sunday evening laundry...

I'm officially tired of laundry. Load #8 is in the dryer now. When will it end? There are 2 people living in this house, 3 if you count Layla, and 8 loads of laundry? Really.

It is time for me to have a fabulous laundry room that I enjoy spending time in.

Wow. I'll take it!

For more fabulous laundry rooms go HERE

photo via 1stdibs.com

bugs

So, for some reason I couldn't type text AND post a video...gotta work out the bugs I guess. But I LOVE Lady Antebellum's new single, "American Honey", and felt it was very relevant to the "Simple Life" post:)

American Honey

target nerd

I have one friend who, when I'm shopping or running errands, always asks, "Are you at Target?" I am a total Target nerd. I love that place. They have everything...and it's affordable. Woot woot. Well, Tarjay has outdone themselves this time- Introducing:

Liberty of London

FOR TARGET

In store and online March 14th! I must have that bicycle:)

I am planning a nice, relaxing, weekend, and will probably spend most of it cuddled up inside since we're about to get MORE SNOW:( I may make a run to Target though! ha. Have a great weekend everyone!!

Ashaney

Want to know something amazing about our God? He is a God of second chances. The Hebrew word for "second chances" is Ashaney. How many times in our lives have we looked back and thought, 'If only I had the chance to do that over, I would have done it differently.' The "real world" doesn't offer many second chances- whether it be a broken relationship, a big mistake, a missed job opportunity, or just one wrong decision that drastically changed the course of your life. But God..He is full of second chances.

The message at church last Sunday had to do with do-overs, second chances. One thing was made very clear and is on the not-so-comfy- side of things. Our God is a gentlemen. He will pursue a relationship with us, He WANTS us, but He also gave us free will; the ability to make our own decisions. There may come a day when He stops "knocking at our door." And he will quietly walk away. I would encourage everyone to not be the person who stubbornly ignores the Lord over...and over...and over again. He is your second chance at making things right, at grace, mercy, forgiveness, and unconditional love. That is definitely the God I choose to serve. The God of Ashaney.

simple life

Lately I've been thinking about the future; Where we will live, what we will do. This first year of marriage is  a "transitional" period for us. At this point, we could end up anywhere. Of course, I'm praying it's south of here! (as HUGE snowflakes hit the ground.) I can definitely imagine living in a southern town, preferably on the outskirts of a big city. (Think- Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia..) I want to live in a big farm house, either renovated or built from the ground up, on several acres. I told Jake we could get chickens, and cows, and start our own little farm. lol. He didn't fall for it because he thinks he'll be the one taking care of them all. I guess milking cows probably isn't my thing.
But we will definitely have a couple dogs, and maybe even a little pony (seemed like less work than "horses"...baby steps, people.) Maybe my fascination with living on a farm comes from the fact that my family lived in a barn for 9 months in Colorado. For those of you who don't know me, it honestly was a barn...and that's what all the kids on the school bus called it:) But there was an outside entrance to the upstairs, that opened up to a two bedroom apartment. Which is where I actually shared a BED with my little brother for nine months! Thank God, it was only my 6th grade year and I clearly had more patience back then. I would find sand in the bed, you name it....
I want to live like Little House on the Prairie, with a few more modern conveniences! Live on lush, green rollings hills, like in Kentucky, where the future kids and Layla have a lot of room to run, and the weather's mild enough to ride bikes 8 months out of the year. I want to look out the kitchen window and see horses grazing in the distance.

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I LOVE this stone Pennsylvania home. Doesn't it look like the house from "Marley and Me?"

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Perfect little, white, Tennessee farm house.

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The ideal white farm house...please, please:)

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Every front porch needs a couple of rockers.

We will wear jeans, designer flannels, and have multiple pairs of wellies:)

Ahh...the life of a "farmer."

Go HERE to check out Carolyn Dawn Johnson's video "The Simple Life."

tuesday inspiration

Just a little Tuesday afternoon eye candy for ya:

lovelist

I love everything about this little vignette..the purple ikat fabric, the rug, the white background, little pink flowers..

Oh, and that tray table..$39.99 at Target!

H

Sunday, I spent the day with my darling nephew, Houghton. Currently the baby of our family, he and his big sis will soon be joined by another! My brother and sister in law just found out it's going to be a girl! Yay! I was secretly hoping for a reason to buy baby girl clothes again. Here are some pictures of our day together:

He's either ALL smiles or NO smiles.

Right away, he decided to start sweeping. A boy after Auntie's own heart:) And gotta love the drool down the front of his shirt, right?

We danced to "Brown Eyed Girl", but changed the lyrics to "Blue Eyed Boy" of course.

(Stop laughing at the fact that after 4 months, I STILL don't have pictures in some of those frames.)

Poor Layla got a little jealous during the dancing and kept jumping on us! So, we locked her up:)

Houghton discovered Uncle Jake's exercise bands, and also decided to rearrange some furniture!

He wasn't interested in my sunday afternoon duties (folding laundry), so we just went for rides in the basket instead!

If Houghton could talk in full sentences..."Dog, stop licking me!!!"

Adidas sneaks! God, please give me lots of little boys:)

Going in to town to run some errands! Growing up so fast!

Dear Houghton,

I summarized our day together, so someday when you're big and you don't think Auntie's very cool anymore, you can look back and know there was a time when I was. Love you, handsome boy.

black & white stripes

I decided to start the week off with one of my ABSOLUTE favorite things (material things, people)...black and white stripes! I like striped anything really, but especially home interiors:)

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I think in the first home I own I will definitely have a black and white striped wall.

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Or maybe a floor to ceiling striped curtain.

wifestyle files

If I ever have to live in an apartment-type setting, (heaven forbid:) I sure hope each window has its own individual striped awning! I know...only in Europe.

wifestyle files

Too much, you say? Nah!

bhg

I am trying to find a rug like this as we speak! If anyone knows where I can find a 5X8, please let me know. IKEA has a couple runners I would like to get...if I didn't live a million miles from the nearest store.

IKEA runner..$12.99. Honestly. I need two. Anyone visiting a store near you anytime soon?

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A pretty patio, overlooking a private lake. (I'm dreaming.)

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Yes, please. What a cute display.

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This is just my future vacation home.

ballard designs

Perfect for the patio.

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An ideally chic vacation resort.

domino

For the twins:)

dreamhouse

I could do striped roman shades.

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I told you, I will have a striped wall. I love this one right in the entryway.

metropolitan home

I suppose this could be the other vacation home:)

     

wifestyle files

Does this house come with an attached 2.5 car garage and 3 acres??

favorite finds

Today, while shopping at Z Gallerie...again, I found a couple things that would really make my day!

This horsehead wall mount! (Mom, isn't it similar to the one I had to give up at Home Goods?) But this one mounts on the wall!

Everyone needs a cute place to put their umbrellas, right?? I want to keep mine in here!

So, Jake, or anyone else, if you're reading this and just want to make my day....feel free:)

Have a great weekend,

xoxoxo

zgallerie

Bye bye fashion week

Since NYFW is coming to a close, I thought I would end the week with a couple pictures of my new favorite line for clean cut, sleek, and sophisticated dresses. And the designer is.......................

Yes, Mrs.Victoria Beckham.

Now, she probably needs to start eating carbs again, but I'm not making fun. This woman has got style. It's just fitting that she has her own line of clothing, and her dresses are hot. Here are a few of my favorites.

Channeling Audrey Hepburn-style icon.

Not very forgiving, I'm sure. But check out that timeless nude.

Casual chic

So much attitude. I would definitely wear this.

And I would like to give an honorable mention to Tory Burch. If I ever have another job that doesn't require scrubs or jeans, I will wear your clothes.

Fabulous business attire.

all photos via instyle and people.

black&yellow

In honor of fashion week, I thought I would share my new favorite color combo (which changes weekly).

Olivia Palermo was definitely NOT a favorite on the show, The City, but this self proclaimed "socialite" (like that's a compliment or something..) sure has style.

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I'm lovin' the menswear, but most of all, the yellow heels!

 absolutely beautiful things

The Maison et Objet. Much too formal for me, but wow, look at that pop.

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Those chairs are to die for. Except, I would probably paint the wood black. But there's that black and yellow again...and the black and white stripes are one of my absolute favorites.

better home and gardens

What a cozy entryway, and the bright yellow accent wall is just enough color!

Michelle Adams

There's that stripe again. I hope someday I can get crafty enough to make my own upholstered headboard in a funky fabric.

instyle

Reese Witherspoon, one of my favorites, has got it goin' on with this color duo.