Friday, November 30, 2012

TWELVE DAYS OF CHEER!


Starting tomorrow, we will be celebrating 12 days of Christmas Cheer! Jenny and I will be blogging each day to bring you a daily dose of holiday inspiration. We'll be sharing our favorite DIYs, recipes, and Christmas traditions. Each day will be themed and you'll get a post from my perspective here and a post from Jenny's perspective on her blog. Ready!? Grab some cocoa, turn up the Bing Crosby...let's get into the Christmas spirit!

The Christmas Cheer Bucket List
* December, Saturday 1st - Make an advent calendar
* December, Sunday 2nd - Listen to Christmas music & watch our favorite movies
* December, Monday 3rd - Play in the snow
* December, Tuesday 4th - Make Christmas cards
* December, Wednesday 5th - Decorate our home
* December, Thursday 6th - Dress up for a Christmas party
* December, Friday 7th - Traditions past, present & future
* December, Saturday 8th - Host a party and decorate our tables
* December, Sunday 9th - Make a wreath
* December, Monday 10th - Put together our Christmas wishlist
* December, Tuesday 11th - Bake goodies
* December, Wednesday 12th - Reflect

We can't wait for you to join us! Merry Christmas!!


Thursday, November 29, 2012

FANCY SHMANCY: BUNDLE UP!

Although I will always love an oversized sweater, one of my favorite ways to stay warm is layering! Just by layering a coat or cardigan different ways with new colors and textures from your closet you can create several different outfit looks. I tend to lean more towards a neutral color or pattern so I can play with colors and textures in my pant or top choice. Outerwear shopping can get expensive!! Make sure you pick what you truly love and imagine some of your favorite outfits with that piece. Will it coordinate with most of your closet or just a few things? All of my selections above are under $100. :)

1// JOU JOU Faux Leather Jacket - Tillys 2// Navy Geometric Cardigan - SheInside 3// Asymmetric Double-Layers Trench Coat - ROMWE  4// Khaki Drap - SheInside 5// Mint Cable Knit - Chicwish 6// Gray Woollen Coat - Chicnova  7// Omah Aztec Wrap Coat - BANK Fashion 8// Camel Cardigan - ROMWE 9// Dots Life Coat - Modcloth

Keep warm!



Wednesday, November 28, 2012

THREADS

Even though I don't love being cold, I LOVE wearing big blanket-like sweaters. This one is a little more dressy; but so, so cozy. To dress up my oversized sweater I paired it with some shiny leggings, my favorite blowfish shoes, and a new statement necklace. Comfortable and dressy. :)

My Outfit: 1// Oversized Cream Sweater - Urban Outfitters 2// Palmdale Statement Necklace - Urban Outfitters 3// Shiny Leggings - Express 4// Leather Booties - c/o Blowfish Shoes 5// Gold Leather Bracelet - Italy Market


Get the Look: 1// Oversized Knit Batwing Sweater - Romwe  2// Leather Leggings - Topshop 3// Tabitha Bangle - Oliver Bonas 4// Wedge Boots - H&M 5// Gold Necklace - Boohoo

Can you have too many cream sweaters? Because I'm super tempted to get the one above! ;) Where are your favorite places to buy oversized sweaters and outerwear??


Tuesday, November 27, 2012

HOLIDAY DIY ROUND-UP

Since the holidays are in full swing, I asked my sponsors to share their favorite//must-do DIY for the season. I'm always on the lookout for creative ways to decorate and make something, especially during Christmas! Check out their picks below:




1// Autumn Leaf Bunting - Picked by Chelsea of Sea, Field & Tribe
"It's a fun and simple way to bring nature indoors. I love the ever-changing colors of the leaves, which continue to shift their spectrum even as your new home decor." Find Chelsea here: Blog + Shop.  






2// Advent Wreath - Picked by Leah of Unearthing Words
"I’ve been meaning to make a proper advent wreath for a while now and I have been inspired by many gorgeous Pinterest pictures. I think I’ll go more traditional with the greenery and purple//pink candles!" Find Leah here: Website + Book.



3// Striped Wall - Picked by Kellee of Pirate & Lilac
"I've been thinking about painting a wall in my apartment, and even went so far as to buy the paint... but still haven't gotten around to it!  I'm hoping I can finish it soon (maybe a New Year's resolution?) as I also want to use the wall as a backdrop for my blog photos and shop!  I picked this tutorial as it shows many different examples of stripes in ways I hadn't thought of before, plus practical tips.  The blog itself has many great articles as well!" Find Kellee here: Blog



4// Lace Boot Socks - Picked by Maddie of Thriftary 
"These DIY boot socks are my absolute fav so far. Everyone needs the perfect pair of boots to walk them through this amazing holiday season, and these socks are the perfect accessory for that!" Find Maddie here: Blog + Twitter





5// Framed Branches - Picked by Moorea of Moorea Seal 
"I moved my workspace into a new studio in June and I still haven't decorated! I want to add some nature inspired pieces to the walls with elements of branches, feathers, moon imagery, antlers, and animal skulls."
Find Moorea here: Blog + Shop





Hmmm...if I had to pick, I think I would choose this Driftwood Photo Display via Morning Creativity. :) What about you? What are you handmaking for the holidays or pinning on Pinterest?? Oh, and before I forget! I need to announced the winner of the "Three Treasures" giveaway! Click here to see if you won. :) 

Interested in sponsoring Maiedae for the month of December?? Check out my sponsor rates here. :) 


Monday, November 26, 2012

WEEKLY WRAP-UP

Hello, friends! I'm back from my Thanksgiving break and I'm ready to crank out these next three weeks before Christmastime! Jon and I took last week off and did a little traveling to see family for Thanksgiving. We went to Charleston and had a delicious feast with his mom's side of the family. I also got to see my sweet goddaughter and niece, Emerson...which is always such a joyful time. :) On Saturday, Jon and I celebrated Thanksgiving with my side of the family locally. I'm not afraid to admit that I'm all for more than one Thanksgiving. That also applies to Christmas. ;)

Sunday was probably one of my favorite days. Jon and I slept in, woke up and went out to breakfast, picked out a real tree, and brought it home. I don't have any memories of having a real tree, so the whole experience was so exciting. I LOVE how real trees look. So beautiful. :) We spent the day decorating for Christmas, hanging up lights outside and putting our stockings on the fireplace. Of course we watched our favorite Christmas movie, Scrooged, and later listened to Christmas music. I love my little family. I'm so excited about Christmas this year. :)

Snapshot(s) of the Week: 1// Decorations in Georgetown. 2// Made a salted caramel pillow cheesecake for Thanksgiving from this recipe. Turned out very yummy! 3// Heading back to Georgia. 4// Our real tree before the decorations!


5 Favorite Posts of the Week:
* Planting Garlic by Hello There Home
* The Sequel to Night Bells is Now Available by Unearthing Words
* What We Wore by Bleubird
* New Christmas Prints in the Shop by Oh My Deer
* Table to Farm by Hello There Home

Favorite Blog of the Week:
* Hello There Home - Gina is my new friend from Saint Simons Island and I'm obsessed with her blog. So many beautiful pictures and great home-living tips. :)

Inspiring Me this Week:
* Christmastime, making new traditions, wrapping gifts, and decorating.

3 Things About Yours Truly:
* I DO NOT like Black Friday shopping. You probably won't find me standing in line anywhere at 3:00 in the morning. Nope. I prefer to leisurely surf the web and shop online. :)
* Besides Scrooged, my favorite Christmas movies are Home Alone, Jingle All the Way, and The Santa Clause.
* This year we have 5 stockings. One for Jon, one for me, one for our roommate Glenn, and one for each of our kitties. ;)


Friday, November 23, 2012

THANKFULNESS

I'm so thankful for this time of the year. This time of the year brings such joy to my life, because I get to celebrate with my dearest family and friends. I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful family on both sides that love us, encourage us and believe in who we are and what we want to accomplish in our lives. I feel so grateful for our community in Atlanta. We've somehow managed to find a top-notch group of people who love each other, challenge each other, and uplift each other. I'm grateful to be able to see our family on Sundays. I'm grateful for my beautiful best friend and business partner. I'm grateful for bible study with an awesome group of women. I'm grateful for our random Pinterest parties and clothing swap parties. I'm grateful for double-dates, phone conversations, and prayers for those we love far away.


I'm grateful for my god-daughter and new niece, Emerson, who bring tears of joy to my eyes every time I stare at that truly accepting and loving smile. I'm grateful for my new big family. I'm grateful for the memories of my childhood; of my brother building intricate shrinking machines in his room out of tinker toys and my sister dancing to the theme song of Angry Beavers. I'm grateful for my momma, who has the biggest heart of anyone I know and I'm grateful for my dad...for his intensity and heart for family. I'm grateful for my in-laws, their love, and truly feeling like their daughter.

I'm grateful for my faith. For my passions. For the joy in my heart.

I'm grateful for warmth. For the warmth in a hot drink, cozy blankets, a fireplace, or the heart-to-heart hug of a dear friend. I'm grateful for delicious food and those skilled to cook it. ;) I'm thankful for our home, our kitties, and all of the heart and care going into this place everyday.

I'm thankful for my bestest friend and husband. I'm thankful for almost eight years of being together. I'm thankful for 2.5 years of an amazing marriage that has strengthened me, challenged me, and shown me what love truly is. I'm thankful for the heart of my husband. For his thoughtfulness, kindness, humility and leadership. I'm thankful for the warmth of his arms. His laugh. His enthusiasm. I'm grateful to be Mrs. Wallace.

So very grateful. :)

"It was only a sunny smile, and little it cost in the giving, but like morning light it scattered the night and made the day worth living." -- F. Scott Fitzgerald



Wednesday, November 21, 2012

SNAPSHOTS: BLOGSHOP ATLANTA

Last weekend I got the opportunity to intern with Bri and Angela at their Atlanta Blogshop. It was such an exciting time to help prepare everything beforehand, arrive early in the morning to help set up before the students got there, and assist throughout the weekend. Just to go off on a quick tangent: Bri and Angela have got it going on. It was such an inspiration to see them in their element and hear about their experiences and passions.


On Saturday morning, I got to Big Studio and met up with some amazingly talented folks who helped put the entire event together. There was "cute Bobby" as he was later nicknamed, who ran the studio and helped us out with our many requests. There was also the seriously talented florist//designer, Tami, who put together all of the floral arrangements. I also got to meet local blogger, Anna, who runs In Honor of Design. She put together the decorations for the room and was adorable beyond words. :) I think one of my favorite parts about the whole experience was having the opportunity to meet other creative people in the area. Atlanta is such a small blogging ground, so meeting fellow bloggers is so special.

During Blogshop, I also got to work with Gina. She was also interning and we worked closely together over the two days. We put together swag bags, helped set-up, assisted students with their Photoshop questions, and helped however we could. I immediately connected with Gina when I realized our similar passions for blogging, photography, health, and StrengthsFinder. She and her husband reside in Saint Simons Island, run a photography business, have a bee hive, and keep chickens. I love it! I hope we can cross paths again in the near future. In the meantime, I'll be musing over her blog, Hello There Home. :)


We got the opportunity to spend more time with Angela and Bri over dinner. I loved hearing about their careers, lives, and getting to know such a creative and boss group of women. I loved my experience there and I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to meet new people, show people around Photoshop, and learn new things. If you are a blogger looking to learn Photoshop to better your blog, I highly recommend taking Blogshop. Seriously.

Jenny and I talked after my experience there and decided that we wanted to invest in attending their Blogshop Video class dedicated to teaching how to shoot and edit video for your blog. We booked our tickets and are going to LA in January! We might even be taking a detour to visit our best friend in Pasadena AND go to Disney...maybe. ;)

PS - We took some way fun Smilebooth pictures that I'll have to share later. ;) 



Monday, November 19, 2012

SNAPSHOTS: WINTERTIME MAIEDAE PHOTOS

Last weekend, Jenny and I got our pictures taken by Danielle so we could update our current summer-y photos with a more wintertime look. We love having Danielle take our pictures. She's so talented and has a great eye for locations and capturing people. These were shot at The Goat Farm in Atlanta. We originally wanted to shoot everything outside, but fell in love with their coffee shop and decided to do the whole shoot there. Antique goodness everywhere!! Here are a couple of my favorites:


So blessed to have a business partner that also happens to be my best friend. Love this girl. Be sure to check out some of Jenny's favorites from the shoot here. :)

* All photos taken by Danielle of Valimont Photography


WEEKLY WRAP-UP

I've loved this week. I spent the week wrapping up projects for work so I could take off this coming week for traveling and Thanksgiving. All day Saturday and Sunday, I spent time interning at Blogshop and had an amazing time! I'll be sharing lots of photos from my adventure later. ;) After dropping off the girls at the airport last night, I drove to Jenny's just in time for our closet switch party! I've loved this season of meeting new friends and doing things that align with my passions.

This week is filled with traveling and food! We are having two Thanksgivings this week. One in Georgetown, SC, with Jon's family and the other with my family here in Georgia. I love the holidays...Thanksgiving, Christmas. This is my favorite time of the year. I DO need to get into the Christmas spirit though...even though I'm insanely excited about it...it just doesn't feel Christmasy. We are planning to decorate this Sunday...so maybe that will help? I'll blast the Christmas music and "deck the halls"...I think that will make things better. :) 

Snapshot(s) of the Week: 1// Giant Kyo. We took him to the vet today and he weighs over 13 pounds. Big boy! BUT he's not fat...just healthy and big. ;) 2// Love this ridiculously huge scarf. 3// Yummy lunch. 4// Getting ready for the students to arrive at Blogshop. I'll share more pictures later today. :)


5 Favorite Posts this Week:
* Holiday Gift Guide for Him by Creature Comforts 
* Holiday Gift Guide for Her by Creature Comforts

Favorite Blog of the Week:
* In Honor of Design -- Met Anna this weekend and was so excited to find another Atlanta blogger! Looking forward to getting to know her more and exploring her (new to me) blog. :) She has such beautiful DIY projects! 

Inspiring Me this Week:
* Family, Thanksgiving, cooking, keeping warm, taking time off, being creative, and hot drinks. 

3 Things About Yours Truly: 
* I prefer taking naps in a bright room.
* I LOVE getting packages in the mail. 
* I'm about halfway done with my Christmas shopping. 


Friday, November 16, 2012

PROJECT CONDO: ART WALL

It's done!! I put the last pieces of artwork in the frames today. :) Before I go into the details of the dining room art wall, I have to preface this post with the fact that this is the first time, since being married, that I've picked art, bought frames and put something like this together. I had a couple failed attempts when we were living in our old apartment, but ended up taking everything down since we didn't plan to be there long. I've had some of the artwork for over 1.5 years...all rolled up in poster tubs waiting to be used! And now, they're up on the wall...and it's made such a HUGE difference in the dining room. It added so much color and interest. I love it. I also love that as I find new art I can just replace what I already have, I tend to have an ever-evolving sense of style. ;)

For this process I first started by picking the artwork. A couple pieces got cut in the end, but I knew I really wanted my "yes ma'am" piece and my renegade piece to be up on the wall. I started with those as my foundation and began building around those pieces to find other prints to go with the collage. Once I got all of the art, I took a trip to Michael's and bought a variety of wood frames in different colors and styles. I got all of the frames for 40% off PLUS I had a 25% off total purchase coupon, so I ended up being way under budget for the frames. I totally recommend checking out Michael's for frames in the future if you have one close. They have so many to choose from and fantastic prices. The quality is beautiful too.

After all of the artwork was framed, I had my bestest, Jenny, come over and help me collage them on the floor to figure out the right composition. I love the shape she came up with and how she made everything work together. Thanks again, Jenny. I couldn't have done it without you! With a little teamwork, we started at the middle of the collage and began hanging the pieces on the wall. After about 30 minutes we were done! And voila! Art wall complete!

In case you're curious, here's where I bought my pieces: 1// The Universe - Society6 2// Little Trees - Renegade Shop in Chicago 3// I Love My Family - Beauchamping 4// Yes Ma'am - Jordan Grace Owens 5// Construction of a Nebula - Elise Manhan 6// Starlight Symbiosis - Elise Manhan 7// Green Andy Warhol Cat - Art.com 8// Renegade Craft Fair Poster - Renegade Shop

Also, here are a couple helpful posts on how to hang art collages that I recommend checking out:
* Two Rules of Thumb for Hanging Things on Your Walls by Smile & Wave
* Get the Hang of It by Young House Love
* How to Hang Art in Groups (Like Kate Space) by Apartment Therapy

Up next for the dining room? Well I still need to order the rest of my "final touch" pieces, put together a DIY, replace a few things and then I will be DONE, for now anyway. ;) But I'll finally be able to start working on the living room! I'm planning to post about my DIY framed art piece over the buffet table next and then I'll do a big before and after reveal. So exciting!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! I'll be over with the beautiful ladies of blogshop, assisting them with their event in Atlanta on Saturday and Sunday. Planning to share pictures next week. :)


Thursday, November 15, 2012

SNAPSHOTS: HOLIDAY PHOTOS

This year will be Jon's and my third Christmas together as Mr. & Mrs. Wallace. I've wanted to take holiday photos together since the beginning, but I always ended up waiting until the last minute. It was either too close to Christmas to send out cards or too cold! Brr. Well this year we did it!! Jenny and I got our Maiedae pictures taken by Danielle at Valimont Photography in early spring, (see some of our photos here). We loved working with Danielle...she has such a beautiful heart and is very talented at capturing people. So last Sunday, we decided to have her take some couples' portraits of us and take some new Maiedae photos to update our current pictures. I love how everything turned out. I got to look through all of the pictures today and spent a lot of time "oohing" and "ahhing". :)

Here are a couple of my favorite shots from our couples' session. Jon loved being kissy and close. He makes me heart smile SO big. I love this man and I can't wait to celebrate another Thanksgiving and Christmas together.


And now to pick one for our Christmas card! --- Thank you, Danielle, for taking these pictures for us. They are so special and we loved working with you! 

Jenny and I will be sure to share a couple shots from our Maiedae photo session with Danielle soon! They were taken in one of my favorite locations of all time. :) Lots of vintage, coffee, and books involved...SO good!

Outfit Details: Camel Jacket & Cream Top - Buffalo Exchange // Skinny Jeans - American Eagle Outfitters // Taupe Mocs - Minnetonka // Leather & Lace Earrings - Roots & Feathers 



Wednesday, November 14, 2012

THREADS

1// Olive Crochet Cover & Braided Belt - Thrifted 2// Lace Top - Jon's Grandmother's 3// High Waisted Jeans - UO 4// Minnetonka Mocs - Buffalo Exchange 5// Camel Satchel - Target 6// Pyrite Earrings & Quartz Necklace - c/o Moorea Seal Jewlery 7// Feather Ring - c/o Unexpected Expectancy 

If you haven't been to Moorea's jewelry shop yet, you should! Especially to pick up gifts for Christmas! Moorea is one of my all time favorite jewelry makers. I love her pieces and I'm excited about her new Winter line coming out soon! Get 15% off in her shop by using coupon code: MAIEDAELOVE at checkout.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

Today is Wednesday, which means...tonight is date night! I so look forward to our date nights every week. It's so refreshing to have quality time together each week no matter how busy things get. We are trying to decide between seeing James Bond and kicking back at home...we'll see how we feel later this afternoon. :)