What I Want

Throw - One King's Lane

Dress - Tibi Printed Eyelet Shift Dress

Earrings - Kendra Scott 'Danielle' Oval Statement Earrings Turquoise

Gold Necklace - Maya Brenner Georgia Necklace 

Ring - Jacquie Aiche Initial ring from Shopbop

Nail Polish -  Essie "Geranium"

Kaftan - Rissa Pom Pom Kaftan from Intermix

Bag - Tory Burch Reva Clutch

Pillow - Jonathan Adler Multi Bargello Hazard Pillow 

Necklace - J.Crew Archipelago Necklace 

Sunnies - House of Harlow 1960 'Chelsea' Cat's Eye Sunglasses

Kitchen Storage

We bought this house (that needed major, extensive, dramatic remodeling) when I was 22.

I was also a senior at Ole Miss taking 21 hours, planning our wedding, and traveling every weekend either to Georgia, Florida, or Jackson for wedding planning and parties.

To say that my mother-in-law loves a DIY project in an understatement. 

Obsessed is probably a better word.

Her children have been known to refer to her as Lynn Vila...as is Bob Vila.

Thank the LORD for her and her skills because I am not a big DIY-er.

If you can pay someone to do it, I'd rather pay them and get it done.

But when you don't have any $$$, that's not really an option :)

Needless to say, my mother-in-law Lynn headed up the remodeling of our house.

She truly has a gift for seeing a house or space and being able to see what it COULD be.

And then most likely, she's going to grab a sledgehammer and SHOW you. 

While this house is not our ultimate, final dream home, my mother-in-law included some treasures that I will now make sure I have in every house I ever live in!

She really hooked me up in the kitchen. It's heaven. 

Most of these are inexpensive projects that you may be able to do yourself (Lynn) or you can always hire a handyman or electrician.

Pull out drawers in cabinets for easy access. You can see everything that's in it. Instead of a large cabinet where the items in the back can get lost.

A pull out appliance garage.

This cabinet has an outlet in the back so I never have to take the appliances out of the drawer.

This one stores our Keurig and food processor.

Instead of a small cabinet above the oven that you can never see or reach, she designed a space to store serving platters and baking sheets.

Now for my favorite

Regular cabinet turned into a pull up mixer stand.

Boom!

Absolutely fantastic!

My Kitchenaid mixer lives under my island with all of its parts and pieces.

Again, there is an outlet built into the island so I never have to lug my mixer out onto the counter.

I just pop it up, mix, take out the dirty pieces, wash, and pop it back down.

Easy Peasy.

I would have never thought that incorporating these little "tricks" into the carpentry and electricity would make such a big difference.

But they do.

Thanks again Lynnie!

PS please forgive the quality of my pics for a few weeks! left my camera at the beach house.

Monday's Must Have

This post is about waxing and hair removal.

If you are grossed out, I would stop reading now.

Bliss Waxing Strips for Face

Bliss Waxing Strips for Body

This is definitely a more personal post than what I am used to but here goes nothing!

These little strips are spectacular! 

You may say...

Why would you want to wax yourself instead of paying an aesthetician to do it?

-It's only $25 for 20 strips. That means basically 10 waxes for $25. 

-It's so easy! You just rub the strips in between your hands for 15-20 seconds and then...you know.

-The package includes a little bottle of some kind of liquid that removes any wax left on your skin.

-Most importantly to me, you don't have to wear a paper thong and make small talk while someones rips the hair from your skin. 

SOLD!

The Novogratz

I want to be one of the Novogratz.

Specifically, one of their children.

If you don't know their full story, definitely click the link above and check them out!

photo courtesy of iVillage

They are sorta weird and quirky but insanely cool people.

2 parents who are designers and 7 kids run around who are gorgeous, unique and full of personality.

One King's Lane describes them...

"When husband-and-wife design team Cortney and Robert Novogratz (“The Novogratz”) develop and design properties, every detail is considered and executed with taste, confidence, and an eye for luxury. Their second book, Home by Novogratz,comes out in October, and their TV series of the same name just kicked off its second season on HGTV. Their first collaboration with CB2, The Family Rug, is on sale now, with more products slated to hi the market in October."

I first discovered them on their Bravo TV show. duh.

Now they have a really great show on HGTV.

I watched the entire first season when I had hernia surgery last fall. 

Yes. I'm an old woman who had hernia surgery.

Anyways, back to the Novogratz!

I love this family. I love people who name their kids crazy @$$ names.

The Novogratz children are named: 

Wolfgang

Bellamy

Tallulah

Breaker

Five

Holleder

Major

Crazy & I love it!

The show is great. Their family is AMAZING. But their taste and design sense are OUT OF THIS WORLD.

Their much anticipated FAMILY rug (pictured above) is available for sale here on CB2.

Here are my fave pics from their sale on One King's Lane now:

U.S. State Souvenir glasses, set of 7

Vintage Yellow Stop Sign

Vintage Eames Loveseat 

Vintage Pennants, Collection of 26

How adorable would these be in a boys' room?

Or how manly they could be in study, office, or man cave?

Retro Jack

Obsessed with an over sized Jack.

I gave my sister-in-law one to put in my nephew Jack's nursery when he was born.

But wouldn't it look great on a coffee table or on a book shelf?

Blue Glass Cups

With their traditional, old school glamour combined with the pop of blue color, these would be the perfect addition to any bar cart.

Anne Carrington U.S. Flag Art

They frequently use pieces of artist/their personal friend Anne Carrington's work.

Love her stuff.

Be sure to check out the Novogratz sale on One King's Lane and the second season of their show on HGTV.

I know I will.

5 Things I Love

LOVE THIS GIRL!

Had the best time at her wedding and parties last weekend

I also LOVE that Matt Burdine and I ended the weekend with a little late night/early morning yoga

Wild weekend my friends...

I love mixing cheap and expensive accessories.

fake Prada Baroque sunglasses and very real Oscar Heyman earrings borrowed from Albriton's...

have to laugh at that combo.

Those sunglasses were $10 in Piedmont Park.

The earrings...well they are much more. 

Love some Spice Girls.

CANNOT WAIT for the closing ceremony of the Olympics!

#spiceupyourlife

Love our overflowing koozie drawer.

Yes people, those are koozies. 

I still don't know what the F a huggie is.

Sorry Mississippi friends.

Thanks for the pic Beth!

I love how the earrings I made for Julia's bridal party turned out...#obsessed

Catalina Su

Catalina Su is a cool bitch.

I've mentioned her before here but she deserves her own post. 

Check out her blog here

She's Giuliana Rancic and Catt Sadler's makeup artist.

Her blog is awesome.

It mostly pics of her day, some fashion photos, and a little Mary-Kate, Ashley, and Kate Moss.

She gets to be up close & personal on a lot of cool shows and interviews...and hangout with celebs and party...

She's obsessed with eating healthy and has a very unique fashion sense. 

She just seems like she would be really fun to go have a few drinks with and judge people watch our fellow patrons.

It's so interesting to see her world through her personal iPhone pics...

Right now, her blog is even better because she's in London while the E! girls cover the Olympics!

Jealous, much?

Here are a few pics from her blog:

Catalina with Giuliana

Behind the scenes with Giuliana and Bill
 (omg how I love G&B--I cry every time I think about them finally being able to become parents. SO sweet)

Behind the scenes on an nterview with Michael Phelps in London

Shopping with Catt in London

That's Catalina on the left

Waiting/Working at E!

She also her own makeup products for sale...like the actual products she uses on Giuliana and Catt!

Which are available for purchase here

"I use this bronzer—from my makeup artist's line—as blush, it's called Catalina Su Bronzer Blush Contour, $22, catalinasu.com. It instantly makes your skin look healthier after you apply it. I always put it on before I get off the plane; Bill doesn't understand why, but I tell him it's because you never know who you’re going to see."

Read more: Bronzer - Giuliana Rancic Beauty Tips - Cosmopolitan 

All photos courtesy of Catalina Su via http://catalinasumakeup.blogspot.com/

Birchbox

You know when your order or buy something from Sephora and they give you the little samples to try?

Basically, Birchbox has taken that to another level...

You pay an annual fee and every month you get this in the mail...

They send you a monthly boxed filled with fabulous new samples and unique goodies.

There is a short wait if you request to join. 

Please comment or email me if you are interested in me sending you an invitation.

You can also send a Birchbox subscription as a gift. 

Perfect gift idea!

Birchbox is not only for women, they also offer a subscription with men's products and goodies.

Here's what came in July's Birchbox:

Eyeko Liquid Eyeline

theBalm Cosmetics Staniac

Juliette Has a Gun Miss Charming Fragrance

LARABAR Uber

Suki Nourishing Regimen

Birchbox Exclusive Earbuds

You can also earn Birchbox points by purchasing full sizes of the samples and by referring friends to join.

It's a win-win situation.

You pay a fee and you get awesome new stuff that you have never heard about directly in your mailbox each month.

Sounds good to me!