Spur of the moment trip to St. Simons

When my husband and I get bored (which is pretty often) we like to just jump in the car and start driving with no particular destination in mind.  We usually start heading down random back roads and then eventually break out the atlas and pick a small town nearby that we haven't been to yet.  Since these aren't planned and we have a puppy to get back to we typically stay within a few hours drive of home but it is amazing the things you can find in your own backyard.  The Army keeps us moving to new places so every few years we get a whole new set of small towns to explore.  

Our most recent jaunt was to a little coastal town about 1 hour and 45 minutes south of Savannah.  St. Simons Island is a place I have heard about often but this was our first encounter with this cute little tourist destination.  It was an overcast day so it wasn't great beach weather but it was perfect for a stroll through the local shops and along the beautiful park overlooking the water.  Since this wasn't a planned trip, I didn't have the fancy camera with us so I snapped a few photos with my cell phone.  We ate lunch in a great outdoor cafe, window shopped the AMAZING stores along the main drag and enjoyed some live acoustic guitar music near the water.  It was a great, cheap day trip but I would love to go back and spend some money in the antique shops.  It has also made me want to include some nautical elements into our home decor.

Are we the only crazy people who take unplanned day trips?  

Pinterest Project

My sweet cousin Rachel just moved into her first post-college home and like the rest of us is addicted to Pinterest!  I know I have a long list of future projects but she has actually gotten started accomplishing hers.  Here is her adorable version of a popular Pinterest project...  

Here is Rachel's simple how to...

"So it is really simple... I just bought a piece of wood from Lowe's and had them cut it to 18 inches.  I spray painted it black.  I also bought 2 dresser drawer knobs, a hook and a pipe clamp from the bathroom section at Lowe's.  I drilled a hole for the knobs, tightened the clamp around the jar and hot glued it onto the wood. Then I just put some rocks and fake flowers as decor.  (these can be found at Walmart, the Dollar Store or any craft store).  Really simple and not too time consuming!"

What a seriously simple project.  She has it hanging by her front door and uses it for keys, puppy leash, jackets etc. but it would also be precious in a bathroom for towels and robes or a kitchen for aprons.  You could customize the colors and knobs to fit your decor and even change out the flowers seasonally.  If you wanted to use fresh flowers I would suggest attaching the pipe clamp with a screw to the board because the water would add to the weight and hot glue may not hold up.  You may have to screw the clamp in before tightening it around the jar.  

Spectacular Small Space- Part 1

I may be the only official interior designer in the family but decorating is a family wide addiction.  My oldest sister, Valerie has taken design to an impressive level.  She lives with 3 1/2 boys, a 4 year old, 2 year old and a 33 year old (her husband), and another baby boy in her belly and she still manages to keep an organized and beautiful home with plenty of girly touches.  The most amazing part is that she keeps it all neatly organized and displayed in their tiny 2 bedroom apartment.  Valerie is also a moving expert, they are getting ready for their 9th move in 7 years so she snapped a few photos to share with you before the tear down begins.  I can't wait for her to share her moving tips and show you how she transforms her furniture and accessories from one space to another.  In the mean time, here are a few photos of their current Master Bedroom...     

Bedding from Pottery Barn, Furniture from Thomasville, Artwork from Etsy.

You can pick up a few tips from Val's small space living from the picture above.  First off, stay away from King size beds, they eat up so much space and if you move often they may fit in your current home but probably won't in fit in a home down the road.  Symmetrical isn't always practical.  The smaller night stand on one side frees up some floor space and lets be honest, guys don't need as much storage anyway.  She continued the asymmetrical look with the lamps and accessories on the nightstand.  Fit storage wherever you can!  The larger nightstand has tons of storage space and don't forget about under the bed storage options.  Under the bed is a great place to store the extra leaf from the dining room table, heavier bedding for the winter months, shoes, craft supplies etc, etc.  Just make sure to have items organized in bins or storage bags to keep them easily accessible.  

Valerie is also a former military wife, her husband has since finished his military career but his new job still takes them to exciting new places every few years.  During their travels, they have collected some really amazing pieces and love to mix their travel trinkets into their decor.  In a small space, every inch counts so I love how they incorporated their TV into their book shelves and also use the shelving to display their favorite pieces.    

Check back for more rooms from Valerie's current home, her moving tips and her 9th home in 7 years.