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I always love having a vase of fresh flowers in the house! Who's with me? ? Today I am going to share how to use herbs in your flower arrangements. Herbs add that little something extra and provide a light fragrance without being too powerful. These arrangements would be perfect for a bridal shower, a dinner party, or "just because"!
One of the best tricks I ever learned from my dear friend Teresa was to mix Sprite in with the water for your flower arrangements. Apparently, the sugar in the Sprite helps feed the flowers and keep them alive longer! Try it...I promise it works!! Now on to the pretty part...   In this arrangement, I substituted parsley for traditional greenery. The combination of the light pink and white ranunculus with the hyacinth give this arrangement a soft, airy feeling. This would be perfect for brunch with your girlfriends, a bridal shower for your bestie, or a great gift for your mom on Mother's Day!    This arrangement is the perfect centerpiece for a dining a room table, entry way, or cocktail table. Here I used sage, which adds an unexpected texture and fragrance. I love the combination of green hydrangeas, deep purple ranunculus, purple and white carnations, a few pink hyacinths, and the whispy element of the Silver Dollar Eucalyptus.   And last but not least... tulips, Gerber daisies, ranunculus, and MINT! One of my all time favorite herbs is mint--the color, the aroma--I just love everything about it! Adding sprigs to brightly colored flowers really makes the greenery pop. Before placing on your table, rub the mint leaves to activate their oils which will release their scent. This is perfect for spring and summer garden parties!
Knowing where to buy flowers can be a tricky thing, especially if you need enough for more than just one arrangement. Price, selection, and quality are the major factors I consider. Here is a list of my favorite places to purchase these pretty petals: -Trader Joe's : they always have a wide selection and the prices are AMAZING!! -Whole Foods: While they are probably the most expensive, they usually have unique items not found at other places. -Publix (or any local grocery store) : This is probably the most reasonable in price especially if you shop in their "3 for 12 section." They usually always have spray roses and hydrangeas. In the past, mine have lasted up to 2 full weeks! -Sams Club or Costco: Membership clubs often times have large quantities of blooms available but not always the largest selection of varieties. In my experience they tend to be fresh and last a long time. Thanks for reading y'all! Comment below and let me know which herb is your favorite to use and where you like to buy your blooms! Cheers to fun florals and spring weather! XX-Molly
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Our master bathroom has always been at the bottom of my design "to-do" list. Sure it was functional enough, but "pretty" or "cute" it sure wasn't. So, one day it just hit me what to do with the space. Check it out...             So how did I get all of this for just $50? For starters, I switched some things around from other parts of the house,
and I pulled some items out of storage! It's really that easy. I started by switching the shower curtain with the one in our guest bathroom. This blue one looked much better in our bathroom and played off the blue we already had in our bedroom. (Check out our current master bedroom look here.) Then I switched out the decorative towels with these fun, bright-colored ones we received as a wedding shower gift. Next I gathered up some prints and odds and ends that I had in the closet and hadn't yet given a home, and I painted the canvas myself to add a pop of color! The only things I purchased for this update were a few frames for the prints I already had and the two framed prints over the toilet. I added the basket in the corner, which I just took out of our closet, to make accessing the dirty clothes hamper easier, and we already had the gingham rug . We had received the glass canisters as a wedding gift, so I filled those with everyday use items, such as hair brushes, hair clips, Q-tips, cotton balls, & hair rollers! Most of my hair products are from The Dry Bar; I have a total obsession with them, and the cute yellow colors tied in perfectly! Now our bathroom has that "cute, " relaxing factor I was wishing for. It totally feels like a fun spa space, and I love starting my day in it each morning! Don't be afraid to switch things from room to room for an easy refresh and update to any room! You can shop my complete look below to recreate this look in your own home! Shop the look: -Shower Curtain -Bath mat -Towels -Glass Canisters -Figure Sketches P.S. - HomeGoods is a great source for frames and gallery wall items! Thanks for reading! Cheers to creating your own in-home spa space! XX-Molly If you have ever gone through the process of house hunting... God bless you! Conner and I have started the house-hunting process, which is super fun and exhausting all at the same time! Basically, once I realized that I couldn't afford anything that I actually wanted (in the prized Charlotte neighborhoods of Myers Park & Dilworth where every home is magazine worthy!)the search process became a little easier. So...today I thought I would share some eye candy for my dream home inspiration! I have realized that many of these styles and elements can be incorporated into our first home, whatever and wherever it may be, and that I can take this time now to plan my future dream home to a "T"! Take a peek...I hope you find inspiration in these images, too!     
      
Stay tuned to see what we actually end up with!!! Thanks for reading! XX-Molly  I always set aside an afternoon during the holidays to knock out all of my gift wrapping. It always helps me get into the spirit and is one of my favorite traditions! Today I am sharing my gift wrapping tips and tricks! So, go light your Christmas candle, turn up the Christmas tunes, pour yourself a mimosas, drag out all of your wrapping supplies, and let's get to work! Step1: Lay out your box and place 2 flat sheets of tissue paper on top  Step 2: Crease the tissue paper so that it fits the length of the box perfectly  Step 3: Place your item into the box and fold each side of the tissue paper over it.  Step 4: Roll your paper out, flip the box over so the bottom is facing up, and slide to one end. Leave enough room on the sides for the paper to completely cover the box.  Step 5: Fold each side of the paper over the box to measure how much you'll need. I always over estimate--better to have too much than not enough.  Step 6: Cut your paper according to the size measured above  Step 7: Place your box approximately in the center of the paper and fold over one side; secure with tape  Step 8: Before taping the other side of the box, fold over the edge of the paper, creating a perfectly crisp line  Step 9: Match up your pattern (as best you can) and secure the other side  Step 10: Now for the sides... Fold each corner in at an angle  Step 11: Fold the top flap down and secure with tape. Fold the bottom flap up and secure with tape  Step 12: Repeat step 11 on both ends  Step 13: Now that your box is wrapped it's time for a bow!  Step 14: Flip your box back over so it is right side up and place your ribbon horizontally across the top. Be sure to leave enough excess ribbon on both ends. Estimating how much you'll need will take a little practice.  Step 15: Wrap the ribbon around the sides and onto the bottom (your box should be flipped back over to the bottom side now). Take each end and twist them around each other in opposite directions. Each end of the ribbon should form a 90 degree angle. Pull tightly, so it isn't loose.  Step 16: Flip your box back over to the front side and gather each end of the ribbon (now on opposite sides of the box from where it started). Tie your bow as if you are tying your shoes!  Step 17: Pull tightly to secure your bow. Monkey with the loops and tails until they are the size and length you want them. Then, trim each end of the tail to prevent fraying and add a little decorative touch. -One solid angled cut starting at one corner or -Two smaller angled cuts from each corner meeting in the center  Step 18: Voila! You have a beautifuly wrapped gift!  I hope this helps! Comment below if you have questions; I will be happy to help! Also, here is a list of a few of my favoirte spots to pick up gift wrapping supplies: -Hobby Lobby -Homegoods -TJ Maxx -Emily McCarthy Shoppe -All She Wrote Notes Thanks for reading! Cheers to beautifuly wrapped gifts! XX-Molly
 Let me start off by saying that our bedroom is no where near being done; however, I am so in love with our new mattress and bedding I just couldn't wait to post about it! The challenge for me here was making the room comfortable for both me and Conner. My personal style is very preppy; and his is, well, not. I prefer loud patterns and bright colors while Conner would be happy with some brown furniture and a discount-store comforter. But, in the words of Leigh Anne Tuohy, from The Blind Side, "It was heinous, and I was not about to let that in my house, so I got something nicer." So here's a little sneak peek and all of the links to shop this look.  Shop the look  Thanks for reading! Cheers to happy sleeping! XX-Molly What do you get when you mix HGTV, a toddler, some paint, and lots of wine? My sister-in-law's house! About a year and a half ago, she moved to the cutest little town in metro Atlanta, Historic Roswell. The house she had her heart set on was the perfect location: close to work, close to schools, and within walking distance to shops and restaurants. The only catch...it needed some love! So today, I am sharing her renovation. The best part, she didn't tear down one wall or complete any complicated construction projects. The most invasive projects were the bathroom renovations, which required the use of a contractor. Her number one tip, choose a contactor you trust. She went with JK Smith Enterprises of Roswell. But, the majority of things were fixed with a little paint--well let's be honest, a lot of paint and, simply, good taste. You won't believe the difference! Take a look for yourself! The Exterior  Dining Room      Living Room      Kitchen      Den     Master Bedroom    Master Bathroom    Little Girl's Room     Now don't ya wish you could just move right in? I sure do! This just goes to show that with a little time and patience and a LOT of paint, you can easily change the look of your home without breaking the bank or undergoing a major renovation. I have linked some of my favorite pieces here: A huge "thank you" to my wonderful sister-in-law for letting me invade her house and share her home with you all! Thanks for reading! Cheers to happy & beautiful homes! XX-Molly Trends are always changing and evolving; and in our industry, it can be a little bit like trying to determine the future. So, I thought I would share my new color and design trend boards for 2016! These concepts are present through many different avenues and materials. These looks are congruent across the fashion, accessories, home, and textiles markets. Most of us are probably already unconsciously choosing items and materials that fall into these categories in some way, but color theory and the subconscious are for a whole other post. For now, enjoy this little bit of inspiration!        
That's all for today! Thanks for reading! Cheers - Molly I always say Market is my favorite time of year; and with my new job, I'll be attending 7 markets a year! I better find some comfortable shoes... Last weekend was High Point Market, which is extra special to me because I attended High Point University; and High Point Market is where it all started for me! Today, I'm going to review some of my favorite trends that I spotted and discuss how you can implement some of these into your own home!  Trend #1 Since it's springtime and the outdoors is on all of our minds, let's start there... Indoor/Outdoor living has become such a popular lifestyle,and it has definitely made its mark on the home furnishings industry. There is a wide variety within the marketplace now, everything from the looks of indoor furniture, to the use of innovative materials, to infusing bright colors! Bright outdoor furniture was EVERYWHERE this market--and I absolutely loved it! It really gives you the opportunity to experiment with something a little more adventurous without making major alterations to your home and without breaking the bank! Here are some things I spotted...
 If you aren't a fan of the bright-colored furniture or it's just a little too much for you, try starting with accessories! -Outdoor rugs are a perfect way to set the tone, and they come in a variety of patterns and colors. -Outdoor lighting is also becoming a huge category and is an excellent way to introduce some color. -Outdoor pillows are a great way to infuse color and pattern into what you already have. They are inexpensive and easy to replace or update ftom season to season. Don't just think summer here! -Garden accessories have also become popular among the masses. Try something new with funky pots, bright-colored plants, ceramic garden stools, and lanterns. Trend #2 Hides! They are everywhere and not just in Southwest or mountainous settings anymore! Hides have become a staple accessory available for almost any home and setting. Not only were hides everywhere but they have taken on different applications--embossed patterns, acid washes, and metallic foiling to name a few. Check out some of my favorites...
They are extremely versatile and great for layering. Try using one on top of an already existing rug in your home, or drape it over a bench or ottoman. Trend #3 Wood products have been around since the beginning of time! But, we have started to see wood used in new and different applications. The juxtaposition between rustic, raw wood and sleek, shiny acrylic/polyurethane creates a whole new look! This contemporary use of the two materials is both visually interesting; and, if you ask me, creates a conversation piece! Check out these awesome pieces...
Adding a side table is a great way to incorporate this trend into your already existing décor without it being overly dramatic! If you're feeling more confident, try a larger item like a coffee table or buffet. Trend #4 Chinoiserie has been around for centuries and is actually a very ancient art form. We are seeing it more and more throughout the home furnishings industry; both in accessories and accents as well as furniture. A few classic things to look for when trying to identify this trend are pagodas, bamboo prints or patterns, birds, and small florals branches. Here are few that caught my eye...
 This style can be very specific; so if you're looking to try it, start with removable wallpaper, lamps, mirrors, or a small side chair. You would be surprised at how easily this style will fit in with already existing décor! Now, let's talk about Global Views Furniture! The Global Views showroom is like the end-all-be-all for trend spotting of the design world; so, of course, I took a stroll through! Scroll through these pictures...I promise you won't want to miss them! P.S. -As if it weren't already obvious, their main color story is GREEN! Enjoy!
 That's all for today! I hope these trends have you feeling inspired! Thanks for reading! Cheers - Molly Spring is here for some of us and right around the corner for others... With spring comes many things: new beginnings... warmer weather... new blooms & blossoms... But most importantly, it's that time of year again for front porch sittin' and sweet tea drinkin'!! This is one of my favorite front porch scenes. Check out how to replicate this look on your own front porch, deck, or patio!  Lets start with the paint colors Now for the basic pieces
Let's add the details For the final touches, add your favorite plants and greenery to a variety of pots &... Voila!!! Your porch is officially ready for Spring !! Thanks for reading! Cheers - Molly  I mean could it get ANY dreamier than this? Who wouldn't want to work in a space as beautiful as this? Of course, Tory herself takes the credit for this one, but below I'll show you how to re-create a similar look for yourself! Let's start with the back wall...It's so beautiful yet functional as well.   Now for that desk! Here are several options suited for any budget...    And those chairs!!! These were a tough one... You could use one or the other or really a combination of both. These are my top 3 choices for re-creating the look of that FAB light fixture! And last but certainly not least...the rug! You may think you can skip this step, but I promise it will make all the difference by lightening and grounding the space.
That's all for today! I hope this has inspired you to create a beautiful space just for yourself. Whether it's this look or something different that speaks to you, we all deserve that special place! Thanks for reading! Cheers - Molly |
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