Products & Reviews

A Review and Giveaway: Active Top SIGG Bottle

May 24, 2013 34 Comments

Wanna know an odd ball secret? John and I are a family that owns, quite literally, a family of water bottles. Frankly, I’m a bit embarrassed by our extreme collection because, I kid you not, we have close to 10 on-the-go water/coffee carafes between the two of us. I suppose it’s just one of those quirky characteristics of our household, but we just can’t get enough of these convenient portable vessels.

So when SIGG approached me to host a review and giveaway in time for the debut of their Active Top bottles in new rainbow colors, I couldn’t say “no.” Although I’ve been contacted by a few Spam-y companies this season looking to get some DGD exposure, very few have been a good fit. Sunglasses? Not so much (especially since the ones I currently have rattling around in my bag were free). Start your email to me as “Dear Carmel”? Yeah, no. But SIGG was a different story. This was a product that I knew we’d embrace everyday here at casa Waller, and as assumed it fit right in – Especially while on a certain week-long excursion I just got back from…

In the interest of full disclosure…I’ll be entirely honest with you.

I LOVED it!

At first sip, I knew that SIGG was onto something special. Why? Instead of worrying with leakage and spills due to an open straw or mouth piece, the active top on this baby is sealed tight. In fact, to access your favorite drink, you literally bite down on the mouth piece. Seriously! All it takes is a little gentle pressure from your teeth to open the soft mouth piece, and then you suck on it like a straw. Talk about high tech! The straw took care of everything – No need to tip the bottle, no shaking over your open jaw to get that last drop, although it was pretty darn funny to see my dad do exactly that to a full bottle of water because we hadn’t explained the concept to him beforehand…

So the construction is obviously legit, but this is thankfully one of those space age inventions that actually sports a pretty stylish exterior to match. The bottle comes in several fun colors, including yellow, red, green and even a crisp white. I certainly wasn’t shy about flaunting my shiny water bottle whether on the sand or lounging pool side.

Still not convinced? Please excuse my unintentional infommercial voice, but I can’t help but tell you that the bottle is ALSO extremely light weight, durable and completely BPA free. Plus, it’s totally recyclable at the end of its long life.

I can’t speak for John, but I have a feeling that our local thrift store is going to be inundated with a bunch of my extra water bottles this weekend…

So. Want to hit the beach, the pool or the gym with your own SIGG bottle? Here are the details:

The prize:
One reader will receive their own purple Active Top bottle courtesy of SIGG (a $28.99 value).

To enter:
Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite summer time drink. Are you an H20 gal (or guy!)? Or do you like to spice things up with a fancy, umbrella-topped cocktail? Maybe sodas are your guilty pleasure during the warm season? I want to know! (Don’t forget to include an email address in the form so I can contact you!)
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Bonus entries:
For extra chances to win a prize, follow Dream Green DIY on Facebook and/or Twitter and leave a comment for each here letting me know that you did. (it’s a win-win since you’ll be able to keep up with my daily updates once you’re a follower – But of course, there’s NO pressure to do so. You don’t need to do this in order to win the prize).

Deadline:

You have until Thursday, May 30th at 11:59 p.m. to enter. The winner will be announced here on Friday, May 31st – Don’t forget to check back to see if you’ve won.

Nitty gritty:

Contest is limited to the U.S. and Canada. The winner will be selected using random.org.

Good luck!

Filed Under: Life, Products & Reviews Tagged With: Family, Gift Ideas, Giveaway, Simplify

An HHI Home Goods Trip (or Two)

May 23, 2013 2 Comments

So, as promised, I’m back for a second installment of what all went down during our family get away last week to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Although I mentioned yesterday that an HHI Home Goods recap was “coming soon” and had planned to do my normal “All in the details…” feature today, I just couldn’t wait. So without further adieu, I welcome you into the always energizing, ALWAYS inspiring Home Goods off of William Hilton Parkway (which, yes, we visited not once but twice during our week-long vacation – who could blame us!).

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This first picture was snapped (oh, please forgive all of the iPhone photos in this post…) because I thought the smooth glass bowl would be super fun as a succulent terrarium. That side opening is really unique and would look fabulous perched on a bookshelf or coffee table. Plus, at only $9.99, it’s a STEAL.

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How cute would those patterned mugs above be hung from petite hooks on either a kitchen hutch or coffee station shelf. I was particularly taken with the mod bird motif – obviously.

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This aisle of vinyl tablecloths chalk FULL of color and pattern was like a magnet for me. I made a bee line over and was astounded to find that the pieces started at only $4.99 apiece. What would I do with one? I’m currently loathing our back deck glass table, with its dingy looking surface, and would love to add some Velcro to the edges of one of these fun tablecloths, wrapping it around our existing table top (think slip cover).

This little multi compartment dish was on clearance for only $7! I see it (obviously) as a chip and dip or veggie dish, but also as a fun place to corral paperclips and push pins in an office, or crayons and little plastic figurines in a kid’s room. Luckily, my mom decided to swoop it up for herself, so we’ll have to see what she ends up doing with it.

At only $19.99, the teaky type ladder pictured above would be so fun as a towel or magazine holder. No joke, if we hadn’t driven a small sedan to the beach, this baby would be sitting pretty in our living room right now.

Pretty storage is always an enticing buy for me, so these collapsible burlap baskets were calling my name with enthusiasm. I actually was more drawn to the plain ones believe it not, but only because they provide me with a blank canvas to add all of my OWN color and pattern. Plus, the $14.99 price tag for the large and only $9.99 for the small was a big sway factor.

Speaking of pretty storage, it was love at first sight with these hot pink and mustard boxes (at only $9.99 apiece). This was definitely the trip that I realized my immediate affinity for all things Cynthia Rowley. I already have a few of her pieces throughout our house, but I was drawn over and over and OVER again to her prints and shapes this trip. Love her.

No, I don’t NEED a designer white porcelain dog (especially since it was on clearance for $130), but that doesn’t mean I can’t dream. That said, someone needs to give Fido a bone – or 10! Those ribs…

We can’t take a virtual tour of Home Goods without talking seating – And again, I do apologize for the cruddy photography…I blame my shaky excitement over all the deals ::har har:: But anyway, while those adorable upholstered side chairs were major temptations, that little clearance Eiffel chair knock off above was “the one.” I loved it. Like REALLY loved it, but I had already ordered a brand new acrylic ghost chair for the only spot where I could have used an accent chair like this one, so I had to gloomily walk away…

Hello, odd conversation piece! This massive bust sculpture so reminds me of something Emily Henderson would use in a room. Undeniably quirky and totally WRONG proportionally, it would look so avant-garde in an airy loft space. Oh, and when I say “massive,” I mean it. It’s sort of hard to tell how big it is in that photo, but it was probably almost as tall as I am (use the side chair next to it as a point of reference if you haven’t already). Wow.

Notice more Cynthia Rowley? Aside from those pretty striped beauties, I was all but drooling over the gold frames they had on hand. Wouldn’t that cluster look so great filled with black and white photos on an entry console?

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The pillow section at Home Goods is always a pretty big draw for me. Great prices and they tend to outweigh places like Target by leaps and bounds when it comes to variety in texture and pattern. Is it just me or does that last one, the peacock, look like it could possibly be DIY-ed with a little felt and fabric paint?

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Sure, this plain natural fiber door mat is a little boring, but grab a stencil and some paint and you can have an entirely unique rug all your own – For under $20!

Those gold and glass side tables above take the cake for SOOOOOOO-wish-I-could-have-bought-them. Alas, I didn’t have the space to cart even one of them home with me, plus the $80 price tag (for the smaller one) would have swallowed my measly little $100 budget. Still a great deal though.

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The art section was yet another department that didn’t disappoint this go around. As I mentioned earlier this week though, I don’t have any business buying more art. So I had to again, walk away. Even from that SUPER cute moroccan pattern clearance mirror shown above – One $5 people!!

What to leave you with? Well let’s just say that I’ve got big plans for the one large piece I bought – Namely that majorly fun orange metal side table above. P.S. It involves a collaboration with an equally major brand. Details to come in June!

Now let’s play the guessing game – What do you think I actually bought? Or what do you think I SHOULD have bought?? I’ll be sharing all the details plus where they ended up next week.

Filed Under: Inspired, Products & Reviews Tagged With: Tips and Tricks, Tour, Big Box Store SCORE!, Organization, New Uses, Simplify, Gift Ideas, Art, Family

Etsy Spotlight: The Silver Shed

May 10, 2013 2 Comments

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I’m so excited to kick off a fresh new series here on DGD – Etsy Spotlight is my (small) way of giving back to the talented Etsy artisans, crafters and treasure hunters who have helped to make our home a special and unique one. Maybe it’s a first introduction, or simply a behind the scenes look at one you already know and love, but either way we’re getting a first person account of the dreams and passions that went into making these shops really special corners of the Internet.

First up we have Nia, of The Silver Shed. After grabbing up my own antler accessory from a Charlotte, North Carolina antique shop earlier this year, a few of you spoke up about getting these decorative accents humanely. I’ve since discovered that mine is an acrylic cast (not authentic), but you still got me thinking about these trendy new pieces of art and how they should be sourced. Thankfully, Nia and her mother Victoria have created an incredible brand, all based around the idea of natural sourcing.

Let’s get to know Nia, the shop and the mission a little bit better, shall we?

1.When did you start your Etsy shop? What made you decide to sell these types of pieces?

My mom Victoria and I had been preparing The Silver Shed since January 2013 and finally opened up our Etsy shop in April. My mom was an award-winning painter and ceramic artist in the ‘80s and ‘90s and has always had a passion for art. I moved to New York City in 2010, and starting our shop was a fun way to work on something together while we are apart. My dad has been collecting shed antlers on our family property in Manitoba, Canada for years, so we decided that merging his love for nature, my mom’s passion for art and my knack for commerce would be a great way to start a small business and keep a close family bond while we live in different countries.

2.What’s the story behind your shop name, The Silver Shed?

‘Shed’ comes from the whitetail-deer shed antlers we sell in the shop. Each year, male deer – or bucks – shed their antlers for the growth and regeneration of a new pair in time for the spring mating season. ‘Silver’ comes from our signature designs – white or ivory antlers with metallic chrome (silver) tips.

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3.Can you explain the 100% cruelty free mission behind your brand?

My mother’s day job is in the sustainable energy industry and my entire family are nature lovers. Growing up in a rural setting, the importance of nurturing our natural surroundings was very apparent to us, so it was important that our business reflected this same eco-friendly vision. All of the antlers we sell were naturally shed by white-tail deer and collected on our family property – a 180-acre forest in Manitoba, Canada. Absolutely no animals were harmed in the making of our products.

4.How would you describe your style? And how does that influence your work as an artisan/artist?

We paint our shed antlers to reflect our modern minimalist design aesthetic – clean ivory or white with high-shine chrome accents. We love the juxtaposition of the purist paintwork against that organic shape of the antlers. Since no two sheds are alike, each hand-painted antler is a one-of-a-kind home accent. Our antlers are meant to transcend a variety of home décor – they’ll look equally chic in a country cottage as they would a contemporary New York apartment.

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5. The photography on your site is gorgeous! What camera do you use? What are your top 3 tips for photographing sale items?

Thank you! I use a Pentax K200D or a Canon EOS Rebel T3i and shoot the antlers against a white wall and hardwood floor. My top three tips would be to have good lighting – I prefer natural light from my studio windows, make sure your items are in focus and to take photos of the product from all angles to give the consumer a clear idea of what they are purchasing. I also like to stage my antlers with flowers, books or other props so clients can be inspired as to how they can style their own. Hopefully they can visualize The Silver Shed antlers in their own living space!

Stay connected with this innovative shop and brand by checking them out on Etsy, Twitter and Instagram. Thanks for sharing your story with us, Nia!

P.S. Time for a quick “Friday Feature Round Up”! This week, I made it over to Le Papier Studio three times – (#1) a “Pin of the Day” post featuring a fabulous warm weather chilled soup recipe, (#2) a DIY Mother’s Day silhouette card tutorial and (#3) an “Inspired by” post focused on the beloved pets in our lives. On Glitter Guide this week, I gathered up 5 tasty beet recipes – No really! Tasty!! And lastly, I contributed a quick DIY namecard tutorial on GalTime.

Enjoy…

5-10-13

Filed Under: Products & Reviews Tagged With: Art, Etsy, Gift Ideas, New Uses

Our family yearbook via Artifact Uprising

May 8, 2013 2 Comments

Photography is such an incredible thing…And while that minuscule statement hardly gets across just how important photography is in our daily lives, I’m not going to hop up on my soap box with bullet points on how it has changed history. What I AM going to do though is talk about how it has changed and shaped OUR history.

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It all began with Instagram. Of all forms of social media, Instagram is hands down my favorite. It’s how I stay up to date on my friends, family and favorite bloggers and, more importantly, it’s my little way of documenting the simple things in life. John laughs at me whenever I snap a little square shaped shot of things like my plate of eggs and bacon at brunch downtown, but this is my way of capturing special moments. No matter how mundane they might seem, I’m a visual person. These tiny digital photos catalog our memories, which clearly you guys don’t find too mundane thanks to your sweet “likes” and comments (I absolutely can’t get enough of those, by the way).

But that brings me to my latest product love – Artifact Uprising (and no, I’m not being paid or perked to write this!). I’ve already fallen in love with StickyGrams as a way of getting my favorite Instagrams out of their digital dungeon and out in the open, but I wanted to take things a step further and get an actual album printed – And thanks to a well composed Artifact Uprising review over on decor8, I quickly snapped one up for myself.

Although a bit belated given that it’s now May of 2013, I decided to start a tradition with annual albums – Thus, this first one was aptly dubbed “2012.” In it, I chronicle everything from those everyday-yet-special meals out, photo after photo of our pets, lunch dates with my sister, a favorite record picked up on a spontaneous trip out of town – Anything at all worth remembering from last year, which turned out to be a lot.

By the way, it’s worth noting that the Artifact Uprising site was very easy to use and allowed me to populate all of my favorite Instagrams with ease. In a nut shell, it comes highly recommended by yours truly.

Although you won’t find me flipping through this little album every single day, or even every single week, I know it’s there sitting on the shelf beside our bed ready for me to take down on a whim. And that to me is priceless.

Thank you, Artifact Uprising, for helping me to document my beautiful little life…

How do you chronicle YOUR favorite memories? If you’re on Instagram too, feel free to share your username in the comments section (so that we can stalk you, of course!)

Filed Under: DIY Projects, Life, Products & Reviews Tagged With: Big Box Store SCORE!, Family, Gift Ideas, Holiday, Organization

An everyday springtime tablescape

May 3, 2013 Leave a Comment

Don’t worry guys. I totally get that I haven’t been sharing many DIY-able ideas lately…As I’ve mentioned before, life has been a little chaotic lately, and I just haven’t had the time (or energy) to break out the nail gun, paint brush and drill. But don’t worry – I’m feeling a little more settled and, after escaping for a week to the beach in a week and a half, I’m POSITIVE that I’ll be feeling refreshed, renewed and rededicated to crafting and projects

Until then, I’m excited to share my second installment of an everyday tablescape. Over the winter I shared a couple of ideas for a simple, transitional table layout, and I’m back today with the new season’s look.

This time, it was all about bold color and pattern. I picked up a set of 4 indoor/outdoor plates from Target (on clearance for less than $3 a pop!) to set on top of my gold chargers. Because my chargers, napkins and napkin rings from the previous season’s look are so neutral, I plan on using them year round, instead just switching out the plates and centerpiece to get a fresh look.

Speaking of the centerpiece…While we were at the grocery store recently, I scooped up this $4 bouquet of red carnations and added them to a thrift store glass from our wedding. I felt like it added just the right amount of life and warmth to the table. I especially love the rich color and layers of soft texture – I think the carnation trend is definitely coming back around.

I think my favorite part about this revitalized springtime tablescape though is the fact that it’s all easily transported to the back deck for dinners under the stars. Because the plastic plates are virtually indestructible, I don’t have to waste a moment worrying about breaking them like I do when eating off of our nice wedding dishes.

What sorts of things do you decorate your dining room table with? Or are you thinking I’m absolutely nuts for having “seasonal” dining décor? I certainly wouldn’t blame you for not “getting” my odd OCD ways.

Have a great weekend!

P.S. In case you missed them, I’ve got a bunch of external links to share in today’s “Friday Feature Round Up.” First up, I chatted about this fun placecard holder DIY over on Le Papier Studio. I also stopped by LPS for a quick “Inspired by” feature centered around the brand new Family Tree Necklace. As for Glitter Guide this week, I put together a big round up of unique wedding gift ideas (my favorite GG feature, to date). Then I spouted off my May obsessions alongside the other GG editors here, and put in my two cents on the perrr-fect spring sandal here. And THEN I stopped by GalTime to talk about experimenting with color!

Phew!!! Like I said…life has been a little chaotic…

Enjoy!

5-3-13

Filed Under: DIY Projects, Interiors, Products & Reviews, Thrifted Tagged With: New Uses, Simplify, Tips and Tricks

Leah’s Makeover: Part 2 {the living room}

May 1, 2013 Leave a Comment

I had planned on posting “Part 2″ of Leah’s living/dining room makeover last week, but the need to get last Friday’s Birchbox up-style published before I got yet ANOTHER box in the mail took precedence…Thankfully, I am now up-to-date and ready to reveal my thoughts on Leah’s beautiful home – Thanks for your patience!

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Now one thing Leah specifically wanted to keep was her wall color – and I don’t blame her. The rich bluish gray is one of my favorite things about the space. The other thing I love is that big beautiful slate fire place. It was a cinch to pull colors from all of the gorgeous variation in the stone, and it acts as the perfect focal point. What a gem.

As for the rest of the space and pulling it all together, here are my thoughts:

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A few other things that Leah specifically asked for were oversized seating and lots of color and pattern. We were able to achieve both with an affordable sectional from IKEA, and a show stopping side chair from Target. The cool gray of the couch is neutral enough to evolve with Leah’s tastes, while the colorful accent chair brings in that wash of pattern that she so loves.

For the rug, I chose a natural fiber in a neutral tone because we all know that too much color can be…well…too much. The other neutrals I brought in were the drapes. I’m suggesting a soft cream color for these sheers to act as a warming factor, but not one that takes over the main focal points in the room – namely the wall color and fire place.

As for art, I’m in love with Leah’s already hung wall clock. The oversized beauty takes up a lot of visual space, which isn’t easy in such a large room, but also acts as a really cool conversation piece. Flanking the fire place, I envision a big mirror on one side with a collection of gathered prints in mismatched gold frames on the other. I’m thinking that Leah could salvage a bunch of these types of frames from local yard sales or thrift stores, and fill them with pieces like the ones I sourced from Etsy.

What do you guys think? Any other suggestions?

Thanks again for welcoming us into your home, Leah, and best of luck – Keep us up to date on your transformation!

P.S. If you missed “Part 1,” check it out here.

Filed Under: DIY Projects, Inspired, Interiors, Products & Reviews Tagged With: Art, Before and After, Big Box Store SCORE!, Tips and Tricks, To-Do List

My @Birchbox remix

April 26, 2013 2 Comments

This poor post has been on the back-burner for FAR too long. Darn that Better Homes and Gardens photo shoot for getting in the way (I hope you can sense by INTENSE sarcasm…I obviously welcomed that little interruption). But anyway, do you know about Birchbox? I’ve chatted about Olive Box before but, although the concept is similar, each brand definitely has its own unique playful element. One is all about paper products, while the other (today’s post star) is all about beauty products – in ADORABLE sample sizes!

I’m actually so late in posting this feature, that I’ve already gotten my second Birchbox in the mail, so this is me playing catch up. The good part though is that I get to gush about not one, but TWO groups of fabulous products.

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My first box was so much fun to unwrap – It was packed full of colorful, girlie beauty samples, all of which I couldn’t wait to try out. I’ve never been much of a beauty gal. I’m a die-hard Bare Escentuals wearer, so I never thought to go outside of my box. But then my friend Alyssa told me about Birchbox and I just had to go a little wild. This first one didn’t disappoint either:

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But then THIS month’s box arrived and I was hit with another dose of sample sass. I loved all of the skin care products in this particular shipment. With spring underway, I’m looking for anything to make my winter-riddled skin look fresh again – The macaroons didn’t hurt either:

But this post isn’t just about what’s inside the box – I found a way to incorporate a little DIY action using the Birchbox itself, and wanted to share the details with you guys. You see…After I unwrapped my goodies and put them away, I naturally grabbed the cardboard box and packaging to toss into the recycling heap. But after picking up the empty box, I noticed how heavy and nice it was – MUCH too nice to throw away.

So I did what any DIYer would do – I wrapped it in pretty paper! I just happened to have a roll of polka-dotted clearance T.J.Maxx wrapping paper on hand, as though it was waiting for this project to appear in front of me.

Five minutes later, I was done. So simple, so cheap and so practical. The only thing I’d change is my lack of crisp edges, but that perfection will come with time…I’ve got months and months worth of boxes to practice on!

Once all was said and done, I popped my newly refinished box on top of the bookshelf in the studio to corral anything from pens, to notecards, to office supplies. I just love the pretty gold color and white dots. It’s neutral enough to fit in with the rest of the decor, but spunky enough to add a little character to the room.

Oh, and it turns out that remixing empty Birchboxes is a bit of a “thing.” Check out some of the other crafty ideas fellow subscribers have come up with here, here and here. What would you do with your Birchbox?

P.S. Today’s “Friday Feature Round Up” is a bit of a quiet one! With a birthday, new job and BHG shoot in the past week, I’ve been spread a little thin. But I DID manage to make it over to Le Papier Studio for a “Pin of the Day” post, and I also popped over to Anne the Adventurer for a fun guest feature! Enjoy.

4-26-13

Filed Under: DIY Projects, Products & Reviews Tagged With: Before and After, Big Box Store SCORE!, Birchbox, Gift Ideas, New Uses, Organization, Simplify, Tips and Tricks

Leah’s Makeover: Part 1 {the dining room}

April 19, 2013 Leave a Comment

Before I get started today, I just wanted to thank all of you for your support and words of encouragement leading up to today’s Better Homes and Gardens photo shoot! Finger’s crossed that I hold it together and knock this one big shot out of the park. More details to come next week, so stay tuned! Little sneak peek (in horrible rainy day lighting, of course!)…

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With that said, have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE hearing from you guys?? Well I do. I love seeing your beautiful rooms, and working with you to brainstorm ways to bring even MORE personality into your spaces.

Take Leah’s home for example. She and her family live in a beautiful house full of warm colors, souring ceilings and big open doorways. Yet, she was having trouble infusing her living and dining rooms with the furniture and pattern that she envisioned. So, like I did for Rachelle last year, I came up with a proposed plan of action to help Leah put together those final touches starting in the dining room.

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The space before is really a great leap ahead already. There’s color, there’s texture, there’s SO much warmth – It really just needed those last few pieces to bring the space together and make it feel really finished. It almost looks like the halfway shot of a room makeover, doesn’t it – There’s no denying that it’s on the right track.

Dining Room

To flesh out the style already in the room, I would love to see Leah incorporate a big patterned rug. There’s a lot of orange going on in this space, so a cool color is a must. Luckily, as you can see photographed at the end of this post, Leah’s home sports a gorgeous expansive navy living room. I simply took inspiration straight from that adjoining space, and filled Leah’s dining room with accents in that rich blue color – starting with the rug. This foundational piece is made of indoor/outdoor material, making it perfect for catching (and repelling) dinner time spills.

I love the chandelier, but wanted to see a little more light and glitz in the space. So I picture a mercury finished table lamp on the existing sideboard, switching out the standard white shade for a deep navy one. Also on that sideboard, I curated a little bar cart collection complete with decanter, amber glasses and patterned drinking straws. Above that I’d love to see Leah exploit her love of pattern and color with a gallery collection. Those blue and orange prints I found on Etsy are a great visual of the warm/cool color palette we have going on. To finish off the sideboard vignette, I added an oversized metal “S” as a shout out to Leah’s last name. Lastly, a faux succulent planter for the dining table offers warmth and texture – without the hassle and mess of real plants.

Check back next week, when I’ll be sharing my ideas for finishing off Leah’s living room makeover (again, the “Progress” shot for that space is pictured below).

Thanks for welcoming us into your home, Leah!!

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P.S. For today’s “Friday Feature Round Up,” we’ve got a collection of everything emerald for the home, a “Pin of the Day” featuring mason jar bow ties, DIY Mother’s Day gift ideas and some springtime flower arranging tips. Enjoy, and have a great weekend!

4-19-13

Filed Under: DIY Projects, Inspired, Interiors, Products & Reviews Tagged With: Art, Before and After, Big Box Store SCORE!, Tips and Tricks

Gift Guide: For the Birthday Girl

April 17, 2013 2 Comments

Birthday Girl 2013

Okay – So sure, it might seem a little coincidental that I would post a big birthday gift guide on…What’s today again? Oh, yeah! It’s MY birthday!! But if I was trying to send my family a not-so-subtle hint, I would have posted this ages ago, right? At least that’s my cop out… (I hope you can read into my silly sarcasm here!!)

The real reason I wanted to post a birthday gift guide today is to break the “Christmas only” rule when it comes to these dreamy mash ups. Christmas is definitely not the only time when we could use a little gift giving inspiration, so I’m going to make it a point to post linkable goodies throughout the year. I’m thinking a hostess gift guide, teacher gift guide, mailman gift guide. Now I know I’m certainly not the only one to have this wild idea, so if you know of any other great non-Christmas gift guides out there, link to them in the comments!

First up for the Dream Green DIY version though – Gifts for the birthday girl. I emphasis “girl” because this guide is DRIPPING in girly, peppy fun. Whether your budget is $10 or $50, I hope you find just the thing to pick up for your girlfriend, daughter, mom, sister, aunt, co-worker or even the gal next door.

Happy shopping – and hellooooo year 27!!

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P.S. I wanted to pass along this call for creative photographers and parents of cute kiddos via Le Papier Studio…We are thrilled to introduce our “Children of the World” Project. Submit your kid/s best photographs for a chance to transform them into one of a kind CUSTOM SILHOUETTES, and be part of our “Children of the World” collection. A portion of sales from this project will be donated to Save the Children. Enter HERE.

Filed Under: Life, Products & Reviews Tagged With: Big Box Store SCORE!, Family, Gift Guide, Gift Ideas, Simplify, Tips and Tricks

{Must Have Shoes} “Flatwear”

April 5, 2013 Leave a Comment

Happy Friday, everyone! What are you up to this weekend? Got spring shopping on the brain? I have been out and about this week filling my arms with fun new patterned additions to my wardrobe. Don’t worry – I didn’t blow my New Year’s resolution. These shopping excursions were made possible by a check from consigning my old clothes (which I ALWAYS put back into my closet – seems only fair) and a little Easter money from my sweet mom-in-law specifically meant for the upcoming dress season. I was able to get a bunch of new pieces for my wardrobe and spent only about $115. The loot? 3 dresses, 2 tank tops and a belt. Not bad, huh?

Thankfully, shoes are NOT part of my resolution and are fair game for my meager freelancer’s budget. I am always in the market for new flats and, after a quick trip to my best friend’s family-owned store Must Have Shoes, I met my new favorite pair…The OKA b. Taylor Flats (seen below on the left).

Jelly Flats

OKA b. Taylor Flats | Tory Burch Jelly Bow Ballet Flats

I ADORE the pretty coral color and the fact that these (machine washable!!) flats are a grown up throwback to my girlhood jelly shoes, but of course the best part for my budget-conscious brain is the value. At around $40 and some change, I can enjoy this spunky springtime look AND be able to afford groceries. What really sealed the deal for me was that quick comparison above. I’m loving the fact that I was able to stay on trend AND keep $80+ in my pocket.

If you’re wishing the OKA b. flats came with a little embellishment like the Tory Burch pair, you’re in luck – There are a couple of other styles in the store that feature glittery appliques crowning the front of each shoe. I want one of every color please! (please forgive the quality of my iPhone photos below)

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Locals, you MUST go try a pair out in person. While living in D.C. for a couple of months right after college I developed a righteous fear of blister-inducing shoes – These form fitting flats though feel instantly worn in, and I could tell right away that blisters wouldn’t be an issue. In fact, I slipped the shoes on and then proceeded to wear them the entire duration of our visit to the shop. I didn’t even take them off to pay for them!

Speaking of the shop…Here’s a little virtual tour for those of you not in Lynchburg.

Tour

Oh and just so you know, although this sounds like a bonafide advertisement, I am not being paid or perked to write this little post up. Of course, I’m always looking to help out my best friend and her entrepreneurial family, but I also just genuinely love these shoes. I hope you find YOUR flats soulmate this season – But if you’re having trouble finding “the one,” you know where I’m going to send you…

Enjoy your weekend!

P.S. Since it’s becoming a bit of a tradition…Here’s yet another installment of “Friday Feature Roundup,” where I gather up links to my other Internet projects/collaborations from the week. We’ve got two new weekly features over on Le Papier Studio (read up on my new internship with the designer silhouette line at the bottom of this post). The first is a mood board inspired by the Floral Wreath Silhouette Print, and the other is a “Pin of the Day” feature where I mulled over the concept of a “Little White Dress.” Enjoy and, as always, thanks for the support!

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