About a bracelet.....

I love Amy Butler and her gorgeous fabrics.  So I frequently peruse her website looking at her photos.  I came across this one a few years ago, and I immediately loved the tunic.

I actually bought the pattern, and one day, I intend to make it.  Let's hope that happens before Liam goes to college, but I'm not making any promises. 

Aside from the shirt, however, I also fell in love with that bracelet.  Do you see it? I kind of have a thing for cuffs.  And this one is bohemian perfection with it's mother-of-pearl and silver design.  

Since that day, I have thought about this bracelet.  And many times, I have scoured the internet searching for one like it.

And I found one.  But it was $275 and that was not in my budget.  

So, this past December, on a random Saturday (when I probably should have been grading papers or doing something productive) I decided to search for this bracelet instead. 

Imagine my excitement when I found one on eBay for a steal. I immediately bid on it and then I had to wait.... 

I don't buy a lot of things off eBay, but I know from experience that waiting for the auction to end is one of the worst parts.  Before I ever bid on something, I always set an amount that will be my maximum.  

And trust me, it is tragic when you see a beloved item's price rise above your maximum bid and you have to just walk away.

I was terrified for two days that I would lose this beautiful bracelet.

But alas, I won it at a crazy cheap price.   And I when I received it in the mail, I was giddy with excitement.  It was even more beautiful in person. 

And here I am wearing it at one of our Christmas gatherings.  This has quickly become one of my favorite pieces of jewelry.  I don't wear it often because it is delicate, but when I do, it makes me incredibly happy.

To think that I found that exact bracelet on a random Saturday on Ebay....it kind of feels like serendipity.  I'm pretty sure it was meant to be. 

Home Sweet Home

This is a post I've been wanting to write for awhile because decorating my home is one of my favorite things to do.

I definitely thrive on living in a pretty, organized space.  Though I've always loved decorating and dreamed of having a pretty home to live in, it wasn't until I started teaching that my home really became my sanctuary.  

At the time I lived in a beautiful apartment in a historic part of the city. My days teaching in an inner city high school were pretty intense.  Coming home to a quiet, tidy, pretty space helped me to relax.  My home quickly became my oasis.

After I met Andrew, I moved into his house, a two bedroom bungalow that is over 100 years-old.  Since then, I've made lots of changes and definitely transformed his bachelor pad!  

We are definitely ready to leave the city and head for the woods as soon as we can, but until I finish this PhD, it just doesn't make sense to move.  Perhaps one of the biggest challenges for me is that there are so many things I would like to change about this home.  Most are small projects like paint and fixtures, but it's just not a good investment of our time or resources.  Instead, we are now beginning  a long to-do list of things that need to be done in order to have the house in selling condition in a year or two.

I must say, I love the character of older homes, but I look forward to having a newer space in the future.  One of the things I long for the most is storage space.  Old homes are definitely short on closets! 

As I often catch myself dreaming about a larger, newer home, I remind myself to be grateful for this space.  This home has treated us well.  We have made so many wonderful memories here, and there are so many days I'm grateful for the small size as I try to keep tabs on a toddler!

My decorating style has evolved significantly over the past few years.  In fact, our next home will probably look quite different from this one based on the decorating lessons that I've learned while living here.  

More and more, I'm finding myself drawn to rustic, natural elements.  I'm also love color.  However, I've learned that color is best in art and accessories.  I made the mistake in this house of painting all of the rooms bright, vivid colors.  When I moved in with Andrew, the dining room was royal blue and we painted the living room a deep red!  Yikes.  

It was fun for awhile, but I got sick of those colors fast.  I've learned that its best to keep the walls neutral and bring in color through other elements.  A couple of years ago we got rid of those brightly colored walls and painted the living room and dining room a more neutral, taupe shade.  It really helped to brighten things up and made the space feel so much bigger. I really don't have decorating rules.  My philosophy is to fill your home with things that you love.  Many of our items that are on display have sentimental value, and when we travel we like to buy pieces that remind us of our adventures. 


We'll start the tour with our living and dining room, which is where we spend most of our time.

This is the view from our dining room into our living room.  We have tall ceilings and windows, which is very nice and makes the place feel a lot bigger than it is.  I bought this dark green sofa and love seat 11 years ago!  Again, I learned a lesson that its best to stick to neutral colors when it comes to long-term furniture.  I've been tied to this color of green for a long time, but I like earthy, dark colors so it works.  I also switch out the throw pillows seasonally to mix things up a bit.  We used to have a nice coffee table but exchanged it for a more kid friendly ottoman last year.

When I first moved in with Andrew, we bought this painting together.  It was our first art purchase.  I love this painting and expect that it will be in our home for the rest of our lives.  Notice the tree theme.....

This is the view from the front door into the dining room.  Our dining room is multifunctional and includes our desk and home computer.  I really like that these two rooms are joined together creating a larger, open space. 

I have a love/hate relationship with this bookcase.  Andrew picked it up second hand many years ago when a nearby business was closing.  This thing is solid wood and sturdy as can be.  I love it as a place to display photographs and decorative items.  However, it is in dire need of some work.  And I hate those gold accents.  I did add some wrapping paper to the back of the shelves and changed the hardware to dress it up a bit, but I still think it's ugly.  

Once we move into a new home, I'll give this baby a good paint job and it will be good as new.  In the meantime, it works.  And yes, that is a record player and a stereo.  My husband is old school when it comes to his music!

This is our little office space in the dining room.  Its not the most ideal place for the computer, but we lost our home office once Liam was born so this is it.  We have a piece of plexiglass on top of the desk to protect the surface.  Last year I added some wrapping paper under it to dress it up a bit.  I like how it adds a little pop of color.

This antique sewing machine is one of my most cherished possessions.  It belonged to my grandma.  I remember sitting with her as she sewed clothes for my dolls.  It's a constant reminder of her and how special she was to me.

Andrew and I bought this piece of artistic glass last year for our anniversary when we were at a music festival in southern, Illinois.  We love trees so when we saw this, we both agreed that we had to have it!  Notice the sweet little heart at the bottom of the trunk.

This stained glass, which Andrew's parents gave him several years ago, hangs above our front door.  It was already here when I moved in, and I love it.  I couldn't think of a better piece of art to represent my arborist, banjo playing husband. 

It's pieces like this that represent what our home is really about.  It's a reflection of us, our family, our personalities, our love for one another, and this magical life's journey that we share.  

My Favorite Things: Beauty Products

Today I'm continuing to share some of my favorite things.  These are my favorite beauty products. I should probably add that I'm not being paid to advertise any of these products.  I'm just sharing some of the things I love to use.

I'll start off with a disclaimer that I'm kind of a sucker for beauty products.  I have been ever since I was about 12 years-old.  In recent years, I've cut way back and found some products that I stand by.  I should also note that while I'm thrifty in many areas, I'm not afraid to spend a little extra money for good make-up and beauty products.  It's a little luxury that I like to give myself.

I recently read that there has been some research linking parabens to cancer.  Parabens are in most beauty products.  Although that research is disputed, I'm currently trying to make our household paraben free.  I figure it can't hurt to take the more natural approach.

So, in no particular order, here are my favorite beauty products:

Raw Shea Butter.  This is by far the best body lotion I've ever used.  When I was pregnant with Liam, I used raw cocoa butter and raw shea butter and I didn't get one stretch mark!  After that, I was sold.  I also found that when I started using these raw butters those little bumps on the back of my arms went away. Another perk is that it's paraben free and smells nice.

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I also recently discovered Tarte make-up.  I used Aveda mineral make-up for many years, but as I get older, I found it wasn't wearing as well on my skin.  So, I went on the hunt for some new make-up.  That's when I discovered BB cream.  I'm not a fan of liquid make-up.  I don't like anything that feels heavy on my skin but sometimes mineral make-up is too drying.  I was given a sample of this new Tarte BB cream at Sephora.  It is the best!  It has this creamy whipped texture and is airy light on my skin. The coverage is also very light and natural. I've also been wearing Tarte powder, concealer, blush and lip gloss, and I've been impressed by every single item.  The best part is that Tarte is a natural line and their products are eco-friendly and cruelty free.

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I have also found that the key to good make-up application is having high quality brushes.  I like Sephora's brushes.  I apply the BB cream with this one, the Pro Flawless Small Airbrush.  When using this brush, I only need to use a pea sized amount of BB cream to cover my face.  It also makes blending super easy.

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Another tool that I found essential is a good pair of tweezers.  My mom used to have these tweezers that were amazing but they were also about 30 years-old....I would use them every time I went to see her!  Unfortunately, those tweezers finally gave out.  That's when I found these.  They are worth every penny and are the only tweezers I've found that can easily grab really tiny hairs.

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When it comes to hair products, I've always been a fan of Aveda, but recently, I discovered Moroccan Oil.
I really love the oil for smoothing out my ends.  And the curl defining cream.  I actually buy the travel sizes because they are so much cheaper and they last me awhile.

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Prescription Tretinoin, which is a retinol cream that helps to build collagen by causing cellular turnover.  This one isn't exactly natural....but, according to my dermatologist, it's the "holy grail" of anti-aging products.  I'm not one to stress about aging, and I plan to grow old gracefully.  However, I also believe in taking good care of my skin, a lesson I learned from my mother, who just so happens to look gorgeous for her age!  In fact, on my 12th birthday, she took me to the Clinique counter and purchased quality skincare products and make-up for me.  I'm often grateful for that, because I think my skin looks pretty good, and I don't have many fine lines or wrinkles.  I'm currently looking for a new skincare line, but no matter what, Tretinoin will always be part of my routine.  I use the highest percentage available, 0.1%.  It can be a little drying on the skin, particularly in the winter months, so I usually only use it every other night, and I mix it with moisturizer before I apply it at bedtime.

Jo Malone fragrances.  I like to wear perfume, but I also like my perfume to be light.  I tend to gravitate towards floral fragrances.  Jo Malone used to make a beautiful fragrance called Vintage Gardenia, but it was recently discontinued.  That means I'm going to have to find a new one once my Vintage Gardenia runs out.  I do like Wild Bluebell and French Lime Blossom as well.  One of the cool things about Jo Malone fragrances is that they are designed to be mixed together.

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And last but not least...Burt's Bees lip balm. My favorite is the kind that comes in the tin.  I've been using it for years. I apply it every night before I go to bed.

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As you can see, I like my beauty products!  These are a just a few of my favorites.  What about you?  What beauty products do you like to use?

My Favorite Things: Household Favorites

Today I'll continue sharing some of my favorite things and show you some of my favorite household products.

I tend to be pretty loyal when it comes to products.  Once I find something that works, I stick with it! I also try to choose products that are non-toxic and environmentally friendly.  You'll probably notice a theme here...I'm a bit of a clean freak so I like my cleaning products.  I also like to have things organized.  

In no particular order, here are my favorite household products:

I absolutely love this surface cleaner.  I really like all of Mrs. Meyer's products, but they are expensive so I only splurge on this one.  The geranium scent is just heavenly.  It actually makes me want to clean my counters....  

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I'm also a fan of Method cleaning products.  There's nothing I hate more than a layer of dust in my house and this wood polish is wonderful.  It smells delicious and does a nice job of making my furniture nice and shiny without leaving a layer of heavy residue.

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And here we have the Magic Eraser.  I love these things for removing scuff marks and various spots.  I really only use them when a surface cleaner doesn't do the job.  Now that I have toddler I'm discovering all kinds of uses for the Magic Eraser.  Just yesterday I used one to remove crayon from my wood floors.  I'm not entirely sure what is in them, but they are, indeed, magic!

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This is a product that I just recently discovered.  I hate ironing, so I don't do it.  In fact, I make it my purpose to buy clothing items that don't require ironing.  My husband, however, has a few shirts that do need to be ironed.  This wrinkle releaser does the trick!  And it's so easy to use.  All you have to do it spray it on, smooth out the garment and then hang it to dry.  This isn't going to give you any nice creases, but it does make clothes virtually wrinkle free, which is good enough for me.  

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I bought this steam mop a couple of years ago and then I bought one for my mom.  I love this thing for multiple reasons.  First of all, it's so much easier than dragging around a mop and a bucket.  Secondly, it sanitizes floors by using steam so there's no need for toxic chemicals.  The mop pads are also reusable, I just throw them in the laundry when I'm done.  It's quick and easy and gets my floors super clean.  When Liam was crawling, I used this nearly every day.

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As I mentioned above, I like things organized, and drawer organizers are high on my list.  I love to open my drawers and see everything in its spot.  I find that organizers not only help us get organized but they also help us stay organized.  I use them throughout the house, but I think they're particularly useful in kitchen, bathroom and desk drawers.

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I like to label things.  Weird, I know.  Last year I discovered chalk labels, which are both cute and fun to make. I currently use them in our pantry, and I have big plans for more labels in the near future.   

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We live in a house that is over 100 years old....no walk in closets here!  It's also not a very big house, so we are short on storage space.  Our master bedroom doesn't even have a closet.  Baskets to the rescue!  I use baskets in every room.  They are a great way to store small items while also concealing clutter.  I use them in our bedroom to store my cardigans and jeans.  In the living room, I have multiple baskets for our shoes, Liam's toys, puzzles, and books.  I don't like clutter and baskets really help to keep things tidy.  The downside is that baskets can be expensive.  World Market and Hobby Lobby both have an excellent selection and have regular sales on them.  I like to buy sturdy ones that I know will hold up.  I use the large sized ones seen below in our bedroom.

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I've mentioned my love of candles before on this blog.  I really enjoy a yummy smelling candle.  We go through a lot of them as I like to burn them throughout the day when we are at home and almost every evening.  My very favorite candles are from Capri Blue.  I love the Volcano scent and also Aloha Orchid.  They make the entire house smell divine, and it doesn't hurt that they make me feel like I'm in an Anthropologie store!

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One of my New Year's goals was to use fewer paper towels so we started using cloth napkins.  I had no idea how nice it would be to use real napkins at each meal!  It really makes mealtime feel a little extra special.  I also notice that I put a little more effort into setting our table and coordinating things. Plus, it just feels nice to lay a cloth napkin across your lap.  This change has made a noticeable difference in our paper towel consumption, and it feels good to know that we are being less wasteful.  One day, when I have some free time, I plan to sew up more pretty napkins using scraps of fabric that I have.  

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I'm sure there are probably more favorites that I'm missing, but these are definitely my all stars.  In the near future, I would like to try to make my own surface cleaner using this recipe, although I'm not sure I can give up my Mrs. Meyers!  I've also been looking at recipes for making my own, environmentally friendly laundry detergent.  As much as I prefer green products, they can be a little pricey sometimes so making my own would be a good way to save some money.

What about you?  What are your household favorites?

Today, I'm linking up with the feature free for all at Five Days Five Ways!  Please check out all of the fun links!

My Favorite Things: Fashion Favorites

I've decided to follow Jeanne Oliver's lead and share some of my favorite things on this blog.  Right now I'm in the midst of some heavy academic writing so I need a light and fun topic to blog about! 

Plus, if you are like me, you are always on the lookout for a tried and true product and are interested in knowing what items others like to use.  So today, I'll start by sharing my fashion favorites.

Recently, a friend gave me a lovely compliment, telling me that she admired how confident I was in my unique style.  Her words really made me feel good and got me thinking about my "style".  Honestly, I haven't thought much about it, but when I look in my closet, I see some definite trends.

One of the key things I've learned over the years is that you don't have to spend a lot of money to look good.  Also, accessories can go a long way in taking an outfit to the next level.  For instance, I'm a huge fan of large, statement pieces of jewelry.  

One of my news year's goals was to refocus and only buy clothing items that I love.  Love meaning that it fits well and I love how it looks.  Even though it's only the end of January, I've already passed on a few items because they didn't fit the bill....hello Anthropologie sale rack!  As long as I stick to this motto, I tend to make good choices and buy items that I wear over and over again.  

In no particular order, here are some of my favorite items:

Thanks to my best friend, I recently discovered the Artist jeans from American Eagle.  Yes, that's right, American Eagle.  No, I'm not 15 and I don't normally shop at American Eagle, but these jeans are a sneaky little secret!  They are seriously the best, most comfortable jeans I've worn in a long time.  They actually have a decent rise on them.  They are stretchy but don't lose their shape (a major pet peeve of mine).  They also come in long lengths, which is a must for me.  They are quite flattering and best of all, they're fairly cheap.  I've paid some big bucks for jeans in the past and these are just as good as the more expensive ones.  I have actually traded in my yoga pants because of these jeans.  Seriously.  I now get dressed almost every day....

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I'm a big fan of tunic style tops.  They are comfortable, flattering and can easily be dressed up or down.  Sometimes I also wear shorter dresses as a top worn over jeans.

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I recently ordered these hand warmers from this Etsy shop.  I love them!  My hands are always cold, so these keep them toasty while allowing me to still use my fingers.  When I'm leaving my house, I'm usually carrying multiple bags, my keys, and a squirming 18 month-old.  Gloves seem to just get in the way, but these hand warmers allow me to hold onto everything.  Another plus is that I can use my phone while wearing them.

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I love boots.  This past fall, I purchased these cognac riding boots and I wear them almost every day.  I don't do heels so these boots are perfect.  

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I also love my cowgirl boots.  You can't help but feel a little sassy when wearing a pair of cowgirl boots!  I have this pair.  They run a little taller than normal, which is good because I'm tall and regular cowgirl boots usually hit at the widest part of my calf....not a good look!

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In the warmer months, long skirts and dresses are staples for me.  I have rather athletic legs, which I don't necessarily like to show, so long skirts and dresses are high on my list.  

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As I mentioned previously, I'm a fan of accessories, always wearing jewelry and scarves.  I think accessories are a really easy way to make an outfit unique.

This time of year, I wear a scarf almost every day.

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I LOVE jewelry.  I'm pretty sure I get my love of jewelry from my mom!  She and I share the same style and we love to wear big, bold pieces.  I have a preference for long earrings, chunky pendants, large rings, and cuff bracelets.  And I'm particularly drawn to turquoise and amber pieces.  I do have a few rules when it comes to accessories though, and I try not to wear too many at once.  For instance, if I'm wearing long earrings or a scarf, I usually skip the necklace.  

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I also love detailed clothing.  I'm drawn to items that have embroidery, beading, or lace.  I like to wear color and I'm not afraid of patterns.  

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Large bags are another staple accessory for me.  Again, I love patterns and details.

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When it comes to fashion, I don't think too much of it.  I simply buy and wear what I love.  Although I'm mostly pretty thrifty, I'll occasionally splurge on a really unique item.  In many ways, I see clothing as a way to express myself so I try to avoid trends and stay true to what makes me feel good.

For more of my fashion favorites, you can check out my style board on Pinterest.