Weekend Porches

One way to my heart: a good porch. 

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 ...the stunning bride, Mrs. Umstead...

... & this weekend I was on several! 

My weekend route covered High Point, Raleigh, & ended in Charlotte... stopping on a few porches on the way! 

Exhibit A:  The Wooten's

Raleigh

My beautiful friend (inside & out) got married to her best friend & one of a kind man this weekend.  The bridesmaids' luncheon was hosted at the most exquisite home... & my favorite part? The porches. Duh.

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 A quality a porch must have, in my opinion, is to be inviting.  Both Mrs. Wooten's front & side porch (first picture, pictured above) would have reached out and hugged me if they had arms.  I believe it was a mixture of this charming scene & delightful company (another quality a porch must have) that made stop #1 so pleasant.

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A fire place, coffee table books, fresh plants, & a comfy seating area = a home-run.  Incorporating a fireplace into an outdoor porch keeps the invitation open well into the Fall & Winter seasons.... I'll take one on mine, that's for sure!  

...Meanwhile... happenings in High Point while I was enjoy wedding festivities & Raleigh porches... 

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Sweet Maggie & precious George 

(I could just SQUEEZE him)

Exhibit B:  Morgan & Spencer

Raleigh

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Friends since 2009 & instant connection (probably because we both love to entertain & have house guest!) my next porch stop was Morgan & Spencer's, (& of course Penny!) my weekend B&B.   As you can see, they have added their personal touch (hence the "m") to their back porch, making it the best spot to relax on a Saturday morning!  

Thank you MEB & Spencer for your fabulous hospitality this weekend (& late night pizza!)

Exhibit C: Casa de Morris

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"Home is not a place, it is a feeling" 

Mom & Dad's.  aka  the dogs'  Bed & Breakfast for the weekend.  Pulling up to my parents' house in High Point gives me that "home" feeling, because I know who will be waiting to greet me on the porch.  Home is where my crazies are... I'll claim them! 

Exhibit D (& my favorite): Home Sweet Home

Charlotte

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My permanent spot.  Always a glittering feeling after a weekend away.  I couldn't have asked for a better evening on the screen porch, reservation for one. The perfect time to reflect on the amazing weekend celebrating Kristen & John with superb individuals.  It is so good to be home. 

... enjoy the little things.. 

xo

-W

Facebook: porch & palette

Hidden Treasures

Warehouse.  Flea market.

... a grown woman's treasure hunt... 

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2001 W. Morehead St, Charlotte NC 28208

Ah, excitement!  

Inbox: "The Potato Sack Sale"...one email & my Monday did a u-turn!  

If you have not heard of The Potato Sack, you are missing out!  Two very sweet & special ladies, Mrs. Nell Wilson & Mrs. Martha Serenius, are the masterminds behind this warehouse flea market.  For six years they have been holding sales & helping individuals add fun finds to their homes! 

Everything you need to know & few little tidbits:

* cash & carry

* only open during sales (about every other month) so don't miss this one!

* September Sale: THIS Thursday - Saturday, 9AM to 4PM

* You're welcome.

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Well hello handsome, you would fit right in at my house. Somewhere.

Interested in seeing other items that are up for grabs?  Pictures are posted here!   Not in Charlotte?  Who doesn't like a road trip? I've already supplied the address, all you have to do is plug it in... 

Don't worry, it is worth the trip! 

Follow The Potato Sack on Facebook to keep in the loop on the dates of their upcoming sales & make sure you join their email list! 

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Mrs. Nell Wilson & Mrs. Martha Serenius 

How cute are they!?

Use this Wednesday (wine Wednesday!) to figure out which day you will be swinging by.  So, grab your friends, grab your husbands, grab your kids... you get where I'm going, grab whoever & make the trip. This place is charming!

The Potato Sack certainly is one of Charlotte's hidden treasures.  Lucky me, their September sale fell right after moving into my new house... thank you ladies!! 

... cheers... 

xo

-W

porch & palette on Facebook

29

... the end of my roaring twenties... 


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" We turn not older with years, but newer every day" - Emily Dickinson

Its funny how your birthday always takes you back down memory lane.  How you spend the day reflecting on your life.  And how you ask yourself "will this year really be the best yet?"

I sure hope so, hello 29! 

A lot happens in your 20's.  You graduate college, legally can start drinking (sorry mom!) , you start your first career,  build meaningful relationships, you fall in love & get your heart broken (probably more than once).  You fly the coop & learn what it is to be an "adult".  You start blogs! You become you.

In my twenties I've made mistakes.

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"People often say that your 20s are a time to make mistakes.  But what's important about this is not the act of actually making the mistake itself, but rather learning from the lessons these mistakes teach us.  Whether it's a slip up on a relationship or at your job, don't get down on yourself... take it as a lesson learned." - Thank you Lauren Conrad

Making mistakes is being brave.  I'm thankful for my mistakes I made or else I would not be where I am today.  Happy, grateful & in love with life! 

* * *

People often forget that it is your decision on how you want to live the rest of your life.  I've enjoyed my 20's and so far  they have been the best years yet! 

I'm not the gal that is scared of being "one year closer to 30" I believe that no matter your age, you can have a life that is fabulous & magnificent!  

* * * 

...wine Wednesday... 

So,  this is what I want for my birthday:  for YOU to go out & enjoy this day like it is your own!!   This is my thank you, to ALL my friends & family for sending their love today via every social media outlet & snail mail (I love getting mail!).  It sounds cliché, but I am beyond blessed.

Cheers!

xo

-W

Make Yourself at Home!

 - happiness is homemade - 

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 ( found at The Blacklion )

I can take a deep breath now, I'm home.  98% unpacked (but still looking for a box with my shoes...hmm...) with 100% satisfaction. 

Make yourself at home & enjoy! 

...& so the tour begins...

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What have I been up to you ask?  This.  Making this house my home.  I'm beyond excited to share this with y'all!  A smile is planted on my face every time I pull into the driveway, I need someone to pinch me!  I have a happy heart.

The Living Room.

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Wide open spaces. 

... & now I'm singing the Dixie Chicks...

The best thing about moving is you have a clean, fresh, new slate to decorate.  It is yours. Whatever you decide to do, make sure it makes you happy.  When I stand in my foyer and look into my living room, my heart skips a beat! 

Everything in my living room is a pleasant mixture of what makes me feel home (including Louise, the photo bomber).

The Bar.

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...May all who enter as guest, leave as friends...

The importance of entertaining.

Entertaining is still a passion & priority of mine.  Whether it is a dinner party, wine date, visit from your grandmother, or an upcoming birthday for your brother (this weekend will be my first shin dig in the new digs!) make every occasion a special one.

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Day 2 of moving my grandmother and aunt came for Sunday dinner (good thing I knew which box the good china was in!)  My tip?  Always be prepared for any visitor.

Porch #2. 

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"... and I think to myself, what a wonderful world..."

My happy place.  Screened in & the perfect spot for morning coffee, or a glass of wine.  One look & I was hooked.  

The Bedroom.

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Yes, I do make my bed every morning.  We can thank my mother for that one.  

Again, you never know who might stop by & when (especially after moving into a new house), so making the bed is one less thing you have to worry about!

The Closet.

You never know what you have, until you clean out your closet (or move.)

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"I never think about how other people will respond to the way I dress." - Blake Lively

Although my closet is not like Carrie Bradshaw's, I got that same feeling she did when Big revealed her walk in closet on Sex & the City.   There is even a dedicated spot for my shoes... ahhh.

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"what I love most about my home, is who I share it with"

Maggie & Louise are feeling right at home & are pretty exhausted after days of unpacking (not much help) and exploring their new backyard.  Of course they love the screen porch as much as I do, like mother like daughter! 

* * * 

... ah, there is nothing like staying at home for real comfort. Good things take time.  So my house will always be a work in progress! 

... we are home sweet home, & exhausted... 

xo

-W

porch & palette on Facebook! 

a BIG thanks to my family & friends who helped make this move an exciting adventure,  love to all!!