anthropologie home love

One thing I love in life is decorating. Or at least looking at magazines and feeling inspired to decorate. So when Southern Living Magazine featured the above "blooming filigree mural" from Anthropologie in the February issue, I went to their website to check it out.
Here are some of my other favorites that I thought I would share. 


*I heart the bud vases, they are adorable and affordable!

*How festive is that shower curtain? That would cheer me up every morning! Urban Outfitters also has a ruffled shower curtain like this also but in solid colors. 

*Anthropologie is currently sold out of the letters except for "I." So disappointing. I'm guessing they will get more in or some variation of them in the future.

*I actually have knobs like these hooks on an antique dresser my mother found at a yard sale. We painted it white and picked out green and pink flower knobs. It is one of the few things I can actually afford in the store. I love their hardware section.

Out of Touch

Wow, I feel so out of touch with the blogging world. I started a new job last week but my training is about an hour's commute drive each way so needless to say, I've been pretty wiped out by the time I get home. Luckily, the actual job is not far from my home at all!
This is the first time I've sat down at the computer all weekend (Sunday night). I think the last time I was on the computer was Friday afternoon at work but that was work related.
So please forgive me for not keeping up with my blogs lately!!

This was my saving grace one day this week, as the sound on my alarm was turned down and I woke up an hour late. I still made it on time, but I wasn't able to wash my hair. Some days I seriously hate having long hair- it takes forever to wash, comb out and dry. So thank goodness for Dry Shampoo!!

BigSexyHair Volumizing Dry Shampoo

I hope to find some time this week to blog! Until then, I hope everyone has a Happy Monday!

Calhoun

I haven't really felt like blogging much this week, so instead I thought I would share with you a picture of our adorable, 4-year old Siberian Husky. For now, he's our baby.

Blue Steel

He might have been the only one in the family who enjoyed the snow/ice storm this week. He lives for this kind of weather; in fact, he just lays down and refuses to go back inside after a walk.

Some budget-friendly beauty favorites!

Anyone else tired of making sacrifices because of this economy? Luckily, some of these little cutbacks have actually been successful for me!

I've never been much of a drugstore kind of buyer when it comes to beauty products. I get my shampoo from salons and facial cleansers and make-up from department stores.

Recently I decided to try a few items to save money and absolutely fell in love with both of these...

Before leaving for Hawaii in October, I picked up this little bottle of Neutrogena Acne Stress Control daily scrub; I have been using it ever since!


Usually I pick this up at Target for $6.99

Yes, I still breakout in my late 20's and it's usually stress or environmentally related. This is a great little formula to help prevent breakouts and quickly get rid of any breakouts if they do occur. The small bottle is great to travel with (this particular size lasted me about 2 months). It received Allure Magazine's Editor's Choice Award in 2007. I kinda wish I had discovered this before now because I had been using Clinique products for almost $20 a bottle and I was still having breakouts.

(I really should get paid for writing this stuff but I don't).

Another great find was the L'Oreal Ever Pure Shampoo. I use the Color Care System because I highlight my hair and the Moisture Shampoo because my hair gets really dry in the cold, winter air. You probably noticed my bottle of Aveda Shampure right next to it. I always have a bottle of this lying around. While Aveda is expensive, Shampure is only $9 a bottle and worth every penny. I love the Shampure because it truly makes your hair feel clean and well, pure. I like to alternate with shampoos so I use both throughout the week.

L'Oreal Ever Pure $6.99 at Target and can
currently be found with a travel-size attached

Has anyone else made successful changes to their beauty products to help keep money in the wallet?

My Carolina Grocery List

So I initially started writing this post in early December when I was only planning on coming home for Christmas vacation and returning to PA. When circumstances changed those plans, and we decided to make our trip home a permanent one, I no longer had to worry about stocking up on the items I can't get anywhere else but the South (and in some cases North Carolina). Nevertheless, I wanted to share a few of my favorites Southern goodies...


Duke's Mayonnaise
originated in Greenville, SC


I've gotta have Duke's for tuna melt's and my home-grown tomato sandwiches in the summer. I'm not a big mayo user but I can't use anything else.






George's BBQ Sauce
originated in Nashville, NC

 
I can't eat BBQ without George's. We had catered BBQ sandwiches at our wedding and I provided the George's!

Texas Pete Honey Mustard
courtesy of Winston-Salem, NC

Goes perfect with turkey wraps or chicken tenders! While it does carry the Texas Pete name, it's not spicy. You can usually find Texas Pete hot sauce in the stores; however, their other sauces are difficult to find outside of NC.

Sun Drop Lemon Lime

Cherry Lemon Sun Drop

Last but not least, Sun Drop. The NC based soda was purchased by Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and will go nationwide in 2011. Sun Drop has always been a favorite, I can't go too long without craving the regular Lemon-Lime or a Cherry Lemon Sun Drop. When I first moved away to Oklahoma back in 2006, my grandmother drove up to the Sun Drop plant, purchased and shipped me 12 cases of Cherry Lemon.

Look for more Southern Favorites in 2011!

Resolutions

Well, hello 2011! I certainly hope you live up to expectations!
As I say goodbye to 2010, I'm reminded that every year has it's ups and downs... it's how we choose to handle those that truly define us. During the downs, I rely on my faith in God and His strength to get me through. The sun will come up tomorrow and I believe you just have to handle things one day at a time. During the ups, I try to enjoy every moment and give thanks for what God has provided. This year I have so much to be thankful for as I married a wonderful, loving man and we were able to take two honeymoons, one of which was my ultimate vacation desitination in Kauai, HI. I just hope we have more ups than downs in 2011.



found on flickr-dryicons.com


Now I'm going to change gears to resolutions. While I never set actual resolutions there are things I hope to work on in the New Year. Like I said in my previous post, I hope to be more eco-friendly in 2011. I think I might write an entirely seperate blog on this one in the future. I also hope to grow closer to God and since I'm finally settling back in NC... I hope to find a church to call home. This is more of a short-term goal, but I need to get rid of the weight I gained during the Holidays. Say no to cookies! But more long term, I hope to exercise on a regular basis. It's so hard for me to stay motivated. Grr!
I have more goals but I'll stop there, we could be here all night. Personally, I'd rather go watch some bowl games. Hope everyone has a wonderful, exciting and blessed 2011!