Let's talk about blogging.

Maybe I'm just imagining things, but it seems since Pinterest has come around there has been less blogging going on. I recently went through my Blog Love links and realized a lot of blogs no longer post or post very infrequently. I've seen some other blogs mention the same thing, I was curious if you have noticed it too?

Or maybe when you've been blogging for as long as I have (4 years now, crazy!) there will always be bloggers that come and go?

I still ADORE the blogs that I read every morning with my coffee and I obviously still love blogging.. I think it will be in my life for a long, long time. I'd love to be introduced to some new-to-me blogs that for some reason or another has slipped under my radar.

SO please do share, what are your 5 most FAVORITE must-read-everyday blogs? The ones that when you see they have a new post up, you can't click fast enough to read. Please don't list your own blog or my blog, I want the picks to be completely unbiased. :)

Here are my picks (it was hard):

Little Green Notebook - I'm sure this one will be on almost everyone's list! She is one of the best.

Rockstar Diaries - Even though it's not a design blog per say, I can't get enough of this adorable little family.

Urban Grace Interiors - Erika doesn't post very often, but when she does I love to soak it all in. She's been one of my favorites for a long, long time.

High Street Market - Kelly has such a great eye, and her posts are always so well put together.




Design Indulgence - Sherry says exactly what she thinks, and I love it. She always makes me laugh. She's also crazy talented and I love seeing the projects she works on.

Blogger Secret Santa???

Okay, I have NO idea who my blogger secret santa is but they rock! I shared with you my first gift of the awesome silver modern reindeer.. then my second gift came in the mail and it was the She & Him Christmas cd!! Just the day before I got the CD I picked up the little free song card that Starbucks gives out with a She & Him Christmas song on it. Well I didn't need to use it because now I have the entire cd :)

Thanks Secret Santa!



Here are the secret santa suspects:



And the links to their blogs:

4 men 1 lady *** bryn alexandra *** emilyaclark
house of smiths *** the inspired room
isabella and max rooms *** la dolce vita
making it lovely *** you stir me *** thrifty decor chick
tenjune *** lovely little details ***
young house love *** pure style home *** miss mustard seed

Check out Brooklyn Limestone's blog to guess who got who and you can win a prize!

I can't wait to find out who had me! :)

1 bed, 2 looks

Today I'm over at Amber's blog posting about one bed with two looks. Check it out!!

Blogfest 2011 - Day 1 (I'm Back!)

Phew. What a whirlwind couple of days. I can't express in writing how FULL I am after Blogfest. Full of knowledge, love, friendships, inspiration, happiness, junk food (haha).

It was such an amazing trip... I know I won't be able to recap it very well (One of my worst qualities is my memory), but I'm going to try a day by day recap.

Monday, May 16th

I woke up super early (5 am) to two voicemails on my cell phone telling me my flight was canceled and my new flight would arrive in NY at 6 pm. I yelled a couple sleepy expletives and asked my husband if there were any other flights going out (side note - my husband is the best. I should really put him on payroll as my office/life manager. He is my rock and I don't know what I would do without him). He found a flight going out via another airline and we purchased it - I HAD to be there (and I got a refund for the other one). Long story short, due to weather and delays, I BARELY made it to the Hearst building.. went straight from the airport to the cab to the luncheon.

Breakfast in the Hearst building. Yes, that is Tobi Fairley across from me. I was reading her story in Traditional Home on the plane just hours before.

I thought this room had really cool milk-glass like windows. Turned out it was fog (we were on the 44th floor.. I think?) LOOK at those peonies!

After lunch we were graced with the presence of Editors in Chief of some of the top shelter mags.



It was interesting to hear their point of view and get an inside look into shelter pubs. You could tell some editors didn't particularly love blogs (which sort of made us go hmmm.. this is blogfest after all) and some loved blogs.

I loved this imagery story from Veranda. The explanation behind these images is that although the two images are very similar, Veranda strives to be the image on the right. Softer, more elegant, pretty yet casual. I want to be the image on the right, too (nothing against Drew).

Pardon my language, but Newell Turner is the shit. There is no better way to describe him. I have to admit House Beautiful is my favorite magazine. It's beautiful without being too out of reach. And that's exactly how Newell is - sophisticated, educated but funny and down to earth.

(he didn't actually mention MFAMB directly but definitely alluded to it)

I wish I could have met Newell but he was more popular than Britney Spears circa 2002.

I love these girls! From left to right: Amanda, Chassity, me, Amanda (click on each name to see their amazing blogs)

After the fun at the Hearst building Amanda and I headed over to check out the Elle Decor Modern Life Concept House. It was gorgeous!!! I was in visual overload, which happened a lot during this trip. I was so happy to see spaces designed by some of my favorite designers (although I didn't get to meet any). I took a ton of pictures..

My favorite room in the two concept apts, designed by Carrier and Company. Love the citron green.

I'm taking note of the pleating on the drapes. Classic but still modern. And that art!

Do you see Amanda? :)

Chinese take out menus as the backsplash.

If I could have raised the bed up a couple feet off the floor, this would be a dream bedroom for me.

There will be pictures of all the rooms in Elle Decor soon and they will be much better than mine.

We ended the night at the Design TV/ Joss & Main party. It was so fun hanging with a lot of my favorite bloggers. I just adore them all!!!!!

Chanee, Janell, Amanda, me

Chanee, Amanda, Amanda, Chassity, Janelle, Me. We had a great time!!

Joss & Main was gracious enough to provide fabulous gifts for a raffle that night. Well, I couldn't believe it, but I won the grand prize!!! It was the day before my birthday and I have to say it was a wonderful birthday surprise! I won these two chairs (below), the peacock blue Robert Abbey lamp (below), some candle sticks and a book. Wow!!!

Horrible iPhone picture, but me in one of my new chairs. :)

Phew! What a great first day. I have two more days to cover.. although I have less pictures of those days.

*** If you were at Blogfest and have pictures of me/related to me can you please send them my way so I can include them in my recaps? Thanks girls!! ***

Last night was pretty dreadful at JFK airport. The weather held up dozens of planes and I didn't get home until 1:30 am. I'm pretty tired this morning and am working from bed.

Apparently, while half awake this morning, I dropped my splenda packet in my coffee and didn't realize until I was finished. lol!



Man it is good to be back home with my husband and to have this sweet girl work in bed with me (who after a round of steriods is back to normal! YAY!!)


Isn't it funny how dogs talk with their expressions? Her face says it all: "I had to ride along to the airport last night at midnight to pick your ass up so I'm just as tired as you. I really don't want to be taking pictures right now. K Thanks."

I just had to...

Just in case you may not follow Paula at Two Ellie, I just had to post her home over here. It is amazing and she is such a sweet blogger. She's one of my favorites!!

Click here to see her home in Birmingham Magazine. I took these next photos from her home on Houzz:

bedroom design by birmingham media and blogs Two Ellie

spaces design by birmingham media and blogs Two Ellie

hall design by birmingham media and blogs Two Ellie

kids design by birmingham media and blogs Two Ellie

kids design by birmingham media and blogs Two Ellie

I really love their style and their home!

Nicole's Laundry Room

Today I'm sharing the new laundry room of Nicole from Making It Lovely. She used the same flooring that I'll be using in my own laundry room.

I love what she did with her laundry room, especially the happy blue door. And the red washer/dryer is so fun!!









Such a clean, fun, functional space. It makes me excited to finally have my laundry room done. Although we are using the same flooring, our laundry rooms will be very different.

After I hit publish on this post, my MIL and I are heading to Home Depot to pick up the flooring supplies. I can't wait to get started!

Around The (Blog) World

There were great things on the blogs this week and I have to give some major props. Here is my "Hey! You're awesome!" round up of things that made me look twice.

Sherry shared an update of her ah-mazing guest room. I couldn't stop staring at it!




Chassity shared her home on Made By Girl. I was smitten with her nursery, her den and her entry.








Nicole's kitchen made me stop in my tracks on her blog Me Oh My! That chandelier!!



Have you noticed pink is EVERYWHERE now and I love it! (Remember I painted my office pink, so yup I'm a fan). What little girl wouldn't love this big pink pouf from Full House??



Amber sent me such a sweet email with her blog and asked me to check it out. I'm SO GLAD she did because it's quickly become one of my favorites!! Check out this picture of her master she just posted:



Great job ladies!

This week a friend of mine shot one of my finished projects and I'll be sharing it with you on Monday :)

Nurseries

There are a lot of my favorite bloggers that are becoming new moms. I remember when they all got pregnant a while back, and they are now starting to have their babies! It's so fun to watch their process. To name a few: Fe, Naomi, and Jennifer recently had their babies. Nicole, Caitlin, Stephanie and Reichel are due soon. Even my maid of honor from our wedding is pregnant!

It's really fun seeing the nurseries unfold. Here are some of my favorite nurseries that I have saved in my "someday" folder:

[ via ]

[ via ]


[ via ]


[ via ]


[ via ]


[ via ]


[ via ]

I really don't know when I'll be designing our own nursery. Although we do want kids someday, we're not quite ready for that step in our lives. But I have to admit - I love thinking about (and apparently blogging about) designing nurseries. I think I love them because they are whimsical, sweet, pretty and fun.

In fact (please don't think I'm crazy), I was reading an old Domino recently when I saw this image. I immediately thought "what a great nursery color palette!!!" So I scanned it in.



( If you are in need of a nursery design, please do let me know :) I need to get it out of my system. haha! )

And I dedicate this post to the aforementioned moms and moms to be... congrats!!