Dec 15, 2016

My Holiday Wish List

Now that I have finished everyone on our list and helped you all with ideas for what to get, I thought I would share what's on my Christmas List this year.  Some are splurges and high end (hey! a girl can dream, right?) and others are more practical or budget friendly.  And if any of these are on your list to give or get, you can still get them by Christmas, but you have to hurry! 


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Dec 9, 2016

Holiday Gift Guide {Ladies}

TGIF, Lovelies! WOO! I don't know about you, but I am ready for the weekend! I have been in DC the last few days for work and am ready to get back home and relax!

I saved my favorite gift guide for last! It's for the Ladies on your list this year.  Most of these are either in my closet already or on my list! Here's hoping Santa brings many of these to deserving Stockings everywhere! Happy Shopping and have a fabulous weekend! See you next week.  xx



1. Kendra Scott Earrings - Great option for any holiday party or date night out / 2. Henry Bendel Travel Trio - These are perfect for travel or to keep your everyday necessities tidy in your overgrowing handbag / 3. Kendra Scott Necklace - I have this and LOVE it.  It goes with everything and is a great everyday piece / 4. Kate Spade Initial Phone Case - I'm always changing my phone case and love this initial one for the new iPhone7 plus / 5. Hunter Rain Boots - Rain or Snow, these will keep you dry! / 6. Jo Malone Fragrance Set - My favorite-everyday perfume is from Jo Malone. They have great scents that aren't overpowering / 7. Tory Burch Tote - I'm a tote girl through and through. This is perfect for everday and it's a bit more formal so you can use as a work bag too! / 8.  Madewell Eye Mask - Great for a traveler or someone who likes to sleep in complete darkness.  / 9. Lulu Lemon Pants - I have several pairs of these and LIVE in them. They have pockets on both sides, so you have a place for your phone or gym card, etc. / 10. Phone charging bracelet -  GENIUS! You can take your charger with you and no one will notice! This is such a great idea for nights when a clutch size bag is all you take but may need to charge your phone later / 11. Initial Choker - channel your 90's side with this cute initial choker / 12. UGG Leopard Slippers - these are just a classic slipper that every girl needs to own / 13. J. Crew Cashmere Socks - I love the stripes on this sock. Perfect for those cold nights curled up by the fire. 


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Dec 7, 2016

Holiday Gift Guide {for the Kiddos}

Buying for my Niece and Nephew is always fun for me, but at the same time a bit stressful!  They are getting to the ages where they are more vocal about what they want and a book and puzzle just wont cut it anymore.  I always try to find unique items or things they will use or be useful, if that makes sense.  Below are some of the items I have found for those under the age of 10, that I think would be a fun gift under the tree to open on Christmas Day!


1. New Beginnings Gift Set - Perfect for the new mom to get her started once her bundle of joy comes home / 2. Counting Numbers Wood Blocks - What a fun new way to learn how to count! / 3. Sparkly Slippers - if she is anything like my niece, sparkles are a must! / 4. Tee Pee - This is a great way for kids to use their imagination and play. / 5. Star Wars pj's - Every little guy loves Star Wars and what better way to show it than on your jammies! / 6. Electric Light Blocks - A new take on legos. These light up blocks will make for hours of fun! / 7. Air Marker Sprayer - Let your budding artist get creative with this fun new toy! / 8. Personalized Book - this is a fun way to make the Holidays more personal for them / 9. Mermaid Paper Dolls - For that budding fashionista, let her create outfits with this super cute set / 10. Farmhouse Kitchen Collection - I can't tell you how many times, I wanted to 'play' in the kitchen when I was little - this is perfect for those 'helpers' / 11. Taco Booties - a fun/silly gift for the newborn in your family / 12. Light up Pajamas - These may cut into your electric bill with all the light switching, but it will be worth the fun and giggles. 





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Dec 5, 2016

Holiday Gift Guide {for the Fellas}

Happy December!! We are three weeks away from Christmas! How can this be? This year has literally flown by.  I had so many goals and to-do's that I wanted to get done, but time seemed to just slip away.  Now that we are all moved and getting settled here in Florida, I have a little bit more time to work on some hobbies and personal projects, one being SbF.  And I couldn't let the Holiday's pass without a few Gift Guide's.  I'm a little late to the game, but most of my picks below, if ordered this week, will get to you by Christmas, so you have no excuse now! Check back later this week for a few more Guides to help you cross off that every growing Christmas Gift List. xx

First up are a few ideas for those hard to buy for Fellas.  Those that say the don't need anything, or go and buy what they need throughout the year.  Here are a few ideas that they may have not realized they actually needed!  From the outdoorsman to the techie travel guru, this list has something for everyone! 




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Nov 25, 2016

Black Friday Sales!

image via pinterest

Well Friends, it's that time of year again!  The Holiday season is upon us! It is my MOST favorite time of year. I listen to Christmas music as often as possible and try to get out and see all the decorations around me.  This year will be different, as we won't be heading to the Willard for a drink or two before going to see the White House Christmas tree.  But I think seeing 30a all decked out will be just a fun! I can't wait to hop in the car and drive around to see!

But before I get to that, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to pass along some great Holiday sales happening today.  I added the sales already going on to this list as well, so you have a one stop shop to get all your gifts.  You can access these great deals straight from my blog on your phone or laptop, so no excuse to not take advantage of them! 


Happy Holidays Lovelies! xx

30% off site-wide
November 24th - 28th

Receive a gift card up to 35% of your purchase PLUS a personalized leather case
No Code Necessary
November 25th 

20% off 
No Code Necessary
November 25th - 28th 

30% off all footwear, select bags and all accessories
No Code Necessary
November 25th - 27th

30% off Site-wide
30% off Clearance
November 26th

BaubleBar
30% off purchases 
CODE: THANKS30
November 25th - 27th


50% off Site-wide and In Store
November 23rd - 25th 

30% off Site-wide and In Store
Novermber 24th - 29th

30% off Site-wide
No Code Necessary
November 24th - 28th 


25% off Site-wide
No Code Necessary
November 24th - 28th

50% off everything Site-wide and In Store + Free Shipping
No Code Necessary
November 22nd - 25th 

40% off everything Site-wide In Store + Free Shipping
November 21st - 29th

15% off no minimum, 20% off $150 or more on Holiday
November 23rd - 27th

20% off no minimum, 30% off $100 or more and 40% $200 or more
November 23rd - 27th

25% off Site-wide + Free Shipping
No Code Necessary
November 24th - 28th

Take an extra 20% off selected sale items
No Code Necessary
November 24th - 28th



30% off Site-wide
November 23rd - 28th

Spend $200 or more - Get 15% off
Spend $500 or more - Get 20% off
Spend $800 or more - Get 25% off 
CODE: GOBIG
November 22nd - 28th

40% off dresses and rompers
No Code Necessary
November 21st - 25th


25% off Site-wide
November 24th - 25th

40$ off Site-wide
November 23rd - 28th 

Up to 50% off select items
No Code Necessary
November 23rd - 28th

30% off any purchase of $250 or more
November 23rd - 28th
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Nov 24, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving + Holiday Sales

Happy Thanksgiving, Lovelies!  I hope everyone has a wonderful day with friends and family.  We are here in Florida with both set of parents.  We are heading to Thanksgiving "Dinner" later this afternoon, but are enjoying the parade this morning.  

After all the food is gone this afternoon, I am planning on doing some Christmas shopping.  Below are some of the sales that have started already and are some of my favorites!  Check them out below.  

And check back tomorrow for all the Black Friday Deals you don't want to miss!

50% off Site-wide and In Store
November 23rd - 25th 

30% off Site-wide and In Store
Novermber 24th - 29th

30% off Site-wide
No Code Necessary
November 24th - 28th 

25% off Site-wide
No Code Necessary
November 24th - 28th

50% off everything Site-wide and In Store + Free Shipping
No Code Necessary
November 22nd - 25th 

40% off everything Site-wide In Store + Free Shipping

November 21st - 29th

15% off no minimum, 20% off $150 or more on Holiday
November 23rd - 27th

20% off no minimum, 30% off $100 or more and 40% $200 or more
November 23rd - 27th

25% off Site-wide + Free Shipping
No Code Necessary
November 24th - 28th

Take an extra 20% off selected sale items
No Code Necessary
November 24th - 28th


30% off Site-wide
November 23rd - 28th

Spend $200 or more - Get 15% off
Spend $500 or more - Get 20% off
Spend $800 or more - Get 25% off 
CODE: GOBIG
November 22nd - 28th

40% off dresses and rompers
No Code Necessary

November 21st - 25th

25% off Site-wide
November 24th - 25th

40$ off Site-wide
November 23rd - 28th 

Up to 50% off select items
No Code Necessary
November 23rd - 28th

30% off any purchase of $250 or more

November 23rd - 28th
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Nov 1, 2016

Our Next Chapter

Rabbit Rabbit!  Happy first day of November!  Can you believe the year is winding down? 
How are ya?  How's your fall going?  It's been a c.r.a.z.y.  few months over here. Lot's of exciting things happening and on the rise for us.  Which I will delve into over the next few weeks a few at a time. BUT...

Probably the most exciting thing happening and the one you may actually care about is
-- WE'RE MOVING!!!!!

Yup, just a few short months after purchasing our first house and starting to settle into Virginia, we are getting the heck out of here. And not for any negative reason, we are actually a bit sad to be leaving this area, but we were presented with job opportunity that we just couldn't pass up.

Soooo, in a few short weeks we will be packing up our house and moving to:


FLORIDA



Where in Florida?  None other than the beautiful 30A!  Now, for my non southern readers, this is on the panhandle of Florida  (northern area) on the gulf. But don't let that fool you,  the water and beaches are some of the prettiest you will EVER see!  Since Chip and I first started dating, we have been visiting quite frequently and really wanted to find a way to get down here and become beach-goers year round.  And thankfully we made that dream a reality!

It is a little bittersweet to be leaving an area we have come to enjoy.  And it's a little nerve racking to move to a place where we won't have all the access we have been used to for the past 5 years.  But ultimately, the decision came down to quality of life, making our own schedules, working for ourselves and slowing down a bit.  We are so excited to get down there and jump right in.  So if you ever find yourself along 30A, I hope you'll let us know!  We feel like we'll get to see our dear friends and family a bit more now that we will be living at the beach!

Praise all around!  
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Sep 14, 2016

What Bag can I carry into Football Stadiums?

It's our favorite time of year here at the Bartlett house!  We are HUGE football fans and could not be more excited for it to be here. . . finally!! We're also hockey, basketball and baseballs fans too!  But nothing gets us as excited as football season!!  

Over the past several years, with all the heightened security and rule changing, it's tough for girls like us to find a bag that is not only the required size, but is a little more fashion forward and wardrobe friendly that those awful clear tote bags.  Don't get me wrong, those clear bags are great if you have a mountain of items you want to carry in to a game.  But if you're wanting to carry just the essentials, a ziploc bag just won't do!

So, I thought I would do the heavy lifting for you and do a wrap up of bags that meet the size requirement for football stadiums across the US.  I found some at a few different price points, depending on your style and what you want out of your bag.  So check them out and maybe add one or two to your closet! ;) 

For reference, the dimensions for bags (other than clear ones) that are allowed into stadiums are to be no larger than 4.5H x 6.5L.  In case you want to jot them down for future shopping.




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Sep 5, 2016

Best of Labor Day Sales Picks

photo via pinterest

I hope everyone has had a great Labor Day Weekend thus far.  Ours has been filled with family, football and grilling out.  Today, while Chip heads out to watch the Nats play, I'm here working on a few things for the blog and a new exciting project I doing.  But first things first. . .I'm going to do a little shopping and take advantage of some great sales happening today.  Below are the ones I have already shopped and some I plan to this afternoon. I thought I would share the wealth so to speak, in the event you plan on being a couch potato like me but still want to be somewhat productive. :) 


1. Nordstrom (up to 40% off)
These are by far my favorite, most comfortable sandal and they are on sale!

2. Love Always Couture (20% off site wide with code LABORDAY20)
I purchased this monogram necklace with my new initials in the 4XL w/a 16" chain

3. Ann Taylor (60% off all sale styles)

4. LOFT (60% off all sale styles)

5. Sole Society (60% off selected styles)

6. Draper James (30% select styles with code LABORDAY)

7. Madewell (30% regular priced items and extra 30% off sale items with code DOUBLEUP)

8. ASOS (15% off everything with code LASTHURRAH)

9. Baublebar (Up to 75% off + 20% off all sale items)

10. J.Crew (up to 30% off - spend more save more with code SHOPMORE)
Picked up this skirt perfect for fall! 
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Jul 1, 2016

What I'm packing for Vacation

Good Morning, Lovelies!  As I type this, I am sitting on the porch in Florida working on a few things waiting for everyone else to get up.  If you know me, you know that I am a morning person through and through.  I just love to get up and get the day started.  While everyone is still sleeping I thought I would (finally) do a blog post.  And one that is relative to the holiday weekend! 

Wednesday night, as I was sitting on the floor of my bedroom trying to figure out what to pack for our quick getaway this weekend.  I thought it would be fun to do a 'packing post, or sort of a 'how to pack efficiently' and still look fabulous! haha! The end result is, hopefully, a little helpful read on what's worked for me and how I go about planning for short trips.  Just because you are limited to a small suitcase, doesn't mean you should be limited to style and looking great!

On trips shorter than 5 days, I typically pack a carry on.  It's sort of a challenge for me as well as practical seeing as I really don't need to pack that much. Especially when at the beach.  So there I was staring into my closet hoping my suitcase would just pack itself.  And my typical solution is to wear the same dang outfits I take on EVERY vacation.  Hence one of the reasons you rarely see me post outfit pics on insta anymore (that and I am working virtually for a bit, so don't have to get 'dressed up' most days)  There is nothing wrong with wearing outfits twice, or 10 times for that matter (repeat offender here) I mean, isn't that why you buy the clothes anyway?  To wear them a lot!?  But sometimes it is nice to wear something different or style pieces differently.  

Here are a few tips I have learned over the years.  Hopefully some you will find these additions to your packing plan or helpful on your next trip!


*Pack ahead of time - This is probably the most obvious, but most people tend to wait until the very last minute and end up packing the whole house for a short trip. 

*Be Practical - Think about your trip before hand and get an idea of what you might be doing or not doing and start from there.  If you plan to be pool/beach bound most of the trip, you won't need several outfits for each day. 

*Maximize your wardrobeThis is my most loved travel tip! I absolutely LOVE when I buy a garment and I can wear it more than one way or to more than one type of occasion.  If you are limited on space, try packing things that are similar in color or that all go together. That way you can mix and match depending on each day while on vacation.  Now, I am not saying you should wear all black or all red the whole time,  but opt for tops that can go with shorts and skirts, or shoes that work with jeans and maxi dresses.  It's a lifesaver to have a dress or shoes that can be worn day into night or casual to dressy with just the addition of a jacket, cardigan or even a necklace. 

*Roll method - I am a huge proponent of rolling your clothes to pack in your suitcase.  What I mean is, you fold the garment sleeve to sleeve, or waistband to waistband, and then roll the garment from top to bottom.  (looks like a swisscake roll) You can pack so much more if you do that.  Now, one downside might be wrinkles, but most places you are going typically have an iron or steamer. So if those extra two dresses you want to bring are 'necessary' to pack, you'll deal with the wrinkles and fix it when you arrive.  In other words, pick your battles. 

We all get caught up in thinking we might go here and there and need outfits for a possible this or maybe that.  And if your vacations are usually unplanned and the roll with the flow type of trip, those can seem nerve racking.  I have been there and over the years have figured out a solution.  Pack one 'nice' outfit or a more versatile dress (maxi's are my favorite option) and then dress it up or down with either jewelry or shoes.  I typically bring one pair of shoes that are dressy causal. A pair that might be a bit flashy for day, but works, and can go into the evening seamlessly.  Wedges and gold sandals are perfect options. (see below) 


Below are a few of the items that are my typical 'go-to' beach/summer picks.  Some of these are my tried and true outfits I can wear to anything while we are at the beach.  And the great part is, they are all pretty budget friendly! Woo for that!









I like to bring my more colorful and brighter pieces to the beach where I feel I can get away with it a little bit easier.  I also prefer bandeau tops for swim since I am trying to be tan line free for my wedding. 


These wedges, although they look tall, are SUPER comfortable and go with everything.  They are great worn with jean shorts and a tank or with a long maxi dress.


These Pineapple sandals are a great everyday shoe with a little fun thrown into the mix. Perfect for a more dressed up summer beach night too. 


I love a good romper and especially one that is cropped.  This works for a casual day of shopping through town, and can also be worn with a cardigan for dinner.


This is the quintessential article of clothing that is a must have for any beach trip.  The maxi dress.  I love the color of this one and it has pockets! You can pair this with flat sandals post beach lounging or put on wedges for a night of drinks and dinner.  

This tunic is a great piece to take to the beach with you.  It's perfect with shorts, white jeans or to throw on over your swimsuit at the beach.  I love pieces like this that can be worn many ways and more than once. 


**************************************************************************************



I hope you enjoyed my mini packing post.  I hope everyone has a fabulous Holiday Weekend and I'll see y'all next week! 



I'll be active on Instagram and Snapchat over the weekend, so follow me their for more vacation fun! xo 
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May 10, 2016

Let's Paint

Well, not really.  But let's chat paint colors, shall we?  I have always said that I can put an outfit together in the blink of an eye, but when it comes to putting a room together, I am useless.  I typically leave that to my sister, who is an interior designer, or my mother, who might as well be.  They can put patterns and textures together and it looks great!  So I typically lean on them to make sure what I want to put together actually makes sense.  

Cue calling my sister in the middle of Home Depot last week to ask her if the paint color we had just purchased for the living room walls would go with the couch and new chairs we picked out.  Too late to turn back at that point, but I had a moment of panic that the paint would look dingy or make the couch look off next to each other.  She quickly put together an idea board with our new chairs, our couch and the paint color and instantly I felt better!

I love crisp, clean and bright rooms.  I don't mind adding a bit of wood or metal to rooms with accents, but I typically gravitate towards light walls, furniture and then add color and patterns with accessories.  Chip is more of a traditionalist when it comes to furniture.  He likes things to match and leans towards dark pieces.  So when we initially started looking for furniture, it was a bit of a challenge.  But I must say that we have both come closer to the middle and have found ways to mesh both of our styles together and agree and like the pieces we have picked out.  But I'll get to that in a later post.  

Today, we are all about paint colors.  My original thought was to paint all the walls white.  I just wanted a classic white, that way we could have the ability to use color with our furnishings and accessories.  Weeeeelllll, when I started looking on pinterest for a 'white' I was overwhelmed with all the options!  Some whites give off a yellow undertone, some green and others blue.  Some are great for trim and cabinets. Some for large rooms, others for small.  It was just a tad over the top, so I jotted down a few that I liked and called my sister.  I knew she had her list of 'go-to' white's she uses, so I wanted to get her opinion on the ones I had picked.  A couple of them were on her list, so that reassured us we had some great options.  I went to get the samples and Chip and I mulled over several until we came up with 4 colors we wanted to test on the walls.  

After we closed on the house, we headed over to the house to take a load of stuff, and test the paint.  Now, for reference, the living and dining room walls were a manila folder-ish yellow. So it was really hard to actually see what the colors really looked like.  It was a little easier in the bedrooms, where the color wasn't as washed out.  I chose the below colors to test on the walls.  I decided that for the common areas, I wanted something with a hint of color and not so stark white.  There is a lot of light that comes into those rooms during the day, so having stark white walls, sort of frightened me.  I wanted a light grey, but most of the ones I looked at were too dark. 


Chantilly Lace
I really like the pictures I found with this color.  But when I put it on the walls, it just didn't jump out at me.  I am not sure if it was the yellow walls, or what.  I am going to use this color when we redo our kitchen cabinets.  I think it will be a great color for those. 

Decorator's White
From what I have seen, this is typically a color used for trim, doors and cabinets, but I found that it was a great color for our bedroom and office.  It was a 'clean slate' to allow us to add color and patterns without having major color undertones to worry about.

Misty Gray
I actually wasn't sure I would like this color, but wanted to try it because it looked like a slight step up from white.  We wanted something with a hint of color and this worked out perfectly.  It has a hint of gray in it, which works great with the furniture we already have.  

Sea Salt
This originally was the color we liked for the living room walls.  The swatch we got was lighter than this and the actual paint in the test can looked lighter as well.  When we got it on the walls, it was more of a beige/brown than we wanted, so we took this off the table.


We tested the four colors and decided on Misty Gray for the living and dining areas.  This color was a 'whim' choice while in line at Home Depot to get paint samples.  I wanted to get something other than a traditional white, and thought this would be nice.  And it ended up being the one we picked!  We ended up going with Decorator's White for the bedroom, bathroom and office.  It's a bright white, but the rooms aren't as bright as downstairs, so I think this will lend to opening up the spaces and making them seem bigger. 

Below are pictures (not the greatest quality) of the walls in our dining area and master bedroom.  You can see the original wall colors and then the paint swatches on the walls.  It's hard to see what the actual color will look like since those walls are just yucky! But I'll have a post on our finished product soon to show you how great they turned out. 



Dining Room Wall
Colors L to R - Sea Salt, Decorators White, Chantilly Lace and Misty Gray



Bedroom Wall
Colors L to R - Misty Gray, Chantilly Lace, Decorators White and Sea Salt


And now to the after pictures.  Below are the updated walls in the house.  Much better than the manila folder yellow!!

Dining Room
(Ignore the light fixtures, those will be replaced)

Living Room


Office

Bedroom


Once the light fixtures are gone, you will get a better sense of what the walls looks like.  They cast a terrible shadow on them!

It's amazing what a little paint can do, no? 
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Apr 25, 2016

Welcome . . .


image via pinterest


As of this morning, Chip and I are officially homeowners! We closed on our house this morning and will be moving in this weekend - just as soon as we have a few updates made to the place and fresh paint on the walls!  

Last week I shared the exciting news that Chip and I were getting married, and we have less than six months to plan everything.  And to add to the craziness, we decided it was a great time to buy a house too!

Not really. . . but things just fell into place and we felt we just couldn't pass up this little charmer.  A little background for y'all.  I moved to DC back in September and moved into Chip's studio apartment (yes, I had to significantly downsize my closet situation) with the idea that we would stay here until things were a bit more settled (he was transitioning out of a role at work and I was transitioning to a new office). We gave ourselves till the end of the year and then would start to look for a place.  Well, over that time Chip had a few potential job offers that would have taken us out of the area, so we decided to hold off moving until we knew if those were viable options or not.  

After a few months of going back and forth, and living in 600 square feet together (what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, folks!) we decided that the DC area was going to be our home and we would plant roots here for the foreseeable future and go from there.  We both really liked this area and felt that both of us had great jobs and stability, so why not stay here and see how life turns out?  

Over Easter weekend, we went to an open house for a townhome in Arlington, Va.  For those who don't have a frame of reference to where this is to DC - it's about a 10 minute drive from downtown DC to the area we were looking.  So, we went in, looked around and just fell in love with the place.  It's at the end of a quiet road on a hill- super quiet.  That was what grabbed us from the start.  We spoke with the realtor and she advised us to look at a few other places.  We toured a few other homes, but kept going back to the townhome on the hill.  It needed a few updates (from my perspective), but for the most part, was move-in ready.  We saw a few other homes in the neighborhood that had been updated and although that was really enticing and ideal, you just couldn't beat the location and charm of this house.  

So, we made an offer on Easter night and it was accepted Monday afternoon!  I have never bought a house before, so I had no idea what we were getting in to and ALL the paperwork that goes into getting ready to close on a house.  From the stories I have heard from others, ours went pretty smoothly, so I can't complain.  

We are now at the house testing paint colors for the walls in the living room and bedrooms.  Who knew there were so many 'Whites?' Goodness! And for most of the week, we plan on doing a little bit of updating each day and moving things over when we can.  The movers come Saturday to move all the big stuff and we will officially be out of apartment living and in the new home! (Champagne will be involved here)  

I cannot wait to decorate our new home.  I have so many ideas for things that I need to rein it in a bit.  I can't wait to fill our new home with pieces that represent both Chip and me.  Stay tuned for fun updates, before and after pics, and design ideas.  

If you want to look, I have started a Pinterest page of lots of inspiration and ideas for our new home.  Some of them you just may see in the new house! 
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