Sunday Edition

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An InLinkz Link-up

Let It Snow

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Remember when I made a fuss about this wimpy little snow day?

Ha, joke's on me. We have a full on blizzard coming through South Carolina -- we already have 6" and they're predicting up to another 14" on top of that!  Wowza.  I'm looking out the window as I type and I have to admit -- it's pretty gorgeous looking.  I don't hate it.

 There's a very high probability that we'll be without power for the rest of the week, so I made sure to wake up extra early to squeeze in a cup of coffee and a hot shower.  Better safe than sorry, right?  I also just wanted to pop in and say hello before our house becomes an igloo.  So, hello!

 Well, we're going to hunker down with hot tea*, a fire, and a few good books and ride out this storm. 

Catch you on the other side!** 

*By hot tea, I mean booze.

**It's supposed to be in the 60's by early next week.  The Southeast is cray and I love it.

This Week According to my iPhone

Hey gang.  I hope everyone has had a great week.  I put myself on a self-imposed blogging ban in order to focus on some business stuff.  I hated being away, but my gosh it feels AMAZING to be caught up on my to-do list.  I will enjoy this feeling while it lasts -- for approximately the next 2.5 minutes.

Anyway, let's check out what my iPhone has to say about this week, yeah?

Mail day! I was excited to receive these goodies from my sweet and fabulous friends at Organaca.  I've sampled all of the products once or twice and so far, I'm in love.  For those of you who saw this photo on Instagram and asked for reviews -- I promise I'll post my thoughts and opinions after a couple weeks of consistent use!

A little breakfast fuel from earlier this week.  This is one Van's gluten-free waffle, half a banana, cinnamon, a dash of agave, and coconut shavings -- it tastes decadent, yet it's completely guilt-free.  Less one Kraft Mac & Cheese incident, I've been cooking at home and eating healthy all week.  It feels great!

So catching up on work and not leaving the house much means that I've put stuck in a pajama and yoga pant rut this week.  I haven't even put on makeup once.  As nice as it sounds, by Thursday I was ready to feel pretty again.  While makeup and real clothes didn't happen (let's not get crazy now), I was able to give myself at at home manicure with Essie Vanity Fairest.  

So I did manage to sneak out to the mall once to pick up my new favorite perfume and stopped cold in my tracks when I saw this gorgeous place setting at Macy's.  This is a terrible photo and doesn't do it justice, but I promise that it was some of the prettiest china that I have ever seen.  Buy it online at Neiman Marcus here.  You will see my dining table one day, my pretty.

Monday is the LAST day to enter in the Ginger Mail giveaway!  See this post for more details.

Happy weekend!

Southern Snow Day

You ready to see what Snowmagedon 2K14 looked like in SC?

Oh yeah.  And you better believe that we were excited about it.

Alas, it's already melted and we're back to normal.  Our little family was lucky that we work from home and  didn't have to deal with all of the craziness on the roads. Lots and lots of Atlantans weren't so lucky -- my newsfeed was filled with horror stories of getting stuck on the road, sleeping in cars, or abandoning their vehicles and walking 5+ miles in nothing but their work clothes to find food and shelter.  Some people are STILL STUCK.

But here's the wonderful thing -- for every terrible story I read , I read two more about good Samaritans sacrificing their own comfort to help those in need.  Check out these 13 examples of people being awesome in the Atlanta traffic jam.

Forever I love Atlanta, y'all.

Sunday Edition

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Furbish Studio | Extra 40% Off of Sale Items

My absolute favorite home decor store in the world, Furbish Studio, is having QUITE the end of season sale.  For a limited time, they are offering an extra 40% off sale items.  WOWZA!

Here are some of my favorite picks from the sale section...

Ginger Jar Tissue Box Cover
(They have an adorable elephant one, too!)

Noomi Fabiric Necklace
(Also comes in blue and coral)

Deck the Halls Napkins (Set of 4)

Red Plaid Tablecloth
(Super cute for summer picnics, no?)

Nest Pumpkin Chai Candle
(Nest makes the BEST candles and they rarely go on sale!)

Brass Urchin - Large

Use the code NEWYEAR at checkout for an extra 40% sale items

Happy shopping!  Don't forget to tell me what you get!

Sunday Edition

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Dramatic Simplicity

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"For me, people are color, flowers are color, food is color -- and all of this is my canvas"

Sunday Edition

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Brain Dump

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Top of the morning to ya.  I currently have about a million ideas for organized, themed posts swimming around in my head... and that's where they are going to stay, for now. 

This morning, I'm going rogue. 

What can I say? I'm just a WILD AND CRAZY GUY!*

- Spring has been glorious here in Greenville.  I've spent a lot of time in our yard, and everything is finally in bloom! I definitely need to take some photos and share them with you all.  I absolutely love our little house in the spring time!  The only downside of spring?  It means summer is coming.  Which means I have to wear shorts.  Eeek.  Maxi dresses fo' life.

- I've been on a bit of a health kick recently.  Whether it's short-lived or long-term... I don't know.   I figured with beach trips and weddings in my near future, it's about damn time. I've been eating lots of fruit, veggies, fish, and quinoa and going to the gym a few times a week.  It's only been two weeks, but I'm already starting to feel better!  Next, I'm going to embark on a three day raw juice cleanse with one of my BFF's.  Will our friendship last through three days of liquid torture?  Time will tell.

Part of me knows that a juice cleanse is completely stupid, but on the other hand, it will make great blog material.  See?  I'm always thinking of you guys.  My misery is your entertainment.

- I'm currently completely obsessed with the song "22" by TSwizzle.  I don't really care for Taylor that much, but I can't stop listening to this song.  It's so bubblegum-y and happy. I don't know about you, but I'm feeling twenty-twoooooo.

- 26 Reasons Kids are Just Tiny Drunk Adults

- My current favorite meal is as follows: baked tilapia, peach salsa, avocado, crumbled queso fresco, and a squeeze of fresh lime.  I would give you the recipe, but it's about as simple as it gets. We had a "clean out the fridge" kind of night, and that's when the magic happened. This will be in daily rotation all summer long.  

I'm also obsessed with this salmon recipe from Pinterest (I've made it twice in the past week and a half).

- I really want to go shopping.  But I'm trying to save money to travel more.  So I have no money to spend on pretty clothes.  I guess that's all I have to say about that.

I think that's all for now.  Catch ya on the flip side!

*Ten points if you caught the Steve Martin reference.  You also get permanent friendship status.

Quite Contrary

Finally! My laptop is virus-free. So fresh and so clean, clean.

It may have snowed here in South Carolina last Saturday, but I can't stop obsessing about my yard and all of the things I want to plant in my garden this spring.  I'm thinking climbing vines, overflowing window boxes, hydrangeas, and lots and lots of fragrant herbs... with a few boxwoods for structure.  

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Le sigh.  So pretty.

Did I mention that I have a black thumb?  This should turn out nicely.

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday, gang! Here's a quick round-up of my favorite things this week...

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Completely obsessing over this fabulous wallpaper.  A small powder room is the perfect place to make a big statement with a patterned or textured wallpaper, especially since the rest of the room is clean and simple.

I've come back to stare at this picture at least 3-4 times this week. 

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I need to have another wedding so that I can wear this dress. 

(Monique Lhuillier is my homegirl. She can do no wrong)

Engaged readers, do me a solid and try this dress on.  

Then send me pictures so that I can live vicariously through you.

No, your eyes do not deceive you.

Yes, that is a lucite beer pong table (or table tennis to some of you, whatever)

I can be classy AND drink cheap beer? The world just got a little brighter.

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Love this super easy, chic outfit from Rosie.  I'll take her legs too, please.

This.  It makes my heart smile.  

And those ears?  Don't even get me started.

Stay warm this weekend, loves!!

Four Favorites

So glad to be linking up with Ashlyn from Let it Be Beautiful & Kristin from Fancy Things Blog for Four Favorites Wednesday!  Here are four pretties that have caught my attention recently...

horn statement necklace

super chic gilded coasters

linen skirted console & beautiful botanical print

the messy baby bun. it kills me. it also doesn't hurt that she could be my mini me.

Be sure to check out the other ladies' favorites today!

Also, think about joining the fun next Wednesday, what don't ya? 

Weekend Recap

So I have a weekend recap... on Tuesday. Ahem. Just go with it.

Weekend on Instagram (follow @nataliaetc)

Let's recap on the goals I set for myself on Friday:

1. Deep clean the house

Check! Well, we didn't deep clean the entire house, but our living area, kitchen, breakfast area, and hall bath are spotless.   I'm not too annoyed that we didn't complete every room because Levi spent several hours installing my brand new lighting fixture in our breakfast nook! Isn't she a beauty?!

2. Cook at least two dinners at home

Check! I bought a ton of London Broil on sale, so we had a red meat-filled weekend.  Saturday's dinner was nothing to write home about, but I made a brown rice stir fry with edamame and teriyaki-glazed steak on Sunday night that was delicious. 

3. Go see Django Unchained and Zero Dark Thirty in order to complete my Oscar Challenge

Check! Well, sorta.  We saw Django Unchained (awwwwesome) and Beasts of a Southern Wild.  Beasts was at Redbox for $1.25, so we decided to save Zero Dark Thirty for another day.  As soon as I see all of the Best Picture nominees, I promise to do a post reviewing each one!

4. Finish Week 3 of Couch to 5K

Check! Although, I'm not super thrilled about this one.  I spent my latest run tired, sweaty, and so ready for it to be over -- quite the difference from the previous run.  I must have jinxed myself.  Le blah.

5. Relax

Double check. Times 10. It was awesome.

I wrapped up the weekend by watching the Golden Globes.

 I live for awards season.  

Tina & Amy rocked.  Fashion-wise, it was fairly mediocre.  A couple of beautiful gowns, but nothing that completely knocked me out of the park.  

Did you watch?  What did you think?