diy coffee table

I have been looking around for the perfect coffee table since we moved into our new house a year ago. Our living room was down sized from the last and I just haven't been able to find the right fit. I have gravitated towards tables like this one pictured above and realized if I made it myself I could size it however I like! After seeing diy projects like this one I started researching what kind of top I would like and where to buy the legs. Little did I know I could buy the exact legs I want online (here and here are my favorite sources so far). I am still debating on whether I would like to use pine, slabs of reclaimed wood or order a lovely slab of walnut but I have high hopes to start on it soon. 

succulents

For some reason I cannot stop talking about spring! All I want to do is fill my home and yard with plants! One thing that you will find in every room of my house right now is succulents. I think the combination of unique shapes, colors and being inexpensive have made them the perfect plant for me. I also love that you can plant them in anything! You can cluster them together to fill a planter or plant them alone in anything from an old mug to a shell. They also a very low maintenance. That makes them the perfect plant for someone who travels a lot or someone who frequently forgets to water them (me...). Here are some tips on caring for succulents.

1. Light. Succulents love bright light but can get burnt if left out in midday sun. I have mine scattered around the house in sunny and not so sunny spots so on the weekends I typically leave them out on the porch to soak up some extra rays. That usually is plenty for them. 

2. Water. Succulents growing season is in the spring and summer so during this time water them about once a week. In the winter they are dormant and only need to be watered every other month. What makes them different from other plants is they like to let the water drain completely out before they are watered again. To water them just use a spray bottle and give them a good soaking. 

(make planting even more fun with McClure's Bloody Mary's and Callie's Pimento Cheese!)

3. Soil. One of the biggest mistakes I see people make with succulents is using the wrong soil. Typical potting soil holds moisture so that plants don't dry out but this is the opposite of what a succulent needs. Cactus soil is perfect for succulents because it drains well. It is easy to find in any garden store.

Hopefully these tips will help you successfully start a succulent garden! If you see your succulents getting tall and leggy then they are most likely not getting enough sun. If they are losing color then they may be getting to much sun or too much water. Just keep on eye on them and adapt accordingly!

happy weekend!

Happy weekend!! I hope you have had a wonderful sunny week! This weekend is full of photo shoots for me. I had a wedding Friday at the Ritz Carlton on Amelia Island and Sunday I get to do a day after bridal shoot on Sea Island. I love the wedding madness time of year because I can feel myself get better every shoot! I am hoping for lovely weather (and a little less heat) and hoping to hop to the beach in between shoots. I hope you have wonderful plans ahead of you! Here are some weekend reads for you too...

10 Decor Tips for Small Spaces

How to Eat Healthy on a Budget

I may need to try the Summer Head Scarf Look

My Favorite Ring

Thinking I need to invest in some ankle boots

A Dollhouse in Grand Central Station

I love all these Kitchen Trends

50 Reasons to Drink Wheatgrass

Such a Cool Poster (heres even more)

The Perfect Summer Drink

the maiedae mixer

Looking for a way to get connected this summer? For those of you in the Atlanta area I have the perfect event for you! My dear friend Savannah is hosting The Maiedae Mixer, an event focused on connecting bloggers and creatives. It is going to be AMAZING. You will get to hang out with amazing ladies, eat delicious food, have a blast in the photo booth and so much more. They are doing contests and raffles for amazing giveaways and all who come get a super cool swag bag! Seriously it will be one awesome night.

If you are still not convinced here are 5 More Reasons You Should Go! The Mixer is coming up so mark you calendar for Saturday, June 1st in Rome, Georgia. If you are interested, head over to their website for more information and to get your ticket!

summer essentials / 01

The beachy waves. It is all out beach weather here which means everyone is in sun dresses with messy up-do's. This is the first time in years that my hair is long enough to actually style so I am looking for the perfect products to give myself the casual beach look I have always loved. One of my latest allies in this is Lulu's Hair Powder. This is the first dry shampoo that I have actually thought worked and allows me to have the "just hopped out of bed" look without the grease. I posted last summer about "hair do's" and one of the biggest things I learned was not to wash your hair everyday. Dry shampoo makes this possible. It is especially wonderful for those of us with bangs who don't want to have to wash and style them everyday. Here is a DIY version too.

Another product I have been mesmerized by is a Sea Salt Texturizing Mist. I wish I had the time everyday to dip into the ocean for the natural beach hair but I don't. I have been seeing salt sprays all over and thought it might be something to try for a summer of easy breezy hair. I also saw this DIY version that could be fun to try.

testimony via jcrew blog

green juice

I have talked lots before about my love for a green smoothie but I also need to introduce you to my friend the green juice. If you haven't tried juicing before I highly recommend giving it a shot. While green smoothies are full of fiber, green juice has its benefits also. Because your body doesn't have to absorb the fiber of the fruit and vegetables it can easily absorb all the vitamins and minerals. This means your digestive system gets a break but still gets all the benefits like alkalizing your body. Juicing is a great practice first thing in the morning to give your self that shot of nutrients. A lot of people think juicers are too expensive but you actually can find great juicers for a decent price. I started off with this juicer and it lasted me years.


You may look at these ingredients and think this juice wouldn't be tasty but I encourage you to try it once. The the cucumber is mild and refreshing and the broccoli stalk is surprisingly sweet! Apparently I have been missing out on those broccoli stem nutrients for quite a white (the stems are super high in calcium) so I am glad to finally have a use for them! When it comes to juicing I think adding an apple makes it plenty sweet.

Green Juice
Adapted from Crazy Sexy Kitchen
Serves 2

1 large cucumber
1 handful kale
1 small head romaine
2-3 stalks celery
1 large broccoli stem
1 green apple, quartered
1/2 lemon, peeled
  

happier home / 11

Cut Flowers. One habit I have adopted over the past few months is having cut flowers around the house. I spent years never thinking twice about flowers but once I bought them I could never go back. Having cut flowers can be as simple as grabbing a $4 bunch at the grocery store, planting your own or if you are lucky enough to have a farmers market you can always find amazing arrangements there. I find myself picking up a new batch from the grocery store every other week and I have recently planted Zinnias so hopefully in not too long those will be filling my home with color. I even find myself just picking anything that is flowering in the yard. When Azaleas were blooming I would cut a branch and stick it in a simple jar and it was a lovely, easy arrangement. Being on the coast also means I can always clip a large palm leaf from the yard and that lasts in a vase for weeks! Get creative with what is around you and you might find yourself enjoying afternoons clipping a few things for the dinner table.