DIY Lamp Shade

So I read a lot of blogs (a lot) and there are tons of great ideas out there! So last week I borrowed the idea of a do it yourself lamp shade from High-Heeled Foot in the Door, now Effortless Style.

I love the idea of taking a table runner to recover a lamp shade to make it look custom made!

First I bought all the items I needed: a drum lamp shade and a table runner (on clearance from World Market).

Then I gathered the basic supplies: glue gun, safety pins, and scissors.

After measuring the length I needed for my lamp shades I cut the runner into 2 pieces. I then carefully pinned the material on the lamp shade to get my pattern and pleats just so. I first glued the bottom portion on the shade since it was larger than the top, then I proceeded to tighten my pleats and pins already in place. I lightly steamed the pleats, then I proceeded to glue the top portion.

And viola! I have custom lamp shades.

So this set of lamp shades cost me $47 to make total. I am so excited that I video chatted with my mom to show her my creation. Yes I am just that much of a geek.

Happy Thanksgiving

I just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Sorry for the delay of posts this week, but I promise to be back next week with more posts. I've been a very busy girl and will share with you all some of the things I have been up to!

Gotta Have Shades

I am in desperate need of a pair of lamp shapes. I want something simple, just a drum shade that is 16 inches high so I can do a DIY project. But in my search I have not found what I am looking for, but I have seen several beauties that have caught my eye!

When did lamp shades become not boring?

Find all of these pictured: here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Steal verse Lux

This week's steal verses lux edition features a reclaimed lumber table. One is $2,998 and the other is $1,299. Now the two are slightly different in size so we're not comparing oranges to oranges, more like a navel orange to a tangelo orange.

The lux item is the one pictured on top from Anthropologie and the steal is pictured below it from Crate and Barrel. The difference between these are their lengths and widths— and not to mention $1700.

Smiling Fish Cafe Gives Nothing but All Smiles

So I have been meaning to write about this for sometime now— early October if you really must know. But if you are ever in the 30A area you must grab a bite of lunch at Smiling Fish Cafe in Gulf Place. Not only can you dine outdoors but you can feast on this:

It is a salad of tender baby spinach leaves, tossed with sun-dried tomatoes, golden raisins, pecan pieces, blue cheese crumbles, and a balsamic pepper jelly vinaigrette and half a crispy duck!

All I can say is yummy...

Won't You Be My Neighbor

It's time again for the segment "Won't You Be My Neighbor". I love the beach and the entire Florida panhandle, so I am all about bringing more people here to vacation and even be my full time neighbors!

This condo is listed at $169,000 which is located in Redfish Village. No people that is not a typo— you could have at place along 30A with beach access and close to all of your favorite spots for under $170k.

{This foreclosed condo is a steal at $169,000}

This condo is over 1300 square feet and comes with 2 bedrooms, a bunk room and 2 full baths. It features stainless appliances, granite counter tops, & wood floors. Redfish Village owners enjoy private beach access, swimming pool, & Big Redfish Lake. Redfish Village is located just minutes to Seaside & WaterColor... plus this location is just across the street from a great creamery.

Check out more pictures and features of the home and call the agent that will get the deal done for you! Bev Dudley lives by her motto of "if it goes to contract it will close!"

So won't you be my neighbor,

For inquires about this home please contact:

Wreath Envy

This weekend I ended my Sunday night going through the mess of magazines I got Friday and Saturday. While perusing Real Simple I came across this gorgeous wreath. Now the colors seem off in the picture on their website but the wreath seems to die for! I could actually see this wreath being used year round too.

Early Thanksgiving Dinner

This weekend our neighbors held a fabulous neighborhood thanksgiving dinner. It was really simple, everyone brought 1 side dish to serve 25-30 people and their own adult beverages. I worked on painting bookcases all weekend so while waiting for the paint to dry in between coats I baked 6 dozen cookies to make cream filled cookie sandwiches and made 2 pans of dressing. Everyone raved that it was fabulous so I hope it really all was.

This was a pleasure for me to do but I realized that some people may not have the time, patience or talent for cooking. So was are they to do? Well I just found out that Williams and Sonoma can prepare all the items for your Thanksgiving meal and it will be shipped to you. You can get a cajun fried turkey, cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin cheese cake, and even dress your table up for the main event.

And just remember this is the time of the year to give thanks, not be stressed. To remind myself of how fortunate we are we always do something for someone else. This year a neighbor's child came by asking for cans goods for their Church to deliver meals to local families. We took the list that they needed for a family and purchased all the items on the list including a gift card for purchasing a turkey. While the entire list only cost us $40 I know it will mean so much more to the family that gets to eat a feast together on Thanksgiving day.

Steal verse Lux

It is all about Tolix chairs! Who doesn't love them? I have adored these chairs from Pottery Barn since the moment I saw them about 2 years ago. And boy have they ever become the popular kid around the table.

But not everyone can afford the on sale price of $749 for a set of 4 chairs from Pottery Barn. If the price were half that you could probably manage getting them in your budget right? I just happened to come across some knock offs. From Home Depot of all places too! And with the chairs coming it at $99 each that makes them about half the price for a set of 4! Now granted they are not the exact same, and it would be easier to tell more about their look in person. So maybe order one and if you love it order more! With them coming in red, cream, and silver I would like some for my outdoor table.

I absolutely love the ones from Pottery Barn, like everything else there, but these might be worth investigating.

The French Bistro Chair Take Over

It seems like a few short weeks ago (okay maybe really 4 months ago) I started seeing these great french bistro dining chairs in blogland. Then suddenly everyone started selling these babies. I love them but have zero use for them. My question is are they just a trend or do they have the staying power to transition in today's home to "the next look"?

Restoration Hardware On Sale $99.00

Set of 2 from World Market $259.00

Set of 2 from Ballard Designs $299.00

Peir 1 On Sale $99.00

I feel sure there are tons more out there to be found. I have even seen some OLD ones in antique shops. Maybe I get one for an entry way or something.

Won't You Be My Neighbor

It's time again for the segment "Won't You Be My Neighbor". I love the beach and the entire Florida panhandle, so I am all about bringing more people here to vacation and even be my full time neighbors!

This home is new on the market and listed at $459,000 which is located in the subdivision Cypress Breeze Plantation.

{This home features gleaming hardwoods throughout!}

This home is over 2700 square feet and comes with 4 bedrooms and 4 full baths with an attached 2 car garage. This home even features a separate apartment with a fully equipped kitchen. The house is full of charm from its premium finishes down to its coral colored shutters.

The home is located in Cypress Breeze Plantation which is famous throughout Northwest Florida for its 14,400 sq. ft. multi-level swimming pool, with large pool deck, cascading fountains and waterfalls.


One of the best features of this home is its location! Only 1/2 mile from public beaches with restaurants and shopping at the famous Gulf Place within walking distance. Check out more pictures and features of the home and call the agent that will get the deal done for you! Bev Dudley lives by her motto of "if it goes to contract it will close!"

So won't you be my neighbor,

For inquires about this home please contact:

Great Reasons to Live in Florida

There are tons of great reasons to live in the state of Florida. It seems like I discover new reasons all of the time since I became a Floridian. Here are afew reason, in no particular order, that I thought I might sway you to become a Floridian too:

1. The Beach

I mean come on, really? Does the beach really need to be any more obvious of a reason to live in Florida?

2. No Personal State Income Taxes

You know that extra few hundred dollars you see come out of your check each pay period for state income taxes? Floridians have a big fat ZERO there. Imagine if you could keep that money each time, it would seem like you got a big raise wouldn't it?

3. State Tags

Okay if you go to the DMW you literally have a hundred choices of types of speciality plates to choose from and not to mention you get to support a worthy cause each year—for less than what you'd spend on dinner one night. Mine is still on its way as I will be sporting a personalized specialty plate, I'm supporting to save the wild dolphins.

4. Disney Discounts

Yeah the happiest place on earth stays happy with Floridians having the ability to purchase discounted annual passes to their parks. Just by being a Florida resident you get a discount.

5. Being The Most Popular Relative or Friend

Who doesn't feel loved when you look at your calendar and realize you have guests every weekend for the next month or so? We had to beg and plead just to get our parents to visit Cali much less anyone else coming out for a visit there. In Florida everybody wants a mini vacation to get away from their everyday lives. Not to mention we are pretty good hosts.

6. Great Food

If you love food then you have to visit Florida. It has become a melting pot of sorts for Southerns, Northerns, Cajuns, and everyone else to come together to share their best food. A few of our weekly spots in the 30A area are Stinky's Fish Camp, The Donut Hole, Don Pedros, and Smiling Fish Cafe. And don't forget other local favorites like Red Bar and Bud and Alleys.

7. The People

We met more people in the first 4 days in Florida than our entire 4 years in Cali. People here are so welcoming and friendly. It has taken some getting used to having conversations in line at the grocery store or a table across the resturant with total strangers.

The Lair's Club

The Lair's Club (Stinkys, the Old Lake House, whatever you'd like to call it) is a fabulous place to grab breakfast on the western end of 30A. In fact it is so divine you will find the hubs and I in there at least once a weekend. Seriously that good.

I always get the fisherman's breakfast with biscuits and gravy (or you could get it with french toast).

The hubs always gets the fresh blue crab omelet. Yes folks an omelet overstuffed with fresh blue crab and cream cheese.

Needless to say we're card carrying members of the clean plate club there.

Steal verse Lux

Can you tell which of these chairs is a steal and which one is the luxury? Yes I am trying to trick you! One costs as little as $599 and the other tops out at a whopping $2250.

The steal is the lovely grey leather one from West Elm for $599. If anyone has any connections at West Elm, I'll take 2 please! I could really use them in my desperately bare living room. The Williams Sonoma chair is a luxury at the price point of $2250. Yes it is a beautiful chair but I believe the less costly West Elm version will hold up better when dealing with the Great Dane slobber and not to mention our pocketbook.

Thanksgiving Dinner Invitation Freebie

As many of you know I am a graphic designer so I thought I could share my talent with you all today. I have made a template you all can use for your Thanksgiving Dinner party invitations. I realized all too often we think about the meal and the invite can be forgotten.

You can download the template here. I have included a simple MS Word® file you all can update with your info but I also included a blank PDF for those of you looking to get more creative with it. You can use as you wish, just don't republish this file anywhere on the web, you must link back here please.

{Enjoy!}

If you download these please just leave a comment saying hello and drop by for more freebies later!

And don't forget to send them in great envelopes. I prefer to use Paper Source. Choose an A9 envelope in Moss green, at least that would be my choice!

Won't You Be My Neighbor

It's time again for the segment "Won't You Be My Neighbor". I love the beach and the entire Florida panhandle, so I am all about bringing more people here to vacation and even be my full time neighbors!

This home is new on the market and listed at $380,000 which is located in the subdivision Cypress Breeze Plantation.

{Travertine flooring throughout the bottom level!}

This home is over 2100 square feet and comes with 4 bedrooms and 4 full baths with an attached 2 car garage. Let me tell you all that 2 car garages are hard to come by in the 30A area. The home is located in Cypress Breeze Plantation which is famous throughout Northwest Florida for its 14,400 sq. ft. multi-level swimming pool, with large pool deck, cascading fountains and waterfalls.


One of the best features of this home is its location! Only 1/2 mile from public beaches with restaurants and shopping at the famous Gulf Place within walking distance. Check out more pictures and features of the home and call the agent that will get the deal done for you! Bev Dudley lives by her motto of "if it goes to contract it will close!"

So won't you be my neighbor,



For inquires about this home please contact:

Already Thinking Spring

Fall is just arriving here at the beach but I am already making plans for this coming spring!

With our newly fenced yard the hubs and I are starting our plan of making the outdoors an actual living area as well.

I think this fabric would be great for making us some cushions in our seating areas.

And I must have a large table and seating to entertain everyone of course.

When entertaining you should always use the freshest ingredients so I think we shall plant a few citrus trees out back. We're thinking lime, lemon, and blood oranges.

For those sunsets and dinner parties I would love run some of these lights through our pergola.