On the Hunt

... but not this kind of hunt... 

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Let me introduce you to my newest project... wait for it... 

$30. 

My Monday just got better! 

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This past weekend I realized that I'm not 100% excited with how my guest bedroom and office have turned out.  They both still need a little something something... 

Golden antlers.

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This is when I need a man in my life.  And one that hunts.  This would be such a simple and easy decoration.  Throw some gold paint on those suckers & bam!  Instant beauty, that would look very nice on my new dresser.

Copper dimpled dishes.  

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Copper is not a hot commodity in my house, but I'm starting to think it should be.  Normally you think of "copper dishes" and your mind goes straight to pots or vases.  While procrastinating (my house needed cleaning) I stumbled across these and had an instant connection. That's a sign, right?

Turkish inspiration.  

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Never would have thought.  But I love. 

Ever since purchasing my Native necklace (if you haven't checked it out, you must!!) something has drawn me to the Turkish/native feel.  A look both my guest bedroom & office could use! 

Vintage trays.

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(& the stool)


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Oh the possibilities!  Bathrooms, wall decor, kitchens, center pieces, pretty much any room in any way.  Mixing a little old in with the new is always a nice touch.  I'm not really a flowery girl, but you just get lost in the colors!

Ginger jars.

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Chinese inspired, American loved.  Loving the blue and white. Such an elegant clean feel that can pair well with rustic/vintage piece in a room.   Mix matching the different sizes and styles instantly adds character.  Now that was easy.

Bam.

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Luckily, my "hunt" is just in time for the Metrolina Fall Extravaganza .  

Nov. 4th - 8th - this is one you don't want to miss! Charlotte, NC

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Monday, why.

...happy hunting my friends... 

xo

-W

Facebook: porch & palette

Fall Dating

... Set the Date...

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Whether it is with your girlfriends, your boo thang, or just yourself, anyone - at anytime can enjoy a Fall date.  Single or taken, there is always something to do!

Need help?

You're in luck.  I came across another blog post that made some superb suggestions.

Couples/Girls nights are always a hit.

& these can be accomplished on a budget!

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• Have a board game night
• Visit a local arcade and play all the video games
• Go bowling with some family or friends
• Make lots of tailgating snacks and watch 'the big game'
• Have a bonfire party with with flannel blankets - & spiked cider, can't forget the cider.

Feeling festive?

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• Get lost in a corn maze with thermoses of your favorite hot drinks
• Visit a haunted house
• Make Haunted Gingerbread houses with Halloween colored candy and icing
• Pick out Halloween Costumes together
• Have a scary movie marathon - grab the wine!
• Go to a pumpkin patch 
• Pumpkin carving/decorating
• Go to a local harvest festival

Sometimes things are just better with company. 

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• Surprise him/her with a romantic hot air balloon ride (this is on my bucket list!!)
• Pizza in the park 
• Take popcorn and hot cider to a local community outdoor concert
• Write out a Fall Bucket List together - why not cross some off?!
• Cuddle by a fire with hot drinks
• Visit a new restaurant neither of you have ever tried
• Go to a zoo together, & don't leave out the little restaurant

Fresh air.  Everyone needs some crisp.fall.air.

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• Explore a local farmers market & buy a few new homemade treats
• Go for a bike ride along a scenic trail
• Visit your local visitors center and go on a historic tour of your own town
• Go to the County fair, and don't leave out the Ferris wheel
• Give little care packages or blankets to some homeless people 
• Rent a canoe or kayak and go enjoy all the Fall colors out on the water
• Go for a walk and or picnic out in the country where you can really see the changing season, Get lost in the season... 
• Go Geo-caching (a local treasure hunt where you use a GPS www.geocaching.com)

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Now that you have the date, it is time to...

... get dressed... 

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Let's start from the bottom up.

Cinderella's fancy slipper may be glass, but mine is a boot.

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$99 on Shoes Pie

Nothing says Fall like a good boot.  Knee high, bootie, or cowboy - one must have!  The tone of the boots above complement most any outfit (besides church, and maybe a funeral?).  One click and they are added to the cart.

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1969 modern stretch true skinny cords

My favorite go to cords for any Fall occasion are Gap's 1969 Modern Stretch Skinny Cords.  Let's just say I have them in several colors and could not wait for the weather to cool down.  I wear mine no matter what kind of "date" I have.

- 9 different colors (my favorite is the deep winter forest, Gap.com exclusive color!)

- Go now, they are on Sale for $41.96! 

Keep it basic. 

you can add sha-zam with accessories

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Forever 21 & on sale for $16

I love a neutral look.  It is a staple in my closet.  There are endless possibilities on how one can wear this style.  I'm all about having basic tops in every color.  The fun is in the accessories! 

Accessorize, one of my favorite pastimes.

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The Blanket Scarf 

found on Etsy, $20

The scarf. That scarf.  I'm sure the majority of women have at least one in their Fall wardrobe. Throw is around your shoulders and bam, instant spruce up!  & there are countless ways one can wear a scarf.

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Only $36 at Forever21

Keep it sweet & simple.  This chic and elegant find is the perfect pairing to any outfit.  & a good luck charm if you're going on a first date!

Top it off.

The Fall Fedora.

For $26, it is yours! Found at Nordstrom in several different colors. I recommend grabbing one for those chilly Fall date nights! 

Now that you have some ideas & I've dressed you, get out there and enjoy!  

Who knows, this could be your lucky season!   

Cheers & happy dating! 

xo - 

-W

Facebook: porch & palette 

This one is for your Mom: Happiest of Birthdays!

... to my beautiful mother... 

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The older I get, the more I'm thankful I'm turning into my mother. 

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... and she wonders why I have two dogs... 

However, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.  Our passion for our four legged family members started way before my Mother.

* * * 

...like mother like daughter, & granddaughter... 

First, I want to thank my Mother.

For my appreciation of getting my degree from an all women's college.  I'll admit, this wasn't my first choice.  But if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing.  ...once again, she's right.

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Winthrop College

For my passion for design & rearranging. 

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"Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun." - Mary Lou Cook

However, the couch eventually had to go.

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... Note: this is the same couch in the first picture (that I finally said goodbye to 3 years ago). Sorry Mom!

... for believing in my talents & the support to keep me going.  That sweet little lady would proudly display mine and my brother's artwork around our kitchen growing up, even if she wasn't quite sure what it was.  If it weren't for her words of encouragement, she would have not gotten her Christmas present below.  Thank you for not giving up! 

* * *

She is my teacher.

She has taught me how to love.  Family, a good porch, myself, & God.   How important it is to have those relationships.  ...how to love your sibling, no matter what!  (Sorry Hunter, you were stuck with me since 1986!)

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...how to be independent.  She has molded me into a strong woman (who can mow her own grass!).

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... my brother calls this "Project Short Grass"... 

hope you enjoyed your beer...

...the importance of Sundays... and starting them off with breakfast in bed & ending them with popcorn suppers.  Yes.  She did this.  Every Sunday we had cinnamon rolls & OJ brought to us in bed.  (She's a keeper!)  We ended the day with popcorn because... 

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Sunday dinners. and by "dinner" I mean middle of the day meal.  Talk about a phenomenal cook! As a woman who now has her own dining room table, I'm very thankful I was taught the proper way to set a table.  To this day, she still corrects me on little things, thank you Mom!

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The importance of friends.  

Both old & new.  Those that are "family" and those who I've yet to meet.  

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Like mother like daughters.

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... I pray that I am, one day, the mother my mother is to me..

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Most importantly, she has taught me the power of prayer. 

I admire her. 

I admire her faith in God and her passion for almost anything in life.

In my Mother's eyes, everyone if family.  We can honestly say, she has never met a stranger, that's for sure! 

* * * 

Lastly, I'm proud.   There is a difference between controlling your kids and guiding them.  I speak for myself, but I'm sure my brother would agree, that our Mother has been guiding us since day one and I wouldn't want it to be anyone else.

* * * 

Happy Birthday Mom, cheers!

... I love you more each day... 

xo 

-W 

Facebook: porch & palette

It's officially time to Fall

... ah, the most wonderful time of the year... 

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"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers" 

- Anne of Green Gables

For me anyways!

Who doesn't love a fun cocktail napkin? Or I like to call them, anything napkins.   They are a necessity.  Whether I need them or not... use them for any occasion!  It is an added accessory to your glass of wine, cup of coffee, or your beverage of choice no matter the day.     

Throw it under a cookie or a slice of cheese or just simply use it for decoration.  Love it that much?  You can even frame it (yep, I have done this!)

So, paper towel, you're on the bench.  Sassy cocktail napkin, you're up!  

Darlin' go spice things up!  

Living in Raleigh I was a frequent visitor of Swoozies.  Just recently I stumbled across one here in Charlotte.  Oh happy day! Gift heaven.  They have everything from cocktail napkins to stationary & most everything in between.  

Swoozies is a one stop shop for any occasion.  

Let's just say, I recommend taking a look & stopping in! 

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"Oh Carolina, you keep calling me home." - 

Fall means crisp air & cool temperatures.  And there is nothing better than a hot cider to warm you up!   The fun thing about cider is you can put your own twist on things!  My go-to is below.  

Super simple.

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Grab an orange. 

Stick some cloves in it. 

Throw it in your crock pot along with a few cinnamon sticks, bottle of apple cider & your favorite rum.  

Turn it on.  

Wait 4 hours & poof.  

Enjoy! 

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Another pantry necessity: styrofoam cups (these can also be found at Swoozies & are a perfect pairing for your hot cider! )

* * * 

...pull up a seat... 

Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the Fall.  Boots. Bonfires. Leaves. Sweaters. Cider. Pumpkins. Scarves. Football. Chili. Snugglin'. Vests. Crisp air.  Love.

... happy fall yall... 

xo

-W

Facebook: porch & palette

Seasons Change, & so do my decorations!

... hello October...  

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Halloween is not my thing.

It is just a bunch of hocus pocus... (plus, I hate being scared!)

However, it is an opportunity for me to decorate, so I'm all in on that aspect of the holiday! 

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... my kind of Halloween... 

I like to mix patterns & styles when dressing my dining room table.  

This particular time I went with the fall/Halloween look.  Advice? Think outside of the box! I found these adorable black & white stripe cloth napkins at Tuesday Morning and threw them down with my Pier 1 polka dot dinner plate. There was hesitation, but I loved the outcome of the place setting!   

After a failed attempt to find orange candles at the Dollar Tree, I  did not leave empty handed.  I happen to come across plastic black wine glasses... and the best part was they were only $1!  So for eight bucks, eight wine glasses made their way to my table (both inside & on the porch!)

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white pumpkin inspiration

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A fun way to get a different dynamic is to incorporate different size objects.  For instance: pumpkins.  Where to find?  Trader Joe's & Dollar Tree.   You will see more of this trick in upcoming post this week.  

* * * 

... my definition of October... 

Bottom line: tradition be damned. Decorate for the season in a way that evokes feeling within you.  After all, it's your home.

xo

-W

Facebook: porch and palette