Backyard Dinner Party

August 24, 2016

For those of you who were concerned about where our dining room table and chairs went after our dining room re-design, here is how we have been putting them to use! Backyard dinner parties! The humidity finally broke for a little while during the evenings this week, which dare I say felt a step closer to fall? I took full advantage of the evening hours with the cooler temps since I have to hibernate from the heat during the day. (Salute to all the pregnant mothers just trying to waddle their way through summer. Solidarity.) Fresh flowers and outdoor lights can go a long way when it comes to setting the atmosphere for a conversational hang out. It actually doesn’t take much to host a fun dessert and drinks hour or summer supper! Just grab a stack of your favorite dishes and string up some outdoor lights over your patio.

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Motherhood favorite: Obstacle courses and Codeapillars

August 23, 2016

We have had the Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-pillar for a few months now, and while most toys are forgotten and cast aside after a few days of play, this one remains a favorite for my kids. It makes me laugh so hard seeing Max and Rocco’s reaction EVERY time the eyes light up and it starts moving. Rocco starts chasing it like a puppy, and Max and Veronica always leap or dance.I am learning what each of my children gravitate towards, and music is always a win with them. It’s so refreshing to have a toy that is education based that they love to play with!

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Fall Denim Guide 2016

August 19, 2016

Fall Denim Guide
Denim is the relatable wardrobe item almost every gal loves having in her fall line up. Maybe you only wear them on weekends or nights out, or maybe like me, you wear them just about every day. Distressed, frayed, skinny, wide leg, high waisted, flare, crop, tall, curvy, petite, boyfriend, skinny frayed, curvy flare, the list goes on and on. Determining a style you love can feel as overwhelming as what to order at a gourmet coffee shop.

It has taken me years to narrow down the brands and styles that I know fit my body type well. For instance, the frayed crop trend going down in the fashion scene right now looks grand on the fit and skinny, but pretty sure they dwarf my legs in half since I am on the shorter end of the spectrum. A pair that may fit to perfection on a sister or friend doesn’t necessarily mean it will fit the same for me! Something to keep in mind is that every brand of denim is made with different quality, dye methods, fabric stretch, etc. I have found it worth paying a little more for a pair you are crazy about, then buying ten pairs of mediocre ones. When you do finally find that magic pair, buy two pairs of them. Finding the right match is as priceless as a glass slipper. Ignore what is trendy and focus on what gives you personally an extra shot of espresso (confidence that is).

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Key Lime Pie Ice Cream Recipe

August 18, 2016

We can’t let August pass us by without a good ice cream dish to try to get us through the heat! Thank you to Holly Jordan for being a guest today and letting us in on how easy it is to make this divine Key Lime Pie Ice Cream Recipe!

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Dining Room Makeover Reveal

August 16, 2016

We moved into our new home at the beginning of the summer, and started our first home project a few weeks later. It would seem we are chaos addicts. This dining room makeover however was something I was so looking forward to because it was a Trading Spaces challenge with my dear friend Lesley Graham. I got to help tackle her living room space, and she helped me dream up our dining area which basically meant I didn’t have to make all the decisions for my own home! (This was wonderfully refreshing.) Not only that, I got to partner with Home Decorators Collection to make it happen. This made the choices we faced a little easier considering all the great pieces we found were in one place.

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My design process and the start of our living room refresh.

August 12, 2016

Well nesting has officially taken over. Poor Gabe.

Suddenly I am tearing through every room like a woman on an IV of caffeine. I kind of love this energy though as it doesn’t come till the very end of a pregnancy for me! I am working on our living room layout since that is where we spend a good deal of time, and I’ve got so many ideas bursting. Here’s how I usually start a design process…

I will always prefer print and paper and tearing up mags and comparing textile samples. It fuels me creatively way differently than pinterest and social media, as those always feel slightly vague and out of reach, ya know? I put together images that I’m drawn to, and usually can pick up a pattern of color or style aesthetic from a visual board I assemble.

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August Desktop Download: Botanicals + Beach

August 11, 2016

I am so thrilled to be able to continue to share talented artists here, and am so grateful to Straley Paper for designing August’s Desktop downloads just for IHOD. We hope you enjoy these free downloads for your tech devices!

Check out more of Laura’s work on Straley Paper (you have to see her wardrobe illustrations!), and be sure to follow her on instagram for a really cool mix of daily graphics.

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