Bookcases, bookcases... what will I do with you???

Ever since we've began our decorating journey, these bookcases have haunted me. We keep making progress, little by little but can never seem to get it quite right. The top shelves are currently the culprit and to be honest, I'm just now sure what to do with them. We've tried stacking books, baskets and a few other things but nothing seems to do the trick. Any ideas???

(p.s. don't mind the red couches and pillows, those are being replaced)

My love for sweatpants

Ever since a certain puppy entered our lives, I feel as though my clothing has gone quite casual. It's not really fun to poop scoop and throw the tennis ball in heels and tight jeans, especially in this Georgia heat. Therefore, I'm always on the look out for comfy clothes that aren't just plain sloppy looking. I recently stumbled upon an amazing blog, The City Sage who featured some AMAZING DVF sweatpants (or Souka pants as Diane has named them), perfect for bloggers and in my case, also dog lovers and the upcoming fall months.

{DVF Souka Pants, via The City Sage}

Today on my daily trip to Target, I happened to find some awesomely similar sweatpants for a fraction of the cost... $24.99!!!

Must have: Ikat

This morning I must have all things ikat. I feel like it's been calling me because everytime I turn around, there is another amazing piece covered in ikat. I realize this is something that needs to be prescribed in small doses but it's so hard to choose with things like these out there...

{Printed Diamond Ikat Rug, Williams-Sonoma Home}

{Ikat Ogee Linen Window Panel, West Elm}

Some other amazing ikat finds from Design Sponge...

{via Design Sponge}

Maple & Shade Giveaway

Good morning! Just saw that Hannah (who created my logo, business cards, website, etc.) is doing a giveaway for a free business card design. What an amazing prize! Just thought I'd share in case anyone is in need. Here are the details:

{mapleandshade.blogspot.com}

Dear maple and shaders,

In honor of my 100th follower i've decided to host a nifty little giveaway. Yes, if you're interested, you can sign up to win a custom business card designed by moi. Business card, calling card, "mom of..." card, whatever you want to call it, whatever you want on it, I will do it.

So, in order to win, you must:

-leave a comment under this post telling me why you need and or want a biz card (for one entry)
-sign up to be a follower and tell me that you've done so in your comment (for two entries)
-spread the word by posting about my giveaway on your blog and include a link to that post in your comment (for three entries)


{giveaway will close Wednesday August 4th at midnight}


best of luck!
winner will be announced Thursday August 5th.

Cruisin...

My husband and I just got back from a weekend trip to Jacksonville or as they say, JAX. He had to go for work and I went for relaxation... It's been a long time since my feet have hit the sand and it felt good. We actually stayed in Atlantic Beach which was a cute, clean, quaint little beach town that made me craze some beach living. Everyone rides around on adorable cruisers, equipped with koozies and speakers. What more could you want???

Office Redecoration

{Christian Louboutin T Dorcet}

{Christian Louboutin Anemone Bow}

I'm in need of some inspiration for my office. Working from home can often be hard with so many distractions, whether it's resisting playing with my puppy Teddy or perusing online shops, distraction often wins me over. Therefore, I am trying to make my office more of a sanctuary of sorts so that I'll want to spend more time in there, "working". One thing my office is screaming for is art for the walls. I came across Anna See's Etsy shop a while ago and I think her designer shoe prints would be the perfect addition for my office. She has an amazing Christian Louboutin Anemone Bow shoe print that would look absolutely divine in my space. So when I'm working hard in my office, I can look up at these prints and remember what I'm working towards... beautiful shoes :) Any office redecorating ideas?

Fall Wedges

Amidst this sweltering heat, I am already dreaming of fall. The cool air, autumn leaves and of course, cardigans. Usually I'm biting at the bit to buy a few new fall pieces of clothing but something else has caught my eye... J Crew's MacAlister Wedge Boots. I'm not usually a "bootie" person but for some reason these just feel right.... perfect with skinny jeans or a fall dress...

PAC-Organization Must Have

My Mother in Law always always seems to find the best organizational tools. Her latest find is the PAC, Portable Accessory Carryall. At first site, it looks like nothing more than a mesh tote but it is so much more. Personally, I keep it in the trunk of my car to keep things organized and not have it look like a tornado passed through. The PAC is perfect for keeping your groceries upright and bringing them inside the house in one trip. Also perfect for bringing your dry cleaning to the cleaners or keeping your kids' car toys contained. This carryall is amazingly strong and sturdy and is bound to keep you more organized, whether you're trying or not. Additionally, it folds up into a tiny square so when it's not in use, you can keep it tucked away and out of sight.

Project Mom

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Sorry for my lack of posting--things have been a bit crazy... Last week however, I had the opportunity to attend a Preggo Party, hosted by Allison at Project Mom. What an amazing idea! Allison has started a blog, offering "tips, tricks & truths for first time moms". She not only gives great advice but also offers the real deal for what a new mom should expect, even the dirty, scary details. The Preggo Party took place at Decadent Designs in Roswell and shared everything from information for the pregnant ladies to giveaways from local resources for the new Moms. If you know anyone expecting, definitely have them take a look at Allison's site!

True Love.

What a weekend! We had a great trip to visit my in-laws this past weekend and ate enough to last us for the week. Always nice to be taken care of every once in a while...

Also, our best friends, Theresa and David got engaged this weekend and we couldn't be happier for them. This was no ordinary engagement either. David surprised Theresa with a weekend trip to NYC to see a broadway play. He took her to the John Lennon memorial in Central Park and asked another tourist to take their picture. At that moment, he got down on one knee and popped the big question. You can see this moment below. LOVE this picture! Hope this reminds you of a special moment you've had with a loved one. :)

Fresh Sugar Plum Lips

While I've always been partial to Rosebud Salve for lip relief, I've recently encountered a new lip love. Fresh's Sugar Plum Tinted Lip Treatment, exclusively available at Sephora. Not only are your lips left feeling moisturized, but it also leaves a very subtle natural plum color. I cannot even explain the perfection of this product or the other Fresh Sugar lip products. Fresh also makes this lip treatment in natural and Rose' (a very subtle pink). Additionally, it has SPF 15, perfect for these brutal, sunny summer months!

Bargain Babe

While waiting at the dentist office for an incredibly painful cleaning (my own fault--I'm a bad flosser), I ran across an article in Better Homes and Gardens about saving and making money. They listed a ton of great ideas but the best was BargainBabe.com. Julia shares her finds on the simple ways to save a little bit of money here and there in ordinary places. From coupon codes to sale alerts, Bargain Babe is bound to help you save money.

Last week's post featured a website, CoupReCoup.com which helps you sell your unused Groupons. While Groupons are great, every once in a while you experience a little buyers' remorse because you just couldn't resist a "good deal" that day. You are able to name your asking price and the listing remains until the Groupon expires. AMAZING! Thanks for the tip BargainBabe.com!

What's the best Groupon you've bought?

Website finally up!

Oh Happy Day! My official website for Simplify with Sarah is up and running! Hannah Maple at The Maple Studio designed the site and I couldn't be more pleased! Please check it out and let me know what you think...

www.simplifywsarah.com

Snail Mail

I apologize for my lack of posting lately! Things have been a bit crazy and I've been a bad blogger...

Anyhow, I've always been old fashioned in the sense that I still enjoy receiving and sending mail via the USPS. There's nothing better than going to your mailbox and finding a handwritten letter from a good friend, especially in some beautiful stationary! It's crazy to think with all the forms of communication these days, cell phones, email, facebook, etc. that there would be anything left to say in a handwritten letter but sometimes this is the best way to really let someone know how much you care about them or that you're thinking of them. A few paper sources have caught my eye lately, one being Dabney Lee who has an amazing line of paper products and other cute gift items. She has some amazing patterns and fonts for you to choose from:

{Dabney Lee}

Hopefully this will inspire you to send a handwritten note to someone you have been meaning to catch up with!

Shorts Story

I am so excited because I have just found my new summer nail color! For those of you who know me, I usually stick to one color for several months depending on the season. Lately, I've been quite faithful to OPI's You Don't Know Jacque but now with the warm weather, I've realized it's time to brighten up... so the new color is.... OPI's Shorts Story! You'll love this slightly warmer bubble gum pink against a fresh beach tan!

Pork Quesadillas

Lately I've been trying to make something a little more exciting for dinner than my usual casserole or spaghetti with meatballs. I think my wonderful husband deserves a little more effort than that... every once and a while atleast :). Keep in mind, I'm quite a novice in the kitchen so although this may seem simple, it's a step up for me.

So last night I put my culinary skills to work and tried a recipe from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food Great Food Fast. I love this cookbook because the majority of the recipes are quite simple and it takes the time to explain kitchen basics, like how to chop up a clove of garlic. I must admit, this was my first time using garlic not already pre-chopped! Additionally, the book is written by season which makes it very simple to find the perfect recipe for a summer night. My husband loves cubano sandwiches so I decided to attempt Martha's Pork Quesadillas.

These tasted amazing and my husband absolutely love this recipe! I served them with cilantro lime rice and black beans. It all looked so good I actually forgot to take a picture because be both started devouring them immediately off the grill so you can see the pretty picture from the cookbook. Would also be quite enjoyable with a Negra Modelo or Corona on the side...


Pork Quesadillas
Everyday Food Great Food Fast Copyright 2007

1 large garlic clove
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil, plus more for grates
1 pork tenderloin, (3/4 to 1 pound)
1 large red onion, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
4 (10-inch or burrito-size) flour tortillas
4 tablespoons spicy brown mustard, plus more for serving
6 ounces thinly sliced baked ham
3 to 4 dill pickles, thinly sliced lengthwise
8 ounces provolone or Swiss cheese, coarsely shredded (about 2 cups)

Place the unpeeled garlic, clove on a cutting board, and smash with the flat side of a knife blade. Peel off the papery skin and discard; trim away the root end. Holding the tip of the blade steady on the cutting board with your free hand, and rocking the base of the blade back and forth, chop the garlic into coarse, even pieces. Gather the chopped garlic in a pile; sprinkle generously with coarse salt. Place the flat side of the knife blade on top; press firmly, pulling the knife toward you. Repeat until a paste forms. In a small bowl, combine with 1/4 teaspoon pepper and the oil. Rub all over pork.

Heat grill to high; oil grates. Place pork on hottest part of grill; cover. Cook, turning occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part registers 155 degrees. 10 to 20 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes; thinly slice across the grain.

Meanwhile, place onion slices on cooler part of grill; cover. Cook, turning once, until soft and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Reduce grill to medium-low.

Spread 1 tablespoon mustard on each tortilla, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Dividing evenly, layer half of each tortilla with ham, pork, onion, pickles, and cheese. Fold tortillas; press to close.

Lightly oil grates. Place quesadillas on grill; cover. Cook, turning once, until browned in spots and cheese has melted, about 4 minutes. Cut into wedges; serve immediately.

Antique China

I recently was given my Grandma's antique set of Syracuse Federal Shape china. To begin with, I am obsessed with the beauty of antique china but the sentimental value that comes along with it makes it that much more special. The delicate nature of antique china and the feminine patterns take you back into the olden days when dinner was taken seriously and made with some serious love. You can only imagine some of the conversations that china has heard.

The only caviat with this china is that the pieces left are a bit sporadic. I have like 10 dinner plates and 2 bowls. 16 teacups and 4 saucers. Where am I ever going to find the missing pieces? Thank goodness for the internet! Replacements.com (in North Carolina) has an extensive website with about every type of antique china your relatives could pass down to you. If you need it, they have it, or can find it for you. I am so excited to complete my antique china set and host a bridal shower or dinner party with it!

Marc Jacobs

A few of my friends (and myself) have a little bit of an obsession with Marc Jacobs... Marc by Marc Jacobs handbags to be exact. The leather is always perfect and will last forever (through spilled drinks and everything). Recently, I found a few treasures at one of my favorite places, Francesca's. This is a nationwide boutique but still has a local feel and great prices. Not only did I pick up some great earrings as always, but also found an amazing red leather clutch with a gold zipper trim. On my most recent trip to Lexington, one of my closest friends (and fellow Marc lover) freaked out and said, "Did you buy another Marc???" Always a great feeling when your small finds look big!

{Yoga Clutch, Francesca's}

Simplify with Sarah

I've recently embarked into the exciting world of small business and am loving every minute of it! Everything from ordering business cards to website content, it's been incredibly fun and I can't wait to see how it all comes together.

A few months ago, I decided I wanted my work to make others happier and less stressed while also doing something I loved and enjoyed. My friends constantly joke that I'm always “running errands” and I realized that this could be a solution to give others back more time in their busy lives. Known as a resourceful multi-tasker, I know where to find anything and everything and complete five other tasks while doing so. After realizing my true passion for helping others “simplify” their lives, I decided to pursue my dream of opening my own concierge services business.

Through Simplify with Sarah, I help others with day-to-day errands, projects and much more so they can maximize their precious non-work time and finally gain back their nights and weekends.

Click here to learn more about Simplify with Sarah

le papier studio

i recently discovered this etsy designer and have fallen in love with her elegant yet playful silhouettes and other quirky offerings. from silhouettes to mustaches, you're bound to find something that will make you smile. also, vana has a blog, that is sure to inspire you.

custom couple silhouette, $24

smitten sticks, $35 (wedding set)

rachel leigh

oops i'm already behind a few posts! still trying to be about regular blogging... here's my latest finds...

rachel leigh--an amazing jewelry designer. i took one look at her site and instantly wanted everything. she has some pieces perfect for a cocktail party and some perfect for a concert. everything has "metal" edge to it but in a very clean and sophisticated way. some are more hardcore than others... here's a few of my favorites:

rachel leigh empire short necklace, $145

rachel leigh greta necklace, $150

rachel leigh tycoon bracelet, $195

rachel leigh fitz id bracelet, $98

j. crew-in VERY good company

j.crew has a section now where they feature products from other companies... thus, we now have j.crew in good company.

i have been dying to buy these a.r. trapp sunglasses and j.crew seems to be sold out everytime i convince myself to go for it! the green tint just does it for me and i'm already a fan of the wayfarer shape... if you have a little extra $ just laying around, i suggest you treat your eyes, just this once.

j.crew, $345

gray, sparkly, heaven.

cannot even stand it! i was trying to save money today by returning a pair of unnecessary shorts and happened to pass by banana republic when something sparkly and gray caught my eye... i don't shop at banana often but being that my favorite color is gray and i cannot resist all things sparkly, i went for it. the fact that there was only one left in a 0 petite made me realize this was "meant to be". perfect for the wedding i'm attending this weekend :)

banana republic embellished bib dress, $130

on a side note... black, sparkly, dream dress heaven...

theory, $435