This past weekend was glorious. It was sunny, warm, and quintessentially spring. We decided to take full advantage of the perfect weather and spend pretty much every second we could spare outside. We worked in the garden, setup our new backyard patio furniture, and invited a small group of friends over to enjoy smoked bbq chicken and see our new house. I soaked every second of it in.

I will look back on these moments as the precious new beginnings that always come with moving, and the ushering in of an exciting era in my life. I feel so content right now and look into the future without fear. I am filled to the brim hope and the prospect of opportunity. Last weekend was the perfect way to welcome this new chapter into my life. I feel a wave of fresh inspiration coming, and I'm so ready for it. - b.

PS- I recently bought a 50mm lens and I'm so ready to get back into photography!

When it comes to decorating, I've always had a make-do kind of mentality. Not because I don't dream of having a magazine worthy home, but because a limited budget and time seem to always get in the way of making my dreams a reality. Sure I DIY like every other blogger out there, but there's always been a sort of disconnect. Until now.

With a guarantee that we won't be moving for the next 2 years, and after 2+ years of editing our home wares down to the core items we love, I finally have the key skeleton pieces to start creating our "dream" interior space. That means a home that reflects both Ryan and my aesthetics, and a place we're both proud to call our own. 

Instead of tackling everything at once I'm taking my time and working on one room at a time. My first decorating project is the living room as that's the area we spend the most time in, and the room the most people will see.

pillows: 1  2 (diy-ing) | artwork: 1  2 | frames | lighting | chair

We already have a majority of the furniture we need for the space including our couch, coffee table, and a cedar chest we're using as a bench for additional seating. The last big furniture piece we're missing is a chair to help anchor one corner of the room. That means a majority of what we're looking for is decorative add-ons that will bring personality into the space, like those above. We also plan on bringing in a lot of plant life, candles, and small mementos to round out the space and make it feel extra cozy.

One of the scariest undertakings will be creating a gallery wall that helps diminish the size of our gigantic TV, a major focal point in the room. The lead photo is of Rifle Paper Co.'s offices, and it is serving as motivation and inspiration for this project. Also note the fiddle fig tree, we definitely have one of those, and it won't be going anywhere for a v-e-r-y long time.

The second biggest undertaking, and one we've already checked off the list, is building shelves into a small nook of the living room to hold our vinyl collection and record player. My inspiration for this project comes from another slightly unconventional source- bedrooms. I really like the light wood and airiness to the built-ins below.

built-in: 1  2

room: 1  2

I'm crossing my fingers the finished space evokes a mood similar to the rooms above. Bright, calming, and comfortable.

Here's a peek at what the room looked like when when we moved in (the before shot):

We have a lot of friends and family who plan to visit in the next year and we're excited to show off our new space to them soon. - b.

NOTE: THIS WAS FROM OUR RENTAL, PRIOR TO BUYING THE CHATHAM ST. HOUSE

I think pretty much everyone has heard of the Rose Bowl Flea Market, and Brimfield, but did you know there's an antiques fair in Texas that dwarfs them both? It's called the Round Top Antiques Fair, and last week I had the unique opportunity to see it for myself! 

The fair started over 40 years ago as an excuse for Houston socialites to escape the city in the spring for some good old country living. Even today the town of Round Top only has 90 citizens, minus the two times a year 100,000 people flock to the surrounding fields to rummage the wares these vendors are hocking. Covering 20+ miles along highway 237, and its connecting routes, this antiques weekend is no joke. Just about anything and everything is for sale and whatever your budget there's a venue filled to the brim waiting for you. 

But why did I go you might ask? I was sent for work, to assist in buying pieces for display in our upcoming shop-in-shops. We have new locations opening in Seattle and Georgetown at the end of this week and we were in desperate need of antique trays, frames, and chandeliers to merchandise our products on. I was beyond excited when they asked me.

I've always had an intense love for anything vintage, and treasure hunting is one of my absolute favorite past-times. Not to mention: I've never been to Texas, or at least that I can remember (I was born in Fort Hood, TX). It was 80 degrees and beautiful the entire time we were there. The blue bonnets were in full bloom, and as pretty as a picture. Mexican food and bbq are not only plentiful but indescribably delicious. And finally, I got out from behind my desk for 4 glorious days.

That's not to say it wasn't difficult at times. You're on your feet for 12-16 hours a day, sweating, bargaining, hauling, organizing, and shipping. There's no exhaustion quite likes it, but I'd do it again in a heart beat. To help find the one-of-a-kind treasures that make our store experience so unique, was a once in a lifetime experience I wouldn't trade for anything! My one regret is that I didn't get a little time to look for something for our new house. I guess that means I'll have to go back (shucks).

I just never know what my job will have me doing next, a thrill I'll never tire of. - b.