{Fashion} Andrea Montgomery Designs Giveaway CLOSED

Details | Shirt: Anthropologie sale (similar); Maroon Denim: Apricot Lane (similar); Shoes: Dispatch Boutique in Seattle (similar); Gold Quatrefoil Necklace: Andrea Montgomery Designs

I'd been following this Anthropologie shirt since I first saw it in the store, but new I needed to wait until it went on sale. Finally, I scored it! {And sadly it's out of stock online now.} I love that it pairs well with regular jeans or colored denim.  I also love my new gold quatrefoil necklace.  It pairs well with... anything!  I've worn it everyday since I opened it up because it's simple, understated, gold, and a shape that I adore.  I love quatrefoil in interiors and turns out I also adore it around my neck :)

Andrea is the amazing owner and designer of the stunning pieces in Andrea Montgomery Designs, and she is offering one lucky duck reader the very same necklace! Not only will we be twins with our necklaces, but you'll also get compliments every time you wear it. Promise.
I know you'll LOVE it and the rest of Andrea's gorgeous shop.

ANDREA MONTGOMERY DESIGNS SHOP

Simply enter the giveaway below by using the Rafflecopter tool :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Thursday!
xoxo

73

Ice Cream & One Place Polka Dots Should Never Be

I've got a busy week this week so I'm keeping my loves and love-me-nots list short and sweet! 

An outing to get homemade ice cream with one of my best friends last weekend. I love ice cream {right up there with my obsession with tea!} and I loveeee homemade goods.  When I say homemade, I mean seriously...they make the ice cream right in front of your very eyes. Well my very eyes.  See for yourself....

Don't get me wrong, friends. I swoon over polka dots just like the next trend-obsessed-blogger, but you know what? I think I found a place polka dots should never be. ON A HOUSE. In a house? On a single wall? On your sweater, belt, or shoes? Absolutely. On the exterior of your home, however? No thanks! I can't believe this is real...on the beach front of Santa Monica, nonetheless. 

What are YOU loving and not loving this week?! Dish it ladies.

Happy Wednesday!
xoxo


PS! You can also catch me on Sadie + Stella sharing a bit about my favorite room ever. Go say hi to Lindsay and find out what room I'm showing you! 

28

Cozy Home in Upstate New York

 

 

*all images via House Beautiful's Scandinavian Aesthetic home tour, designed by Charles O. Schwarz

When I saw this cozy home tour, set in charming upstate New York, I quickly fell in love with so many elements. I definitely gravitate toward a more traditional design style, but with a few country, vintage or whimsical touches {and sometimes I love me punches of modern, too!}. This home tour has a little of all my favorite things. It's rustic, has awesome textures, pretty chandeliers {any girl's dream}, lots of light, not too many overwhelming colors, and a genius kitchen and breakfast nook design. I loved it so much so I told you why above. How cute is the striped upholstery in unexpected colors?! And to forgo mentioning that crazy-cool chandelier in the kitchen would be a crime.  Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't hang it in my personal kitchen, but I can appreciate it and think it totally makes the room. Part of the reason it works is because the ceiling is vaulted, so it allows for the extra height, texture and overall size of the fixture.  Everything else in the room is relatively simple, so going a bit crazy with the the chandy was a-okay in my book. 

What's your favorite thing about the home tour? Or maybe you don't like it one bit...and that's okay, too :)

Have a lovely Tuesday!
xoxo

PS. Say hello to my sponsor Katie of Standpipe and Sprinkles. 

Her heart is so sweet, her writing captivates me everyday and her daughter might be one of the cutest little girls ever:)

14

{Weekend Recap} The Ellen Show

This past week was one of my favorites. Ever. If you follow me on instagram, you know that I went to The Ellen Show on Thursday with one of my good friends, Julie!  We grabbed lunch then headed to wait in line for the taping. We got pulled aside and asked to take a "survey" for the show, so we went along with it.  Little did we know, that was their ploy to try and find the contestants for the games on the show. I immediately got nervous and said I didn't want to do it {I know...such a baby!} but Julie said she'd be in the running.  After she got prepped for possibly being on the show, we headed over to the studio. We were escorted to the front row!! Day made.  Felicity Huffman was the special guest and told us about her new site, What the Flicka? She was stunning, so funny, and had the cutest shoes.  After the show, a friend I have who works in the styling department for Ellen gave us a backstage tour. It was so fun! Day made again :)

I watch Ellen any time I can, so this was a real treat. She was hilarious, as always, and so kind to the audience.  It's a quick taping, so if you're up for it, I totally recommend requesting tickets on their website. The only thing I thought was different from being there than watching the show was that the studio seemed way smaller than it looks! 

Be sure to watch today at 4pm (at least that's the time it airs here in California!) and be on the lookout for me. I'm wearing a black and white striped dress and sitting in the front row.  Have you ever been to Ellen, or anything other tapings?!

Happy Monday:)
xoxo

22

February Sponsors to Love

Happy weekend everyone! The last few days were sure a whirlwind for me between going to see the Ellen Show and The Bachelor Women Tell All taping (!!) Don't worry, I'll dish on both soon enough, but today I'm here sharing a few of my new favorite ladies who also happen to be sponsors of this here blog.  A stunning photographer (who I have a styled shoot coming up with soon!), a mama who writes an inspiring blog and loves design as much as me, a sweet New York City girl with a great blog and shop full of green products for your home (or your hair and skin!), and a beautiful and talented jewelry designer who creates the most delicate and lovely pieces. Take a look at these lovelies. You will adore them!
***

I am an outgoing, silly person who loves to laugh and meet new people! I have an obsession with shopping, minnie mouse, and the color pink. Everything happens for a reason and the small things in life always make me the happiest. I believe in true love and I know I have found mine. My life is captured through photographs and I hope to capture just a slice of your fabulous life too! I am based out of San Luis Obispo on California's Central Coast, but ready to travel anywhere to photograph fabulous weddings! My hope is for you to fall in love with your pictures over and over again, and I want you to be more then a client, I want you to be a friend.

PHOTOGRAPHY WEBSITE

***

Hi!  My name is Kelly Pelley of Modern Earth Design.  Yes, I know, it's totally ok for you to laugh.  I believe it was God's way to bring laughter into my life on a daily basis (LOL). I am a design junkie!  You will find me eating, breathing, drinking... well, everything about design.  Design = Passionate People and I have enlisted my wonderful hubby and my 3 awesome kids with me on this journey.  Friends have asked me so much about my interior design style and how I could help them that it has grown into a business for me, and thus, Modern Earth Design was born.  I love my job and feels so blessed to help bring engaging surroundings to businesses as well as homes that clients, family and friends don't want to leave.  Would love for you to come by, have a cup of tea or your favorite coffee drink as I share some design eye candy, design solutions, our own home renovations and family life.  Come hoping and leave inspired!

BLOG

***

Hi there! My name is Marcela Barraza, I was born and raised in Chile, South America.  I came to the US following the love of my life who I met when we both were 18 years old. I’m the mother of a beautiful 10 year old girl.  I love everything that is home related: organizing, decorating and cleaning!  I’m the founder of MB Green Cleaning, a home cleaning company in NYC and my mission is to teach everyone I can the importance of a green cleaning and how we can live healthier by making small changes on items we use on a daily basis, whether it be in our homes or on our bodies.  Tu Casa Blog was born last year and it is the outlet of my daily routine.  I hope people get to see what I do there and hopefully get inspired. I prefer tea over coffee, Summer over Winter, snow over rain (since I can't avoid Winter in NYC!), beach over country and funny movies over horror films.

BLOG | SHOP

 ***

Andrea Montgomery Designs creates timelessly styled pieces with the modern woman in mind.  Andrea Montgomery Design’s fine jewelry is unique and handmade in 14k and 18k gold, sterling silver and gold vermeil, featuring precious and semi-precious gemstones, freshwater pearls and diamonds. Andrea is an established designer having been featured in several magazines, including InStyle, Good Housekeeping, and Lucky. With an eye for detail and everyday elegance, her pieces will take you from desk to dinner with ease without sacrificing style.

SHOP
***

See? They're awesome. As always :)  Hope you have a relaxing weekend. If you're interested in advertising your blog, company or shop on Michaela Noelle Designs, please email me at michaelawarner90 {@} gmail {dot} com to grab my media kit with pricing and packages.

See you Monday!
xoxo

4

{In the Kitchen} Homemade Mini Pizzas

I've been on a recent cooking kick, and thought I'd share one of my favorite mini bite recipes as of lately.  If you're looking for a quick and yummy appetizer, these mini pizzas are perfect! I found the recipe on Pinterest and gave it whirl. It did not disappoint.  I put the recipe on the images above, but if you want more info, go view the original recipe here.  

Also, since I've been enjoying cooking much more in the new apartment, let me know your favorite recipes to cook up so I can try them! So...what have you cooked {or baked!} recently?! Keep them simple...this girl doesn't have a ton of time!

Bon Appétit...and happy Friday!
xoxo

PS. Yesterday I told you I was going to a taping of my favorite show ever-- Yes, that's right, I'm going to a taping of The Bachelor, The Women Tell All.  Don't worry, I'll be sure to tell everyone hello for you and give you the details next week! Eeeeek! {If only Sean wasn't taken now, this would have been my chance to meet him!} ;)

23

{How To} Build a Living Room from the Ground Up

Sometimes it is just hard to get started on a room. Do you ever feel so overwhelmed, you just put off house projects and hope the fairy-house-mother does them for you?! Well hopefully this little How To will help put your anxiety at ease and get your creative juices flowing.  There are many ways to start designing a room, so this is just one of them {another favorite way is to take a rug, pillow, or piece of art as your inspiration and build around that!} The steps are simple... 

1. Start with basic, neutral pieces as your foundation for a room. These are the pieces to really invest in.

2. Add some fun specialty pieces with personality, sparkle and some texture.  A unique side table, patterned rug, beautiful lamp and some curtains to elongate the room will do the trick.

3. Lastly, spruce it up with some playful pillows. Then of course, accessorize using things from around your house. Magazines, design books, fresh flowers, personal photographs and stunning artwork are all great things to put that finishing touch on a room.

Put it all together, and you'll get something like this...

couch / coffee table / console / side table / lamps / rug / mirror / curtains
pillow 1 / pillow 2 / pillow 3

Not sure about you, but I actually quite like this room and could definitely cozy up on the couch and watch a good show... like say, The Ellen DeGeneres Show.  Speaking of that, I'm going to The Ellen Show taping today with Julie. Totally nailed that segue ;) I cannot wait!! And tomorrow I'm going to another taping of my favorite show ever. Come back tomorrow to find out what it is! 

Anyways, what do you think? What's your favorite way to build a room from the ground up?
xoxo

PS. Say hello to my sponsor, Courtney of Splendid Actually.

Courtney is an expert crafter with a cute shop and inspiring blog.  She sells hair ties, recipe cards, cute clutches and the most adorable moss letters.  You'll also love her blog where she dishes on design, decor, color, patterns, beauty products, curls, dresses, crafts, and paper.

BLOG | SHOP

21

She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not: Bloom

Hooray for Wednesday! I'm thrilled to have one of my dearest and closest friends here today sharing her loves and love-me-nots with you.  Meet Nicole of Bloom...

Nicole is probably one of the sweetest girls I've ever known.  Her beauty radiates-- both inside and out!  I have loved getting to know her over the last year.  We both love tea, studying God's word together {she's my accountability partner!}, talking about her wedding plans, and decorating their new home! You'll adore her, I'm sure of it. Take it away, Nicole!
***

Hey, y'all! This Mississippi girl is over the moon to be sharing a space with our gorgeous friend, Michaela, today! My name is Nicole and I'm the blogger behind Bloom, a blog about life, love, and faith. I'm so thankful that something like blogging has allowed me to have a friendship with Michaela! She has easily become one of my closest, sweetest friends and I'm so glad to be sharing my loves and love me nots with y'all today!

1. I'm almost a MRS.

Yes, my wedding to the groom of my dreams is just 16 days away! Yikes! This gal has SO much to do before then, but I'm loved every single second of this fun planning time. I've had a hand in every single decision and it'll be styled exactly how I want it. I can't wait to see how all of my ideas are brought to life as I marry my man!

via Armosa Studios

2. The Spring OPI collection.
You better believe this girl will have allllll of these gorgeous shades and sparkles. It definitely helps that I'm obsessed with The Wizard of Oz and Wicked. I can't wait to see how Disney does the classic justice! 

via

3. Decorating our sweet, new home.

Sweet Michaela has been a part of our home from the get-go. As soon as we signed the papers we were chatting about what colors to paint the walls, what furniture we needed, and what little details would just "make" our home. I've loved getting to share this fun experience with her and our home has come together SO well in the past few months! We still have a ways to go, but I can't wait to live in this sweet place in only 16 days!

Our most recent update... a shelving unit in our living room!

4. The GORGEOUS sun!

It's true, I'm up and out the door before the sun so I get to see the sun rise every morning and it is INSANE. I'm obsessed, to say the least. I mean, how could you not love this?

1. There aren't enough hours in the day!

I need at least 5 more hours in the day. Then maybe I could sit down and breathe for a second or two. What the heck was I thinking planning a wedding in the middle of my student teaching semester!?

2. Geography.

Yep, geography. It just plain stinks that California is so far away from Mississippi. I'd love to hang out with Michaela in "real life"! I've loved having our skype dates as we walk through the book of Mark together, but oh, it would be so sweet to sit down to coffee together. One day, one day. ;)

Okay, y'all, I think that's a rundown of my loves and love me nots today! Thank for having me, Michaela! Love chatting with your girls!

***
Well, I'm bias...but how great is that shelving unit they set up for their media wall?! I can't wait to show off more of their home soon! That sunset is killer, too.
Be sure to stop by and say hello to Nicole over at Bloom!

What are YOU loving {and NOT!} this week? 

xoxo


Guest Posts: Invitations are extended to bloggers I know, love, and appreciate their personal style and character. Thank you so much for understanding :)

12