Five for Friday, Vol. 7

I can't believe it's already Friday! I'm linking up with the lovely Darci, April, Christina, and Natasha to share a few things that have warmed my heart this past week. 

  

{O N E}

These colors. Fall has finally come to Georgia and my heart is so happy. All the pretty colors make driving and walking just a little more fun. There is a good chance fall is my favorite season.

{T W O}

These candles. It seems like everyone has been on a serious candle kick. I've been a bit behind the curve, but I think I'm finally jumping on the bandwagon. Got this candle a few weeks ago and love it. The Eucalyptus Yuzu sent is sweet and citrusy. I love it; however, the husband doesn't share my sentiments. Solution, it's gotta come to the office... darn :)

{T H R E E}

These sunflowers. The husband brought them home randomly one night. They're my favorite and they make me smile. Love that man.

{F O U R}

This shirt. James wants to go camping soon, and while I love being outside, sleeping on the ground isn't really my thing. He was quick to agree to some "camping shopping," so this shirt is happening. Considering that the last time we went camping my Ugg Boots were my camping shoes I really can only improve from there :)

{F I V E}

This necklace. The last time Grams was here she gave me this. Inside are pictures of my grandfather {who I'm named after} and her. Every memory I have of her has her wearing this. Sis and I use to spend hours sitting on her lap and opening and closing this locket. It means so much that she gave it to me. It's my new favorite.

Happy Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!

Office Tour

I'm so excited to share my new office with y'all!
About a month ago I first found out I was going to get my very own office. My first thought was "I got to get my diplomas framed!" I was beyond thrilled and couldn't wait to start planning/decorating and making it my own. I'm only being slightly dramatic when I say it felt like I was getting a home. My first call {after the husband} was to my mom and we immediately got to work. She really helped me to put the "look" together. I explain to her what I'm thinking {in my own broken decorating language} and she somehow makes it happen. That's how we work. Seriously, couldn't have done this without her.

First the before...
I apologize for the awful blurry phone picture. I didn't think anyone but mom was going to see these, but alas in the midst of all the "moving in" excitement I totally forgot to take before pictures with my big girl camera. It wasn't a bad before, just a little sparse and in need of some personal touches.

And now, the after...

Curtains & Grey and Yellow Pillows: Homegoods

While we bought a few things, most of it was DIY projects. 

Mom found the two chairs at a garage sale and picked them up for cheap. They looked fine before, but just didn't fit what I was thinking. Remember my obsession with Annie Sloan paint? Yup, she came to the rescue again! So easy to paint! However, reupholstering the chairs, totally different story. If I never pull another staple out of a chair it will be too soon!

My favorite part?

This bookshelf that we built! I got the idea from one of James' friends. Mom and I took a picture to Lowes and asked a guy for help. He had serious doubts about our abilities and told us we were better off buying a bookshelf. His doubts made us all the more confident... and we planned on having dad do the building all along. I do know what floor flange is now and that we will never again use the belt sander without supervision

I love having place for all my old school books, and James loves that they aren't in the apartment anymore!

I love it so hard and love going into work everyday!
Thanks for letting me give you a tour! Happy Thursday!

Wedding Wednesday: Our Video

The last wedding post!

I'm so excited to share our incredible highlight video by White Dress Media. 

I was so happy they were available when I contacted them a month before the wedding.

 Initially, I wasn't sure if a videographer would be worth the money or if I even wanted a video at all. Ever seen those corny wedding videos? Me too, I wasn't interested.
However, after watching a ton of really well done wedding videos and learning James' great grandmother wasn't going to be able to be at the wedding, we changed our minds. After talking with mom and dad about budget stuff and getting the go-ahead, I immediately began researching. I was worried we weren't going to find a good videographer only a month out, but after sending out a few emails I was led to Kaye and Jon. Not only were their videos exactly what I was looking for, but they were so sweet and easy to work with. By far the best last minute wedding decision ever and totally worth every penny!
Not only did they capture the wedding perfectly, they also captured the overall feel of the wedding!

The video pretty much sums up James and I in real life. He makes me laugh and I just make funny faces :)

James + Taylor Rae // Highlight Film from White Dress Media on Vimeo.

Giveaway Winner

I'm so excited to announce the winner of these lovely earrings!

Results Powered by random.org

AND THE WINNER IS...

Entry #20taylor j.

Congrats Taylor! Be sure to check your email!

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Hope everyone has a very happy Tuesday!

DIY Candlestick Holders

Hi friends!

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I can honestly say the UGA win over Florida greatly improved my weekend. However, if we can stop having down to the wire wins that would be great, but I digress.

We started putting my office together yesterday and I cannot wait to show y'all phase I of decorating very soon. In the meantime I have a super easy DIY project to share with you.

Sis made these and gave them away as hostess gifts for one of her wedding showers. I helped then and realized this was a project I could totally handle. Trust me, if I can make these you can too!

Here's what you need: wine bottle with label removed {I made 2}, hemp twine, 3 inch burlap ribbon, big stamp, paint, and charms {I used keys and locks}.

Start by cutting a strip of ribbon long enough to wrap around your wine bottle. Then stamp or paint some design onto the ribbon to give it some detail. No real rhyme or reason to this. You can actually buy ribbon with designs printed on it if you want to go that route. I choose black ink. I'm not sure my marriage could have handle yet another turquoise decoration. We like to call this compromise :)

Now the fun part. Wrapping.

Start with pulling the twine out the length of the bottle {don't cut the twine till the very end! I say pieces, really they're just different ends of the twine}. Start wrapping the twine around the neck of the bottle and around the hanging piece of twine {you can actually see this better in the second picture}. The tighter you wrap the better.

. When you get to the bottom of the neck tie a knot with the piece of twine you have wrapped around and the piece of twine you have done the wrapping with {picture 3}.

You could cut the twine, but I prefer tying charms onto the ends of the twine.

Next go back to your ribbon and wrap it around the bottle. Hot glue one end to the bottle then wrap it around and hot glue the other end.

Note: Hot glue is HOT. Pay attention to what your doing rather than trying to get pictures. It doesn't feel good to stick you thumb into the hot glue. Trust me, it hurts... a lot!

Buy these things to stick in the top of the bottle to put the candlesticks in. Find ones like these here or here. This might be cool too.

Ta Da! All done! 

Let me know if you give this a try!

Hope you have a very happy Monday!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway. I'll be announcing the winner tomorrow morning!

5 on Friday + GIVEAWAY, Vol. 6

Happy November 1st!
I'm spending this first Friday in November linking up with Darci, April, Christina, and Natasha.
I hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween. James and I had a relaxing night watching scary movies {I hate them!} and carving our pumpkin.



{O N E}

This verse. God has really put this one on my heart lately. It's been my constant reminder that He knows better than I do and His plan is so much better than my own.

Via

{T W O}

This video. We're building a bookshelf for my new office. The wood shelves required sanding. Mom and I figured we could do it on our own. We had the electric hand sander down, so we thought it was time to graduate to the belt sander. It wasn't..
.

No one was hurt, and the sanding continued with bruised egos and without the stupid belt sander.

{T H R E E}

This pumpkin. Hugh got a makeover! We James did a great job carving him {I provided emotional support}.

{F O U R}

This Halloween tradition. Chili and cornbread has been a Halloween tradition ever since I can remember. It was the perfect late snack night after trick-or-treating! I may not be home anymore, but the tradition will continue.
Chili with jalapeno cheddar cornbread..YUM!

{F I V E}

I'm so excited to announce my very first Giveaway today!

For those of you who don't know, sis is incredibly talented. She opened an Etsy shop, Anchor of Hope Designs, about a month ago and I want pretty much everything she makes. She has graciously agreed to sponsor my first giveaway!

I am giving away these beautiful aqua teardrop wire wrapped earrings to one lucky reader!

 I've been begging for these since she made them. I think she loves you more since she's offering up these beauties to y'all instead.

Instructions on how to win are below. Good luck!

Aqua Teardrop Earrings

 Enter below using the Rafflecopter widget. This giveaway will run from November 1st - 3rd.  All entries will be verified.  

The giveaway ends at midnight on November 4th and the winner will be announced on November 5th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

OPEN TO US RESIDENTS 18 & OVER ONLY! VOID WHEN PROHIBITED!

Have a very happy weekend! I'll be heading to Starbucks since the beginning of November means the season of red cups!

Wedding Wednesday: Reception

After a fun time getting ready and a beautiful ceremony we were so ready for a fun and beautiful reception! It didn't disappoint! Everything looked even better than we hoped for and we had a great time dancing with friends and family.

Our reception site was only a walk up a small hill from our ceremony site, and just as pretty. My 90 year old grandmother sewed all 12 of our linen table runners. She's pretty much the coolest person ever!

Family tree and flip flops for dancing!

The only bite of cake I got all night was what James fed me. I'm pretty sure it was vanilla cake with raspberry filling and almond icing. It was great when we tried it at our tasting. I only hope it was that good at the wedding!

The one thing we've heard consistently from guests is how incredible the food was. I would pay serious money to eat it again. It was that good!

Planning two weddings for the past year was difficult, but mom and dad handled everything so well. I could not be more thankful for everything they did for our wedding. It was the perfect night and we couldn't have done any of it without both of them!

First dances:

James and I danced to "Sea Breeze" by Tyron Wells; the same song he played the night he proposed. I was so uncomfortable dancing while everyone was watching, but he did a great job distracting me and making me laugh

 

My dad, sis, and James' best man, Taylor, did a great job with their speeches. They made us laugh and cry at the same time.

Random fact: the husband is freaky good at handstands. My first friend/bridesmaid Cara is a former gymnast. There was smack talk before the wedding as to who was better. What better time to test this out than at the wedding? 

James won form and Cara won length. It was probably my favorite part of the reception!

Off to our Mexico honeymoon!

 

 That's it for the wedding recaps! Thanks for sticking around as I relive the best day of our lives.
Next up, our wedding video!

Happy Wednesday!!

*All photos were taken by Amy Arrington Photography*