Fearrington April Wedding

We enjoyed another fun wedding this weekend - Emily Taylor & Mike Farrell, one of Josh's best friends.  It was at the Fearrington and I took careful notes for some friends getting married there later this year.  It was a gorgeous venue and the food was delicious. 



(Julia, a best friend from college, and Reilly are getting married in 2 months at the Fearrington!  I wanted Penny to have something since she is not invited to her parents' nuptials.)

XO,

Whit

Carolina Inn Inspirations

Josh and I enjoyed our weekend at the Carolina Inn.  It's an old favorite and so lovely.  I wanted to share some of the top inspirations

Tables in sitting areas were set with all different teacups.  It makes such a charming table.  I've been wanting to start a collection -- picking up different ones on trips as a momento.

Modern fabrics gave these wingback chairs and updated look.  The key motif was all over the Inn.

I've always adored the look of a black & white marble floor.  I'd love to have one in a foyer in our next house.

I love old family photos -- I'm working on a similar collage with old photos of mine and Josh's families.  I haven't decided if I'll hang it in the guest room or going up the steps.  Thoughts?

Lots of natural light is a must for me.

The silhouettes reminded me of my sweet friend Louise's creations.  Check out her Etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/people/handmadesilhouettes?ref=ls_profile

Here are a few samples-- they are darling!!

I like this design or something similar for the curtains I am having made for my kitchen.  This is my fabric (the black part is a raised velvet -- Iman Sultana Lattice):

A trend that is in every magazine right now.

Such a fun weekend, but we both agreed it was nice to be home.

XO,

Whit

Happy Easter!

From our house to yours.

More to come from this weekend later.

XO,

Whit

DIY Chair Recovering

I have completed (with help) my first recovering projects on some chairs around the house.  These were easy projects, but I want to learn how to do some more complicated items.

I'm working on my guest room (no pics to share yet) and found these chairs for a steal ($75) -- they just needed a little recovering.  I used some left over fabric from the back of Euro shams I had made for the room.  The guest room redesign is working around the beautiful cow rug you see pictured below (such a sweet wedding gift from Gray, Ellen & their parents).

Black and gold chair.  I spotted this in the window of Style 123 on a Sunday and knew I'd have to go back to buy it.  I love it!  It's recovered in some left over fabric from my mother-in-law's dining room chairs (thanks, Jean!!).  She actually bought one of the chairs too.  I'm hoping when we move into another house I can talk her into parting with it so I have a pair.  I know they advise you to decorate in odds, but I can't help it-- I love symmetry.  For now this will likely end up in our foyer, thought I've been admiring it in the den the last week.  (Mom-- I bet you are loving this!)

The chair on the left was about 9-10x more money than the chair on the right.  Can you tell too much of a difference?  I love the one of the left, but I'm thinking mine is achieving the same look.

The "superintendent" was not too hard at work for this project...

Heading to the Carolina Inn for another wedding weekend tomorrow!  (PS- Josh ended up getting it last night for a steal on priceline.com at $80/night-- try that website if you haven't!!)

XO,

Whit

April Weekend

We are blessed to have so many friends getting married this year!  We headed to New Bern this weekend for Parker & Drew's wedding.  It was on her parent's property and was gorgeous (the weather held out!!).

I am such a sucker for father / daughter dances.  Parker & her dad were so sweet.



Other couples

Myers & Milt; Lake & Barbara

Josh & I

And friends

(note to self -- use self tanner or get some sun!)

Then we came home to some destruction in Oakwood.  We are lucky that it was only a few trees and limbs down in our yard and thankfully our house and cars were fine. (Mom- these pics are for you!)

We also came home to a dog who wanted a Bojangles biscuit.  She braved the storm on her own (then Bailey came and rescued her) so we figured she deserved it. :)

Off to Columbus for work and then another fun wedding this weekend (in Chapel Hill).

Sorry if this post was a total snoozefest!  I wanted to use it to show my sweet mom some pics.

XO,

Whit

Delicious Summer Slaw

Let me start off this post by mentioning I am not a big slaw fan.  I'll eat it every now and then with BBQ, but that is rare.  However, I could make and eat this every night!  It is so good and makes a nice side for a variety of meals.

Ingredients:

1 bag cole slaw (I always get the bag with slivered carrots and purple cabbage)

1 bunch green spring onions (about 6)

2/3 c. sunflower seeds

2/3 c. slivered almonds

2 packages chicken flavored Ramen noodles

1 c. vegetable oil

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. white vinegar

Break up 2 packages of Ramen noodles into a bowl (set seasoning packets aside).  Next pour the bag of cole slaw on top.  Then add the diced spring onions.  Next layer 2/3 c. sunflower seeds followed by 2/3 c. almonds.  Sprinkle the two seasoning packets on top.

On the stove heat 1 c. oil, 1/2 c. sugar and 1/2 c. vinegar -- once sugar is melted pour over the layered bowl.  Do not stir. 

Refrigerate about 4 hours before serving -- toss well.  Keeps for several days.

XO,

Whit

Brooch Love

So we were a little slower at work a week or two ago and I did some major online reading to pass the time.  I kept seeing spring accessories that had what appeared to be brooches incorporated.  I love the vintage and feminine appeal of this look.  What fun statement pieces for spring and summer!

Some from Kate Spade

Then I decided I had to have this one...

but the pricetag was too steep...so I did some Amazon searching and found these two little guys ($10-15 each).

Here is my attempt at replicating (thanks to Amazon and a trip to Ornamentea).  It's no Kate, but I think I'll enjoy it.

Some other accessories

There are also a lot of clutches with brooches

I loved those so much I went crazy and ordered all these critters off Amazon to add to some clutches and other necklaces

I made this with the bee last Saturday, but I'm not loving it -- luckily I kept it as a brooch so I can remove and add to different items

Go buy yourself a brooch off Amazon -- it will dress up some clutches I bought in my Goodwill high school phase (you know the ones, Gray & Elle!)

Exhibit A

XO,

Whit