Trend Spotlight – Fall Opalhouse at Target

It’s the first day of Fall! And the new Opalhouse collection at Target is here to satisfy all those #falldecor vibes.  This brand always brings their A-game, but it’s especially hard not to swoon over their seasonal pieces, because they’re fun and trendy, but also classic and adaptable year after year. Opalhouse is known for it’s funky and electric flair, amazing patterns, deep colors while also bringing an effortless balance through whites and neutrals in color or in material.

The other weekend, I saw the shelf switch happening in Target in the Opalhouse section, I was immediately excited for all the new, beautiful things to come and couldn’t help but swoon over all the new seasonal table decor. If you read the Bee Life often, or just know me, you know I can’t help myself with a good seasonal tablescape. I typically like to keep my fall table decor a bit more streamlined with a white/gold table runner and decorating on top.  But after seeing this rich, beautiful pumpkin table throw I think I may be changing my tune and wanting to add a bit more color.  I love the deep pattern complimented with a sheer, lighter table runner over top and more electric pieces mixed in through the placemats and decorative pumpkins.  What do you guys think?Shop table decor pieces: Pumpkin Table Throw | Purple Velvet Pumpkin | Pink Metal Pumpkin | Shear Woven Orange Table Runner | Round Basket Placemats – 4pack 

So beyond having a killer fall tablescape there are lots of other ways to start introducing fall into the home.  Easy ways to do this could be anywhere from an entry rug, fun faux wild flowers, festive coffee mugs (I love coffee mugs), or even transitioning your comforter with the change in seasons. One of my favorite parts of fall are all the deep and sultry colors – but I am also loving seeing some lighter blushes, natural whites and hues thrown into the mix to help soften everything up.

Another fabulous thing about fall decor? All of the patterns *heart-eye emoji*, there is just something about leopard print in the fall! Is it just me? I can’t explain it, but as soon as I saw that circular velvet leopard print pillow, I had to push my jaw up.  And complimented with the orange fringe, #needtohaveit. What are you favorite patterns and colors of fall?

Shop more fall faves: Woven Fringe Rug | Round Velvet Leopard Pillow | Straw Flower Wreath | Hyacinth Natural Pumpkin | Sunflower Mug | Faux Pod Flower Arrangement | Pink Crochet Throw Pillow | Printed Stripe Duvet | Yellow Metal Pumpkin

So in advance, I’m sorry to your credit card, but also you’re welcome to your home… I am pretty obsessed with those colored metal pumpkins, and might be getting a few of each color! I still have yet to pull out the fall decorations, but this might just jump start it before I head to Target to grab a few of these pieces.

Have you decorated for fall yet?

DIY – $25 Floral Letter

This is a DIY I have had my eyes on for a long time and I finally got around to grabbing the supplies and giving it a try!  A floral letter can be perfect for hanging on your door in the spring with you’re families last name initial, hanging in a living space, bedroom or for nursery decor.  My initial inspiration for baby shower decor, with it doubling as nursery decor after the shower! The theme of the baby shower was Woodland glam, so I went with a bit more muted colors for my floral color palette.

What You’ll Need:
– Hot Glue Gun & Glue // Mod Podge would probably work well too
– Letter of Your Choice – I grabbed this 13″ B from Michael’s for $4.99
– A mix of florals – grab smaller filler flowers & larger florals
– Shop my Florals: Hydrangea & Rose Bundle ($6) | Green Wild Mum Stem ($5) | Toast Strawflower Bush ($6) 
– Ribbon for hanging or clip

Step-by-Step:
1. When shopping for your florals, grab a good mix of size, color accents and potential filler pieces, you’ll definitely want more than not enough! I bought 5-different stems/bunches.
2. Start by de-heading your faux flowers from their stems and start playing around with placement on your letter.
3. I put larger/heavier flowers in the bottom corner to help anchor the piece and also did this in the top of the B to help add some equal weight.

4. From there I filled in with smaller flowers and use my smallest flowers to really fill in smaller spots and make it feel lush and full – while still holding to the shape of the B.
5. As you work in sections and get areas figured out, cut underneath of flower stems as low to the flower as you can in order to keep it somewhat flush to the letter. Then, begin gluing your determined sections into place – I was very generous with the hot glue around the stem area, and even onto the underneath of the leaves to help secure in place.
6. Continue adding florals until the top part of your letter is completely filled! Let dry a bit to ensure florals are completely secure. Then you’re ready for decorating/hanging!

Don’t forget to have fun, get creative and use other pieces of your flowers like some of the leaves to help fill in the space – I was nervous I wouldn’t have enough flowers to fill the space and this helped even everything out.

Since I was making this as a gift, I’ll definitely be making one for us next to keep and use on the front door.  I can see this being a new go-to gift for a people this upcoming holiday season or would be an awesome housewarming present! A few other ideas for your floral letters would be spelling out smaller words like MOM for Mother’s Day or just using the same flower and color to really create a bold statement – this could also be done with numbers for a milestone birthday.  I also love how this completed a centerpiece statement at shower and can’t wait to see if in the finished nursery!

House Tour: Back Patio 2.0

In my July latest obsessions, I was gushing over our outdoor living space and back patio. Well it’s been two years since we first created this space and shared the initial reveal – but I don’t believe I ever shared the before pictures *shocked face* so on this house tour, I’m going to share a few befores of the space and where it is today.  Every year it changes a little bit – last year we added more furniture for company, the plants and greenery change each year, and the bistro light pattern gets mixed up too. This year we even rotated the dining table, I know – HUGE changes. *teasing*

The Furniture: We still love the furniture we got from Target and always keep our eye on the summer sales to see if there are any new pieces we want, or if we are ready to upgrade the dining set with one that matches our furniture. I was tempted, B however was not on board after he saw the price (boo!) – B has ulterior motives and wants the Fernhill Metal sofa, so that he can fit more comfortable for afternoon naps.  We also want to get another umbrella to have for our seating area, as the afternoons around 3-4pm is prime sunshine time, so it gets pretty toasty (and a little unbearable to be honest) which will be functional and pretty.

Color Scheme:  I’ve tried to stick pretty close to black and white to compliment the patio furniture – and I am sure you’re thinking, white cushions for outside?! They’ve lasted pretty great and came with Scotch Guard on them, and I recently learned you can buy Scotch Guard and reapply annually, so these beauties are getting a fresh coat so they can last! I’ve added in pops of green this year with the fun banana leave Tommy Bahama pillows from TJMaxx online (which are 50% off from what I got them for!). And splurge on the black and white pillows and chair cushions for the dining area last summer time.

Stamped Concrete: When we were discussing our patio, we were gun-hoe on pavers, but after research in materials and then even discussing with family friends that pavers didn’t hold up as well. So we started looking more into stamped concrete and determined that was a more sustainable investment for our space, plus we had a little more customization options – we were super happy with the way it came out!

Gas Fireplace: This was another must-have on my list, as I HATE the smell of bon fires and smelling like them at the end of the night — this is the perfect central spot for heat, roasting marshmallows or even just a drink holder when the fire isn’t on. We didn’t want anything too big and something a bit more natural looking.  I also love the lanterns scattered throughout the space to give it a homey feel – especially at night it has quite the ambiance.

We were able to completely transform a somewhat awkward nook and blank space in our backyard to a functional outdoor living space with living and dining space. It gives us the right amount of privacy, while still being open to the rest of the backyard.  Eventually we want to close off the small back porch to be all kitchen and would put a sliding door in where the window is in that back nook area – yes always planning for the next project.

Easy Home Decor: One Banner, Three Ways

It’s no secret I love being festive for the various holidays that come throughout the year – and during the summer that is no exception, except I’m a little lazier and lean on the American flag to help get me through from Memorial Day to Fourth of July to Labor Day.  Last year I scored some discounted American flag banners and have had fun using them differently throughout the year to help mix-up my indoor and outdoor decor.

I wanted to share some inspiration on how you can use one banner three different ways throughout your home to help switch up your decor each year/holiday without needing to buy more pieces!  A banner and even a wreath is a classic piece that can be mixed up and hung in conventional and nonconventional places…

Front Porch: For some added red-white-blue love, I hung these banners across the front of our front porch railing. This is a little pop to accent our American flag and front door decor especially through our front landscape. Disclaimer – I do have two of these banners, so this is the only spot where I felt like one banner just didn’t cut it based on the length of the porch rail.

5 Keepsakes to Incorporate Into Your Home Decor

When I decorate our home, I really try to incorporate personalized touches to each room vs. stock art or random pieces.  Now don’t get me wrong, I love some good stock canvas from Marshall’s but they have their time and place! So if you’re working to figure out ways to incorporate some personal touches and sentimental pieces into your home, here are a few of my go-to pieces I like to decorate with.

1. A Love Letter.  B purposed to be with a long two-page love letter – it was so thoughtful and special, I didn’t want to shove it into a box and find it years later.  So I found these two great matted frames from Marshall’s and framed the love letter – it hangs next to our bed and is one of my favorite parts of our master.

2. Vintage Family Photos.  We have these all around our house! From our gallery wall in our living room, to our built-in’s, dining room and even bedrooms, family photos are a great way to remember loved one’s past and hold onto family legacies’.  I borrowed family albums and made my own copies so I could have my own keepsakes – it was quite the process, but so worth it! 3. Wedding Invitation or Keepsake.  We had a special map made that we put in our hotel welcome bags for all of our guests – this was one of my favorite pieces so again, I didn’t want to put this in a box and forget about it.  We have this framed in our bedroom as a fun keepsake – this would also be a fun idea for your wedding invites, save the date or other important announcements that are  a little extra special!

4. Old House Numbers.  Our house had ceramic house numbers that probably had some years with them, being our house is over a hundred years old.  I loved the ceramic numbers, but they were small and hard to read from the road – wanting to keep this momentum around I did a DIY with some frames that were left at the house by spray painting the frame, used some scrapbook paper as a background and framed the numbers.  This hangs in our entrance and I love it!

5. Vacation Photos.  I love picking one or two of my favorite photos from a recent trip and working to incorporate those into the house in various spaces or switching out the previous trip picture.  That way the memories are current, and when you go to switch out your picture you’ll see all the previous memories stacked (that’s one of my favorite parts!)  
Since our house has a lot of character and charm, I like to add modern pieces while complimenting the modern touches with a little added complimentary charm by incorporating these more personalized pieces that happen to be keepsakes from our family and the history of our home.  Depending on what keepsake you’re incorporating into your home, going the custom framing route is another way to really make this a show stopper and unique piece for your home!

 

Latest Obsessions 10.18

Besides being obsessed with fall and the month of October – because let’s face it, it’s one of the best months for the welcoming cool sweatshirt weather, luscious orange and white pumpkins, warm coffee, big sweaters, blue jeans and booties!

Buffalo Plaid.  I’d like to personally thank Marshall’s for this obsession, with some recent birthday present shopping – I’ve noticed that winter gear is in full force (and won’t last long.)  So I’ve been stocking up on a few pieces as I stop in, although these have all happen to be buffalo plaid!  Not only does it work for fall, but it’s the perfect transition into the holiday season.

Mustard Accents.   This turned into a little obsession when I started planning and designing out the finishing touches for our Basement Makeover. It started with looking for the perfect accent mustard colored blanket, but is slowly turning into clothes and other statement pieces.  There is something about it, that again feels like fall – but also from a decor perspective pulls in a modern vibe that I just love!

Layered Doormats.  I love this look and am in search of a larger, colorful mat to layer under a few of our funner/useful mats.  This look is great for adding in a seasonal flair, a pop of color or just a grand statement to welcome guests.  This post from Chris loves Julia has a great key to help you decide how to layer your doormats by mixing in some patterns for a strong base.

Everything Fall. Did I already mention this? But seriously, after this past weekend that seemed like a fall dream, I have been primping the house and our front porch with mums, pumpkins and gourds.  I love creating our own little fall paradise and making a statement for those who pass by and those who come up and visit!  This year I purchased pink pumpkins – yup, I think it might be my new thing.

What have you been obsessing over lately? Leave a comment below, I want to know!

 

 

House Tour – Front Landscape

We are feeling pretty accomplished after finally crossing off a house project we’ve had on the list for just about 4-years, our front landscape!  Although, like all house projects it ended up being a bit pricer than we initially expected – it was totally worth it.

When we first moved into the house, there were two over grown/random scrubs that didn’t do much from an aesthetic perspective – so we tore those out pretty quickly after we moved in, leaving us with a blank slate to dream about.  We made some improvements over the years, like updating the front lattice, adding in some perennials and a couple annuals that stuck around, we tried to dress up the empty dirty with mums and ferns as the seasons changed so it wasn’t completely bare, but alas it was still a blank slate that needed some love.

This project seemed daunting especially from a plant perspective, we didn’t want to pay for a landscaper and had a few ideas about what plants/bushes to incorporate, it was really just filling in all of the holes.  So one day, B and I went to three different nurseries and read tags, looked at plants and started to narrow down our options and took pictures, while we also price compared.  From there we ordered 5-yards of dirt to build up the area, it seemed like too much, but somehow we managed to spread it throughout.  And then we went and bought our plants;

(1) Little Lime Hydrangea
(2) Sorbet Peonies
(4) Boxwood Winter Gem
(3) Fern Line: Fern Leaf Buckthorn
(2) Maiden Grasses
(1) Coneflower – Cheyenne Spirit
(1) Lavender plant (already had)
(1) Butterfly bush (already had)

We spread the love with our plants purchases between some locals shops like Petitti’s Garden Center and Gale’s Garden Center. So once we bought all the plants, worked through placement, we got to planting!  Before we mulched, we built the stone wall to help divide the grass and landscape (this was a compromise of the project with B and I!) – he wanted one, I didn’t – the stones I wanted to compromise with were wayyy to much so we found some at Lowes that ended up working out. From there we ordered 3-yards of mulch (via Kurtz Bros!), which was more than enough, giving us a good base and finished look.

The house feels a little more complete with the front landscape done, we are so happy to get it done and with the way everything turned out.  We also took our time working through this project (clearly!) but I think that helped to our benefit because we weren’t stressed about it and were able to take advantage of some cool summer days/nights to get everything done.   We can’t wait to see how it fills in and welcomes visitors to our home!

3 Tips for Hosting a Summer Dinner Party

With a little over a year with our back patio, we made it a point to have both dining and relaxin space – making it the perfect spot for a classic dinner with family and close friends.  We hosted, the first of many dinners on the patio and it was the perfect combination of all the things that make a dinner party great a classic and easy menu, a stunning table setting and awesome company.

My favorite part about hosting a party or dinner is the planning that goes into it and the opportunity to make a special memory for our guests, while also having a fantastic meal and great company.  It’s about making the night special from all the other dinners we have every other night and giving the people you care about a little extra love.

I’ve realized that hosting a dinner or party for some may seem super daunting and overwhelming, but focusing on these three things helps keep it simple while also allowing you to enjoy the night as well!

The Menu. We kept the menu simple, healthy and refreshing for a warm summer day.  We opted for chicken and steak kabobs mixed with mushrooms, peppers and onions.  We had a fresh mixed greens salad with cucumbers and cherry tomatoes (cheese on the side for us non-dairy folk) and a fresh fruit salad with blueberries and strawberries.  When it comes down to it, there are just a few staples that just can’t be beat – not to mention we had plenty of kabobs that we were all stuffed!

The Setting. I had fun dressing up our not so glamorous outdoor table with placemats and neutrals. I used a variety of outdoor friend pieces like the plastic salad plates and glasses from Opalhouse while bringing out some nicer Kate Spade serving dishes and fabric napkins.  The neutral base let the table be the center of attention with it’s bright colors and inviting feel with the mix of patterns.  Pro Tip: dress your table and prep as much food as possible before your guest arrive so you’re able to enjoy their company and a cocktail!

The Company.  Although I love large parties, sometimes it’s better to keep things small – so we had my parents and B’s parents up. It was the perfect mix of company and conversation was able to be had with everyone vs. side conversations or too much noise, especially if this is your first major dinner party – keep it small and low key so the impress isn’t stressing you out.

The best thing about hosting is that you’re able to call the shots! From the menu, to the vibe you can set the tone for the evening – but it’s always important to make sure your guests are taken care of first and feel welcomed!

Cheers!

Latest Obsessions 04.18

I can’t help but want summer to come, so with that, I have a lot of projects and plans in mind for the spring and summer. From added accessories to our patio decor, DIY projects and figuring out greens for additional flair my list is quickly growing and I can’t stop making plans for when the weather decides to shape up.

A Bold Black Stripe.  Since last year was the first year with our back patio, this year will be about adding on the finishing touches, and I’ve got my eyes on adding in a bold black and white stripe.  Our umbrella is black and white, and I love the neutral colors for a more sophisticated look.  I already ordered a few black and white striped pillows for our seating area!

Fresh Flowers. Since I’ve been itching for warm weather, fresh blooms and sunshine, I’ve been buying a lot of fresh flowers lately to fill vases around the house.  I love mixing up pops of color or keeping it neutral with whites – the latest house blooms are white hydrangeas everywhere!

Opalhouse from Target Dining.  ICYMI; earlier this month I was swooning over Target’s newest home collection, Opalhouse.  Since I finally got my hands on a few of these beauties, I’ve become even more obsessed with the dining collection, specifically Canyon Sunrise collection.  The fun and elegant patterns are perfect for a casual setting or formal dining – and these pieces are selling out quick!  I’m looking forward to dressing up our indoor or outdoor dining room tables this summer with these new pieces.

DIY Planter Boxes.  Since we’re still figuring out our front landscape, to help add some greenery to our front porch, I really want to make some custom planters to sit on top of the walls of the porch.  It helps add privacy to the front porch, while also adding in some color and depth.  We’ll probably make three custom window boxes to sit on the ledge, and then a few taller outdoor planter boxes for larger ferns for the back patio area.

What’s the first thing you’re planning to do once the weather breaks? I am ready to get outdoors and start enjoying our outdoor living spaces!

Image Sources linked above in text.