Backing Your Built-ins

Remember my built-ins with the mirrors as back drops?

No? Good! The mirrors were awful. I've finally decided that rather than taking the mirrors down and risk tearing up the wall behind them, I would use Tempaper. It's temporary wallpaper with some decent designs. It's perfect for those who are renting, or for someone like me who wants to cover up mirrors & regular wallpaper just won't do the trick.

I chose the Marrakesh design in the 'Honey Jade' color. 

This is how far I got before I needed to take a break...

Let me tell you, putting sticky wallpaper up is NOT easy! I finally figured out that you need to slowly pull away the backing, about an inch at a time, and smooth that part from the inside out. What's even worse is, as you can see, the roll didn't cover the entire mirror. So i had to try to cut and match up that little strip with the rest of the wallpaper. Putting this stuff up was so aggravating and tedious! The final product is nowhere near perfect, but it'll do. 

As you can see, I have some of my Halloween pumpkins and skulls out. :) I most definitely need to hit up a used book store to fill in these shelves. I also need a few more trinkets & some art work. Once I get the shelves decorated, I'll post a new picture.

I just love built-ins that are backed with wallpaper. It makes the biggest difference in an otherwise blah design!

And incase you forgot, it's HALLOWEEN!

Brad & I are looking forward to passing out candy to the trick-or-treaters tonight! 

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Xo Lindsay

Fall Front Porch Love

It's not too late to decorate your porches for the trick or treaters. {I just hope Hurricane Sandy allows the northeastern kids to participate in Halloween!} Here are some of my favorite fall decorations for the front porch. But first... Brad and I finally carved our pumpkins!

Happy Monday!

Xo Lindsay

Accessorize Your Desk

One of my favorite bloggers is at it again with another fantastic giveaway! 

Megan at Style Me Swanky is giving away a Graphic Image monogrammed 2013 Leather Desk Datebook. You have four chances to enter... Just follow her easy steps here. This planner would be a perfect accessory for your desk. I'm especially loving this orange croc cover!

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Here are a few chic desks that are accessorized flawlessly!

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Hurry & enter Megan's giveaway before you run out of time.

Good luck!

Xo Lindsay

Indulgences

I've indulged in a little shopping recently. I've checked some items off of my wish list, but there's still a few to go.

My newest bag... The Tory Burch Dakota Large Hobo. I'm still awaiting it's arrival... 

Hudson 'Krista Skinny Waxed' Jeans. These jeans are the perfect waxed jeans. I've tried on many waxed jeans... most of which are stiff and VERY uncomfortable. These jeans seriously feel like butter.

Brad and I finally found bedroom furniture that I love! Thank you, Pottery Barn! This dresser and 2 nightstands should arrive within the next 2 weeks. 

As you know by now, I love SPOTS! I bought this spotted tray. Too cute & just $12!

As for my wish list... This AMAZING bar cart from Society Social. I'm drooling over it. I just need to get up the nerve to spend the money. 

Sorry I haven't shared pumpkin carvings as promised. It's simply because we haven't carved them yet. Maybe tomorrow...

One last thing, we just bought our plane tickets to my favorite city, NEW YORK for the weekend of November 15-18! I'm SO DARN EXCITED!!! We have absolutely no idea where to stay, though. I'd like a grand boutique hotel in a great neighborhood, meaning NOT Times Square. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. 

Hope y'all are having a wonderful week!

Xo Lindsay

I Love Wilmington!

I must say, I'm absolutely LOVING Wilmington, NC! 

I love our new house. I love our neighbors. I love the shopping. I love the history. I love the fabulous Wrightsville Beach. I love the old buildings. I love that Wilmington is a big city for filming movies & tv shows! Since I've lived here, I've seen Giancarlo Esposito from Breaking Bad & Revolution, Tracy Spiridakos from Revolution and Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Channing Tatum's wife! 

I managed to snap a picture of Giancarlo. He was eating sushi just a few tables over at a little hole in the wall place. 

I talked to Tracy Spiridakos at Monkee's (the best clothing boutique in town). I didn't know who she was at the time, but I kept thinking how beautiful she was. It wasn't until I got home and saw the Revolution previews on tv that I realized who she is. Revolution is being filmed here in town. Last Tuesday, they filmed a scene in the park right across the street from my house. So cool!

Over the weekend, Brad & I went to the movies to see Taken 2 (it was just o.k.). Before the movie, we got a quick bite and some beer at Fox & Hound. We were sitting there, and this GORGEOUS girl walked in. I said to Brad, "She looks just like Channing Tatum's wife." He basically told me I was crazy. I pulled up her picture on my phone to convince him and myself that it was her. I left the restaurant still not knowing for sure. When I got home later that night, I looked her up on Twitter and found tweets from her talking about how she's filming here in Wilmington. I was right! 

Here she is on set.

I'm starting a new career: Paparazzi of Wilmington, NC. Stay tuned to my blog for more pictures of celebrities frolicking about town. 

Kidding... sort of! ;)

Anyway, tonight Brad & I are carving our pumpkins! I'll share our carvings with you tomorrow. 

Happy Monday!

Xo Lindsay

Design & DIY

Whoever said that interior design is easy is seriously mistaken. 

We are verrrryyy slowly getting our house in order. We nixed using any of our old furniture in our new house, sold it all on Craigslist, and we're now trying to get new everything. It's expensive, and I'm trying to shop smart and not be so indecisive. I typically make impulse purchases, and a year later, I often wonder what I was thinking. We bought neutral basics and plan on 'zhuzhing' it up with great accessories. 

The hardest part about decorating?? FABRICS! RUGS! They're both SO expensive, and I don't want to regret these purchases. I have no curtains, no pillows, 2 rugs, and I'm so sick of staring at our blank slate living & dining rooms. I want curtains that I will love year round, meaning transitional from season to season. Pillows are easily changeable... curtains & rugs, not so much. Any suggestions? 

Okay, enough babbling about what I don't have yet. Here's what we do have!

A fabulous dining table with great chairs!

Chairs can get very expensive {$250+ a piece}. We found basic chairs at World Market and somehow managed to get them for $75 each!

Their slipcovers for these chairs were a beige linen, and I really wanted white. We found these white slipcovers from Crate & Barrel. I love slipcovers because they're washable!

Here's how the chairs look with our gorgeous table.

{Ella says 'Hello'}

Do you see what I mean by blank slate?? No rug, no curtains, nothing in our built-ins, no real table-scape... We have, however, switched out those blinds from plastic to the faux wooden blinds. 

Last evening, our ottoman showed up! Thank you West Elm.

Today, I plan on decorating the ottoman with books, florals, some sort of tray, etc.

I put my artistic skills 12-year-old painting & drawing abilities to the test this week. I want to do a wall gallery over the sofa. I love a mix of black & white frames. Everywhere I looked, the gallery frames were so expensive. I ended up at A.C. Moore, bought $3 and $4 black & wooden frames, painted the wooden frames white & added white borders inside all of them. I filled some frames with pictures & others with a little DIY art work. 

Pictures of my wall gallery to come... {once I find a hammer in Brad's messy garage.}

That's all for now!

P.S. Does anyone know where I can get cheap books to fill my built-ins? I want either fashion / interior design books or vintage classics. 

Xo Lindsay

Currently Loving: Spots

I love spots on clothing and accessories. I especially love spots paired with other prints, like the leopard and striped skirts below. 

I, also, love spots in the home. I'll definitely be finding a spotted pillow or two. And how great would this spotted wallpaper be for an office or nursery?

Happy Monday!

Xo Lindsay

Scenes From My Weekend

I spent Thursday night with some wonderful new friends at Wilmington's annual Pink Ribbon Event. Everyone knows someone affected by breast cancer, and what better way to support the cause than to throw a party, eat amazing food, listen to great music, and hang out with friends??

Friday night, Brad & I went downtown for dinner. We hit the gold mine finding a new place where we could devour a filet. If you're ever in Wilmington, eat at Circa 1922. The location was great. The ambiance was great. The food was amazing!

Saturday, Brad did some work around the house and watched a little football.

Saturday night Brad & I went to Summer & Ryan's engagement party. It was held at Summer's parents GORGEOUS beach home at Wrightsville Beach. Everything was so tastefully done... It was wonderful!

We slipped out of the party a little early because the Gamecocks were playing Georgia, and I had to catch as much as I could of the game. WE WON!!! Watch out for the #3 team in America! :) Brad's alma mater, NC State, also upset their opponent, #3 Florida State. 

All in all, it was a good night and a great weekend!

Xo Lindsay