Hosting & Toasting + Chalk House Updates

As I sit on the couch trying to find the energy to begin cleaning up our construction zone, I realize how thankful I am for the past two weekends that have filled my heart with joy and happiness. Even though the weekends seem short and Mondays always sneak up on me, I am grateful for the days filled with friends and family.

A quick glimpse into the past couple weekends -
Last Saturday, I was honored to host a Bridal Shower for a dear friend of mine. Meeting Kayla during our last few years of college was one of the greatest gifts. For the past 7 years and counting, she has been by my side through all of life's twists and turns. We have cried together, laughed until are stomachs hurt, traveled around the country discovering new places, and sat for hours upon hours talking about life while sipping a glass of wine. She is a constant reminder of true and forever friendship.

As her family and friends started to arrive, I took a moment to listen to the laughs and the memories that were being shared about our sweet friend, daughter, co-worker, and sister-in-law. All I could do was smile and remind myself that I am thankful to have the opportunity to share these special moments with the people that make me a better woman.

Bridal Shower Vendors:

Bridal Shower Invitations: Minted

Personalized Signs: Alex & Co. Pretty Prints 

Monogrammed Cocktail Napkins: Picture Perfect Papier

Catering: Ladyfingers Caterers

Cake: Nona's Sweets

Glassware and Linens: American Party Rentals 

Fast forward and this past weekend was the perfect mix of continuing our #chalkhouseupdates and spending quality time with girlfriends. Friday was spent doing the not-so-glamorous tasks of remodeling...pulling up carpet, removing the endless amounts of tack strips, trying to contain the dust from spreading throughout our entire house and replacing parts of our sub-flooring that had termite damage from many years ago. All of the prep work allowed us to lay the new floor in our dining room and foyer on Saturday and Sunday. We may not be finished yet but we are SO close!

This picture proves that our family farmhouse has been a true labor of love. Inside these walls, there are 126 years of memories that have made this house a home. We find ourselves listening to stories from our family, neighbors, and even strangers that will bring you to tears because you quickly realize how special our home is to so many people.

I was able to sneak away from the chaos on Saturday for a girl's afternoon. Danielle, one of my best friends from high school, flew in from Philadelphia for the weekend so a day of wine tasting and catching up was on the agenda! We had a blast discovering the beautiful wineries in North Carolina. The Vineyards in Yadkin Valley, approximately 30 miles outside of Winston Salem, are a hidden gem and a perfect destination for a day trip or even an entire weekend.  

Vineyard Recommendations:

Shelton Vineyards

Stony Knoll Vineyards

Herrera Vineyards 

Now, I am off to begin cleaning and organizing our new space so I can share a more detailed post with you before the end of the week! I hope you have a fabulous week, friends!

A Mix of Southern Style & Tropical Flair

Hello, again! Oh, how I have missed this creative space of mine and everyone that has made it so special over the past year. I hope you're ready for the influx of comments from me now that I'll be spending the next few days catching up with each of you.

I know that I have a lot I want to share in the weeks ahead but I'm kicking off my return from a {almost} 2 month hiatus with a gorgeous styled shoot that was inspired by Ernest Hemingway's A Moveable Feast. The neutral palette was accented beautifully with the rich and bold accents of the greenery used for the floral arrangements. I just love it, don't you?!


Having the opportunity to play dress-up with the sweetest group of women to help bring Erin McLean and her extraordinary team's vision to life was an afternoon well spent. If you want to see more of the "true Southern style with a little tropical flair," it was recently featured on MyDomaine.  

Working with a team of fabulous vendors made this styled shoot so, so, so much fun! If you are planning a wedding, shower, or corporate party in North Carolina, I highly recommend anyone from this team. I promise, you won't be disappointed with your decision.   

Concept and Design: Erin McLean Events

Photography: Theo Milo Photography

Floral Design: Lily Greenthumbs

Hair and Makeup: Makeup For Your Day

Paper: Amanda Day Rose

Cake: Ashley Cakes 

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

Venue: The Carolina Inn

Chalk House Updates: Kitchen Remodel

We did it! As I write those three words, I am able to take a {really big} deep breath because WE DID IT and we did it in 8 days. I can honestly say that when we first started this project and we were only hours into it, I started to ask myself "why did we start this right now?!" It made me tired just thinking about everything we wanted to do to create a kitchen that was refreshing, bright, and chic yet classic.

Our Remodel List:

- Empty and Clean Cabinets

- Prime and Paint Cabinets

- Add New Hardware to Cabinets

- Paint Walls

- Remove Laminate Countertops and Backsplash

- Remove Stainless Steel Sink

- Install Marble Countertops

- Install Cast Iron Sink

- Install Subway Tile Backsplash  

- Remove Black Appliances

- Install White Appliances

To see the pictures that we used for inspiration {read more here} come to life in our home has been really exciting for us. Now that we are finished, I am ready to celebrate and pop a bottle of bubbly!  Who wants to join me!?

Saying Goodbye to the Brown...

The before {top} and progress {bottom} pictures make me realize that my handyman husband is a rockstar! Without him, I would still be covered in paint and sawdust while trying to watch YouTube videos on kitchen renovations in hopes that the step-by-step tutorials would magically create a dream-worthy space.

I hope this remodel will provide you with inspiration for whatever project has been on your mind for the past few weeks {or months}. I promise you that every second of the construction zone and chaos will be worth it!

 Kitchen Sources:

- Cabinet Paint Color: Sherwin Williams Repose Gray

- Wall Paint Color: Sherwin Williams Eider White

- Cabinet Hardware: Sterling Nickel Knobs and Center Cup Cabinet Pulls

- Countertops: Bianco Carrara Hexagon Marble Tile

- Backsplash: White Subway Tile

- Sink: Kohler White Cast Iron Sink

- Appliances: GE Artistry Series