Good Times, Good Finds

What a crazy few days, sadly it seems to feel like a struggle to pull together a few minutes to sit at the computer and type out all the blog posts flying around in my head! So I apologize for being a tad sporatic over the last few days, and probably over the next few days as well. Every day seems to bring new adventures, challenges, fun, and usual life stuff. Looking for another property to start work on is taking a lot of energy, along with all the work at ParkView. And Saturday I brought home a yet-to-be-named baby, a new car. Well, an SUV to be exact. Wren calls it the earring car (?????), but I think I want something cuter for a name. Please tell me I'm not the only person who likes to name their vehicles!!

New car means tightening up the purse strings, but I'm a shopper so I'm gonna have to take being a bargain-ista to a whole new level. Here are a few of my current bargain finds.

{ love is all you need }

I am all about hearts right now. They just add a positive vibe to my day, but really who doesn't love a little love? This is my absolute favorite buy in recent memory, a set of 5 dainty, colorful little rings. The whole set was a cool $4.80 at Forever21!!! Alone, stacked, layered, they are my new 'must wear' accessory.

Yet another Forever21 find, my happy shirt! I am a huge WildFox Couture fan, their clothes are so snappy and fun, not to mention beyond comfy. I'll admit to buying their beach sweatshirts (with a giant glitter heart on it, of course), but momma can't afford to buy the real thing for $117 when there are EXACT replicas for a measly $5.50 at F21. 

I am soooo happy I tried the new Dove dry shampoo! I was a firm Batiste user for last few years but when I saw these on sale for $2.88 about a month ago I gave it a shot. The best part is that Dove has a coupon for $2 off any purchase of 2 items right now so I got two giant cans for less than $4!!! If you are a brunette and live by dry shampoo like me you will love this stuff because it doesn't leave a white residue after brushing.

 

I am sorry this might not be a deal for everyone, but if you are near a SuperStore run over and check out their Essie display!! Quite a few colors were on sale for $4 so I stocked up on some shades I might otherwise have never given a go, like this awesome grey Yogaga color and Tart Deco, a fun pinky-peach.

Have you been finding any good deals lately?? I need to update my Fall wardrobe a little and have to keep it budget friendly!

Happy Wednesday Friends

September Candle of the Month

I know it still isn't officially here for a couple days, but I am in full Fall mode. I was on the hunt for a good Fall candle, preferably something new instead of the usual apple/pumpkin scents I gravitate to this time of year. I had no idea what I wanted, but as soon as I smelt this candle I KNEW this was my new favorite smell!

You know how they always tell you that your perfume/cologne lasts longer during the day if you layer it with the body wash and lotion too? I did the home version of that at Lexington, using candles all the same scent throughout the house and adding two wallflowers of the same scent and honestly, the house smelt heavenly. So for Fall I am doing the same here.

The easiest way to get the layered effect is just go somewhere that offers a variety of products in the same smells (obviously! hehe). There are a lot of nice, expensive lines that I adore (think Jo Malone or Diptyque) that have fragrance and candle combinations, but the most recognized and affordable is Bath and Body Works. And that is where I loaded up on my new staple: Mahogany Teakwood.  This smell will appeal to shopaholics because it  smells EXACTLY like Abercrombie and Fitch. You know the smell! It is a musky, cologne like scent.

{ off }

{ on }

Right now the big 3 wick candles are 'buy one, get one free', so basically $10 each. I get a lot of life out of these candles so that is a steal!

Is your house smelling like Fall already too, or are you enjoying the last few moments of Summer?

Parkview Kitchen

Hard to believe it is already Humpday!! This week, the whole month actually are both flying past me. We have been busy over at Parkview, just nothing super exciting: quotes, quotes, permits and more quotes. And LOTS of throwing around of ideas. 

But it is starting to get rolling and it was exciting to see all new windows go in over the past week, along with a few walls coming down and some detailed plans for the new kitchen and ensuite getting finalized. I have been through 2 kitchen renos in the past year... this will be the third and it never gets old to see it all come to life. It is especially thrilling when the befores are this bad! Of course we have a ways to go before the kitchen comes in but I needed to finalize everything pretty early on so our electricians and plumbers can move everything accordingly. That is definitely one of the biggest perks of starting in such shambles, we have a lot of freedom in those areas!

So here is what we've come up with for our future kitchen plans. The windows in the corner are where we are moving the kitchen, with this center wall coming down. It is hard to see but there is a nice wide opening into the other room off the kitchen to the right which will be our new dining room. When I have pdf copies of the full layout I will put them up because it is a very cool old house with a lot of interesting rooms and spaces!

From virtually the same location what our new kitchen will look like.

 

I have loved my own framed in fridge so much that I decided to replicate it in here as well. The computer program didn't allow some aspects I'm including, but the island will have overhang for stools and there will be  open shelving over the sink (a prerequisite in any kitchen in my book!).

 

I am going with Ikea cabinetry again after really appreciating the cost effective yet stylish results I had at Lexington. Have no fear, I will go into painstaking detail with the door style and hardware options, but for now here is the look we're after.

Only the finished product seems much glitzy-er in my head, and I'm hoping will materialize that way as well.