to get here, I loved being able to pick out my own fabric and send it to Ballard.  Here's the end result:

And they're actually storage cubes too!  What a great place to throw blankets, Winston's toys, magazines, etc. when I want to get them out of the way!

Lastly, my new couch arrived about two weeks ago - I haven't taken pictures yet, so those will be on my next post.  This room finally feels like it's coming together.

Birthday Month - one month belated

I'm not as quick on the uptake as I like to think I am.  Oops...  Finally, here are some pictures from the month of August, aka Birthday Month.

Michael's 33rd Birthday
 

 Presents

Carrot Cake from Sweet N Sassy - even I thought it was delish and I don't really like carrot cake

Michael opening his gifts - I got him the Bose Docking Station for his iPod (or iPhone, whatever) and he loves it!  it is pretty awesome if I do say so myself.  We've really enjoyed sitting on our back deck, listening to music, sipping some vino.

Winston trying to get to the birthday cake - I couldn't resist taking his picture even though he's not supposed to be up on the chairs (perhaps I shouldn't give him attention when he's doing something he's not supposed to do?)

My 30th Birthday - yuck

I still do not like the fact that I'm 30.  I'm fighting it tooth and nail.  I know everyone says your 30's are supposed to be great - I'm just not on that bandwagon yet.  Hence, the reason I've waited so long to post the pictures. 

 

 My team decorated my office at work

My team also gave me a birthday tiara - appropriate, yes?

Birthday Party 

Michael had the party catered by Pranza, the little italian cafe in his building

 

E cookies for party favors

 

Lindsey, me, Megan, Caroline, Kim and Lindsey

Erin and me - not the best pic but I wanted to give her a shout out

Michael, me, Sarah and Price

Michael and me

Chillin' at the end of the evening with a glass of bubbly (we finally popped the bottle of Veuve Cliquot Michael received when he made partner)

Like the new chairs?  I have more pics of my new furniture - separate post since this one is already getting long.

Michael's present to me.  It's HUGE - this does not do it justice.  Michael's friend Herb Williams is a curator for one of the local galleries.  He painted this.  I fell in love with the guitars last summer - it's just so Nashville.

Last subject... Towbin was in town at the beginning of August, so we postponed our regularly schedule first Tuesday of the month dinner to the following Saturday.  We headed out to Crow's Nest.  Not nearly as exciting as the girls get-togethers we once had, but fun none the less.



Michael, me, Lindsey, Annie, Megan, Kate, Towbin and Jonathon

(poor Michael - not one of his best photos)

We took this picture right before Caroline got there.  Tobwin complained because she said no one was hugging her, so we took this picture...

Then we took one more when Caroline and Kyle arrived

That's all for now.  :)

Love this post!

I'll be back later this week to post all the pictures from mine and Michael's birthday celebrations this month.  In the meantime, I had to point out a great post from Haven and Home today.  Love, love, love these pictures and definitely something I'm putting in my idea book.  Enjoy!

Chihuly and Indigo Girls

As you know life changes on the fly, so while I posted here about our plans for this past weekend, plans were altered a bit. Usually, my Type A personality likes to actually do the things I say I’m going to do, however our weekend turned out to be tons of fun.

Listening to Lightening 100 on my way into work last week, I discovered that Cheekwood was doing a concert series this summer, and the Indigo Girls were playing on Friday, August 6th. I’ve never seen the Indigo Girls in person, but have always enjoyed their music. Luckily, I was able to convince Michael to go with me – as the crowd was a little different than we’re used to. Regardless, it turned out to be a beautiful night and not too hot! In addition, we got to see the beautiful Chihuly exhibit again. If you have the chance to go (especially at night), it is purely magical. These pictures just do not do it justice.

Before the concert started.  Concert started at 8 pm, but the gates opened at 5 so everyone could come in, enjoy the exhibit, lounge in a nice cool evening and eat a picnic.

Concert at night.  Sorry it's not any closer - only had my iPhone to take pics.

At dusk

Evening

 

A few more of my favorite things

I totally forgot to mention these three things yesterday...  they too are some of my favorite things right now.

Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray

Great for already dirty hair that doesn't need another washing just quite yet...  it gives that natural beachy feel when you're not able to get the real thing.

Bumble & Bumble Hair Powder

Another Bumble & Bumble product that I can't live without right now.  This helps extend the life of actually doing your hair.  I use the white powder, but it also comes in Blondish, Brown and Black.  I'm telling you - if you hate to do your hair - or just don't have the time - this is the most fabulous thing that you can add to your hair repertoire.  Just a few sprays here and there and it gets rid of that oily look - which I get because my hair is so fine.  TRY IT!!

OPI Royal Flush Blush

I love to indulge and get a pedicure at least once a month - the chair, the magazines, the hour of total bliss...  and, usually during the summer months, I always choose OPI Cajun Shrimp (I call it my signature color).  But, the new Royal Flush Blush has given Cajun Shrimp a run for it's money.  It looks really pink in the bottle (and in this picture), but I'm telling you it is the perfect shade of pink.  I've literally worn it all summer and can't get enough of it.

Hope you enjoy these products as much as I do!

A few of my favorite things... right now.

Plum Makeup

I have long time been a fan of the fresh sugar lip treatment.  It's like buttah.  But just recently they added a Plum tinted version to the fresh line.  It is wonderful.  It looks really dark but it goes on translucent with just a hint of color.

I've also been using the Badgal mascara in Plum for a long time.  Badgal is my favorite brand of mascara by far, and I use both the black and plum colors.  The plum gives just a hint of vibrant color to an already great mascara.

Pledge Multi Surface Cleaner

It's a big jump from makeup to cleaning products - but, follow my train of thought for a second.  I mainly keep this product in my bathroom and it's great for cleaning all surface areas - sink, mirror and counter top (especially after makeup spills!). 

David Yurman Smoky Quartz Albion Ring

I found this ring whilst shopping at Neiman Marcus in Chicago this past weekend.  They just put out a lot of their new stuff and this smoky quartz color is just beautiful for fall.  No, I didn't purchase it, but it is on my wish list for my birthday (T minus 17 days)!

Spending time with my hubby in Nashville

Definitely not least and not just for right now, for sure.  Michael and I've been trying to do fun stuff around Nashville this summer (difficult since it's been so hot as of late).  One weekend we headed to the Farmers Market then lunch in East Nashville @ Drifters BBQ (which everyone should try next time you're in that hood); another weekend we headed out to Arrington Vineyards for a picnic and some jazz music (The Dean Martinis).

Nashville is such a great city with so much to offer.  This weekend I'm trying to convince Michael to go to the Watertown drive in movie theatre on Friday night then the Couture show at the Frist on Saturday afternoon. 

Chi - Town!

This past weekend, I joined Michael in Chicago (he was up there for a CLE) for a long weekend.  Some friends of mine from SMU live up there now, so we got to hang out with them on Friday.  It was absolutely gorgeous up there!

Lindsay and I met for lunch at a Beachstro Cafe right on the lake (Lakeshore Drive) then Michael, Lindsay, Patrick and I ate dinner at 27 nacional, a Latin cuisine restaurant, that was delish.  Since Michael had to be up early Saturday morning, we headed back to the hotel and had a drink in the hotel bar while a jazz band played.

Saturday, we woke up and Michael headed to his seminar while I took a jog around the lake.  Again, absolutely gorgeous day.  Here's a pic of the skyline while I was running:

After my run, I headed to the shops where I did a little bit of damage (oops! :)).  Michael finished his seminar around noon, so we met up and started walking around the area to find a place to lunch.  While we were walking, we totally saw Guiliana Rancic filming at a little bistro called Salute.   See was so cute in person!!!  I think she and I could be best friends...

After our run in with Guiliana, we ate deep dish pizza at Gino's East (again, another fantastic place to dine).  Michael was sleepy so he headed back to the room to take a nap while I embarked into my favorite place of ALL times - NEIMAN MARCUS!!  I love, love, love Neimans.  I could spend all day in there... which I kinda did :)

Then, I went and met Lindsay and Patrick in Wicker Park for a street fair. 

While I was there, I got a text from Michael saying he wasn't feeling well, and by the time I got back to the hotel (after a stop at Walgreens for some medicine), he was in terrible shape.  He felt so bad he couldn't go out on Saturday night.  Now, I had two options: (1) stay in the hotel with Michael and his sick self (yuck!) or (2) head out on the town and explore.  Naturally, I totally went out by myself.  I went to Coq d'or, a little piano bar in the Drake hotel, for dinner then headed to the 11 pm showing at Second City, which was hysterical.  I highly recommend it.  Luckily, this nice couple that I met while we were standing in line asked me to sit with them since I was alone.  I'm totally one of those people who can explore on my own and I loved it!  I didn't get home until 2 am from the show - I'm surprised Michael let me get away with it - but he was so sick he couldn't argue!

Sunday morning, I woke up and took another jog around the lake and walked around Michigan Avenue (which is great when no one else is there!).  I even spotted the Harry Winston store (in honor of my boo, Harry Winston Salem Noble :)).

I love Chicago and had a great time.  I just wish Michael could say the same... Oh well, I guess that warrants another trip to the Windy city.