Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Itching for Spring

Spring is my absolute favorite time of year. It's always been a toss up between Spring and Fall, but there is something about surviving the bitter temps (and in Oklahoma, the powerfully cold winds) and feeling the warm Spring sun on your skin. Mmmm, I love that feeling!

I could seriously live in skirts and dresses! Even though I've given up shopping for Lent, I couldn't help but make my Spring wardrobe wish list - and there's no shortage of bold patterns and bright colors!


  • I'm having a little bit of a love affair with lime citrus - chartreuse - whatever you want to label it, it's divine. Dear J.Crew, thank you for bringing these lovelies into my life! 



  • Fun and flirty A-line skirts. I am a pretty big fan of anchors, stripes and dots - uhhh have you seen these skirts?! They're calling my name! I've also been drawn to red lately, and as a long standing lover of navy, I just can't get enough of the top right skirt.




  • How effortlessly adorable is this dress? Again with the navy and stripes... I know... but it's simply the perfect "Saturday errands" dress! I nearly squealed aloud when I saw these beige wedges on J.Crew Factory's site. My favorite pair of tan cork wedges from J.Crew met their untimely death while I was walking back to the office from a meeting last summer. I've desperately been searching for a replacement pair. Ta da! I found them!



  • The 5-inch chino from J.Crew is my all time favorite. Again, I'm loving the bold print of the blue! I'm also swooning over these mint oxford shorties. Finally, seersucker... need I say more?


  • And for those chilly nights out with friends, these great lightweight cardigans - and that delightful striped blazer - are my favorite! 



So, is it Spring yet? xoxo, E

Monday, February 25, 2013

Weekend Wrap-up

It was one heck of a weekend. Let it be said, I have the BEST friends who go out of their way to send me "funnies" to cheer me up post-surgery news.

Like Bobbie, who sent me a pic of my favorite Cam Cam to cheer me up! In an effort to maintain Cam's modesty, I'll just post the side by side comparison of me and that sweet girl - we would have been besties!


Or my Kimmy who sent me this hilarious rendition of T. Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble" - which happens to be one of my favorite songs currently. But the goat, it's an amazing addition...



Or Cameron, my co-worker, who wrote me one of the kindest and most encouraging notes I've ever received. I'm seriously overwhelmed by the kindness of my friends!


On a "house note," I am a bit obsessed with driving by every day and looking at it. You guys, it's to the point where I think my car is recognizable to the neighbors. I had my first "wave to the neighbor" moment on Saturday - and she initiated the wave! It was so excited that I had to text mom and dad immediately!

The inspection is on Wednesday, and the only person more excited than me is my friend Vicky. I took her by the house yesterday, and we picked up these fab side tables from Target. Still not sure if they are going to work, but I'm pretty much obsessed with these beauties! Vicky and her fiance Evan treated me to dinner and game night at their place on Saturday and there was some serious trash talking during our game of "Sequence." So fun!


I mentioned that I plan to refinish the side tables that are in my room currently. Here's a pic of the "before" and the color I'm going for in the "after."


Well, I've got 2 more projects that I'm adding to the list:
1. Paint this frame - not sure what color yet, but it needs to be modernized a bit!


2. I'm also thinking of painting the twin bed that my Nanny is giving me for the second bedroom in the house. If I decide the mirrored side tables won't work in my living room, I think they'll be great in the guest room - but the twin bed is brown. So, the bed will need to be updated a bit.

I really love to refinish/paint furniture, so these projects make me giddy!

Finally, I'll leave you with 2 of my favorites... I am obsessed with these new candles that Momma got me when she was visiting. The scent is divine! And sweet Emily - this little munchkin is the best, with the cutest little baby giggle. Love her!


We are supposed to get hit with Snowpocalypse tonight, so might have a snow day tomorrow. Fingers crossed! xoxo, E

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Welcomed Distraction

I am so incredibly grateful for my amazing family and friends. The day has been less than stellar after a phone call from the dermatologist with my biopsy results. However, I'm thankful for early detection and have my surgery scheduled for early March.

Even though it's been an emotional day, I am pretty good at distracting myself. So, I've been very productive catching up on tv shows and pinning ideas for my new house! Here's a little sample of some of the inspiration:

Monogramed Euro shams for guest bedroom



Love the light fixture and arrangement of furniture with fireplace focal point



Inspiration color for Master Bedroom side table refinishing project!



I am a BIG fan of gray - and I'm strongly leaning towards "Gray Shingle" by Sherwin Williams for the interior paint color throughout the house.



I'm also totally swooning over these wallpapers from Urban Outfitters!



Getting a little bit anxious about the home inspection on Wednesday, but hopefully all will go well and I can start putting some of these ideas in motion after closing on March 15th!

What would we do without design blogs, the web and Pinterest?!

xoxo, E


p.s. I love this picture that my sweet friend Caitlin posted on her blog - still makes me giggle!




Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Craving the Cow

It's been a whirlwind of a day! 

Oklahoma City woke up to a nice little blanket of snow and it was still falling when I left my apartment for the dermatologist. There is something so beautiful and peaceful about freshly fallen snow.



The dermatologist visit didn't go quite as I'd hoped, but I'm praying that all four biopses will come back benign. Luckily, I have amazing friends and family members who keep me positive and let me cry when I need to!

I had to run to Target quickly after work to pick up a few necessities, and on my way out to the parking lot, my super sonic sense of smell caught a whiff of the nearby Chickfila. I couldn't resist posting the following:


I'm trying the Knives Over Forks diet because it's resulted in cancer and disease prevention. I have never been a huge meat eater, but I definitely miss chicken already -- and don't even get me started on the absence of cheese in my life! I suppose that if all else fails, I can be a vegetarian who limits my dairy intake?

On the house front, I am totally obsessed. I have driven by my cute little bungalow every day multiple times a day. I can't wait to get in and decorate! My focus has totally shifted from shopping for clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc. to saving money for home improvements and decor! 

Let me also point out the part of the home buying process that is stressing me out like cray cray - all the paperwork and the financial side! Eek!! That's the part that reminds me that I totally do not feel like an adult. But alas, I press onward!

My home inspection is scheduled for Wednesday of next week - which happens to be Momma's birthday - we are calling that a good sign!

Time for bed and dreaming of paint colors & light fixtures! xoxo, E

Let's get social!

It's a busy, busy day in the life today!

  • Dermatologist appointment - always a nerve-wracking experience after 2 bouts of skin cancer in '09 and '10. Positive: Celebrating three years of being cancer free! I plan on keeping it up!
  • Multiple meetings - one of my favorite things about my job is working with our amazing community partners - and today is full these opportunities!
  • Girl's Night!
That being said, let's get social! If you're not already, follow me on Twitter and Instagram!
Happy Wednesday! xoxo, E

Monday, February 18, 2013

Ease on down the road

Is anyone still out there? It has been an embarrassingly long time since I last posted in this little corner of the blogosphere. I quickly scrolled through the last posts that I wrote back in September - yes, it's been that long - and I couldn't help but reflect on how much is different in my life!

I have such sweet friends who periodically text me to say they miss the blog. To be honest, I haven't quite had the words - or the time - to blog. I've missed it though! My favorite thing about reading blogs is getting to know the author. Sure the "pretty" parts are fun, but I enjoy getting to know the person behind the words - and I respect those who are incredibly vulnerable and share the truth in their lives. Especially when it's not pretty. 

That being said, I haven't been ready to share the "un-pretty" things in my life - nor did I even know how to - until recently. 

I said that a lot has changed in my life since September, and boy is that (what feels like) the understatement of the year:

1. I am single in the city... well, maybe not the city... but Oklahoma City!
After two years of dating my best friend, we decided it was best for both of us if we were to take some time apart. Can we be real here for a second? Breaking up is AWFUL! It's so terrible. People talk about heart break - but I'm here to tell you, it's a literal pain! Even though I knew it was for the best, my heart felt broken. 

I know this might come as a shock to those of you who know me (sarcasm) but I tend to have a flair for the dramatic. I remember thinking, "I will never be able to move on from this. Nevah!" (Okay, so maybe I'm being a little dramatic in the re-telling of this as well). But guess what? There's good news - what people say is true - time heals all wounds.

Now, I'm not here to tell you that I don't ever think about the "good ol' days" or wish to go back and do things differently, but I can absolutely tell you that I've come out on the other side of this breakup... and I'm happy!

2. I have a new job that I absolutely adore! Folks, I have to say, I had given up hope that it was possible to love my job. I have always worked with amazing people, but the work itself never fulfilled me. All that changed once I started working for Downtown OKC, Inc. (DOKC from here on out). I work with the best of the best - and I get to work on projects that matter! 

Not once... I will say it again just so you don't miss it... not ONCE have I thought, "Man, I don't want to go into work today." It's been 5 months - there have been some crazy stressful days (yes, yes there were tears at times) - but I can still say that I genuinely look forward to going into work every day!

I am the happiest I have been in a very long time - I know that I am exactly where I'm supposed to be and doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing.

3. I bought a house! Well, I'm in the process of buying a house. The seller accepted my offer on this cute little bungalow this weekend, so now we just have to get through the inspection. If all goes well, this baby will be mine on March 15th! Say a little prayer for me?



So, here's my plan - blog more! Simple enough right? I have never been so happy and passionate about what I'm doing - and I want to share that! 

What can you expect to see and read? 
Obsessive talk about the decor plans for my new house? Yes! 
Pictures of the crazy shenanigans around the office? That's a given! 
Tales - and snapshots - of the amazing events that we put on in our fair city? You betcha! 
Basically, buckle up for the wild ride that my life has become - and I wouldn't change a thing!

xoxo, E

Note after posting: this is my 100th post on the blog - how fitting it's my "return!"