The Move.

Ladies, ladies, ladies...

Can I just tell you how much I HATE moving (cue explanation for protracted absence)?

It has finally happened. My husband and I have FINALLY settled in to our new home, and thankfully, we are totally unpacked. Mind you, I say "unpacked," I didn't say our decorating is completed or the fixer-upper projects are wrapped up.

Here's what's on our to-do list:

1.) Replace trim in the hall. Following a terrible realization that our paint was falling off in sheets after even prepping the wood, we decided to replace the trim. We used our old trim to create a lovely outdoor rustic table. See here: http://instagram.com/p/L1X7w4nZA7/ (We also built those chairs.)

2.) Hang pictures. Normally, I get right in there hanging things up. I haven't this time. I'm still figuring out what I'm going to do.

3.) Furniture shopping. We still need a chair for the living room and a console table. I think we need another piece or so for the bedroom as well.

Other than that, friends, we are in great shape. Want to see for yourself?

Headboard is made of corrugated tin.

This design is made from foil ductwork tape.

Our living room wall. The chevron wall has huge framed posters and pops of red.

March: Five Things

Lovelies,

March was a pretty good month on the whole. I discovered a few loves and enjoyed a few new purchases. Here's my top five:

1 | Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM (Pre-Loved). I scored this long-desired beauty on EBay last month with the proceeds of a sale I made to a friend. I have used it everyday since. Best. Day bag. Ever.

2 | Bath & Body Works, Slatkin & Co. Candles. I always thought these were overhyped. Then I bought them in a two for $20.00 deal. So freaking worth it. One candle can literally make your whole house smell amazing. My favorite right now is Peach Bellini.

3 | Revlon Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti. Amazing texture, buildable color, moisturizing. Enough said.

4 | Young House Love. This blog ate up a lot of time in March. I found myself getting sucked in, and next thing I knew, it was an hour or so later. Love this couple's design ideas and DIYs.

5 | Burt's Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm with Kokum Butter. Smooth, moisturizing, long-lasting, cheap. It was an impulse buy, but I find myself applying most nights before bed. Love.

 

Chevron walls, business cards, and Nashvegas

So I'm not gonna lie... Lately I've been more than a little obsessed with a few things:

1. Pinterest

2. Chevron prints

3. ...pinterest

The combination of these two obsessions led to my decision to convince my very easy going husband into letting me paint a chevron print accent wall in our new living room. (He also capitulated to horizontal stripes in the bathroom, but that's another story.)

I'm in love with it.

I also be-chevroned my business cards. (Want a similar design? Holla!)

 

What else is new in the great states of TN and MS? Well, as I write,I'm on a bus with my leadership class headed to Nashville. Great group of people, and I'm being paid to spend time with them cutting up and learning! Nothing better than that! I hate our classes are coming to an end.

 

 

Review: Burberry Body

 

I've always been a fan of Burberry fragrances. My signature scent throughout high school and college was the original Burberry fragrance, and I really haven't encountered one of their perfumes that I DIDN'T like.

That said, this weekend, for my birthday, we picked up the small bottle of the 2011 Burberry release, Burberry Body. I must say, despite all of the tepid to scathing reviews, I'm quite enamoured of this fragrance.

I'm notoriously bad at picking out the subtleties of a perfume, but when I smell this gem, I think clean florals. I can also detect a little fruitiness. On the dry down, it comes across as warm and inviting.

Here's what Fragrantica (an amazing resource for perfume hoarders like me) has to say:

Body Burberry is a luxury chypre - fruity composition that begins with notes of fresh green absinthe, peach and freesia. Roses and iris are in the heart, leaning on the base of sandalwood, cashmerean, musk, amber and vanilla.

I can easily see this becoming my new signature. And it doesn't hurt that I'm obsessed with the packaging.

 

Score!

 Are you a self-professed makeup junky like me?

 

Then run to the nearest Burke's Outlet (We have them in the South. Not sure if they are everywhere.) and look in the makeup section.

Why?

Because I just found Stila Lip Enamel gloss for $3.99...They are originally $20+.

I love a bargain. *sigh* I picked up Giggle (hot pink), Joy (sheer red), and Euphoria (berry). I am happy to report that these glosses are long lasting and not sticky. 

Definitely the find of the year makeup-wise!

 

I just FEEL smarter...

 Remember my discovery of Coastal.com? Free glasses?

They came in early last week, and they are perfect! The prescription is spot on, and I've been very pleased with the quality. 

A little outlandish,yes. But I love them! 

 I also popped back in to the site to check out some of their other prices, and they have another special going on for Valentines. $50 off of your order when you add a lens upgrade. So considering another pair!

 

 

Undergoing Underwriting

 If you've ever bought a house, you probably still get a little shiver down the spine when somebody says, "Closing."

But do you know what's worse than boogie monsters, prepaids, spiders, and having to come up with a year's worth of home insurance premiums?

Waiting for an underwriter to render judgement upon your mortgage application.

You've probably guessed that we're buying a house...Errr. Attempting to anyway.

Here is my advice for anyone going thru this process:

1.) Get Pre-Approved, NOT Pre-Qualified. Pre-Approval involves having your lender run a credit report, checking your bank accounts, and verifying your debt-to-income ratio, which you should have already done prior to setting up your appointment. Don't let it sneak up on you! Google "debt-to-income ratio" to figure out the math. It's easy!

2.) Set your limit and stick to it. You should have a serious conversation with yourself, your spouse, your partner, etc about what you really do and do not want in a house/neighborhood. This is most often a 30 year committment, and frankly, NOBODY looks at houses without getting a little emotionally involved. Better to have the basics sorted before you start looking at that charming little wreck down the road. You'll also be less likely to bump your budget up, say, $80K...

3.) Get Thee to a Buyer's Agent. Do you know what the Seller's Agent's job is? To get you to buy THAT house. A Buyer's Agent, who also wants to get you to buy A house, is more concerned with getting you into a house that fits your criteria. Look for one with extensive knowledge about the area you want to live in and who will champion on your behalf. Our agent has been an invaluable resource for neighborhood knowledge, places to avoid, houses to avoid, and the information about the process.

4.) Even if it looks perfect, have it inspected. Let's be serious, home inspections aren't cheap...You know what else isn't cheap? Digging your charming little wreck out of a pit after the foundation fails on you. Best to just search the web for a CERTIFIED and LICENSED inspector in your area. And no, your Uncle Handy Manny is probably not the best idea either.

Have I followed my own advice, you say? Yep. Now I'm sitting back and cooling my heels while we wait on appraisal and underwriting. 

Wish us luck, and if anyone wants to commiserate, comment below!

 

Free Nerd Chic Glasses? Why, yes, I will!

I've never been one of those people who only wore their glasses at home...You know? Where no one else would possibly see them?

I've pretty much always been a glasses loving n.e.r.d. Especially funky, trendy frames in unexpected colors. Unfortunately, glasses are expensive. I'm pretty sure every optometrist must have ten kids to put through college, because glasses usually put a crimp in my purse budget.

 

Knock, knock...

Who's there? 

Costal Contacts

I stumbled across this gem of a site while watching YouTube videos.

And do you know what? They have a promo code for a free (FREE) pair of prescription glasses! (Firstpairfree)

Check out these puppies:

 

 

 

 Yeah, that's a multiplication and division sign on the corners. Be jealous. These are so mine.

 

And I only paid shipping. *Sigh*

 

 

January Favorites

 Good evening, my lovelies!

 

While the hubs is at work, I thought I would catch up on my blog a bit. Here is what I LOVED in the month of January:

1: Pinterest - Look, if you're not on Pinterest, don't start now! It is the crack of the social networking world. I curse the day I was introduced to it...As we speak, I'm checking my feed. Crack.

2: NPW Vanilla Nail Polish Remover Pads - I found them in the check out line at Ulta for a buck or two, and they are a treat unto this world. Alcohol and acetone free, they have some sort of cuticle oil built in. I adore them. (www.npw-USA.com)

3: The. Colorblock. Tote. - This is not your mother's grocery sack, ladies. This is the epitome of totes. Thick canvas, leather details...I've had a love affair with this bag this month. Mainly because I can shove a LOT of stuff in it. 

 

 4: Sakroots iPad cover - I'm usually that rebel you see toting a nakey iPad. I know, I know. Terrible. Right? But I found this gem in a TJ Maxx for $16. L.o.v.e.

 That's about it. What did you love this month?

 

Yeah, I did it.

 I have no excuse for myself other than...Well, okay, no excuse.

 

I saw this phone case on YouTube, and being a bunny mama, I had to get one. This is the Rabito Bunny iPhone case in light pink. 

I'm slightly ashamed at how excited I was to find this in my mailbox today.