Harper's Commercial Debut

Harper's first commercial was released on national television today. We had friends all across the state call us and tell us they saw it airing on NBC. We haven't seen it on tv yet but I am going to watch NBC until I do! I am so proud and excited for my boys. It was such a great experience and we absolutely loved the client. We just bought our couches from Rooms To Go. And I am obsessed with the "big boy" bedroom that they shot in. I especially love the bunk bed and the guitar lamp. Here is the commercial! Hope you like it.

Accessorize

I am excited for the spring and I am especially excited to wear bright, fun, and vibrant colors again! An easy way to brighten up any outfit is by adding a great colorful piece of jewelry. What is your favorite piece of jewelry for the spring? Do you know of any good Etsy shops with cute pieces?

Here are a few accessories that I love:

Sea Drop Earrings from Anthropologie

J. Crew Marina Necklace

Stella and Dot Serenity Necklace

Coldwater Creek latticed bead necklace

Enamel And Stone Bamboo Bangle

Dabney Bib Necklace 

If you happen to see this post today, there is an INCREDIBLE deal on One Kings Lane! 

You can get a Three Designing Women custom stamp for $19. I decided to go with the custom stamp, recipe cards, and stickers. The entire set was only $29. I had planned to purchase a stamp from Office Depot with our new address on it but I am glad I waited. This one is WAY cuter and cheaper! The sale ends today.

I'm Not a Fan of Secrets

I want to start off by thanking Megan for doing such an incredible guest post last week! Unfortunately I have been all over the Southeast for the past week and did not have a chance to blog.

It has been a crazy few weeks around here. Last week we were in Greensboro, Charlotte, Atlanta, Greenville, and Charleston. Crazy/busy schedule! We have two huge opportunities on the table and we are praying one will come through. The waiting game stinks. I want to know! And I want so badly to tell everyone about them but we are under confidentiality agreements so our lips are sealed. I promise as soon as I can share, I will. Please keep us in your prayers. They would be a HUGE blessing!

We went to Charleston last week and did a mini shoot with Josh Norris. The photos were phenomenal, as always. Josh has such a gift. Check out his website here.

Here are a few photos from the shoot:

SO much FUN!

And I want to give a HUGE CONGRATS to our friend, Canaan! He just launched his first music video. And I love it. They did such an incredible job and it is so cool to see his dreams come true in front of our eyes. Trust me, you will love him! Watch the video ;) 

What do you guys think? Don't you just love Josh's work and Canaan's video? I am so blessed to have such gifted friends!

What's the Dill, Pickle?

I was on a Pinterest kick yesterday. Between outfit ideas, room designs, craft projects and recipes, Pinterst could keep me busy for years. I decided to dabble in a bit of everything. One recipe I have been eyeing for months is from the "One Perfect Bite" blog.  It is a recipe for refrigerator dill pickles that originated from Bobby Flay. Growing up, I was spoiled with my Nana's homemade pickles, applesauce, jam... you name it! I always wanted to make my own but I never got around to it. I decided to give it a shot.

The recipe is very simple to follow! The only trouble I came across was locating dill seeds. Publix did not have them. So I substituted the seeds with dill weed. And honestly, I wonder if it was a typo on the original recipe? Any one out there ever purchased dill seeds? If so, where did you find them?

One more thing, if you are not very familiar with different types of cucumbers, I learned "kirby cucumbers" are the small ones at Publix that are labeled "salad cucumbers." They are a short, versatile cucumber that is used for both slicing and pickling.  It's small, with bumpy yellow or green skin. 

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups distilled white vinegar
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 4 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
• 3/4 teaspoon dill seeds 
• 2 cups hot water
• 2 pounds kirby cucumbers, sliced 1/4-inch thick
• 3/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh dill
• 3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

Directions:


1) Combine vinegar, sugar, salt, mustard seeds, coriander seeds and dill seeds in a heatproof bowl. Add hot water and stir until sugar dissolves and liquid is clear. Cool to room temperature.

2) Place cucumbers, garlic and dill in a large bowl. Toss to combine. Pour brine over all and turn to coat cucumbers. Cover them with a plate to weigh them down and keep them covered in brine. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, stirring once or twice. Transfer to an airtight container and store for up to two weeks. Yield: 1 quart.

I made enough for three small Ball jars. YUMMY! They are awesome. It is a very similar flavor to the store bought dill pickles but they taste super fresh. I would highly recommend this recipe and my hubby agrees. These pickles will last in the refrigerator for about two weeks. Make a batch and give some to friends! Enjoy 

Style Me Swanky

Hi dolls!

It's Megan from Style Me Swanky.

I'm a recently engaged South Carolinian - currently living in (what I think is) one of the most gorgeous cities in the world, Charleston, SC.

When I'm not busy planning my wedding (i.e. pinning away all day!), I work in development for the Medical University of South Carolina Children's Hospital.  We plan fundraisers; get to see our efforts thrive -so amazing! 

Jaime is so sweet to have me for a visit at her adorable blog today.

She and I were talking about how we both have a bad case of spring fever ...and boy, do I have it bad.

Every year, once the holidays have wrapped up, I get the same old urge for summertime.  It's my favorite time of the year -salty air, sunkissed skin, margaritas, breezy boat rides, the smell of burgers on the grill and the songs of Jimmy Buffet coming through the speakers.  It's what I live for all year long.

Lucky for us South Carolina gals, we've had 70 and even 80 degree weather recently.  (Not much of a winter!) I'm counting on some boat days soon!

via pinterest

Until then, I'm gathering inspiration through clean lines & bright colors, for both my wardrobe and for the home.

We all know that neons are back in a big way.  Don't be afraid of these highlighter shades!  There are more discreet ways to sport your bright colors, like on the sole of your heels or in your accessories.

1//2//3

I'm craving pops of color; cannot get enough of this cinnabar-colored bag.



Kate Spade Leslie Convertible Shoulder Bag

I have a newfound appreciation for white simplicity.  These Lilly shorts are ultra feminine; a must for my closet.

Lilly Pulitzer Buttercup Shorts 

Jewel tones are transitioning into spring, but in a softer way.

(Pair turquoise and purple together for extra points!)

statement necklaces in bold, bright colors....

Kendra Scott Harlow Necklace

...and finally, my most coveted item for spring:

Christian Louboutin Patent Rolando

I always say it's better to have quality over quantity, after all!

What are you dying to add to your spring wardrobe?

Tell me, tell me!

So nice to chat with you, darlings!!

Come visit me at Style Me Swanky.

Xo.

Interior Design Trends of 2012

A big thank you to Christina Johnson for offering to be a guest blogger today! She shared an awesome article about interior design trends of 2012.

The year 2012 in interior design is going to be an exciting one, filled with remodels of all kinds, and uprooting tradition in lieu of progressive coloration and modern design.

In terms of colors, 2012 is all about looking towards bold colors that we normally would not associate with: oranges, greens, cyans, and yes, even neon colors like highlight yellow, fuchsia, turquoise, and lime green. Since these powerful colors will draw the eye, these intense shades should be carefully balanced out with neutral colors, lending a calm yet energetic feel to interiors. Using neutral shades like white, beige, and gray will visually soften the impact of the bold colors. Playing around with the colors to find something that works for you will ensure that you have a truly unique home. An idea to try would be soft gray walls combined with bright cobalt blue sofa covers. Or, conversely, try painting the walls yellow and balance it out with soft white furniture and rugs.

Thinking outside of the box in 2012 is the way to go. Mixing styles is a way to create and entirely new style that will make your home one of a kind. For example, take a minimalist atmosphere to your living room, but use accent furniture elements, such as an art deco armchair in a bright color.

Another trend in interior design will hopefully be one that will stick around for a long time: purchasing furniture and decor that has been made exclusively in America. After over three decades of sending our manufacturing overseas to lower cost, we have come to realize that this not only harms our own economy, but is not the best conditions for workers overseas as well. People are finding courage that returning to our American roots will strengthen our own economy once more. Look for companies who proudly display a "Made in America" tag, and avoid all those "Made in China" or anywhere in Southeast Asia. American companies pride themselves on quality, and these pieces are sure to last.

2012 will be sure to advocate for greener design - this calls for energy sustainability and technological innovations to support this. Look for window treatments that will help you save money (and energy) on heating and cooling costs. Window curtains from Creation Baumann actually have now produced a polyester that looks like the finest silk, which means that indoor air quality does not have to be compromised (these are easily washed), and minimized manufacturing waste means a cleaner, greener planet.

2012 is sure to herald in many new exciting design trends that will not only improve the look of our home, but work towards improving the health of our home, and the health of our planet. Keep these things in mind as you look to redesign your house and switch your decor style.

Christina Johnson who works remotely for Elliman Prudential in the NYC Rentals market.  She is using her journalism major to combine what she loves most, writing and her career. Her specialties include home decor design and DIY home improvement projects.


I personally love the "Made in America" trend. We bought several pieces of furniture for our bedroom from Stanley furniture. They are all made here in America. They were more expensive but the quality of furniture is so much better than the rest of the furniture in our house. I wish the government would lower corporate taxes so more companies would come back to America. 


I think I like the idea of a pop of color on one piece of furniture. I couldn't do the bold orange room but a bold orange chair would be fabulous! 


What new style trends do you love? 

PERFECT Spring Nails

I love painting my nails bright spring colors! I came across the cutest nail design ideas on the blog, Cupcakes and Cashmere. Check out the post here.  Emily gives a great "how-to" decorate your nails like the picture below:

Don't you just love it! She started painting her ring finger with glitter when she got engaged. What a fun idea! Now I know what you are wondering, "what do you need to create this look? " Here is a list of the colors she used:

• Essie "Tart Deco"
• Sally Hansen "light pink" nail art pen
• Martha Stewart "sterling" glitter
• Revlon clear nail polish

If you check out her post she gives a great step-by-step tutorial on how she got that look.  That just made me think of the old Television show, "Step by Step." Did any of you all watch that show? I used to love it. Haha.